Chapter 9

Leia lifted her head from the desk's monitors to glance at the approaching planet on the viewport of the bridge. The Titan had just exited hyperspace. She had been wrecking her brain on how to possibly convince Correlia, one of the most powerful worlds in the Core to join their cause. Correlia's council was the most reluctant she had come across so far, fearing retaliation from the First Order in case their world collaborated with the Resistance. The talks would drag, she was fairly certain about that. It would be a tiring day. Maybe she should have stayed in her rooms a little longer, instead of making her way to the bridge at the crack of dawn. She smiled to herself.

Figuratively speaking of course.

The Cassandra under Connix's command should be planet bound by now, waiting for Leia to embark after the meeting, in her customary ship jumping. Switching ships was cumbersome but it seemed to keep the assassin at bay.

The attempt on Naboo had caught her unprepared. But the one in Coruscant a few days ago, Rey and her were able to elude. Barely. After meeting with the governor of Coruscant, instead of returning to the Titan they took off on a wild ride across the city with a stolen speeder, the assassin hot on their heels. They ended up hijacking a small freighter and meeting with Poe's Titan two systems away.

A little excitement had felt good.

Thanks to the kyber crystal hidden at all times in her gowns, she could sense Dark Forcers approaching her way. And so could Rey. But the crystal also had its setbacks. It seemed to wear her down. Her grasp on the Force was becoming slippery and her perception of feelings hazier.

What really troubled her, though was Rey's confession on Arkanis. Leia still couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of a Force bond between Rey and her son. Or the dangers it brewed. Rey had insisted that he did not intend to draw information from her, nor wanted to cause her harm. But the General in her was a sceptic and maybe a little paranoid.

Leia stretched her back shutting the holoprojection in front of her. The bridge was quiet, apart for the everlasting beeping and occasional conversation amongst the crew. Correlias' seas were reflecting the sun's beams directly into the bridge by now, lighting up the grey industrial surroundings and perking up everyone's mood. She glanced at the mug on the projection panel in front of her. Another mug of caf wouldn't hurt. Along with a little breakfast perhaps.

The doors behind her hissed open and she could sense Rey's presence entering the bridge along with Poe. Interestingly enough, her brightness in the Force was somewhat dimmed as of late.

"General," the man stationed on the communication's panel next to her –Tim was it?-said. "Incoming message, no identification or origin known."

That's odd.

"Is it on our channels?"

"No, ma'am. It's… ah… it's addressed to a Mrs. S."

"Don't know who that is, so they'll have to settle for me. Put it through."

Leia sipped from her caf and cleared her voice.

"This is the Titan. Identify yourselves," she asked, her voice stern.

A little static filtered through followed by a pause. Rey walked up to her side a nervous expression on her features.

"No need for that," a voice answered through the speakers. Rich and deep, it almost sounded like…

Her heart stopped.

No, it can't be.

Her hands grasped the mug in front of her, threatening to crush it.

"Hello General."

Her heart started hammering and her vision fogged up.

"Who is this?" Poe intervened noticing Leia's paling face.

My son.

Her hand reached out, seizing Poe's forearm in an attempt to silence him.

"I don't have time for introductions. I'm only here to give you the information you seek. I will speak only to General Organa," the voice dictated.

"I will take this in my office," Leia quickly commanded, getting off her chair and heading for the adjacent room.

"No way. You are not talking to this man by yourself," Poe objected following Leia to her office his agitation evident on his stride.

"Yes, I am. And that's an order Dameron," she commanded over her shoulder.

"Not on my ship it's not!"

She opened her mouth for a retort but immediately realized that perhaps two set of ears were better than one. Rey too trailed after him, without a word, as the doors hissed closed behind them. She wore an expression that had never appeared on her clear face before, Leia noticed. That of guilt.

Leia frowned pressing a button on her office panel and accepting the call in her office.

There were so many things she wanted to say to the man across the galaxy, but her emotions were getting the better of her and drowned all coherent thought.

"What kind of information?" She asked, her political reflexes taking hold of the situation.

"The attack will take place on Coruscant six days from now," his voice continued, the information being relayed digging for her attention. "There will be close to thirty Star Destroyers and a new Dreadnought. A cyber virus is to be released on Coruscant's databanks at the same time, blocking any data transfer on everything from households to government establishments. It will wipe out power, communications, transports, banking systems, you name it. Coruscant will reduced to a primitive civilization in less than a day. They don't stand a chance."

The words were met with complete silence for a few long moments, before Leia and Poe turned to look at each other.

"Leia who is this?" Poe asked a hint of fear in his eyes.

No. This can't be happening. Why would he…

"You can't expect us to fall for this," Leia protested, voice thick with emotion.

Rey stepped in taking Leia's hand softly in hers and regarding her seriously.

"He isn't lying."

"You knew," she said to the girl eyes narrowing in accusation. She recalled the events that took place a few days ago, connecting the dots. "You've been in contact with him."

"Yes."

Leia sat, closing her eyes and massaging her temples with the fingers of her hand.

What do I do? Force, how can I believe him?

"Ben, do you have any idea how this sounds coming from you."

"Do not call me that!" he bit back, his anger seeping to her bones. "I will not beg for you to listen like I once did. The decision is yours."

Rey hurried to settle things down before they got out of hand.

"You must understand how this sounds coming from you. Why should the Resistance believe a word you say?"

A pause hung heavy in the air.

"You believe me."

His voice came through, anger dissipating.

Leia could feel Rey's hand trembling in hers. She turned to regard the girl next to her, taking in the sadness in her eyes. Poe was also observing her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"That's different," Rey whispered.

"Let's assume that you are telling the truth, is there something you expect us to do?" Poe interceded.

A sigh was heard from the other end.

"Raise a proper fleet to help defend against the battleships. The Dreadnought must be taken out before it levels the surface. I will be leading the ground troops. My goal is to access the capital's central systems and disable the virus with my codes."

"Why can't you stop it from the ships?" he asked again.

"The slicer will be infecting the planet's system from the surface. The virus is too unstable to do it from the ships. She will proceed the moment the first Star Destroyer appears in orbit. The order has already been given. I cannot revoke it without raising suspicions. She is planet bound as we speak and avoiding all communications." Aggravation was coloring his voice again.

"There must be some other way this slicer can be stopped," Leia said.

Rey squeezed her hand in agreement

"You can't be there during this battle. It's not safe. You'll get yourself killed!"

"Safe? Nobody will ever be safe again, Rey, if the First Order succeeds," he snapped. "World after world they will all be broken into submission."

"Don't do this," Leia heard herself beg. "You can be of better help from your flagship, and when all this is over than we can figure out a way for you to…"

"To what, mother? Come back home? After everything I've done? Your beloved Republic will execute me or bury me away in some prison for the remainder of my years. There is no place left for me in this galaxy," he exploded. "No. I get to choose what I do with my life. Not you. Not my uncle. Not Snoke. Me."

Leia looked down at Rey's hand clasped tightly with hers, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.

If only…

"It's a shaky plan. But we've had worse." Poe chimed in, breaking the tension. "Is there a safe way to contact you?"

"Just ask Rey."

Poe pressed his lips and looked at Rey from the corner of his eyes.

"Ben," Leia said.

My boy.

"May the Force be with you."

No response came from his side of the connection. The communication broke off.

Leia unclasped her hand from Rey's, wiping away the tears that had rolled off her eyes. She took a deep breath trying to calm her rattled nerves. Poe huffed running his hands through his curls. He had a look on his face that she had come to recognize as him wanting to get into an X-wing and tilt the world back to its normal axis. Rey stood perfectly still, waiting for Leia to come to a decision.

And she did.

"We need to find that slicer," Leia ordered.


"Rey! Wait up!"

She heard Poe call behind her. She reluctantly slowed down and turned to face him, bracing herself for whatever storm he was about to unleash.

He quickly caught up to her outside the doors leading to the engine room, where she was stationed.

"Care to explain what that was all about?"

"This is hardly the time or place to…" she gestured with her hand avoiding eye contact with him.

"There will never be a right time for this," he countered, his eyes searching for hers. "You've been in contact with Kylo Ren, for Maker's sake! Under everyone's nose. What were you thinking?"

"It wasn't like that," she protested in a small voice.

"The man is unpredictable. Did it ever occur to you that he might be manipulating you?"

Her head snapped in his direction. How could he think that of her? She would never put anybody in danger.

"Of course I…"

"No you didn't Rey," he pressed on.

"Will you just stop!" She cried out.

Poe rested a hand on her shoulder, bringing his eyes to her level. There was an intensity burning in them that caused her to squirm

"You never think of the consequences," he stated. "You just follow your impulses wherever they may lead you."

Rey nailed him with a glare.

"That's rich coming from you."

"You have been talking with Kylo Ren! And you weren't exactly exchanging advice on how to fix your lightsabers,"

"He's giving us the information we need to save a planet. So I must be doing something right."

"This isn't just about Coruscant Rey. Don't you see that?"

Rey did not like where this conversation was heading.

"You don't even consider him an enemy anymore. If you could have just seen your face in that room." Poe exhaled, running his hand through his curls and down his face, trying to compose himself.

He stepped closer to her, taking her hands in his and gazing caringly at her face.

"I don't know what he means to you…"

"He's my friend," she answered in defense.

"No. He isn't just a friend."

Rey lifted her eyes to his, hesitating about how much to say. She trusted this man standing in front of her. Cared about his so deeply and hated seeing him hurt. But the Force bond was not a concept he could comprehend.

"I don't know how to explain what he is to me," she started. "We are bonded in a way nobody could understand." She shook her head pleading with him. "Poe I can't let him die out there."

"Rey…" he tried to warn.

"I'll find Chewbacca and ask him to take me to Coruscant with the Falcon. That way I won't be using any of your ships. You'll need every single one of them," she added.

Fear fleeted in his eyes and he squeezed her arms tightly.

"Rey. No. It will be an open battlefield down there. You can't go strolling amongst the troops calling out his name! If what he says is true, Coruscant will be a heap of rubble and ash within a day. You'll just die searching for him and all the Force in the galaxy won't be enough to help you. Nobody will help you."

She stared at him without blinking for a moment. Realizing the magnitude of what she was about to do.

Poe must have read her distress, because he took her in his arms, kissing her temple softly.

"Stay here with me. There is so much you can still offer. We could build so much together," he whispered in her ear.

A flash of morning sun, swiveling curtains and children's giggles echoed in her mind. All that seemed so far away now. Unreachable.

Rey slowly pulled away setting a soft kiss on his lips. She extracted herself from his arms and backed away. Poe stared back at her, disbelief and hurt alternating on his face.

"I have to do this," she said taking a deep breath.

She was at a loss of better words to say.

"You won't make it back…"

"I'll find a way."

Poe straightened his body and jammed his hands in his pockets.

"Right," he nodded looking away from her. Rey could feel his bitterness wrapping around him like a shield. "I have work to do at the bridge. I'll see you later," he said schooling his features. He turned around and headed down the corridor without glancing back.

Rey waited for him to disappear around a corner before sighing and pressing the panel to the engine room. One of the mechanics approached her with a box of tools and a schematics holopad in hand demanding her attention.


Gods he was tired. He barely ever slept properly, but these past few days had taken exhaustion to a whole new level.

Kylo Ren entered his quarters, not even bothering to raise the dimmer. The blue streaks of hyperspace running outside his window bathed his rooms in an ethereal glow. He removed his heavy cloak and leather gloves, setting them on his sofa on his way to the bedroom.

He had sensed the growing dislike and apprehension from his subordinate officers as he systematically switched the leadership of the Star Destroyers to less capable hands. And the latest meeting in the Conference room had only cemented their distrust. General Hux's attitude as annoying as it may have been, did not come as a surprise. The man was sly, though, and his threats were not to be dismissed as void.

Kylo Ren plopped on the corner of his bed removing his boots. He unclasped his saber and set it on the nightstand next to his bed. What really grated on him, was Valek's disobedience. He was very much aware of his knight's intentions. Fights between the two of them were becoming an everyday occurrence aboard the Finalizer, dividing his knights' allegiance and turning the ship into an arena.

That's why Snoke never gathered us on one ship.

He wouldn't be surprised if he woke up to a lit saber set on his throat one night. Hence his lack of sleep.

The knight continued to remove his belt and overcoat, tossing them at a chair nearby. His neck cricked as he stretched it, and he winced at the pain on his left ribs. A bruise was probably forming from that kick he had sustained.

He needed a shower but couldn't find the power in him to drag himself to the refresher.

And to top everything off, that call to his mother…

Part of him still couldn't believe he had gone on and contacted her.

Kylo Ren dropped his head to his hands, fingers grasping on to his locks of hair.

What was I thinking?

But the decision had been made and he had to see it through. If anyone suspected his betrayal, then his codes would be blocked and all his plans would go to waste. And he'd end up dead.

Either way.

He inhaled deeply, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with the heel of his palms. Rey had too much of an influence on him. His loyalties were in havoc because of her, his judgement was already questionable, and his life was at stake to say the least.

How the hell did I get myself in this position?

Removing himself from the bed, he padded towards the refresher, taking off his shirt. He had to figure out some way to make it out alive and disappear into the Unknown Regions if need be. Or beyond.

And start over.


Rey was too rattled to concentrate on anything she was fixing. The wrench dropped from her hand, clanging loudly on the metal stairs below her and dropping a good twenty feet next to a mechanic, who turned to her with a glare.

"Sorry," she called out biting her lip.

She knew she should have called it quits when she caught herself rewiring the cooling system to the shield generator, instead of the hyperspace engine, earlier in the afternoon. A headache had settled throughout the day, clouding her thoughts and making her clumsy.

Nothing to do with the mother-son confrontation she had witnessed in the morning, nor her fight with Poe.

Or the suicide mission Kylo Ren had assigned to himself.

She got up from her crouched position, wiping her greasy hands on her uniform and chugging some water from her bottle. She packed up her tools and carefully made her way down the ladder. Practically her whole day had been spent in the engine room and nightfall had creeped up on her again.

Rey made her way down the deserted corridors of the ship towards the lounge area, picking on the loaf of bread she had stashed in her pouch earlier in the day. The room was dark and empty by now, the only source of light coming from the large viewport taking up most of the wall.

She sat cross legged in a corner next to the window overlooking Correlia at night. The sun was hidden behind the planet accentuating the numerous small moons orbiting around it. Her head rested on the window taking in the view spread before her.

It was breathtaking.

Her heart clenched. The serenity and beauty outside clashing with the turmoil within her. Events were spiraling out of control. The choices she was forced to make were leading her down paths she couldn't come back from. And Rey was afraid. Afraid for the lives of the people she cared about. Leia. Finn. Poe.

Ben.

What it if she couldn't find him in the battle. Or she didn't make it on time to help him. Or distracted him and ended up being the cause of his…

I've seen it…

I've seen his death…

Rey covered her face with her hands. She couldn't even begin to imagine the void inside her if the bond was severed. It had so quietly evolved from a pinprick at the back of her mind to a near constant presence just a thought away.

She pressed her palms to her temples, wishing her mind to quiet.

Their time was running out.

She would be alone.

Again.

Desperation clawed on her heart and she reached out for him.

The room she found herself in was lit up by blue waves dancing on the smooth surfaces of a bedroom. She was sitting cross legged, her back resting on an enormous viewport taking up what should have been a wall.

The man lying on the bed in front of her was still. Features relaxed from the emotions burdening them. Dark circles were marring his closed lids, while wet tresses clung to his face. His back was bare and an arm was hanging from the bed. The light rise and fall of his body reminding her there was still breath in him.

He was asleep.

Rey brought her hand to her mouth stifling a cry of relief threatening to wake him up.

She slid closer to him, the cold tile floor numbing her knees. She rested her chin on the mattress a few inches away from his face, holding her breath. A lock of hair lay across his forehead and she stretched her hand, lightly fingering it away.

Eyes flew open.

Her wrist was grabbed by an iron grasp.

Before she knew it her back was on the floor, arms pinned on the side of her head and Kylo Ren's body was set heavily on her.

Brown eyes widened in recognition and his body sagged in relief. But he did not move. His gaze remained trained on hers, unwavering as he slowly brought his face closer to hers.

Shutting his eyes, he lowered his head setting it softly on the column of her neck.

"You startled me. Don't do that," his voice rumbled on her chest.

She exhaled, letting go of the air she had been holding.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered, her voice caught on her throat.

He lifted his head, looking at her curiously.

"I'm a light sleeper these days."

"It shows," she said, gaze falling on his dark circles.

Ren smiled, a set of dimples appearing on his cheeks.

Of course this man would have dimples.

He carefully lifted himself off her, extending a hand for her to take.

Rey accepted.

He was clad only in his soft loose night pants. His chest was bare which had once made her fidget. But not this time. It felt almost natural for him to be standing like that in front of her, their bond thrumming in prospect.

"So this is your room? Cozy."

Ren looked around at his bed, nightstand, desk, holopad, and sofa. His fingers went through his tussled hair messing it further.

"Um… yeah. It's… ah…scarce," he admitted, his eyes breaking into a smile.

She grinned is response warmth spreading inside her.

Her eyes dropped to the saber on the nightstand. Ren must have noticed because he rushed to comment.

"It's a habit. I've had it for years. It's been proven effective."

Rey knew very well what it meant to sleep with a weapon by her pillow. She too had made a habit of it all those years in Jakku. But she didn't need one anymore. And it saddened her to see that he still felt like he had to defend himself even in his sleep.

She stepped closer to him lifting her hand and setting it hesitantly over the beat of his heart. His breath hitched in response.

"Don't do it. Don't go to Coruscant. Come back with me…" she pleaded.

He looked away, conflicting emotions written on his features. For some reason he felt unnerved. As if he didn't know how to be around her. She removed it, releasing whatever hold she had on him. Sorrow began to shadow his eyes.

"You know I can't."

A pale face covered in dirt and blood floated before her eyes.

Her jaw set.

"What if you don't make it? There are so many other ways that you could help bring down the First Order. This doesn't have to be the one."

Ren stared back at her steadily, brushing against their bond to decipher her feelings. Was he doubting her? She could sense an unspoken need simmering underneath his skin. He lifted his hands to cup her face, caressing it with the pads of his thumbs.

"I have to finish this," he said, movements tender but voice resolved. "Let me finish this."

It's his path

The realization trickled like ice water on her back. He was choosing his path.

She shook her head.

"Then I'll help you. I'm coming with you."

"No. Your place is with the Resistance, next to my mother and your…" he paused clenching his jaw. Any residual mirth had by now disappeared, his usual solemnness engulfing his presence. "There is no place for you with me."

"Why does everyone think they know where my place is?" She asked in resentment. "I choose where I want to be and I am not letting you do this on your own."

"Rey…"

"I will find you in Coruscant!" She lashed out.

"You will never find me in a battlefield like that. I can't be worrying about you. Rey, please…" his hold on her face tightened.

And I can't let you die.

Rey brought her hands up to his, unclasping them with care. They dropped to his side as rejection began to settle in his eyes. She lifted her hand to cup his face, his eyes jolting to hers in surprise.

"I'll see you soon," she promised and let go of the bond.

She blinked, the bluish glow having disappeared and replaced by the dark body of Correlia hovering over a window.


Author's note: An update a little sooner than expected. Enjoy!