9

I sat on Kylo's bed just staring off into space. I couldn't believe such a horror happened amongst my people that I did not remember, that I forced myself to forget. My parents were right to send me away lest everyone turn against them. I hadn't even been on Planet Ai since I was ten years old and now, I had a feeling I wasn't meant to be there anymore. Even now I can only remember the events that I had been shown by Marek. Was there more that I did not know? Kylo just stood there, gloveless and helmetless as he watched me.

"You now know everything." he said and I just glanced up at him.

"For being something so good, it appears the only thing I have attracted to me is evil. But apparently that's all ancestral blood has been known to attract." I said. Kylo stepped forward now and moved closer to the bed.

"So embrace this fact. You know you are good. Give in to your instincts, your destiny and rule beside me." he said and I frowned at him.

"You don't even have true feelings for me." I said, because I knew I didn't have feelings for him. He killed Aren and he is going to kill Marek. Kylo's body visibly tensed. "If it weren't for the power we had, you wouldn't feel anything for me and we cannot learn to like each other." Now he was before me, hands on the end of the bed watching me intently.

"You're wrong. That day we met in that foggy, grease filled city, I knew you were the one. This was before I ever felt the power I now possess. Even though I never truly knew who you were, I knew you were the one. My stomach had butterflies and even though we had been separated for years after that, I couldn't love another, I didn't want to. I believed the prophecy came true that day… when you gave me your most prized possession, a piece of your heart to me. Even when I was… good, training in the ways of the Jedi I thought of you and the butterflies were still there." My lips quivered some and I looked away.

"I am not evil like you. I can never condone what you do, what you plan to do." I said and he nodded.

"You aren't supposed to. I am your darkness and you are my light. That is how we complete each other. That is how we are meant to connect." he said gently, raising his hand slowly to touch my cheek softly. I winced some not knowing what I should do, or think or say.

"Will I ever be allowed to return home?" I asked and Kylo looked down for a moment as if thinking before looking up at me.

"When you are ready to rule, yes." he said, and I leaned back from his touch not liking the answer, but I knew it was all I was going to get. I looked down some before looking at him.

"I want to see this base. Whatever you wish to show me, I will see. It's not like I can escape. I don't want to be cooped up in this room all the time and I want more access to Gabriella when you are away." I said and slowly a gently smile spread across Kylo's lips as he played with a strand of my hair. I can see in his eyes he thought I was giving him terms for my compliance.

"Done." he said and moved over to place his helmet and gloves back on. He walked over to me and looked down on me. "But do not forget your place is by my side. You will do as commanded and in return, I will fulfill any desires you may have." I was not sure about any of this, but my position was clear. Maybe I should see where this goes. For who knows what will happen tonight once we fall asleep. Will we take each other? That was hardly the real question though. I have seen a short extent of Kylo's abilities. He's not afraid to kill. Could I really just walk about this… ship knowing that everyone here are killers? Can I live with that reality, that I did nothing to stop the future killing?

Would it be my fault? No. I will not be intimidated, I will not be bullied. I will do what I must to ensure my survival and that I make it back to Planet Ai.

"You're worried you'll fall into darkness." Kylo said and I started to frown, thinking he used his powers on me, but he raised his hand in defense, "I can easily see that on your face."

He moved toward the door and opened it waiting for me to follow. Slowly I did and we now moved down the empty hall.

"I am not like you. I am… the light, purity. I can never accept that you murder people in cold blood." I said.

"We are in a war. Death will be the outcome one way or the other. Get used to it." he explained. I sneered gently at his words wondering where it was we were even going.

"Since I know you can never change and will never change… don't ever ask me to change for you." I stated and now he paused in his walk and looked back at me. Even through his helmet, I could imagine the frown playing on his face. I just stared up at him with a tough, yet calm feature. He said nothing else and kept moving. I followed behind him not passing robots of different designs carrying heavy crates. We were passing a hall where the left side was made of glass and I noticed a very large pool. There were men jumping in and swimming in unison as if practicing some type of tactic.

"This pool is for our soldiers who train with marine life as well as for stealth assignments on other planet. When it is empty, you may swim in it." he said before moving on. However, I leaned forward toward the glass watching as the soldiers swam in perfect unison, guns in their hands stalking invisible prey. "Come." I rolled my eyes and turned and followed him. He showed me the numerous weapons vaults and training grounds that were on this ship. He showed me the different rooms where the commanders and generals had meetings and even the mess hall to eat in. I was sure there was more, but I didn't think of that.

"So I can walk around here as much as I want?" I asked. Kylo looked at me.

"You will be escorted by Gabriella." he said. So she can spy on me. "More or less." I frowned, heart tightening in anger, ready to yell at him for being in my mind, when something caught our attention.

"You're letting the prisoner roam around freely now. Not the worst decision you have made as of yet." Hux said. I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want, Hux?" Kylo asked.

"We have word that there are some of the resistance are on Jakku that have information on the ware bouts of Luke Skywalker." he informed stiffly. Luke Skywalker, the legendary Jedi. They were looking for him?

"What do you want with Luke Skywalker?" I asked Kylo.

"Then we will go to Jakku." Was his only reply, ignoring me.

"And the Ai Priest? Why is he still alive?" he asked. Now I looked at Hux with wide eyes.

"Why? You plan to kill him? Why?" I asked quickly. Hux looked at Kylo in response and Kylo nodded.

"Kill him. We have what we need." he said. I exhaled sharply in shock.

"What? No you can't kill him!" I said shocked and Kylo nodded.

"He is of no use to us." he answered quite casually and I shook my head.

"He is of my people." I said, voice breaking some. Kylo just looked at me and then Hux.

"Do it." he said and Hux nodded with a smirk turning from us. I couldn't let this happen. I needed Marek. He is the only Ai civilian on this ship that brought me comfort with his mere existence.

"Wait, I still have questions!" I said moving up to Hux who paused and looked at me swiftly with intimidation causing me to wince and looked at Kylo. Immediately, I took his hand in mine. "Please, I must see him." Kylo was silent for a moment before looking at Hux.

"Take her to him. She has five minutes." he instructed. Hux just looked at us with annoyance before taking my forearm and dragging me down the hall. I glanced back at Kylo mouthing 'thank you' before turning a corner and no longer seeing him. It took a few minutes to get me to Marek, but once I was pushed inside the familiar room, I looked at him. Weak and calm. I glanced at Hux who just watched.

"Can I have some alone time. I am sure you can subdue me if I try anything." I said sharply and Hux smirked.

"Indeed, I can." he said lowly before exiting the room.

"I think that one likes you." I heard Marek say weakly, and I turn and look at him feeling great pain fill me.

"Marek… they are going to kill you." I said moving up to him and dropping to my knees before him wrapping my arms around his lower body, sobbing into his robes. But he gently shushed me.

"Oh princess, I knew they were coming for me. I knew that the day I left my home world, I would never return. But to know you are safe helps me embrace the other life." he explained. I looked up at him. He is a great priest, one I had loved like a second father.

"Tell me what to do. I am so afraid of what is to become of me here." I said and Marek nodded slightly and I leaned back into him again closing my eyes and crying silently.

"You have the strength of your father and the wisdom of your mother. Use the knowledge I have shared with you to survive to ensure your place on a powerful throne… even if that throne is the enemy to others." he advised. Slowly I opened my eyes as his words soaked in to my mind. I leaned back and looked up at Marek.

"Marek… what are you saying? That I should embrace the darkness of the First Order?" I asked and he sighed happily almost.

"Ansara, the people of Ai were never the good or the bad. When the Galactic Civil War broke out, King Dreyus sent your father and some soldiers to war, not because it was the right thing to do, but because it did benefit him. Other priests prophesized the down fall of the Galactic Empire so your grandfather just brought it to fruition. What I am saying now, princess, is that we are not good nor bad, we do what we must to ensure the survival of ourselves and our people. If you choose to side with Kylo Ren then the resistance will fall, the Jedi will be no more, you will marry a strong king and be queen to a new galaxy, a new world. Darkness will rise, but with it the light you possess and the children you bring into this world." he said. My cheek was just pressed into his robes as I listened to his words, eyes just staring into space as I came to terms with what he was saying. In my world, there is no good and bad. The power I have… I can be whatever without consequence.

"Sharpen your skills, find out all that you are and you will be victorious in whatever you choose." he said and at that moment, I made my choice. I know what I wanted and I would do what must to get it. I stood up slowly and looked at Marek with a sniffle.

"The day before Aren was killed, I saw him dying. I saw his life taken from him. I can see parts of the future as well." I said and Marek nodded.

"Yes. I am curious of what all you can do." he said. I looked down some.

"I am saddened I can't save you so we can find out together." I said and Marek chuckled some more before coughing some.

"My dear, I have seen too much in my life time, found out too much from my sight. I am happy to not know what you have chosen." he said and I nodded slowly before leaning in to him and kissing his cheek lightly. The door slid open and Hux was there.

"Times up. Let's go." he commanded and I wiped my eyes and nodded before touching his cheek and gently stepping away.

"Bless you with the strength to walk amongst the gods." I prayed gently and he smiled some.

"Good bye princess." he said as the door closed between us. A soldier, or storm trooper as Kylo once called them while he was showing me around, was standing there with a knife. Hux took my arm and led me down the hall and I looked back to see he entered the room. I closed my eyes in pain before looking away. I looked at Hux.

"I want to go to Jakku." I said and Hux scoffed.

"You do not get to bark commands." he said and I paused now in movement causing him to jerk forward a bit and he looked at me with a frown. "If I am to rule by Kylo Ren's side, I need to see everything. I don't need to be shielded from acts of war." Hux looked at me almost impressed by my words and nodded slowly.

"I will speak with Commander Ren." he replied and continued to pull me down the hall. I followed keeping Marek and Aren and my family and people in the back of my mind as I prepared for the journey of a life time.