Chapter Nine

The Rebels dispersed to meet with the leadership on the Outer Rim. It had been days of radio silence and the tension was beginning to mount for Rey. Somehow Leia had convinced Rey to remain on Kashyyyk with her and Chewie.

"With Luke gone, you are our only Force wielder. The best way for you to serve the Rebellion is to hone your powers."

"I am not the only one that can use the Force," Rey replied.

"That was never really an option for me," Leia countered.

"I don't see why. You and Master Luke have the same abilities. You have the potential to be the greatest Force wielder in the galaxy and yet you refuse to even try. The doesn't seem like you, Leia. What is holding you back?"

A troubled look passed over Leia's face. She turned away from Rey and took a long moment before replying.

"The truth is that I hate that the Force is part of me. It reminds me of Vader, my biological father. I know that Luke said that Vader changed in the end, that he came back to the Light, but I never knew that man. The man that I knew was a monster and even if I had met him, I don't think that choosing to do the right thing after a lifetime of bloodshed excuses past actions."

Rey remained silent as Leia continued.

"I loved my son. A part of me always will. But if I could have spared him from the Skywalker legacy, from this burden, I would have."

Before Rey could reply, Leia's personal communicator chirped. It was Poe. Calling in to report from the Outer Rim.

"General, are you there?"

"I am Poe. Go ahead."

"General, the reports that we heard on Kashyyyk are correct. The First Order has made contact with Rebel leadership in the Outer Rim. In fact, the First Order has contacted all the major systems and is calling for a conclave to discuss a return of the Galactic Senate."

Rey felt like the rug had been pulled out from under her. This made no sense. Why would Kylo try to reinstate the Senate? It had to be a trick, right?

Leia's expression mirrored how Rey felt. "What is your take Poe? Do you believe that the First Order is sincere or is this a trick to luring us out into the open?"

"The leadership out here seems to think they are sincere. I am not so sure. Why would they change course after attacking us on Crait? It has to be a trick, right?"

Leia considered Poe's words for a moment before replying. "Be on your guard and tell the others the same. No in person meetings with anyone outside of our cell. We can't trust that this isn't a trap to take us out one by one. The First Order knows that our numbers are depleted and that we need allies for the rebellion to succeed. As much as I would celebrate a return to democracy, I think we need to stay back until we know more."

"I agree and will spread the word to the others. Stay safe."

Rey spoke the words that had seemed to hang in the air. "What if this is true?"

Leia looked up at her, an unreadable expression on her face.

"We can't know that for certain and there are too few of us to risk trying to find out directly. We need to wait until we know more."

"But if it is true, this would be what the rebellion has fought for. A return to democracy, to give voice to the people." Rey's voice became stronger as she spoke. Excitement building in her tone.

"Waiting is the safest course of action."

The finality in Leia's tone stopped Rey short. She could see that the General was not in the mood to entertain further conversation.

….

Later that evening, while Rey was alone in her room, she allowed her thoughts to return to the events in Snoke's throne room.

Had she been too hasty? Was this what Kylo had planned all along? Doubts plagued her mind. At the time, she didn't feel like there was any time to hesitate. When Kylo had not instantly called off the attack she knew that she had to do whatever she could to help her friends. There was not time to argue with him. So few ships were left.

Still, what if she had talked to him instead of going for the saber? Would he have relented? How many more of the rebels would have perished if they had stopped to talk? Would it have been more or less than the number lost during the battle at Crait?

There was simply no way to know. What was done was done. They all had to live with the consequences of their actions.

Still, he had looked up at her with such wounded longing. In many ways, Kylo Ren was still a child. Snoke had been manipulating him for so long it was no wonder his first reaction was to lash out. She had been in Kylo's mind, he was sincere in the belief that his family had turned on him. He felt unwanted and shunned before the events at the Jedi Academy but when he woke to see his Uncle standing over him poised to strike, he truly felt like his family wanted him dead. His hopes to one day be accepted and embraced by his family died a harsh death that night. With no one else to turn to, was it any wonder he chose Snoke. What choices did an 11-year-old boy really have…?

Rey was frustrated with the way her mind kept circling the issue. Was Kylo the victim or the monster? Strong cases could be made for both sides. Maybe that was the problem, she mused. Everyone keeps trying to make this a black and white issue. But life was rarely so simplistic.

Could she risk reaching out to him? Rey certainly felt tempted. She had never actively used her powers to try to make contact with him. She wanted to speak to him directly. To ask him what he was doing and if he was sincere about reinstating the senate.

Unsettled, her mind drifted back to their last few Force interactions. There was very little in those moments that would lead her to believe that he wanted piece. Darkness seemed to permeate his entire being. He had approached her with a dark malevolence. Something that had been missing from all their previous interactions. Even on Takodonna, she didn't feel the kind of barely restrained violence in him she felt in him now.

Something had shifted in him. And whatever it was, it didn't seem to go along with someone that was interested in peace. Sighing, Rey had to admit that Leia was right. The best thing to do was to wait.

She didn't like waiting. At least she had found a description for building a lightsaber in the Jedi texts. Working with her hands always helped clear her mind. If she was stuck here, the least she could do was try to rebuild the saber. She had a feeling that she would need it, if she ever saw Kylo again.