Shooting General Hux makes Rey an outcast in the medibay. Hux is a hero to many in the First Order and popular sentiment onboard has him portrayed as a unfair scapegoat for the loss of the Starkiller. Plus, Rey having been carried through the ship by the First Knight himself is apparently understood as a declaration of allegiance. All of Smath's personnel now seem to assume that Rey is on Team Kylo. And, as between Kylo and General Hux, that's probably true. But it makes for a tense work environment.

It doesn't help matters that everyone onboard the Finalizer now seems to know that Rey has the Force. She gets wary looks from passersby in the hallways and her coworkers seem especially nervous to speak with her. And maybe that's understandable. All that the First Order rank and file know of the Force are Kylo's Dark Side tantrums and that Luke Skywalker murdered the old Emperor and Darth Vader after the two men had offered to pardon the Jedi and let him rule the Empire with them.

Yes, if Rey didn't belong before, she certainly doesn't now.

Chief Healer Smath says nothing about the whole matter. But still, Rey feels compelled to broach the subject privately in his office. I am sorry about what happened, Rey tells him contritely. I'm not a violent person. Really. Smath raises an eyebrow at this claim and Rey colors to the roots of her hair as she realizes that he had probably treated Kylo Ren after their Starkiller duel. It would be wise to avoid bragging about destroying the Starkiller around here, Smath admonishes gravely. There are many onboard who lost friends and family that day. Rey just nods as she blinks back tears. For she had lost friends that day too.

As the chastised Rey turns to leave, the Chief Healer stops her. Are you coming with us tomorrow? Coming where, she asks. On the relief mission. The old veteran leans back in his chair and crosses his arms while he looks up at Rey. Yes . . . you should come with us. It will show you another side to the First Order, Lady Rey. I'll message Ren about it.

Then Rey gets to work healing an unlucky stormtrooper who was in an accident in the hangar bay. Rey is deep in concentration when there is a hush and an instant chill in the normally bustling medibay. Vaguely, Rey is aware of people around her straightening to stand. It catches her attention and she sees many eyes looking at her.

No, not at her. Behind her.

The First Knight stands sentinel at her shoulder looming over Rey. In a surprise move, Kylo Ren himself has come down from the bridge to discuss Smath's proposal. Slowly, Rey retreats from the Force so as not to jar her unconscious and sedated patient. Then she silently stands to follow Kylo to Smath's office, trying to ignore the many eyes that trace their retreat.

"Where is this mercy mission?" Kylo demands.

The Chief Healer names some world that Rey has never heard of.

"Where is that?" Rey wants to know.

Kylo's ugly black and silver mask turns to her. "The Eastern Reaches of the Outer Rim. It makes Jakku look like Coruscant."

"It's the usual humanitarian stuff. We're vaccinating children and doing a triage health clinic," Smath explains. "We do this all the time and we've got it down to a science. It's four hours maximum on site. The rest is travel time."

"Why do you need her to vaccinate kids?" Kylo isn't going for it.

"She won't be. Rey will be in the clinic with me. It's usually broken bones, childhood illnesses, sick babies. Non-emergency cases like that. There's a lot of need for routine medical care on worlds like this that have no basic services."

"What's the travel time?"

"Four or five hours. We leave at 0500 tomorrow."

"Permission granted," Kylo decides in a surprise move. "But I'm coming with you, Smath. And Rey travels solo with me."

The next morning, Kylo Ren spends pretty much the entire flight on one com call after another. Rey listens to his side of the conversations as she surfs the holonet. It's a never-ending monologue in which the First Knight issues orders, chews out officers, and argues strategy. Only once, in a brief five-minute break between coms, does Kylo attempt to engage Rey in conversation. It's politics again.

"Who did you vote for in the election last year?"

"I didn't vote."

"Why not?" he presses.

Rey shifts in her seat a bit. "I'm not very political . . . " she begins.

"And?"

"And my vote wouldn't have made a difference anyway." It's the truth, too. Why bother standing in line in the hot sun?

Kylo nods at her words. "Rey, you're not the only citizen who has dropped out of the process in disgust. The First Order gives a voice to people like you."

Now Kylo sounds like the holonet propaganda films, she thinks. But Rey knows that the message of the First Order doesn't match its reality. And she calls Kylo on it.

"No, the First Order doesn't speak for me. The First Order I know only brings violence and death. Your Leader loves war."

Kylo is unexpectedly patient with her bitterness. "Actually, Snoke loves credits almost as much as power. He's a businessman at heart. I'm the one who likes war. I am a warrior Sith like my grandfather. My Master is more of an executive Sith."

Darth Plagueis is a businessman? An executive? Rey isn't buying it. "Snoke is far scarier than that," she observes.

And this comment makes Kylo laugh out loud. "Never underestimate an insider businessman who rides a movement of outsider rage to power. Rey, my Master has broken the galaxy in two once before with the Separatist movement. This time it's the First Order. Snoke knows what he's doing."

Kylo sits back now and warms to his theme of the disenfranchised. "Rey, did you know that most of the galaxy's population lives outside the Rim? If the New Republic had apportioned its Senators fairly, the Rim would have had a majority. But that would have empowered the Imperial Exiles. So the New Republic created the electoral college to stop them. It ensures that the Core wins every one of their so-called democratic elections." Kylo looks away as he complains, "All who gain power are afraid to lose it. Not just the Sith."

Rey is lost in this reasoning. "I thought that the electoral college protected the minority."

"Perhaps, but it suppresses the popular will. Isn't the essence of democracy supposed to be majority rule?"

Rey frowns at this, uncertain how to respond. She knows she's out of her depth when it comes to debating political strategy with this Sith. Politics has never interested Rey much.

Kylo must sense her confusion because he cajoles, "Rey, you must unlearn what you think you know. The First Order is not all bad and neither is the Resistance all good. Keep an open mind, that's all I ask."

Rey is about to respond when Kylo is interrupted by another com. Some officer somewhere needs his permission to execute a prisoner. Permission granted. And that sort of chills prisoner Rey's desire to debate the democratic process further with the Apprentice. Disturbed, she just turns away.

Their destination turns out to be a humid, temperate and green world that strongly reminds Rey of Takodana. She is glued to the window of Kylo's empty command shuttle as they land. The sight of so much green fills her with happiness. Just seeing it has made Rey's day.

When they land, there is already a crowd assembled. Mostly human women and children, Rey sees. In no time, a series of tents are erected and a makeshift field hospital emerges. Smath was right, the efficient First Order has these tasks down, she thinks.

Rey is wearing medical scrubs for the first time. Ren's orders, Smath had told her when he handed them to her. In the scrubs, Rey blends in and, at least to the casual observer, Rey is one of the team. And that is a surprisingly good feeling, even if it's the First Order Medical Corps.

Walking past scared children crying as they progress through the assembly line that will give them six standard vaccinations each, Rey can't help but wonder about their lives. Some of the children look very, very slim. With dark circles and dull, sunken eyes that speak of malnutrition. It's unnervingly familiar. And while it would be uncomfortable for anyone to ponder, it is especially upsetting for Rey of Jakku.

She takes one last long look. Then she swallows hard and gets down to work. She's happy to be here today off the Finalizer on an unexpected junket. To breathe air that is not refreshed and recycled, and to feel natural gravity. Plus, Rey is going to help people in need. Leader Snoke had called the Force a gift, and more and more Rey has come to see his perspective. It is a gift to be able to heal people. And today, Rey gets to share that gift with average, ordinary people. There is no moral complexity here to contend with, for these are not First Order soldiers fighting a war. These are private citizens trying to live out their lives and care for their families. There is nothing to potentially feel conflicted about in today's work. For even though Rey wears the uniform of the First Order, this is apolitical.

Well, sort of.

Kylo Ren is off to the side surrounded by several officers, a herd of local officials and, of all things, a camera crew. The First Order loves feel good PR, Kylo had told her on the shuttle ride. He never goes on one of these humanitarian relief missions without a camera crew in tow. On occasion, I do more than make war, Kylo had assured her. But what's the point in all these good works if no one gets to see them?

"This isn't your thing, is it?" Rey had teased him without thinking. And then she had blanched and cringed, suddenly remembering that she probably ought to be sucking up to Kylo Ren today so he will keep her away from Snoke.

But Kylo had just laughed off her implicit criticism, telling her that "War is far more exciting."

Three hours later, Rey feels like she has made a difference. She looks around at the group of newly vaccinated children playing just beyond the First Order's temporary tent city and over at an old grandmother waiting patiently in her hoverchair to see a medic. Yes, Rey thinks, today the First Order has atoned a little for its brutality. Today it has helped people. And today makes her wonder if some of the propaganda Snoke has made her read might actually be true.

Rey is spent now on Force healing. She has learned to safeguard her stamina and to conserve her strength. So when she is done, she is done. Rey catches Smath's eye and he nods his understanding. The Chief Healer is the only one on the medical staff who understands her job enough to know that it has real limits. Healing with the Force might be magical, but it is also hard work.

Rey wanders out to watch the playing children. Again, she notices how thin some of them are. A few are even barefoot. Rey knows nothing about this world other than its name and its First Order allegiance, but she recognizes poverty when she sees it.

She hears footsteps crunching in the gravel behind her and glances back to find Kylo Ren. He's alone, and that's unusual today. He steps up to her shoulder and stops.

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Good. Let's go."

Rey nods. But she lingers a moment more watching the children and so does he. Quietly, Rey asks him, "How many of these kids are going to end up as stormtroopers?"

"We have more enlisted troopers than conscripts, Rey."

"How many?"

"Only the lucky ones." His cynicism is biting. She looks to Kylo sharply and he explains in a softer tone. "Say what you will about the Order, Rey, but our stormtroopers don't starve."

That comment cuts very close to home. Rey looks away. Which, of course, means that she looks back at the children. They range from skinny to gaunt. One and all, they are undersized, underfed and probably undereducated too. They will grow up to have very few options in life, Rey knows from personal experience. Not unless the First Order wins the war and actually makes good on its promises. Because truly, the First Order is the best hope anyone on this backwater planet has for a prosperous future.

"Let's go," Kylo prompts softly.

Yes, it's time to go. And so unsettled is she, that Rey takes off at a run to his waiting command shuttle. It's like she's back on Takodana confused and reeling after touching that lightsaber the first time. All Rey can think is that she has to get away. Kylo's black shuttle is prepped and idling, ready for takeoff at a moment's notice with two troopers flanking the ramp. They don't stop her as she flies onboard.

Yes, she needs to get away from this place. Away from the suffering that reminds Rey of her former self. She can't look at those malnourished kids without remembering what it felt like to go to sleep hungry night after night. She can't look at all the telltale signs of poverty without remembering her own hardship. Rey of Jakku knows desperation. Knows despair. She knows what it is to be these people the First Order helps today.

And she also knows that had the First Order ever come to Jakku, she would gladly have accepted their help. And then she might have been cheering the Starkiller instead of blowing it up.

Rey furtively wipes away tears as she hears heavy footsteps up the ramp. It must be Kylo. No one stomps around quite like Kylo. Rey whirls to see him enter the shuttle, peeling off his mask as he goes. He doesn't pause, he keeps marching forward until he takes her in his arms. And now Rey is full-on crying now. Ugly crying in the arms of Kylo Ren.

This isn't the first time this has happened, but somehow it's less humiliating this time around.

"I wish the Order had come to Jakku," he speaks low into her ear. "I wish we could have helped you."

"I would have ended up a stormtrooper," she complains between hiccupping sobs as she pulls back from him.

And this makes Kylo smile slightly. He brushes back a lock of hair that has fallen from her ponytail. "You're too good a shot to be a stormtrooper," he assures her. "We would have made you a gunner. I remember how well you can shoot." Then Kylo grins wickedly. "Hux probably does too."

Rey frowns and sniffs. "You were hunting me then," she accuses.

"I was hunting the droid," he counters. "You were in the way." And now his voice drops its teasing note. He's earnest now. "You and I are accidental enemies, Rey. In a different set of circumstances, we would be allies. Maybe even friends."

Allies. Friends. Together in the First Order. He's compelling when he speaks this fervently, Rey thinks. When he believes what he's saying so much that it makes you want to believe it too. This is Kylo Ren, a man who is as feared and hated within the First Order as he is amid the galaxy at large. But when the private man behind the mask gets like this one-on-one, he is so disarming. Oddly charismatic.

Kylo lifts her chin now with his gloved hand. More tears leak out. Gently, he wipes them away.

"Let go of your hate, Rey. I'm not asking you to join the First Order. I just want you to understand it. There are two sides to every conflict. And this conflict is more complex than most." Kylo looks her squarely in the eye now. "We are not the bad guys. I know because I have been on both sides of this war."

Rey blinks at him, shocked at this revelation. "Who are you?" she whispers.

"I'm a Skywalker," he tells her proudly. "And I will bring peace, freedom, justice and security to a new Empire. Things will be better once we win the war. You'll see."

His confident words give her pause. Not for the galaxy, but for herself. Kylo Ren looks forward to his glorious future he has planned. But where will it leave her? Best case, living with creepy old Darth Plagueis until he tires of her. And worse case, dead. Or maybe Rey has those two options reversed. She isn't sure.

Looking up at Kylo now, his dark hair all askew with one long lock fallen in front of his eyes, Rey can't help but think that if she has to be a captive lover to a Sith, she wishes it were to Kylo Ren. The young, quirkily handsome Apprentice who had kissed her breathless in the training room and then pretended it had never happened. The man who cuts himself so that he can feel her healing Light. The prince who killed his father and murdered her friends.

Rey looks away. She's doing it again—thinking of the future. With an expertise born of long practice, she pushes those thoughts away and buries them deep. Tomorrow has never been promised to her. So Rey of Jakku will live life as she always has. Surviving one day at a time.