Rey could see that Ben was trying not to show how nervous he was as she put cuffs on him.
"We'll get through this, together." She squeezed his arm. He nodded his jaw tight. "I'm sorry about this." She picked up a muzzle from the table. "They'll feel safer if you can't speak." He knew she was right. If only they knew what he was willing to give up to save them all, to save her their hero.
"We're down." Poe and Finn walked into the room. "They know to expect him. We are taking him straight to his cell." Poe grasped Kylo's hand and then gently kissed him. "I'm here for you." Finn then kissed him and expressed the same sentiments. "Are we ready?" They all nodded and Poe flipped a switch to lower the ramp.
"I love you," Rey said quietly to Kylo. He looked at her trying to express that he loved her too without words. "I know."
A group of guards met them as they descended. Anyone they passed on their way to Kylo's cell was quiet. This was the first glimpse they had of the dark leader. They were surprised at how normal he looked. He didn't look evil. The more people they passed the less quiet they got. They were angry. Unintelligible angry shouts started coming from the people they passed. Rey knew a flood of those comments would start soon and she rushed to get Ben safely to his cell. She breathes a sigh of relief when she saw the row of cells in front of her. A single guard was posted at the entrance. They took Kylo to the farthest cell back.
Rey when into the cell with him to remove his cuffs and muzzle. He wouldn't need them in there.
"I will be back as soon as I can," she whispered to him. She wanted to kiss him but the group of guards that had escorted them were still right outside the cell. She closed and locked the door behind her. Kylo was now alone. Again.
XxXxX
Rey stood in front of Leia's replacement.
"When you said you had an opportunity to change the tide of the war I didn't think bringing me their supreme leader would be it. How on earth did this happen?" she asked.
"I can say this to only you, no one else." Rey gestured to the staff around them.
"Leave us," Leia's replacement commanded. Everyone except Poe and Finn left. She looked at them questioningly.
"We already know," Finn explained.
"Alright General Rine, I can give you the truth which you might not believe or I can give you a lie that would be more believable," Rey said.
"The truth of course," Rine replied.
"He offered. The First Order have come up with a plan that will destroy us and so that doesn't happen, he offered himself as a trade. We will offer him in exchange for time to escape. He also has information that will keep up from being found again." Rey hoped she would believe her.
"What is the lie?"
"He wanted me to join him again. He offered to meet me alone on a planet. I accepted his offer and with Poe and Finn's help I over powered him and brought him back to the ship. There I was able to get information about the First Orders plans and what we needed to do to stop it from him." This would be a lot easier to believe.
"The others will know the lie. I believe the truth. We need to keep it quiet. The others will not like the truth. We will have one guard place at the entrance to the cell. Only the four of us will be allowed to see him and-"
"And Rose," Finn pipped up. "She should be the one to deliver the food. The three of use need her to know but she needs to come to it on her own."
"If you can trust her."
"Yes," the three of them said.
"Good, I will get things set up. It's late. We will contact the First Order first thing in the morning."
XxXxX
"General Hux, this is General Rine leader of the Resistance. We captured your Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and are willing to negotiate for his safe return to you."
It was early the next morning. No one had gotten a decent amount of sleep that night and were exhausted. The tension this negotiation kept them going for the time being.
"I'm listening," Hux spat. He didn't really care if Ren was returned.
"We know you are planning an attack on us. Give us a week to leave our current base before taking any action against us and you will have your leader back." Rine knew they would be seen as naïve with this simple offer.
"Let me talk to him," Hux commanded. Rine nodded to Kylo.
"Do as they say Hux. It's just a minor inconvenience. I have no doubt that they'll be destroyed at the end of their week if they manage to keep me contained." One couldn't tell that Kylo was nervous. He had sounded so collected and unconcerned about his situation.
"We could make it so you survive our attack, sir," Hux commented. He didn't really want to wait a week until the rebellion was destroyed.
"The is no guarantee of that Hux. Do as I say or you will face my displeasure. I doubt you want to be incapacitated for a month again." Kylo was amused for a moment. It had felt nice to bully Hux again. "Besides I could learn a lot here, information that might prove useful to the Order. It takes more than just force to squash out a rebellion." For all of Hux's bluster Kylo knew he was a rational man if a not so morally good one.
"So be it Supreme Leader. We will expect to hear from you in a week." Hux cut off communication.
"Take the prisoner back to his cell," Rine commanded. "Rey continue your interrogation process. We need as much information from his as we can get."
"Yes, ma'am." Rey breathed a sigh of relief and followed Kylo back to his cell.