A/N: Thanks for everyone who had read and reviewed.
Chapter 11
"He's stunned," Esmin stated coldly. "But, at least we know the cage works."
Leia was being helped into the ship by her brother as they settled their eyes on the unconscious Kylo. Being this close to Kylo, had enraged Esmin so much that she hadn't paid attention to the Jedi or his Padawan Rey who followed behind. The rest of the crew was asked to stay outside.
"Poe said you should be his judge," Esmin shrugged. "You brought him into the world. You should be the one to take him out...or something along those lines. I personally think it's a mistake to keep him."
"The report Galibran sent," Leia began as she stepped slowly towards the cage, wincing with each step. "It said he was trying to protect you?"
Curious eyes of the Skywalker twins and Rey all focused on Esmin.
"I promise you, he wasn't. It's some scheme or trick."
"Yes...but…" Leia began to muse quietly.
"Fine," Esmin huffed. "Bring him into your secret base. Try to lure him back to light side. I'm sure nothing bad will ever come of that."
"That's enough," Luke replied calmly but with a stern finality.
His voice pierced through her and Esmin felt small, like a child who was caught in a tantrum. Avoiding his eyes she stepped back, arms crossed. Rey watched the Nightsister slink back from everyone. Both women met each other's eyes and Esmin purposefully held Rey's gaze as a challenge. With a blink of confusion and annoyance Rey returned her attention to her master. He circled the cage, trying to make heads or tails of what Kylo had stated as his reason for coming.
After hearing the insane reason again, the tiny Nightsister was done with Skywalkers. If they wanted to believe his nonsense and put them all at risk, then fine. Refusing to speak further, she left the Slicer. As she came down the ramp Surj was waiting with Finn. She didn't bother to acknowledge them and kept moving.
She wasn't sure where she was going as she stomped through the new base. It was much smaller and had less people due to the attack. She found herself weaving through the main hallway to a mess hall of some kind. Dodging through the small crowd, she continued out into an atrium. It was simple and used for training, maybe, she wasn't sure. But it was empty of people at least.
"Damn you are fast," Surj laughed.
Rapidly she whirled around and fixed her eyes of fury on the Nagai. "Why did you follow me?"
His laughter dissipated as his eyes softened. "You seemed upset."
"Oh I'm great," she growled. "The Skywalkers are idiots. The Solos are idiots. Kylo is imprisoned here and no one seems to think that him, giving up easily is a little bit shady."
"It is, but we need to explore all options."
"Interrogating Kylo Ren will not lead to anything good!" Esmin shouted. "He is lying and manipulating us. You think being in that cage is torture for him? Please, he was trained to deal with that. It's nothing to him. He is playing it up."
Surj nodded stiffly, eyes wide. Esmin was pacing as she shouted. He watched her on in silence.
"What...why...why are you here?" She snapped
"You looked ready to rip someone's head off," he stated slowly. "I know you have this connection to Ren and him being here can't be easy on you."
"I told you I'm fine!"
"I'm just here to help."
Her anger spilled over, causing the wind around her to swirl. "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!"
"Fine!" He snapped, hands up in front of him in surrender, and walked away.
oOoOoOo
The Resistance base wasn't full of the energy of the last one. Several had been lost including Frizz. A short memorial was held for them which added to the somber atmosphere already present. But, they had to keep going. They had to keep fighting.
The cage was moved into a back room, guarded by more armed men than should be over one man. That aspect Esmin appreciated. Though she knew in the end it would prove pointless. Once Kylo revealed his true intentions there would be nothing to stop him.
She sat fuming in the mess hall picking at her tray of rations. The past few days at the new base, had gone by in a blur. She barely spoke to anyone and her appetite was all but gone. Just knowing Luke was near her, as well as Kylo, made everything inside feel heavy and twisted.
From across the hall Poe saw her and made his way over. "How is it today?"
"Tastes like feet."
"Sounds about right," he laughed as Surj walked by.
Poe raised his hand to beckon over the Nagai, but Surj mumbled an excuse about calibrations and kept moving.
"Does he ever stop working?" Poe chuckled.
"He's just mad because I yelled at him."
Poe sat up, blinking. "You yelled at Surj? The happiest man in the galaxy. That's like getting mad at an ewok."
She shrugged. "He was trying to baby me. He'll live."
Poe began to snicker to himself as Luke entered in with Chewbacca. The whole room seemed to stop all movement and sound. A presence of respect soared through the room as Luke quietly walked through and began to speak softly to those he passed. Esmin tried not to stare at him or the large furry creature next to him returning back to poking her food.
Eventually, Poe left her side for the more energetic Rey and Finn after they entered. She caught some of what they discussed as it was mostly about Finn's mother. Rey gasped and cheered happily in all the right spots. The three continued catching up and being genuinely grateful to be able to be with each other for one more day. It was truthful and real and Esmin hated it. It added to the knot already in her stomach to watch at this picture of comradery that she felt barred from.
She had friends in Gruss and Galibran. But they didn't know her inner thoughts or hold her the way Finn had his arm around Poe. They didn't talk about anything with her but the job or mission or money. All three former Knights also spoke only with layers of sarcasm while usually inebriated.
Her loneliness felt very present as Luke came near here. He wasn't a tall man but as he came closer he seemed to grow.
"Esmin," he said softly and sat across from her. His aged eyes missing the sparkle of blue that she remembered. "I...have spoken with my sister and I know who you are."
Her whole body tensed.
"I lived in my regrets for years," he continued. " All it did was hurt those who cared most about me. I choose to live in the present now. Do you understand?"
Esmin nodded stiffly.
"Then," Luke concluded. "there is no need to bring up the past. Only what is before us."
Esmin still remained frozen and silent.
"I know Ben would never give himself up," Luke continued. "He is too…"
"Full of it?"
Luke fought a smile. "Prideful. But, we need to play his game. Since he is trying to play off your sympathies, you do need to speak to him."
"No," Esmin spat. "Not happening!"
"He can't hurt you now."
Esmin got to her feet. "No!"
"He won't speak to anyone else."
"Send your little princess in," Esmin huffed pointing very obviously at Rey. "He has a bit of an obsession over her."
Luke nodded."But he loves you."
The trio was now watching the exchange.
She shut her eyes trying not to vomit. "Is that supposed to flatter me?"
"No, scare you." Luke stated sternly. " No doubt he shared with you all the data he found about my father and who he thought was my mother, yes?"
Esmin nodded nervously, hating being reminded of those times in the cave.
Luke continued. "Ben knew things he shouldn't have. Now I know it was Snoke feeding it to him. But nonetheless, he learned of my father slaughtering children, taking down a government, killing those who trusted him, all for fear of losing the woman he loved. How far do you think Ben is willing to go?"
With that, Esmin slowly sat back down.
oOoOoOo
The guards stepped aside and allowed Esmin to enter. The cage was in the center of a barren cement room with Kylo and the holocron still in it. The inhabitant was conscious and raised sunken his eyes to meet hers.
"You didn't have to stun me," he smirked.
The Nightsister remained silent and walked forward, her mind beginning to sway the closer she got to the cage. After a few steps she sat just outside of it. With each breath she could feel her insides beginning to overheat.
"Are you going to speak at all? I can't read you...the cage."
Esmin looked behind her at the now shut doors. Kylo's eyes followed her as she shifted where she was crouching. Then, she faced him again and let her hand reach out slowly to his face, through the bars. She saw him shift a bit, breathing in deep. Just as her hand was about to gently graze his face she gripped his collar and shoved him violently, face first, into the bars. "That's for throwing me!" She spat, the cage sending shocks through her. Swiftly she swung up her foot through the bars, kicking him back with her boot. "That's for Bazine!"
Each strike he took without flinching or fighting back. As his head leaned back against the bars, he let out a soft chuckle. "I missed you too."
She screamed, running to the back of the cage. Reaching in, she grabbed him by the hair and pulled him up. His back was partially against her, the electric bars the only thing separating them. "Why are you here?"
"To save you."
"Why are you here!?" She screamed in his ear, the cage inflicting aches through her chest.
Something glistened in his eyes, as he turned his face, trying to meet her glare. "I lost you before," he whispered. "I couldn't let that thing control you."
Their breathing seemed to be syncing as their bodies continued to be pressed both against the bars and each other.
"The Force keeps slamming us back together," he continued. "I wanted to ignore it and punish you for faking your death. But when I saw what the Star Forge wanted from you...I couldn't let it happen."
Esmin's hand loosened up and she sat back for a moment lost in thought. Gingerly, he turned his whole body to face her. "Look at me."
With a deep breath she met his eyes.
"The thing wants you because you are machine and Force. It thinks you will be the most compatible," Kylo grunted and she could see the marks of red on his skin where she had struck him. "It lives off the Force and when it has a Host it is in its most powerful state. It will lock you into its system. I don't really understand it. But, it will live off of you. A willing Host lives longer but...it's no life. You become its heart. Tubes in your body as it feeds off your Force power. I am not letting that happen. No matter what. I will protect you."
Inching forward barely able to reach her, Kylo pressed his forehead against the bars, shivering from the shock. "Who else understands you like me? Who else will take you as you are? I won't leave you alone. Just don't run away again, okay?"
There was an almost childlike pleading in his words, that she felt her eyes stinging. The pain in his face from his words and the days of torture started to bleed into reality for her. She had done this to him. Maybe he deserved it, but what if he really was trying to save her? Her doubt wanted to take over, but inside all she wanted was to touch him, again.
Frustrated with her weakness, she gave in and angrily slipped her hand into the cage again, behind his neck. Aggressively she caught his lips with hers. Not able to truly touch her, he was forced to follow her lead. The cage now danced angrily on their faces, sending sparks through each touch between them. The swirling combination of pain and lust was too much that she bit on his lip, but he didn't pull away.
As the kiss intensified she saw him pulling frantically at the bindings holding his hands behind him. He broke the kiss in frustration. " Get me out of these, Es."
She tried not to laugh at how she was enjoying having the upper hand as he fidgeted in the cage. "We can't be kept apart. I am Anakin. You are Padme. Can't you see that? I feel Naboo calling for us."
"Wh-what?" she babbled uneasily.
"We need to escape all this. Return to when we were happiest together by the sea."
"On... Naboo?"
Kylo watched her confidently as she got to her feet quickly. But then his eagerness dissipated as she turned from him and began to hurry out.
"Where are you going? Esmin!" He called. "You will return and let me out. We keep getting thrown together for a reason."
Her face looked truly disturbed as she refused to face him stepping out of the door. The guards eyed her suspiciously as she rushed out, leaving Kylo shouting after her.
oOoOoOo
"So…" Esmin groaned sitting next to Luke and Rey, who were in the atrium. "He said he is trying to keep me from getting locked in. When he opened the Holocron it showed him that it wanted to feed on me or some...nonsense." Rey looked ready to retort, when Esmin quickly added. "The Star Forge feeds on Force users and the one connected has to be willing or the connection won't be as strong."
"Was he being truthful?" Luke asked. "Being pulled to the light?"
"Truthful… he may think he is," Esmin spat. "Light side...no. He has officially lost it. His obsession for Vader has got to the point that he thinks he is a reincarnation of Anakin and I am Padme. He wanted us to run off to Naboo."
Rey sat, wide eyed and uneasy listening, as Luke cocked his head to the side. "Naboo?"
"I don't know...he was babbling about it . I think his grandparents met there or Padme was from Naboo. I don't remember. Maybe he is insane. Maybe he just wants to go enjoy the sea air. I have no idea what he is trying to pull."
"What does Naboo look like?" Rey suddenly asked.
"I don't know!" Esmin snapped. "It has water!"
Rey nodded looking away as Luke eyed her for a moment.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Esmin huffed getting her feet, the adrenaline wearing off. "I need to go bathe for a week."
Waves of bleakness began to seep into Esmin's souls. She had almost convinced herself that she was free from Kylo or at least pretend he meant nothing. But not now.
She hurried down through the halls, feeling him on her lips. Even without the Force he still could leave his presence with her. His voice hung in her ears and inside she felt overwhelmed. After a few more hurried steps she made it into the communal refresher. She just need to wash away the feeling of him.
The new base wasn't nearly as big as the first and all the refreshers were unisex to save space. She was glad no one else was using the showers. Without any separation between spouts, she was grateful she was alone. Her nervous and flustered hands began to yank at her clothing trying to be free.
His look of desperation returned to her mind and she had to hold in a sob. She couldn't stand herself for feeling sorry for him as she began to rip of her layers. Barely able to hold her composure, she slammed on the water, leaving on her under clothes, not caring. Her body slid down to the metal floor, finally releasing her emotions. She began to outright cry, her head tucked into her knees, which she clutched against her chest.
"Are you okay?" a man asked.
Esmin gritted her teeth, mortified someone found her and severely annoyed that they couldn't just ignore her and walk by. She lifted her head, eyes in aggravated slits. But they quickly softened when she saw Surj looking down at her with genuine concern.
He was holding a towel and soap, dressed down to his undershirt and shorts. She was grateful she hadn't made it to being completely naked. It was one thing to be crying in a communal shower while naked, but to be a deformed cyborg, naked, crying in a communal shower, was a whole other level of embarrassment.
"Please," she barely got out. "Don't ask me."
"Okay," he replied, quietly with a nod.
Hesitantly he set his belongings down onto a bench, looking around. Then, without a word, still clothed, he crawled onto the floor next to her. The warm water spilled over both of them as he scooted closer. His usually spiked black hair instantly became matted to his head as his clothing became drenched as well.
Still silent, he put his ghostly white arm around her. Esmin's eyes of utter confusion had watched him, up until this point. As his body made contact with hers, she couldn't retrain her sadness anymore and broke down again, hiding her face into his chest. Underneath the water, he quietly held her, for as long as she needed.
