It's time. They are nearly at Ilaria and Kylo has gathered his Knights in the training room. "While the First Order forces focus on the Resistance, we will be seeking Luke Skywalker and the girl, Rey. Kill Skywalker and capture her. Under no circumstance are you to harm the girl," he informs the Knights of Ren.
"Supreme Leader, wouldn't it be better to kill them both?" Demyan Ren asks, his posture rigid.
Kylo advances on Demyan, only just keeping himself from pinning his former friend to the wall with the Force. "I have spoken with you about this before; you will not question me! We take the girl alive. If I find any of you have harmed her in any way, I will not hesitate to kill you," Kylo says viciously.
Kylo is concerned that perhaps they do not understand. The Knights are all standing at attention in front of him. He begins with Jashad who stands furthest to the left.
"Jashad Ren, do you understand that you will not hurt the girl?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader."
Kylo nods sharply and moves on to Palek. "Palek Ren, the girl is to be apprehended whole and unharmed, is that clear?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader."
"Natan Ren, you will capture the girl when you find her, are we understood?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader."
He comes to Demyan and he can feel … something coming off of him. He dips into his head and finds strong devotion to the First Order and, oddly, to him. Kylo is confused; he had thought perhaps he had broken whatever had been between them. He is satisfied, however, that Demyan will do as he's instructed.
"And Demyan Ren, I trust you understand?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader. You wish the girl to be kept safe above all other considerations."
"Precisely, Demyan Ren."
Kylo stands in front of Wylan and says, "And you, Wylan Ren. So good of you to have finally joined us. What are the specifications for this mission?"
"Kill Skywalker, take the girl, no injuries." Succinct but adequate. Kylo moves on.
"Vitok Ren, I'm sure you are now quite aware of what is expected of you."
"Yes, Supreme Leader. But I do have a question?"
Kylo pauses; Vitok would not ask a question if it was not necessary. "Speak."
"If we have to choose between capturing the girl or killing Skywalker, what is the mission priority?"
Kylo doesn't even hesitate before saying, "The girl. Capture the girl at all costs."
His Knights all look at him for a long moment, but he is satisfied that they understand.
Kylo is in his shuttle with his Knights as they descend on Ilaria. He is monitoring the battle closely. The Resistance is falling quickly and there are reports of a Force-sensitive girl. All forces have been informed that she is a vital target and to be left to the Knights of Ren.
He feels as the shuttle lands on hard ground. It's always a different quality than landing on the cold deck of the Finalizer.
He strides down the ramp as it opens, so very eager to find her. He's so close!
Kylo and his Knights are met with a torrential downpour, great fat drops of rain clouding everyone's vision. But it is a minor inconvenience and he gestures for his Knights to follow him. They have landed away from the base as he wishes to move with stealth.
They walk up a small hill and find themselves with an excellent view of the battle. Kylo watches as stormtroopers engage the Resistance and is satisfied to see the line move ever backwards. He reaches out and feels just a tremor of her, but he has been wrong before. He had been certain she was on Ahch-To, and that had merely been her echo.
Through the blinding rain they move as Kylo takes them behind Resistance lines and they press into enemy territory. The weather is providing excellent cover. They're moving among the barracks, the fighting thickest near the hangar. A soldier comes running around the corner and Kylo grabs her. As he had on Quol, Kylo questions the trembling Resistance fighter.
"Rey, I seek Rey."
"I don't know who you're talking about," she says predictably.
"This really would go so much better for you if you would simply tell me what I wish to know." He's aware that Rey would prefer he be less brutal, even as he knows he will do whatever he has to find her.
"I know nothing that I would share with the First Order," she spits angrily.
Kylo wonders if all Resistance soldiers have gone through the same training on resisting interrogation and grows impatient. He's instantly in her mind and finds the officer is already thinking about Rey in her attempts not to. Rey is here! He flicks through the images in the unfortunate officer's brain, finding that Rey is almost always with Leia Organa. Curiously, he finds no indication of Luke Skywalker. The Princess is in the command center, opposite to where Kylo and his Knights are currently crouched.
He waves his hand over the Resistance officer and puts her into a deep Force sleep. Somehow, he does not wish to come to his beloved with unnecessary blood on his hands. She makes him … merciful. He's not sure how he feels about that, but there is no time to ponder this strange impulse.
Kylo hisses, "Follow me," as he moves across the courtyard that separates them from the command center. As they approach, they find it heavily guarded.
There are approximately 30 Resistance soldiers guarding the command center and Kylo is unconcerned. He's about to reach out and Force choke the lot when his Knights move forward in a flurry of death and carnage. Kylo had thought to minimize bloodshed, but his Knights deserve this. Kylo stands back to observe.
Kylo watches as his six Knights cut down the guards, littering the courtyard with their bodies. Jashad and Palek are working together, fighting back to back as they scythe through the Resistance soldiers easily. Natan is elegant in his form as his lightsaber swings true.
Demyan is about to be hit by a blaster bolt when Kylo reaches out and stops it. "Thanks Kylo!" Demyan calls out, sounding every bit the boy he once was. Kylo chooses to ignore the absence of his title.
The downpour continues to assault them and Kylo notes how the water runs red along the ground.
"Knights of Ren!" Kylo calls out.
They have already killed all of the Resistance personnel and so they turn to him, waiting for his next order.
"You have fought well. Remember that the girl is to be captured alive." He is concerned that the bloodlust will overwhelm their thinking. He has not come this far only to lose Rey to one of his Knights. He is relieved as he sees his Knights bring themselves back under control.
He and his Knights come to the command center and Kylo flicks on his saber before kicking in the door brutally, forcing himself through.
He finds a nearly empty room with Leia Organa and Rey regarding the projection of a map with only a handful of other Resistance fighters stationed in consoles scattered about the command center. It's clear the evacuation order had been given long ago. Vitok and Wylan tumble in after him, followed by the remaining Knights. They stand at Kylo's back, waiting for instructions.
Time slows as both Rey and the Princess turn to look at him. Kylo ignores the familiar anger that wells within him at the sight of his mother. He focuses on Rey as he stands there with his red saber crackling, transfixed by the overwhelming sight of Rey. He wants to run to her, to pull her to him. She's here, she's really here! His heart is racing, his throat tight. Oh my beloved, we are finally together ...
Both women regard him in shock for a long time as he just stands there, frozen by the torrent of feelings coursing through him. Then Vitok Ren says, "Supreme Leader, what are your orders?"
He can barely think through the rush of seeing Rey standing right there.
"Round them all up; take them prisoner. Bring the girl to me."
Suddenly Rey bolts, moving quickly out of a side door he had not seen before. He's after her in an instant, calling for his Knights to follow him. Soon they're back in the courtyard, the rain only having grown more furious.
Rey is about to turn a corner and escape his field of vision when Kylo reaches out and pulls her back with the Force. Her feet scrabble along the ground and soon she is held in place in front of him, his Knights at his back.
Her chest is heaving and the rain has drenched her from head to foot. Her gentle curls cling to her face and her cheeks are flushed from fear or exertion—he's not sure which. Stars, he had forgotten how exquisitely beautiful she is.
He stands there simply drinking her in as the rain falls heavily around them, his saber hissing and spitting like an angry pet unaccustomed to the downpour.
"Rey …" he finally murmurs.
"Please don't do this."
"It is time, Rey."
"No, please … please." Her fathomless hazel eyes plead with him and he cannot tell if it is tears or the rain that courses down her cheeks.
"It is time," Kylo repeats as he holds his hand out to her. He releases her from the Force hold so that she may take it. She shakes her head and starts to step back. As Rey moves backward, she trips over a dead Resistance soldier, landing hard in the mud. As Rey falls, Demyan Ren, Kylo's one-time friend, rushes forward and swings his blade down hard towards his beloved.
No!
Moving faster than he even knew he could, Kylo thrusts his lightsaber through Demyan Ren's back, lifting him slightly off of his feet as Kylo kills him without thought. He whips his head back and forth to assess the rest of his Knights and is relieved to find nothing but shock and confusion. None of them are pressing forward to attack. Demyan acted alone. At least, that is what Kylo hopes.
Kylo pulls his saber from Demyan's body, allowing it to fall gracelessly to the wet ground. He knows he cannot allow the feelings that wish to be felt anywhere near him—not now, not yet. He shoves the anger and betrayal hovering near the surface, down, down, down. He stalks towards Rey who has scrambled to her feet. She's breathing quickly and blinking against the rain.
Again Kylo reaches his hand to her. "It is time, Rey."
She looks at him with what almost feels like hatred before she nods sharply and puts her hand in his.
"Are you alright?!" Kylo demands as they're moving back to his shuttle, any thought of finding Luke Skywalker forgotten. Behind them, Jashad and Palek carry Demyan Ren's corpse. Kylo is pulling Rey along by her arm, but she's not fighting him.
"I'm fine," she says shortly.
"He didn't hurt you?" Kylo asks frantically.
"No, I told you, I'm fine." Her face is blank and she walks listlessly.
Kylo is awash in elation and terror. He has her; he finally has her but again she was almost taken from him—by one of his own Knights! Demyan … oh Demyan, how could you? Why did you? He's filled with rage at Demyan's betrayal, even as he's aware he has lost someone dear to him.
He wants to interrogate every single one of his Knights. Does he have a rebellion on his hands? Did Demyan just snap? He could almost understand an attempt on his own life, but why Rey? Was it that she is Jedi? He wonders if he shouldn't have been more open with Demyan about his plans for the girl, about why she is not a threat. But it's too late now. Demyan … He pushes all of that down and focuses on Rey.
Kylo has finally succeeded—he has her! He'll leave the rest of the Resistance to the First Order forces. They're still moving towards the shuttle when she stops walking and says, "Please, let everyone else go. You have me—you have what you want."
"No Rey, this is a great victory for the First Order." He turns to face her, keeping his hand firmly around her arm; he will not allow her to escape him.
"Please, please let them go. I'll come quietly." She's not struggling against his hold and it makes him hopeful.
"I've told you; I'll give you anything but mercy for the Resistance." He's trying not to be distracted by the feeling of touching her. He's keenly aware of how observed they are. The Knights have stopped their trek to watch. Kylo knows they are all very curious about his intentions toward the scavenger, and are no doubt quite interested to hear what they are saying. He senses their shock and sadness around the loss of Demyan—he feels it, too.
"Please, I'll … I'll give you whatever you want, just let them go."
"I've already told you no," he says firmly.
"I won't resist, I'll let you do … do whatever you want to me if you'll please let everyone else live." Rey's eyes are full of resignation and he's horrified by what she is suggesting.
He whips off his mask, not caring that his Knights can see him, not caring about the blinding rain. He bores down on her intensely and hisses lowly, "You think I want you bought and paid for?"
"I didn't think you much cared so long as you could have me," she says with scorn, her lips curl in disgust and her eyes narrow in contempt.
"You are so very wrong, Rey." He is exceptionally angry and hurt by her suggestion that he would want her unwilling. He may have crossed nearly every line there is to cross, but that—that is something he will never do. That she would think him capable of that … He's breathing hard, his nostrils flaring as he looks into her eyes.
She looks back. Her face has softened and now her eyes are full of hope.
Rey lifts her chin slightly and says, "Then will you do it because I've asked you to? Will you let them go because it would make me happy?"
He's very aware that his Knights are privy to this conversation, that his face is exposed and that they can easily perceive just what sort of hold his beloved has on him. His eyes dart back and forth as he tries to decide what to do. The bulk of the Resistance forces have already fallen, perhaps he could give her this? However, he's concerned with how the Knights will react to such an obvious capitulation. Leia Organa is surely one of those captured, how could he justify simply letting her go?
Rey does something very unexpected then: she steps into him, closing the last few inches of space, her chest flush against his. She lifts her hand and cups his cheek and says, "Please?"
The feel of her soft hand on his face robs him of speech. His pulse spikes and his chest is tight. He's never felt anything like the sensation of her hand against his cheek, there's a hum of energy just beneath his skin that seems to meld with her touch. It's like acceptance and home, desire and lust, understanding and friendship, all wrapped up in the tips of her fingers. He is drowning and he is helpless as he finds himself saying, "Alright, Rey."
She is mute as they return to the Finalizer in his shuttle. He's sitting with her in the aft section, his Knights wisely clustered at the fore of the ship. She's next to him, a few hand widths away. She's almost curled in on herself.
He's shocked by what it does to him to have her so close. He had thought this need would grow manageable so long as he had her near, but instead he's coursing with desperate desire. He's focused on his gloves and how much he wishes to touch her without anything between them. He's only ever touched her through an act of force. Taking her on Takodana, pulling her to his shuttle on Ilaria ... He wants … he wants to touch her gently.
Rey says nothing, looking out the view port silently instead. He wants to talk with her but she's so drawn into herself he doesn't know what to say. Her face is like stone and the Bond is ice cold.
His Knights have shown great reserve, none speaking a word as they huddle in the front of the ship. He hopes that they will not gossip, just as he knows he cannot stop it. He wonders how Grandfather would have dealt with such things had Grandmother lived? Once he has Rey situated, he's going to have to gather the Knights together to address the events of this night. He's resentful that he must be parted from her again so soon after their reunion.
Once they have landed, Kylo replaces his helmet. He turns to Rey and offers her his hand again, hoping that she will allow him to escort her properly. Her eyes flit to his mask and her lips purse slightly. He knows she doesn't like his helmet, but he cannot keep it off in front of the crew of the Finalizer.
"You've let them go?" she asks.
"You heard me give the order."
"And they really do what you say?"
"Yes, Rey, your … friends are safe. Well, those who were not already dead." She frowns at that and he wishes he hadn't said it.
He reaches his hand out again and says, "Come, let me show you to your quarters."
"My quarters? I'm … I'm not a prisoner?" Her eyes are wide and confused.
"No, Rey, you are not. Did you not listen to anything I've said for the last 10 months? Where would you get the idea that I would want that?"
She's silent for a long time but she puts her hand in his and he tucks it at his elbow, preparing to make it clear to everyone that she is the Supreme Leader's lady.
They walk down the ramp together, and he can't quite believe that he's here in this place. He feels her small hand curled around his arm and he holds his head high as he walks with his beloved. The hangar is crawling with returning forces and everyone stops and stares. Rey stays quiet, keeping her eyes on the floor. She is disheveled and covered in mud, but to him he's never seen anything more regal.
He's requested the corridors be kept empty as he walks her to her rooms, so he feels it is safe to again remove his mask. He tries to feel for her through the Bond, but she's keeping him firmly on his side of their connection.
They've arrived at her quarters and he removes one of his gloves and places his palm on the scanner. He keys in the code to input her access and reaches for her hand with this now bare fingers. He almost gasps at the feeling of her hand in his. Maker, it's intense.
She looks up and traps him in her gaze. Her eyes seem to plead with him, but he's not sure what she's feeling. He knows he's trembling as he pushes her palm against the device. She's standing right next to him and it would be so easy to pull her into his arms. He holds his hand over hers, keeping it trapped between his palm and the surface and he cannot seem to pull back, though the system has long since signaled its acceptance. He can't move; she's so close and the feel of her skin against his has stolen his ability to think. She continues to stare into his eyes. His fingers shift and he's lacing them between hers, still holding her hand flat against the scanner. He can feel every inch where their fingers touch and the heat is building in him. Her eyes burn and her lips part. She's breathing quickly, too.
But then she blinks, pulls her hand from beneath his, and says, "I think it will let me in now."
"Yes, yes of course." He's trying to bring himself back under control. How is he going to function with the knowledge of what the simple act of their hands whispering together does to him?
She opens the door with her newly-accepted credentials and he is alight with anticipation. He has been waiting for this moment for months.
They enter the main sitting room and she stops suddenly and looks around quickly as if she can't quite take it all in. He's quite pleased to find that the current selection of flora is particularly lush, the blooms especially colorful.
"Kylo … what is this?"
"I know that you like growing things. I thought … I thought it would make you more comfortable." He's very nervous now. She's not smiling and she seems almost afraid.
"But … how is this going to work? You trust me not to escape, just like that?"
"Well … no, not immediately. There should already be a dozen stormtroopers stationed outside your door. And they're all immune to the Jedi mind trick, so don't get any ideas. Once you show you can be trusted, they will escort you anywhere you'd like to go, but at first only I will accompany you. I've ensured that anything you could want is available to you here. You won't need to leave. Come, let me show you your training room." He reaches for her hand, his glove still off and he's surprised when she snatches her hand away.
"No. I think … I think I'd prefer a cell."
"What?!" he sputters in disbelief.
"This is a very pretty cage, but it's still a cage. I'd prefer not to get confused about what's really happening here."
"What do you mean, what's really happening here?"
"You took me and are holding me prisoner."
"No! I … but you came almost willingly …"
"You pulled me to you with the Force from what had to be 30 feet away and held me frozen. I know when to fight and when to live to fight another day. There was no getting away from you—not today," she says steadily.
"But … you took my hand, you let me escort you … you touched my face," Kylo whispers. She's going to do it again—she's going to rip his heart in two, he just knows she is.
"I needed you to let my friends go, and you did. I was grateful."
"So you let me think …"
"I didn't want to embarrass you in front of your crew by making a scene. I let you escort me because by letting the Resistance go, you earned that."
"I am not a dog, earning your scraps!"
"Would you prefer I'd screamed and kicked all the way from the shuttle?" she asks with contemptuous disbelief.
"Yes, yes!" he yells. "At least then I wouldn't have hoped, wouldn't have believed …" Kylo trails off miserably.
"You thought, just like that, that I would turn to you? I've been telling you for months that I never wanted this. You are a cold-blooded murderer, Kylo. Why would I ever allow myself to return your feelings?"
"You'll see in time that I am right. We are meant to be together—it is the will of the Force," he returns stubbornly. He wants to shut out her awful words.
"Not this again …" she mutters, her tone exasperated.
It's all going horribly wrong and he must retreat; he cannot bear more of her rejection after being filled with such hope.
"My Knights require my attention. I will return shortly and we will dine together. You will find clean clothing in the bedroom. Explore the quarters; I put quite a bit of effort into them," he says, his tone formal and yet still full of hurt.
He turns on his heel and strides from her quarters, thrusting his helmet over his head as he practically runs from her.
Thank you to my spectacular beta, Meaghan M/Juulna. She always takes such care with my work and is marvelously supportive. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I couldn't do this without her.
Thank you to everyone who is reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing. I am so happy that you're here, thank you for giving me your time.
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