When Rey came to, her back ached and she tried to stretch, only to groan at the stretching of skin across her left side.
"You shouldn't do that."
Gasping she sat straight up, wincing in pain as she did so. "Ben, what happened? Where are we?"
"The Resistance base. I brought you here after you passed out."
"But, your, what about…"
"I know. I told my mother about our connection. She is, of course, furious with us both. I thought that it was a better idea than taking you back to the First Order ship and having to treat you as a prisoner."
How long have I been out?
A couple of hours. It's only just nightfall.
Ben, without you and Hux…
Yes, this is the perfect time for the Resistance to strike back against the First Order. There is a vacuum of power in place right now, and no one is leading anyone. Po and Finn have already figured that much out and they are plotting a strategy with my mother. There is a large freight ship coming in with fighters, weapons, supplies, to be left here for future needs. Anything they bring, was meant for the Resistance anyway. It should be plenty to bring the rest of the First Order to their knees. My mother is already thinking about ways to go about building the New Republic.
That sounds like her. Where is she? I want to see her.
Her room I believe, going over the plan that Finn and Po came up with.
Thanks. Rey slid, slowly off the table and felt the cool air against her chest. Turning her face upwards to fight off tears, she pulled her shirt more tightly around herself, so that she was completely covered.
Rey, be careful, talking to my mother. She is truly angry at both of us.
I will.
She headed for Leia's room. She was there, sitting on her bed, staring at maps and plans that had scribbled writing in the corners. She didn't hear when Rey came in until the younger woman was right in front of her. When she looked up, the Jedi was unprepared for the fury in her eyes.
"What do you want?" the General hissed.
"Leia-"
"NO. No, you lied to me, you had me convinced that my son, MY SON, was unsavable. Do you even know how much that betrayal hurts? How much I want nothing more than to turn back the clock and stop myself from running to your room to wake you from that blasted nightmare? How could you do this to me, Rey?" Leia brushed past her. Her blood pounding in her ears and icy hatred running through her veins.
"I wanted to tell you. I did, but Ben said-"
"I don't kriffing care what Ben said. You should have trusted me to help you keep my son safe. I would have done ANYTHING to help, but instead you lied. You used my trust to keep your secret. You played on my love of my son. That day, on the Falcon were you already in contact with him when you accused me of not caring?"
Rey hung her head in shame. "Yes."
SMACK! The sound echoed through the cave system and had several people running to the door, Ben among them, standing at the back of a rather large group.
"I don't care where you go, or what you do, but I want you gone. The Resistance will no longer have anything to do with you, Jedi. Take the Falcon and whatever supplies you think you may need, but I want you gone by sun up."
Rey stood stock-still, her hand on her cheek and tears flowing from her eyes. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Her mind struggled to make sense of the fact that her lover had just slapped her and told her to leave. After everything they had said to each other just that morning, she couldn't fathom this. Her words from earlier floated back into her mind.
"Leia," she whispered softly. "I made you a promise this morning. I intend to keep it." Using the force she slammed the large metal door between the two of them, and their audience. She stalked up to the older woman whose hand flew out to trike her again, but her wrist was caught in Rey's gentle hold. "I promised you, that this morning would not be the last time you heard those words, and it won't be. If I have to send you daily transmissions, I will, but I will never let you forget that I love you, Leia. No matter how angry you get, I will always, always, love you. I know you want me to leave. I will be gone within the hour, but never forget how much you mean to me." rey released the older woman's hand, turned, and walked out the door, sliding it back open with the force and pushing her way past the people gathered there.
Rey! Wait! You aren't actually going to leave are you?
I am only doing what your mother wishes. I am leaving because she asked it of me, Ben. What else can I do?
I'm coming with you.
No! No I need you to stay here. You are the only one with enough knowledge of the First Order's movements to see everyone through the end of this war. I can't take you with me, not when I know that you being here could save her life.
But what about you?
I will be fine. Please, just take care of your mother. I need to know that she is taken care of. You are the only one I trust to do that.
I will. Don't take the Falcon, Rey. Take my ship. It's unmarked so they won't suspect that you are me. It will see you through the First Order space without problems.
Thanks, Ben. I will. Tell Chewie to take care and let Po and Finn know that I will be fine. I don't really intend to make my exit a grand one.
I will. Take care of yourself.
Hey, I'm a thief and a scavenger, and I have a lightsaber. I'll be fine.
Rey had been packing while she spoke to Ben. there wasn't much for her to take with her. Grabbing her staff, her pack, and clipping her lightsaber to her belt, she paused when she reached for her jacket. Deciding quickly that she wasn't going to take it, she headed to the cave that held all of the rations and first aid kits. She grabbed a couple of things she might need for injuries, and plenty of rations to see her back to Jakku, and turned. She headed for the cave entrance.
She was well down the side of the mountain and heading for the forest, where she knew Ben's ship had landed when she thought she heard her name being called. Glancing back up, she saw Ben, Po, Finn, Rose, and Chewie all standing in the opening of the cave, waving to her. She couldn't keep the tears from her eyes as she waved back and turned to go.
Leia ran to the cave entrance, intent on asking the younger woman to stay. She could forgive this in time, but just stay. She screamed her name, from the cliff, but Rey never turned, too far for the sound to reach her. Ben, considered for a moment telling rey that his mother wanted her to return but remembering the image of the young woman's steadily blackening eye, physical damage from his mother hitting her, stopped him. If his mother wanted Rey to return, she would have to find a way to get her back herself.
Rey reached the Ship and started the engines. Things were going to be a lot different now. She still had Ben, though, and with that thought in mind, took off, headed back to the beginning of her story, maybe forever.
END
For Now
