The giants surround Rey, the sight of her completely lost behind one of their legs.
Kylo felt her panic pushing through the exhaustion. She extends a palm, trying to muster up enough energy to push them back, however her exhaustion got the better of her. Her feet skid across the floor so much that her knee cracked from the tension, causing her to cry out in pain.
Kylo hid a wince, feeling the pain she felt through their connection, and readjusted himself in his seat.
One of the giants moved to her, yanking her arm up in his huge, slow hand. Another giant stepped forward to them, and stepped on her ankle, instantly breaking it.
Rey screamed, the pressure causing her wound to bleed more.
Everything throbbed, everything hurt.
The giant that held her up by her arm forced her to her knees, holding down one side as the other giant held her down by her other arm.
Struggling to catch her breath, she looked up at Vicar, sweat, blood, and tears rolling down her face and mingling with each other. She glared, her hardest, coldest stare.
Vicar smirked, and nodded towards the giant in the back.
"Do it." he said.
The third giant approached Rey from behind, taking out a small, triangular device. Pushing a button, the device opened, three long, wide shards extending out.
Kylo watched in shock as the giant slapped it against Rey's back, the edges implanting deep within her, the points scraping against her bones.
Rey bucked, screaming out once more.
For a moment, Kylo could only register the pain that shot through them, a breathtaking, intense pain. He could feel how hard it was for her to move, how painful it was just to inhale.
Sweat began to bead across Kylo's forehead as he realized what was happening, just as Vicar stood to speak, grinning.
"And look it here, my fellow knights. Thanks to the wonderful and surprising work of General Armitage Hux, I present to you, the Defiancer!" Vicar gloated. His gaze went back to Rey, who was still glaring as her body shook, struggling to breathe.
"This device captures the energy of a force user, sucks it right out and shows us what we want!" Vicar continued.
As if on cue, Rey's face went red, her blood boiling as her back arched, and her mouth opened wide to gasp for air.
Just then, a white and gold orb floated up from within her, slowly moving forward and pausing midair.
Paz, Makeem, Vicar, and Hux all watched intently.
Kylo, however, grew anxious, his stomach tightening.
He felt that within this orb, was a huge chunk that is Rey herself, that is the light she is.
Anger dug deep into his gut, angry with himself for not being able to stop this, for not being able to see this happening. It took all he had not to kill Hux right then.
"What is that?" Paz asked, her eyes wide on Rey.
"That," Vicar began, pacing as his eyes glued to Rey. "Is the most anxious part of her being. It's what drives her. This device picks up on her highest point of energy, and it analyzes what part spikes the most."
Silence.
"So... it's her..." Makeem stuttered, confused and intrigued.
Vicar nodded as Kylo's gut twisted, having already known the answer.
"It's her greatest fears." Vicar finished.
Everyone stood, walking to the edge of the platform to see what happened next.
Hux made his way to the far end of the line, staying well away from Kylo Ren.
Kylo stayed sitting, his anger becoming uncontrollable, and the pain shooting through him from his connection with Rey was almost unbearable.
There would be no way to escape with his or Rey's life if he struck now.
Silently, he cursed himself, teeth clenching painfully tight.
( X )
She couldn't focus on what hurt more.
Her ankle was broken.
Her spine made it nearly impossible to breathe.
The cut still bled, draining her energy more than her blood, it seemed.
She couldn't pinpoint a body part that wasn't bruised.
For a brief moment, Rey wondered if this is what dying felt like.
( X )
The orb slowly turned, the white and gold colors mixing with one another to create a beautiful shimmer that glistened from the light above.
Rey watched it, along with everyone else.
Fear and anxiety shot through her, covering the excruciating pain that tore through her muscles and flesh.
Her eyes still on the orb, widening at Vicar's comment, she understood now.
Whatever they had created, it was meant to tear her down, from the inside, out.
The room watched as the orb grew, cells seemed to detach from it, floating around one another as they multiplied, copying off the other until they formed the outline of a human being.
Shocked and scared, Rey's eyes widened as tears sprung free.
The cells seemed to form a hologram of this person, fitting together until it was complete... until it was real.
In front of her stood a small child, a girl with sun kissed skin and light brown hair, her face covered in light freckles. The girl turned to Rey, tears streaming down her face.
"You couldn't save me!" the girl cried. "You couldn't save anyone!"
Rey's tears burned her cheeks as she realized this girl, was herself.
Kylo watched, his face blank as his breathing froze.
The girl sobbed, turning her back to Rey as the cells drifted from her, and formed two larger people, their backs turned to Rey.
A woman with the same light brown hair, and a man with shaggy dark hair, dressed in green and beige cloaks.
The back of Rey's mind knew it was them...
She just knew it...
"Please..." Rey said breathlessly, her chest aching to get the word out.
"You couldn't save anyone!" the girl's voice returned in the background.
Rey begged for just a glimpse of them...just a small look...anything...
The cells denied her, refusing the glimpse of her parents that she silently begged and wished for.
Rey couldn't help the sob that escaped from deep within her.
The cells moved again, this time forming into the man that helped her escape the life she once knew. Behind him, stood her friends.
From the platform, Kylo Ren turned his head away.
Han Solo stood before her, with Finn, Flora, Kai and Poe behind him.
Rey's breath caught as she looked up into their faces, any trace of the smile she knew so well, gone. They looked down at her with anger, with disappointment.
"I trusted you, kid... We all did." Han told her.
Rey's heart twisted, shaking her head, she tried to stop it all. "No, please...I... I tried..." she cried.
Finn and Poe shook their head, turning away as the cells form into the beings of Luke and Leia.
Luke stepped forward, as Leia stood in her place, her eyes meeting Rey's before they sadly drifted away to Flora and Kai, who held each other as they cried, refusing to look at Rey.
Luke stood within inches from Rey now, towering over her broken body.
"They said you were the savior..." he said with disgust. "You couldn't save us. You couldn't even save yourself."
Rey's stomach turned, another sob creeping out from her chest as she cried.
She couldn't look at them anymore...
She couldn't see the disappointment in their eyes any longer...
Their presence, in this form, was too heartbreaking.
Rey's head hung low as her tears dropped to the floor, her arms numb as the giant's hands still gripped them, holding her up.
Her heart was so heavy, she would have bet stars amongst stars that it hurt more than her skin and bones. This was her fear. Letting the ones she loved down, losing the people she loved and not winning in their favor, in their memory.
She was only a girl, left in the middle of nowhere on a hot planet.
She was a nobody... a nobody that so many people counted on.
Just then, her heard still hung low as tears spilled down her face, she heard the boots hit the floor.
That familiar sound.
Her breath shook as she felt her heart twist more.
"Please..." she sobbed, begging for the torment to stop.
Rey felt him only an inch in front of her.
She couldn't... she couldn't...
Above her, she heard the gasps and shifts as everyone looked on, stunned at the sight.
She felt a gloved finger slip beneath her chin, pulling her head up as her eyes shut, knowing exactly who it was.
His thumb stroked her jaw, just soft enough to make her eyes slowly drift open, wondering if this was real, though she knew in this nightmare, it wasn't.
Her head shook side to side as she met his blank, almost sad eyes.
Rey's gaze met Kylo's, the new being that the cells took shape of.
His eyes drifted to her lips, and slowly back to her eyes as his hand fell back to his side.
"You couldn't even save me." he muttered.
Whispers and shuffles filled the platform, and the real Kylo took in the sight of what unfolded before him. He had never felt more confused and sick in his life. He needed this to be over, he needed an opening to stop this.
He tried to wake Rey up from the trance she was in, calling out to her mind, but found that she was too enveloped in the visions that played in front of her. She was too weak, too captured...
The cells formed back into the orb it originated in, before disappearing into thin air.
Rey's head hung low again, soft sobs escaping from her. She was sad, heartbroken. But above that, she was beginning to get angry from the embarrassment that overshadowed her.
From the entrance, Sano re-entered, just as the giant leaned his heavy hand down to Rey, yanking the device out from her spine.
Rey cried out, feeling blood trickle down her backside.
"Ah, there you are. And you brought a present? Ha! Perfect timing." Vicar called out.
Rey's body shook as she struggled to turn to her right, her eyes falling upon Sano, who was gripping the hair ontop of Kai's head.
Rey's eyes widened, blinking away the rest of her tears.
"Kai..." she whispered.
No...
No.
This was not supposed to be happening.
They had enough time...
The Falcon...Chewie... The girls...BB-8...
They had enough time to-
"Found this one down in the bunkers when I went to get the giants." Sano explained, pulling Kai by her hair and forcing her to stand up.
Kai spat in his face, and as he raised his fist in response, Vicar called out.
"Stop. I will let you know when you may strike." He threatened. Glancing around to the knights around him, he spoke again. "That was enjoyable, I'd say."
"Bravo, Vicar. Bravo." Paz said, smirking down at Rey. She turned her head slightly towards Kylo, speaking directly to him. "What say you, Ren? That was a surprise, hmm? The rebel scum is trying to save your soul." Paz roared with laughter, Vicar joining her.
Settling down, Vicar turned to Kylo. "Well, boy? What was that about?" he asked, glaring.
Kylo's fist clenched involuntarily, his eyes on the wall behind Rey. He tried his best to appear bored, though he was steaming.
"Great show." was all he could get out.
Vicar eyed him closely, unsatisfied. Turning his attention to Makeem, he spoke. "Well, we aren't done yet, are we?"
Vicar nodded towards Makeem.
Makeem returned the nod, stepping out and jumping down from the platform.
Rey, still held down by the giants, glared at Makeem as he made his way to Kai, who was trying her best to hold back tears as blood dripped from a cut above her brow.
"Were there others?" Vicar asked Sano.
"They got away. They were all faster than me." Sano hissed.
Vicar glared down at him. "Never admit your own weaknesses! I will not tell you again!" he roared. Paz and Hux looked away.
Sano nodded, embarrassed.
Pacing again, Vicar looped his fingers through his belt as his heavy boots hit the floor.
From the ground, Rey struggled to free herself, any built up energy being expelled as she yanked her arms against the giant's fists.
"Rey..." Kai called for her, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye as Sano's grip moved down to her neck.
Rey's wide eyes locked with Kai, as her breathing grew rougher.
Rey couldn't help it. She was frightened. This was not part of her plan, and she was absolutely terrified.
"Silence, girl!" Vicar hissed to Kai.
Rey's eyes moved to Vicar, her energy completely depleted, unable to even call out to Kai's mind.
A nervous sob escaped.
"Please..." Rey said to Vicar.
Vicar's pacing abruptly froze, his head whipping to Rey as his eyes narrowed.
"That's what you call begging?" he said, repeating the words she spoke earlier. Vicar scoffed, eyeing her with disgust.
Rey turned her eyes to Kai as she struggled more.
"Kai... It'll be okay." Rey breathed.
Vicar laughed from the platform. "Your empty promises are your weakest points, Scum! We all saw that. See, that orb held your weakness, and your nightmares." Vicar sneered, peering down at Rey. "Let's watch as you live one out."
With that, Vicar gave a quick nod to Makeem, who pulled out a long, wide blade from the back of his cloak, stepping towards Kai.
Rey struggled more, moving to shoot up and stand, her broken ankle rolling beneath her as she screamed, so loud that her voice shook the room, shooting straight to the core of every living thing on Vicar's ship.
"KAI!"
"Rey! No- HEL-"
Tears rolled down Rey's face as she screamed, watching in horror as Makeem quickly stabbed Kai's side two times, stopping Kai's plea and struggling instantly.
( X )
The room went into a shocked silence.
Kylo's own heart twisted, in action with Rey's.
The screams were deafening.
He struggled to catch his breath.
( X )
Kai's body fell to the ground, Makeem and Sano stepping away from her as Paz began to laugh and clap from the platform above.
"Well done, sir!" General Hux congratulated.
Rey sobbed as her ears rang.
She couldn't even recognize the raw grunting her own chest made with each cry.
( X )
The Knights of Ren each spoke amongst themselves, comments on what they could do with such a device that Hux made, and the message that would be spread throughout the galaxy with the death of Kai and the capture of Rey, the savior.
Kylo sat still.
The cries and sobs haunted his ears, and for a moment, he felt a prickling sensation in the back of his eyes as he watched Rey grieve.
( X )
Tears stained her face.
Her veins pumped with blood.
Grief and rage replaced any pride and determination she had.
She cursed every single one of them.
They would pay.
Her teeth clenched so hard, her jaw flexed to break the tension.
Blood dripped from around her gums, spilling to the floor as her body shook.
Her arms still held by the giants, her fingertips extended.
… They would pay …
Yes, they would pay.
( X )
Thrash.
…
Thrash.
…
Vicar stopped his conversation with Paz, and Paz's smile slowly drifted away.
Makeem stopped in the middle of cleaning his blade off, as their attention moved to the entrance.
…
Thrash.
…
…
…
Thrash...
Kylo's head whipped to the opposite side of the entrance, along with the rest of the knights.
"What is that?" General Hux asked nervously.
The room was silent.
Thrash...
…
There was something tearing through the walls.
It was getting louder the closer it got...
…
Kylo's gaze drifted back to Rey.
He felt it then, the rage.
The raw rage he was afraid of.
( X )
THRASH...
Makeem gripped his blade handle as Paz and Hux's hands went to their blasters.
Sano looked around the room, walking from the entrance to the opposite of the wall with a confused look that they all shared.
Rey grunted, her body shaking more.
THRASH!
And the room went into action.
( X )
At the last loud sound, the room watched in shock as Rey's lightsaber broke through the final wall, tearing through one of the giant's arms that held her down.
Grasping her weapon, Rey ignited it, the purple light reflecting off of her yellow eyes.
( X )
Author's Notes:
:(
Reviews are loved and appreciated...They also make me update faster :D
This was a heavy chapter. I had to split it up in 2. The next one will more than likely be the last that takes place on Vicar's ship right now. Thank you for reading!