The sun rose on a beautiful planet, filled with color and plant life. Felucia. The planet currently hosted a secret Resistance base, deep within the brush of its wildlife. The base was shielded by a massive underground generator, gifted to the Resistance by wealthy benefactors from the Core worlds. However, this was no ordinary morning at the base. There was a sense of restlessness and growing excitement. Word gets around quickly at the base, and the word was that the Jedi is returning. Rey will be back. Rey, who was Skywalker's protege, was viewed heroically by the Resistance, just as Luke was viewed by the Rebellion during his time. The tales of her adventure with Finn, Han, Chewy, and others upon Starkiller base all those months ago were still fresh in many of the soldiers minds.
Finn was one of many who couldn't rest, and waited excitedly for her return. It really was the jolt they needed, the spark they required from the depravity and depression of war. To have someone as elevated as Rey in everyone's mind boosted morale, and their fighting spirit. It inspired hope and the will to continue their struggle against the forces of Kylo Ren and the First Order. He was in the main courtyard of the base, where X-Wings and other various crafts were in precise lines. He ran through it towards a small building, which was guarded by two soldiers. He flashed them an ID card, even though they knew who he was, and he walked into the home.
"General? You awake?" He asked, walking towards a livings quarters.
The older woman looked up from a datapad, standing to meet her guest.
"Finn, it's good to see you. What can I help you with?" The woman asked pleasantly.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you earlier, General. I was-" He explained, before being cut off by the woman.
"Leia. I am no longer a General." She corrected him.
"Sorry, Leia. I was informed by Rey that she had a surprise for you. She didn't tell me what it was, but I'm assuming it's important if she told me to tell you." Finn got out, taking in a large breath.
Leia laughed, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Long night, Finn?" She asked him.
"Sorry Leia. Yeah, yeah. Just enjoying our free time before we get sent back out is all." He exclaimed, rolling his shoulders.
"Alright. Well, good luck out there. Stay safe." Leia informed him, ending their conversation by walking back to her seat.
Finn nodded and walked out of her building.
Leia frowned to herself, closing her eyes. She knew what the 'surprise' was. The Force already told her. She felt him getting closer. Her son was coming home. She still felt the darkness within him, but hopefully that can be released soon. Rey had done it. She really was bringing him home. If only...
Leia cleared her throat, rubbing away a tear from her face. If only Han was here to see this. To see their son be redeemed. It was the hardest thing she had gone through, seeing her husband and the love of her life die by the blade of her son, who was twisted by the Dark Side. To see her brother die by his hand. But that wasn't him. That wasn't the same boy she raised, for Kylo Ren had destroyed Ben Solo. At least that was what she believed until she sensed something in him. The light wasn't completely extinguished. Ben was still in there, and he started to fight to get out when he met Rey. She just prayed he was strong enough to resist the dark side within him.
This pesky war. It proved too much for her health, and she was ordered by her doctors to relieve the stress or it'll kill her. She had to relinquish command, just to survive another day. She never would've imagined that the hard work they did in their younger years would've been in jeopardy so soon.
Ah, those were some fond memories she had. When she first met Luke, Han, and that furball Chewy. They were on the run from the Empire and her... Father, Darth Vader. After the battle on Endor, she thought that was it. The galaxy would've been saved. She settled down with Han and tried to help run the New Republic. She had a child, and imagined he would live a long and happy life. Not turn into the evil he was. The Empire never vanished, it receded and waited for the right opportunity. The Dark Side never left, it just waited. If the galaxy never bestowed Rey upon them to open the eyes of Luke and the rest of the Resistance, they would be in a much graver state.
A squad of stormtroopers approached their commanding officers inside the Imperial lander. They saluted and stood at attention, the sergeant of the squad stepping forward.
"My Emperor, we are ready for your orders!" The troopers said firmly, holding a salute to Mortim and Phasma.
"Good! You have a new assignment. You'll come with us as we try to... Negotiate for a new fleet." The Sith ordered.
The troopers all yelled in unison, nodding to their new Emperor.
"Sergeant, pilot us. We need to stop at Cato Neimoidia." She ordered the trooper as she sat down, looking at her lightsaber absentmindedly.
"Cato Neimoidia?" Phasma asked, surprised. "That's a core world. The Resistance will surely have a presence there."
"Unfortunately, to find who we're looking for, we have to go there." The Sith retorted. "Are you questioning my judgement?" She asked, glaring at Phasma.
The Captain shook her head, offering a bow.
"Never, my lord." She swiftly tried to rectify the mistake. This woman was certainly more dangerous than Kylo Ren. When Phasma served underneath him, she almost felt safe. Kylo respected her and wanted her around. This woman, Phasma didn't know. She didn't know if she really cared at all about others.
"Good! Let's get a move on!" She yelled.
"Your journey isn't over yet child. Do not lower your guard." A familiar voice called out to Rey. That was Obi Wan! It has been so long since the last time he talked to her, she was shocked to hear him now.
"Master Kenobi?" She asked to the void. "Why did you leave me?"
"My child, I apologize. However, it is difficult to have these conversations for a long period of time." The voice replied.
"Just tell me, please, what journey? What is my purpose? Are you referring to Ben?" She asked impatiently, tired of these vague warnings.
"There is another." He simply replied.
Rey's eyes shot open, staring at the drab ceiling above her. What time was it? Did the ship arrive to Felucia yet? She felt a heavy weight on the bed next to her, noticing the sleeping form of Ben. The words of that old Jedi kept ringing in her head. There is another. What does that even mean? Another what?! Curse these old Jedi ways of speaking vaguely. Just get to the point and speak!
She groaned as she sat up, stretching her joints. She felt sore, that's for sure. Thinking of the past night brought back all those memories, a red hue on her face. Yes, that is why she was sore. Great, now time to meet up with her friends after sleeping with their sworn enemy. She felt a tad guilty over it, but she would do it again if given the chance to repeat. She loved him, and at the end of the day, she will enjoy that love.
Come on, Rey., we have things to do. She looked to the pile of clothes and realized something. There wasn't a refresher on the ship. It was too small for it. She would have to wait until they arrived back at the base. Great, she could really use a shower right about now. She just prayed she didn't smell as she pulled her garments back on.
Looking back to Ben, she entered the cockpit, sitting in the pilot's seat. She knew what she was doing. She was a good pilot, afterall, it seemed to come naturally to her. However, things were still troubling her. She still felt like she wasnt getting the whole truth from Ben. There was no way he would break another promise to her, right? And how would her friends react to seeing him with her? Will they think she's a traitor? Cast her out and accuse her of not caring for them? If this were to go smoothly, she needed him to not act like Kylo Ren. She needed him to be Ben. She won't let him distract her again, she needed to explain her concerns to him. She will put her foot down.
"Grandfather... I don't know if I'm strong enough. Please." Kylo begged the charred mask, and yet, still receiving no response.
"Talk to me!" He screamed at the thing, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. His frustration was palpable.
"The power you seek cannot be granted to someone with the light within them." A vague voice commented, it sounded feminine
"What?" He asked out to his empty room, turning around to try to find the source of the voice.
"To achieve the power you seek, you must destroy the ones closest to you." She advised.
"Closest to me?" Images of Han Solo filled his mind, that fateful night. He killed his own father like Snoke told him to, but it only caused him more pain and confusion, not an end to the suffering he was seeking.
"I would never hurt her..." He growled, fists clenching angrily. To even propose such an idea was preposterous.
"Ben Solo is weak, don't you remember? Do you remember those nights at the temple with Skywalker? Your... Ahem... Friend, isn't who you think they are." The voice slurred.
"What do you mean?" He quizzed. Who was this?! How did she know about his Jedi days?
"Rey is deceiving you. Her mission, this entire time, was to turn you to the light and bring you to the Resistance. She would never love someone like yourself." She teased, laughter ringing in his ears.
He ignited his saber. She was lying. He knew Rey loved him, she told him she did. He felt it!
"I do not like liars. Who are you?! How do you know all of this?!" He yelled back angrily.
"Do you remember when you refused to go with her the first time? She left you. You were open for her, and she closed it off and left. What do you think she did in those three months? Laughed it off with her friends in the Resistance. Sharing stories of the great Kylo Ren being seduced by a scavenger slut." She yelled to him, now the voice booming within Kylo's head.
"Get out of my head!" He screamed back, throwing his saber across the room.
Kylo woke up from his nightmare, grunting as he rolled over onto his back. He was by himself, Rey's clothing gone. He pulled his own robes to him, groggily pulling it on. Usually, he was fine waking up and going about his business. However, knowing the amount of stress he will be put in in a few hours had him on edge. That dream didn't help either. Rey wasn't using him. She couldn't be. He would've felt the deceit in her. She could barely hide any emotion from him, how would she be able to cover up something so large? His mother would never do this to him... Right?! Right! Where was his scavenger girl? The ship wasn't too big, she was probably in the cockpit. He slid the door open and walked behind the sitting girl, who was pulling them out of hyperspace.
A beautiful floral planet came into view. Kylo could already sense his mother's Force signature on the planet. He felt his heart just pick up its pace, dread slowly filling him.
Rey swiveled her chair, looking up to Ben. He looked... Grumpy. Strange, she took him as a morning person. He usually awoke before her anyway, so she did find it odd that she was first this time around. Was something amiss? Was he having cold feet?
"Morning. You alright?" She asked him with a hint of worry in her tone.
"Of course I am." He replied coldly, sitting down next to her in the other chair. He didn't mean to act like a child, especially after their night of passion, but he was... Moody right now to say the least. Those words. Those kriffing words that bitch said to him. For some reason, it hit him hard. Who was that? He swore he recognized the voice from somewhere. And yet, he talked more with her than he ever talked with Vader.
Rey frowned inwardly to herself, looking down to the controls awkwardly. Did she insult him somehow? She didn't mean to overstep, she genuinely wanted to make sure he was feeling alright.
"You sure?" She asked again, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He grimaced now, teeth clenching. He felt trapped, and he really wanted to lash out... But this was Rey. He needed to calm down. That damned voice really put him over the edge. He was about to come 'home'. He was about to see his mother. Did Rey bring him to the Resistance to end the war? To have him captured and tried? No, no! Their love is real, he felt it. He felt his breathing quicken and he couldn't stop staring at the controls in front of him. He wanted to hurt something. He needed to get his pent up rage out. He couldn't hold it. He had to release. Like a capped off volcano, he was ready to burst. The Dark Side was clouding within him.
"... Easy..." Rey soothed, reaching out with the Force. She felt the pain he was going through, and it was immense. She felt his darkness amassing. This man always got himself so worked up and angry with something, he couldn't control himself. He had a temper alright... But she would be lying if she didn't have one either. She scoffed at such an idea, but they really were made for each other. Two hot-heads on two spectrums of the Force. Rey can control herself whereas Ben... Well. She has seen the rooms after his tantrums.
"Talk to me. What's troubling you?" She asked him, trying to send soothing waves of the Force against him.
He felt her presence in his mind. She wasn't searching through it, just... There. Being there, trying to remind him that there is someone there for him. He felt her attempts to relax him. He just didn't know how to react right now. He was in a dark place at the moment, trying to calculate what that voice said to him.
"You love me, right?" He asked her out of the blue, now looking up to her.
Rey was taken aback at first, but swiftly smiled.
"Yes. Why? What'd you do?" She asked suspiciously.
"I had a dream. Someone was speaking to me, I don't know who. It was a girl, and I thought I could recognize her voice but... The dream was too hazy." He explained.
Rey furrowed her brow, nodding as she listened to what was troubling him.
"She tried to convince me that you were using me. That it was all a ploy by the Resistance to end the war and capture me. That once we land down there, you'll turn against me and laugh in my face. She tried to say that you were sent by my mother to tempt me back." He muttered lowly, averting her gaze.
A ploy? She loved him, and her heart was always on her sleeve for him. Leia did try to get her to bring him home, but that is besides the point. Her love for him was real, and she really wanted him to come home and stay with her.
"I would never, Ben Solo. Listen to me, we are bonded by the Force. It's something that I really don't understand, but you know more than I how much I love you. I would never use you." She assured him, rubbing his back lightly.
Kylo felt his tension slowly dissipate. He was acting foolish, he knew through their bond that they had a deep connection to each other. So who is this girl? Who was trying to work him up and shove them apart? Then it hit him. The report. Two Knights of Ren who didn't report back in... Vestillio and... Sia. A feminine voice talked to him. It was Sia! How did she become powerful in the Force? They were always beneath him, how did she obtain such power? He needed to investigate such a problem.
"Rey, I know who it was." He quickly stated.
"Tell me." Rey quipped as they slowly neared the planet.
"Do you remember Sia Ren?" He asked her, leaning back in his chair as he helped put up the shields for the ship.
"The red-haired woman, yes. I remember you trying to make us friends." Rey replied.
"Something's happened, I don't know how. But I can feel it now, she is powerful in the Force. It's something I only sensed when I was near-" His eyes went wide.
"When you're near what?" She asked him, enthralled by what was going on. They defeated Snoke, who else could challenge them? Snoke was the last Force sensitive being who had such a power.
"Vader's mask. Snoke. Anything that the Sith touched..." He felt chills rolling through his spine. They released themselves from Snoke's grasp months ago. He was dead, he felt it. So how did Sia become so powerful?!
"Are you saying she's a... A Sith now?" Rey asked fearfully. A Sith? Snoke wasn't a Sith, not close. The last Sith were those monsters from the days of the Empire. Luke told her the story of Palpatine and Ren mentioned his grandfather a lot. If Sia Ren somehow, someway, became a Sith lord, they would have their work cut out for them.
"I don't know." Kylo answered truthfully, trying to use the Force for any information. But he knew, as a fellow dark-side user, that it hides those who use it. The entire Jedi Order couldn't sense Palpatine when he was the chancellor, right under their noses. He knew he wouldn't be able to find her with the Force. He needed more.
"Hey!" Rey spoke up, getting his attention. His head shot up.
"I wouldn't care if it was even Vader. We will beat her. We destroyed Snoke, we'll stop her. You're Kylo Ren, grandson of Anakin Skywalker, you aren't afraid of someone like her." Rey said confidently, flashing him a smile. She was trying to boost his confidence, but something intrigued her. He knew his family lineage, but she didn't. It made her think of what Kenobi was saying to her. That her journey and purpose wasn't over. Was he referring to her finding her family? No, she has found her family. She knew who she was and what her purpose was. That part of her life, longing to find her parents, was gone.
Kylo was amused with her fiery spirit, and nodded back to her. He held out his hand which she took, and he clasped it firmly.
"Together." He confirmed.
"Together." She confirmed.
"You know I hate cargo duty." The Neimoidian complained to his companion.
"We all do. We don't get paid enough for this crap." A taller Neimoidian replied. As they spoke, a small Imperial lander descended, landing by them.
"Hey... I don't remember a delivery being scheduled now." He warned, as the two guards now approached the ship.
"Excuse me, we need your pass, please. This world is off-limits to outsiders without cl-" A bolt flashed for just a moment, and he found it hard to breathe. He actually found it hard to think too as he looked down, a blaster hole within his chest. His body fell to the floor with a thud, the other guard raising a rifle.
Phasma walked down, holding her blaster up to the other guard defiantly.
"We do not need a pass, we are representatives from the New Order." Phasma sneered, kicking the dead corpse next to her as a warning to the shaky guard in front of her.
The Sith followed her out of the ship, a squad of stormtroopers running out too.
The guard slowly dropped his weapon and raised his green hands in the air, already trembling in fear.
"Wait, wait! Don't shoot! W-What do you need?" The guard pleaded.
"We need to speak to Ossel, Chairman of the Trade Federation." She demanded.
"Y-Yes, certainly! Please, follow me!" The guard bowed, running in a fast pace towards a large skyscraper.
Phasma was astonished the Trade Federation still existed. After the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, most Separatist faction members were dissolved or heavily sanctioned. The Corporate Alliance, Techno Union, and many other companies were immediately disbanded by command of Palpatine. However, the largest corporation, the Trade Federation, still existed. It was heavily sanctioned and weakened over many years until the rise of the New Republic. Those idiots. They must've rebuilt the Federation to try to rejuvenate their struggling economy, not caring about who actually ran it. Neimoidians are notoriously corrupt and money hungry, of course they will be doing secret dealings. It was in their nature, Phasma knew now why her Emperor brought them here. Why build a fleet when you could take a perfectly capable one from a massive trading federation. The ships would have to be outfitted with more weapons and shields, but that'll take considerably less time than having to build new ships from the ground up. Clever.
They were led into an elevator that seemed to last forever, ascending and climbing for eternity until they finally arrived at a penthouse. The guards in front of the door tried to step in the way, and they were immediately slammed back into the wall.
Phasma grimaced as she heard their skulls cracking, but they continued on, led by the terrified Neimoidian. They entered a fancy office, many art pieces decorating the walls. There was silky green drapes over the windows that just led a tad bit of sun rays into the room.
Ossel Odunaga, the Chairman of the Trade Federation, was cooing over two Twi'lek females who were dancing on his desk. He threw some credits at their feet. His eyes widened as he saw the intruders entering his office. The girls scrambled off the desk and ran into a back room, terrified.
"Ladies! Damn! What is the meaning of this?! Do you know who I am?!" Ossel yelled angrily to his uninvited guests, looking to the mortified guard in front who ran behind the group and out of the office.
Mortim walked forward, hands clasped behind her back as she smiled to the angry Neimoidian.
"I do! The great Ossel Odunaga, chairman of the Trade Federation. Now, do you know who I am?" The Sith questioned, glaring at his eyes.
"No! Get out, I will have you all arrested!" He curtly replied, pressing a button on his desk.
"Guards, get in here! We have intruders!" He demanded, but he soon found out that it was an order on deaf ears. No response was given.
"Guards?" He again tried, now anxiety beginning to creep its way into him. Where was his guards?
"Charming. I am Darth Mortim, Emperor of the New Order." Mortim reached out, pulling him up with the Force and slung him across the room, knocking down a small statue.
Ossel grunted as the marble broke. This woman was a sorcerer! He was petrified now.
"W-Wait! What do you want?" Ossel tried to plead, swiftly getting up and dusting himself off.
"That's better. Sit." The Sith barked, pointing back to his desk. "We have something to discuss."
"You are entering restricted airspace, identify yourself or you will be terminated!" The voice commanded over a loudspeaker in the ship.
Rey quickly pressed a button, talking back to the Resistance.
"This is Rey, I'm transmitting my clearance codes now. Stand-by." She swiftly punched in a few numbers and waited. She detested this menial security checks, but it was unfortunately a necessity. Especially since she was flying Kylo Ren's personal ship.
"You're cleared for landing. Platform 1. See you down there, Jedi!" The voice cheerfully replied.
"Thanks!" Rey exclaimed, turning to Ren who seemed amused with the whole exchange.
"What? I'm guessing that's now how you talked to your soldiers?" Rey guessed. Yeah, that's probably it. He probably screamed at them like, well, like Kylo Ren.
"You could say that, yes." Ben cheekily said.
"Hey that reminds me... Uh... Your lightsaber." Rey tried to ease this down gently, knowing his soon reluctance to do it.
"What about it?" The dark sider responded.
"You trust me right? Well I am going to hang on to that for you. It won't look good if Kylo Ren came armed into the Resistance base..." She told him truthfully. "Any chance of a truce might be put in jeopardy is all I'm trying to say."
Ren wanted to to say no. He wanted to tell her off for asking for his saber, disarming him in front of his enemies. But she was right, especially if those enemies are supposed to become friends. He detached his saber and held it to her.
"I want that back." Kylo demanded as she took it from him, attaching it to her belt.
"And I want you to play nice. No choking anyone. You hear me?" Rey retorted, not giving in to him.
"These rules weren't part of the deal." Kylo scoffed, folding his arms.
"You promised!" She said angrily back to him.
Ren groaned, rubbing his face. Play nice? How?! Those scum down there will antagonize him, he will want to snuff out their lives.
"Fine, fine! Just... Help me through it." Ben reletend.
"Of course! We're landing... You ready?" She asked him.
"Not really, but there's no turning back now." He answered truthfully as the two of them walked to the descending ramp. He could immediately smell the fresh air. It smelled like flowers, at least to him. Or was he standing too close to Rey and smelling her aroma? He didn't know, but he tried to keep his mind preoccupied. They walked down the ramp and many Resistance soldiers were standing there. What was beginning to be cheers and claps turned into shocked silence.
Rey walked down and behind her was Kylo Ren.
Thanks for reading friends! Expect more soon! Happy New Years to everyone!