Stepping over the threshold into the brightly lit room, Rey took in the various tables that held bolts of cloth and scattered assortments of needles, threads, ribbons and many other items she had no idea what they were used for.
In the middle of the room was a raised dais and three mannequins that wore three different types of tunics that she was to be fitted for. Rey didn't even try to hold back the smile that graced her lips. How he had managed to turn this room into her makeshift dressing room on such short notice was beyond her. She still didn't understand why she had to get formally fitted when she could mend her own clothes just fine. Looking down at her own clothes, Rey felt a twinge of pride for how long she had managed to keep this set looking nearly brand new.
She refused to let the spike of annoyance that shot through her take over at the thought of the possible implication that her clothes were not good enough and reminded herself that he had given her this gift out of, what she had hoped, was of good faith. Shaking herself from that train of thought Rey wandered around the room examining the array of items around her. She let her hands brush over the ribbons and fabrics before moving on to the different needles and tools. Not finding anything to hold her interest on the tables, Rey walked towards the dais and mannequins in the center of the room.
Eyeing the outfits Rey decided that she liked the middle one the best. The cut of the tunic was beautiful and when it was properly fitted, it would look beautiful on her figure. Hearing the doors open Rey's attention moved to who had entered the room. Filing in one by one, with who Rey assumed was the head seamstress at the lead, each woman bowed to her and took up their positions near the different tables.
"Hello, Empress. My name is Merida." The woman who came in at the lead bowed again to her. "I am the head seamstress. I am at your disposal and so are my assistants." Merida motioned to the three ladies who were waiting quietly.
"Hello." Rey smiled at Merida and at the women behind her.
"Which would you like to work on first?" She gestured to the mannequins.
Rey looked towards the three outfits and pointed towards the middle one.
"That one." Merida mirrored Rey's smile as she stepped over to take the outfit off the mannequin.
Handing it off to one of the assistants who moved fluidly towards Rey, the head seamstress gathered some pins from the table and followed behind her assistant.
Rey quickly stripped from her outfit and donned on the new set she was given before handing off her old tunic to the assistant.
"That is to stay with me, I will not have it thrown away." Rey tried to sound nice even though the command had fallen from her lips before she could stop it.
The assistant only bowed and hurried back to her work table where she folded the old set and put it to the side.
Rey could only blink as she watched the scene unfold before her. It was like a switch had been flipped. All four of the women, including the head seamstress, began to work and move with such efficiency that had Rey staring at them in wonder.
Like a machine.
Merida tugged at the fabric and began pinning. Rey watched nearly transfixed as the flurry around her set a comfortable silence.
Despite their speed Rey began to feel a dull ache growing from her lower back; and as she stepped into the last tunic, she released a heavy sigh as the process began all over again. Slouching just slightly to ease some of the tension she felt a sharp jab from Merida as she gave Rey a disapproving look. Straightening up Rey smiled sheepishly at her and did her best to stay still as they continued pinning. Merida gave a humorous smile and continued to work.
Feeling a gentle pull from the force Rey stiffened, probing into it until she realized where it was coming from. Daring a quick look over her shoulder Rey tried and failed to suppress the smile that threatened to break on her lips.
Kylo stood near the door with his arms linked behind him watching the seamstress work. His eyes trailed down the length of her as he stepped further into the room.
"You look stunning." He finally spoke, letting his arms fall to his sides. The women looked over at where he stood and stopped working, each taking a step back before exiting the room at his dismissal.
She could feel the heat crawling up her neck as she watched him admire her from across the room. It felt like an eternity when he finally moved towards her, stopping at the edge of the dais. Reaching up, Kylo let his hands caress her arms and sides before settling his hands on her hips.
Even with her standing on the dais Kylo was much taller than her and it thrilled her to look up at him as he peered down at her, his thumbs rubbing circles into her hips as he drew her closer. She reached for him, his hands moving up and away from her hips to her back as he embraced her.
It wasn't until he pulled away that Rey released a shaky breath, her eyes honing onto his lips as he looked down at her. Unsure where this was leading Rey did not move but instead kept her eyes glued to his, her breath uneven.
He tentatively brushed her cheek before cupping her face. She felt a different kind of warmth spread through her as she leaned into his palm.
She never realized just how much she enjoyed spending time with him, loved it even. And when she reached up to touch his face with her own hands it dawned on her how much she wanted it to be like this every day. To share small moments like these with him.
Without breaking contact Kylo leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. She watched as the corners of his lips tugged upward, as if he was fighting something within him.
And then he smiled, a smile that left her with no air in her lungs as she saw the peace in his face. It was the most beautiful thing she ever saw in her entire life.
Ben. This was Ben smiling at her. Something she never would have thought to see in her lifetime.
"This means everything to me. You've made me so happy, Rey."
"I love you." Rey's words had been barely a whisper, but he had heard them. She knew he heard because the moment they left her lips his eyes shot open and he instantly pulled her face to his claiming her lips with his own.
A thousand different emotions flowed wildly through her as she flung her arms around his neck and gave in. His kisses were eager, hungry, and passionate. Switching from long deeps kisses to light pecks as he trailed them down her neck made her mind go hazy as her legs shook, threatening to cave from under her.
Kylo must have noticed it and before she knew it she was in his arms as he strode towards the doors, placing a light kiss on her head.
Her heart dropped when the doors opened, revealing one of Kylo's commanders giving them a surprised look which quickly morphed into a disapproving one.
"What is it?" Kylo made no effort to hide the growl in his voice. Rey blinked up at him. It was a quick shift from Ben's smiling face to Kylo's angry one.
"I have updates regarding the movements of the bases." The commander refused to be deterred.
"Cant this wait?" Kylo's voice was on the edge of erupting.
"Supreme Leader with all due respect, I came here to discuss this matter with the Empress." The commander looked at her now as he spoke.
A deathly silence filled the hallway as the two stormtroopers that had accompanied the general shifted uncomfortably. The general however kept his face stoic, unfazed by the situation.
Rey climbed out of Kylo's arms and nodded towards the general, trying her best to not let the sudden attention unnerve her.
"Ma'am, One of our bases is under the control of a handful of Rebels, being that you had relations with them before, I'd figured you would be the best person to get an answer as to how we should proceed on reclaiming the base."
Rey gave Kylo a quick glance before speaking.
"They will listen to me if I go. There is no reason why we should lose any more troopers. They wouldn't want to lose anyone of their own either, if there is a fight that happens."
Rey could have sworn she heard Kylo's bones crack as he whipped his head towards her. Rey refused to look at him and instead focused hard at the commander in front of her. She could see the wariness in his eyes, see the pros and cons as he weighed them in his head. Letting her go and she turns would leave them all compromised but, letting her go and she reclaims the much-needed base and location without too much death on their side would be a great benefit to them all. Rey knew he didn't like her, didn't like the idea of a former rebel going in and there being a chance that the order could be compromised.
Rey saw the refusal in his eyes and before he had a chance to speak she stepped up to him.
"I am your Empress, and what I say will be so. I will go to the base and reclaim it for us. And when I do you can thank me for saving our troops."
"So be it." and with a bow to her and then Kylo the commander left, the troopers scurrying off after him.
When she knew they were out of ear shot Rey finally turned to look at Kylo. The storm that was brewing in his eyes had her swallowing once, then twice.
Kylo did say anything as he turned away from her and disappeared down the hall .
They had all been staring at the drawn-out map of the base on the table for hours now as Rey consulted with commander Tao. Kylo, much to Rey's surprise did not limit her but indulged her as she discussed the best landing options and any back plans in case her plan to speak with the rebels failed. He had not moved from his chair that he lounged in.
When Kylo failed to add any input of his own Rey finally addressed him.
"I can do this. Don't you trust me?" She did not let her insecurity seep into her voice as she sternly spoke to him.
His eyes only shifted from her to commander Tao.
"Of course. If the Empress deems it appropriate." The neutral tone grated on her but she refused to acknowledge it.
Instead Rey gave Kylo an approving nod before turning back to the commander.
"I would only need two soldiers. Nothing more." Hopefully nothing more, if the first plan of action went according to plan.
"You are the Empress. I don't advise such little protection from the Rebels." Commander Tao glanced between Kylo and her. The question he did not voice in his eyes.
"I know them. They wouldn't hurt me." Her voice was hard as she spoke, forcing the commander to look back to her.
He nodded waiting for Rey to dismiss him and when she did, he quickly turned on his heel and left, his voice reverberating through the halls as he shouted orders.
Much to her surprise and those around her Rey gave the order to clear the room. All except for Kylo. As troopers and commanders left the room Rey kept her attention focused solely on Kylo who looked just as surprised as everyone else.
When the doors shut behind the last trooper, Rey walked over to where Kylo sat and sighed.
"I will do this with or without your approval." Rey held her palm up before he could speak. "But no matter how I toss this in my head I still want you to understand, as my equal."
Rey could have sworn there was pride in his eyes as he took her in. He tilted his head to the side as he considered her. Rey refused to back down from silent challenge. Willing herself to remain as calm and collected as he had been.
"There is no controlling you Rey. Just unleashing you." She blinked at his words. The underlying meaning of them. The understanding in them as he spoke.
"I will prepare to leave now then." Rey nodded at her words as she backed away to leave. Kylo slowly stood and moved towards her. Rey was forced to look up at him as he towered over her.
"Come back to me soon, then." And kissed her in a way that seared her soul.
Rey stalked up the landing to the awaiting ship. Everything was ready to go, and as the nagging voice in her head kept telling her to turn back, Rey knew she couldn't wait to get this all over with and come back despite what she was planning on doing.
And as she was seated and everything locked down in preparation to leave, Rey looked back down the ramp to where Kylo stood. She could see the promise in his eyes, as if he too had a nagging voice in his head.
With a smile that held promises of her own, Rey signaled for departure.
She had let the pilot know that she had every intention of letting the rebels know she was there and to not take any course of action that was in a way to conceal them, and also that the storm troopers would stay behind to protect the ship until her return. One of the troopers had tried to protest but was effectively silenced when Rey glared his way.
This was for her to handle. She would handle this.
When they made to land Rey noticed how many of the rebels had appeared. She knew that it was a front, an effort to make it seem that they had more people hiding than there really was. This may have very well been all they had protecting this base, with maybe a few more to spare within.
Rey smiled at the thought, good. Some things never change.
When they finally touched ground and the doors opened Rey gave her final order before walking down the ramp towards the rebels that awaited.
Taking in the faces that crowded around Rey only truly recognized Finn who had taken up position at the front of the group. All of them armed and ready.
"Coming back to us Rey?" Finn was the first to speak, of course. Rey's eyes darted towards him as she ignored his question.
"You need to leave this base. Everyone needs to leave, if you want to live. This is your chance to live to fight another day." Rey made sure to speak loud and clear. Make sure that everyone visible and invisible to her heard her words and took heed.
Murmurs broke out around her and through the clearing. Finn's face fell as he took her in, this time with a different look in his eyes.
"You know we can't do that, Rey." Finn called out as he squared his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest.
Of course not. She knew that.
Which is why when the others behind him began shouting that they would not leave, that they would not give up, Rey signaled to the pilot who still sat ready in the ship.
A blast was shot out and hit right above the base ripping through the tall trees and vegetation which rained down on the rebels forcing them to disperse.
Screaming started then as the rebels began firing at the ship, which shot back in return causing devastating damage around them. But not actually hitting them. Rey had been very very clear on that. They needed to be scared away, not killed.
Finn's voice broke though the commotion telling them to fall back into the trees where the ship couldn't fly.
Rey followed after them on foot, keeping her eyes locked on Finn.
She had almost reached him when he peered over his shoulder and noticed her. He took off running deeper and deeper into the surrounding forest.
"Rey!"
She heard him call her name, but it only seemed to echo around her, throwing her off track a bit.
Only when the trees around her grew too dense to safely run through did she slow her pace.
"How could you do this Rey?!" Finn's voice roared through the silence.
Where are you?
"We are not the enemy!"
Slowing down to a walk, Rey's eyes darted through the greenery trying to make out his shape hidden behind the foliage and vegetation. She knew he was out there hiding, she could feel him. Feel his presence as he moved beyond her sight.
"I don't need to explain myself to you." her voice was sharp, her rising anger taking root.
No one knows who I truly am. Or the dark power that resides in me.
Keeping her footsteps light she swiftly darted through the fallen trees and up over the exposed roots of the towering trees around them.
"You're letting him control you!" The desperation in his voice was not lost on her, she hated it. He sounded weak.
She was closer to him now; she could feel his fear. Taste it.
As she tried to brush away a low hung branch Rey noticed the lightsaber that was clutched in her hand. She didn't realize she palmed it while she had been running after Finn.
She felt him move then and snapped her head to the right. The shift of his weight, while small, gave away his position. Rey felt herself ignite her saber and instead of the blue glow blade she knew a red fiery one roared to life.
"Take his life my child. Feed into the darkness." The voice was back, speaking to her, pushing her, egging her on. Again.
Gripping the saber tightly Rey circled to where Finn was hiding.
She didn't give him a chance to run as she burst through the bush, nearly on top of him. He looked up at her in fear, the color draining from his face as he looked at her saber.
"Please, Rey." Finn lifted his hands up in supplication as he tried to reason with her.
He was shaking, afraid.
She noticed the pained expression on his face, the betrayal in his eyes.
"Become who you are meant to be!" The voice roared at her, drowning out all other thoughts.
And as she finally angled the saber high at the cowering Finn before her she realized in that moment she felt nothing. Nothing at all.
She did not think, did not hold back as she swung down with all her strength on Finn whose screams pierced the sky before abruptly cutting off.
The voice in her head was silent.
The world around her was silent.
And Finn bleeding out before her, was silent.
Rey's eyes shot open as a scream tore through her throat and shattered the air around her.
"You cannot hide from your true self. You can only unleash it my young apprentice."
The voice chuckled as she stared into the dark room of her quarters with silent tears trickling down her face.
~To Be Continued~
