Kylo knew that he should've reacted when he heard the first blaster shot, but all he cared about was the girl he held in his arms.
In the back of his mind, he knew that he probably shouldn't have pulled her to him, but from the moment he met her panicked gaze and had realised their bond had been cut away, he had felt a physical tug like nothing else.
He hadn't realised how much he relied on their connection. It had been there for so long, a constant sensation in the back of his mind. But now, there was nothing. Worse than nothing.
A distinct lack of something. A missing something. Like a phantom limb, or a half-remembered dream.
So, when Rey had fallen against him and he had caught sight of those tormented brown eyes staring up at him, a wave of possession had swept through him.
He had to save her. This was their bond; only they knew what it was like to suffer.
Protect the scavenger.
Their embrace was meant to soothe. A reminder that although they couldn't hear each other, they were still there. Together.
Pulling him out of his thoughts, Rey's hands came up, grasping at his shirt as the screaming started.
Kylo felt her flinch as wave after wave of Resistance soldiers poured into the pleasure tent, their guns pointed at the semi-circle of Knights.
Without the Force or their lightsabers, Kylo knew fighting their way out would be possible - but far too risky.
Next to him, he felt Vicrul lean in, tension rolling off the blonde Knight in waves.
'We can take them. Just say the word,' Vicrul hissed.
Kylo shook his head, his eyes narrowing as he took in the advancing Resistance soldiers. He hated to admit it, but he was almost proud of Meione. How she had accomplished this feat was impressive.
They really were in a tight spot.
'Get the Knights. Do it, NOW!' A voice called out from the group, making Kylo clench his jaw.
Damn. I should've listened to Meione.
'You're not saying we surrender, are you?' the blonde Knight snarled.
From his periphery, Kylo saw his Knights all turn to look at him. He didn't have to read their minds to know the disbelief on their faces.
'What other choice do we have?' Kylo shot back.
'Fight. This is a band of mongrels. Untrained, undisciplined, worthless. Even with the little Empress here, we're stronger than all of them,' Vicrul shot back.
'Poe?' The girl in Kylo's arms called out, and Kylo tightened his hold on the wriggling scavenger.
Poe?
Kylo looked down in confusion as Rey twisted away from his embrace.
'Rey? REY!' A male voice from the Resistance ranks made Kylo frown. It was familiar.
A soldier darted out from the ranks, his face pale as he caught sight of the scavenger.
Kylo knew him. It was that curly haired pilot from Jakku. The one with the droid.
Poe Dameron.
Kylo watched in disbelief as Rey staggered forward, meeting the pilot in the centre of the room. In a movement that had Kylo clenching his fists, the Resistance fighter had swept Rey in a tight embrace.
'We thought - we thought we lost you,' the pilot said, his words carrying over to where the Knights stood. Kylo could hear the relief in his voice.
'I'm fine Poe, as you can see,' Rey's voice was muffled as she clung onto the pilot.
'Perfect. She has a friend,' Vicrul remarked, crossing his arms in front of his chest and eyeing Rey and Poe with disdain.
'Maybe this is a good sign?' Cardo leaned in, his eyes still fixed on the immobile line of soldiers.
'Don't be an idiot,' Vicrul retorted.
Maybe he's right, Kylo thought, his eyes stealing away from the embracing couple and to the battalion of Resistance fighters.
It was clear to Kylo that Poe was leading this charge, and with his attention caught up elsewhere, it gave the Supreme Leader time to think out their strategy.
He didn't know what Meione had done to them, apart from somehow drugging them to suppress their connection to the Force, but he doubted it was permanent. There was no power in the galaxy that could properly cut somebody off from the Force, unless they willed it.
So, was this just going to be a waiting game? Could they play the Resistance long enough until they got even the slightest advantage again?
He knew that his Knights valued physical acts of aggression above all else, but he was different to them.
He was still Han Solo's son, after all, and that silver-tongued smuggler had charmed his ways out of trickier situations than this.
Could he live up to that legacy?
'Poe. Poe, we need to talk. Please,' Rey said, her voice soft as she addressed the soldier.
Instantly, Kylo's attention snapped back to the pilot and the scavenger. He knew he had missed something important, but he recognised her tone. It was in the same manner that he had heard in his dream. But now, in the flesh, it was one thousand times more seductive and powerful.
He watched with fascination as Rey pulled away from the pilot, holding him at arm's length. She was facing away from him, but Kylo could easily picture her face as she pleaded.
How could this jumped-up flyboy deny her anything when she was being this tempting?
'Rey, this isn't a good time,' Poe argued, shaking his head.
'Please. Five minutes,' the scavenger begged.
Kylo narrowed his eyes as he watched the inner turmoil battle across the pilot's face.
What was she doing?
He turned back to stare at the scavenger, whose hands were clenched into fists as she gazed down at the pilot. Not for the first time that night, Kylo's attention was drawn to the scars that covered her back.
He had to admit, when he had first saw them on the stage they had no draw to him. They were just the evidence of a rough upbringing on a nameless girl.
But now, knowing that Rey wore them and had borne them with such indifference, he had something akin to morbid curiosity for them. He dearly wished she had never suffered through the treatment that caused them... but they were part of her. They were the marks of a survivor, the branding of someone strong.
And this strong girl was fighting for her corner in front of an extermination squad.
'I'll give you two. After that, you're going back on the Falcon,' Poe relented. 'Meione?'
The orange-skinned creature moved through the group, raising an eyebrow at the pilot.
'Is there somewhere private I can talk to Rey?' Poe asked.
'My office. There,' she said, pointing to an indiscriminate door that was built off to the left of the stage.
'Two minutes. In the meantime - Red and Gold teams?' Poe called.
The pilot scanned along the Knights, finally resting on Kylo's face.
'Get them in manacles and gags.'
'So, talk? And Maker, don't you lie to me. This whole situation is already completely out of hand,' Poe slammed the door behind them, folding his arms across his chest as he stared at the scavenger.
The small office was dingy and cramped, perfectly suited to someone of Meione's shortened stature. Rey leant back, perching on the too-low desk, watching Poe as he began pacing up and down the small room. There was too much energy coursing through the pilot. He was like a bomb about to explode.
She had only met Poe a few times, and still wasn't used to his rash decision making and hot-headed approach to life. She didn't know how he was going to react to her news. She needed him to remain calm.
'What do you want me to say?' she asked, her voice quiet as she stared down at the furious man.
'Well, how about why I just saw you in the arms of that murderer?' Poe asked, the accusation thick in his voice.
'That isn't what it looked like, Dameron. And seriously, you want to start there?' Rey countered, a blush rising in her cheeks as she thought back to the sensation of being held only moments before.
When she had moved out of Ben's embrace, she felt his hesitation as she slipped out of his arms. But seeing Poe amongst the Resistance fighters was enough to drop her hold.
'It looked pretty cosy from where I was standing. Where did you go? Last intel we heard was that you were on board of The Supremacy when it went down. How did you survive anyway? What are you even doing here?' Poe shot back, the fury rising in his voice.
'It's a long story. And I could ask you the same thing,' Rey said.
'Meione, of course. Once she knew the Knights were coming into orbit, she sent a message over. We had ships nearby, ready. But we never thought we'd score Kylo Ren. That was an unexpected perk,' Poe smirked, his hand toying with his blaster that he had strapped to his hip.
'But I don't understand. Aren't you still trying to sort the base out in Crait?' Rey asked.
'Leia insisted. She said that just a skeleton crew is needed on the planet. She said Meione's calls are prerogative,' Poe shrugged.
'And why do you want the Knights?' Rey questioned.
'Why do you want to know? I'm still confused as to why you're here... Was Kylo trying to sell you?' Poe asked, stopping in front of her, confusion plainly written all over his face.
'No, why would you say that?' Rey said.
The pilot gestured to her outfit. 'I wouldn't call that standard-issue Jakku clothing. Don't get me wrong, it suits you.'
'This isn't the time for flattery.' Rey felt her cheeks get warm. She had forgotten she was in this ridiculous gown, with her whole back and history exposed. She hoped Poe wouldn't prod too deeply into that wound, because she had to concentrate. 'I'm here because I chose to be.'
'You chose… Wait. You want to be here with the Knights? And Kylo Ren?' Poe stammered.
He started to move up and down the small office once more, running his hands through his hair. Rey could feel the frustration rising off him - and the confusion.
'I joined him. On The Supremacy.' Rey admitted. There was no point hiding anything anymore.
'Kylo Ren?! You joined the First Order?!' Poe shouted, glaring at Rey.
'No. I joined Ben. I took Ben's hand. Not Kylo Ren. Poe -' she started, reaching forward to grasp his arm and to halt his incessant movement. She felt as though she was trying to reason with a wild animal. '- You have to understand. It was Ben. Not Kylo.'
She didn't know if she was making sense, but to her own mind it was perfectly clear. After spending just a few days with the new Supreme Leader, she knew there were two entities in play. One was Kylo Ren – the cold, calculating and terrifying leader. But the lesser one was still Ben. The warmer, sweeter, and infinitely more broken man.
'Ben? You're saying you joined Ben Solo? You're deluded. He's poisoned your mind!' Poe snatched his arm out of her hold, his expression horrified.
'No! I'm trying to save him. I can get him back. Away from the dark side. Please Poe, you must leave and tell that to Leia. She'll understand,' Rey pleaded.
'She's grieving, Rey. She's completely distraught. If you don't remember, that creature out there killed Han,' he snarled.
Rey inhaled sharply, the sound of the smuggler's name feeling like a punch to her stomach.
'But she loves her son. There's light in the darkness there. Trust me Poe, there's still so much good in him,' Rey said.
'That's a lie, and you know it. No. He's corrupted you. You need help. You need to come home with us,' Poe argued.
'I can't, Poe. I'm getting somewhere, I know I am,' Rey clenched her hands into fists. This was exactly what she didn't want to happen.
'You'll do as you're told, Rey,' Poe warned. 'Don't make me pick between the Resistance and you. Because you won't like the outcome.'
'I'm not a child Poe, I know what I'm doing,' Rey growled.
'You're deserting us. And what about Leia? And Finn? They still think you died on The Supremacy. How do you think they'll react if I said you've defected?!' Poe shouted.
'Leia will understand if you tell her what I told you. Finn…' she trailed off, her mind's eye filled with the beaming face of her best friend.
'He'll be heartbroken. He'll never forgive you. Are you really ready to make that sacrifice?'
'I - Finn...' Rey's mind was a muddle of confusion. She couldn't think properly.
Was she going to do this?
'I thought as much. Rey, come on. It's us. Your family,' Poe was crooning now, reaching up to brush away the tears that were slipping down her cheeks.
'Poe. I can't - Finn. I can't -' Rey started, shaking her head.
'You're right. You can't leave us. Rey... Can't you see how crazy this all is? Come on, let's end this now.'
Rey paused for a moment, watching the hope gleam in his eyes. He was right; they had to end it. She knew what she had to do... But she didn't know if she had the strength to do it.
Rey nodded, watching as a wide smile broke across Poe's face.
'Long two minutes, Dameron,' A Resistance member muttered.
Poe ignored him, his hand tugging Rey as they joined the crowd once more.
'Did they give you much trouble?' Poe asked, glancing down at the kneeling Knights. Rey's eyes widened as she saw the subdued figures kneeling on the floor, each one gagged with their hands bound behind their back.
'Nah, they're pussycats without their weapons and magical Force powers. Weaklings in fact,' the Resistance fighter laughed, leaning forward and landing a heavy kick in Vicrul's stomach. The blonde Knight groaned but didn't buckle.
Rey scanned along the Knights, until she finally came across the steady gaze of Ben. She was surprised to see a fresh gash above his eyebrow, the blood making a pathway down his cheek.
Unlike the rest of the Knights, there wasn't any anger in his eyes. Only sorrow as his gaze tracked her face.
She wished she could reach out to him, tell him all the unsaid things she had bottled up during her talk with Poe.
'Good. Then it's time to load them up. But first - Rey?' Poe's address made her turn her head. Her stomach dropped as she saw him holding out his blaster.
'Shoot Kylo Ren.'
'What? Why?' she asked, her eyes flying back to Ben's face. The shock that must've been clear on her face was mirrored in his.
'He's an enemy of the Resistance. You should be honoured to do this,' Poe shrugged.
'You've never been this brutal before Dameron. What's changed?' she spat.
'What's changed? The fact we lost good men and women just a few days ago, Rey. All thanks to this man. He's a blight,' Poe argued back.
Rey narrowed her eyes as she took in the pilot's furious expression.
Oh.
The realisation dawned as she felt the anger roll off him.
He's grieving. He's in pain. This isn't the Poe I know. This man is far more dangerous.
'Rey, do it. What have you got to lose?' Poe said, pushing his blaster forward.
'What would Leia say? You'll be hanged for this,' Rey spat.
'The Commander isn't here. Rey, I told you, you must pick a side. You know he wouldn't hesitate doing the same to you,' Poe argued back.
After a moment of deliberation, Rey took the gun from the pilot, her hand shaking under the weight of the weapon and what it signified.
She turned back to Ben. His eyes said it all. There was fury, worry and above all, acceptance in his gaze.
He was giving up.
His fate had been decided.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered.
Placing a shaking finger on the trigger, Rey stroked her thumb down the side of the gun. Flicking the switch, she looked at her target.
'Like I said, I'm sorry,' she called.
The blast went off, and Rey knew she had done it. There was no going back now.
Author's note: Sorry for the minor delay, this is a lengthy chapter that needed a lot of thought. I do really appreciate all the reviews, follows & favourites - they genuinely do keep this going.
Another huge thank you to my editor 'Across the Stars' - despite the quarantine, she's still doing her usual magic.
I hope everyone is staying safe in this mental time.
