- I just can't stand it! The Resistance is hiding, like the cowardly rats they are, but am I allowed to do something? Prepare a shuttle, command the invasion on the Hosnian Prime? No! I have to stay here, ''take a rest'' after ''Starkiller Base fiasco'' and do NOTHING AT ALL! – Father's voice was getting louder and louder with each moment. If he didn't control himself, he would greatly interrupt the Holy Nap.
The fluffiest and sweetest honorary member of the First Order let out an intimidating growl without opening her yellow-green eyes.
Blond-Fur-Warm-Smell's hand immediately resumed petting her queen and empress.
- See, you scared Millicent! – she hissed protectively at Father.
- Yes, like something would scare my Royal Highness, my sweetie, my pumpkin... – his voice much more bearable, has got near before an assault took the form of a kiss placed between her ears.
She has been enduring such tortures before, and there was no chance of training her slaves better.
- Don't worry, Armie. I'm sure Kira will find you something weird to do soon. Enjoy the break while it lasts...
And now they were making even worse noises and she would not have it. Her humans' time was not to be wasted when they were finally both here. She rolled on her back and mewed demandingly.
Father and his mate have parted and started their litany of 'Oh's and 'Awww's.
Ah, the things she had to survive every day!
One question remained without an answer: why would the Force connect Kylo and Rey?
Like calls to like, Kira said oh-so-mysteriously, after she told him about all kinds of Force-bonds and hinted somewhat at one she had shared with somebody – probably the Deceased Husband.
No, no, no – he would not distract himself with the thoughts of Kira's husband. Kylo finally came to peace with the fact she would not be pressed to share anything about life before the First Order.
He could, reluctantly, respect it, and at the same time he found himself obsessively looking for clues about Rey. Where did she come from, did she have any family, what was her favorite color (oh, Ben, you're hopeless!) how did she met the traitor and were they... together?
If only Kylo knew where to find her!
He stood, looking through the viewport grimly, until the familiar sound of vacuum made him turn away and focus on a girl who wasn't there.
His lips were wet, and then his glove was wet too.
Did she finally see it? The ocean? Or was it just rain?
He could never, ever admit to anyone (other than Tai, who wouldn't betray his secrets) how much time he has spent thinking about her. Kylo liked to pretend he didn't need anyone (especially not his family), that he liked being alone and those few people he allowed to get closer happened to be there by accident.
His obsession with someone that month ago he didn't even know has existed... It was embarrassing, unexpected, terrifying and thrilling.
And it seemed permanent.
(if only Dad could see him now)
Of course he was interested in Rey!
He even had a reasonable explanation.
She was the first Force-sensitive from the outside he has encountered in a long time. And nobody he'd ever met was as strong as she was. Kira was... peculiar, Tai was intelligent, other Knights were... mostly useful in combat and Snoke... Snoke was old, wise and powerful. But he lacked that raw, untamed kind of power that sang from Rey's soul straight to Kylo's. He wanted to talk to her, to teach her, to train with her, to be near her... he wanted her ever since their minds collided.
(It was tale as old as time)
But Rey refused his offer. She was somewhere far away, with Skywalker no less, probably already established by the Resistance propaganda as their new hope, beacon of Light, all that is good and pure and innocent...
And Luke would be the one to show her the Force! That closed-minded, selfish, evil to the core, murderous, treacherous... old... bastard! He would cut Rey off of half of her nature, try to tame her and in case of a failure – kill Rey in her sleep. Ben knew exactly how this story goes.
He had to warn her - it seemed the girl had been hero-worshipping his evil Uncle. It would make things difficult, but not impossible.
Kylo tried (and mostly succeeded) to take out his anger and frustration in the new training quarters he shared with Kira.
The last days have been one of the most boring for the entire fleet.
Snoke has punished Hux with forced vacation (but he wouldn't let him leave the Supremacy) and wouldn't let anyone make a move against the Resistance. He wasn't demanding their presence in the throne room and was hopefully plotting something sinister.
Kira sure looked like the festivals came earlier – her eyes were bright, movements springy, her signature almost vibrating and somewhat stronger. It was like she knew about a secret that nobody else was aware of. He wondered, when she missed an easy struck at his face, whether it was something the Supreme Leader was keeping from him.
Surprisingly, he didn't even mind – if Snoke was busy cooking up some plan with Kira then the two of them were less likely to notice something weird about him. Even if Kira had some clue about the bond, Kylo instinctively knew that despite her possessiveness, she was actually... delighted by the thought that he was given one.
She seemed unstoppable today, but how could she be so happy a mere days after her precious Starkiller was literally blown up?! They had some serious fights about the whole thing and now she was acting like that was nothing.
When he dared to ask her that she only said that the Starkiller Base was a success, that the Base has fulfilled its purpose and there were far more exciting things to come.
Force, Kylo would never understand women!
Later, he stood half-naked in his quarters, wearing those awesome high-waisted leather pants that Kira seemed to despise so much, remembering that annoyed face she made at them once, and out of the sudden started wondering what Rey would think about his fashion choices.
Immediately, the now familiar sound filled his ears.
Oh, kriff.
Rey'd called him a monster before, and she was right. He could never deny it.
Do all the monsters feel so much? Was that what made them monsters?
But no, it was his actions that brought him here, to the warm embrace of the Dark Side. The choice he made... the choice that broke him in two, that made him even weaker than he was before.
He kept on replaying their conversation in his mind.
Why did you hate your father?
Why did you kill him?
It was almost impossible how much they were alike. Impossible and heartbreaking.
He won't be thinking about Han Solo. He killed his past and he was finally free.
Right?
He couldn't let anyone see him so weak... but he needed to talk to someone, some random person who would forget everything once Kylo feels more like himself. Memory of dragging away one of Phasma's troopers came to him. He stomped through the corridors like a hunter before he found one of the squads marching nearby.
Perfect.
They all froze and saluted. He has never been more aware of his face bared for the world to judge, but he nodded royally and pointed his finger accidentally at one of them.
(As we know, there is nothing accidental about the Force)
- You. Follow me. Others can go.
Han was speechless (but according to Captain Conserve, ''Good trooper is silent trooper") as he let his son lead him in unknown part of the Supremacy. The flagship was huge so it wasn't like he sightsaw everything, anyway.
Seeing Ben's face so close, so vulnerable... Kriff. He was never good with emotional drama.
Finally, Ben nodded to him to sit and without further ado, began to talk.
About Han.
It was... opportunity like no other, and Han shamelessly allowed his boy to pour his heart out in front of supposed stranger.
The sooner he brings Ben home the better. He had to resist the impulse to pick him up, like when Ben was still a tiny baby and not towering over him grown-up man, and get the kriff out of enemy territory. Kira's plan be damned.
On the other hand, the last time they saw each other his little Ben tried to kill him.
- ... and then he touched my face and gave me that look... Like I was the greatest disappointment of his life! – Ben continued, not aware that his audience got somewhat distracted. He registered Ben's last words and a devastated look on his son's face.
Kira's warning brushed his thoughts, but Han couldn't remain silent.
- What are you talking about?! You kill your dad and he touches your face? If this is not some non-verbal forgiveness... thing, then I don't know what you want.
Ben was quite freaked out that the stormtroopers can talk. You'd think he was part of the army for some years! He did eventually get a grip.
- Forgiveness?
And so Han began to explain, as dispassionately as he could pretend.
Time has passed and with it came another Force-bond connection. Kira was safely locked inside her meditation sphere. She knew she could not endure that one. Definitely not sober, and she couldn't afford herself to lose control now. Few hours... In a few hours everything will end.
Ben will be happy... That's all that matters.
She let her signature wander, felt the shock of familiarity when she reached the island and mentally jumped away.
Relax...
I'll come back for you
Everything was blue and there was no Bond...
Sweetheart
She knew that place as well and she would not linger...
I promise
She crawled out from the sphere before it even fully opened.
All that was left was to avoid Kylo, keep Han close and somehow find a safe time and place for Falcon to come and pick up the three.
She was curled up in the most comfortable chair in the command chamber, watching certain surveillance tape, shared by Hux for her personal view only.
(Rey's hair looked really good! She should have made it her signature hairstyle after three-buns-of-death... Oh no, it was Hux and Kylo's fashion dramatics rubbing off on her, wasn't it?! Kira was weak. How did Phas manage to keep her sloppy blond mane safe from those two?)
Kira was so engrossed in watching herself being thrown around the throne room that she forgot to pay attention to the kids.
Said kids being one feared-by-all, rumored-to-be-goddess Captain and one supposedly retired smuggler.
Three blaster shots and an angry scream later, she looked up from the datapad to see Han and Phasma exchanging hateful glares.
They were making her miss the best part, weren't they?
Apparently, Han had enough of being ordered around while wearing his stormtrooper disguise these last few days and decided to use a definitely-real weapon. His last shot would make the statistics of all stormtroopers' shots in history go wild.
She sent one last longing look at the screen (Ben's arms as wide as always) before standing up and cutting off the verbal part of the fight. Was that what Finn felt every time when she was yelling at Poe instead of getting on with the job?
Luckily, their finally managed to contact the Millenium Falcon and Chewie. And thank Maker Phasma wasn't fluent in Shyriiwook. Kira could take her away and let Han handle his best friend, who was quite suspicious of him coming back to life and being so conveniently close. Convincing the Wookie took some colorful stories and details that Kira wished she'd never heard.
When Chewbacca has agreed to land inside Supremacy's hangar, he didn't tell Han who was he bringing aboard the Falcon, and neither did he share all the details with his co-pilot - who was currently meditating, of all things! Let these two idiots gape at each other when the time comes.
He couldn't wait to see everyone together and happy at last, but for now he had at least two people to rescue from the heart of the First Order.
She was helping Phas put a small string of instant-bacta on when she felt it.
Not Snoke's death, but that has obviously happened.
No.
What she felt was deliciously familiar power of one Ben Solo: freed, roaring, untamed, only his to command.
He was his only master now.
Kira left Captain in good hands – her own – and she commed Armitage while walking through the corridor as fast as she could without alerting the troopers.
- Huxie, be a sweetheart and secure Supreme Leader's turbolift for me and me only, will you?
He sighed theatrically.
- You know, I'm the General, not some random, minor officer...
- Chop-chop – she sing-songy and ended the comm.
Before she entered said turbolift, Kira saw a group of stormtroopers, gossiping and turning their visors at her nervously. If they saw Rey, they must wonder what unfamous Sith Lady will do once she meets her rival for Kylo Ren's heart. She made sure her cowl was covering her face.
Dark Side twirled inside her treacherously, but Kira only frowned and pushed it back to its place.
Inside the turbolift she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ignoring a certain memory from the very same place.
She's planned it all for years. Almost everything, anyway. Her idea wasn't flawless, but it was the only thing she had. Exegol was no more, Snoke was dead, Ben was free...
He just needed one, final push.
He pushed away the body of the last of Snoke's guards, not interrupting the intense eye-contact with Rey.
The fight was over, but his heart was still beating wildly.
She looked moved as well.
The way they worked together, how unstoppable the two of them seemed... No one could ever beat them. For the first time, Kylo Ren felt like he found his place in the galaxy.
Who said a person cannot be a home?
That was The Moment.
In another life, in another time, in a bit different world (or maybe in this, but earlier?), the wraith of Palpatine would choose this moment to influence Kylo, obscuring Rey with a vision of ruling the galaxy together, a vision of unlimited power.
In this world (or maybe in that other, but later?), Palpatine was gone and Kylo has ignored that tiny but loud, selfish part of himself on behalf of the girl, who changed so much.
You will not bow before Snoke.
You will turn.
Perhaps, there was some other kind of power. One that the throne of Supreme Leader won't give to him.
Freedom.
So he turned from the pitiful chair, on which the monster's remains rested, and focused on her.
Approaching Rey, he mused briefly over all the speeches he might have prepared earlier. He handed her the saber over, and clipped his own back to the belt. The way she looked at him... Kylo's mind went blank. What was he going to say..?
Dad must be laughing at him from the afterlife.
He swallowed and was about to speak... When the turbolift door at the other end of the throne room has opened.
Instinctively, he moved the girl back a little and opened himself up to the Force. They will never take them alive!
Seeing who the newcomer was, he relaxed. Rey, on the opposite, took a deep breath and turned on the azure blade at the sight of lady Kira Ren, with her golden eyes of predator and smooth movements of a warrior.
So familiar, so dear...
Until recently, the only one standing at his side.
- Rey, wait – he asked gently. – Let me talk to her. Kira is not our enemy.
Kira, who was quite close already, must have heard it, because he saw the characteristic lines at the corners of her eyes. He straightened up - even though she was wearing those weird boots, he was still taller - and looked intently at those golden irises.
- She's with me – he declared and waited for his friend's reaction.
::You're sure about that?:: - she answered through their training bond. Weird. They haven't used it for some time... Kira did explain to him that in a natural way his bond with Rey must have obscured it.
::Yeah. Because he's with me:: - they both suddenly heard Rey's fierce mental voice, inside their minds, in the middle of the bond.
Kira seemed mildly surprised, but Kylo wasn't. After all, their mysterious connection has allowed them to touch each other despite the galaxy separating them. What couldn't it do? Especially now, without Snoke suffocating Kylo with the tentacles of his power.
(A vision from a few hours ago flashed through his eyes: him and Rey sharing the throne. A scarlet saber-staff in her hand. Where would Kira be then? Would she be loyal to both of them? He felt a sting of pain in his chest at the thought that she would have to make a choice soon.)
- If you say so... – said Kira out loud, with a peculiar look on what was visible of her face. If he didn't know better, he would think she's proud of Rey. And yet they stood on opposite sides of the conflict and had just met for the first time, they were strangers to each other.
Kira, of course, did not allow him to ponder longer.
- I see I've missed the best part. Snoke – dead, the guards – gone. No fun with you, lovebirds – she sighed mockingly and she held out a pile of documents to him (where did she, Grandvader, get the paper aboard the Supremacy?), which she had so far kept hidden in her cavernous purple robes.
What a strange selection of clothes, Kylo thought stupidly. Snoke would never agree to such a royal color worn by his subordinate.
But Snoke was gone.
As new Supreme Leader, Kylo would never limit his ally with a dress-code.
Never mind – what matters was that he had arms full of papers. Some looked like official reports, others like prints from the holonet... When he looked closer, he noticed between them something that looked like one of Kira's personal journals, that he had once read through so carelessly.
Rey was looking distrustfully at Kira, who – completely unconcerned - turned to Kylo.
- Phas has cleared out the entire level, the Millenium Falcon is probably right now landing in the hangar... She will be taking one more person other than you, but I doubt that another passenger will disturb you. Here, at the top – she nodded at the pile. – You have everything you need for the Resistance to welcome you with open arms. Mommy will be proud of you, Ben – she winked at him. Kylo decided to ignore the name for now. – Looks like you've been feeding them some quite useful information, preparing the Resistance to fight Snoke. And now, after the coup, you're coming back home triumphantly as their hero – they could only stare at her, bewildered.
- Here comes the hope for peace in the galaxy! - She spread her hands theatrically, then curtsied.
- And what, you're that hope? – Rey asked sceptically.
- I... I don't understand – Kylo mumbled. Useful information? Coming home? Hero?! – Why...
- Why are you helping us?! – Rey cut him off, blushing furiously. – You're kriffing Kira Ren, the terror of the rebels, Snoke's ward! You tortured Poe, commanded the stormtroopers' reids, blew up some innocent planet! You're evil to the core, you're... you're...
- Female? Stranger? Well, I am definitely not a handsome, seductive young man, torn between two sides of the conflict, with a deep voice, thick black curls and puppy eyes! No offense, Princess - she added apologetically to Kylo and added lightly - You know I love you.
Whether at the word 'love' or provoked by a tender nickname, Rey turned from red to almost purple and the Force swirled dangerously around her.
Kira and Kylo froze ...
- You are a Sith! - Rey finished triumphantly. She calmed down as suddenly as she had flared with anger.
Kira sighed.
- And there I thought you have learnt something. The world is not black or white, and neither is the Force. Every Jedi hated someone. Every Sith loved someone. Neither side has ever really won, the only thing that can succeed is the balance. Let the past die - Kylo and Rey exchanged glances over Kira's shoulder. - But don't forget about it, just begin something new.
She ran her hand over the cowl as if she wanted to take it off. Kylo was fully supportive of the initiative.
- I know you don't understand me now, Rey – Kira's voice was surprisingly gentle. - There is something that might help you ... And I hope you'll try. You see for yourself what enemies can become in the right ... conditions ... "Kira raised her eyebrows meaningfully. - You'll soon find out that I have no reason not to help you.
She turned, saddened, and Kylo suddenly realized that the shape of her eyes was identical to that of Rey's. How could he have missed it before?! Maybe even their noses ... He tried to discreetly look at them, but then Kira was moving away from them towards the oculus.
- Nothing, no distractions, not this time. Even if I were to destroy them all by myself - she muttered under her breath, as if she had suddenly forgotten that she was not alone and the sounds carried far away in the throne room.
Kylo felt the dark side rising in Kira like a powerful wave ... But suddenly it was gone. Just like that.
Kira sighed again, this time in a satisfied way. When she turned back to them, her eyes seemed darker than usual.
He didn't know why it touched him so much, but it did.
- All right, kids! You'll be leaving soon. We have two hostile sides to bring together, families to reconcile, and one death to fake. Remember to invite me to the wedding or I'll get lonely - she tried to sound carefree.
Watching Ben and Rey stand shoulder to shoulder in the throne room dotted with dead bodies, Kira felt incredibly lonely, as lonely as she had been before meeting Kylo again on the Finalizer. A nasty, too familiar feeling pierced through her.
They were staring at each other doe-eyed and she started to imagine her life after that. Lonely Empress amongst the thousands of people in love, watching the dyad create a family, getting married, having children, maybe helping them sometimes... Being known as 'Auntie Kira'... It won't be so bad, right?
And then - just like that! - as if it were to be like that from the beginning, in response to this overwhelming loneliness, just like years ago (although for some it has only been a few hours), she felt THAT signature in the Force, right there, where the most painful of all voids had resided for so long.
...How?
Forgotten turbolift door has opened with a quiet hiss...