Rey quickly covered her chest with her arm, she bent over, her back to him in an attempt to shield her body. She heard movement behind her and a warm jacket was drop over her shoulder.

"I mean you no harm, my name is Devron."

"Kira," she replied after a beat.

"Well Kira, do you think you can stand?"

She peered at him, his eyes were soft and he held his hand out to her like she was a frightened animal. She stared at his hand her heart in turmoil. She squeezed her eyes shut. She needed to control herself. She felt him kneel before her warmth radiating from him. Remember the mission.

"I understand if you don't wish to be touched, but can you stand?" She nodded. He smiled softly at her and they rose together. "Come, we can go through the servers corridors, no one will see you."

She let herself be led, as tired as she was Rey carefully took in every room they passed, examined every entrance and structure, he took her to a large chamber. Unlike the ballroom it was plainly furnished, almost barren, she caught the barest glimpse of ship designs through a half-open door.

He sat her down on a soft couch before picking up a nearby commlink, "get me a medic droid." She watched him carefully as he then prepared a drink for her, the liquids unfamiliar.

"Here drink this," he held out a warm cup and she eyed it warily. He kneeled in front of her again and took a sip, "Upon my honour I mean you no harm, it's perfectly safe." She took the cup and cautiously sampled it, it was delicious and sweet and eased her bruised throat.

"Thank you," Her voice came out low and hoarse.

He nodded, "A few minutes ago a waiter who is a personal friend of mine came bursting into my private quarters, he told me he had been attacked and that there was a girl in trouble. If it's okay can you tell me what happened?"

She shuddered again remembering the feeling of holding their lives in her grip. "The men… the ones who attacked, I knew them, the leader is called Grindal Bolt. We work at Pluma factory as mechanics on the M 11-10 project."

"My project?"

She gave him a wane smile, "Yes Mr. Devron. Him and his associates are known to be cruel, rumour is that his brother is a high ranking Corellian official so they are never questioned."

"Yet you challenged them?"

Her response was immediate, "it was the right thing to do."

Devron stilled, taken aback by her words, he assessed the girl more closely. "How was that you ended up alone. I'm assuming they left but why?"

"I… I don't know. I was so confused, all I remember was the pain and how I wished it would stop, then you arrived."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door and Devron let in the medic droid. Devron left the room and Rey undressed so the droid could attend to her, covering her wounds with bacta bandages. She felt oddly numb to the pain. There was silence in her mind after Rey had closed herself off from the Force. Her soul rebelled at the loss but there was a welcome absence of being disconnected to those creatures outside. She breathed deeply, reminding herself of the mission and hesitantly opened herself up.

Her body immediately began to shake, it was if a hurricane had crashed into her she could feel the Force thunder though her, her very fingertips felt alive with power. It was overwhelming but she forced herself to slowly touch Devron's mind. She came up against steel walls, as tall as the skyscrapers of Coruscant. No. Rey hurled herself against it to no avail, her energy was frayed and unruly and it crashed against Devron's shields but she knew her efforts wouldn't even register. With one last thud, she withdrew disheartened.

"Your wounds should completely be healed within 3 days, I'll leave you with a change of bandages." The medic droid's voice was soft and Rey thanked her.

Devron returned to let the droid as she reached the door the droid turned back and waved at her. It was such a cute gesture that left her feeling warm, she waved back smiling sincerely for the first time that night, unknown to her Devron watched her intently.

"Are you okay Kira?" Devron's voice was soft with concern.

"I'm fine the bacta was just a little unnerving."

"You do not need to worry about Bolt and his followers anymore, I had them removed. I can arrange for a shuttle to take you back to the factory, or you can stay here tonight."

The thought of remaining at this depraved place horrified her, "thank you but my companion will be looking for me."

Shook entered Devron's gaze and for a moment Rey was startled. He was always calm; she quickly summoned her power again to test his shields but somehow they felt even stronger.

"You are with someone? Of course, you are. What is his name? I'll have him fetched immediately."

"Kes Rapier." She watched him as he spoke through his commlink. Whatever thought or emotion that seized him passed just as quickly and Rey was left even more confused.

It must have been only a few minutes but Rey immediately caught the feel of Poe's energy hurling towards them, he came bursting into the room, two security guards trailing after him, Devron waved them off and Poe was instantly at her side.

"My gods, what happened? Are you okay?" Poe kneeled before her but before he could touch her she held her hand out stopping, he looked at her confused, his expression befret. She reached out with the Force to soothe his heart.

"I am fine these wounds will heal soon."

"It's absolutely not fine. I've been looking for you for ages and then two guards come to tell me you've been attacked."

"The assailants have already been taken care of, and a medic droid has seen to her injuries." Poe turned to Devron who looked like civility incarnate.

"Thank you for taking care of my friend."

"It was a pleasure," they clasped each other's arm in an almost excessively firm handshake. "I have arranged for a transport shuttle to take Kira back to Pluma factory."

"That would be greatly appreciated, you are as honourable as people say you are."

As soon as Rose caught sight of Rey, her eyes grew wet. She flung herself at her and Rey clasped her tight letting her warmth seep into her tired mind. She recounted the events to Poe and Rose now that they were alone but she kept the part about the dark side to herself. She wanted to bury it, to make it disappear so it was as if it never existed at all.

"So they have no memory of what you did?" Poe questioned.

"None, their minds were easy to manipulate. Devron didn't mention how they would be handled but he assured me he and his followers will no longer be working here."

"Those bastards deserve to be thrown into a black hole." Rose's voice was cold and Rey was taken aback but the venom her small friend showed.

"I really should have expected it," Rey added, "there were many people who harassed me tonight, looking the way I did I was attracting too much trouble. I'm sorry."

"You can't be serious Rey! You didn't make them attack you, they did it because they are degenerates. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Rose is right, you never have to apologise, you did tonight."

Her heart flared with shame. If they knew the truth. "But I endangered the mission, I couldn't get any information from Devron and the way I escaped might make him suspicious."

"If our covers are blown we'll handle it but I doubt he wants you gone."

"What do you mean Poe?" Something was turning in his mind and for the first time, Rey realised that there were things even Poe didn't wish to speak of.

"I don't want you to worry about anything, it's a shame your powers didn't work on him but there are other ways of gaining information. For now, just rest and heal."

"Actually," Rose began, "That might be difficult now tha-" The door of their quarters slammed open and a livid Canay appeared. Kriff. Rey sighed rubbing her forehead, she was too tired to even detect her energy.

"I hope this doesn't become a pattern, ladies. Have I not said there are no men allowed in the women's dorms after sundown?"

"How did you even know he was here in the first place?" Rose challenged.

"You are in no position to ask questions, Ms. Thorn, now get out." She glared at Poe who gave her a teasing wink before leaving. "We seem to be a little short-handed so I will need you two to work overtime for the next week."

"But Ma'am Kira is unwell at the moment."

"Really now, if this is true then I'll have to expand the search for replacements." Rey felt Rose tense beside her and she placed a calming touch on her shoulder, soothing her mind.

"That is unnecessary Ms. Canay, I can work overtime without issue." Their supervisor didn't spare them a second glance as she departed and the two women sighed with relief. "She's back early."

"Yup, apparently she had completed both her own work and her colleague's ahead of schedule."

Admirable but the two still loathed her.

Inhale. Exhale. Release.

Fiery plasma exploded from his blaster, he saw the bright flash of red before it nailed the target. Finn sighed, a hit but not a bulls-eye. Before he lowered his blaster another shot raced towards the target. He felt a whisper of heat as it flew passed him before it burned a blackened hole into the target. The exact centre smoked.

"Impressive General."

Leia smiled as she tucked away her blaster. It was small and plain but in her hand, it might as well be the most deadly thing in the room.

"You do not become a General without knowing how to shoot."

"Then it appears I'm a long way off from a promotion."

Leia laughed, "do not sell yourself short Finn, for a Stormtrooper your aim is remarkable."

His mood always lifted when around Leia. Since Rose, Poe, and Rey left he had been feeling a little lonely. He kept himself busy with training other Resistance members and providing insight on the First Order, but things just seemed to be a bit empty without them.

"I need you to see something Finn, it's urgent." The lines in the General's face deepened and he followed her with curiosity.

It was late at night and the Base was quieter, they passed a few personnel as they made their way to the briefing rooms. Leia beckoned him inside and he was greeted with Chewie, C3PO, and R2. In the middle of the boardroom table was a single gun. Chewie growled frustratingly at Leia and R2 beeped in affirmation.

"I must agree with Chewbacca and R2 General, working so late at night is detrimental to your health."

"Wipe that nervous look off your face 3PO, death would sooner run from me than take me on."

Chewie continued to give low growls and to Finn's ears, they almost sounded like whimpers. Leia clasped her small hand on the giant Wookie's arm. She whispered softly to him and he finally settled.

"Now Finn," Leia began gesturing to the gun, "I want you to take a look at this weapon."

He picked up carefully feeling's its weight, "Is it a snare gun?"

"Indeed, it projects an electrified stunning net designed to be excruciatingly painful."

Finn frowned, "we're not using these are we?"

"No, one of our scout teams found hundreds of them on board a First Order ship."

Finn gasped, "but's that's not possible." It suddenly felt much heavier and Finn laid it down with dismay. "The First Order does use Snare guns in prisons but not in mass amounts."

"And are these the same ones used in prisons?"

"No, they were completely different. The ones I saw were simple and nondescript. This is barbaric in comparison, it looks like something Thalassian slavers use."

"Thalassians operate in the outer rims, don't they?"

"That is affirmative General," C3PO answered.

The Outer-rims, disappearances, an assassination attempts, and now strange weapons. Leia felt the world beginning to shift.

Her eyes followed every move, every turn, and shift. There was something mesmerising about watching Kylo fight and for a brief moment, she could forget everything and lose herself in him.

"You should keep yourself crouched low, that way you can guard your vitals and be in a position to attack your opponents."

"I suppose you've always been careful to protect yourself," Rey smiled impishly, "you are a large target after all."

"You wound me, my Love, I thought you enjoyed my size, more for you to hold." She was seated on a bench and he knelt in front of her, sliding himself between her legs.

Her arms came around him and she slid her hands through his locks, stroking his head. It was pure bliss, Kylo nestled himself further, his mouth pressed to her stomach. An outsider would be startled by the image they made, a giant warrior being cradle by a girl half his size, but it was Rey who needed his touch. She could still remember the way it felt, the horror of their touch and she felt wretched.

"You know by the time I was 13, I was already taller than my mother."

"Well, that's not particularly difficult."

He chuckled and she felt the vibrations, causing a tingle in her lower abdomen. "I was always amazed by her. She was such a small woman, but the way she could command an entire crowd with a single glance; it never left a doubt in anyone's mind of who the stronger one was."

"She's still the same, a few weeks ago some of the lieutenants got into a drinking contest. Leia just strolled in chugged an entire bottle of whiskey, then told them to get back to work."

"That does sound like her." It was so peculiar but it felt good to talk about his mother, for so many years he kept his heart closed and guarded but Rey knew every inch of his very being.

One of her hands traveled down, caressing his broad back, there was so much strength in him and she let his presence wash over. Her hand slid past a place near his ribs and he flinched.

"Kylo?"

"Sorry Rey," he pulled her hand away and kissed her palm. "I'm a little tender. I was sparring and must have been out of form, it seems I received a few injuries. I hope they didn't affect you."

Her eyes widened, they had been careful not to get hurt out of fear it would affect each other. She hoped it wouldn't appear but she had been so foolish. "Let me see."

He grimaced, "really my Love, I'm perfectly fine."

"Please," her voice trembled and there was the barest glisten in her eyes.

With reluctance, he stood and removed his shirt revealing her injuries. They weren't the same and were less severe than the one covering her body, but they were similar enough and she knew it was her fault. She pressed her lips to a faint bruise on his stomach, just above the waistband of his pants. His hands cradled her head softly and her heart cried a thousand apologies. He brushed his knuckles against her hot cheek before gently pulling her head back.

"It's okay Rey, I will treat myself with bacta tonight." There was still pain in her gaze and the feeling of helplessness began to tear at him. "How about we spar and you can see for yourself that I'm completely fine."

Fear, dark and agonising seized her. "No. I can't."

He stilled, she had never refused a fight. "Rey? Rey, my Love what is it?" his eyes searched hers.

She couldn't handle it and turned away. Her very soul was scarred and she couldn't stand the thought of fighting, of being vulnerable, of using it.

"I can't fight, not right now."

"Why? What happened?"

"I can't." She should have pushed him away but her finger clutched him pulling him closer.

He pressed his head to hers, "what can I do my Love? To make you feel better."

"I need you. Just you."

He claimed her lips, sweeping her up into her arms. "You have all of me, Rey," he whispered against her lips, "always."

She pressed closer to him, feeling beautiful again.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

So a lot of things happen. My life got quite busy and this fanfic was something that I just couldn't dedicate a lot of time to work on. I did watch TROS, and yes I am heartbroken. But Reylo became undeniably cannon (some still denied it after TLJ) and we got a Bendemption. So as far as I'm concerned that's a victory for the Reylos and of course us being the creative bunch could easily imagine a HEA after the credits rolled.

This fanfic was well established after TLJ so the events in TROS won't really affected it. I hope you're still interested in this story. I am currently writing chapter 42 and arc 2 is on it's last laps before we get to the 3rd arc which I'm most excited forward to.

Please leave a review and I'll see you soon.