Kylo sighed as he leant back, folding his arms in front of his chest as he casually surveyed the street in front of him. His mind lingered on the small doorway just down the street from his position. The moment Rey went to start her first trial, Kylo had felt a phantom pain in his side, the perfect shape of the scavenger ripping away from him as she wove through the crowd.
There was nothing to do but wait. He didn't even want to tune into her Force signature or touch their bond, just in case he distracted her. This had to be her success...
Or failure, he thought bitterly.
Vicrul's warning rang in his mind, causing his hands to clench into fists as he thought back to his lieutenant's last words from the ceremony.
'But what happens if you fail? Well it's simple, little bird. You die… And the best bit? The leader of the Knights has to kill you.'
The blonde Knight's gloating words made hot bile swell up in his throat as he pictured himself looking down at Rey's unmoving form, her still-warm blood staining his hands. An impossible feat. Killing Rey was as implausible as surviving without oxygen.
The more time he spent with the scavenger, the surer his conviction was that he couldn't harm her. His connection to her was stronger than anything he had experienced before. He knew that, deep down, he would turn against the First Order, or even the dark side of the Force, if she willed it.
But he knew that his Knights wouldn't understand that. They had been brothers in arms for over a decade now, always bound together by one shared goal, one strong promise. They wanted the galaxy in the palm of their hand, as one. And now, the scavenger girl who threatened to overthrow everything, her eagerness for the light side of the Force unwavering and only growing in power. He knew that they wouldn't understand when they had watched as Kylo Ren fell under her spell. They would've thought it was a weakness, and not what it really was.
But they hadn't been there. They hadn't felt their first confusing connection when Rey was training, seen her tear-stricken face when they shared secrets and touched hands. They hadn't felt the emptiness and regret that raged through him as he father touched his face for the last time. They hadn't felt the hours of confusion that kept him awake. It hadn't been simple.
Kylo lent further back into the doorway, closing his eyes briefly as he fought with the rising tide of emotion. When it came to Rey and the Knights, he felt as though he was blindly groping in the dark for an answer. He couldn't see a way that he could balance the sides of the Force, when both sides were in such conflict.
Maybe Trudgen would help… he thought. The Knight was his oldest friend, and one who still looked at Kylo Ren in his uniform and saw Ben. Could he be swayed to help?
A jolt in the Force made his eyes snap open.
Pain, power, need, terror, greed…. Mine.
Rey's emotion made him gasp, his knees starting to buckle underneath him. Forgetting all earlier promises he reached along their bond, feeling a sense of calmness and accomplishment greet him from the scavenger. He didn't understand. She hadn't been in the room for long enough to complete the first trial, surely?
Rey?
His answer was met with a feeling of relief from the scavenger. He tried to sense pain from the scavenger, but all he was met with was… embarrassment. He frowned.
Ben... I need some help. Please.
Kylo pulled himself upright, making sure his hood was covering his face properly before he walked towards the doorway. He glanced to the side, his eyes meeting the Gungan who had greeted them the day before. The creature was sitting in the doorway, his hands resting on his knees as he blankly stared out into the street. He smiled slightly as he recognised the glazed look of somebody under the control of a Force being.
'What were your orders, Gungan? Tell me, quickly,' he demanded.
'Me'm not to bother da girl and Mr Tarsi until daysa done. Me'm not meant to let anyone in,' the Gungan answered.
'You will let me in. And you will stay here until I fetch you,' Kylo commanded.
The Gungan nodded, turning away from the Supreme Leader as he resumed his street watching.
Kylo took a deep breath in before pushing open the door. Immediately he was greeted with the unmistakable stench of freshly spilled blood.
'Rey!' he whispered loudly, immediately slamming the door behind him. His eyes took a while to adjust to the gloom, but he sighed in relief as he locked eyes with the scavenger.
His happiness was short-lived as he saw the blood that coated her face and neck. He walked forward, reaching out to grab the scavenger. He needed to help her, heal her, take away any pain she might be feeling.
'Where are you hurt?' he asked urgently, his eyes scanning her hairline for an obvious injury. He couldn't find anything. His hands came up to cup her cheeks.
'I'm fine. It's not my blood,' Rey confessed, smiling as she lent into the touch. For a brief moment, Kylo closed his eyes, just savouring the feeling of Rey near him, letting his body relax as he found a peach-soft piece of skin that was free of blood.
The pain that had been nagging at his side was gone now, replaced by the real girl in his grasp. As he opened his eyes, he beamed as he noticed she had closed her eyes too, a small smile gracing her features. But the moment soon passed as Rey took a step backwards, turning her head to gesture at the desk.
Kylo raised his eyebrows as he saw a figure splayed out on the wood, a pool of blood circled his head.
'Is that Tarsi?' Kylo asked.
'Yes. And I think only half-dead,' Rey answered.
Kylo walked towards the desk, grasping the man by his greasy dark hair. He lifted Tarsi's face, wrinkling his nose as heard the man moan in pain, his eyes moving beneath his closed lids. Tarsi was breathing shallowly, the noise rattling in his chest as he struggled to take a deep breath in. Kylo looked at Rey in surprise, nodding to the man in his grasp.
'I hope whatever you've done to this creature was worth it? I suppose I should congratulate you though. I'm guessing you've completed the first trial?' he asked. Rey smiled weakly.
'I... believe so. I got what I came for and what I wanted the most. Ben, I know what they looked like. I saw my family. I know their names,' Rey whispered, the happiness clear in her voice. Kylo smiled, a warm sensation spreading in his chest as he stared at the scavenger before him. At this moment, he knew for certain that he wanted to be the next reason she smiled that way.
But her admission also made him frown, the reality of her words sinking in as he looked down at the man he held upright, taking in the blood that was drying from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
'Your name now. And I'm guessing you took that bit of news from this man by force? Like you did with me,' Kylo questioned. Rey met his gaze fleetingly before looking away, turning away to grasp her cloak that she had slung on the back of a chair.
With half-hearted strokes, she attempted to scrub the blood from her face, keeping her face hidden as she spoke to him.
'If I said I did, would you be angry?' she asked.
Kylo pursed his lips before looking at the man in his grasp, his eyes scanning the scarring that ran down the side of Tarsi's face. He felt his stomach drop as the realisation clicked in his mind. He didn't know Tarsi in any way, but he knew his type well. Face-changers who scoured the galaxy, feeding on the lower dredges of society for money or influence. They were parasites, creatures that had no allegiances or loyalty. One less for him to be concerned about meant nothing to Kylo.
'Not for what you've done to him, no. But I thought we established that stealing memories was a dangerous trick. One that has repercussions,' Kylo said. 'You're coping with the discomfort well, however.'
Rey's slightly clearer face appeared from the folds of the fabric. 'That's just it though. I don't… feel anything. No pain, or soreness. Not even sick. The memory is just there. So why did it hurt with you?'
Kylo sighed, letting the man drop back on the table. He walked behind Tarsi's seat, running his hand through his hair as he surveyed the scene in front of him.
A popular location, a street full of people, a half-dead man, a talkative Gungan… This won't do, he thought. The longer they stayed in the room, the more danger they were in. He had to get Rey out of here, quickly.
'I'm not sure Rey. Maybe it's because I'm a Force-sensitive being, and it took a lot of effort to steal my memory. It might be because the age of Tarsi's memory lessened its integrity. It might've faded over time?' Kylo guessed. He wished it had more of a concrete answer for Rey, but truthfully he didn't know. Her powers were even starting to make him question his own strengths.
Rey pursed her lips, but nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer.
'So… Now I've done the first trial, what's our next step?' she asked. 'When do I find out the results?'
Reaching in the pockets of his clock, Kylo brought out a communicator, pressing down on the device with his thumb. The time shone up, making him frown.
'We've got hours yet… That's not good,' he mused quietly. In his mind, he ran through all the different possibilities of getting Rey and himself off Naboo in one piece, but they all kept coming back to the same place. He knew what he had to do, but he was loathed to do so.
'Ben? Are you okay?' Rey's soft voice cut through his annoyance, and he smiled up at the girl, her brown eyes meeting his.
'Just… wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes.'
And with that, Kylo walked out of the room, stepping into the midday sun. Turning to the Gungan, he beckoned the Naboo native to follow him down the street.
'Kylo? This is a pleasant surprise. Did you sleep well? I did ask them to give you the honeymoon suite,' Trudgen's voice rang out from the communicator. His hologram smiled up at him, the smirk wide on his face
'And I bet you had a merry laugh when you did,' Kylo whispered into the device, glancing around at his surroundings. He had brought the Gungan down a deserted alleyway, the gap in the walls so narrow he had to slide sideways to avoid his cloak from ripping.
'I did. But I guess this isn't a casual conversation, is it? Listen, if Rey wants an extension, I'll have to talk to the Knigh-'
'Rey doesn't need an extension. She's completed the first trial,' Kylo said, cutting Trudgen off. The Knight looked surprised as Kylo leant closer to the hologram. 'But we do need some assistance in a clean-up operation.'
Trudgen frowned. 'What on earth did she do to require a 'clean-up operation'?! We've been keeping an eye on Naboo, and haven't seen any explosions or planetary-wide disasters?' Trudgen laughed.
Kylo groaned, turning his gaze to the Gungan who he had instructed to keep watch at the mouth of the alleyway.
'Let's just say she's made a bit of a mess, and hasn't yet learnt how to dispose of her rubbish correctly,' Kylo said, deliberately keeping his wording vague so not to alert the Gungan from his trance.
'And this 'rubbish'... Is it alive? Or...' Trudgen asked.
'Yes. But I can do the legwork there. It's just tidying everything up,' Kylo answered.
'Well… you know I want to help. But I can't interfere with a trial, Kylo,' Trudgen said.
'And I would never ask you to. But this is the aftermath of First Order business. And one that I can't do myself without drawing attention. If it wasn't urgent, I wouldn't ask you to do anything. Come on Trudgen.'
He watched as the Knight sighed heavily, before calling a troop to his side. 'Tell him what you need, and we'll get a scout mission set down to Theed within the hour. But this is strictly a one-time thing. I don't think Vicrul will be this lenient when it comes to his trial.'
'Thanks Trudgen. And believe me, when you see what Rey's done, you'll pass her,' Kylo said confidently.
'I'll be the judge there.'
Kylo whispered his instructions to the trooper, one eye on the Gungan. He knew that by the end of the day, this creature was going to be dead, and he felt a pang of regret over that. This Gungan simply worked for the wrong man, and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it couldn't be helped.
'As for you Kylo, the shuttle back to Karlinus isn't departing until tonight, so I would say try and get somewhere… un-First Order-y as possible. Somewhere where nobody would suspect you of going,' Trudgen ordered.
Kylo sighed, his mind flickering to the place he had always avoided when travelling to Naboo. A location so sacred, and important to his own heritage, he had almost been afraid of it.
'I know exactly where to go.'
'We've got to move,' Kylo shut the door behind him, making Rey jump in surprise. She was leaning over Tarsi, her fingers pressed against his neck, her expression tight and full of worry.
'He's dead,' Rey said, sighing as she removed her hand from the corpse's neck. She sounded remorseful, and Kylo knew the scavenger girl well enough to feel her worry surge along their bond. She was regretting how she stole the information, and how she completed the trial.
'Don't pity him Rey. A skin-changer like that wouldn't have spared a second thought on you,' Kylo said, trying to diffuse the situation. He glanced around the room, spying Rey's cloak sprawled across a chair. 'Grab that, and let's go.'
'Where are we going? I managed to clean myself up, if you hadn't noticed,' Rey said, shrugging the fabric over her shoulders as she gestured to her now clean face. Kylo nodded.
'Well done. And we're going far away from here. Hurry,' he said urgently. He looked down at his commlink, the minutes slipping by as he lingered in Tarsi's shop.
'Where's Doed?' Rey asked. She smiled at Kylo's confused expression. 'The Gungan. Is he still waiting outside?'
Kylo turned his face away from her before his expression gave him away. He closed his eyes briefly, picturing the back of the Gungan's body as he approached, his hand held Naboo native hadn't time to call out before his neck was snapped, his body dropping to the floor like a sack of coal before Kylo caught him, softening his fall.
He was only a boy, Kylo thought angrily. A young Gungan wanting to get out in the world, earn his own credit without his parents. And now he was dead, left in a tiny alleyway, looking like the victim of a bad mugging. Even his money that jangled in Kylo's pocket felt too hot to touch.
'All these questions Rey! Just trust me,' Kylo snapped, his own self-loathing turning into anger.
They quickly exited the building, and Kylo reached out to grasp Rey's wrist, tugging the girl into step beside him.
'Keep your head down,' he ordered.
Rey's feet ached as she hurried through the back streets of Naboo, trying to keep up with the long legs of the man beside her. She stole a glance up at Kylo, his face partially shrouded by the cloak he wore, but on instinct, he turned to meet her eyes. His expression softened as she smiled hesitantly up at him.
Sensing her discomfort at their speed, Kylo slowed his strides, allowing the girl to reach his side properly before ducking his head closer to hers.
'You're very quiet for someone so inquisitive earlier,' Kylo said quietly.
Rey shrugged. 'I thought you wanted me to be quiet. So I have been,' Rey said. She heard Kylo huff a small breath, and watched as his features twisted in annoyance.
'I'm… sorry I reacted badly earlier. I shouldn't have snapped,' Kylo said quietly.
'It's fine. I've been thinking anyway,' Rey admitted. And it was true, Rey had been deep in the stolen memory she had just received. She felt like she could spend hours staring at her parents' faces without tiring, or on the way they addressed and held the younger version of herself.
In her mother, she could see the curve of her jaw; her father, the oval swoop of his eyes. Consuming her parents faces was like a never-ending supply of fresh water after a long day scavenging. So very welcome, and yet so tender.
And there was that name too. Palpatine.
A name that oddly made her stomach clench the more she lingered on it. What did it mean? Why was it so familiar?
'Ah yes, your trial. I suppose I should offer you my congratulations. You're one step closer to being a Knight,' Kylo smirked down at her.
'I will be if I pass,' Rey reminded him. 'There's still so much up in the air.'
'Well, like I've said before, stealing a memory is powerful stuff. And if you took the memory through want alone... That should be enough. So… you saw them? Your parents?' Kylo's voice was soft now, watching Rey with a gentle smile.
Rey beamed back. 'I did! I saw them. I can see them now. They're so…. My mother is so beautiful. And my father… so loyal to his family,' Rey crooned happily. She looked up at Kylo with one eyebrow raised.
'Do you want to see for yourself?' she asked. She unfurled one hand from her cloak, reaching up to touch the side of his face.
Kylo stepped away from her touch fluidly, bringing his hand up to catch hers. 'Not here. Not now. Later,' he said quickly and quietly. With a deep breath in, he laced their fingers together, pulling their joined hands down to their sides. With this movement, Kylo pulled Rey to a standstill, the swell of the people around them parting like they were rocks in the ocean.
She felt the warmth of his palm against hers, a sensation that was accompanied by the rapid race of her heartbeat. They stared at each other for a moment, their bodies moving closer as the crowds of Theed silenced into a hush; the only noise the sound of their breaths and the scuff of their footsteps.
Rey broke eye contact first, feeling her cheeks flare with heat as she turned her body away from Kylo's. She felt him squeeze her hand before tugging her along, their moment finished by not forgotten.
'And you found out your family name? Mind letting me know? I'm quite familiar with the more notable names of Naboo. It might ring a bell,' Kylo said.
Rey nodded. She hadn't considered that, but the thought that her parents, or some sort of family could be out there, right now, made the hair stand up on her arms.
'That sounds good. It's a name I vaguely recognise, but I can't work out why… And who's to say they're noble? They could just be common folk,' Rey pondered.
''Common folk' wouldn't have needed to hire a face-changer to get them out of the city. From what I can gather, Tarsi was quite expensive. So who were they? Is it Veruna? Tapalo? Or perhaps they originated from the Lake Country?' Ben questioned.
'No. It's Palpatine. Did they come from the Lake Country? Maybe that's why I know it,' Rey said.
From beside her, she watched as Kylo's steps halted for a brief moment, his expression changing from worry to one of confusion before looking down at her. She felt a flutter of panic in her chest as she saw the fear clear in his eyes, and felt his palm go slick against hers.
'That's a very old name. One I haven't heard in a long time,' he admitted.
'And who were they?' Rey asked.
Kylo stared at Rey for a long while, his eyes searching her face for something she clearly wasn't giving up. After a moment, he sighed and resumed his movement, freeing his grip from hers.
'This isn't the place to talk about this. Turn right here,' Kylo said.
Rey frowned, folding her arms across her chest as she followed his orders. She leant closer to him, feeling his body startle as she invaded his personal space.
'No! I want to talk about them now! You've not told me anything today. Why we left Tarsi's in such a rush, where Doed went, and now who my parents are? What does the name Palpat-' Rey gasped in shock as Kylo did the most unexpected thing she had ever felt him do. With a first grasp on the Force, he closed her mouth, silencing her.
She struggled and strained to open her lips, but a firm pressure on her mouth stopped her. Grasping her elbow, Kylo led her to a small doorway.
'Fine, you want me to talk - I will,' Kylo shot back, his face furious as he glared down at her. 'We had to leave Tarsi because you killed a man, and didn't think about the repercussions of your actions. Think about it Rey: in the daylight, you entered his house, slaughtered him, and probably would've left covered in his blood. You left a Gungan witness outside, and evidence of yourself and your crime everywhere. And then you asked for my help. So I gave it.'
'If you must know, right now, a First Order platoon will be marching down that street, asking people where Tarsi are. They'll publicly storm the house, shouting about how he's been found guilty of sabotage and murder, and then after a brief 'fake' struggle in the house, he'll be 'killed' once again - therefore leaving you free. The Gungan Doed will also be found down by the docks, his body mutilated and looking like he was the unfortunate tragedy of a mugging gone wrong. So by your thoughtlessness, two men died, and a whole business went out of commission because of you. And regarding your parents name… well, I know the Palpatine name and it doesn't have a good history. I need to speak to the Knights about your discovery before we have that conversation. Now, are there any more inane questions, or will you let me lead you to a place of safety?!' Kylo whisper-shouted, leaning close to Rey.
At this point, Rey had stopped fighting against his hold. She felt humiliation rise in her, and moisture start to swell in her eyes. She looked down at their feet, mollified as she thought over his statement.
He was right, of course. She had stormed into Tarsi's house and caused a scene and not thought of the consequences. She hadn't been rational, or even used her brain in the slightest. She had jeopardised their secret mission too Naboo in one short spell, and was too blind to even see it until this very moment.
From above her, Kylo sighed as he felt her frustration and sadness along their bond. In a soothing manner, he reached under her hood and gently stroked her hair.
'You see now, don't you? I don't do these things to appear frustrating, or strange. I do them because I care. And I can feel your self-loathing, so please stop that. You've just got a few steps to learn, that's all. There's a method to the First Order madness Rey,' he said softly.
Rey nodded against his hand, and with that the gag across her mouth was gone.
'Come. We're very close to our destination.'
'What… is this?' Rey asked, her eyes wide as she took in the building across the river. They were standing at the very summit of steep steps that led to an ornately carved bridge. Rey held her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she stared at the large structure that was housed on a tiny man-made island.
The domed roof was iridescent in the Theed sunshine, a milky white glow shining over the water, and Rey could see hundreds of people enter the building through a series of wide open archways. Gold leaf winked at the couple, and occasionally, as the sunbeams caught the building, Rey could see halos of pink and blue cast their gleam over the river. It was the most hauntingly beautiful building Rey had ever seen.
'That is the tomb of Padmé Amidala,' Ben said quietly. 'Mind your step.'
They gingerly made their way down the staircase, Rey paying heed to Kylo's warning as she watched the building grow. The glory didn't diminish as they got closer, and as they met the crowds that were pouring into the mausoleum, Rey heard delighted cries from nearby spectators.
Elegant carving of leaves and wildflowers adorned the marble pillars that surrounded the building, and to Rey's surprise, she even saw streams of water pouring down from the rooftop, forming tiny waterfalls that poured to ponds below. It gave the building a mystical atmosphere.
'It's... beautiful. But what's with all the waterfalls?' Rey asked, leaning closer to Ben.
'It was built that way. It is said that when Padmé died, she was placed in a private tomb, but a secret benefactor demanded that she be housed in something more… regal, befitting her royal status. So a tomb was constructed, under the benefactor's implicit designs, to mimic Naboo's Lake Country, where the Naberrie family kept a villa. Apparently this villa was of significance to Padmé,' Kylo said quietly.
'I see. That's sweet. Does anyone know who the benefactor was?' Rey asked.
'No. But I can hazard a guess...' Kylo said. 'Let's go inside.'
They moved through the archways, and stepped into a bright, airy, circular space. It was large, with the same gravitas as a church, with stained glass windows casting their light down on the marble tomb that dominated the centre of the room.
In awe, Rey spun around, her eyes alighting on the various Padmé's that smiled serenely down from the windows. There was Padmé in her Queen of Naboo attire, her face painted white. One with her in blue silks with lakes and mountains behind her. And one, which made Rey stop turning and smile, of Padmé in a white gown, with a lace headpiece. A sunset was casting an eternal glow behind her. She looked radiant and in love.
'Is that…?' Rey asked, turning to Kylo. He was also looking at the white-gowned woman, a sad expression on his face.
'I believe so. At least, that's a traditional Naboo wedding gown. My moth- Leia was actually given some of the senator's clothing just before I was born, and I recognise it,' he answered.
Rey took her eyes off the stained glass windows, meeting Ben's eyes with a frown. 'Why did you bring me here?' she asked.
She knew she was coming across as being ungrateful, but truthfully, she was confused. Their journey through Theed had been rushed and hidden away, and yet here they were, standing amongst the citizens of the city, relaxed. She couldn't wrap her head around the change in speed.
'Don't you like it?' Kylo asked, matching her frown with his own.
'No... I do. But… this is so open,' Rey moved closer, dropping her voice so only Kylo could hear her. 'Surely you're worried you'll be recognised? And last thing I heard, Naboo was well-known as a Republician sympathy stronghold. I think your arrest will dull your bravado of being the 'Supreme Leader',' she smirked.
Kylo pondered her answer, before gesturing to his face.
'And how many guards in this room know that I'm Kylo Ren? You're one of a few who haven't seen me without a mask. To them, I'm just another traveller,' Kylo answered.
Rey raised an eyebrow at his answer. 'You didn't answer my question about why we're here though.'
Kylo sighed. With a swift movement, he grasped Rey's elbow and slowly started to guide them around the room. He started pointing at various artifacts on the wall, and letting Rey pause at them before moving on. She watched his hand with confusion, but soon caught wind of what he was trying to do by leaning in and listening to his quiet words.
'Blending in is essential while we wait for the transport back to The Silencer. While my troops deal with the Tarsi 'situation', eyes will be trained on the First Order as they move through the city. So we have to make-believe while this happens. And what's the best way to act like we're tourists from a nearby system? Spend some time admiring one of the great queens of the Republican era.'
Rey nodded, impressed. Slowly they moved around the room, Rey smiling to herself as she thought of the guards and other people looking at them as they laughed and admired the beautiful statues of the room.
To the untrained eye, she thought, we must've just looked like enthusiasts. But little do they know…
It was quite freeing, just having Kylo escort her around. Nobody knew them here, or knew what they've done to get here. At this moment, they were just Ben and Rey, the galaxy not existing outside the walls of this tomb.
Rey turned to Kylo, leaning in closer to ask a question that had been nagging at her mind as they approached Padmé's tomb.
She had been surprised to see the top of the senator's final resting place wasn't just carved stone, but see-through, allowing the visitors to the tomb to peek inside and see the vanquished queen as she lay on a soft bed. Padmé lay, adorned in a long gown, her eyes closed and her hands folded over the stomach. Rey leaned closer, amazed at the sight. She knew it had been decades since Padmé's death, but the woman simply looked like she was sleeping, the flowers still appearing fresh as they tangled with her hair.
'Is this glass?' Rey asked doubtfully, gesturing at the hard surface of the sarcophagus. The material shone in the light, and looked too thick. 'Or diamond?'
'Neither,' Kylo said quietly. 'I think it's kyber crystal.'
Rey gasped. 'But… aren't they tiny? Surely a crystal this big would be worth...'
'It'll be priceless. A rare and beautiful gem. But Rey look -' he pointed at the curved edges of the cover, ' - see how it's carved? The clean slices here, and how it has been crafted to suit her tomb? Kyber crystals are incredibly hard to find, let alone cut into a particular shape. No simple jeweller could do this. If I'm not mistaken, I think this has been worked at by a lightsaber.'
Rey gingerly touched one corner. She could see what he meant. There was no doubt about it. She traced the corner before looking up at the building above her. It was all so clear now. The tomb, the deliberate touches. The way a lightsaber had probably spent days perfecting this glass top.
'It's a love letter,' Rey said simply.
'Or an apology,' Kylo said.
Rey laughed quietly, quickly turning the noise of mirth into a cough. But Kylo caught it, making him look at her in surprise. Curiosity moved along their bond, and his voice echoed into her head.
What's so funny?
All of it is, she communicated silently. She gestured up at the expansive room, before bringing her attention back to the crypt in front of her. It's all so obvious isn't it? The truth is staring everyone in the face, and yet everyone is so blind.
Explain, Kylo demanded.
It's such an overwhelming display of love and devotion, and yet apart from us, I doubt anyone in this room has the slightest inkling of the story behind it. All these tourists see is a beautiful mausoleum done by a brilliant architect. But I can feel it, Rey said, placing her hand on the crystal tomb. I can feel the regret and loathing leaching out of the walls. The sadness he must've felt when building it, and the torment that must've plagued the rest of his days. Knowing he caused it. He sealed his heart away in this tomb.
Kylo turned to look at her, his expression unreadable as he studied her face.
'I don't think I've ever heard you so emotional,' he said quietly. She turned her gaze away.
'I doesn't happen a lot, so don't get used to it,' she said lightly.
Kylo nodded, knowing that this was the right thing to do. Rey was grateful; she didn't want him to push her any further. She knew her reaction to Anakin and Padmé's doomed love story was unusual. But it made her think of her own struggle.
From Leia's telling of events over the last few months, she knew that Padmé had done everything to bring the young Skywalker back to the light side. But it hadn't worked. The thrall of the dark side was too powerful. So how could she ever think she could do the same to Ben? Padmé had their marriage, their history, and their pregnancy as bargaining power, and it hadn't worked. What did Rey have? A few stolen glances, a hand hold and the fact they shared a bed once.
It wasn't enough.
Rey jolted out of her worrisome thoughts when Kylo swore under his breath. She snapped her head up, following his gaze to where a young woman was standing near a doorway on the other side of the tomb. The woman gestured her head once, before retreating into the doorway.
'Who was…?' Rey asked.
'A summoning. It seems my appearance here hasn't gone unnoticed by interested parties,' Kylo said, sighing as he looked down at the scavenger.
'And what does that mean? You're not going, are you?" Rey asked incredulously. To her surprise Kylo smirked.
'It's annoyingly something I must do. I shouldn't be more than ten minutes. You'll be okay, right?' Kylo questioned.
'I…' Rey didn't know what to say. She looked around the room. 'You're leaving me here? Unguarded?'
'This is a holy place, so nobody would dare hurt you here. Or approach you, even if they knew who you were. And I don't expect you to try leaving, or alerting the Resistance, so I see no harm in this,' Kylo said gently. She met his eyes, narrowing her own as she saw the surety in his gaze.
'And who's to say I won't alert the Resistance and head back to Leia?' she challenged.
Kylo's smile widened as he leant closer to her. 'I'm to say. The fact you swore your allegiance to us, and you'd know I'd hunt you down across the stars to bring you back to me. Stay here, and stay safe,' Kylo commanded, before turning away from her and disappearing into the throngs of tourists.
Kylo took a deep breath before knocking on the small wooden door that was tucked into the recesses of the mausoleum. While he waited, his thoughts returned to Rey. He smiled as he recalled hearing her sharp inhale at his parting words. He was getting more bold with the scavenger and thoroughly enjoyed watching her reactions to his words and touches as he allowed himself to act on his emotions.
'Enter,' a familiar voice from within the room made him sigh, before pushing open the door and stepping into the small office.
The space was small, and tastefully decorated. He glanced around, catching the eye of the woman who had brought him in, and nodded once as she returned the greeting. From behind a desk, an elderly woman examined him, folding her arms in front of her as she smiled at the Supreme Leader who shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny.
'It's been a long time. And I'm not sure how I'm meant to address you now. Can I still call you Ben, or is it Ren, or Supreme Leader?' the older woman asked.
'You can call me whatever you want, Pooja. I am not here to cause you trouble. I come in peace, if you will,' Kylo said.
The woman pondered this before breaking into a small smile. Pooja Naberrie was not a woman to trifle with. In his youth, Kylo had spent many hours amongst Pooja and his mother, their friendship stretching back before the fall of the Empire to when they were both senators.
Even then he had been in awe of the young woman who called Leia 'cousin' and who had been one of the first people to make Luke smile after the death of Ben Kenobi.
'You didn't mean to cause trouble… Interesting. And yet, here you are. Skulking around the dead with a young scavenger while your troopers roam our city,' Pooja said.
'If it's any consolation, we'll be leaving Theed shortly. As will my troopers. You needn't be concerned with their presence for much longer,' Kylo answered. 'This is not a takeover or a coup. It was a mission that required a band of troopers to help clear up some… messes. You have my word.'
Pooja smirked. 'The word of Ben Solo is something I would've believed many years ago. But the word of Kylo Ren… I'm not so certain.'
'Why did you call me in here? Was it to arrest me, or just to talk?' Kylo asked. 'Because if it's the first, please get it over with. I have things to do.'
Pooja sighed before standing up. Slowly she made her way around the desk and towards Kylo. 'Neither, truthfully. I was just curious. I haven't seen you in nearly two decades and I wanted to see how my dear friend's son looked. That's all. When my assistant told me they spotted you holding the arm of the scavenger Rey, and looking happy... Well… I couldn't quite believe it.'
Pooja paused as she reached Kylo. Closer up, he could see the many lines and grey hairs that now adorned the last member of the house of Naberrie's face. She was getting old.
That meant Leia was too, Kylo thought. The realisation made Kylo's stomach twist uncomfortably. He hadn't seen his mother in many years, but still thought of her as a young and strong woman. But now, with Pooja looking up at him, he realised that this was a foolish thought.
'You look… well. Scarred, yes. But there's definitely some happiness in your eyes. I'm guessing that's down to Rey?' Pooja asked. She reached up and placed her hand against his face. He flinched at her touch.
'How do you know about her?' Kylo questioned
'The word gets around if you have the right connections. How curious though… Leia and I have spoken about Rey and you, and she has such hope… I wonder if it's all true,' Pooja murmured.
'I doubt General Organa thinks of me at all. You must be mistaken,' Kylo shot back. He felt his stomach twist at this discussion. He didn't like where it was going, and needed it to stop now.
'She believes that you are growing softer towards the scavenger. That there's a lightness that Rey is kindling inside of you, which'll vanquish the darkness once and for all. I thought it was folly. But then… you come in here and say you come in peace. The old Kylo Ren would've killed me on the spot. How curious,' Pooja smiled sadly.
'Right… we're done here. This was a mistake,' Kylo stood back, letting the woman's hand fall from his face. 'You are testing my patience and now, I'm getting annoyed.'
'But not angry. Not dark. Just annoyed. Curious,' Pooja said. 'But if you want to leave, go. You are no longer a threat to me, or Naboo, Supreme Leader. I can see it in your eyes.'
They stared at each other for a long while, before Kylo turned to grasp the door handle. He paused as he heard Pooja move back to her desk.
'I have got one question, before I go,' he said. He turned back to the woman.
'Is it about your mother?' Pooja asked. 'Because last time I spoke to her, she's doing we-'
'It's about Palpatine. As the matriarch of the House Naberrie and member of the Naboo noble families, I assume you know a lot about their origins,' Kylo interrupted. Pooja raised her eyebrow at the name, folding her hands underneath her chin.
'I doubt that name has ever been spoken in the tomb of my late aunt. But a first for everything. Yes, you are correct. What do you want to know about Palpatine?'
'Are there, or could there be any branches left? Separate families who may have left Naboo a long while ago? Or maybe adoptive children who had nothing to do with the Emperor and his darkness.'
Pooja leaned back in her chair, her eyebrows furrowing as she studied the man. 'No. That line was extinguished when Sheev Palpatine slaughtered his parents and siblings. Hypothetically, Darth Sidious may have sired some children, but this has never been confirmed, although there are often rumours about these circumstances. Why do you ask?' Pooja questioned.
'Curiosity. Now, if you will let me go, Rey and I will leave Theed, as promised,' Kylo said. Hearing her answer made his stomach drop even further. Whoever Rey was, or whatever Rey could be, she must've been related to the Emperor himself.
Author's note: I think this is the longest chapter of the story so far, so if you're still here, I hope you're enjoying it.
I've noticed that reviews have tailed off late, so please let me know if you're wanting me to continue? I have so many ideas for this story, but I don't want to be shouting into the void if no-one is interested.
Once again, another huge thank you to my best friend and 'Across the Stars' who comments while editing this story make me laugh a ridiculous amount.
