The next day, Kylo called everyone to his office for further planning. Only Fu had excused himself, stating that he didn't care much about politics as long as he could continue to train the Guard. Kylo had allowed it, understanding that Fu wouldn't be of much help if he didn't want to be there in the first place.
"Welcome back," Ember said in greeting, turning to Rey. "Did you get a good scare out of Maz?"
"I did," Rey said with a grin.
Ember answered with a slow-spreading grin of her own. "You should come tell the Knights about it later. We want to know how it went."
Rey practically beamed at her as she nodded. Kylo smiled with amusement before calling them all to attention.
"Connecting the Knights is going according to schedule," he said, "and tomorrow another Knight will arrive. From now on, I will be there to greet them and explain the situation to them, as well as to introduce Rey. Then Hux and Ember will take over to get them settled and show them around the base. As you all know, I spoke to Yedor yesterday and I will introduce Rey to him after our meeting."
He paused for a moment as everybody nodded, then continued. "The first batch of construction workers will arrive next week. All of them will stay in orbit and their first job is to create a temporary landing area so they can operate fully without contact with our base. Otherwise, it would be impossible to hide the rising number of Knights and we might risk them seeing one using the Force.
"Creating the landing area will only take a few days. In those few days we will have to be extra careful when the workers arrive in the hangar before heading out, and when they return in the evening. By the time all the Knights have arrived—if they all chose to come, that is—the structural work should be well on its way. That will allow us to shoot footage of it to use as proof when we broadcast. Of course, it's best to take that footage as close to the broadcast as possible."
He paused again. When it became apparent that the others weren't going to add anything, Kylo continued.
"Ember, you know which of the Knights are supposed to come in next; are they suitable for the trainees' graduation tests?"
"I would like for Dorn to be here," she answered. "He's one of the most experienced among us. If he decides to come, I would like his input on the tests and, if he agrees, have him be one of the three the trainees have to fight."
"When is he supposed to arrive?" Kylo asked.
Ember glanced at Derek, who was already scrolling through his tablet.
"He's the seventh," Derek soon answered. "He should be here in a little under three weeks."
Rey suddenly tilted her head in thought. "Has anybody told the trainees about the incoming Knights?"
They all blinked at each other and Rey laughed. "I'll do that tomorrow," she said. "Those two you said were ready," she then said to Ember, "do they already know they're going to be tested?"
Ember shook her head at that. "I thought our Supreme Leader might want to do the honours."
Rey elbowed him. "Come over after meditation and we can tell them together," she said. "I want to see their faces."
Kylo easily agreed. "Ember, you should be there too," he added. "The other base Knights aren't here so you should represent them. After all, it's you lot that decided these two trainees are ready."
Ember accepted with a nod. They worked out a few more details before deciding that they would meet up shortly every other day to stay on top of things. With both the Knights arriving, the construction crew present, and all the planning they needed to do, there was a lot they needed to take care of.
When the group left, Yedor walked in. Rey was leaning against the desk, next to Kylo, looking at Yedor with curiosity. Yedor's eyes flickered towards her and lingered. Kylo wondered what he was thinking as Yedor greeted him, tone and face completely neutral although his body seemed to have tensed somewhat.
"Yedor," Kylo said, going off on a hunch. "Do you know who this is?"
"The Resistance Jedi, sir," Yedor answered with another glance at Rey. "I think," he added.
"I am," Rey said. "Was?" She looked up at Kylo. "Am I still? Does it still count?"
Kylo merely shrugged. It didn't really matter either way.
"In spirit," Rey then decided. "I am, in spirit, although I'm not a Jedi. By the galaxy, I hope we can get rid of that title soon."
Yedor merely gazed at her, the lack of expression in his face disconcerting.
"Yedor," Kylo said, "meet Rey, whose connection to the Resistance has become complicated but still solid enough to represent them."
Rey made a motion with her head that clearly conveyed that that was questionable too, but didn't say anything.
"More importantly," Kylo continued. "Meet Rey, my partner and your Supreme Duchess."
"Ooh," Rey commented. "I've been upgraded from 'girlfriend' to 'partner'."
"Do you prefer 'girlfriend'?" Kylo asked.
Rey tilted her head, honestly contemplating it. "No. 'Partner' feels more solid."
He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "I thought so too."
They both turned back to Yedor, whose neutral façade was clearly cracking under his astonishment.
"This is going to be fun every time, isn't it?" Rey commented.
"I hope so," Kylo agreed.
That caused Yedor to turn his gaze on Kylo, his eyes intent. "You're…off."
"Off?" Rey burst out, laughing. "That's a first."
"Don't laugh at him," Kylo countered, shaking his head before addressing Yedor. "I guess you mean to say that I'm not behaving the way you're expecting me to behave."
"Indeed, sir."
"You have Rey to thank for my improved behaviour," Kylo said with a touch of self-mockery. "A lot has changed in the past year and a lot will be changing in the future. Snoke's vision for the First Order isn't mine."
"It was barbaric," Rey interjected.
"That too," Kylo agreed. "This offer of reconnection to you Knights is only a first step in which I hope will be a series of improvements for the First Order." He paused. "Do you have any questions?"
"No sir, Supreme Duchess," Yedor answered.
"Call me 'Miss Rey', please," Rey said. "None of that 'Supreme Duchess' left and right."
"You're going to have to get used to it," Kylo countered.
"So you keep saying," she answered. "But not on this base."
Kylo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You heard her," he said. "Call her 'Miss Rey'."
"Of course, sir, Miss Rey."
"You can go now, Yedor," Kylo said. "Talk to Ember or the other Knights if there are things you wish to know but do not wish to ask us. They're free to tell you whatever they please."
After another agreement and greeting, Yedor left.
It turned out that, yes, introducing Rey to the new Knights was fun each and every time. Invariably, they all got confused with the situation and how Kylo behaved differently from how they'd expected. The end-result of it varied greatly though. Some seemed optimistic, others turned wary, as if they expected it to be a test or a trick. There were also those whose expression simply never changed.
Yet, despite the varying reactions, they all joined the meditation, watched the unchipped Knights train in the Force, watched the trainees laugh and joke with each other, and slowly but steadily loosened up themselves. The changes were always gradual, from a small smile here to a shrug of the shoulders there, but it never failed to make Kylo feel at ease when he saw it.
Both Rey and he disliked how the addition of the other Knights seemed to put more distance between the two of them and the other occupants of the Base. They understood, but after having worked so closely with everyone in the past year, it felt alienating and lonely. And with the Force Knights still being out, even the Force trainings were less jovial.
It seemed like none of the Knights were refusing to join them. Kylo wished he knew more in detail about exactly how each Knight had responded to the revelation so he knew what to look out for, but he'd allowed for the reports to be succinct and rather vague. Ember had said it would be a first step to ensure the new Knights that it was not a ploy for control.
Announcing to the trainees that two of them—Flora and Bichen—had been deemed advanced enough to take a graduation test had been a joy. With how free the trainees had become in their behaviour and interactions, they showed their excitement and support without restraint.
Derek had unrooted the theoretical test the Knights were supposed to have taken on Base Z. Phasma, Fu and Kylo planned on reading it through and updating or changing it, if necessary. The two trainees would take that test first before their physical one.
When Kylo explained what their combat proficiency test would be, it was met with a mixture of wide-eyed excitement and dread. He told them that they were waiting for Dorn of Ren to arrive to get his input and his agreement to join in on the test and then the final date would be set.
At the next general meeting, Ember told them with some amusement that both trainees had doubled down on their training. It had caused some mirth within the group and Kylo had told Ember to make sure those two didn't burn themselves out.
Everything was running smoothly. The only thing that still laid heavy on Kylo's heart was the crystal in his room and the related decision he had to make. He realised that the issue wasn't only that he was emotionally attached to his saber, but also a fear that he would end up cracking the crystal Rey had brought him; that he wasn't good enough to properly link with the new crystal.
And then there was the question of what he would do with his current saber if he made a new one. Would he keep it? Or would he rebuild it to fit the new crystal? But then he would be without any saber for at least a day and that thought didn't sit well with him at all. It made him feel too vulnerable which, he knew, was ridiculous.
He didn't talk to Rey about it and she didn't ask. He was grateful that she left him the space and time to decide for himself. With meditation, he tried to untangle all the mixed feelings and attachments, until he felt at ease with the decision he made.
"You're right," Kylo told Rey one evening.
"About what?"
"About the crystal, and my saber."
"This is not about me being right or wrong," Rey was quick to say.
"I know," Kylo answered, giving her a smile. "Doesn't change the fact that you're right though." He sighed. "What tripped me up most is that, by changing sabers, I would be 'letting go of the past'. That sentiment has a bitter taste to it now."
Rey merely hummed and gave him a rueful smile. She waited until he continued.
"I never did what I told others to do, did I?" Kylo said, shaking his head. "And I still can't now. I no longer think it's a good idea either. You should learn to live with your past instead of letting go of it."
When Rey took his hand and squeezed it, he squeezed it back.
"Still, the person my saber belonged to no longer exists. It's only right to change it." He dragged his free hand through his hair. "I'll rebuild my saber," he said. "Take away the crossguards, update the design, and turn it into something that will fit the new crystal." He looked at Rey. "I can't give it up completely."
"You don't have to," she softly said. "Rebuilding the one you have sounds like a good idea."
Kylo frowned, realising something. "Where did Luke's saber eventually go?" he asked. "Don't tell me Maz has it."
"No," Rey answered with a smile. She tapped her own saber, still strapped to her belt. "Part of it is in here," she said. "What was left is in a box in my bag in the closet."
"It's been here all along?"
"Well, it's not exactly recognisable anymore," Rey admitted with a shrug.
Kylo snorted. "Little scavenger," he fondly said, booping her nose.
Rey went cross-eyed, then glared at him, before shaking her head with a laugh.
"What will you do with the crystal in your current saber?" she asked.
"Keep it," he answered. "I don't want to throw it away but there's nothing to be done with it either. Much like those last pieces of Luke's saber, I guess."
Rey hummed. "Do you want to do it soon? Or wait a little longer?"
"Soon," he said. "There's no use in waiting. I'll have to tell the group though, or at least Phasma, so they'll know I'll be without my saber for a while. Phasma will never forgive me for being 'careless' if I don't tell her."
"True enough," Rey agreed with a snort. "I'm happy you figured out what you want to do."
Kylo looked at her, cupping her cheek. "Thank you for finding me a crystal."