"Oh my..."
Rey was in awe. The blue flashes of hyperspace gave way to the vastness of space. And seemingly even vaster, it revealed a ship. A colossal ship. It seemed as big as a planet to her as it took up more and more of her view on approach. It made her feel small, insignificant, and most importantly, on edge. Despite what her grandfather had told her, her weariness for the First Order lingered still, and now that she was coming face to face with it, she felt her stomach churn with anxiety. To her it represented new life, and while its massive power intimidated her, she was mostly scared for the path that lay ahead.
The closer she drew to the ship, the more and more such a path was cemented to her. Even if she wanted to turn back, it was too late. Besides, she had nothing to turn back to. Her life was moving towards one thing and one thing only. Her destiny lay within the walls of the massive ship.
Before she knew it, the docking bay came into view, a massive area filled with TIE-Fighters and other First Order space craft. As she pulled her ship forward through the forcefield and began the landing sequence, her eyes ran over the runway ahead of her. It was filled with rows of Stormtroopers making a neat walkway down the center presumably for her. Standing in front, waiting for her, was a lanky male officer with two subordinates behind him. He stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back, watching her from under the brim of his hat. Not the ship, but her specifically. Rey could feel his eyes searing into hers.
The ship landed with a gentle thud, and she powered it down. She felt a little nauseous, staring at the troopers, at the officers, at all of it. She was completely overwhelmed with anxiety and yet there was a gentle comfort in knowing her grandfather had sent her there. And despite how intimidating all the stormtroopers were, the fact they had gathered just to greet her made her feel almost special. It was an entirely new sensation, having never received such special treatment from anyone.
Drawing in a deep breath, she moved herself from the pilot's seat and towards the ladder out. Picking up her quarterstaff and swinging it over her shoulder, she grabbed Kylo Ren's lightsaber and headed up. Standing on top of her TIE, she was met with the man's eyes once more, unable to read his expression as she stared back. Slowly, almost unsure of herself, she climbed down and approached. The two officers behind the man stood even more at attention, as if it were possible, and the lanky front officer took a step forward.
"So I suppose it wasn't Ren, then." He said flatly, raising his eyebrows softly. She recognized that voice from the commlink the day before, and he seemed to understand now what had happened.
Her lips pursed at this, almost as if she was a child who got caught. "No. No it wasn't." She said sheepishly.
The officer only nodded at this in understanding. "Well," he cleared his throat softly, "I'll formally introduce myself. General Armitage Hux. A… pleasure to formally meet you." Hux stated.
"I'm Rey." She responded, flashing a nervous smile before, which quickly disappeared as it wasn't reciprocated.
"Yes, I'm aware. Come with me. The Supreme Leader is expecting you." General Hux said simply before turning on his heels. The two officers behind him took a respective step to the side, opening a path for him. He started down it, and after a moment, Rey followed. She clutched the lightsaber tightly at her side, her other hand holding onto the strap of her quarterstaff. As she passed through the lines of storm troopers, she held her breath, eyes scanning to each of them nervously though she couldn't see anyone staring back. Once they made it to the end of the walkway and through a door into a corridor, two Stormtroopers flanked them. Spooked by this, Rey took a few quick steps to fully catch up to Hux to walk next to him.
They walked in silence for a while, the echo of their footsteps ringing off the metallic floor being the only sound in the emptiness. With every step she took,with every silent second that passed, she found herself more and more on edge. Not to mention how cold these hallways felt. She almost expected them to be a bit more eager for conversation, though seeing as how the resistance loved it, it didn't much surprise her that the First Order were the opposite.
After a gentle clear of his throat, Hux finally broke the silence, "You're to be Supreme Leader Snoke's new apprentice, yes?" He asked plainly, eyes staring dead ahead despite talking directly to her. After a moment of registering the new words, Rey gave a small nod.
"Yes. I suppose I am." Rey said simply. Despite wanting to talk about how her grandfather sent her here, she refrained. She thought it best to keep personal information to herself, especially as the stale air didn't give her any comfort to share.
"I see..." his words trailed off, and there was silence for a moment before he spoke again, "Well. For what it's worth, I look forward to working with you. Hopefully you won't share the same incompetence that Kylo Ren possessed." Hux grimaced slightly as if even the thought of Kylo upset his stomach. Hearing this, Rey understood that the tone he'd used when communicating to the TIE was, in fact, because Hux wasn't a big fan of Kylo Ren. It seemed they had something in common already.
"Good thing I pride myself in being quite competent." Rey said with a small smirk. At this, Hux looked to her and his lips quivered into a barely noticeable, yet gentle, smile.
"Hm. I like you already." He said flatly as he turned his head away from her once more. Despite his stone cold nature, there was an almost welcoming tone to his voice that made Rey feel a bit more relaxed. The small encounter reinvigorated her confidence, and her stance got a little taller as they marched down the corridor.
Finally they came to a large doorway. Here, Armitage paused and turned to the Troopers. At a glance, the two of them took up guard positions on either side of the door. Looking back to Rey, he gave a small nod.
"He's waiting for you in here," He said simply before punching in the access code to a small panel next to the door. After a few small beeps, the door split and slid open, revealing an oversized atrium filled from floor to ceiling with exotic plant life. So much color and green to which Rey had never seen before. Her eyes widened at the sight, breath stolen with it as she stared in awe, "Go on in." Hux instructed simply.
Looking at him, she raised a brow. "You're not coming?"
"No," Hux shook his head, "I was instructed that the Supreme Leader wants to see you alone." She felt a little nervous at this prospect. The small connection she had made with the reserved man made her want to stay near him, but she knew that this was her journey
Nodding, she said nothing else as she looked back into the large room. Taking in a deep breath, the scavenger stepped inside. Once the doors shut behind her, her senses were filled with the glorious smells of plants and fresh air, with the sound of water gently flowing in the distance. With each step forward, her eyes peered over a new plant. Most were green, but many were topped with flowers of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Each seemed to be unique with its own patterns and hues. She was awestruck, and her senses were overwhelmed. Walking on a platform, she peered over the side to see the plants keep going for a little ways down. There she saw where the water was conversing and running in a stream parallel to the platform. It looked like an oasis, and in this room Rey felt the most comfortable she'd been thus far.
"Rey Palpatine." A gentle voice rang over the air, and her heart clenched slightly as her attention snapped up. Coming down a set of stairs that spiraled up to the ceiling as a foliage covered-column in the center of the atrium, a tall figure clad in golden robes descended. He seemed elderly with his aged pale skin, limbs thin and lanky, and face misshapen and deformed. But he wore a gentle, welcoming expression as he clasped his hands in front of him. Rey felt strange, being referred to with a last name for the first time in her life, but this figure was right. She was a Palpatine.
Approaching slowly, she felt her grip on the lightsaber tighten once more with anxiety, her eyes trailing over the figure as she acquainted herself with it. Stopping only a few feet away as the man stopped at the end of the stairs, they peered at once another in the welcoming ambiance of the greenhouse.
"We've been expecting you. Your Grandfather has spoken highly of you, dear girl," his voice was haunting, less diplomatic and smooth compared to Sheev's. But upon hearing mention of her grandfather, she felt a little more at ease, "Where are my manners? I am Supreme Leader Snoke."
At this, Rey nodded, eyes glancing around for a moment before resting back on Snoke. "So, you're the one who's supposed to train me?" She peered at him almost skeptically, as if he had to prove himself worthy of her presence. Something in her understood her new found surname gave her power in such spaces as these.
At her words, Snoke pressed a gentle smile onto his distorted lips, "Yes. That is what your grandfather has asked me to do. Walk with me," he instructed softly, turning and beginning to walk past the staircase towards the opposite side of the atrium. This time, Rey didn't hesitate. She followed, walking just behind him until he came to a halt. They stopped in front of a small artificial waterfall that flowed from the wall, only about a half a foot away from the edge of the platform. It was surrounded on either side by brilliant plants, all covered in a fine layer of mist, "What do you see here?" He asked, gesturing to the waterfall.
"Plants," she stated, eyes glancing over each one and following the flow of the water, "Plants like I've never seen before. They seem to like the water," Rey answered before looking back to Snoke with a questioning expression.
"They do. I suppose these are the most exotic things you've ever seen. The Emperor has told me about your life up to this point. About Jakku, and Plutt. About the resistance and Han Solo," She looked away at his name, pursing her lips gently as the memory was still tender, "About your actions on the surface of Starkiller..." Snoke's voice trailed as his eyes gazed at the foliage. After a moment, he drew in a breath, "Tell me, Rey. What do you see in these plants?"
His question was strange again. Her brows furrowed as she stared, studying each one but utterly unsure at what he was getting at. The cryptic nature of his tone was foreign to her. As she gazed upon each petal, each leaf, each droplet, something came together in her mind, "Life."
"Good," Snoke assured, reaching out to gently stroke his finger over one of the flower's lime green petals, "What you see here is life persevering. These plants were once rooted on distant planets. It took months of painstaking dedication to get them to grow. Many did not survive, the trials of life proving too tough for them. But those that were strong enough persevered, and now, they flourish," he returned his hands in front of him. She had turned to look at him as he spoke, listening intently despite not really understanding where he was going, "The pain they all suffered wasn't for naught. They grow stronger here, more powerful than ever before. Their pain is sewn into their roots, and their experiences hardened them for their future."
"I see." Rey said gently, raising her eyebrows as she looked back at the flowers, taking in each one with a new sense of understanding.
"The tale of these plants is much like the journey you face ahead of you. To truly understand the Force in the ways you were meant to, you will endure pain and suffering," Despite the gravity of his words, Snoke's tone showed nothing but bluntness as he stared down at her. She was uneasy now, shifting slightly on the balls of her feet as she listened, eyes glued to the plants, "Rey," Snoke said, and her attention snapped to looking at his face, "I sense your hesitation. It is understandable. I would be doing a disservice by telling you the path ahead would be easy. It will be far from it. But this is your destiny. Your next of kin willed this for you. He sees your potential, and I see it too," his voice had become like velvet, more comforting and familiar with each word he spoke, leaning down towards her, "With my training, you will come out of it stronger than any jedi could ever be. You will become who you are meant to be, dear girl."
With every word she fell deeper and deeper into the idea. She was apprehensive, but if this was to be her destiny, who was she to deny it? All her life she had searched for purpose, for power, for belonging. And here, it seemed, is where she would find it. Snoke was wise, and Palpatine wiser still. The parts of her that hesitated, tugged at her being, were ghosts of someone she didn't know anymore. With each step down this path, she left who she used to be in the sands of Jakku. Clenching her jaw, and gripping the lightsaber tightly, determination filled her eyes.
"I am ready to accept your teachings." Rey said with resolve. At this, a smile crept across Snoke's lips. His back straightened as he drew in a deep breath.
"Excellent. Excellent," he cooed, "You are on the right path. Your grandfather and I know this to be true. You've made a wise decision," He began walking past her now and back towards the center column, "I look forward to being your teacher."
"When will my training begin, Snoke?" Rey asked, almost too eagerly as she followed behind him without hesitation.
"Tut tut," he began, "Now that you are my apprentice, you will refer to me as 'Master'. Formality is an important part of the process," he corrected.
Pursing her lips, Rey gave a sheepish nod. She'd never had a teacher before, and she felt almost embarrassed for not knowing that beforehand, "Yes, master."
"Good. As for your training; soon, dear girl. For now, much has happened to you in such a short span of time," the Supreme Leader hummed, "No, for now I will have General Hux show you to your new quarters. You must rest, bathe, feast, and renew your strength," he paused at the stairs, turning back to face her, "Only when you are of sound body and mind will we begin this rigorous process."
Staring up at him, she nodded gently. At mention of how difficult the journey ahead might be, she felt her stomach clench. Apprehension crept into her senses, but she tried her best to push it to the side. Clearly the two most influential beings in her new life foresaw this for her; she'd feel like a fool if she didn't trust them.
"I understand." Rey answered.
"Before you go," Snoke began, slowly holding out his hand between them, "The lightsaber. Give it to me." His tone, while demanding, wasn't intense. It was calm and rational. But she felt a strange twinge inside of her.
Her hand gripped the hilt as she brought it between them, staring down at the weapon and inspecting its details. Something inside told her to hold on to it, that she deserved it. Despite the blood on the saber's blade, it aided her when she needed it most. It came to her, and holding it now she felt connected to it, though she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it sensed a change in her, bonded to her as it searched for its new master. Perhaps it was just the dread of being basically unarmed in this strange new place full of strange new weapons. Either way, she drew in a deep breath and looked up to him, pausing for only a second before shaking her head slowly.
"No…" she began, cautiously, "No. I think I'll hold on to it for now."
Something in Snoke's deformed jaw twitched slightly before his posture relaxed and he returned his hand back to clasping his other, "Very well," he answered simply, "If its burden is something you wish to carry, I won't stop you."
His words confused her, but she only nodded. Burden or not, she wanted to keep it. For now, anyway.
"Now, go on. General Hux will take care of you." He said simply, gesturing for her to go back from where she came in. Glancing to the door, then back to him, she bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you, Master." Rey said softly before turning and walking toward the door. She could feel his eyes train on her as he stood, watching her go.
When she was about halfway to the entrance, he called back out to her, "Oh, and Rey," she paused, turning back to look at him, "Best we keep your lineage a secret for now. Your grandfather is not ready to be revealed to the masses quite yet. For now, you are only Rey; My new apprentice."
Her brows furrowed as she stared back at him, almost astonished at the notion of hiding who she was. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, and after a moment she resorted to giving him a small nod before turning away. Rey continued walking down the platform, almost pouting a bit as she thought. Only, the word rang in her head. It frustrated her to be put into a box that wasn't even her own. She had come from a place where she was nobody, and now that she was somebody she thought she'd never have to go back. But hearing Snoke's words discouraged her. To be only someone that wasn't entirely her again frustrated her beyond her comprehension, but she did not protest. If this is what her grandfather requested, she wasn't about to go against him. Ultimately, Rey hoped it was all a part of the path to her destiny.
Once reaching the door, it slid open as if sensing her presence. Hux, who had been standing with his back facing the door, turned to see her as she exited the atrium. His posture stiffened upon seeing her and he gave her a small nod. She stepped out, and as the door slid shut behind her, she returned the nod.
"I'll show you where you'll be staying, then." Hux said plainly before turning on his heels and heading down the corridor. Rey said nothing, and walked next to him silently, not even flinching when the stormtroopers flanked them again.
She was feeling uneasy to say the least. The parting sentiment between her and her new master left her weary, discouraged, and frustrated. Finally, after years of waiting, she became someone, only to have it stripped away from her. The surname Snoke had used felt like a dirty secret now. If she was, in fact, a Palpatine, she didn't understand why she couldn't own it. Especially to the one group of people in the galaxy who would respect that name and that name alone. Too long she had to fight for her place, for respect, and now it felt like an uphill battle to do it all over again. The gravity of it all was finally starting to weigh her down.
The trip was silent, only their footsteps could be heard once more against the cold metal of the grey hallways. Occasionally, other officers followed by storm troopers would pass, and despite not being able to see their eyes, Rey felt like they were all staring at her. She felt out of place. Dirty from the days' past events, and ragged from the years on Jakku, she harshly contrasted the pristine nature of everything here. Every stitch of the officer's uniforms were pressed and neat, every inch of stormtrooper armor polished and clean. Whether the people passing knew who she was or not didn't matter. All that mattered was that she looked more like a prisoner than an apprentice. She felt herself shrink.
Before long they approached a new door, and Hux approached the panel next to it. After a moment of pressing a few buttons, it slid open to reveal a small interior with four seats, two on opposite sides. Hux gestured for her to get in, and she did, having a seat as she peered around. The two stormtroopers sat opposite of her, and Hux sat next to her. The doors shut once more and the box they were in began moving quickly. Jolting slightly with the movement of the vehicle, she looked to Hux with a raised eyebrow.
Seeing her expression, he almost felt embarrassed, "Apologies. It's not often I have to show new people around," he began, clenching his jaw for a moment before looking around the small cabin, "We are currently in a hover train. I'm sure you saw just how massive this ship is. We have a whole system of railways here to get us quickly from one side to the other," the general explained, looking back to her almost as if he was silently asking if she was satisfied with that answer.
Understanding, but not enough, Rey gave a small nod, "How will I know what car to get on to go where I want? And when?" She asked, and Hux pursed his lips.
"Yes. It's simple. The system doesn't run on a schedule, or anything of the like. No, you'll learn output destination codes for each sector of the ship. You simply input the codes at the panels by the doorway, as I did, and the car will take you where you want to go." Despite feeling like he was rambling a bit, and that perhaps she didn't need it to be explained so basically, Rey stared at him amazed. She'd never seen technology like this before. Seeing her in awe made Hux feel a little more at ease, and helped him understand that things like this would need to be laid out simply until proven otherwise.
Rey realized she was staring dumbfounded and blinked a few times, "That…" she began, clearing her throat gently and looking at her lap, "That's very impressive."
"It is," he agreed, looking around the cabin now, "Once we exit, I'll point out the symbol we use to identify it. I know everything must look the same to you thus far, but it doesn't take much of an adjustment period to really get the hang of it." He assured, his lips twitching into a small smile at her before dropping away. She returned it with a small nod, opening her mouth to say something else but was interrupted as the car came to a quick hault and the door slid open once more. Standing, Hux exited the vehicle and Rey followed quickly after, flanked once more by the Stormtroopers. Once the door slid shut, Hux pointed a gloved finger up to the door frame. There was a small symbol of the aurebesh letters for "H" and "R" combined. Looking up at this, she nodded.
"Oh I see. Thank you for pointing that out." She said with a small smile. Hux only nodded at this and refocused his attention to the hallway.
"Come," he instructed as he started to walk once more. She did, walking next to him as she peered around the corridor, "This is the residential wing for high ranking officers. We've each got our own apartment space, though it does have more square footage the higher your rise in the chain of command," he explained. It wasn't long until they came to a red door at the end of the corridor. Here, Hux paused and pressed a few buttons on the keypad, "This will be where you'll live. Whatever is not to your liking can be changed, including this...aggressive red door." He grimaced at the paint job for a moment before the door opened..
Inside was luxury Rey had never seen before. An elegant living space down a few steps decorated with gentle greens and browns. A large couch expanded in half a hexagon that surrounded a coffee table in front of a large set of multiple windows that looked out into the vastness of space. The floor was spotted with a few unsaturated red rugs, and the walls decorated with a few different paintings of planets covered in all sorts of foliage. The pièce de résistance of the room were potted plants of all different kinds, some tall sitting on the ground, others hanging from the ceiling by golden ropes. The feeling of the room aggressively contrasted that of the cold hallways, and welcomed her with its ambiance. She stared in awe, slowly taking her steps inside as her eyes scattered over each piece. Hux followed, but just inside the door while the troopers posted their guard. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his lips pursed gently to hold back a smile as her new found excitement began to rub off on him.
"This. This is spectacular," she breathed out a laugh, grinning as she looked at everything, "I've never seen something so… So opulent."
"I'm glad to see you like it," Hux said simply, "You have a kitchen, as well as a bedroom and a refresher, which I'm sure you'll come to enjoy," he informed, "Oh, and if you ever need anything in the night, my suite is right across the hall." He mentioned, slightly gesturing to it with a hand.
Turning to him, she nodded with a soft sigh. "Thank you."
"For what?" He raised a brow.
She gave a shrug. "I don't know. Welcoming me, I guess? You know I-" She stopped herself, pursing her lips a bit as she looked away. She reminded herself not to get too caught up in her emotions as to tell every new stranger that showed her an ounce of kindness how grateful she was.
"What is it?"
Looking back to him, Rey drew in a small breath, "I expected a warmer welcome, I suppose," he frowned a bit at this, "No. I mean, you're doing great!" she assured before sighing, "All my life I've been in cold and unfriendly environments. And when I decided to come here, it was out of a sense of belonging… Snoke brought me here for a reason," she lied, knowing she couldn't mention her grandfather, but wanted to say the same sentiment anyways, "He said this was my rightful place and… I don't know. All I'm really trying to say is thank you for your kindness." She finished her ramble, scrunching her nose for a moment before offering him a gentle smile.
Armitage nodded slowly, drawing in a breath, "For what it's worth, I understand how you feel. I'm… happy to provide even a shred of welcoming to you. I, for one, am looking forward to working with you. And that's not only because I despised working with Kylo Ren. I can't explain it, but I have a feeling we're going to get along well." He finished, offering her a smile. It was small, just like all the ones before it, but something about how his eyes creased slightly showed her this was the most genuine smile she's gotten out of him yet.
This caused her chest to warm with gratitude. It was such a small gesture but in this moment, it meant the world, "I feel the same." Rey said.
For a moment, the two stood in a strange comfortable silence before Hux cleared his throat, "Well. I should leave you to settle in now. Through that doorway-" he gestured with two fingers to a doorway off to the right, "You'll find the kitchen, as well as a small dining table. On the table you'll find a data pad with a plethora of information you'll need to know, such as access codes, station information, a map, and more. You'll also find a comm link that you should carry with you at all times," she gave an understanding nod, "In your room you'll find a wardrobe that was created for you. If anything doesn't fit, or if it isn't to your liking, simply say and we'll have the tailors come fix it," thinking for a moment, he said, "That should be everything that's important for now. I'm sure you can figure out the rest of the layout."
"I'm sure I can." Rey replied, and Hux gave a nod.
"Yes, well. I'll be off," he said, turning to leave before pausing and glancing back, "Oh, and if you should need, the direct line to me is channel 61 on the comm link." And with that, he exited the room and the door slid closed behind him.
Turning back to the open space, Rey drew in a deep breath. This was it. This was to be her new life for a while. Walking past the couch, she tossed the lightsaber and her quarterstaff on to it before she moved to peer out the windows into the vastness of space. Wherever they had this ship stationed, she wasn't familiar with it. And they were far enough away from any planets to be seen. But the view was stunning nonetheless. Staring out at all the different colored twinkling stars from somewhere that wasn't Jakku made her feel at ease. Especially now that she was among them.
She turned back, moving towards the doorway which Hux had pointed out to be the kitchen. Stepping through the doorway, dim lights turned on automatically to reveal another decently sized room, this one with high ceilings as well. There was a kitchen to her right, and to her left the dining table in front of another set of large windows. Going to the table, she picked up the commlink and inspected it. It was of higher tech than any of the ones she had scavenged back on Jakku, but she was sure she could figure it out just fine. Rey closed her hand around it and looked over the data pad before deciding to leave that for another time.
She went back into the living room, still holding onto the commlink, and moved through the doorway on the other side of the room. The lights did the same as in the kitchen, revealing yet another big window to her right with a large plush looking bed in front of it. The bed was downset a bit into the floor, facing the stars. The bedding was the same sage green color from the living room, and it looked like the softest thing she'd ever seen. Looking elsewhere, her eyes landed on what seemed to be a wardrobe built into the wall. Walking to it and sliding open the door revealed a closet filled with dark colored clothing. Rey reached out and pulled at one, feeling the luxurious fabric on her calloused fingertips . She carefully inspected the sleeve design. It seemed as though there were plenty of outfits to choose from, and the selection overwhelmed her.
Deciding to peruse her new clothes later, Rey closed the closet and moved through to the last room. Stopping in the doorway, her eyes widened in amazement. She had found a large bathroom, with greens, golds, and browns scattered on things as small as bath mats, to as big as parts of the walls. On the wall opposite from her was an opulent shower with a beautiful rocky floor and plants hanging in the corners. To her left was a common sink, though the counter was made of some sort of fancy stone that she'd never seen. And the best part was off to her right. It was a large square soaking tub, full of water, set into the floor with gold accented columns coming up from each corner. Stepping closer to it, she could feel the heat radiating off of it, see the steam dance across the top. It bubbled gently and she could see a small control panel on one of the columns. Rey assumed this was to control whatever was making it bubble. Squatting down, she put her hand gently in the water and sighed. The warmth of it soothed her skin, and was a welcome contrast to the cold of the rest of the ship.
Drawing in a deep breath, Rey stood up. Her new home was a lot to absorb, and she felt a little overwhelmed. But despite how she was feeling about Snoke, and about how cold everything else was, the room and Hux helped.
"How is everything going, my child?" Palpatine asked suddenly. Rey jumped, looking around frantically for a second before she realized the words came from inside. Realizing he startled her, he spoke again, "My apologies, I should have made my presence clearer."
Letting out a sigh of relief, she shook her head, "No. No, it's alright. You just caught me off guard, that's all."
"I understand. But how is everything thus far?" He asked gently with the tone of a concerned parent.
She hesitated for a moment before shrugging, "Alright. I'm weary. I'm sure you can understand." Rey said, walking past the soaking tub and over to the window now. With a closer look, she realized the glass was tinted darker than those in the rest of the house.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
She paused again, thinking on his question, "It's just…Everything here is so cold. I'm not sure. I expected a warmer reception, I suppose. I am your granddaughter, after all. Oh, and that's something else I don't understand," she added quickly, "Why must I pretend to be someone I'm not? I just found out I was even someone, and now I have to pretend to be no one."
"I hear your frustrations, I do," Sheev answered gently, "But it is to protect you."
"How..?"
"You see, dearest Rey. If word got out you were a Palpatine, my granddaughter, you wouldn't be safe. I respect your innate power, and the strength you've grown from birth. However, you are simply not trained enough yet. Placing my name publicly upon you would make you a target. It would be sorely unjust of me to do this to you without first teaching you how to defend and protect yourself to your fullest capacity," he explained. While listening, Rey had crossed her arms, more hugging herself than anything as she looked out upon the coldness of space. His words made sense, a lot of sense, and with each second she felt more at ease than before.
"I… I suppose I understand," Rey answered softly, "I'm sorry for questioning your judgement."
"Nonsense, dear girl," Palpatine said, "Your question is understandable. I am happy to answer any of your questions. As for your reception; like I said before, the First Order is a little rough around the edges. You must understand this is a military operation, first and foremost. Formality and tradition is upheld greatly here, and to be stoic is a sign of respect. I expect they welcomed you with a display of troops?"
"Yes..." She answered, almost sheepishly.
"Yes, I thought they might. You see, that is their way of welcoming. I understand you must be going through some culture shock, I do. And given the previous recipient of Snoke's teachings, I'm sure many are skeptical."
Up until this point she had only assumed it had been Kylo who was last taught here, though no one verbally confirmed it as such. All the context clues were leading her to believe that it was: "Ren..?"
"Clever girl," he praised, "Yes, it was Kylo Ren who was his previous apprentice. But as a descendant of the Skywalker family, he was weak. The kind of ideals we stand for are too powerful for him. You, on the other hand. You were born for this power. You are of my blood, my kin, and as a result, you reap the benefits of my power. Any doubts that some may have of your skills, I am wholly confident that you will put all those uncertainties to rest."
Hearing these words made her whole outlook on the situation much better. She was nervous about filling Kylo Ren's shoes, so to speak, but with her grandfather's guidance her mind felt at ease. Rey felt confident in herself again, in her decision and her strength. And with the revelation that General Hux wasn't a fan of Kylo Ren, and the fact he was seemingly eager to work with her, reinforced Palptine's words.
"Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather." She said, drawing in a deep breath as she let her arms drop to her sides.
"Of course, sweet girl. You may always call upon me to answer your queries. Whatever I can do to ensure your comfort, I will do it." His voice was like velvet, and she felt true solace within it.
Nodding, she smiled gently. "Thank you."
"Yes, yes. Now, it's getting late. You should bathe yourself, and get some rest. No doubt the accommodations are adequate."
"Adequate doesn't even begin to describe the luxury of them." Rey said.
She could hear a faint chuckle in her head before he spoke once more, "I am sure of it. Rest, relax, take care of yourself. Remember, Rey. You're on the path to destiny. Embrace it," and with that, she felt his presence disappear.
Drawing in a deep breath, she turned her back on the window and gave a look around the bathroom. Feeling newly invigorated about being here, she decided it was time to make herself comfortable.
Moving to the shower, she stripped herself of her dust-ridden, sun-bleached rags and tossed them aside. She made sure to set the commlink on the sink counter where it couldn't be affected by the water. Turning the shower on and adjusting the temperature, she let out a relieved sigh once she stepped in. The feeling of the clean warm water against her skin soothed her aching bones, washing away the dirt of Jakku; the dirt of the past. Pulling out the hair ties that held her buns, she stood directly under the shower head, letting the water rush through her hair and over her face. The consistent temperature, the stark pressure and the privacy were all new to her. The old showers on Jakku were just curtained stalls, timed and usually cold (though, this was a perk in the hot Jakku weather). The way she could simply stand under the running water for hours, without consequences, made her feel more free than ever. And so, with her new freedom, she did just that.
After what seemed like an eternity of relishing in the feeling, she decided to finish up. Using one of the flowery-smelling soaps out of the selection placed inside the shower, she washed the dirt off for good. Turning it off and stepping out, she reached to the plush white towel with golden trim hung on the wall. Taking it, she draped it around herself and let out a sigh of satisfaction. It was oversized and it covered most of her body.
After taking time to dry off so she wasn't dripping, she exited the bathroom with the towel wrapped tightly around her and moved to the closet. On further inspection, one side of the hung clothes seemed to be undergarments, and the other seemed to be outerwear. Sticking to the undergarments side, she dressed herself in comfortable sleeping clothes: a pair of soft, slightly form-fitting black pants, and a loose grey shirt. Everything seemed to be either black or grey, but she didn't mind; it meant that she would fit in. And the clothes were all made so nicely that they could be bright purple for all she cared.
Returning to the bathroom for a moment, she collected the commlink and made her way back into the bedroom. Walking down the small stairs and to the side of the bed, Rey pressed her hands on it gently. The mattress was insanely, softer than anything she'd ever felt. Pulling back the duvet, she climbed in and tucked herself under the cover.
As soon as she was settled, she felt a rush of ache run over her body before all at once her muscles relaxed and she let out a sigh. The bed was so comfortable, the most comfortable thing she'd experienced so far, and she snuggled under the duvet. The pillows cradled her head just right, and the blanket was just enough to be warm yet not stifling. It didn't take long before her eyelids became heavy, her body begging for her to take the well-deserved rest she needed.
Pulling her hand up, Rey looked at the commlink for a moment before putting it on the opposite pillow, too engulfed in comfort to put it in one of the small alcoves that served as bedside tables. Pulling the blanket tightly over her shoulder, she let her eyes close. She felt safe, wanted; she felt like she finally belonged somewhere. All this comforted her thoughts until she finally drifted asleep.