Chapter Nine
AN: Almost thought I wasn't going to get this one up in time, but here it is! And things are finally getting... interesting ;)
Chapter Nine:
Rey wanders alone through the Resistance base as night falls steadily over Ajan Kloss. She spots Poe in the distance, near the line of trees, BB-8 beeping and whirring excitedly at his knees. She sees Finn too, standing a ways from Poe but watching him with unblinking eyes. Smiling knowingly, she turns away from the pair of them and keeps on her path. She trusts they can fix whatever is broken between them. Now is not the time for friends to fall apart.
Rose passes her, heading in the opposite direction. "Are you okay, Rey?"
Rey nods, but her expression remains distracted. "Did Finn tell you anything more about what happened?"
"Very little," Rose says, pursing her lips. "It's bad enough, whatever it is."
"Let's hope they get over it quickly."
Bidding each other good night, the girls continue on their set courses. Stepping into her hut, Rey breathes in deep, sighs out heavily. This is it. One last time. For Leia.
She closes her door and bolts it shut. A precaution. With determination aglow in her heart, Rey kneels down on the ground and closes her eyes.
#
Kylo strides through the Leviathan's corridors. Hux steps out into his path, just ahead. "Supreme Leader."
"Hux." Kylo grants him the barest nod, marches on past him, only to stop when a staying hand tightens on his shoulder. "Let me go."
The hand retreats, and Hux comes around him, stance erect, hands entwined behind his back. "I was hoping for a word."
"You've now had eight. That should suffice."
Kylo glides past him, uninterested in being drawn into a conversation with that weasel of a Commander.
"We've lost hold of Norala."
Kylo stops, teeth gritted in impatience. If it must be faced, let it be done with quickly. "What?"
"The planet Norala. We've lost our hold on it," Hux repeats.
Kylo blinks. "I wasn't aware we had a hold on it."
Hux clenches his jaws. "Well, now, of course you didn't. You've been far too busy dancing around the galaxies on a search for Maker knows what—" His words are stolen from him as is his breath.
Kylo wrenches him off the ground, strangling him. No matter how many times he's forced his authors on Hux, the weasel just won't learn. Maybe it would be easier to just snap his neck and be done with it.
Haven't you killed enough people already?
Kylo releases his hold on Hux, staggering as her voice echoes in his head. He turns around, scanning the area. Rey is not there, but her presence is with him, and it stops him.
Hux splutters on the floor, coughing abrasively. "Will you stop doing that?
Kylo glowers down at him. "Only if you'll stop getting in my way."
"How am I getting in your way?" Hux demands, staggering unevenly to his feet. "Tell me how."
"Just by being."
Hux gives a bitter laugh. "Oh. You are..." He eyes Kylo's curling hands warily. "If the sight of me is so dreadful, why not give me more power. Not over you. But as an equal. Master of the military. Give me complete control to make decisions about where we attack and how. Then you can be free to travel about as you will."
Kylo wags a warning finger at him. "That speaks of treachery. Careful, Hux. Or the next time you find yourself strangled in my hold, you will never taste air again."
Hux clears his throat, clutches his neck. "I only mean to help you, Supreme Leader."
Kylo scoffs. "Let's not lie to each other, Hux. We've only ever helped ourselves."
"So, we have," Hux agrees.
There's an embittered laugh they share. One that recognizes a little of themselves in the other, one that hates all the other stands for.
"Don't make me kill you," Kylo says, sweeping away, never hearing Hux's reply.
#
Alone in his chambers, Kylo paces back and forth before the bust upon which is perched the mangled mask of his grand sire, Darth Vader. The red stone of the Sith sits beside it, its red glow casting a damning halo upon his conflicted self.
... choose us, choose us, or we will find another ...
Kylo stops abruptly, sneers down at the stone. "Who could you possibly choose?"
... afraid? ...
Kylo's face is impassive. "Not at all."
... then choose us. now ...
Kylo steps forward, drawn in by the stone, by the promise they offer. But something holds him back. Someone.
"Kylo Ren?"
Her voice is in his head again. Or is it? It seems to echo in the room around him.
"Ben Solo?"
He flinches and turns. She is there, kneeling on the ground, staring up at him through eyes narrowed with uncertainty.
"I didn't do it," he says, a promise of his innocence.
She smiles snidely and rises. "I know. I did."
He blinks at her, taken aback by this easy admission.
"You weren't expecting that, were you?" Her smile is almost mischievous.
He will not admit it to anyone, barely wants to admit it to himself, but seeing her eases the tension in his chest, brings him peace where there has been turmoil. "I don't suppose that means you've reconsidered my request to join with me."
"I'm here to make one last request for you to join me."
"A request I must as ever refuse."
The smile she wore vanishes, replaced with a scowl. "I knew it was hopeless."
"Then, why are you here?"
Rey turns her back on him. The sound of wind chimes grows louder. If he squints hard enough he can almost see them, hanging over her head, just a little to the left.
"Because your mother refuses to lose hope," she says at last.
It's amazing how those words manage to strike him a blow. He nearly trips backwards at the force of it.
#
Hearing his small gasp, his low fumble, Rey turns back. Impossibly, she sees the mask standing on a raised platform behind him.
He stares from her to the mask. "You can see it?"
She nods, retreating from him.
He steps towards her. With every step he takes forward, she takes a few more back, ready to claim her lightsaber, defend herself. But she doesn't sense any danger in the Force. Only, a subtle curiosity.
His hand lifts, wraps around the wind chimes. He tugs them down.
#
The chimes lay in his open palm.
"How...?"
"Our connection keeps growing stronger."
She shakes her head, her face struck with horror. "No... This isn't what I wanted..."
Charging forward, she surges past him.
#
On Ajan Kloss, Rey's feet carry her through the village, towards the forest.
#
Kylo gives chases, pursuing her out of his chamber and through the Leviathan's corridors.
Hux steps out of a side passage. Kylo collides with him, but barrels on. "Out of my way!"
Hux scoffs as Kylo dashes off. "Rude." He brushes himself and pauses. He was going to take that corridor Kylo's disappeared down, but he's not keen on bumping into him again. He'll wait a bit longer...
... hux, why do you let him make you feel so small? ...
Hux turns in the other direction, staring down the long passage.
... we can make you strong ...
... we can make you powerful ...
... more powerful than kylo ren ...
Hux's eyes gleam with the idea. It is all he has ever dreamed of. All he has ever wanted. "I'm listening."
... come ...
He follows the voice as it guides him into Kylo's quarters.
The red jewel brilliantly beams beside the mask there.
... claim it. claim us. become more ...
Hux towers over the gem. His fingers dance upon its surface. It thrills beneath his touch, alive and charged with so much might. With power like this, he will never need to bow before Kylo Ren again.
He enfolds the gem in his hand. At once, he is enveloped in a glaring red glow. He falls to his knees, overwhelmed as power flows into him, coursing through him. He contorts in pain as it burns through him. He cries out in agony, as the red power courses through his veins, wraps itself around his bones, stitches itself into every inch of his self.
... we are one ...
The red light fades. Hux is left crouched on all fours on the ground. ... one ... he hisses.
... now, kill kylo ren ...
Hux looks up. His eyes bursting with red flames.
AN: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter, dear readers. Leave a comment if the Force inspires you :)