Thank you so much for the comments and support Guest, Guest, Lstorm, Karlicm, and ToughSpirit :) always very motivating.
I've been sitting on half of this chapter since August and was able to finish it today.
Warning: This chapter has light spoilers from the comic: Age of Resistance: Supreme Leader Snoke issue. Nothing too detailed, but it does touch on what happens when Snoke takes Kylo to Dagobah.
Rey POV and Kylo POV.
Dozens of possibilities race through Rey's mind.
Her bread suddenly tastes too dry, the honey too sweet. She stares into her empty mug and considers her options.
She could easily kill General Witt. Run to the shuttle, send the Resistance her coordinates. Hope that she can persuade them she is not a traitor - surely Leia does not believe it.
Navigate the shuttle to the flagship and rescue Rose. Jump into hyperspace as the Resistance descends upon the First Order.
Rescuing Rose - that is the tricky bit.
No, Rey shakes her head, they would both be caught before the Resistance arrives. The plan is too hasty, too short sighted.
Leaving without Rose is out of the question.
Rey could tell Kylo right now, through the force, that he better prepare for another mutiny. General Witt is no ally of his.
But why? So he can murder Witt and clamp down on his control over her?
Rey wants to carry out a plan that will devastate the First Order, not just Kylo Ren. She lifts herself to her feet and opens a window for fresh air. Hot wind gusts inside.
Another thought hits Rey.
Declining Witt's offer will have a fallout. She bets it includes not letting her remain alive, let alone escape. Rey turns to the General.
"How long have you thought about this? Replacing Kylo Ren, I mean. It is dangerous. He must sense your disloyalty."
Witt chuckles softly.
"First Order members are loyal to the Order. To each other?" She shrugs, "It's merely a formality. Relationships, if you can call them that, are forged out of necessity. As for how long? Krog and I talked about it but he never had the guts to execute it."
"It is impossible to sustain an organization without loyalty," Rey speaks with conviction,"There must be some form of trust among you."
Witt pours herself a cup of tea.
"You tell me, Rey. You were there when Kylo Ren bisected Snoke. He destroyed the Supreme Leader for you. Snoke and Kylo were supposed to share the deepest of bonds: Master and apprentice. Trust disappears when opportunity presents itself."
"Which is what this is - what I am. An opportunity for you to overthrow Kylo Ren," Rey responds.
"Exactly. You are in a unique position to kill him Rey. I honestly don't know why you haven't already."
It's a loaded statement. Rey does not take the bait. Witt tries again.
"My proposition is a win-win. You help me and I release you, unharmed."
"And the First Order continues its assault on free life forms everywhere. Including the Resistance - which I am a part of."
"Yes," Witt says, "You would need to leave the Resistance. Hide yourself and the child in the outer rim. I'll avoid the planet you live on - out of goodwill. As one mother to another."
Rey tries to suppress a near-hysterical laugh. She finds it ironic how Witt waxes on about disloyalty yet expects Rey to believe she will keep her promise.
It is a wonder to her that the First Order exists at all.
Rey brushes inside Witt's head. She senses the woman's determination, her strong will. Rey will not be able to influence her actions through the force. The General is not weak minded.
Force.
"I will help you. But I need your word that my friend Rose Tico will escape with me unharmed. I know Kylo captured her, even if he hasn't told me."
Witt nods.
"Yes. He holds her. He keeps her as a gift for you."
Rey rubs her eyes and groans. It is too much. All of it.
But she can do this - with Rose's help she can pull off the plan forming in her mind. She can escape Kylo Ren and deliver a blow heavy enough to disable, if not destroy, the First Order.
General Witt is just another person to dismiss her as a frightened pregnant woman willing to do anything to survive. Rey might be frightened, but she isn't broken, and she is a survivor.
The baby kicks and she reassuringly pats her belly.
"It's okay little one," she whispers, "I'll keep you safe."
Kylo does not fear the cave.
He has been inside a cave like this before, with Snoke. He faced his fears once and he can do it again. Kylo already knows what he fears, he is no fool: loss of power, loss of control.
He dares the cave to enlighten him, to expose fears lying dormant in his mind. Kylo will face and eviscerate them.
And, as he did on Dagobah, he will destroy the cave if he dislikes what he sees.
Kylo stares into the circular mouth of impenetrable darkness. It beckons to him.
He kicks off his boots and removes his shirt, not wanting to be weighed down in the water.
In one fluid movement he dives headfirst into the gaping pit.
To enter the cave is to become submersed in chilling blackness. The absence of light means the absence of warmth and the freezing water shocks Kylo's lungs. He emerges with a shout, his senses set ablaze by the frigid temperature.
Kylo shakes his wet hair from his face and treads water. How did Rey, his desert scavenger, survive this?
He makes for the slick stone shore and easily lifts himself out of the deep pool. Water outlines the planes of his body and his hand drifts to his lightsaber. Kylo saw the bones lodged between the subterranean boulders - the massive skeletal jaws belonging to a ferocious creature. One might lurk in the murky depths, hungry and waiting.
Kylo's ears strain and he only hears the drip of water echo off the dense walls.
Ahead of him he spots the mirror that Rey described through their force connection three years ago. Kylo's shadow dissolves into the surrounding darkness as he approaches the glass facade. Strangely, he feels a sense of relief as he reaches his destination for one reason: the mirror conveys a promise of knowledge.
Kylo's heart hammers in his chest from anticipation. He plants his feet firmly and looks into the reflective glass.
A blurred shadow of a figure approaches. He wonders what person left in the galaxy can instill fear in him.
Kylo inhales sharply as the apparition gives way to the appearance of a young man. He strides closer to Kylo with leonine power, with purpose, with authority. With a stance that demands respect.
The young man's expression is electrifying and charismatic. He is tall, his height greater than Kylo's. His broad shoulders and corded muscles send a warning to all he meets: this is a warrior.
Light brown hair, almost blonde, fall in waves around his shoulders. Hazel eyes bore into Kylo's obsidian ones.
Out of shock Kylo's vision obscures, a red haze temporarily blinding his view.
He knows this man.
He has seen him in the archive records, he has watched footage from the era of the Clone Wars.
"Grandfather," Kylo exhales reverently. He bows and falls to his knees, "I do not fear you. But Grandfather, I do not understand...why does the force send your likeness to me?" Kylo glances up, his eyes pleading.
For years he begs Darth Vader to speak to him, to make contact. And now the force brings forth Anakin Skywalker?
Something is wrong.
The eyes - the eyes that belong to the man are not yellow, as they should be. As Darth Vader's eyes should be. Neither are they blue, as Anakin Skywalker's once were.
They are hazel.
Kylo examines the man's face, the differences becoming more noticeable.
This is not his Grandfather.
Kylo feels a sickening hum vibrate throughout his body.
There is condemnation in the man's expression, when Kylo looks harder. The wry smile reveals dimples, and Kylo would recognize that smile anywhere. He has caught it fleetingly on another face: Rey.
"No…" Kylo mutters, quaking as he stands, "No...this cannot be right."
In a trance he watches as a second figure appears. He swallows, throat bobbing.
Rey.
She is older. Not ancient and weathered, but mature and approaching middle age. Fine lines begin to form around her eyes, the grey in her hair more prominent. Her features are relaxed, serene. She still has the exuberance of youth in her body, her face. She stares, eyes filled to the brim with adoration and love for the man next to her.
She gives no acknowledgement or attention to Kylo; she seems completely unaware of his presence.
The man, however, frees his lightsaber from his belt and ignities it. The glow from its blue crystal casts a glow on his face.
"No…" is all Kylo can manage when he recognizes the laser sword as Skywalker's saber. The one that now belongs to Rey.
Fueled by confusion and panic Kylo bellows, "This is a trick, an illusion! I do not fear you! Why are you here?" His fist pounds on the glass.
The man is resolute, his regard of Kylo unwavering.
The only sounds to be heard are the soft noises of water gently licking at the Kylo's ankles and his breathing, labored and heavy. He looks down at the water lapping at his feet. The tide is rising.
The light haired man opens his jacket to show Kylo a patch sewn on the inside. In fact, he sees dozens of patches - all of them with variations of the Resistance insignia. All of them are high ranking military badges. He is a decorated hero.
The man locks eyes with Kylo.
"You're alone, father. You always will be. She kept me safe from you. She doesn't want me to hate you, but I do. I feel what she feels. I feel the pain and heartache you inflict on her. Now it is my turn to protect her. You will never have us. I am my mother's legacy. Rey's legacy. You will have no legacy, father."
The flesh on Kylo's neck rises.
The man speaks with a silk voice similar to his own. He speaks with certainty and conviction, like Rey.
The apparitions fade and another haze clouds Kylo's vision.
You will never have us.
Those are Rey's words.
Red. Everything goes red. A flame curls in the pit of his stomach.
Kylo's saber thrashes at the mirror in crude, violent strokes. His face turns a mottled crimson color as he screams in rage. But unlike the tree on Dagobah, the mirror remains intact, mocking his rampage.
The metallic tang of blood returns to his mouth. It coats his tongue, choking him.
Kylo reaches out to steady himself on the wall, dizzy with confusion. His breath catches in his throat.
There is no oracle here, no magic - the mirror cannot predict the future. That is not the purpose of this place.
"The future is not set in stone!" Kylo yells to no one, whipping around the cave in a fury.
He has not seen the future. He does not fear his son, a being yet to be born.
His son does not hate him. His son is his legacy, his heir.
Kylo is not alone. He has Rey, he will have a family.
Luke Skywalker meddled in this place, Kylo decides. He cast a Jedi mind trick, manipulated it so that Kylo would never be able to confront his fears.
"Lies," he snarls, "All lies. Skywalker's island is tainted by them."
Deactivating his lightsaber he dives into the swelling tide.
Kylo squints as he returns to the hut, the contrast of the heat against his cool skin turning sticky and humid.
Rey sits outside the dwelling, her hands around a cup as she sips. Tendrils of hair blow around her face, her sweet pink lips chapped from the warm wind.
Her belly, more prominent than ever, rests under the homemade dress. When she spots him her eyes widen and she stands, cup dropping to the ground.
She must sense his urgency.
"The baby, Rey," Kylo barks, "Let me feel him."
"Kylo…"
Before she can do anything Kylo has his hands on her. He shuts his eyes and all he can sense is light. Light, innocence, love. Love for Rey.
Kylo removes his hands.
His son feels nothing like him.
"What did you see in the cave?" Rey asks.
Kylo's head snaps back up. He looks at her.
"Nothing of importance. I've wasted enough time here. There are more pressing matters to attend to on the flagship. Follow me," Kylo grabs her by the wrist.
"I'm going to move up our wedding date, Rey. I want you as my wife in three days time."