"I don't know what happened." unusually frantic, "She was doing so well."
Rey was once more hooked up to dozens of machines, looking worse than how she did when she first arrived. The medic said she was stable, but Kylo had a hard time believing her as she was frantically looking through her notes trying to figure out what went wrong.
"It's not your fault." Kylo said, uncharacteristically.
He honestly was just trying to get the medic to calm down. Rey's life was in her hands and Kylo needed the medic not to think too much about the fact that Kylo would probably kill her if Rey died on her watch.
"I just don't understand what went wrong." The medic kept saying. "She was doing so well."
"The force."
"The force? The magic that you hold? What does that have to do with her condition?"
"I believe...I think she used the force to transfer her life into his." Kylo said slowly.
"Is that a common use of mag...the force?"
"There are tales of powerful dark side users using it to take the life force from entire planets." Kylo said quietly, "it's not too far to think it can be reversed. No Jedi would have tried it. They didn't believe in attachments."
"The more I learn about the Jedi, the more I dislike them." The medic said before back tracking. "I know that you're one of them, but I don't trust that magic stuff."
"I'm not a Jedi."
"A...a Zith then?"
"Sith?"
"Yes that."
"I'm not that either."
"Than what?"
"Just a force user. But more importantly, a force user that is the Supreme Leader of the Galaxy."
"I know it's none of my business, but I do hope there's not more of those force users out there. I've read the history of the clone wars: force users seem like cultists."
"They were. You do know that Rey is a force user."
"I know, and what did it bring her? Pain. And suffering. For every heroic act a Jedi or force user or whoever does, there is ten horrific deeds tied to it."
"I'd tread carefully, medic."
"I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean any offense. I just don't understand it. I don't understand why 'keepers of the peace' had to carry lightsabers and lock themselves and their knowledge away."
"They didn't want their knowledge to fall in the wrong hands, so they said."
"Cowardess. A truly great nation could share all its secrets and knowledge and still be able to rule. Only cowards hide."
"Interesting notion. Have you considered politics?"
"I'd rather help people."
Kylo gave a small cruel laugh.
"What's your name, medic?" Kylo finally asked after knowing this woman for over a month.
"Kareth." Kareth said. "Gen'ah Kareth."
"Dr. Kareth, will Rey be alright?"
"She'll live." Kareth said, her voice turning into something almost dark. "Alright is a different story. If you're right and she did some force voodoo, I don't know how to predict what will happen. I can assure you that we will take good care of her and get her as good as she can be. What that is? I'm unsure."
"And her son?"
"Healthier. Much healthier. A few more weeks and she'll be able to hold him. If she's up to it."
"What about his growth going forward."
"I can't see the future. I may change my mind later, but for now I suggest at least month check ups and to bring him to the medbay instantly if anything seems off. But you don't have to worry about that now. We have to just focus on getting the two of them healthy."
"Agreed."
Kylo turned once more to stare at Rey. She looked like death itself.
He had built a future with her in his mind. The two of them taking the throne. Ruling side by side. Being hopelessly and devotedly in love throughout all of it.
That future was slipping away. He wasn't sure if Rey would ever be how she was before. He broke her. He was certain of that now. He had damaged her beyond repair.
If he could give his life to her, he would.
Maybe...maybe he could.
Kylo hesitantly reached his hand out to lay on hers. She was so cold and her hand shivered when he touched it.
He thought about transferring his life to her. He was praying to the force that it would work. Maybe not all of it. He still had to be here to protect her and their son. But some of it. As much as she needed to open her eyes once more. He tried dipping into his reservoir of his soul. He tried reaching out and calling upon the force. He tried imagining her full of life and color and a smile on her face, desperate for the force to make his wish come true.
Nothing happened.
He couldn't feel her getting better or him getting weaker.
Nothing.
He opened his eyes and she still looked as dead as before and he still felt as alive as before.
"Did it now work?" Kareth asked.
"No. I don't know how she did it. Maybe I was wrong and it can't be done."
"I don't know. But she'll get better. I can assure you."
Kylo nodded.
Why didn't it work?
He loved her so much.
Shouldn't that be enough?
It was enough in fairytales.
Why wasn't it enough…
Why wasn't he enough...
"She'll be alright. Her and her son."
"He's my son as well." Kylo admitted to Kareth.
"Oh. I-I sort of guesses but I wasn't going to say anything."
"I'd be more concerned if you didn't figure it out. I'd have to find a more competent doctor. Of course, I don't want you to confirm that to anyone else. I just need you to know what you're taking care of."
"I understand sir but that doesn't change my work ethic."
"Good to hear."
"Sir?"
"Yes medic?"
"Why would you tell me that? You only have something to lose letting that secret out?"
"Well it's as you said before," Kylo said slyly, "a truly great nation should be able to share all of its knowledge and secrets and still be able to rule."
Kareth gave Kylo a respectful nod as he left the medbay.