Aftermath

A dull ringing caused Rey to slowly come back to consciousness. She tried to open her eyes but winced when she was blinded by the bright lights. Her ears were ringing as she slowly opened her eyes. The floor beneath her was black, and there was fire everywhere. It took a moment to realize where she was, and what had happened. She sat up and looked around the throne room. There was fire everywhere, she could see the tiny Resistance transports moving away, unhindered. The Supremacy was highly unstable and Rey realized that the ship had been split in two. She stared for a moment, dumbfounded, before shaking her head in an attempt to clear it.

Rey tried to stand on wobbling legs, but the collapsed beneath her and she fell to the ground again. She tried again, and this time managed to stand. Her wounded arm caught her gaze as she twisted her arm to inspect it. The cut was oddly shaped, two lines that almost formed a straight line. Her heart twisted with pain as she realized that the shape mimicked two hands reaching for each other.

Rey searched for the pieces of Luke's lightsaber. The last thing she remembered was the explosion from the saber breaking in two. She picked up the jagged pieces, the hilt was broken, and the kyber crystal inside had sheared apart.

Her gaze was solemn before she turned around. Her eyes scanned the room until she found him. Kylo was lying on the floor a little bit away from where she was. His chest was moving up and down and she let out a sigh of relief that he was still alive. She searched the room again before she found the black hilt of his lightsaber, lying beside one of the guards. Her hand shook as she picked it up. She walked towards him, pausing a pace length's before him. A sudden realization struck her, he was at her mercy right now. She could easily ignite his saber and end his life. How much suffering would be avoided? As soon as the thought entered her mind, she cast it aside. She couldn't do it. She wouldn't do it. That would be making the same mistake as Luke had all those years ago. And even though it was difficult, she admitted to herself that she did care about him. Even if she could, his life was not hers to take.

So she kelt down beside him and gently clipped the saber back to his belt so he would appear blameless. She moved her gaze to his face. It was one of those rare times where he didn't look conflicted and pained. He looked at peace. Rey felt her eyes filling with tears and she quickly tried to wipe them away. Despite her efforts, one of them still fell from her eyes and it landed on Kylo's cheek. She froze for a moment, but he didn't move. Her hand reached out and gingerly touched his jaw, tracing the scar that she had given him. Had it only been days ago? She couldn't remember anymore. She gently brushed a lock of his dark hair out of his face. Her heart was breaking. If she left, they would both be alone again. They would be enemies again. Her lip trembled, and she buried her face in her hands, allowing tears to fall one more time. But when she removed her hands, nothing had changed.

"I'm sorry, Ben," she whispered gently. "I'm so sorry." Her hand moved on its own accord to push another piece of hair out of his face. It was so soft, even amidst the ruined throne room. Rey hesitated for a few seconds before she leaned down and ever so slightly brushed her lips against his forehead. It was her way of saying goodbye, an apology for leaving him.

She stood and took in a deep shuddering breath. If nearly 20 years on Jakku had taught her anything, it was patience. There were 2 things that Rey was best at: fixing broken things and waiting. She refused to give up hope that somewhere in this broken vessel of Kylo Ren, Ben Solo was still alive. So she would wait. As long as it took. She recognized that she couldn't force him to the light, no matter how much she wanted to. There were some things that Rey couldn't do for him. It was up to Ben to decide what his destiny would be. She desperately hoped that she hadn't lost him.

Gathering the two broken pieces of Luke's lightsaber, she took one last look at Kylo. Her heart was breaking on the inside, and she ran towards the exit because she knew she wouldn't be able to leave if she stayed any longer.

She made her way to the burning hanger and jumped into the hearest ship. As she prepped the ship and started the engines, she took one last look at the Supremacy before she launched the ship and sped out to space. Rey quickly sent a message to Chewie on where to rendezvous. Her back slumped against her seat and she looked down at her hands. They were shaking violently, so she clenched them into fists to still them, her nails digging into her palm so she didn't have to think about what had just happened.

Kylo startled awake, and his vision slowly cleared to see a pair of boots in front of him. He looked up at General Hux's sneer as he looked at him in mock concern.

"What happened?" Hux said, seeming to barely maintain his composure. Kylo's muscles burned as he stood. He realized that Rey must have recovered first. He noticed his lightsaber had been clipped back to his belt, too. He had been at her mercy, and she could've easily killed him. Why didn't she? And she put his saber back, too so it wouldn't look like he had mutinied. It was almost as if she cared about him. He cast that thought aside, for now, his anger returning. Hux was still standing there, his pasty face even paler than normal.

"The girl murdered Snoke," Kylo said. He stood and looked around the room. It was even more ruined than before. He walked towards the window to see half of the Supremecy detached and on fire. "What happened?" he asked.

"She took Snoke's escape craft." Hux barely managed to keep the contempt out of his voice. Kylo stood at the window and looked at the tiny pinpricks of light that showed the Resistance transports.

"We know where she's going. Get all of our forces down to that Resistance base." He turned around and pushed past Hux. "Let's finish this."

"Finish this?" Hux was incredulous. "Who do you think you're talking to?" His voice was angry as he started to shout. You presume to command my army? Our Supreme Leader is dead! We have no ruler-" He was cut off when a low rumble shook the whole room. He felt his windpipe begin to close. His hands grasped at his throat in vain, and he struggled for breath as he began to choke.

Kylo turned around, his hand held out menacingly as he commanded the Force to crush Hux's windpipe. A spray of yellow sparks exploded behind him.

"The Supreme Leader," he all but growled, "is dead!" He twisted his hand as he tightened his grasp on Hux's throat. Hux was on his knees now.

Hux looked at Kylo with utter contempt and hatred as he forced out, "Long live the Supreme Leader."

Releasing his hold on the red-headed general, Kylo stalked towards the turbolift. The door still worked as they shut with a hiss and it began to move down. Kylo allowed himself a moment of reprieve. He slumped against the wall as he panted heavily. He allowed his mind to wander to the events in the throne room. He thought he had felt the lightest of touches to his face and he thought he faintly heard Rey's voice. I'm sorry, Ben. He closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.