AN: Hope this chapter finds you well.
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While her staff flew wildly, deflecting blow after blow Rey knew she couldn't keep this up forever. And inevitably she'd take a hit. She was right. The scavenger had hoped that the hit would be to her torso but the fates were unkind in this. The shock and blinding pain as her enemy's baton connected with her temple. Instinctually, Rey moved with the attack but it still found her prone on the ground staff rolling out of her grip.
The night sky above her blinked with bright lights as a white harbinger of pain stalked towards her. Though her vision blurred and fear's cold hands curled around her throat she scrambled back survival at the forefront of her mind while her breathing raced. Run, she needed to run. But the cold hands of fear held her to the ground and numbed her legs. Distantly she heard a roar of anguish, and she thought for a moment that she could hear the words 'Get up' echoing in her mind.
The voice was right, she had to get up. She couldn't just run. She couldn't just survive. She had to win. Rolling on the ground she dodged another attack, and that seemed to release her from the cold hands of fear. Twisting her lithe body she dodged another swing of the baton and jumped back before snarling at her opponent. The young warrior thrust out her hand and called the Force to her will. With a sickening crunch, the stormtrooper's helmet gave way and crumpled. A savage scene as red rivers flowed from the helmet and the body fell to the ground, the life inside was gone. Only then did her hand fall back to her side.
Brown eyes turned towards the sounds of battle. Her staff laid forgotten at her feet as she surveyed the scene before her, the screams calling out in the field fueled her ire. That same voice called distantly for her to run 'Stop being an idiot! Run!' But that voice was wrong. She needed to win. There was no running because it wasn't just her anymore. The Resistance mattered, and she'd be damned if she let it fall on her watch.
Swiftly she collected a blaster fired at the crowd before calling out to the Force. She had to use it, even if it thrashed against her will. Or if she had to beg it, she would use it to win. Thankfully the First Order had given her the tools for their own destruction - the rubble. Great boulders flew at the white soldiers crushing them in their suits. Like rats, they sensed the change in the tide and made a move to flee into their ship. Orders of retreat sounded out. Lulling them into a false sense of security she let them clamber into the ship before letting out a roar of rage. With her will and command, the transport ship cracked and crumpled into itself. Snuffing out the life inside, before being torn apart.
Her breathing was heavy, the pain made itself known. Not only in her body but her mind and her very soul. It was too much, but it was needed. She had to win. The Force flew through her, as it once had without her commanding it to her will. Seeing the fighters take off to make quick work of the single ship in the atmosphere that had given birth to the white harbingers of pain brought a small smile came to her features as she let herself savor her victory. "We win." She whispered, and without a thought, she easily found the dark eyes of Kylo Rens. Seeing him she surmised that it was his voice calling to her before.
She was tired, in pain but still, she stood watching the dark knight before her. "Rey..." his voice felt far away, sounded too quiet to her ears. But most sounds were sounding too quiet to her now. His insistent and commanding voice broke through her haze "You need a medic. Now!" She nodded and slowly turned her head and raised a hand. In the distance she could see a group of people rushing towards her with a gurney, ready to take her away from the battle. But that was fine, she had won.
Rey's arm dropped to her side and looked back to her dark partner. "They're coming." she didn't like how soft her voice was, or how hard to was to breathe at that moment. Easily she caught his gaze and oddly that seemed to help keep the pain at bay. "I beat them back." Again she smiled, proud of herself and her victory. But he didn't seem to join in that pride. No, he was still tense, and afraid even. A slight frown had begun to take on her features as she wondered about his fear.
However, she didn't have long to wonder about his fear as the bright red of a blaster shot made itself known. Finding purchase in her chest she found herself on the ground gasping from the pain. No, she had won, she can't die if she won. With a snarl, she leveled her eyes at the First Order officer and fired off her own shot, glad that it had found its target as the man went down.
Rey tried to get her enough air but the burning pain made it difficult. The dark visage of Kylo flooded her view of the night sky. Fear seemed to have taken hold of him once more and worry played across his regal face. Gasping for air she watched him try and fail to reach out to her. She could see his full lips move quickly, clearly speaking to her, but all she could hear was the pumping of her own heart. Demanding to stay alive even as it steadily grew the red blotches on her small frame.
Oddly she found herself wishing she could comfort the man, but her body refused to listen. 'Ben' Darkness encroached her vision, making it harder and harder to focus on Kylo. Foolishly she tried to fight her eyes to keep them focused on his dark worried eyes. But finally she succumbed to her pain and it dragged her beneath the heavy blanket of unconsciousness.
Within the First Order, Kylo Ren had a reputation for being hot-tempered, violent and impulsive. But in the past week, one could easily describe the Supreme Leader as cold, calculating and even detached. Something had changed, but none could tell what caused this change in their leader. As ever the Supreme Leader was still a mystery even to his own knights and advisors.
Talks with the Senate were advancing, slowly but surely. And that should have pleased him, but currently, he could only feel that cold detachment. Kylo was reading another update from his ambassadors but his mind was not on the words in front of him. Instead, his mind returned to the moment he had received his answer in the past week. How he had flung himself to the Light to find that answer. Rey was alive. While the Force had yet to connect them, Kylo had his answer and he was thankful for that. His dark eyes drifted closed as a familiar consciousness brushed against his own. Since the attack he made sure to constantly reach out to her mind, wanting to know the moment she was awake. A happy consequence was Rey's mind often reached out and touched his own while she slumbered. Her mind brought forth a warmth to him, and it seemed to stoke the spark she had made inside him. As that same warmth seemed to seep into his very bones.
Dark eyes opened as he noticed a presence that produced only irritation - General Hux. With a sigh, Kylo moved from his seated position and stood statuesque in the center of the room. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, hidden from view beneath his long cape. Finding that cold detachment that had served him well in the past few days he centered himself as the General came into the room.
With a sneer and a grumble, the proud man gave a brief bow before righting himself. Kylo Ren watched the General, he would not have to use the Force to know the ginger was angry. And it didn't take an idiot to guess what he was angry about, but Kylo was ready for this discussion. With a cold and measured voice, he acknowledged the man "General."
"Care to explain as to why out recruitment of troops has been halted." General Hux sneered at the taller man and waited for the excuse that would come. But the silence stretched on. And it only served to agitate the General further.
Kylo let the silence hang before he finally spoke in a quiet tone as if speaking to a child. "I told you before. Taking children and waiting decades for them to complete maturing and training is not effective." He paused and gave a small shrug before continuing "Besides apparently, it doesn't breed the loyalty that we hoped for." His thoughts turned to FN-2187 or Finn as she called him.
Tales of the traitor's actions were whispered throughout the ranks within the First Order. That particular spark was dangerous and easy to catch fire, one he wasn't sure how to snuff out as of yet. But reminding the general of the traitor was a sure way to silence him and a path to explain the logic in the situation.
With a measured voice, The Supreme Leader continued. "We sustained severe loses. We need a more effective way to recruit and train troops."
A scoff was the response from the general and his eyes narrowed with contempt before he spoke in a mocking tone. "And I suspect you have a great plan."
If Hux had spoken in such a mocking tone in the past, Kylo would have taken the bait and reacted violently. But now he didn't let it touch him, it didn't matter. Instead, he gave a simple nod "Yes." He did take pleasure in the general's eyes widening not expecting this reaction. He pressed on explaining further "We are already training multiple groups of new troops. If all goes well we will have adequate replacements within two standard months."
Hux glared at Kylo with contempt "They are too young and inexperienced. They'll be useless." He sneered and tried not to react as Kylo Ren stalked towards him slowly.
"These recruits are fully mature and voluntary soldiers who are being trained properly." His voice remained monotone but a threat bubbled beneath the surface. "We will never recruit children again." Again the Supreme Leader used silence to drive the point home, as his voice took on an edge that hinted at the rage humming beneath the surface. "The First Order is not slaver scum, we will not stoop to their tactics. And should any attempt to do so, I will have them executed. Is that clear General?" His voice growled out his words as he towered over the general. He was expecting the general to snap back at him, and Kylo was ready to respond with violence if the idiot spoke out of turn again. But nothing came, "Dismissed General." His voice returned to it's detached and cool tone.
Hux only stepped back and gave a bow along with a resistant "Supreme Leader" as he left the room.
Once he had gone the dark haired man released his hands it was only there once could see them shaking with rage. He wanted to punch the arrogant idiot's face in. But it wasn't a smart move to start beating your subordinates. Taking a few moments he searched and easily found the warmth of Rey's mind and it soothed the storm inside him, much more than he cared to admit.
Rey was used to a clear blue sky appearing in her dreams. But this one felt different somehow. It felt easier to breathe than it did when she dreamt of Jaku. Turning her gaze from the sky she noted the tall blades of green grass surrounding her. It was a color that was growing on her more and more each time she saw it. She would have been content to watch the green blades surrounding her shift in the gentle breeze but a presence made itself known to the young woman. "This isn't my dream is it?" She whispered to the presence before meeting the dark eyes she now knew so well.
Kylo lets a small smile touch his features as he walked up to the maiden lounging in the field. "You're correct. It's mine." He answered while he watched her. He wondered briefly if she was a part of the dream, it wouldn't be the first time she had featured in his dreams.
Soft brown eyes returned to the green grass with a soft smile. "If this were my dream I'd never want to wake up."
The young man stayed standing as he looked at the calm scenery "I haven't had this dream in a very long time."
"When was the last time?" Rey asked with a soft and curious voice as she watched the grass sway in the wind.
As her gaze was focused on the grace she missed the tensing of his jaw, as he mulled the answer and what it meant. But this was his dream and there was a good chance she was only a figment of his imagination. So why hide? "When I was a padawan. At the temple."
While his voice was soft in his answer it didn't hinder Rey in hearing him. With a sigh, she turned her eyes back to his visage. "Odd." She admitted and looked around her. For a moment she tried to rise, and yet her body would not respond. She should have felt the comfort of lying on soft earth. Instead, all she felt was the unyielding bite of a metal base, one that had been with her far too often for her liking. She shook her head gently and spoke up. "Tell me about the last time you had this dream. What happened?"
A twitch of a smirk touched his features as she phrased her command as a request. His thoughts drifted back to those calmer days, and nights. Before the dreams of a river of fire. "It was always like this, a field sometimes rainy or sunny like now." He heard her scoff a bit at his half answer before he decided to press on looking over at the horizon. "Sometimes I'd see a man and a woman walking in the distance." Remembering them he looked for the man in dark robes and the woman in light colorful dresses. But alas tonight they did not visit.
"Did you ever talk to them?" Rey asked curious about the dreams of his younger self.
Gently he shook his head as the wind played with his dark locks. "No." He considered her inquiry, wondering why he had never thought to reach out to them. He shrugged after a moment "They were always so far off. And it wouldn't stay like this." He clenched his fists as he recalled how the world would disappear as the dark voice would slip into his mind.
Rey was watching as he tensed and once more she tried to rise. Why? Only because she wished to pull him from his darker thoughts. "But it's like it once was. Why not enjoy it?" She offered to try to pull him to the current rather than the past. But once more she failed in rising. With a huff, she frowned at her predicament. "Oh, this is ridiculous!" She snapped with a growl and looked back to the sky.
Kylo was growing accustomed to her softer tones and was thinking of her recent question when he was shocked from his thoughts by her growl of frustration. "You can't move?" He asked incredulously, she was part of his dream why couldn't she move?
She shook her head and sighed "It feels like I'm strapped to a metal slab." She complained and sighed as she heard him move to stand closer to her.
With curious eyes, Kylo moved closer to her prone frame and quietly moved to sit beside her. Thinking of the past week, and how open he'd kept any connection between them it wouldn't be impossible for her consciousness to slip into his dreams. "You're probably being treated by your medics." He mused as he studied her features. "I was so worried." the words tumbled from him without much thought. She was real, she was here, and she wasn't dead.
At his admission, her eyes snapped back to his own, and she could see the fear and worry there. Her features softened from their original annoyance and she gave him a soft smile. "Ben..." She began but trailed off as she realized she had no idea what to say to that. It touched her, she knew he was worried when she was hurt, but to have him say it - that touched her deeply. Being worried about was something she was still getting used to. With a small shake of her head, her smile turned to a smirk "You can't get rid of me that easily. I won." She said so triumphantly, still quite proud of herself for winning.
Seeing her boast did wonders for his mind, as he was able to put away his worry for now. "I saw. Congratulations." he deadpanned and rolled his eyes as her eyes sparkled with pride. "Don't let it go to your head."
Rey watched as he dipped from view and lay beside her, oddly it felt comforting to have him so close. She was content to let them lay still and listen to the wind. And so they remained silent for quite some time. Until the telltale thrumming of the Force made itself known to them both. She was trying to ignore it to focus on the comfortable silence between them.
However, Kylo Ren broke that silence. "Rey can you do something for me," he whispered as they both watched the cloudless sky.
"What?" she asked matching his quiet tone and wondering about his request.
Hearing her soft voice he let a small smile break out on his features. "Wake up," he asked and closed his own eyes as he felt her presence slowly dissipate until he was alone in his dream once again.