Halo

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A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Nine-Maz's Castle

"Don't let him get to you, kid." Han said as he came to stand beside Rey. "Ben's not great at expressing himself. A trait he inherited from me I'm afraid." He let out a weary sigh as he watched his son walk off without bothering to wait for them to catch up to him.

"I just don't understand him." Rey admitted in defeat.

"I don't think he does, either." Han sighed again as he handed Rey an NN-14 blaster pistol, knowing she would be able to defend herself with it.

Rey gave him an irritated glance. "I think I can handle myself."

"That's why I'm giving it to you. Take it."

Rey caved in and took the blaster from him. She extended her arm, pointing the blaster at an imaginary target.

"Do you know how to use one of those?" Han checked.

"Yeah, you pull the trigger." Rey murmured as she focused her gaze on the blaster.

"There is little bit more to it than that. You've got a lot to learn, kid." Han said gruffly.

"Rey."

"What?"

"My name is Rey. I'm not a kid."

The beginnings of a grin formed at the corners of Han's mouth as he appraised her carefully. "Exactly how old are you?" He asked curiously.

"Old enough." Rey huffed as she gave the blaster a closer inspection.

Han shook his head in amusement. "Don't forget to take the safety off when you use it." He pointed out as he began to follow in his son's wake.

Rey didn't have any memories of her own father, other then that elusive male voice that she attributed to him in her dreams. She hadn't known Han Solo long, but she was already beginning to feel an affinity with him. He and Ben may be estranged but he clearly cared for his son. Rey could see that Han was doing his hardest to reconnect with Ben and she admired him greatly for that. She tucked the blaster in her belt as she trudged after Han, allowing herself the private luxury of daydreaming that he was actually her real father.

Kylo was still shaken at what had happened when his mind had temporarily bridged with Rey's. He had never experienced anything like that before and it unnerved him. For that one brief wonderful moment when their minds were joined together, he was able to experience everything she was thinking and feeling. It was both shocking and extremely intoxicating. It had given him an incredible sense of oneness and an odd sense of peace-like coming home.

"Gods, what is wrong with me!" Kylo mumbled under his breath as he rubbed a hand over his face. Since when did he become so sentimental. Rey was strong with the Force, raw and untrained, but with the right guidance she would…he stopped that train of thought abruptly when he saw Takodana castle looming in the distance.

Kylo knew the history of Maz's castle well. He'd been there several times before with Han during his childhood. Situated by Nymeve Lake on Takodana, the fortress had a main hall and hosted travellers, smugglers, criminals and beings of all walks of life. It had sensor grids and advanced communications gear. Beneath the main levels, the fortress contained dungeons, storerooms and catacombs which housed tombs of ancient Jedi. The castle courtyard contained a massive statue of Maz Kanata, gifted to her by her former husband.

When Maz took ownership of the castle she established it as a safe haven for any who came there. All were welcome at Maz's castle so long as they followed the rules, which required no violence of any sort. As such, the castle saw visitors from all walks of life who could generally co-mingle without fear of attack. Kanata strictly enforced the rules personally with the aid of the ancient droid "Emmie;" those who violated them were forbidden from further visits. To this end, visitors to the castle were greeted by a sign which read "All are welcome. (No fighting.)" The mantra "NO FIGHTING" was a core rule of Maz Kanata's fortress, with the warning posted in various galactic languages. This meant that even those who were in grave trouble, such as having a bounty on their head, could find refuge at the castle. Such individuals, however, would only be granted one free night of food, water, and shelter, after which they would have to pay a heavy fee if they wished to remain.

Kylo wondered what the old pirate would make of seeing him in his father's company again. Kanata had spent centuries traveling the galaxy, collecting antiques and trinkets which she kept inside the storehouses and vaults of her castle. The last time he had visited the castle with Han he had been about seven years old. Kylo remembered how fascinated he had been with all the wonderful treasures Maz had accumulated. While his father had been occupied talking to Kanata, he had used the opportunity to sneak away and explore the deep catacombs running beneath the castle. It had been an eye-opening experience and one he had never forgotten. The crafty old pirate had managed to acquire some ancient Jedi artifacts over the years, ones that she was determined to keep secret, even from Master Skywalker himself. Kylo had often wondered why she was so intent on keeping the ancient artifacts locked away from prying eyes. There was one box in particular he had been eager to look inside. He felt whatever was inside calling to him, but as soon as his young hands had tried to prise it open, the wily old pirate had discovered what he was up to and sent him crying back to his father after cuffing him soundly on the back of the head.

"Ben?" Rey's voice startled him as she came to stand beside him. "What is this place?"

"Welcome to Takodana castle." Kylo said sarcastically.

Rey looked at him oddly before turning her attention back to the huge fortress towering above the trees. "It looks magnificent."

"Appearances are deceiving. Every type of rabid cur you can imagine has frequented and found refuge in this place." Kylo continued in the same sardonic tone.

"You sound disapproving." Rey remarked curiously.

"How can I be disapproving when I'm one of them." Kylo said cryptically as he took the lead again, cutting off Rey before she could question him further.

"Are you okay, kid?" Han asked Rey kindly when he watched her face pale after her brief conversation with his son.

"I'm fine." Rey replied miserably.

"If you say so, kid." Han could tell she was lying. His son was going to have to change his attitude before he drove the poor girl away permanently. He wished that he could figure out what was going on in Ben's head. If he wanted her to stay, which Han sensed that he did, then he needed to smarten up and stop blowing so hot and cold with her.

"I'm fine, honestly." Rey said again, giving him a watery smile.

"Okay, kid." Han shrugged. "Just remember what I said about Ben. He finds it hard to connect with people. He always was a loner even as a small boy…."

"Its none of my business." Rey cut in hastily. "I'm only here to make sure that we get BB-8 to the Resistance, then I'm going home."

"To Jakku?" Han was disbelieving. Rey responded with the same watery smile and Han gave up. She was clearly in no mood to talk. He could relate to that. "Alright, kid, a word of warning. When we go inside don't stare."

"At what?"

"At anything." Han motioned for her to follow him as he took the lead and headed inside the castle.

Once inside, their arrival prompted the attention of informants for both the First Order and the Resistance. Han was a well-known figure and as for Kylo…he felt several pairs of eyes trained on him as he weaved his way through the crowd. Maz's joint was heaving with patrons of all different shapes and sizes. He knew it should bother him that he been spotted in the company of his father, he could imagine Snoke's reaction when that surprising information reached his former master, but he found he didn't really care. He had come this far on his surprising journey and he was content to let it just play out.

"Han Solo!" Maz Kanata called out as soon as she spotted Han. Her diminutive figure wound its way through the crowds toward them, only pausing when she noticed Kylo standing a few feet away from his father. The smuggler queen was so taken aback by this odd sight that she pulled the ridiculously thick lensed goggles she had perched on her head and drew them over her tiny eyes, making them appear larger. "It is you." She murmured, before pushing the thick lensed glasses back to their former position. "And what do I owe the honour?" She asked when she finally reached them.

"I need your help." Han explained as he took a seat at a free table.

"You always need something." Maz complained good-naturedly as she pulled up her own chair. Kylo and Rey took the remaining seats. "Who's the young lady?" She asked in an aside to Han.

"Rey meet Maz. Maz meet Rey." Han casually introduced them.

"Hi." Rey said nervously as she met Maz's cool gaze.

"Interesting." Maz murmured as her keen eyes drifted to Kylo. Kylo stared back at her impassively, giving nothing away. Maz didn't bother to elaborate further but instead turned her focus back on Han. "You are right back in the mess." She said to him.

Han gave her a sour look. "I need you to get this droid back to Leia."

"Why?"

"It's carrying some important information that is vital to the Resistance." Han revealed cautiously.

"The droid or your son?" Maz countered.

Rey's eyes flashed to Kylo as she waited out his reaction, but he remained as impassive as ever, his face giving away nothing about what he was thinking or feeling. She was so confused by everything. There was so much she didn't understand, but she was also afraid to ask. She thought about his earlier cryptic comment when he had hinted that he was no better than the scoundrels who made up most of Maz's clientele. He was a deep well of secrets and she found herself becoming more and more intrigued.

"Ben is one of my crew." Han said testily as he tried to turn the focus of the conversation away from his brooding son. "It's the droid Leia needs."

"Take the droid to her yourself. You cannot keep avoiding her, Han." Maz's tone gentled as she regarded him thoughtfully, before her beady eyes turned back to Kylo. "And neither can you." She added pointedly.

Kylo scowled at Kanata as he pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. "You can finish this conversation without me." He muttered darkly before storming off.

"Go after him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Han ordered Rey gruffly.

"He's not my responsibility anymore." Rey answered stubbornly. She had an inkling that Han was using his son as an excuse to get her to leave so he could continue his conversation with Maz in private.

"Please." Han persisted. "For me."

"Fine." Rey conceded ungraciously as she scraped her chair back and followed the path Kylo had taken through the crowd.

Maz templed her fingers together as she stared after Rey's departing figure. "Who is the girl, really?" She asked Han again.

"I was hoping you could tell me." He replied with a troubled frown.

Kylo was lost in the past. Just like he had when he was seven years old, he felt something drawing him to the lower levels of the castle. He was well aware that Rey was following him, he actually slowed his pace to give her time to catch up to him. He wanted her company. When she reached his side, he gave her a small smile of apology. He was regretting his rude behaviour. There was no excuse for taking out his unhappiness on her, especially after everything she had done for him. He wished he could find the right words to tell her he was sorry and how grateful he was that she had so selflessly saved his life. But when she returned his small smile with one of her own, his worries vanished. He could tell she understood without him having to say a word.

They continued into the depths of the castle together. The castle was more ancient than any bone left in the soil. The once smooth rocks were pitted and scarred. Kylo felt a tremor run through him, he could practically hear the whispers of the ages, tales of lives lost and deaths of agony no-one should ever feel, they remain cloistered in the castle dungeons and catacombs and echoed around staircases of twisted rock. The ghosts of the past had so much to say and no ears willing to hear, no soul willing to feel the torment that lies within.

"Maybe we should go back." Rey whispered anxiously as she drew a little closer to him as if she was experiencing the same uneasy echoes of the past.

"You can turn back if you like." Kylo offered even as his hand hovered near hers in an attempt to stop her acting on that impulse. Something continued to draw him onward, he had to go and investigate no matter how ambivalent he was feeling. But he didn't want to be alone. He had been alone his whole life.

"Let's keep going." Rey said reluctantly. The cold damp air wrapped around her like a heavy coat of chain mail as she descended the tight spiral staircase to the catacombs below. In the absence of flaming torches, the dimness gave the impression of twilight despite the heat and brilliance of the late afternoon sun outside.

After turning another corner, they reached the bottom of the spiral staircase. Rey gasped as she was suddenly confronted with Maz's collection of ancient artifacts. She gaped at all the treasures, her curious eyes trying to drink in everything at once. Kylo left her side, his feet drawn toward the very same box that had intrigued him as a child. He could feel the Force humming around him, heightening all of his senses, just like it did before he went into battle. Adrenaline coursed through him and his heart pounded with excitement as he knelt down in front of the box and opened it.

Kylo drew in a sharp breath when he saw the lightsaber nestled snugly inside the non-descript box. His eager fingers reached for it, but before they connected a cold draught swirled around him and everything went dark.

A/N-thanks for reading. Please review.