Hi! Here with another update. School is busy but I'll be on break in a couple of weeks so I'll have more time to invest in this. Another note: a reader mentioned that he/she expected Rey's lightsaber to be white. I thought about that before I began writing the fanfiction, but the idea is to corrupt Rey. I know that it may sound impossible, but if I take it slowly enough it should be feasible and acceptable. Hopefully the transitions won't be stilted either, lol. Back to the Resistance in a couple of chapters!
Thanks for reading!
"Bring us closer to Numina," Sula commanded the First Order officer. "Prepare hangar twelve."
Kylo left the main deck and Sula and Rey followed. The hallways were busier than usual. Rey would bet both her arms that although Hux hated Kylo, he still cared enough about the First Order to place legions of Stormtroopers at the ready. Just in case.
His command shuttle was already prepped, and they entered it.
Rey's jaw dropped. If she thought the ship she escaped to Crait in was fancy, this easily surpassed it.
The black splashed on the walls were supposed to be menacing a testament to the ruthlessness of the First Order, but the dark color cast a dim shadow in the enclosed space that lured Rey's mind to ease.
"I heard you were quite adept at piloting ships." Kylo's voice jolted Rey out of her reverie.
"Yes," she admitted.
"Co-pilot seat's open," he said, dismissing the pilot another corner of the ship.
"Really?!" Rey's attitude changed immediately. Not needing Kylo to tell her again, she plopped herself down in the seat next to him. He was already strapped in and starting the engines. Rey busied herself with double-checking the dashboard, making sure everything was functional.
The two of them piloted the command shuttle out of the hangar and into the open space. Rey peered out of the glass panel in front of them and saw several more First Order Star Destroyers floating near them.
"My other Knights," Kylo explained, before Rey could ask. "Each is assigned to a ship. I had given them prior assignments, but this one takes precedent."
"I see."
Kylo gave her a rare smile, but then it faded.
"If you are in danger, I will immediately pull you out. As much as this will bolster your experience of the First Order, there are heavy risks."
"I can take care of myself, Kylo." Rey smirked, patting her side where she knew her lightsaber was.
"No!"
Rey arched her eyebrows at his raised voice.
"Just let me have this," Kylo continued. "Damesh poses little threat against us, but he is an ingenious and slippery man. Plus, my other Knights…" his sentence tapered off.
Rey couldn't help at how surly he sounded. Crossing her arms, she frowned. She didn't like it, but she knew that even though he was excessively worrying about her, worry was worry, and that thought helped calm her down. Given what she had experienced with him over the last day, she knew that he believed this form of his control was a genuine gesture to show his concern for her.
"Fine," she sighed, relenting.
"We have a few minutes before landing."
Rey took his release to heart. She let go of the control stick and spun around to see Sula in the back brushing something over her knives.
"What are you doing?" Rey asked, moving closer to her.
"Coating my blades with poison," Sula answered her, refusing to break her concentration.
"Don't you have a lightsaber?"
"I do, but lightsabers are too quick. I find that knives are much more finessed and are much more…effective in killing people," she smirked.
"You don't think it'll end up that way?"
"Not for the villagers, no," Sula asked. "But if Supreme Leader is requesting us, on top of you and himself, then the threat is very real. And we must prepare for it any way possible. Foolishness can get you killed."
Little threat. Yeah, right.
"That and hesitation."
Sula gave her a warm nod. "That's right."
A comfortable pause spread between the two until Sula broke it.
"May I ask you something, Lady Rey?"
"Please," Rey said. "How many times have I asked you to call me Rey? None of that Lady nonsense." Speaking of which, she'd have to have a very forward confrontation with Kylo about it.
"It might be hard to break this habit," Sula smiled.
"What is it?"
"This is a lot to ask, but one of the Knights—his name is Jarrok. If it comes down to the worst, and I am not available, I ask that you watch over him, and keep him safe. He has a predilection toward drawing unwanted attention. He can take care of himself, but…" she faded away.
Something about Sula and Rey bonding over food in the cafeteria, let alone Sula having being the first person to actually know how she ate made Rey feel as if she had genuinely started a new friendship, as elementary as it was. Combining that with the knowledge that she had confessed some of her experiences on Jakku made it impossible for Rey to turn her down.
"I promise," Rey said. "I know what it's like to overtly worry about someone, whether they want you to or not."
Sula expressed her gratitude with a nod, and Rey saw just how important the other Knight was in her eyes.
"He's someone very dear to you, isn't he?" she asked.
Sula tucked her knives away. "He is. More than he'll ever know."
"Relationships are allowed amongst the Knights?"
Sula answered her thoughts after a momentary glance at Kylo. "When the Supreme Leader was Snoke, he forbade romanticism, citing it as the downfall of the powerful. Just take Anakin Skywalker and Padme. But now, ever since Kylo became the new Supreme Leader, he seems to think that relationships are the key."
"He surely can't have directly expressed that to you."
"He hasn't, but it's blatant. He's so taken with you, he's not sure what to do. Never have I seen him so torn."
Rey glanced toward the cockpit and at Kylo, whose mouth was set in a straight line as he choked the pilot. "Right," she said.
Kylo's head turned toward them and his grip slackened. The pilot toppled back in his chair, gasping for breath while Kylo strolled toward them.
"We're arriving," he said.
Rey nodded before returning to the cockpit. She spared a sympathetic glance at the pilot while he made himself invisible, before buckling herself to her seat and taking control of the stick. The brown planet grew. It was even larger than Jakku.
They were about to push through the atmosphere.
A pit of nervousness grew inside her. She was wary, uncertain about the other Knights. Sula was an exception, but there had to be another reason why she was the only one called onto the Finalizer and none of the others were.
She didn't understand it, but Rey was already beginning to change.
Rey saw Kylo's gloved right hand resting on the panel, and without thinking, she slid hers over until her fingertips grazed over the top of his hand.
He looked at her with a soft stare. No words were exchanged, but their eyes said it all.
A slight jerk of the shuttle pulled their attention away from each other. The command shuttle broke through the clouds, giving Rey an optimal view of the land around her.
The city itself was like a base on the planet; it was small enough for Rey to see the circumference of the walls surrounding it. For as far as her eyes could see, there was no other civilizations nearby.
"Rost is one of the largest cities on this planet," Sula said, tapping into her thoughts.
"And Damesh is here?" Rey asked, incredulous. The infrastructure didn't really seem like walls more so than simple construction that could be broken through with a shot from a blaster rifle.
"First Order Stormtroopers are guarding the outskirts of the city. There are no tunnels in the vicinity." The only way out is through the main gate or the secondary ones. And an unbeknownst escape from air is out of order, for obvious reasons."
"And where are the other Knights? Four of them, I presume?"
"My other Knights will not be landing with us, but at other key entrances around the city."
"More surface area."
"Great. Looks like I won't have the pleasure of meeting them," Rey said sarcastically.
"For your sake, I hope you don't have to either."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"If all goes well, there will be minimal complications. However, I already expect an outbreak of conflict."
"Damesh isn't the type of person to willingly accept his fate," Sula input.
Kylo turned to look at Rey.
"If I see that you are in any danger—"
"You?I can take care of myself, Kylo. Thanks."
Kylo yanked her hand over to him. "As much as I know of your skill and eagerness, this is not a joke, Rey."
Rey felt her temper short-circuiting. "I never said it was! You treat me as if I am a child and can't take care of myself!"
She could see him grating his teeth. "If you are in any danger, I will not hesitate whatsoever to pull you out. I never wanted this."
"And yet, you're the one who made the decision to take me along."
This time, it was Sula who spoke.
"Rey, the Supreme Leader has your best interests at heart. Please don't make this so difficult for him."
Rey turned around to Kylo to see obvious bouts of anger flickering over his face.
"Fine."
She knew she was being stubborn, but his concern for her was unnecessary. The degree of his hold over her was growing to be tiresome. Yes, she appreciated his help with her in his quarters in constructing her new lightsaber, but if there was a quality she could fix about him, it would be his incessant control.
The command shuttle gently landed on the ground, its wings lifting up over the main deck.
"Ready the hangar," Kylo commanded. The pilot nodded his head and voiced his affirmation.
"So far so good," Sula muttered. Rey glanced at the window to the ship's surroundings. It didn't look good to her.
They had landed on the outskirts of the city, where grass met dirt. Several small peddler shops stood erect on the edges of the city, advertising themselves to travelers and newcomers alike. However, that wasn't what Rey's focus was on.
A swarm of people had begun to gather near them—not too close as for Rey to be able to make out their distinct features on all of their faces, but close enough for her to see that there were men, women, and children alike meddling in the crowd, and that all of their expressions were generally the same. Everyone looked worried. Women shied their offspring behind them, as if protecting them with their body. Almost all the men wore scowls and had their arms crossed around their chests.
There was a loud click. Rey whipped her head to the noise and saw Kylo Ren with his helmet on. Her scowl easily mirrored one of the city's men.
"Kylo!"
"There is no room for argument. This is final. I have already explained to you why the helmet is a necessity."
Rey's scowl deepened. The man could be so cold sometimes.
The Supreme Leader gestured to Sula, and she smiled at Rey before slipping on her helmet as well. Now she would be the odd one out.
The three of them exited the hangar, Rey next to Kylo and Sula trailing behind them, watching their sides and backs. Rey did a double-take when her boots crunched on the grass. She had heard of it, but experiencing it was a different story.
"Rey," Kylo warned.
"Sorry," she muttered, tearing her eyes from the grass and falling alongside him again.
"Have your blade at the ready. These people are deranged and tend to let their emotions dictate their actions."
That sounded like someone she knew. Rey let loose a soft snort, but refrained from speaking her mind.
The scrutiny of the city inhabitants didn't help Rey to relax her grip on the hilt of her lightsaber. As they walked closer and closer to the city's entrance, the population density increased. But the villagers all parted to the side when the three of them walked by, leaving a huge empty trail behind them as all their heads turned and hushed murmurs arose.
Rey focused her attention on staring unabashedly at the villagers. None of them kept her gaze for too long—whenever her eyes flitted to a meet another person's, they would quickly skirt their attention away from her. However, given a hard life of on Jakku, Rey could read people with just a brief glance.
Anger. Sorrow. Despondence.
The city villagers were dressed in even poorer conditions than her gear. The men wore heavy coats and pants that sealed off at their ankles so that dirt wouldn't get in. Their boots were heavy, burdened with the troubles they had to endure for the benefit of their families. Women wore simple skirts with even simpler pants that seemed to be recycled from the city trash dump. Children were by far the worst. Their clothes were off-colored and patchy, a product of countless hours of mothers sewing together scraps of clothes they could salvage anywhere, anyhow.
Men's eyes were hardened. Women's eyes were wary. The children were innocent, but with the coming years of a difficult life, they too would grow to harbor the same sentiments their parents did.
Rey had just absorbed all these images when there was a commotion.
Appearing from out of nowhere, a toy the size of a small rock head flew into the air and at Kylo. Because Rey's focus was on the villagers while his attention was on Damesh in the city, he didn't see it until after her. Regardless, he still had enough time to stop it, but didn't.
Rey held her hand out and stopped the object in its tracks. She called the Force to her fingertips, and the rock froze in the middle of the air. Gasps rose around her at her display of the Force, and many previous expressions of indignation quickly turned to fear.
She waited for Kylo to do something, but it seemed like he was keeping himself at bay. Interpreting this as means for her to proceed into action, she gathered her voice.
"Who threw this?" she asked. Her voice was soft, but in the deafening silence, it was amplified.
Hushed whispers were all she could hear, mostly in terror of her living up to the First Order's wrathful reputation, but she didn't get any dark pleasure from this. These people were innocent, guiltless of whatever misdeeds the war had brought.
In other words, their innocence was not a trigger. But it didn't seem that way for the comrade behind her, and Rey noticed it all too late. By the time she turned around, Sula was already brandishing her blades at the throats of random city villagers, threatening them with death if they didn't depart answers to Rey's question.
"Sula, that's enough!" Rey barked. Not expecting Sula to adhere to the first ever command she gave her, she was surprised entirely when the female Knight backed off and returned to her side. Rey glanced at Kylo. No doubt this was his doing. Lady Rey.
"I threw it!"
The crowd parted for the person who spoke up, and who came out surprised Rey for the second time: a child, no older than the age of ten. He pressed forward, the city villagers making no attempt to stop him as he approached the three. His parents were nowhere in sight.
She walked over to the boy. Getting down on one knee, she looked him in the eyes.
"Hi," Rey smiled. She lifted the small figurine to his eye level. "I think is yours."
It was apparent that the boy was afraid of her by the fear in his eyes, but he didn't allow this to show it.
"I threw it because I hate the First Order."
Rey heard the gasps of the villagers around her. Ignoring them, she took his hands and inserted the toy into his palms. Then she scrunched them.
"Why do you hate the First Order?"
The boy shrugged. "I don't know. The people in white come every day and bang on our doors. Daddy also tells me the First Order can help, but they don't."
Rey didn't know how to answer that. She didn't know about the Stormtrooper scenario, but she sure as hell knew that the First Order had enough resources to lend a helping hand.
She could sense Kylo's impatience, but it glanced off her irritation at him. What was it he had said?
The weak have to fight for it.
"I want you to keep your toy," Rey said. "It wouldn't be good to lose it, would it now?"
She gave the boy's hair a small ruffle and then stood up. Seeing all these citizens trying their hardest to scrape by each and every day reminded her dearly of herself when she was on Jakku. It didn't matter how desperate she was—if there had been a possibility of help in easing her living conditions, she definitely would have accepted it then. This was no different than the situation here. Her decision had been made.
"The First Order will help improve the living conditions of the citizens of Rost."
A large wave of mumbling ensued, immediately drowning Rey's voice. All of the villagers were staring at her, murmuring incoherently about things she could not pay close enough attention to. She had their attention, and for the first time since coming here, the villagers' expressions started to lighten.
"Is that what you're here for?" she heard no one in particular ask.
Rey paused and decided to tell the truth.
"There is a more pressing situation we must dissolve first." Seeing their disgruntled faces again, she pressed on.
"But you have my word that after its resolution, the First Order will do all in its power to ensure a better life for the people here."
A fire of anger lit up inside her and it was so real that she almost winced. Rey didn't have to turn around to know that Kylo was furious with her.
"What is it you're here to do?" another villager asked. Before Rey could respond, Sula stepped in.
"That is First Order business," she stated. "Information that we cannot divulge."
A mist of grumbling filled the area, but the villagers appeared to be more content with how things played out than they were when Rey first came here.
Rey gave the child one last smile before walking forward. This time, Kylo and Sula followed her. The villagers obediently spread apart as they progressed, and before long, she reached the first vendor carts on the outskirts of the city.
There were over a dozen Stormtroopers stationed outside the open exit. It was obvious that they were bored out of their minds, for they were slackened against the wall and paying attention to anything but the exit.
Sufficient security, my arse.
Rey walked closer, and when she was just about to freely pass, she felt them stiffen.
"Halt," one of them said, surprising her. "Who are you?"
"I'm—"
"Who she is is none of your business," a snarl came from behind her. Rey was jostled to the side and Kylo Ren took her place. She could literally hear the gear click inside both the Stormtrooper's minds, and the audible gulps as they swallowed nervously.
"S—Supreme Leader, sir!" one said, just as another shrieked, "Welcome!"
"You were all informed of our visit, yet I see little effort on your part that reflects a responsible soldier. Every one of you will be sent to reconditioning after your shifts."
"Kylo, no!" Rey exclaimed, her voice mixed in with the Stormtrooper's cries.
"Be quiet, scavenger!" he hissed, whirling around to face her. Rey took a step back from him. "Anything you say is forfeit!"
Rey's mouth dropped at his use of words. She could not believe this. Was Kylo Ren really throwing a temper tantrum?
When she spoke, she kept her voice calm and collected, masking the anger brewing underneath.
"Sula, make sure these Stormtroopers explicitly understand that there will be absolutely no conditioning involved whatsoever."
"Yes, Lady Rey."
"Excellent. I'm going to have a chat with the Supreme Leader, if he doesn't mind," Rey sneered.
Of course he'd mind, but she wasn't giving him an option, and he knew this by the tone of her voice. Rey pulled him past the entrance until they were in a corner that granted them a bit of privacy. Even this was hard to find, as there were so many civilians and shopkeepers around.
"Take off that stupid helmet of yours," she told him.
"No."
"I said take it off!"
Kylo must've realized that Rey was not in the mood, so he relented, doing as she told. He took off his helmet, and Rey was presented with the real Kylo Ren again. The person who she knew.
"Kylo—" she began.
"You had no right to make false assurances! The people of Rost's problems are not for the First Order to deal with!"
False? Rey's eyelid twitched. Oh, so this is how it was going to go down.
"I did not make false assurances! I did what was right. These people are suffering, and you can't just sit by and do nothing, especially when it would hardly take a moment of your time to right things!"
"You do not have the authority to make such a guarantee!"
"Unbelievable! You're turning this argument into a struggle for power?"
"You are not the Supreme Leader. You cannot make these decisions, especially if I do not share the same desires as you!"
"Do you think these people asked for this life? Look at them, Kylo!" Rey waved her arm around to demonstrate her point. "What if this was us, Kylo? Do you think we would hesitate to ask for help if our lives were in such poverty? What if this was me?"
"You would never be living in such a wasteland to begin with."
"I'm from Jakku, for Maker's sake! Are you so far caught up in your self-ideologies that you have lost any shred of sympathy for people in need?!"
"I've lost my compassion for people a long time ago! I hold no debt toward anyone or anything! The only person I even remotely care about is you!" he hissed, stepping closer to Rey. "And yet, you consider my worries to be overburdening, and whenever the opportunity presents, you just love to disobey me!"
Rey heart wrenched at his words, but she remained steadfast. This was going nowhere. She had to try a different approach.
She closed the gap between the two of them and lifted her arm up. Kylo flinched, but remained still. Slowly, her small delicate fingers traced the cheekbone of Kylo and down to his jawline.
It had a visible effect. As soon as they made contact, Kylo's breathing slowed and his body slackened. The pulse of electricity was back. All the tension that were on both of their shoulders evaporated the instant their connection flared back to live. All with one simple touch.
"If you can't do it out of your own heart, then please do it for me."
She could see his brain whirring as it fought against his heart, but her words seemed to finally win him over.
"Fine," he grit.
Rey gave him a real smile, pleased that her plan had worked. Her fingers moved from his chin to the cusp of his neck. She pulled his face down to her level and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek before pulling away.
"Sula!" she yelled.
Kylo didn't hear what else she said. He stared at her, dumbstruck at what she just did. His face was blank and unmoving, unsure of what to comprehend. But a moment later, his hand moved of his own accord and grazed that spot where her lips had touched. It was the first time Rey had truly expressed herself for him.
Rey found Sula near the entrance of the city and walked with her over. Her helmet was off, which Rey now realized was a wise move. The fewer the icons that were associated with the First Order, the lower the chance that Damesh and his men would discover they were there.
Although that chance was probably gone already. The crowd that had formed near them the entrance that they had to push through would no doubt draw attention. Rey had to present herself with the fact that the enemy was already made aware of their presence.
Hopefully the other Knights treated the villagers with the same courtesy they did, although Rey highly doubted that.
The three of them made their way deeper through the heart of the city, in the same manner as they did through the villagers when they first got off the command shuttle: Kylo and Rey side-by-side, and Sula in the rear. Some people stared at them for longer than considered normal, and this was probably because they looked slightly out of place. Everyone was dressed in dull colors, Rey included, for they were all the same shade of tan or brown—except for Kylo and Sula. Their intricate black outfits stood out like a sore thumb in the scraggly environment as well as the scorching hot weather. No one would be crazy or stupid enough to deliberately suffocate themselves in something with no insulation.
They passed outdoor merchants—some had their own carts, while others only had a rug with their goods on the dusty dirt ground. The buildings that lay on each side of the street were comprised not of durasteel or bricks, but rather mud with rocks and whatever else that was infused in the material. There were no idiosyncratic patterns to the buildings; in fact, all of them looked pretty much uniform, in the shape of a bumpy straight lines that combined to make a box-like shape. Little openings in each building were small squares, supposedly windows. But there were no glass panes; rather, they were obscured by a dirty washcloth or stray article of clothing. Out of all the buildings and homes they passed, only a few had any decorations on them—usually a plant of sorts dangling from a screw that was jammed in the side of the caked mud wall.
Rey was on the lookout for Damesh, but the invasive crowd of people bustling about and her height made it nigh-impossible to do so. She wasn't tall enough to peer over the numerous heads obscuring her view. Kylo was however, so Rey left him to that and ended up spending her time trying to gauge what the stalls were selling.
A lot of the merchants seemed to be selling useless junk. There were stalls that seemingly sold the same wares. There were places selling odd trinkets or clothes that fared better than what most of the villagers were wearing. Some places were offering lumpy bits of jewelry, but Rey highly doubted it was real, given the poor economy. If people were too poor to afford anything, then a real jewelry store would offer no market. Even still, her interest was piqued. She had never been in an open marketplace before, and the commotions of the citizens and shouts of the vendors as they advertised their products for cheap credits fascinated her.
As they rounded a corner, Rey found her feet moving of her own accord toward a new stall that was selling an array of goods she had yet to spot.
"Rey!"
"Come here!" she called to both Kylo and Sula. She could feel both of their hesitancies, but they approached her nonetheless.
When they got close enough, the vendor noticed, and he immediately latched onto Rey like a parasite. There was something wrong with his voice when he spoke, like he had inhaled a bunch of coal and had permanent phlegm trapped inside his throat.
"Young lady, welcome. I see you've got a keen eye."
"I like this one," she pointed at a black strap bag along a line of a dozen. "How much are you selling these for?" It would be useful, for it was large enough to store both Kylo and Sula's helmets inside so that they didn't have to uncomfortable tuck them to their sides. They could also maybe get some water in this heat and store it as well.
"A thousand credits."
"A thousand?" Rey asked, frowning. Even with her inexpertise, she was certain a bag wouldn't cost that much. "Surely it can't be that high."
"Oh, I assure you, miss. All of these products are made from the finest Tauntaun skins. Rough, durable, and made to last. The demand is quite high."
Rey was caught in a sticky situation. She never learned how to bargain. The first couple of times where she attempted was met with raucous glares and vicious threats at the mere suggestion of receiving more portions. Unkar Plutt was as unnegotiable as one could get, and thinking of him now only served to rile Rey up. She was about to speak, but Kylo beat her to the chase.
"You are selling this product in the wrong place, scum. No one in their right mind would buy a product this excessively priced."
The man scowled.
"You seem to think that I will take your lip and shove it down my throat. One thousand. Take it or leave it."
Rey grabbed Kylo's arm and pulled him back. If she didn't, she was certain Kylo would have his head.
"It's fine, Kylo," she said. "We can just go somewhere else."
There was something inexplicable in his eyes. Something that almost seemed to be along the lines of him persevering and getting what he wanted. Why though, she wasn't sure.
But before she could ponder anymore, Sula stepped forward.
"I'm well familiar with Tauntaun skin," she said. "This bag is worth one hundred at most."
"And why should I take your word for it?" the merchant sneered. It didn't escape Rey's notice that he neither rejected nor affirmed Sula's claim.
"I'm from Hoth. I spent my childhood there. This bag Rey seeks is worth one hundred. We'll pay you three hundred. A two hundred percent gain."
Oh, Rey could tell the merchant was seething. He probably expected one or two sales today, but the last thing he was expecting were for strangers to come and put him in his place.
"Eight hundred."
"How many people even buy your products at that outrageous price? You know very well the people of Rost do not have the resources to purchase an item for such. And if you offered the villagers the same price as us, then you wouldn't even be in Rost, for you would have no business. You are scamming us and only us."
"Seven hundred. This bag may not be worth as much, but the three of you are carrying around items that I'm sure are of inconvenience to you."
"Three hundred," Sula argued.
"No. Seven hundred. Last offer."
"Let me be clear," Rey said, standing forward. "We do not need this bag. This is merely something that would make our travel a bit easier. But that does not mean that if we were not to buy this, our lives would come to an end. Right now, our inconvenience is worth well more than seven hundred credits."
"I have a family to feed. Seven hundred."
At the mention of his family, Rey's shoulders slumped. She hated this, especially if the man was telling the truth. Which he may or may not be, but she would never know. Now she couldn't get an image of a young girl and her mother out of her head.
Wait a minute. She could know. All she'd have to do is tap into the Force and read his mind. It might be invasive and she had never done it before, but couldn't Kylo?
She shook her head. No. What was she thinking? Inflicting this sort of pain to someone over something as petty as a bag? This was unlike her, getting set off by the smallest of things.
Sula turned to them, shrugging. "Can't argue with a brick wall."
"Sula, are you sure?"
Kylo scoffed. "If you believe every word this fool says, then this life is not for you."
Rey felt slightly offended, but Kylo had a point.
"We shall pass," she heard him say.
Well, that was that. The three of them turned around and began walking away. But it didn't seem like the vendor was done yet.
"Unless you'd like to go to other cities, there are no other vendors who sell these wares! I am the only one in Rost!"
"We'll pass," Kylo grunted again.
The man could sense that they were really about to leave him, and desperately offered.
"You can have it for five hundred!"
Sula waved him off. He kept shouting, but they ignored him until his shouts stopped.
There was a sudden commotion, and the crowd they had slipped into suddenly spread apart to reveal the stricken-looking merchant.
"Four hundred! You can have it for four hundred!"
Rey had never known this kind of pestering before. They had already refused him, yet he was still on their tail as if he could change Kylo's mind. She scoffed. There was no way. When Kylo set his mind to something, there was no stopping him.
"I said no!" Kylo barked.
The man didn't seem to take no for an answer, and shouted, "Fine! You can have it for three hundred!" but did so as he forcefully grabbed Rey's arm, preventing them from walking even further.
Rey's mouth dropped open.
Oh shi—
Kylo roared at the contact and slammed the man to the ground in a rough tackle. But it wasn't over yet. He stood back up and threw out his hand, forcefully pulling the merchant up so that his feet were no longer touching the ground. The man's eyes bulged and his hands went to his throat at the unseen force that was choking him.
"You. Touched. Her!"
"Pl—let me—"
If Rey's initial impression of the man's voice was resembling that of a coal miner, her new impression of his voice was like someone who had lost their voice after a severe disease. Rey could sense the life force leaving the man with each extra bit of pressure Kylo exerted on his neck with his fingers.
The entire crowd near them had stopped to see what was going on, and people began to scream at the sight before them. Rey's attention was fully on Kylo, watching as he squeezed tighter and tighter. The man was turning bluer, and his hands were beginning to slow down in their prying. Sula stood off to the side, seemingly entertained.
Rey knew she should stop him, but there was something raw about the way Kylo was choking him. Something that fascinated her and locked her into place at the scene before her, refusing to let her break eye contact. The darkness inside her came to life and slithered at the spectacle before her. Its enjoyment seeped into her chest and into lungs until all Rey could breathe was pleasure at the power before her eyes. She herself panting in anticipation.
His display was overwhelming. They were the antithesis of each other. Kylo was full of dominance and government, and this man was nothing but a bug beneath his feet. This was power. This was passion.
Kylo started moving forward, and the man's feet slid backwards as a response. The crowd eagerly parted for them, uneager to be caught in the midst of things. Kylo pushed the man back until his cart was in full sight and then with a heavy flick of his arm, Force-shoved the man into his business.
And yet, it wasn't enough. Rey could still sense his boiling levels of anger. If the man wasn't already dead from the lack of oxygen or the collision, he soon would be.
Her conscious kicking in at the thought of a person dying over matters as trite as this shook Rey out of her reverie. She felt the first signs of guilt coming on, but didn't have time to worry about it, for Kylo was storming to the crumpled mass on the pile of broken wood and scattered goods. And then she saw him rip his lightsaber off its clip, hilt in his hand.
"Kylo, no!" she shouted
He stiffened. A moment of hesitation was all that she needed to spring to his side.
He refused to look at her. Rey decided to take matters into her own hands and grabbed the hilt of the unactivated lightsaber, but he wouldn't relinquish his grip on it.
"Kylo, that's enough!" she pleaded, concerned at how he wouldn't let this matter drop.
He turned around to stare at her and she gasped. His eyes burned with a fury beyond the likes of which she had ever seen. In his state, he appeared to be a demon. Someone who had lost themselves in their hatred.
"Kylo?"
"He touched you!" he snarled, and ripped the hilt from her grasp.
"Kylo!"
"He touched you, and so he must die." Kylo brandished the lightsaber at the unconscious man, but Rey wasn't about to give up so easily.
"Kylo!" she shouted again, and this time put her hands on his arms and spun him around. She could begin to see the inner conflict in him—one part of him wanted to feed the anger and kill the man, but the other was worried about how Rey would react if he did so.
"He's not worth it," Rey whispered this time, resting her hands on his chest. "Please don't."
She could see that it took all the control he had to not throw her off and thrust the lightsaber into the man and devoid him of his life. But when she leaned up to him, he relaxed and his mind became preoccupied with the soft lips that were touching his, even if it was only for a second.
"Better?" she asked, knowing the answer already. The fight in Kylo fizzled out, complacent by the tender kiss Rey had just bestowed him. The bond purred.
Rey removed herself from him and took the hilt of his lightsaber from him. This time, there was no opposition. Clicking it back into his belt, she took his hand and pulled him away from the carnage, over to where she knew Sula was waiting.
"Wait," Kylo deadpanned.
Rey stopped in her tracks. She saw him turn around to the man on the ground who was just beginning to show signs of stirring.
"Kylo—" she began, worried that he had changed his mind. But her fears were assuaged when all he did was pull out a few coins and throw them on the ground at the merchant's feet.
"Three hundred, as promised," he snarled. Then, he stepped closer to the merchant, kicking his feet to the side.
"P—Please," the merchant coughed.
Rey was standing off to the side, but she could hear everything that went down.
"I will only say this once, scum. If it were not for the girl, you would be dead. Whatever pitiful life you have now belongs to her. But rest assured, if I were to ever see you again and she was not with me, I will finish what I started."
Rey clicked her tongue. The man could so dramatic sometimes.
"Do you understand me?" Kylo asked, Force-calling his helmet over to his hand. He raised it up and it was blatant by the widening of the man's swollen eyes and stiffening of his limbs that he recognized the symbol.
"Y—Yes," he managed to teeter out.
"Good," Kylo retorted, before swooping low and picking the bag up with his hand. He walked back to Rey without a second glance at the carnage.
Rey wasn't sure how to approach him. She had never seen him this livid, and had never seen this side to him. If she was being completely honest, she was afraid of him. And yet, as he walked over to her, she couldn't help but realize that this demonstration was nothing more than a show of who he truly was, and the bond inside her knew that and still lashed out in warmth when he brushed his gloved fingers across her cheek.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said, smiling. "I'm more worried about you than anything else, Kylo."
He returned her smile, revealing a side of vulnerability. Only she could put him in this state. Only she could do this to him.
Suddenly needing more than just the chaste peck she gave him, Rey bit her lip. By the looks of the way Kylo yanked her closer to him, he felt the same way. She melted into his embrace and tiptoed right as he leaned down. She was ready to open herself up to him and show him how he truly made her feel. She could feel his warm, fanning breath—
"I hope you realize this is has drawn the attention of everyone in the district."
Kylo's head lifted up at the same time Rey spun around. Sula was standing there with her long hair and silver eyes scrutinizing the damage Kylo had caused.
Kylo gave a low growl, eliciting a shiver out of Rey. But this time she felt the same way he did, irritated that an opportunity had been plucked away. She came to her reasoning first though, and her cheeks flamed when she saw the large crowd that had gathered around them. Merchants, children, men and women—all villagers—stared at her unabashedly. Maybe it wasn't as good of an opportunity as she had thought.
"Sula."
They had already lost too much time at whatever it was they came here to do. Rey took Kylo's helmet and stashed it into her bag, and did the same to Sula's.
"So…" she said, her cheeks still slightly flushed. "Where to?"
"There's a First Order post nearby. Our informant will fill us in when we get there."
Sula took the lead this time, glaring daggers at the villagers who still stood staring. They dispersed pretty quickly, and before long, the three of them fell into a crowd again, anonymous.
Rey and Kylo walked behind Sula. There was a tension in the air—one so thick Rey thought that if she began to talk out loud, he would attack her hungrily. So instead, a few minutes later, she mustered up the courage and took his hand, shivering at how the connection flared and shot bolts of electricity throughout their entire bodies from the origin of their touch. Kylo twitched, and she knew he could feel the same.
Perfect.
Rey sharply inhaled at the deep voice in her head.
What is? she asked after clearing her throat.
You.
Rey flushed yet again and turned her head away from him, content but embarrassed. She understood that Kylo could now make her feel this way, but it was also augmented by their environment. Out here, they could be themselves. No one knew who Kylo and Sula were without their helmets, and to Rey, it was almost like an ordinary life. She felt like she blended in, as if she was a villager and not a Force-sensitive user that was caught in the middle of a galactic war. She felt normal.
This is a life she could get used to. This is a life she could see.
But the daydream was shattered and she was jerked to reality when they stopped. Another home that blended in with the rest of the buildings stood.
"This is it," Sula said.
The three of them began to cross through the door, Rey doing so tentatively. Kylo stepped in front of her and walked in shortly after Sula, and she recognized this as another one of his ways to protect her. In case the unexpected greeted them.
But there was nothing out of the ordinary. They stepped foot into a dimly-lit open area. The first thing that Rey noticed was that the place was like a bar, but it didn't only function to be only that. Even though it was only approaching late afternoon, the counter was already filled with villagers—around ten seats—drinking and having a good time, the only source of fun they could indulge in after a long day of work. Bottles of cheap liquor lined up on all three shelves behind the bartender as he worked nonstop, pouring shot after shot of brown alcohol.
Behind the bar was an area also jam-packed full of customers. The place was quaint and cozy, due to the absence of wooden tables and the presence of lounge furniture that sat occupied by socializing villagers. In one corner of the room was a table with a green covering that several people were playing a game on. They were hitting numbered balls with long sticks.
All in all, it seemed like a place they could seek refuge in. Rey found her grip on her weapon loosening, and by the visible drop of Sula's shoulders, she was certain she felt the same way. The only person who stood sentinel and was on guard was Kylo.
Keep your eyes out for trouble. Combining alcohol with people tends to provoke easy irascibility and fights.
Who is the informant we're looking for?
There.
Kylo didn't point but Rey still knew who he was talking about with a mere look into his head. On the far side of the room was a brown settee, occupied by a single individual.
The three of them approached the man. Rey couldn't help but wonder what they looked like to the rest of the people in the bar. Did they think they were meeting with a friend? Did they know the Supreme Leader was in the room? No, they didn't, and the fact of the matter astounded her. Rey wondered how many times she was in the same situation, unaware at the danger that may had been present.
"What is this place?" Rey whispered to Sula while they weaved their way through the room.
Sula dipped her head so that she could whisper to Rey.
"A front for First Order operations. The city's inhabitants wouldn't take so kindly to it if it was revealed to them that this was First Order property."
"These are all—?"
"Yes. Commoners seeking an evening of indulgence. Their work hours are harsh, and this is where they come to blow off steam."
Rey looked around and found herself slowly growing disgusted. Men and women alike openly flirted like there was no tomorrow. She saw lusty eyes and wandering hands make contact with sensual nether regions; no one seemed to care. They all gave in to temptations.
She held a lot less respect for these people now. It seems like the working class wasn't all that innocent.
The informant scrambled to his feet when he saw the strangers approaching and grabbed three empty chairs nearby. His eyes lingered on Sula for a few seconds before catching the dark uniform of Kylo.
"S—Supreme Leader, sir!"
It was lucky that no one could hear them above the chatter. Otherwise, there might've been an upscale commotion at the sound of the informant's addressment. Rey doubted the informant thought about this before he spoke, however, given the quivering mess he was at the mere sight of Kylo. She rolled her eyes before giving him a run over. He was the same height as Rey and shorter than Kylo and Sula. He was dressed just like the other male villagers, in simple scraps of clothing with utility boots on his feet. There was a slight odiferous smell emanating out of him, as if he hadn't showered for days. Streaks of dust and dirt and whatever else coated his face and hands, giving her the impression of a scavenger on Jakku who worked their fingers to the bone.
"It has been brought to my attention that you have new information regarding Damesh," Kylo started, after the three of them sat down. The chairs were spread out a little too far for her liking, so Rey scooted her chair closer to Kylo's. This didn't go unnoticed by the informant.
Well, at least Kylo knew how to get straight to the point.
The spy lingered his eyes on Sula before launching into his new findings. Rey wondered how much alcohol he had consumed already. If she was in his shoes and were told that she would be imparting information to the Supreme Leader…
"Damesh's center of operations are close to the edge of East Rost. Not too close to the exit as to draw suspicion, but close enough to leave without a moment's notice as soon as he breaches security."
"We came from the East. Do you have a pinpoint location?" Rey piped.
"No, but there is something I learned through my contacts. As you know, Stormtroopers have been stationed near all exits. I believe Damesh, and my justifications are due to word of mouth that he is planning to gun through tonight."
"And how does he do that without setting off all alarms?" Sula asked him. The man turned around and kept his eyes on Sula far too long for it to be comfortable before answering her.
"That I do not know. But it'd have to be something big."
"Army recruitment, tunneling underground, flying out of here…I see many ways for him to escape without our knowledge."
"With the technology here, tunneling underground would take months, if not years to complete. Flying is not an option either, for all ships that enter are tagged and are guarded around the clock after the fiasco with the transport vessels."
"And they army?" Rey asked.
"It would be foolish. Stormtroopers patrol the streets every evening and sweep random houses. There is no way Damesh could have amassed a large enough army in this short time period without someone spilling the beans on him."
He said all this while his eyes were plastered on Sula, and suddenly, Rey knew what was on his mind. She didn't need to see the glassy stare or the small licks of his facial hair surrounding his lips with his tongue to understand what was going on. Sula was virtually an exotic species in her own right.
"I'm going to go scour the room," Sula muttered, before standing up. It was apparent she had noticed his open staring too.
Even though Sula was wearing heavy black clothes obscuring most of her body, the man still craned his head a little to the left as she left them, trying unashamedly to stare at her behind.
Rey growled, and this jolted the man out of his drunken peering. She wanted nothing more but to take two steps forward and pummel the man with her fists. People like that…
Relax, scavenger. I can sense your anger.
Rey jumped slightly at the sudden voice in her head. She peered at Kylo, whose face was impassive.
He deserves it, she responded. How dare he!
As much as I appreciate seeing you riled up at anyone besides me, it would be in your best interest to stay calm. The last thing we need is an altercation.
Well. That was the last thing Rey expected him to say.
Aren't you all for fights? Passion is key, she recited to him.
You are welcome to dispose of him later.
Rey recognized the meaning behind his words. She thought to herself. The merchant was one situation, but the spy? He obviously objectified Sula, and Rey was not happy about that. She was not happy about it at all. But that still wasn't enough to warrant Kylo Ren's so-called 'disposal'.
No. I won't dispose him. As much as I loathe this man, he does not deserve death. You will not manipulate me into killing someone.
Manipulate?
Yes, manipulate.
Kylo waved her off, and it took her a second to realize that he had actually waved his hand in response to the conversation that the man was having with him. It just so coincidentally happened that the hand wave was appropriate for both of them.
Rey fumed, but this turned dissipated when she saw Sula saunter back to them.
"All clear," she said, plopping down in her chair. Rey took a closer look at her. She seemed a bit more…
"Sula, did you have something to drink?"
Sula sheepishly grinned. Kylo ignored her instead of chastising her, which led Rey to believe that he had seen this behavior of hers before.
"Sometimes I need to loosen up. This helps."
"As I was saying," the spy continued, returning his eyes back on Sula. It took a tremendous amount of effort for Rey to not slap the look off his face. "Damesh and his men are making a run for it tonight. I've been told it won't be off the radar either. This is going to be something huge. Does the First Order have any reinforcements?"
"That is outside your jurisdiction to ask, spy," Kylo retorted. "The First Order is well-prepared to handle an issue such as this."
"Suit yourself," the spy said. Rey saw Kylo's hand twitch. "And for my payment?"
"Five thousand credits, as promised."
The man licked his lips. Rey could practically hear his brain greed at the prospect of money. "Wired to my account?"
"That would be the case, but I have now changed my mind."
"Changed your mind? What do you mean?"
"You have been disrespectful to my Knight of Ren, spy. A crime that is worth well more than five thousand. I will be rescinding my offer."
"You can't do that!" the man protested, getting to his feet. "We had a deal!"
Kylo stood up and towered over the man. Rey could see the spy's throat bulge as he swallowed nervously.
"I am the Supreme Leader. I can do anything," he smirked. "Be grateful that your only loss tonight was money, and not your life."
You are a cruel person, Kylo, Rey communicated. But this time it was in jest. Her heart was not into rewarding what the man wanted.
"This isn't fair!"
Kylo raised his hand up but didn't act. "Nothing is fair. You fail to realize you are nothing beneath me. You are disposable. I would recommend not pushing your luck anymore."
The man only needed to talk one look at the position Kylo's hand was in before something clicked in his head. He fell back onto the settee. After collecting a couple of belongings that fell out of his pocket, he shot them all a dirty look before scrambling off.
"Now that we know Damesh is planning to escape tonight, I will have to take action. I shall call my Knights together and patrol the night. Sula will come with me. Rey—"
"Before you say anything, I'm going with you."
"Rey, it is dangerous, and you could be—"
"What you don't see is that this is a two-way street," Rey argued. "You could very well be injured, and I would rather not sit around knowing that there was something I could've done to help."
"So be it. I will also have my Knights keep an eye on you."
"I can take care of myself, Kylo. I don't care—" Rey began, but was interrupted.
"Wait. Did you hear that?" Sula said all of a sudden. Her voice surprised Rey, for it had been minutes since she'd last heard her speak. She almost forgot Sula was in the room.
"Hear what?" Rey asked. She looked over at Kylo to see him with an equally blank look.
Rey turned back to her.
"Sula, are you certain this isn't the alcohol—"
Rey stopped as she not only heard, but also felt. The ground shook violently beneath their feet, and the lights flickered above. Empty glasses of alcohol were thrown onto the floor, shattering into a million shards. The massive tremor could only mean one thing.
"It's an earthquake," Rey said.
"That's impossible. The oil fields are outside the danger zone and can't trigger them. There has yet to be an earthquake on this planet for as long as people have lived here. They are not natural occurrences," Sula answered.
As if to prove her wrong, a new shock came, almost throwing all of them to their feet. The rest of the people in the bar, although drunk, had begun to understand what was going on. Screams of panic and mad jostles as they vacated the bar permeated Rey's ears until one voice spoke clear.
"Sula."
Rey saw Sula whip out her knives and twirl them around her fingers. Rey herself called her lightsaber to her palm, keeping it at the ready.
"This isn't an earthquake."
"I must admit, nothing has gone according to plan today."
Kylo.
"It's Damesh."