Chapter 4
Kylo exits his ship after it touches down on Coruscant. He can see the crowd formed around the platform in the center square. The platform was erected on the site where the old Jedi temple stood. The same temple his grand-father destroyed in the beginning days of the clone wars. The site was filled with dark energy. The screams of the murdered Jedi from the past echoed around him. He let the echoes of fear, anger and death flow through him as he basked in the dark energy.
He opened his eyes feeling renewed and continued towards the throne in the center of the stage. The stage was draped in First Order symbols and Regalia. People needed to know who the victor was. 4 prisoners kneeled in the center of the stage, their wrists bound, and their heads hidden by black bags.
Rey's betrayal hurt him deeply and he will channel that hurt into vengeance. He will turn his weakness into power and give Rey what she deserves. He took his place in on his throne and held up a hand to silence the crowd. They kneeled before him as a show of complete and total devotion.
"Rise," he commanded. The crowd obeyed and waited in silence as Hux entered the stage to speak.
"Citizens is the First Order. We are gathered here to mourn the loss of our great leader Supreme Leader Snoke." Hux's voice revealed his own feelings of pain and loss. "He was a great leader, fearless and merciful," he paused briefly for effect and then continued. "He was murdered...by a Jedi." The crowd erupted in whispers and chatter after this reveal.
A smirk spread across Kylo's face. He had given Rey multiple chances to ditch her terrorist friends and join him. He had begged her, reached out to her in the Force and yet she still denied him. If she won't willingly accept him then he will make her public enemy number one. Her constant rejection of him is infuriating and he's done asking.
Hux waited until the crowd quieted again to continue. "He was murdered by the Resistance Jedi Rey of Jakku". He fiddled with his datapad and blew up a picture of Rey for the crowd.
Kylo stood up and addressed the crowd, "She is the last Jedi. She will be hunted down and brought to justice for her crimes. I'm offering 10-million credits for her capture...alive".
Not long until they would arrive at Anchorhead spaceport. Rey was pacing at the back of the ship unable to sit still. Soon she would leave with Finn and say goodbye to Chewie and Poe...Forever... She couldn't risk being caught with the resistance and part of disappearing would mean saying goodbye to her friends. She could do this, no they could do this. She rubbed her belly softly and spoke to her baby, "We'll be safe here little one". She felt a kick and smiled. The baby trusted her, and she won't do anything to break that trust.
Part of sacrificing meant giving up more than just her friends, it also meant giving up the Force. Her Force signature could give her away and she knew Kylo wouldn't stop searching. By cutting herself off from the Force he can't track her.
She doesn't care anyways. Fuck the Force, she thinks. It's been nothing but trouble and heartbreak since she awakened the Force inside of her. She won't choose the Force over her baby.
"Rey..." Finn calls to her from the front of the ship. "REY!" He calls again. She frowns and walks to the front of the ship to see what's going on. Finns tone worries her. She walks over to Finn and Poe whose eyes are focused on the Holonet. Her picture fills the frame and she gasps.
"They are labeling you a murderer," Finn said softly. "Ren and Hux are pinning Snoke's murder on you. Why would they do that you weren't even there".
Rey says nothing, but her face says everything.
"You were there," he sighs. "So, it's true you killed Snoke?"
"I was there but Kylo killed Snoke", Rey admits.
Finn says nothing and waits for her to continue. Poe doesn't look surprised at all and she thinks Leia informed him.
"I went there to turn Kylo. He appeared to many times through our bond and once we touched hands I saw his future. He was changed, and I thought if I went there I could help him come back to the light". Finn nodded encouraging her to continue.
"Snoke ordered him to kill me but he spared me and killed his master instead. When I asked him to come with me he refused. Obviously, I was wrong about him".
"It makes sense that he would blame you for Snoke. Any footage from the Supremacy that remained would show you entering the throne room. You are his perfect scapegoat," Finn agreed.
Rey felt relieved that Finn wasn't upset with her for keeping this a secret. "so, you're not upset?" She asked meekly.
Finn placed his arm around her shoulder and smiled. "No, I'm not mad. You truly are amazing. You see the best in everyone, even the ones that don't deserve your kindness".
Poe ruined the moment with a grave look in his eyes. "Rose," he cried.
Rey and Finn moved away from each other and looked at the datapad to see none other than Rose Tiaco kneeling on the stage in front of Emperor Ren.
Rey could feel bile rise in her throat. She knew what was about to happen. This was going to be an execution. A very public one.
