13
Hux organised his team into position before disembarking the ship. I was marched out last, now cuffed at gunpoint. It had been months since I'd felt fresh air and the coolness hit me. My skin rose into goose bumps and I was almost relieved at the sensation. There was something reassuring about my body still working correctly. I saw Kylo leading a group of his own troopers into the rebel base. I was eventually allowed inside and out of the cold. 'You two with me, she can't do much with her hands bound.' Hux raised an eyebrow menacingly. He was revelling in my vulnerability. Ignoring him, I retired myself to a nearby room, quietly enjoying my own company. I slumped on the floor and stretched my shackled hands up to my mouth, tenderly touching my lip. A drop of blood splashed onto the floor and I sighed. Shivering, I tucked my knees up to my chin and surveyed the room. It was relatively empty excusing a few barren shelves. Perhaps a storage room of some sort? I shrugged it off, it wasn't exactly important. I stared straight ahead and saw an old metallic droid casing. My face gawked right back but I didn't recognise the girl. My cheek was bright red and slightly bruised, my lip was cracked and gradually dripping blood down my chin not to mention the huge bags under my eyes from the emotional and physical exhaustion I was suffering from. I slammed my head back into a metal post and let out a frustrated cry. Quiet tears slipped from my eyes and I finally felt as though my spirit had been well and truly broken. I hadn't asked for any of this to happen.
The cuffs around my wrists flashed green and dropped to the floor. I didn't even have to look to know who it was. 'What do you want?' I attempted to steady my voice but to no avail. He walked a few paces towards me before stopping. A stream of light caught my appearance and I heard him intake a breath. 'Your face.' I shrunk away, back into the darkness. 'It's nothing.' Refusing to look at him, I pressed my eyes shut and turned my head in the opposite direction. 'Just leave me alone please.' I could hear that he hadn't moved. Infuriated, I switched round and started to get to my feet. 'I said leave me alone Ren!' Furious, I only then noticed the outstretched hand and what was in it. A small, damaged holoprojector with co-ordinates already inputted. Hands trembling, I took it from him and pressed the main button. It took a moment, fuzzing in and out before an unmistakeable face appeared. 'Who the hell is this?' I slammed my hand over my mouth, the tears falling out of my eyes increasing. 'Maz? Maz it's me!' My voice shook and I gently placed the projector on one of the shelves to stop it from quaking. The image grew larger and she filled the space between the shelves, adjusting her goggles. 'Kid? You're alive! And you're on… Crait? How did you-' I held up a hand. 'It's a long story, I met-' I paused considering for a moment. 'I met an old friend.' Maz nodded, eyeing my suspiciously. 'You were always a terrible liar. I'm glad you're safe. The castle was destroyed.' My face fell slightly. 'I know. I heard. Where are you? I can come and find you.' Hope burned in my eyes but slowly faded as Maz shook her head. 'Now is not a good time. There's a lot happening where I am, it wouldn't be safe for you here. Stay with your 'friend', I'm sure they can handle you just as well as I did.' The holoprojector flickered, as though running out of power. 'No, no, Maz!' I reached out for her and my hand met hers for a brief second. 'Be good kid, we'll meet soon.' The projector cut out and I grabbed it, stabbing at the buttons. 'Work you piece of junk, work!' I let out an infuriated scream and threw it aggressively at the wall. The metal shattered and I fell to my knees pitifully. The hairs on my arms stood on end and my fingers felt numb from the cold. Sniffling, I clenched my fists so hard that the bones felt like they could snap. Fabric glided against my skin as Kylo fastened his cape to my shoulders. He gently guided me to my feet and cupped my jaw, inspecting my face. 'Who did this?' The concern in his eyes tugged at my heart and I exhaled. 'Who do you think?' Gritting his teeth, he went to leave but I gripped onto his hand tight. 'Wait.' He paused, and I took the chance to run into his chest. Wrapping my arms around him, I held him as tight as I could muster. His arms hung limply at his sides for a while before he finally embraced me back. 'I'm sorry I couldn't take you home Tess.' I heard him say and I felt my emotions well up inside me. 'If you want to go to her I can send you in an escape pod from one of the star destroyers? I…' He hesitated for a moment, as if he didn't want to say what he was thinking. 'I will understand if you want to leave.' Gripping him tighter, I shook my head into his clothes before pulling away. I looked in his bloodshot eyes, our noses almost touching. 'I lost you once Ben, never again.' For the first time since we'd been brought back together, he didn't react to me calling him Ben. He simply pushed his forehead against mine and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. His warm breath blew onto my cheeks lightly. Eventually, I pulled away and dropped my arms from around him, stepping back a little. Silence held us for a good while, the sounds of troopers ransacking the base in the background. 'It never meant nothing. You, you never meant nothing.' Raising his head slowly, I nodded stiffly in response. 'I know.' The words came out as a fractured whisper, barely audible. 'You don't have to do this. We could go somewhere, anywhere. We could escape all of this.' I was hopeful and he could see that. Considering me for a split second, he sluggishly shook his head. 'I can't. I'm the Supreme Leader, I have to lead to First Order. I'm all they have now.' I took his hands in mine tenderly. 'You don't have to do anything.' His face looked conflict stricken before he squeezed my fingers lightly. 'Captain Phasma died on Supremacy. There is a spot open for someone to command my troopers.' I let out a small laugh, relieved to hear that one of my biggest adversaries was gone. 'This isn't my war.' He cocked his head at my comeback, dropping my hand hold and gesturing to the blaster on my belt. 'Yet here you are, a part of it.' I went to respond but couldn't muster an answer. Raising his eyebrows, he turned, leaving me alone and I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was going to ensue.