Rey finished showering and dressed in a tunic with a long robe. She put her hair in a simple twist and exited the steamy bathroom. Surprisingly Tevoth was waiting for her, the table set with dinner. He motioned for her to come as he held out a chair for her, and she obliged. The dinner included a red wine, a roast and assorted vegetables. Rather him sitting across from her, he sat closely next to her. Rey waited till he started to eat to pick at her food. For some reason she felt anxious. Maybe she'd meditate tonight before sleeping. Tevoth finished his meal and he dark eyes looked into hers. "Rey, you are an interesting and exceptional student. I have trained a few others but none as skilled as you." Rey felt nothing towards his flattery, and actually wanted to kill him more from the hollow words.
He leaned closer next to her, and put his hand on her leg under the table. "You are a rare gem, full of potential. You could rise high, even higher than myself." he murmured leaning towards her. She felt her body tense at his touch. "Relax." his deep voice was barely a whisper. His hand traveled up her leg.
Find his weakness.
His other hand turned her cheek towards him, his eyes appraised her face and darted to her lips, and chest. She noticed earlier in the day him leering her but didn't think he'd act upon it. Rey wanted to Force Choke him for his behavior, how dare he touch her! Yet another part of her wanted to exploit the situation. He wet his lips and leaned in, they brushed hers.
Her arm wanted to slap him, the Dark Side seethed within her. The wine glass shattered on the table and he pulled back surprised. Rey's mind raced on how to fix the situation. She needed to be in Tevoth's good graces to find out information to one day kill them all. She stammered "F-forgive me Master. I am not ready for th-that." She looked down to her lap, hopefully her false meekness would pass.
Tevoth coughed into his hand. "I understand, you've had some interesting days here. Maybe after some more time has past. Your strength is very appealing to one like myself." His eyes gazed at her a moment before he summoned a droid which cleaned the room. "We will meet again tomorrow." He left, the door locking behind him.
Rey waited several minutes before speaking. "Who are you? Show yourself." Her voice carried the threat, but there was no answer in the luxurious room. Were they hiding their presence? Able to use the cloaking ability like Ren? "I can, and will kill you." The Dark Side seethed her her and dark ghastly tendrils arose from the floor. She willed them to every surface in the room, they writhed and curled, searching.
She stood, watching as the tendrils obeyed her, and stifled a gasp. The tendrils dissolved in the air, leading no trace. Tevoth did not teach her how to perform that. Earlier in the day he only showed her how to perform Force Lightening and how to conceal her presence, the latter was very difficult. Oddly, Force Lightening was easy and Tevoth was even amazed at how quickly she grasped the ability. How did she know how to perform the Sith magic? Was it from just seeing it one time? That must be it she told herself. She disrobed and put on her sleeping robe and wrapped the blankets around her.
Her excuse still felt like a lie in her mind.
I
Her fingers intertwined in his, they were on a warm humid planet. The parent star shined benevolently on her, the warmth felt good on her skin. She sat on warm sand and in front of them was a ocean that lasted as far as the eye could see. She turned around and saw Ren, looking into the distance. His face was peaceful and content even with the scar she gave him so long ago. Behind the sandy shore lush jungle grew with scatterings of bright flowers. Rey struggled to leave, to get away from him. But his hands held hers and as soft as it was, was stronger than chains. She concentrated to Force Push him away, the effort dissolved as he sat there, untouched. He looked down to her. He trapped her in his gentle hands.
"I love you more than anything in the galaxy. You are everything to me." He murmured.
"You left me! Abandoned me for months!" Rey screamed at him. She fed into her anger but the Dark Side didn't stir, it was hollow within her.
He leaned down and kissed her ear, her neck. Had he not heard her? She felt shivers as his warm breath and kisses touched her skin. Her body wanted more. Rey screamed mentally and fought against her body. "Rey. I need you. You saved me from being a monster." He cupped her face and his dark liquid eyes looked into hers. He moved closer, his lips brushed hers. Rey felt herself tilt her head up, her lips parted to kiss him. "They're here Rey. They're here!"
Rey gasped as Tevoth stood over her, shaking her arm. "Rey. The Resistance is here. You are not allowed to leave from these rooms."
Still high on her emotions from her dream, she Pushed him into the wall and started to Force choke him. "No. I am not staying here." She felt with the Force. Ren's and Luke's presence were strong in her mind. "Luke and Ren are both here. I will make them pay." And you Tevoth, you will pay most of all.
Surprise entered his eyes as he gasped. He nodded and she released him, he landed on his feet. "We will talk later about this." His eyes glowed red threateningly as he rubbed his neck. "Change and get ready. We will find and kill them. I am ordering you as your master to kill Kylo Ren. He is a traitor. With his death, your journey to the Dark Side will be complete and give you more power than you could ever dream."
Rey quickly changed in the bathroom into a sleeveless black tunic with pants and knee high boots. Her hands deftly weaved her hair into a hasty braid. As she exited she grabbed a cloak and fastened it, pulling the hood forward. Tevoth's eyes furrowed "What are you planning?" He handed her the lightstaff.
"Ren will seek me out. I will take care of him." The words had no inflection, and the Dark Side simmered within her.
Although the First Order fortified the defenses of Ossus, they had no idea that the Hapes Consortium Navy would be joining the assault. The Hapes systems had a turbulent past, they were initially known as the best pirates in the galaxy. With the establishment of the Jedi Order and the Republic, their pirating ceased and in turn, became a commercial hub in the galaxy. Ren watched their exchanges as Luke flew the Radiance behind the Resistance transport ships heading toward the surface.
Troops were already exiting the transports as Luke and Ren disembarked their small ship. The atmosphere was thin although still breathable. It was also sweltering. Beads of sweat coalesced on Ren's brow and neck. He paid it no mind and felt with the Force and let the masking of the bond drop as he walked quickly with Luke towards the building that the Resistance had secured. She was still here, and angry. "She knows we're here Luke."
"Lead the way." His uncle said gravely. The Jedi had been apprehensive on the way and clutched his lightsaber at the ready. Ren had his out and they went through the hallways. The smell of blaster fumes scented the corridors, while bodies of First Order personnel and Resistance littered the ground. Medics ran and attended to the Resistance first, and First Order second. Any living First Order member would be healed and also held for questioning. Luke and Ren's cloaks brushed the debris and bodies as they made their way through the base.
The black tiles and hallways were eerie to Ren, it took him back to a time not so long ago. Back when he was a terrible person. Luke and him had started to split off from the ground troops. With a nod to Luke they activated their light sabers and continued. He felt her presence and led the way.
Rey, we came for you. Lets leave this place behind us.
She said nothing back which he expected, and he felt the Dark Side surge with her fury. He sighed and felt with the Force. He brought his saber up in time to deflect a blaster shot. Luke and him kept walking, deflecting their shots back to them and ultimately Ren Pushed the poor remaining stormtrooper against the wall and Bound him. His prior squad mates were lifeless behind Ren. Luke looked towards Ren and said nothing, but his clear blue eyes showed concern.
"Where is Rey's quarters? She is a young woman with brown hair, is sensitive to the Force. You have been drugging her." The last sentence came out in a snarl and the Dark Side wanted him to act.
"You, you're the traitor Kylo Ren!" He was amazed that the trooper kept his confidence. Ren removed the helmet and searched his mind, looking. The storm trooper had seen her, to Ren's astonishment she was with another man, a Lord Tevoth. The stormtrooper started to cry out in pain. Ren felt a hand on his shoulder, Luke's blue eyes looked into his. He groaned and took a breath, then knocked the stormtrooper out.
"He had seen her. She has been around the base with someone, a Lord Tevoth, very recently. He didn't know more than that though." Ren stepped over the stormtrooper and continued on. He stopped at every cross section of hallway, guessing where Rey could be based on her presence.
"The only way she'd be allowed out alone is if there was someone who could control her Ren." Luke said quietly. Ren knew what he implied, another Force user. What could he have done to manipulate Rey? He saw him, dark and towering, his temples white. He could be no more than ten or fifteen years Ren's senior. Luke and Ren turned a corner and down the hallway Tevoth stood.
Luke and Ren stopped; they and the man held each other's gazes. "Kylo Ren. And the famed Luke Skywalker. I know why you are here although I'm afraid it's been in vain. She is my pupil now." His eyes turned red and he ignited his ruby blade.
Ren clenched his teeth and heard Luke speak under his breath "I will fight this one, go and find Rey." Ren looked at his uncle, his face was pure determination, blue eyes focused, as his lightsaber was held in front of him.
"Luke..." Ren interjected.
"Find Rey. I've faced Sith before. And you agreed to follow my orders." The calmness was unsettling, but Luke started walking towards the Sith Lord. Ren studied his uncle. Something came over the Jedi, a deadly grace that Ren had never seen from the man. Ren made the agreement with Luke that he'd obey. Ren took a few paces backward and turned and took another turn in the hallway, guessing a different route where Rey could be. He heard the hissing and crackling of lightsabers behind him.
Ren ran through the corridors hoping to find Rey quickly. Strangely he felt her presence coming towards him. He slowed and kept walking anxiously. His heart beat rapidly, more from nerves than anything. She was looking for him, what was her goal? He still felt the Dark Side within her. He stopped and ahead from another hallway, she appeared. A long black cloak hid her body and face, but he knew it was her. His mouth felt dry and his eyes threatened to tear. He turned off his silver blade.
"Rey." His voice thankfully was strong and didn't reflect the conflicted emotions he felt inside. "Let us go. Please. I know you're upset but we're here now."
Her form stiffened then turned from him, and started to walk. He ran and stayed a few paces behind her. She had said nothing but the Dark Side was strong within her, and growing. She went up to a door and waved her hand in front of it. The double doors opened into a dark cavern. She disappeared within its depths.
It was a trap. He knew it now. Ren felt his heart breaking, he didn't want to have it come to this. He took a breath, the air rasping through his teeth. He clutched his lightsaber and prepared himself, passing through the doors.