Ren set Rey down on the bunk on the Radiance and turned to the cockpit. The Resistance had the upper hand with the help from the Hapes Consortium Navy. Smaller First Order ships were trying to evacuate from different locales, Ren saw them as he sat in pilot's seat. He wondered how far they'd get with the skilled Resistance pilots. Earlier Phasma saw him from across one of the corridors, carrying Rey. He hoped that she reported this to Snoke, to throw them off guard. The Radiance lifted jerkily and made its way out of the atmosphere. He requested private transmission to Leia Organa and a few minutes later her concerned voice filled the cabin.
"Ben, are you ok? Do you have Rey? Is she ok?"
"I'm ok Mother. Luke is joining Chewbacca or Finn and will be coming back with them. Luke will explain but I need to take Rey to a planet, she has some challenges she has to face alone. I don't know where to go. It has to be somewhere partially desolate, we don't have more than a few days supplies on here."
The intercom was silent as he piloted the small ship further from Ossus. The Cron Drift shone brilliantly, the colored gasses beautiful in its destruction. His mother came back on "Ben, I can call for a favor to a prior acquaintance of mine, the planet is inhabited. It's in the Expanse Region - Cularin is the name. I will advise that you are an officer on a retreat and desire a remote location. They have some cities but most of the planet is sparse due to conservation efforts."
He stood and looked up the planet in the ships galaxy atlas. It wasn't far from the Core, it would take eighteen hours until they arrived with a few hyperpace jumps around the Cron Drift. "Ok Mother who shall I present myself as?" Ren started punching in the coordinates for the first hyperspace jump.
"Brandt Ksoral and Rey will be Vrytra Etliir..." She paused after spelling the names for him. "How long will you be Ben?"
Ren took a breath. "I don't know. I don't know if Luke even knows." he said quietly.
"Take as long as you need. I"ll get you the clearance before you arrive. Luke or myself will send a message in a weeks time. Be careful." The transmission beeped signaling its end.
Ren put the craft into hyperspace, and stars lengthened. He had two hours until the first hyperspace jump ended. He set an alarm and left the cockpit. Ren looked at Rey, she was still out cold. He took a brief shower in the basic sanitation unit on the ship and sat on the floor, his hand intertwining hers. He'd know the moment she awoke. His muscles still ached from his battle earlier with Rey, and sitting wasn't the most comfortable position but he'd wait for her. Ren closed his eyes, falling asleep with his head on his arm.
Rey opened her eyes, and gasped looking around her. She was on the ship they took from Sicarii back on Yavin 4. She was last with Ren and Luke, and Luke had knocked her out in her shock. The Dark Side seethed in her and she slipped out of the bunk. The ship was drifting in wild space, Ren was referring to the ships atlas and punching in codes.
"What happened? Where are we? Where is Luke?" She felt with the Force, he wasn't on the ship.
Ren smiled and looked down at her, then frowned. "Rey we made a ruse to make it appear that we kidnapped you back. Several First Order people and Phasma saw me carrying you. I'm hoping that Phasma reports that back to Snoke. It could be used as information to manipulate him. We're on our way to Cularin and Luke is with the Resistance"
"We should go to Snoke. And kill him." Rey knew she wanted to bring punishment to the leader, but also felt that something else wanted to kill just as badly.
Ren looked questioningly at her. "Borosk is heavily guarded Rey, with space mines and several fleets. The Resistance is no where near to being able to stage an assault yet..."
"You and I can rule together Ren." The words were out of her mouth before she knew it, but it was the voice who spoke them.
Rey felt the Dark Side flare within Ren, he tried to suppress it yet his eyes turned yellow before speaking. "You and I do not deserve that. And I know you truly do not feel that way." He finished punching in the coordinates and the ship lurched into hyperspace.
Rey wanted to argue but his words created a battle within her. He felt it and suppressed his own anger, and his eyes darkened to brown "Rey remember what Luke said. You need to meditate and fight the souls within you, with the Light Side. They're controlling you." His hand rose and touched her cheek.
She remembered now. Rey felt like she was loosing herself. Even her recent comments were hardly the person she was before. "You're right." Her voice trembled.
Ren stepped toward her and embraced her "We will make Snoke pay, I promise. But for now we have to focus on this, and help you heal." He lifted her chin up and he looked into her eyes. "I've missed you Rey." His head tilted down and she closed her eyes, parting her mouth and their lips lightly touched. Even though Ren said it had only been five days, it still felt like months since he held her. She pressed herself against him, and his kisses to her became harder, kissing her neck, her ears, her lips. "Rey..." his deep voice murmured in her ear, and hearing him say her name that way made her pulse race and heart warm. She was breathing hard when he turned around and pivoted the pilots chair away from the controls, sitting in it. She removed her pants and boots while he unfastened his. Before he could take them off she sat on top of him, her knees to his sides. He looked into her eyes, his breath catching as she positioned herself. "I will never, ever abandon you. I love you. I need you." his voice was barely a whisper.
His hands wrapped around her, and their foreheads touched, their mouths centimeters apart. "I love you Ren."
I
Rey landed the Radiance at the city Hedrett as directed by the port controller. The city was sprawling, on platforms well above the jungle. It was interesting to see the tops of trees peaking next to buildings. Ren's voice called behind her "Remember you're Vrytra Etliir and I'm Brandt Ksoral, both of us are officers in the Resistance and we're here on retreat. Mother said someone would meet us here. We'll be here for just a few hours, hopefully less. Just focus on being calm. Deep breaths..."
They exited the ship and a balding, portly human male, dressed in green and purple robes met them. Behind him two reptilian guards with blasters stood alert. Tarasin was the species Ren told her earlier. Rey noticed they different colored scales, ranging from bronze to yellow and green, in addition to spiny frills around their necks and smaller ones on their arms. Tarsins were the native species here, and Rey saw many more at the docks, along with humans and surprisingly Wookies. "Greetings. I received word from Princess, I mean General Organa regarding your arrival. My name is Sabaal and I am the administrator of this city." Ren introduced themselves and Sabaal lead them to a small speeder. The two Tarasin's sat in the front, one operated the vehicle, while Sabaal sat next to Ren. Sabaal provided the city's history to Ren and Rey looked out the side at the sprawling city. It felt natural. Of course the city buildings were industrially built, but interestingly cross sections of the roads had fountains or tropical palms growing. Oddly it felt peaceful, even with the rush and sounds of the city. Abruptly they stopped at a huge domed building, steps leading up to the doors. The Tarasin held the door open for Rey, and she murmured her thanks. Sabaal lead the way through the building and into his private office. It was lush with potted plants, and scenic murals adorned the walls. There was a large wooden lacquered desk, and two padded chairs in front of the desk. The windows were open allowing a weak breeze, there was no cooling system in place to get relief from the heat. Rey sat and Sabaal smiled at her, handed a fan and poured her a glass of water. He offered one to Ren and he graciously accepted.
"Sabaal, thank you for your hospitality on such short notice from General Organa. Vrytra and I were hoping if you had a reclusive destination here away from everyone." Ren's deep voice murmured. To Rey, it sounded like he was trying to charm the man.
Sabaal wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "I have known General Leia since she was a young girl, she did wonders for the Rebellion. The Empire found that I was sending her information, and she was able to save myself and my family. I will always help when I can. She said the both of you are on retreat?" He grinned at Ren and winked "Engagement?"
Ren almost spit out his water and coughed, Rey felt herself blushing. "Oh I hope I didn't ruin it for you Brandt. You certainly are a lucky man to have found a pretty young woman here to love you." Sabaal started flipping through his tablet, clicking on a few items.
Ren finished coughing and spoke "Nothing ruined sir. The stresses of the Resistance takes it's toll on all of us. The General is gracious with those who work with her in allowing us to have time away to rest."
Sabaal chuckled, his belly jiggling. "When you see her again, let her know she must come visit. It's been too long. Well now..." He tapped on his desk and a display arose "We have several locations, only accessible by ship which we can give you clearance to so you may fly there yourselves. You will need to check with control when you leave. We have beaches, mountains and deep jungle residencies for your stay. Which would you prefer?"
"Jungle" Rey spoke, just as Ren said "Beaches". They looked at each other.
Sabaal laughed "I know the perfect one, its on the beach and the jungle comes quite close to the shore. It's roughly four hours from here" His thick fingers scrolled past several locations then settled on the one he picked. It was a small villa, and just as he said it backed to the forest and the beach sprawled ahead of it.
Ren nodded to the administrator. "That looks excellent. I am not sure how long we will stay..."
Sabaal interrupted "Don't you worry young man, however you will need to buy some supplies. General Organa wired some credits earlier today. She said it was a gift to the two of you. That's why I said what I did earlier. Ahem." He coughed into his hand and opened his desk and gave Ren a small parcel. Sabaal showed them out of the building, giving Ren a strong clap on the shoulder and wishing well for the future of the Resistance, and a peck on the cheek for Rey. Rey blushed again and rubbed her cheek.
"Vrytra..." He said as they walked down the street, tucking the parcel in his tunic. "How long do you want to get supplies for?"
"I don't know..." Rey looked down, watching her black boots step on the walkway.
Ren put his hand on her back and rubbed it. "Lets get enough for a week and if we need more we'll just come back. I'm not sure what my mother was thinking. She wired more than what we'd need."
"I don't know how to cook R- Brandt."
"Well, it is one thing I did not choose to study in my lifetime. We'll get very basic foods to prepare then shall we?" Ren stopped and gripped her shoulder, and she looked up at him. He smiled. "Lets relax and rest before you meditate."