Chapter Four

Rose eased herself onto the creeper board and rolled under the A-Wing to access the sublight engine. She still had the pleasant taste of rum in her mouth, sneaking sips of it from Finn's cup. Still technically grounded on medical, she wasn't supposed to have had any alcohol, but, dammit, she'd earned it. They all had. And now, to hear that the Supreme Leader was dead, killed by the Jedi Rey? It was a miracle, is what it was. She wished she could have seen Rey lifting the boulders from the cave. Finn and Poe had told her about it, awe coloring their voices. Neither of them had seen anything like it before. To think, a real Jedi was here, fighting with the Resistance! Excitement made her miss her aim, and she smashed her finger with the wrench she was using as a hammer.

"Kriffing sithspit!" Rose shook her hand out, bringing her finger to her mouth. Her finger throbbing, she returned to the task at hand. This starfighter was actually in really good shape, only needing work on one of the engines. Rose had already fixed the left wing stabilizer. Still, these weren't the greatest ships in the galaxy. Prone to drama, she thought. Fast, though, and agile if you knew how to work them.

Delicate sensibilities, too. Rose eased the last screw into the hole, careful to angle it just right with the sine bar. 32.67 degrees. Not a hair more or less. Or the engine could fail. Fun times. Just a little more. Rose smiled.

"Gotcha."

The screw in place, she fired up the soldering gun to seal it. It was good to be working again. She believed in the Resistance with every fiber of her being. But physical combat was not her forte. She wasn't ashamed, and gods knew she would never back down from a fight.

Satisfied, she rolled out from underneath the ship to let the metal cool down. It would need a least a full day. She sat up slowly, still feeling the pain of broken ribs and organ damage. Most of her injuries had healed, but without a full bacta tank, complete recovery would have to be done by nature herself.

"Oh, man! I cannot wait to fly one of these!" Poe said, practically skipping. Rose laughed, shaking her head.

"Well, it shouldn't be too long before that is a possibility," Rose replied, wiping grease off her hands. "Although, I wouldn't take any of them for any deep space runs just yet. Maybe give them a run planet-side for a bit first." She patted the hull of the craft affectionately. "Not gonna lie, they're solid but old." She braced herself to stand, thought better of it, and turned her body awkwardly to try and wiggle her way up.

Poe extended a hand to her, carefully pulling her to her feet. He'd given up trying to keep Rose down from working. Instead, he tried to make sure she was just going easy on herself while doing it. Besides, they needed the A-Wings up and running as soon as possible. Poe wasn't ashamed to admit he was willing to push his comrades to that end. The Resistance's allies had been depressingly silent during the battle on Crait, but they were still out there. He had to believe that. And the sooner they had more than just the Falcon and the starfighter he'd commandeered as transportation, the sooner they could confront said allies and drum up support, of all kinds. They were low on food - well, real food. The rations he confiscated from a trading post on Jakku (Force, he hated that planet), would provide sufficient nutrition, but it was absolutely unfit for a bantha, taste wise. Poe recalled the girl Rey's reaction to the small packets, how she grabbed one, cooked it up, and eagerly sat down, chewing happily. Granted they were all pretty hungry, but she practically attacked the food, polishing it off in record time, before disappearing to sleep. He wondered if, having grown up on the desert planet, that food was considered good?

The hangar door banged open, and Poe and Rose turned around to see who had arrived.

"Finn, my man!" Poe grinned widely. Finn flashed a cautious smile of his own when Poe gave him a friendly slap on the back. Poe watched Rose's gaze turn to her hands, as she inspected her nails, then turned an intense interest to her palm. Finn had shoved his hands in his pockets, lower lip tucked in, looking everywhere but at Rose. The corner of Poe's mouth tilted up in a half smile, dark eyes settling on a point between the two younger people. He was happy for them. Of course he was. He removed his hand from Finn's shoulder, noticing the stitching he'd done on the jacket was already beginning to fray. Of course it was.

"Well, I'm going to go check on the communications project, see how it's, uh, coming along," Poe said. He turned to leave, but Finn grabbed his arm.

"Wait, I was looking for you." Finn said. Poe crushed the small, traitorous spark that briefly ignited inside his chest.

"Whatcha need, my friend?"

Finn frowned and looked around the hangar, making sure they were alone. His hands clenched and unclinched. Poe reached out and squeezed his upper arm.

"Hey, what's going on?" Poe asked softly. "Talk to us."

"It's about Rey."

Had Rey known she was the topic of whispered, clandestine discussion amongst her friends, she might have turned her staff happily against a tech droid. As it was, the silent stares, too-wide smiles quickly extinguished once they thought she was out of sight, and general tip-toeing around her made her feel very - well, very sleepless. Not that that behavior came from everyone in their fleet. Finn was Finn. His unabashed care for her was a light, plain and simply. She loved him dearly, her first friend. And anyone he loved, she loved, too. It was easy for Rey to think of Finn, uncomplicated. She hadn't exchanged more than a few words with Rose, who was still recovering from her injuries. But the young woman seemed good. That was it. Just, just good. Everything about her radiated kindness. Again, it was something Rey wasn't accustomed to. Poe was, well, Rey didn't have a good read on Poe. But he never did anything by halves, of that she was sure. And Rey knew that lying wasn't just against his nature. She was certain he lacked the skill of subtlety, was incapable of being anything other than upfront and honest. And the General - Leia, Rey mentally corrected herself, as Leia would have demanded of her - she was, well, she was subtle.

Rey swung her staff at the invisible opponent in front of her. That wasn't to say she didn't respect and love Leia. Because she did. And maybe there were no buts. Maybe Rey was overthinking everything? She twirled, bringing the weapon under the legs of her enemy. It felt good to be practicing again. She'd read what she could of the Jedi texts, but half of it was indecipherable and the other half may as well have been, for all the sense it made. She felt a stab of guilt for wishing she held the lightsaber in her hands instead of her old bo staff. Guilt that she would so easily abandon an inanimate object that had been her constant companion for the better part of a decade. Something deeper than guilt that the lightsaber in question was now in two parts.

Her moves became faster, harder, every muscle straining with the effort. Sweat rolled down her face and neck. Her hair came undone from the single bun she'd quickly tied it into, strands now plastered to her face. All exhaustion was gone. Moving swiftly from every position, she couldn't be faulted for not noticing how the air changed. She spun, staff twirling around her before she brought it down on the head of Kylo Ren.

Rey froze, lungs heaving, staff gripped tight in both hands. Kylo stood before her, arms raised, blocking her deadly blow with his own pair of maces. Everything in the empty supply room was silent. It was only the two of them, the only sound their labored breaths. Kylo's hair stuck to his face and neck. His skin shone with sweat, chest heaving as he stared her down. Rey knew his intentions before he moved, saw the muscles in in his arms tighten, his jaw clench. Then he thrust upward, pushing her staff and her away. She whirled around, bringing it lower to take his legs. He blocked the move, spinning to swing one heavy mace toward her neck. Rey easily knocked it aside, raising the other end up to catch his hip. They circled each other. Two steps forward, one step back. To the side, and another blow, parry, blow, parry.

Kylo advanced on Rey, and she brought her staff up. He caught it, pinning it between both maces. Rey's left leg caught between his. Kylo's hip pressed into hers. She could feel the heat rolling off him in waves, or maybe it was her? She didn't know at this point. Every breath she exhaled blew the loose strands of his hair. Rey saw his throat move, felt a lump forming in her own.

"Yield," Kylo said, voice low.

"I'll only lose if I yield," Rey bit out.

"You'll lose if you don't."

Rey shook her head and gripped her staff tighter, violently rocking side to side, as though it would free her from his grasp. Kylo's grip remained firm. He slid his leg between hers, hooked his foot around her calf and pulled. She went down but not forcefully. She still held her staff, as did Kylo. He bent forward with her, going to one knee, lowering her to the floor rather than letting her fall.

"I'll make it easy for you," Kylo said. Rey snorted, wrestling to keep a firm hold on her weapon.

"Big of you, but not necessary." Rey twisted her body beneath his and released her staff. It threw Kylo off balance just enough that he nearly fell backwards, throwing his leg out to catch himself. Rey was on him in seconds. Her staff clattered to the floor as she pushed him to his back, knees on either side of his hips. Her hands gripped his, forcing the maces against his throat. She felt him raise both legs, so she leaned forward until their chests touched, barring him from putting her in a triangle choke.

"Yield," Rey demanded, pressing her weight against him, pushing the crossed maces further against his throat. Her hair hung down, the ends barely brushing Kylo's face. He held her gaze for a moment, eyes boring into hers, before they dropped a fraction. Rey felt a rush of heat from her face to her toes, scorching her skin before burrowing deep into her veins. She swallowed against a suddenly dry throat, saw Kylo track the movement with his eyes. When they met hers again, they were impossibly dark. Rey felt him relax his grip on the maces, no longer pushing against her. She eased her weight back, taking some of the pressure off his throat. Almost imperceptibly, he followed her movement, stomach tensing beneath her as he held himself a few centimeters off the floor. She leaned back; he moved forward.

Rey heard a mechanical chirping. They both turned their heads toward the sound, and then he was gone. Rey knelt alone on the floor of the truly empty supply room she'd commandeered as a training space. She slumped forward, arms stretched out in front of her, feeling the muscles in her spine and shoulders stretch, tried to slow her breathing and racing heart. She had no idea how long she remained that way until Rose found her.

Kylo had destroyed many inanimate objects in his life, but never so thoroughly as the mobile holocomm that had briefly held a projection of Hux's pasty face. It lay in pieces at his feet, shards of glass and metal scattered across the floor of his training room. He leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes, running a hand through his damp hair. He could still feel the ghost of Rey's hair against his cheeks, the press of her legs against his ribs, the heat of her over his -

Kylo pushed away from the wall, throwing the maces to the floor where they crashed in an angry, metallic bang. He flung the door of the refresher open, twisted the faucet into life, and stripped his boots and pants off before stepping under the cold spray.

A half hour later, he emerged, shivering but more in control. No sooner had he finished dressing when his holopad lit up, and the General's disapproving frown twisted into a ridiculous caricature of subservience.

"My Lord, I've been trying to reach you," Hux said. "I have received word from our informants of an uprising on Athulla. Nothing too troublesome, as I understand it, mostly children," Hux sniffed. "Still, it isn't something to ignore. Never hurts to make an example."

Kylo said nothing, studying a map of the system. It was one of many planets the Order had used to recruit new soldiers for their ranks.

"Shall I send Commander Wetch?" Hux prompted. Kylo closed the system map.

"No, I'll go myself."

"Supreme Leader, don't you think it is unwise to personally interfere in such a small skirmish?" Hux asked in a bored tone.

"Don't you think it's unwise to continually question the command of the Supreme Leader, General?" Kylo responded, hooking his lightsaber to his belt. He fastened his cloak around his shoulders, and pulled his cowl over his head. Thus far, he'd rejected any change in attire, just as he had dismissed any offers of new living quarters. He heard Hux sigh heavily behind his back.

"Of course, My Lord."

The holopad light went out, and Kylo was left mercifully alone again. He spun and walked out of his quarters with purpose.

"Drink this," Rose held out a flask to Rey. She didn't comment on the redness of the Jedi's face, or the dampness on her face that was more than sweat. Rey grimaced, but took the flask. She'd expected hard liquor, but was pleased to discover it was only water. She greedily gulped down half the container and wiped her mouth with her arm. "I see you've been putting yourself through the ringer," Rose said. She carefully bent down, folding her legs underneath her to sit across from Rey on the dirty floor.

"I needed to work off some energy," Rey said. Rose snorted.

"What energy? You aren't sleeping."

Rey's eyes shot up to Rose's. Did everyone know her personal habits now? Rose shook her head, though Rey didn't speak the thought aloud.

"Beware the quiet ones," Rose said with a smile and winked. Rey laughed a little and wiped her face.

"Is it the lack of privacy?" Rose continued. Rey drew little doodles in the dirt on the floor. "I mean, Finn told me you came from Jakku. I've never been, but I hear it's not heavily populated." At that, Rey laughed full and hard. That was a euphemism and a half.

"No, no it's not!" Rey shrugged and took another drink. She studied Rose for a minute, a smile playing at her lips. "How long have you been with the Resistance, Rose?"

"Three years," Rose said. "My sister and I met the General on D'Qar."

"You have a sister?" Rey had never thought what it would be like to have a sibling. She thought the closest she'd come was Finn. And that was more than she'd ever thought possible, for a family. Rey sensed she'd misstepped. Rose stared at her legs, fingers twisting the pendant she wore around her neck.

"I did. She's gone, during battle." Rose looked up and smiled through wet eyes. "She saved all of us, you know?"

Rey was not good with comfort. It wasn't that she didn't want to give it, but it wasn't something she was familiar with. Nonetheless, she reached out a hand and clasped Rose's.

"No, I don't know. Tell me about her?" Rey asked.

An hour later, she and Rose were doubled over, as the woman recounted a particularly heinous and brilliant prank played against the mining commander on Hays Minor.

"And he never found out it was Paige?" Rey asked, face red from laughing. Rose shook her head, different tears streaming down her face now.

"No! He waddled around for a week, and couldn't sit without a cushion on his bum!" Rose choked out. Rey shrieked with delight. She wiped tears away from her face, trying to catch her breath.

"She's amazing, your sister," Rey said when she could breathe again. Rose sniffed hard, her smile easier now.

"Yeah. Yeah, she was," Rose said. "You know, I thought she was my purpose for the longest time, forever, really. And then she was gone." She stared intently at Rey. "I think the hardest part was realizing and accepting my life has meaning beyond Paige."

"The Resistance," Rey said. Rose shook her head, surprising Rey.

"The Resistance is just a name. Just a name for a group of people who share similar beliefs." Rose wiggled on the floor, trying to get into a more comfortable position. "Purpose isn't just one thing. It's a lot of things. I'm a mechanic. A damn good one, too. But that's small. My larger purpose is to help restore goodness and light and hope to the galaxy. By working with a group of people who also believe that. And they do it in small ways, too. Some are pilots, some are engineers. We all play a part."

Rey knew all of this. Of course she did. But maybe it needed to be said to her aloud. Now she understood it.

"If you weren't a Resistance mechanic, how would you, I don't know? Live purposefully?" Rey asked her.

"What Paige and I did on Hays. Prank the slave drivers. Stage coups in the ranks. Release an entire stable of fathiers."

Rey laughed, nodding.

"Well done," she said. A new resolve filled her. The void was still there. Maybe it always would be. But didn't that mean she had to keep moving forward, keep doing? She leaned forward and lightly hugged Rose, careful to not squeeze too hard against the woman's injuries. She then stood and extended a hand toward her to help her up.

"I need to speak to General Organa," Rey said. "I'll see you at dinner, yeah?"

"Oh, yes! Can't wait for more veg-meat and polystarch!" Rose said, grimacing. Rey grinned ruefully.

"It's not so bad, once you get used to it."

"I hope we don't have to get used to it!" Rose said. They left the makeshift training room together, parting ways at the common quarters.

Rey didn't have long to search for Leia. The General was poring over a holographic map of the Outer Rim territories.

"General, do you have a moment?" Rey asked. Leia turned toward her, face inscrutable.

"Of course, Rey."

The map projection remained behind Leia, as she gave Rey her complete attention. Rey drew a deep breath.

"I'm ready," she said.

Leia smiled hugely.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I think I might have formatting under control now, so I've got that going for me.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think!