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Chapter 18: In Death

. . .

Kylo Ren felt his captive becoming more powerful with each passing moment. The links on her chain began to stretch and squeal from her strength, soon they would snap and Rey will finally know the full extent of her power.

Rey found a way to manipulate an entire room of powerful, political figures, and even a ruthless band of outlaws. She possessed powers not only of the Force, but with knowledge and quick thinking as well.

Fearless, He thought, placing a bare hand upon his helm. It rested on a table across his room, his gloves beside it as well. He imagined the ferocity she could unleash, the creative hostility she could inflict, given the chance. It could potentially make him unstoppable.

He rested on his bed, a specially crafted meal had been prepared and placed on the table before him, yet he did not crave sustenance. His bed was hardly comfortable, and he'd been tempted to request a newer, softer model, but that would show misguided fatigue. There was no room for such frailty in a commander's chair, he knew, only us.

Kylo Ren would be a daunting ruler, but Rey would strike fear into her enemies. She was persistent in battle, but also cunning and clever when it came to composures. Rey could learn to cut a man down to her size, detonate weapons from afar, and interrogate enemies from foreign, unexplored lands. She would be the perfect machine, an instrument of war.

He thought of Rey in First Order clad, a tight, red bodysuit underneath a short, black tunic. Her dark brown locks flowing freely as she began to swing her saber, it shielded her face for a brief moment from the red glow protruding from her saber's black hilt. A pair of leathery boots were fastened over her red legs, toned and eager for mobility, they danced with her as she repeated her movements.

The image became distorted as his stomach began to grumble, now aching for the meal before him.

The night of Canto Bight, Rey was escorted to her room, requesting a similar meal to his before they parted ways. He remembered the way she glanced at him for the last time, she turned to him before disappearing behind her sliding door and for a moment he thought she'd forgotten something. She turned and in a brief moment, it looked like she wanted to smile, but he wasn't sure.

The connection had strengthened in that second, he felt it the moment their eyes had locked. It was a compelling, forceful cry that screamed belonging, nearly shaking him out of his trance.

There's still time, he knew, Once I unlock her potential, perhaps she'll understand...

Nourishment seemed too gratuitous. It was relief from the wicked, crippling lie he forced himself to comply with each day. Kylo Ren held Rey captive, fed her, took her out whenever he pleased. The man on Jakku was the conflicting opposite, he was free in speech, unaware of feelings and consequences, and unafraid. He scolded himself now for being so sloppy in their exchanges, but he Rey thought the world of them.

He was the liberator, the escape from Jakku, shelter from the heat, alleviation from labor.

Kylo Ren took her away from him, chaining her with the false hope her heart could be turned to the darkside. She remains confined under his wing, but now the conflict is rising...

In the very moment they'd met, he felt the friction between them. Jakku made her into the hardened, lonely girl from a foreign planet, destined to thrive on scraps until her final days. Last night, holding the hands of a commander, she blossomed into a lady. An eye-catching beauty just as he knew she could be, but her most endearing qualities were shown in brief glimpses of smiles, slight squeezes of his hand, and the faint pulse of trust she allowed in him.

Trust... It wasn't easy to come by, but he managed. I've come too far... I can't take this risk yet...

The air in the room began to chill, a faint breeze had made its way through his room and for a moment he thought the door had been opened. When he turned to see his intruder, the door was tightly shut and locked. He followed the passing breeze as it touched his cheek, inspecting where it may have traveled. Its path had been closely steered in the direction of his grandfather's helm, which rested across the room from where he sat.

Kylo Ren stood as he witnessed this happening, entirely discarding the idea of wearing his helmet again. He stepped closely to the helm, taking in its mangled appearance as he did countless times before. "Grandfather," He beckoned.

There came another chill through the air, sliding upon the base of his neck and into his black locks. This sudden rush startled him, forcing him to whip his gaze around the bedroom in hope of an interloper coming to assasinate. Instead, the loneliness only heightened his paranoia, making him skeptical of his grandfather's presence.

It's good to see you without that thing on, Ben...

The voice was smooth and outstanding, a voice he'd easily recognize, but he did not. It was calming, as well as alarming.

Still, it was indeed another stranger. "Who are you?" He spoke carefully. "How do you know that name?"

What kind of grandfather would I be, The voice seemed to vacate the setting of the helmet stand, it echoed behind Kylo Ren, If I didn't know the name of my only grandson?

He turned to the sound of the voice, a violent shudder shook his core upon the sight. A full man, silhouetted in a blue holo-light sat and shifted upon his bed. He was a long haired brunette wearing a brown cloak and Jedi apparel.

You sleep on this? It grumbled, the light-heartedness in his voice made Kylo Ren want to tremble, but he refused. I've slept on rocks softer than this...

"Liar," Kylo Ren persisted firmly, catching the attention of the spirit on his bed and ignoring his attempts at playful banter.

The spirit smiled, the fine wrinkles cornering his eyes showed off a deep scar, It's hard to believe, I know. He was sly and quick, it almost angered Kylo Ren how undisturbed this man was. The figure relaxed his smile, staring intently upon Kylo Ren with a curious gaze, Something's troubling you...

"You're not my grandfather," Kylo Ren finally found his feet, he approached with heavy feet and a pointed finger, "My grandfather wouldn't say such things... He wouldn't flaunt his face so prominently..."

The smile upon the spirit's face finally faded, but the light in his voice did not, Maybe once... He said softly, his gaze broke for a moment as in deep regret, but returned with a deep breath, In life they called me Anakin Skywalker. In death, I was named Darth Vader... The figure rose from Kylo Ren's bed, stepping forward carefully, their tall frames met almost equally. As you were named Ben Solo, and now you call yourself Kylo Ren.

"Stop saying that name," He seethed, looking the blue spirit in his eyes and compelling. The denial had dimmed entirely, leaving only traces of confusion and despair left, "For years all I've wanted to be was you... I've done everything you've asked and more... And here you are-"

No... He interrupted, shaking his head in an act of desperation Ben, this is the lie... They're using you... Kylo Ren's face distained, confused by the sudden accusations ringing his ears.

"Who...?"

The expression left the spirit to assume he was going to reject this notion, so the figure proceeded, I wish I had more time to explain... But you need to listen to me now... Everything you've been told has been nothing but lies... The conflict you feel inside of you, it's not just dark against light, He shook his head and made a light gesture with his hands, It's you against Kylo Ren... The girl-

"Rey," Kylo Ren interrupted, uncontrollably feeling a tear well in the back of his eye, he swallowed the lump in his throat.

Yes... He smiled, I know the way you feel about her, I see it in your eyes and I've seen it in myself... I was punished for the same affections I had for your grandmother, there is a power that is trying to drive you apart... His eyes deepened, he placed a hand upon his grandson's shoulder to soften the next blow, The only way to be free is to tell her the truth...

Ren didn't want to look the ghostly figure in his eyes, but something inside him compelled him to do so, it became real when he spoke of Rey. Kylo Ren knew the man before him loved a woman more than life itself, she was the generous queen, a driven leader, her death only promised a hatred that burned on the inside as he did on the outside. Ren knew he would die himself before ever submitting Rey to such a fate. "I thought I could..." He finally caved, the welling tears behind his eyes began to burn and redden, "She'll hate me..."

Anakin Skywalker brought his own hand upon his grandson's cheek, taking in the glimpse of innocence and honesty he felt through him, Did you think you met that night by coincidence? He removed his hand, placing it by his side and lowering his tone, You're connected through the force... A power far greater than even my own will use it against you both... If you submit, you'll lose her forever...

"I can change her..." He protested, his voice now shaking and desperate in answers, "She can feel the darkside, I know she can... If I just-"

Ben... The spirit placed a hand upon his shoulder, almost forcing his gaze upon his own. Kylo Ren was surprised by the warmth, I was wrong... The spirit smiled and calmly continued, This will destroy you... And Rey... You love her, don't you?

It was strange to hear it out loud. It lingered in the air for a moment, like dust in sunlight. The words floated peacefully and freely without care, the inertia of it all sent tears spilling down his cheeks. "More than anything," He wept, but stifling his sobs and desperately regaining composure through this revelation, "But even if I tell her everything... What then...?"

The tears of his grandson never faltered the figure's expression, in fact it may have intensified its purpose. He smiled again, comforting his descendant, Then you'll be free...

Kylo Ren looked upon his grandfather's eyes with admiration he'd only felt as a child, a connection had formed that could not be spoken or mentioned, but it was there. It had always been there.

His smile had begun to straighten, then curve. His dark eyebrows had furrowed as a sickening feeling began to overthrow him, dread had come to find him, and Kylo Ren had realized his grandfather, even in his own state, had felt the same despair.

"Something's wrong," Ren said, shaking his head and clearing his thoughts for a deeper understanding, "I feel it..." He looked to his grandfather for an acknowledgement.

Rey, Anakin spoke anxiously, igniting a fuse inside his grandson, Something's happening... You need to find her.

The last words spoken by Kylo Ren's grandfather were swiftly cut short, as he stormed through his chamber, swiping his helm and placing it on his head, and opening his door. He turned to his grandfather, who now, smiling, spoke freely, We'll see each other again. Before fading away.

Kylo Ren opened his door and headed for the hangar.

Please tell me your thoughts and review as honestly as possible. No Star Wars FanFiction is perfect, unless it's written, sealed, signed, and kissed by George Lucas himself, but I hope this makes at least 1 person happy.

Thanks for reading! Come back for 'Chapter 19: 'Rescue''