Author's Note: Internal thoughts appear in italics.
Chapter 2 - Reflections of you
The following day Rey, Poe and Finn found themselves convening in a small lounge away from the other members of the Resistance. They were debating their next steps moving forward including ways to cripple the First Order.
They had spent the last couple of days relocating their base of operations to one of Naboo's moons. Rori was a swampy world, located in the Chommell Sector in the Mid Rim. It was one of the Rebel Bases from the time of the Galactic Civil War - The same era that saw the rise of Darth Vader and the fall of the Republic.
Despite the base being old it was mostly operational and had avoided detection from both the Empire and the First Order.
It had been Leia's suggestion before she passed away - Her heart had been damaged after being ejected into the vacuum of space and one day it had finally stopped beating. Some say it wasn't her injuries that lead to her demise, some believe that she lost the will to live. Like her biological mother before her, the loss of her husband, son, and brother proved to be too much of a burden to bear.
In the aftermath of her death, Poe had been elected as the new General - A rank which he had taken seriously. He had bestowed the title of Captain on Finn and insisted that Rey assume the label of Jedi.
She protested this, of course, informing him that she wasn't a true Jedi. She hadn't passed the Trials and Master Luke had died before he had a chance to help her develop her force abilities. Not that he wanted to anyway, he had never officially taken her on as a Padawan. He was adamant that it was time for the Jedi to end.
Any knowledge she had gained had been through the sacred texts she had acquired from the temple on Ahch-To. Or rather, stolen from Luke.
Not that they were much help either, she was finding multiple passages written in languages that she had not come across before. It was an unfortunate obstacle to her training and she was wondering if she should consult the only other force user she knew.
He did say he wanted to show me the ways of the force.
She decided to withhold Luke's reluctance and omit certain details from the retelling of the events that occurred on Ahch-To and the Supremacy. Including her strange connection with the new leader of the First Order. She didn't want to reveal their special link to anyone and she knew he felt the same way. It was comforting knowing that she was bound to him - it made her feel less alone in the galaxy. In time, she hoped to gain control over their bond.
Maybe we could do it together?
The intimacy of sharing her mind with him wasn't lost on her - She was surprised that she was even harbouring the idea. But she knew it had to be the will of the force to connect them.
Snoke didn't create our bond. He only manipulated us for his own gain.
For now, it had remained a secret despite Chewbacca revealing that she had been on board the Supremacy when it had been damaged. She had successfully deflected their questions by saying that it was too painful to talk about.
Truthfully it was, she didn't want to reveal what occurred between her and Kylo Ren.
However, it wasn't long before the two men drew their own conclusions. They had received word that Rey had assassinated Snoke and his Elite Praetorian Guards. She didn't have the heart to tell them that it wasn't completely true. A spark of hope had ignited within them and she refused to be the one to snuff it out.
The conference they were conducting was long and tedious. Rey had found herself distracted by the memory of the night before. She was vacantly staring at the bottom of the door on the other side of the table. It was an exact copy of the one in her bedroom. Her mind was straying to what she wished was different.
What would have happened if I did accept his proposal?
"Base, calling Rey. Come in, Rey," Finn said, waving his hand in front of her face.
Her head snapped up to meet his stare. "I'm sorry did you say something?"
Poe uncrossed his arms from his chest and placed them on his hips. "Are you with us?" He was clearly frustrated. "We seemed to have lost you there for a moment."
She blinked and replied sheepishly. "I'm with you."
Finn lifted an eyebrow. "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing I can change," she shook her head. "As you were saying?"
Poe crinkled his forehead but continued. "We received an anonymous tip that Kylo Ren will be on Naboo five days from now. Apparently, he is negotiating a trade agreement."
"More like a slavery agreement," Finn huffed.
Rey sat up a little straighter in her chair. "Negotiating? Isn't that a good thing? It means he's not taking what he wants by force anymore."
"It's clearly a ruse," Finn countered.
"Are you sure?" she skeptically retorted. "For weeks now, we haven't heard about any unnecessary brutality from him or the First Order," she casually offered. "Maybe they've changed."
Poe was shaking his head. "A leopard never changes its spots. Kylo Ren is no different. Being quiet means they are planning something big."
"What do you suggest we do to him then?" Finn inquired.
"It's time to put the monster down for good," Poe confidently replied.
"What do you mean 'put him down'?" Rey's eyes grew wide. "He's not some animal that should be led to the slaughter."
The men continued their conversation by paying no attention to her. Finn was positively curious. "How do you suggest we do it?"
"We infiltrate the Queen's guard," Poe elaborated. "Once they have finished this trade agreement... we'll slip a sedative in his drink and finish him off when he's vulnerable."
"Who sounds like a monster now?" Rey grunted. "I think I'm done. I refuse to sit here and listen to you plotting a murder. I won't have any part in this." She abruptly stood up clenching her fists.
As she turned to leave Finn grabbed her shoulder.
"Let go of me right now," she warned. "Or I won't be responsible for what happens next." The darkness was lapping at the edge - like a hot spring begging her to dive in.
A spark vibrated through her shoulder unconsciously zapping his fingertips.
He recoiled his hand quickly. "Ow... Why did you do that?"
She didn't answer him and was already marching out of the meeting, racing towards her room. As she reached the hallway, she broke out into a run. The adrenaline was pulsating through her.
She had slipped into the dark side for a fleeting moment—it was exhilarating. The raw, untamed power she felt welcomed her like an old friend, and she wasn't sure how she was meant to feel about it.