Chapter 24 - Time to learn
The stars streaking past the window caught Rey's attention. Their distant glimmers painted the dark expanse with light. Rey's gaze was fixed on the celestial display as the ship cruised through space, leaving Taris far behind. She found herself lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Kylo's voice, soft and gentle, broke the silence.
"You can just listen for yourself," Rey replied absentmindedly, her eyes still drawn to the stars.
"I'd prefer not to," he said. "I want to actually talk to you, not spy on your inner thoughts."
"I was just thinking about when I thought you had died," Rey said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"But I didn't," Kylo responded, reaching out to take her hand in his.
She hesitantly lowered her gaze before gathering the courage to look into his eyes. "But I truly thought you did, and I..."
Kylo carefully observed the subtle shifts in her expression, wanting to give her the space to articulate her emotions. He maintained silence, offering a reassuring squeeze of her hand to signal his support for her to continue.
Tears began to well up in her eyes as she confessed, "I fell to the dark side without a second thought. I didn't even hesitate."
Kylo nodded in understanding and acknowledgment. "It's kind of my fault, though," his voice filled with pain.
Rey slowly parted her lips, releasing a shuddered breath as she listened intently to Kylo's explanation.
"If I hadn't fought our connection or shut off from you, this may not have happened," he explained with a hint of regret in his voice. "I just didn't want my pain to distract you."
Rey closed her eyes and tried to hold back her tears. "I never want to feel like that again," she cried. Her breathing hitched, and tears began to stream down her face.
Kylo gazed at Rey pleadingly, beckoning her to come closer. "Come here," he whispered.
Gently pulling her hand, he guided her to sit on his lap, wrapping his strong arms around her. In the safety of his warm and comforting embrace, he held her close, his presence quiet and reassuring as she navigated the storm of emotions within her.
He said nothing, understanding that sometimes the most potent form of support is simply being there. His gentle hold allowed her to find solace and release the inner turmoil that weighed heavily on her heart.
She pivoted in his cuddle, seeking a place to hide in the curve of his neck.
He sensed the tears welling up and cascading down the edge of his tunic. He could feel the heaviness of her breath as it brushed against his skin. Gently but securely, he held her in place, both enveloped in silence as she wept.
As the minutes passed, they found themselves once again gazing at the streaking stars, their faint light casting a mesmerising glow. "You know, Lancel Ren warned me that I should fear you," Rey confessed.
Kylo let out a snort. "What a strange thing for him to say," he remarked.
"He said I needed to fear the Emperor," she said mockingly, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. "He's the one you want."
"I don't think he was talking about me," Kylo realised, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "If you both thought I was dead, he must have been talking about someone else."
Rey pondered aloud, "Do we know of any other Emperors?"
Kylo thought for a moment before responding, "The only Emperor I'm aware of is Emperor Palpatine, who met his end at the hands of Darth Vader." With determination, he added, "Whoever he was alluding to, we will confront them together."
Rey took a deep breath. "Together," she echoed.
"We really need to continue your training," Kylo said.
"Maybe we should start with that Force-blocking thing that you do," Rey offered.
"We don't have to start right this second," Kylo shook his head. "You've been through too much today."
"Ben, please," she pleaded, her voice filled with urgency. "I really need to learn this."
"Okay," he sighed, fully comprehending the significance of her request. Gently, he wiped away the remaining tears from her face. "Are you absolutely sure you're ready?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.
Rey rose to her feet, her eyes filled with a newfound confidence as she responded, "Yes. I am."
Kylo nodded in agreement and stood up as well. "You'll need to begin by meditating and attuning yourself to our energies," he explained.
They both made their way to an open space on the nearby floor, settling into a cross-legged position. Rey closed her eyes, focusing on her inner self, while Kylo kept his eyes open, observing his wife's deep concentration.
"I'll be teaching you Quey'tek," Kylo declared with a sense of purpose. "This power allows one to cloak their connection to the Force. However, you can't attempt to do any other force abilities at the same time because the cover will fail."
Rey nodded her head in understanding, taking a deep breath. "How do I start?" Rey asked.
"First, you need to become aware of the energy surrounding you, and then extend it outward," Kylo explained. "It's crucial to concentrate in order to maintain the cover."
Rey immediately focused on sensing the force around her. However, she couldn't feel Kylo anymore. Opening her eyes, she spotted Kylo leaning back in the pilot's chair on the other side of the room.
"Hey, I'm supposed to block my signature, not you," she complained.
He swiveled around in the chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why don't you keep searching for my signature and see when you sense me appear?"
Rey refocused her concentration, straining to detect his presence. Suddenly, she felt him reemerge, and as she opened her eyes, she witnessed Kylo's lightsaber hovering before her, gracefully twirling through the air.
"Did you realise what happened?" Kylo asked. "The moment I floated the lightsaber, you could sense me again."
Rey smiled and saw Kylo call the lightsaber to his hand, catching it and clipping it back to his belt.
"Why don't you try blocking yourself from me?" Kylo instructed.
Rey closed her eyes and visualised the Force enveloping her like a protective cloak, the energy swirling around her, forming a barrier against Kylo's senses. As she opened her eyes, the sense of protection dissipated, leaving her vulnerable once again.
"Your signature disappeared for a couple of seconds," Kylo praised, his patience evident in his encouraging words. "You just need to practice it and it will become easy, just like telekinesis and mind tricks."
"You really are a good teacher," Rey smiled.
Kylo shivered as he reflected on his past. "I'm glad it's better than the way I learned," he admitted. "Luke wasn't always the best teacher, and neither was Snoke."
Rey listened attentively and replied, "Luke had his moments. He was very critical about the dark side, though."
"I'm sure that being his nephew meant he was harder on me than the others as well," Kylo added with a hint of resignation.
Rey nodded in agreement, understanding the weight of Kylo's words.
"Enough about my uncle. Was there an ability you may have seen me do that you wanted to learn?" Kylo asked.
Rey jumped up from her seat on the floor, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "How about using that power where you freeze bolts and people in the air?"
"Force stasis," he chuckled. "We need more space to practice that one," he said. "I don't think firing blaster bolts in here is a good idea."
Rey suggested, "Why don't we use ourselves?"
Kylo responded, "I thought you said you didn't like when I used the Force on you."
"I'm prepared for it and I'm stronger now, so it might not even work," Rey confidently stated. "Besides, it's not like the one you used to put me to sleep with."
"The ability to use the Force sleep is within your reach," Kylo explained. "It involves invading someone's mind, overwhelming them with the irresistible urge to sleep, causing them to collapse instantly."
Rey gazed at Kylo with a hopeful smile, but he quickly shut down her suggestion.
"Nope, I'm not going to be the guinea pig for that one," Kylo retorted.
Disappointed, Rey crossed her arms and pouted.
"When we return, you can hone your skills by practicing on some of our soldiers," Kylo suggested.
Rey responded by rolling her eyes. "I can't return to the Finalizer. My priority is to get back to Naboo and continue my infiltration of the Resistance."
"You could practice during one of your visits then," Kylo proposed.
"Alright, but can we practice Force stasis?" Rey inquired.
"You asked for it," Kylo said, raising his hand and freezing her into place.
"Can you move?" Kylo inquired.
Rey found herself unable to budge her body, managing only to turn her head and emit a frustrated grunt. "No," she replied.
Kylo harnessed the power of the force to draw her in, lifting her effortlessly into the air. As he circled her, he gently pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Rey, you've got this," Kylo encouraged. "You've broken free of my abilities before. Just focus and believe in your strength."
With determination, Rey took a deep breath and moved forward, feeling Kylo's power turning from a hindrance to a force she could resist.
A smile spread across her face. "I did it," she exclaimed.
Kylo applauded her. "Well done. Now, it's your turn. Picture the air thickening around me, holding me in place by slowing down my movements," he explained. "Focus on my feet."
Rey extended her hand, envisioning an invisible force locking Kylo's feet in place.
Kylo tilted his head and remarked, "I feel a little heavier, but I can still move. You can do this."
Rey took another breath and focused on one of his legs.
A smile spread across Kylo's face as he lifted one leg, but the other remained frozen.
Rey couldn't contain her excitement and squealed with delight as she released the invisible force, then ran towards Kylo and leaped into his waiting arms.
Kylo and Rey's laughter filled the air as he playfully spun her around, then gently set her back on her feet, his hands lingering on her hips.
"With practice and time, it will become effortless," Kylo assured her.
Rey wrapped her arms around Kylo's neck, drawing him close for a tender kiss. "Thank you," she whispered softly between kisses.
Kylo's grin widened. "I think it's time for you to rest."
Rey gently shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips, before pulling him in for another tender kiss.
Kylo raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he remarked, "I suppose we have enough time."
Rey's fingers wrapped tightly around Kylo's arm as she steered him toward a bench at the rear of the cockpit, encouraging him to sit down.
"Right here?" Kylo questioned, looking around the dimly lit space.
Rey exerted a gentle force, causing him to recline as she straddled his lap.
"Right here," she murmured before leaning in for another kiss, her eyes filled with longing and desire.