Author's Note: I had many of these chapters already written years ago. The only delay was writing the bridging chapters. I thought you would all appreciate me getting them out as quick as possible. I had a couple of days off work and found I could refine these chapters and get them out quickly. It may be back to weekly or fortnightly updates because many of the future chapters are only written in dot point form. Some of the events moving forward converge with the 9th film with some twists. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 30 – Bloodlines
Rey slowly stirred awake in her room on Rori. With a groan, she reluctantly pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slipped into her clothes, adjusting the fabric of her tunic as she went. She then slung a satchel across her chest and placed her medallion and lightsabers inside.
As she opened the door, she was surprised to find JK leaning casually against the wall outside her room, his expression a mix of amusement and anticipation. She glanced down the quiet corridor, noticing that it was eerily empty, devoid of any other familiar faces.
"Normally, someone comes racing in and wakes me up," Rey said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm surprised there isn't more of an audience out here."
"Well, Poe was here earlier," JK replied, his tone light. "But he wasn't too happy when I told him I wouldn't let him wake you up. Honestly, I think he wanted to punch me for it."
Rey couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Poe's frustration. "He's just jealous that you're my partner," she teased, a playful smile spreading across her face.
JK snorted, shaking his head with mock disbelief. "As your partner," he said, extending his elbow toward her with a dramatic flourish, "may I escort you to breakfast?"
Rey laughed, feeling her spirits lift. "Certainly," she replied warmly, stepping forward and linking her arm with his, ready to face the day together.
Upon entering the mess hall, Rey scanned the room and noticed that Poe, Finn, Rose, and Connix were absent.
After finishing their breakfast in comfortable silence, Rey and JK decided it was time to head to the hangar. Rey was eager to see the progress on the ships she had been repairing.
As they rounded the corner leading to the hangar, they were greeted by an impressive sight: Poe was standing beside a spectacular array of new starfighters, their sleek frames gleaming under the hangar's overhead lights. Rey felt her heart race as her eyes widened at the sight.
"What's with all the new starships?" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement as they approached. They actually arrived, she thought to herself.
Poe grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction. "They arrived while you were away. I guess someone wealthy decided to lend their support to our fight against the First Order," he explained, his enthusiasm palpable.
"Which one is mine?" she asked, a mixture of hope and anticipation filling her voice, even though she already knew the answer.
Poe pointed toward the sleek black starfighter resting prominently among the others. "That one over there. It was a condition of the anonymous donation to ensure you had the best ship for the job."
Rey walked closer, admiring the ship's aerodynamic design and polished surface. "Wow, it's incredible!" she marveled.
Poe continued, "All the ships have been thoroughly inspected. There are no tracking chips, and they're all fully operational. In total, we received twenty new starfighters, each ready to take on whatever lies ahead."
"That's fantastic," Rey exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she skillfully maneuvered through the maze of ships to reach her own. As she climbed into the cockpit, she took a moment to examine the new controls, her fingers brushing over the sleek surfaces. Her gaze suddenly fell on the slot where she needed to insert the medallion Hux had given her.
With a determined nod, she reached into her satchel and pulled out the disk, its metallic surface gleaming in the dim light of the cockpit. After inserting the medallion into the slot, Rey noticed a keypad to the side, designed to prompt her for a password. It was a security measure to prevent unauthorised removal of the device. Taking a deep breath, she hesitated only briefly before typing in 2187 – the first four numbers that had popped into her mind.
Just then, she heard Poe's voice calling up to her. "Can we talk?" he asked, his tone edged with urgency.
Rey popped her head up from the cockpit, looking down at him curiously. "About what?" she replied, sensing the weight in his voice.
Poe took a moment, running a hand through his hair, as if searching for the right words. "I know I apologised yesterday, but I don't feel like that was enough," he confessed, his expression earnest and sincere.
With a sigh, Rey hopped down from the cockpit and landed gracefully beside him. "Look, Poe, it's done. We can't change what happened. Right now, I'd rather focus on what the plan is moving forward," she responded firmly, her determination shining through.
"We've obtained the security footage from the hospital that we need to review," Poe said, his tone serious as he met her gaze. "We're hoping it will help us identify Lady Ren. Follow me." With that, he turned on his heel and began making his way toward the command room.
Concern etched on their faces, JK and Rey exchanged a worried glance. They quickened their pace to follow Poe, their minds racing with questions about the implications of the footage.
Rey's eyes fell on a group of familiar faces as they entered the command room, a small, dimly lit space filled with screens and holographic displays. Chewbacca stood tall, his towering presence a source of comfort; Connix was meticulously adjusting controls; Rose leaned forward, her brow furrowed in concentration; and Finn tapped anxiously on the holodesk as he glanced between the others.
Poe approached the group, his expression determined. "Let's play the tape," he instructed, gesturing for them to begin the playback. Tension hung in the air as they prepared to uncover what the footage might reveal.
Rey stepped closer to JK, glancing around to ensure they were ready for a quick getaway if necessary. Her heart raced, pounding in her chest as adrenaline surged through her veins.
They both focused intently on the grainy footage playing on the screen before them, captured by a security camera positioned in the hallway just outside Rey's room. The video revealed an unmasked Kylo Ren striding purposefully down the corridor, flanked by a hooded Captain Parlux, whose face was obscured in shadow. Rey felt a brief sense of relief as the last frame was frozen on the screen.
"Well, that doesn't give us much to work with, does it?" Rey remarked. "Is there any other footage we can look at?"
Poe, standing with his hands firmly planted on his hips, shook his head. "No, unfortunately. The only other recordings we have are the press files, which don't show her face at all. Plus, she wasn't even present at the press conference where Kylo Ren revealed himself without his mask. Most of the hospital files from her admittance were deleted at the source, leaving us with very little to go on."
Rey exhaled deeply, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Ben must have done that.
"Hey, Rey, isn't that you?" Finn asked, his finger pointing excitedly at the bottom of the frame of the image displayed on the screen. It depicted Rey and JK, both wearing scrubs, their expressions a mixture of concentration and determination.
"Yeah, that's me," Rey confirmed.
"Did you catch a glimpse of her face? Do you think you could recognise her if you saw her again?" Finn inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.
"I didn't get a good look at her features, to be honest," Rey admitted, her brow furrowing slightly.
Turning to JK, Finn pressed on, "What about you? Did you see anything?"
"Not really," JK answered, his voice thoughtful. "I noticed she had dark hair, but that's about it."
Poe, who had been listening quietly, furrowed his brow in concern. "Even the press photos only show a hint of brown hair at best. The edge of her face seems to resemble a humanoid, but she was mostly obscured by her attire. It's really hard to tell." He crossed his arms, contemplating the implications of what they had seen.
"Honestly, I'm more intrigued about Kylo Ren's wife," Finn remarked thoughtfully, leaning back in his seat.
"Kylo Ren's wife?" Rey echoed, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"Yeah, it turns out he's actually married," Poe chimed in, absently tapping the touchpad on his device as he scrolled through a gallery of press photos. The images flickered across the screen, but none seemed to provide any significant information. "From what I gathered during the press conference, it sounds like they might be separated."
Rey leaned forward. "What do we know about her?"
Finn shrugged, glancing around the room as if searching for answers. "Not much at all; I'm just genuinely curious who would marry someone like Kylo Ren. I mean, she's probably just as evil or destructive as he is."
Rey frowned at Finn's assumption. "What makes you think she is evil?" she countered, determined to defend herself.
Finn crossed his arms, his expression serious. "Don't you remember meeting that monster? He's capable of terrible things."
"That may be true," Rey said, her voice calm but firm. "But maybe she didn't choose it. Sometimes circumstances can force people into difficult situations."
Connix's eyes widened in disbelief as she processed the implications of her statement. "Rey, are you Kylo Ren's wife?" she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Rose's expression shifted from surprise to alarm. "Is that why you've been so reluctant to talk about what happened on Starkiller?" she pressed, her voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions. "Did he force you into marriage?"
Rey sensed the atmosphere thickening with tension and quickly responded, "I don't want to discuss it." She hoped to deflect any further inquiries, feeling the weight of their scrutiny.
Suddenly, Poe pivoted on his heel, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Did he make you consummate the marriage?" he asked bluntly, the gravity of his question hanging heavily in the air.
Before Rey could react, JK stepped protectively in front of her, his expression firm. "Ease up, Poe. She already said she doesn't want to talk about it, so let it go," he asserted, his voice commanding in an effort to shield Rey from further discomfort.
Finn turned to JK, a mix of disbelief and realisation washing over him. "You knew about this all along?" he inquired, searching for answers.
JK met Finn's gaze, his tone unwavering. "I wouldn't be much of a boyfriend if I didn't know what was going on," he replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Connix gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth, as the pieces started falling into place. "That's why you reacted so angrily every time we tried to ask you about it," she exclaimed, a wave of understanding washing over her as she connected the dots.
"Don't look at me like that," Rey growled, her voice laced with frustration. She could feel the weight of their stares, each gaze like a judgment upon her. "Yes, I'm Kylo Ren's wife," she sighed.
Even amidst the chaos around her, she could sense Kylo reaching out, his presence trying to connect with her across the void.
"I think I need some alone time," she muttered, her eyes darting toward JK as she turned to leave the room. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she marched toward her own room, hoping for a moment to speak to Kylo away from prying eyes.
"Maybe someone should follow her," Finn suggested, concern etched on his face.
"Leave her be," JK interjected firmly, his voice steady. "Rey is strong, but I need you all to stop looking at her like she's tainted. She's the Resistance's Jedi, after all, isn't she?"
At this, they all nodded in agreement, understanding the weight of the burden Rey carried.
Kylo stared in disbelief at the holopad, his heart racing as he reviewed the results of Leia's medical tests. The implications of the data weighed heavily on his mind, and he found himself poring over the information multiple times. Finally, he read the lines again, each word sinking in deeper.
Rey Solo is a genetic match: relation—biological mother.
Kylo Ren is a genetic match: relation—biological father.
In that moment, a wave of realisation washed over him. "She's our child," he whispered to himself, a mixture of awe and terror coursing through him.
The gravity of the revelation sent chills down his spine. As he processed the revelation, he suddenly felt a familiar connection tugging at his consciousness, signaling Rey's presence.
She materialised before his desk, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "You called?" Rey said, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. "I'm having quite the morning; the Resistance just found out we're married. I think I handled it pretty well, though." She offered a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Kylo carefully placed the datapad down on the surface, his fingers lingering over the edges as if it were a fragile object. "Hi, love," he managed to say, his voice faltering under the weight of his emotions.
However, he could see Rey's face fall slightly, her expression shifting from weariness to concern. "What's wrong?" she asked, her brows knitting together as she studied him closely.
"It's... it's alright," Kylo replied, attempting to reassure her despite the turmoil inside him.
Rey leaned in a little closer, her intuition picking up on his unease. "You have a look," she said softly, her concern deepening as she searched his eyes for answers.
"Yeah, I probably do," Kylo admitted, feeling vulnerable and exposed.
The revelation about their daughter was a lot to process, and he wasn't sure how to begin explaining it to her.
"What's going on?" Rey asks slowly, her brow furrowing with concern.
"How about you take a seat?" Kylo replied, gesturing toward the chair across from his desk. There's an intense look in his eyes that makes her uneasy.
"You're acting really strange," Rey notes, crossing her arms as she reluctantly takes a seat. She can feel a weight in the air, something significant lingering between them.
"Yeah, I probably am," Kylo admits with a sigh, running his fingers through his hair as if trying to calm his racing thoughts. The gesture only accentuates his tension.
"Ben..." Rey starts, her voice softening with empathy as she senses the gravity of the moment.
"You know that little girl I was dreaming about?" Kylo continues, his expression shifting to one of fierce determination as he moves around the desk to crouch in front of her. "Well, she's real. I found her on Tatooine, and I rescued her from this awful orphanage." His voice is filled with a mixture of pride and urgency.
"You adopted a little girl?" Rey asks, her eyes widening in surprise as the reality of his words sinks in. The news is unexpected, and she can't help but feel a rush of emotions at the thought.
Kylo took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "Well, no… I mean, yes, technically, I did end up paying 4,000 credits for her," he explained, guilt lining his voice.
Rey crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. "You adopted a child without discussing it with me first? How could you make such a huge decision without me?"
Kylo sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "No... well, yes, I don't think I'm explaining this well. It all happened so fast," he admitted.
Rey's expression softened slightly. "You wanted a child and was drawn to her and adopted her?"
Kylo nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's more complicated than that, though."
"Honestly, I'm a little hurt that you didn't involve me in this decision," Rey replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I mean, considering that your child now becomes my child too, especially since we're married. We should have done this together."
"Rey, I realise now that I should have talked to you about it first after I realized she was real. But she's just a little girl, and I couldn't bring myself to leave her behind in that situation," he replied sadly. "I'm sorry."
Rey sighed, her expression mixing concern and frustration. "I understand, but this is a huge decision, and our lives are so complicated right now. We now have a little girl to think about, someone who depends on us for everything."
Kylo nodded, but his eyes were filled with a deeper concern. "Yes, I get that."
Rey's tone grew more serious. "You better believe it. How do we explain to her that mummy and daddy don't live together? Sure, there are many parents who are in similar situations, but I can't bear the thought of her being passed back and forth—one week with you and then the next with me. It's simply too dangerous for her. She can't come to the Resistance. Did you take that into account at all?"
Kylo looked down, shifting his weight uneasily. "Rey, it's more complicated than you realise."
She pressed on, her voice laced with worry. "And honestly, I don't want her wandering around the corridors of the Finalizer. With me being a target, she would obviously be at risk too. On top of that, I don't know anything about her. I don't even know her name, what she looks like, or how old she is. How can we protect her?"
"She's two now; her birthday was just yesterday," Kylo said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I named her Leia, and she looks so much like you."
Rey's expression softened as a smile spread across her face. "I love the name, but how can you say she looks like me?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Kylo leaned in closer, his gaze intense. "No, Rey, it's uncanny. She really does resemble you—exactly like you from those visions you shared with me when you were a child. I became so intrigued that I decided to run a DNA test to confirm."
"A DNA test? You mean... it matched?" Rey asked, her heart racing at the implication.
"Yes, a match with you... and, well, with me as well," Kylo replied, his tone serious.
Rey's eyes widened in shock. "What? How is that even possible?"
Kylo set the datapad gently on the table in front of her, directing her attention to the screen. "Look at this," he urged. "I don't know how it happened, but she is our biological daughter. Yet there's more to the story than just that."
"More? How can there be more? We weren't intimate years ago, and I know for a fact that I didn't give birth to any child," Rey replied, a mixture of confusion and disbelief in her voice as she struggled to process the information.
"I believe someone genetically engineered her," he said, directing his finger toward the screen once more. "You should scroll down to see more information."
Sheev Palpatine is a genetic match: relation—maternal great-grandfather.
"Palpatine? Is that who I think it is?" Rey asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yes, he was the Emperor who my grandfather ultimately defeated and destroyed," he replied, his tone serious.
"So you're saying our daughter is the great-granddaughter of the Emperor?" Rey exclaimed, the realisation dawning on her.
"Exactly," Kylo confirmed, his eyes locked on hers. "That means he is, in fact, your grandfather."
"I need to sit down," Rey said, feeling overwhelmed by the revelations swirling in her mind.
Kylo Ren glanced at her. "You are sitting down," he replied matter-of-factly as he reached for the holopad again. With a sweeping gesture, he continued, "That means you and Leia are Palpatines. Don't you understand? Leia is both a Palpatine and a Skywalker."
Rey furrowed her brow, struggling to process his words. "But didn't you say I was a nobody?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
Kylo let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, that was not my finest hour," he admitted. "But don't you get it?"
"Obviously not, so spell it out for me," Rey insisted, crossing her arms defiantly.
Kylo leaned forward, his expression serious. "Your parents must have dropped the Palpatine name to protect you. That's why everyone thought they were unimportant nobodies." He paused for emphasis. "It makes much more sense that you come from a powerful bloodline—like I do."
Rey felt a mix of anger and fear rising within her. She stood up abruptly, her heart racing. "Where is she?" she demanded, her eyes searching Kylo's for answers.
"She's with Captain Parlux, playing in the training room," he said, waving his hand as if to brush aside her concern. "She's fine; I can sense her."
The uncertainty in Rey's chest lingered, igniting her determination to protect Leia, no matter the cost.
Rey tightly grasped Kylo's hand, her eyes wide with concern. "You can't leave her alone. It's not safe," she insisted, her voice trembling with urgency.
Kylo looked at her with a calm demeanor. "She's not alone," he replied, a hint of reassurance in his voice.
With a mix of disbelief and excitement, Rey squeaked, "We have a daughter? I can't believe this!" The reality of their situation was sinking in, and the weight of the news felt overwhelming.
Kylo chuckled softly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk. "Are you only just catching up to that?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with affection.
Rey shook her head, trying to process the information. "Ben, you're telling me I'm a mother now, and on top of that, I'm a Palpatine. This is a lot to take in!" Her voice wavered as she spoke, revealing the torrent of emotions swirling within her.
"Come here," Kylo said gently, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. He could feel her tension begin to ease, if only slightly. "Why don't we start by introducing you to our daughter? It might help make all of this sink in."
Rey nodded, her heart racing at the thought. "That might be a good start," she agreed, a mix of apprehension and hope fluttering in her chest as she prepared to meet the little girl who was part of both of them.