Chapter 39 - Surrounded in shadows

Rey finally slipped back into her room on Rori, the weight of the day's debriefing lingered in her mind. After hours of searching for the right moment, she closed her door softly and sank onto her bed, letting out a relieved breath.

Poe and Finn had expressed their disappointment with Rey for slipping away and losing the wayfinder. During the tense meeting, Rey found herself on the defensive, spending most of the time explaining her actions while enduring a barrage of questions.

Rey vividly recounted her imagined fierce confrontation with Kylo Ren, her voice rising with intensity as she described the clash. Yet, despite her passion, she couldn't shake the feeling of being under a watchful gaze, the weight of their scrutiny pressing down on her like a heavy cloak.

Frustration bubbled to the surface, prompting her to point out that Finn's distraction had played a significant role in her failure to secure victory.

Afterward, feeling the tension of the meeting linger in her mind, Rey made her way to the mess hall, hoping to find solace in a warm meal.

However, her stomach twisted in knots, and she lost her appetite when she spotted Finn and Rose at a nearby table, their heads bent together in hushed whispers. The sight felt like a door closing, and she quickly opted to grab a chilled bottle of water instead.

She turned away, her footsteps softly echoing as she crossed the room, firmly deciding not to look back at the heated conversation happening behind her. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily in the air, each whispered word and raised voice contributing to her increasing annoyance.

The Resistance was becoming more unbearable by the day.

As she focused on her connection to Kylo, the world around her faded, replaced by the stunning view outside the front window of Kylo's ship.

Rey was perched comfortably between his legs, the cockpit's soft glow illuminating them.

In her distraction, Rey shifted her leg and accidentally knocked the control panel, triggering a blaring alarm that sliced through the cabin's calm. The ship lurched to the right side, the sudden movement catching her off guard.

Quick as a flash, Kylo's strong arm wrapped around her waist, securing her before she could tumble sideways. He clicked a button on the control panel to his left, and Rey instinctively reached for the controls between her legs, regaining her control over the ship.

"Sorry," Rey said, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she looked over her shoulder towards him.

"It's alright, sweetheart," Kylo replied, a gentle smile playing on his lips, reassuring her.

Rey reengaged the autopilot, feeling the familiar hum of the starship's systems as she leaned back from the controls. The small cockpit felt intimate, the flickering console lights casting gentle shadows across their faces.

Kylo chuckled softly, "It's certainly cozy in here now."

Rey smiled, realising just how confined the space was. "I didn't really think about how limited the space would be," she admitted, glancing around the cockpit. "Maybe I should have waited until you arrived."

"No, I like this," Kylo replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just lean forward a little for me."

Obeying his request, Rey leaned forward, her heartbeat quickening as she heard the unmistakable sound of him unbuckling his seatbelt.

"What are you doing?" she asked, casting a curious glance over her shoulder.

"I'm lengthening the seatbelt to fit around you too," Kylo explained, his fingers deftly threading a section through the buckle to extend the chest straps. "We don't know what we'll encounter when we get there, and I'm certainly not going to make any evasive manoeuvres without you secured."

Rey nodded, a sense of comfort washing over her. "That's probably wise," she responded, appreciating his thoughtfulness.

Kylo drew Rey closer, the warmth of their bodies mingling as he silently guided her to slip her arms through the straps alongside his. He gently tapped each arm, his touch a silent instruction.

"Lift your hips and slide back a little further," he urged.

"I don't want to squish you," she protested, a flicker of concern glimmering in her bright eyes as she glanced nervously at the tight space between them.

With an easy, reassuring smile, Kylo replied, "Rey, you weigh practically nothing. I can't fasten the bottom clasp until you settle more into my lap."

Following his suggestion, she shifted slightly, easing herself into his embrace. Kylo leaned forward, his focus intense as he carefully pulled the bottom clasp up between their legs, the metallic sound of the clips snapping together.

Rey shifted slightly in Kylo's lap, the warmth of his presence providing a sense of comfort in the vastness of space.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Kylo warned, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh, sorry," Rey replied, her voice softening.

"Stop apologising," Kylo chuckled, the sound deep and reassuring. "I don't think we have enough room to alleviate any excitement."

Rey let out a light laugh, her spirit lifting for a moment. "Yeah, you're right! I'd probably hit my head if we tried that."

She turned her gaze to the streaking stars outside the viewport, each one a distant sun twinkling against the canvas of the universe. A sigh escaped her lips, a mix of wonder and weariness.

Kylo gently rubbed her leg, his touch both soothing and grounding. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"The Resistance was giving me the third degree," Rey explained, the weight of the recent interrogation still heavy on her shoulders. "I'm just glad to be back with you, even if we're off to face my long-lost evil grandfather."

Kylo snorted, a hint of amusement breaking through the tension. "Perhaps you should try to rest. We still have a little way to go before we arrive."

Rey leaned her head back against Kylo, closing her eyes. She felt the gentle hum of the ship and the comforting rhythm of Kylo's heartbeat, allowing herself to sink into a moment of peace despite the fatigue and nausea that still plagued her.


Rey felt herself jolt as the ship abruptly dropped out of hyperspace. Surrounding Exegol was a haunting vista, littered with the colossal remains of ancient megafauna, their once-mighty forms now reduced to ghostly echoes against the void.

A swirling cloud of crimson gas and shimmering stardust enveloped the planet, casting an eerie glow that highlighted the remnants of these fallen giants. Kylo skillfully guided the ship through the treacherous wreckage, navigating the perilous clouds of red gas that pulsed ominously around them.

"Sorry, my love," Kylo said abruptly, his voice tinged with concern. "We're approaching Exegol and the Red Honeycomb Zone."

"How long was I out?" Rey asked, rubbing her eyes and blinking away the remnants of sleep that clung to her thoughts.

"About an hour. You must have been exhausted," he replied, his focus sharp as he advanced the ship at awkward angles, deftly avoiding the debris. "Are you sure you're, okay?"

"I've just been so tired lately," Rey explained, her voice weary. "But don't worry, I'll be fine."

As they broke through the ring of debris, Rey gazed out at the impending darkness of the desolate planet looming in the distance.

A chill crept into her bones, and a heavy feeling of death and decay hung in the air, an unmistakable presence that seemed to seep into her very soul.

Rey swallowed hard, feeling the heat radiating from her husband beneath her. At least I'm not facing this alone.

I'm with you, sweetheart, but remember to shield your thoughts. Kylo cautioned her, his voice echoed in her mind.

As they descended through the swirling clouds of the atmosphere, flashes of lightning illuminated the darkened landscape below, revealing deep fissures that cracked the planet's surface like an open wound.

The endless expanse of desert shifted, revealing colossal Star Destroyers rising majestically from the sands, their metallic hulls gleamed ominously in the dim light.

"The Final Order," Rey whispered, disbelief mingled in her voice.

The towering ships began to glide into formation, their engines roaring to life as a new, imposing vessel broke free from the grasp of the desert, joining its brethren as they soared toward a distant structure that loomed like a specter on the horizon.

"I thought we still had time before they attacked," Rey said, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Our presence must have triggered their formation," Kylo replied, his brow furrowed in concern. "I can't say for certain, but it could mean we're running out of time."

Rey's eyes darted toward the cockpit controls, her heart racing. "We don't have any backup," she fretted, clenching her fists. "Should we summon the First Order or the Resistance?"

"No," Kylo responded firmly, his gaze fixed ahead. "If we take out the Emperor, the Final Order will fall."

Rey searched his face, scepticism flickering in her eyes. "How can you be sure?"

"It's just a feeling," Kylo said, his tone oddly resolute.

Scanning the desolate landscape below, Kylo finally spotted a sturdy landing spot. He gently set the ship down, feeling the vibrations of the engines subside.

Rey unfastened her seatbelt with a sense of urgency, adrenaline coursing through her veins as anticipation built within her.

With a swift motion, Kylo unlatched the hatch, and Rey leaped down onto the rugged terrain, feeling the coarse ground beneath her boots, with Kylo following closely behind like a shadow.

Kylo ignited his lightsaber, its crimson blade humming ominously in the air. Rey followed suit, igniting her blue lightsaber, its light cutting through the darkness and casting an otherworldly glow around them.

"Where's your red lightsaber?" Kylo asked, curiosity laced with skepticism. "Why aren't you using it?"

"It's in here, along with Luke's green one too," Rey whispered. "This is the first one I pulled out," she admitted, a trace of innocence dancing in her eyes.

"I can't believe you brought three lightsabers," Kylo smirked, his amusement apparent.

"It's better to have spares," Rey replied. "We're literally facing a Sith Lord."

Together, they stepped forward into the swirling clouds of sand that danced around their ankles, each grain shifting and swirling like ethereal smoke in the dim light. Jagged bolts of lightning split the sky, illuminating the scene in brief flashes and wrapping them in a palpable veil of uncertainty and danger.

They pressed onward, the ground beneath them vibrating as they stepped onto a platform that began to levitate slowly downward. A heavy sense of darkness enveloped them, as looming statues of cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, their imposing forms towering high within the intricately carved chamber.

Small gaps in the stonework revealed glimpses of the star-speckled night sky, a stark contrast to the foreboding atmosphere surrounding them. The platform let out a weary groan as it settled with a soft thud onto the floor.

Ahead, a towering wall loomed, its surface cracked and weathered, featuring a large split in the middle. To pass through, they had to deactivate their lightsabers, the soft hums of energy quieting into nothingness as they moved in single file through the narrow gap.

The oppressive stone walls nearly brushed against their sides, closing in with a suffocating intensity.

Rey moved through first, the weight of anticipation heavy on her shoulders as Kylo sighed in frustration behind her.

As they emerged from the shadowy passageway, they found themselves surrounded by sharp spikes protruding menacingly from the ground, their metallic tips glinting ominously in the dim light.

Before them stood a striking spiked sculpture, and as Rey circled it, a chill ran down her spine.

She recognised it as the throne from her vision—an eerie seat of power that loomed over the space yet appeared hauntingly empty.

Rey exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Kylo, her heart racing, just as they turned at the sound of haunting chanting reverberating behind them.

They faced a grandstand filled with thousands of figures, their voices blending in a mesmerising chorus that echoed through the chamber like a dark symphony.

"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion.

Through Passion, I gain Strength.

Through Strength, I gain Power.

Through Power, I gain Victory.

Through Victory, my chains are broken.

The Force shall free me."

An unsettling silence enveloped the chamber after the chant, thick with anticipation.

The air crackled with tension as a leathery voice slithered through the stillness. "Long have I waited…"

Kylo and Rey spun around, their hearts racing, to behold Emperor Palpatine standing beside the ornate throne.

A sinister smirk danced across his lips, the shadows deepening around him. "...for my grandchild to come home."

Rey's breath caught in her throat as a flash of lightning illuminated the room, starkly revealing the contours of his withered face. His eyes glowed with an eerie, hazy white, radiating an unsettling power that sent chills down her spine.

"I never wanted to kill you," Palpatine explained. "I wanted you here …Empress Palpatine."

He gestured toward the opulent throne. "You will take the throne," he declared, his voice a chilling warning designed to deter any thoughts of defiance.

Rey's breath caught in her throat as she instinctively stepped back, feeling the weight of the moment. At her side, Kylo remained frozen, listening intently.

"It is your birthright to rule over this realm… here," he continued, his voice thick with a dark allure. "It courses through your veins… our blood binds us."

"I'm not here to lead the Sith," Rey shot back, her voice resolute. "I've come to put an end to them."

"As a Jedi?" Palpatine's eyes gleamed with a mixture of scepticism and anticipation.

"Yes," Rey affirmed, her determination rising like a flame ready to engulf the shadows around her.

"No, your hatred, your anger…you want to kill me," he answered and smiled with a dangerous glint in his eye. "That's what I want. Kill me and my spirit will pass into you as all the sith live in me.

He nodded his head. "You will be Empress; we will be one." Palpatine raised his arms dramatically, his dark cloak billowing behind him as he addressed Rey. "With your hatred, you will take my life, and in doing so, you will ascend."

Rey stood her ground. "All you want is for me to hate, but I won't," she declared defiantly, her voice steady amidst the tension. "Not even you."

A sinister smile crept across Palpatine's face as he growled, "Weak, like your parents."

Rey shot back, her eyes blazing with determination. "My parents were strong. They sacrificed everything to save me from you."

Palpatine, his expression a mix of disdain and mockery, replied, "Your master, Luke Skywalker, was saved by his father. The only family you have here is me."

Kylo, standing nearby, interjected with a fierce intensity, "That's where you're wrong."

Palpatine let out a mocking laugh, his lips curling into a sinister grin. "So, the Skywalker finally finds his voice," he said, leaning forward with a menacing glare directed at Kylo. "I know all about your little union. Do you honestly believe that you and that pathetic experiment will survive?"

Rey stood tall, defiance radiating from her. "Our daughter isn't here," she stated firmly. "She's protected from you."

"She'll be dead soon like all the rest," Palpatine responded.

Rey furrowed her brow in confusion, her mind racing to comprehend the implications of his words. "I don't understand," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

With a smirk curling on his lips, Palpatine leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. "Who do you think created your daughter?" he responded, a sinister satisfaction evident in his tone.

As the weight of the revelation settled in, a flicker of realisation ignited within Kylo and Rey. Their expressions shifted from confusion to horror.

"It was you," Kylo uttered, disbelief intermingling with anger.

Palpatine straightened, his voice filled with twisted pride. "I sought to merge our powerful bloodlines, but only one child was fortunate enough to survive infancy. And now, she's already fading, slipping away as we speak. She will not survive the week," he clarified. "Such a pity, really. A descendant of both Skywalker and Palpatine had the potential to become the most formidable being in the entire galaxy."

Kylo and Rey activated their lightsabers in perfect unison, the vibrant blades casting a glow that illuminated their determined faces. Shadows danced around them as they stood ready, poised for battle. Palpatine narrowed his eyes and shot them a menacing glare, his voice dripping with disdain as he sneered, "No matter."

The tension in the air crackled, setting the stage for an epic confrontation.

"Stand together, die together," Palpatine declared.

He raised his gnarled hand, dark energy crackling around his fingers, and violently lifted Rey and Kylo into the air. As they were swept off their feet, both lost their grips on their lightsabers, which clattered to the ground.

Rey let out a startled yelp, her eyes wide with fear, while Kylo groaned, instinctively straining against the unseen grip. The hilts of their lightsabers bounced away from them, spinning helplessly in opposite directions.

With a flick of his wrist, Palpatine summoned the weapons closer, forcefully drawing the two Jedi to their knees, powerless against his might. A surge of dark energy pulsed back into Palpatine's unholy hand, sending a jolt through his withered body.

For a brief moment, his decaying fingers twitched, and a faint glimmer of life sparked within them, hinting at the power he could feel.

"The life force of your bond," Palpatine rasped, his voice laced with disbelief. "A dyad in the Force—akin to life itself, that hasn't been seen for generations."

Rey and Kylo fought against the invisible shackles of his dark powers, their bodies rigid and powerless. Desperation flickered in Rey's eyes as she began to stretch her hand toward the satchel still strapped to her side.

With a swift and malevolent gesture, Palpatine summoned the Force, violently yanking the satchel from her grasp. Its contents erupted onto the floor in a chaotic scattering.

His gaze flickered down momentarily, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he relished the broken remnants around him, before stepping ominously closer to Rey and Kylo.

"And now," he proclaimed, his voice dripping with malice, "the power of two restores the one true Emperor."

He lifted his hands toward them once more, drawing on the shimmering energy that pulsed from their bond like a lifeline. As he siphoned it away, a sharp, agonising pain coursed through Rey and Kylo, each moment almost unbearable.

Rey began to scream, and Kylo growled as it felt like pieces were being torn from their very souls. As the dark power surged through Palpatine, a sinister laugh reverberated around him, escalating in volume and intensity with each heartbeat.

His eyes blazed with an unnerving yellow glow, radiating a malevolent energy that filled the air with tension. The decay of his skin began to reverse, as if being rejuvenated by the unseen force.

Deep wrinkles, once etched into his face like the lines of a well-worn map, vanished before the their eyes, giving way to a luminous vitality. His previously pallid skin, which had lost its life through years of darkness, regained a rich, vibrant hue, reflecting an eerie, almost supernatural resurgence.

Rey and Kylo, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his dark power, collapsed under the strain, their bodies rendered helpless on the ground.

Palpatine reveled in his restored strength, glanced down at their fallen forms with a twisted sense of pride, his hands gleaming with newfound vitality.

"Look at what you have created," he announced, his voice dripping with taunting triumph as he addressed the captivated crowd before him.

The followers responded with fervor, erupting into a chant that filled the air with a chaotic energy.

Kylo, groaned in pain, managed to roll onto his side, his gaze landed on Rey, who lay unconscious and vulnerable.

A surge of determination ignited within him as he struggled to push himself to his feet. Just as he began to rise, Palpatine's keen eyes caught the movement.

With a swift, deliberate motion, he raised a finger toward Kylo, an invisible force lifting him effortlessly into the air, leaving him suspended and at the mercy of the dark lord's will.

"As once I fell, so falls the last Skywalker," Palpatine bellowed, his voice reverberated off the cold stone walls of the chamber. With a flick of his wrist, he sends Kylo Ren hurtling backwards, his form vanishing as he plunged towards a yawning crack in the ground.

Palpatine turned to the gathered crowd, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Do not fear their feeble attack, my faithful," he proclaimed, his voice rising in intensity. "Nothing will stop the return of the Sith."

His laughter, dark and echoing, filled the chamber, a chilling sound that sent shivers through the hearts of those who heard it.

Rey rolled onto her back, her breath heavy with fatigue as she gazed upward.

The crack above revealed a tumultuous sky, charged with the flashes of lightning that danced between the warships of the Final Order, illuminating the darkness in brief, blinding bursts.

A tear slipped down her cheek, a testament to her exhaustion and the weight of the moment.

Closing her eyes, Rey reached deep within herself, seeking the familiar warmth of the Force flowing through her veins.

"Be with me," she whispered, her voice trembling as she called out to the spirits of the Jedi long gone, yearning for their guidance and strength.

She exhaled softly and repeated, "Be with me."