Force from the Other Side

Chapter Thirteen

"So I have no idea where I'm going, do I?" Jacob asked in the engine room where they'd set up his prison.

"You might but Snoke won't." Rey said, sitting down.

"Look at you Rey. You used to be so beautiful. You've got something on your face and your umm neck..."

"She had to one up me." Ben said and stood beside Rey. "Care to talk?"

"The two black wearing freaks today isn't it? Snoke originally wanted you but he seemed to think it would be easier to tame this one. Wrong. She's the only Sith I know that had to get whipped... every night for her disobediance."

"I saw the marks. He's not lying." Alistair said to Mara who were outside supervising. They were on their way to D'Qar. "I"ll be back. I have to go check on something."

He turned away and left.

"Come on Rey. Don't you want to play? This time I can make a friend and you can strangle him or her? Or maybe instead of Snoke and his Subservient Sith who trained us hitting you, you could take that out and hit me. Or we can come to an arrangement. You would have taken Snoke down if it wasn't for him finding out you were playing him. You spared too many though. That was the problem, people expected it of you."

"What else did Snoke want besides my children?" Ben asked.

"Well Snoke wanted you all dead for a start." Jacob replied. "Especially her. It's amazing that our intel is working now since she left.... The last 17 years we've been struggling! A good plotter but not a good fighter. I mean what was she thinking, taking me on without a lightsaber."

"He's goading you." Ben said to Rey.

"i'm aware."

"Come on Rey. What are you good for? Don't you have any power in you at all? Or are you just like Mara Jade? Only powerful because the emperor made her so. Really without a man there to help her... she's nothing!"

"Shut up! You know nothing about her!" Rey yelled.

Jacob started to laugh.

"She doesn't need anyone! She cared about Palpatine like he was a father. Her grief made it difficult for her to focus the force properly. She's not weak! She just cares!"

"Oh look at that... you love your mummy!"

"Shut up!" Rey ran at the force cage and Ben pulled her back.

"Oh and there's little Rey. Yelling at people to shut up! Next you'll say I'm stupid. Or what was it you always begged for.... hit me harder. You love the pain don't you? There's a word for that. Masochist."

"There is no emotion there is peace." Rey whispered to herself.

"Do you think that the jedi code will stop you?"

"We'll talk to him more when we get to the base." Ben said.

"I meant to ask. It's been a while since I last kept you company... what's it like sleeping without me turning up to comfort you? I really miss you begging me to stop. Do you want me to beg for you? We'll settle this right now..."

Rey swallowed. "I think you should... shut up. I'm not fifteen years old anymore." She approached the force cage angrily. "Today should not be the day you find out while I recite the jedi code! Good jedi don't have to. Shut up Jacob. You're really testing my patience."

"I'll take it from here then." Ben said and Rey left. Mara wrapped her arms around her daughter. "It's alright. It's going to be alright."

Rey felt comforted but she knew she didn't deserve that. She wanted to cry into Mara's arms but only good children got to do that. She had disappointed and ruin the lives of everyone. But Mara wouldn't let her pull away. Eventually all Rey could do was to cry on her mother's shirt.

*

Mara lead Rey away from the situation. They walked around and exuded to check on the twins. Amethyst was struggling to stay awake, but too afraid to sleep just in case someone tried to take them again.

Looking up when Rey and Mara walked into the room.

"How uh how are they?" Rey asked.

"Fine. Thank you. Thank you for saving them." Amethyst smiled

"How do you know it was me?"

"Word travels fast."

Mara and Rey sat down. Amethyst got them something to drink, and shook her head trying to keep from smacking her head on the table from sleep.

"You should sleep" Mara suggested

"No, no. There's so much going on." Amethyst sat down across from them. "I apologize for my rudeness when we first met. You must understand that I wasn't accepting of the circumstances. I've thought about it, and it wasn't right of me. And not very Jedi like"

"You're not Jedi" Rey commented

"True" she nodded "but I am married to one."

"I did wrong by you. You had every right to be rude. If I could turn back the clock I would. That want doesn't excuse what I did. Nothing will. I will spend the rest of my life serving you as penance."

"But you just did. Saving my children. I forgive you Rey. Thank you" Amethyst smiled once more.

"Sleep. I will protect them. I have been giving moderate pain relief but I am functional. You have to function for them. Sleep. I'm sure once you get to the resistance base your skills as a nurse will be utilised. You will need your strength."

Rey bowed to her. Amethyst nodded and let them out. Rey seemed calmer, she was still in pain because of her injuries, but emotionally she was at peace for the time being.