Restoration of Light (Star Wars/Kylo Fanfic)

Chapter XVIII: Cracks in the Fortress

Soft morning light reflected off the window panes of shops as the owners opened up their businesses and swept off the stone walkways in front of their doorsteps to prepare for customers. Azalea and Kylo made their way down a semi-crowded side street, towards the center of town. They had to cross to the other side of Theed to reach the bar they were looking for, and Rezon. When they were younger, Hugo and his friends were constantly harassing Azalea and Jatú, roughing him up, and including her in their torment because she always stepped in to defend him. Rezon was like his second in command. Whenever Hugo wasn't around, Rezon would make sure that the two companions remembered their place. She shuddered at her memories of their cruel laughter.

Azalea had mentioned getting more appropriate clothes for Kylo, but he seemed to think it a waste of time. Two men came out of a bakery haggling over prices as they rounded a corner, and Azalea speculated on what happened at the market yesterday. Peering over at Kylo Ren, she decided to share her thoughts with him.

"I've been thinking about yesterday, and I was so frustrated when whoever attacked us in that alley got through my defenses, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't able to block her out, but I think I have an idea. She wasn't trying to take anything from us, she didn't want to get inside our heads to steal anything from us, like when you... interrogated me." Pausing, she noticed Kylo giving her a hard glance from the side before retraining his focus ahead. Azalea swallowed. "She stayed on the outside of my defenses the whole time, but it's like she was surrounding my barricades, just pushing on them enough to where I could hear her you know, and when she made everything muddied and foggy, it was almost like... like a weird illusion. I think it's why when I tried to push her out I got more dizzy, she was never inside my walls, or trying to get in, she was circling around the outside just close enough so it would bother me." Kylo Ren stayed looking forward, his face unmoving as he took in her discovery.

"This woman, or creature, whoever we're dealing with, she knows how to manipulate the mind, which means force mind tricks will be difficult to use against her, or they won't work at all."

"She's not working with the First order, and she's definitely not with the resistance. So what kind of person are we dealing with?" Azalea asked him with furrowed brows.

"One who wants something, I imagine, and won't stop until she has it or she's dead." The streets became more crowded and Azalea narrowly missed being plowed over by a large gungan as she sidestepped to counter him. Kylo suddenly took his eyes off of the path in front of them to train them on her. "Whoever this is, it seems she was waiting for us, and she knew how to get to you. Keep your eyes open for traps."

Azalea took his words into consideration, and prayed that whoever they were, that they hadn't hurt Topher. Divisively, she wondered if she might be able to get anything out of Kylo and figured that now was as good a time as any to test the waters.

"Ben? I've just been wondering... yesterday I thought you were going to say no, but as soon as there was an enemy involved-"

"Why did I decide to help you, a rebel? And a prisoner, more frustrating than-"

"Yes, rebel scum, I get the picture." He narrowed his eyes at her, knowing that if he told the truth: that he suspected whoever this woman was is somehow blocking out all outside force connections, he would lose the only thing he had to hold over her head and keep her cooperative.

"I need to get back to the Order, and I could tell your stubbornness wouldn't let it happen without saving the boy first. However if you wish for Captain Phasma to remain safe, I suggest you avoid any more distractions." She sucked in a breath and tried to hide how much his words affected her.