The Mechanic

XIX

XIX Enemies, Betrayal, All That and Finally We're Getting Somewhere

"No getting out of here then," Poe grinned as I fiddled with the wiring for his cell.

"No,"

"Where did I go wrong, Aelin? What did I do?"

"If you're asking about why I joined the First Order, it was because of General Organa not you,"

"Both you and Kylo Ren call your mother General Organa instead of mum or something,"

"I don't see why I should address her like that if we are enemies,"

"Enemies?"

"This whole war is the First Order versus the resistance! Of course we are enemies!"

"Does that mean that we're enemies?"

"I suppose," I worked in silence for a moment "You're locked in a cell aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right,"

I picked up my tools and started to move to Finn's cell. "Bye, Poe," Finn was trying to talk the stormtroopers standing out side his cell into letting him out. I could see they were getting uncomfortable. "You can go now," I whispered. I don't know why, but I did. I started working on the door panel. Finn watched me with silent judgement. I ignored him.

"All the systems have changed," he said

"Yep," I continued with my work.

"You got changed,"

"Course,"

"I liked your pyjamas, they were more friendly,"

"Really?"

"Yes, they made you look more approachable,"

"Whatever,"

"Why do you hate me?"

"I don't,"

"That's my point, you don't actually hate anyone in the resistance-"

"And I don't hate anyone in the First Order. Your argument is invalid,"

"But, Kylo Ren killed your father,"

"I know,"

"How can you not hate him, don't you get it? He killed Han Solo, your father,"

"He did what he had to do to become who he wanted to be, so did I, Finn I have killed many more than him, I'm in no position to judge,"

"But he killed your dad,"

"Stop repeating yourself, anyway I'm done, see ya around,"

Rose sat against the wall and studiously ignored me for the best part of 10 minutes. I was just packing up, when she decided to speak up. "You're an idiot,"

"Maybe,"

"You could've had a loving family and people that cared for you, a home, but instead you chose this cold, hard place with no love,"

"Say what you will, I stand by my choice,"

"The General loves you, you know and every time you meet you just push her away,"

My voice was low, deadly "General Organa was the one who decided to leave me on the planet, she left me for dead,"

"She did it to protect me,"

I laughed "Maybe, but that doesn't deny that she left me and didn't come back for five years, and you know what makes it worse? She told me she was going to come back, that as soon as they 'rescued' Ben they would come back, but they didn't,"

"They didn't rescue Ben,"

"No, but I think that had she cared she would've come back within the year,"

"She does care about you,"

"Too late now," I picked up my toolkit and walked away from my former friend, hurt burning through my chest. It had taken months to get rid of the feeling that Leia's betrayal had left and Rose had brought it all back with one conversation.

I walked into the command room to see Rey spinning around on a chair. I looked at Ben.

"She's agreed to the training,"

"What?"

"Did you not hear me?"

"Oh, I heard you I just don't quite believe you,"

"No one's fault but your own,"

"I finished upgrading the cells. Your fingerprints are already on the system, so there's nothing you need to do now,"

"Okay. Can you organise some kind of rooms for Rey?"

"No,"

"Why not?"

"That's not my job, do it yourself,"

"Can't you just help for once?"

"I help plenty, I'm just not helping with this," Ben sighed.

"Come on, Rey," he waited for the girl to stop spinning on her chair, she followed him out of the room.

"An interesting development," Hux had appeared at my side.

"Finally we're getting somewhere,"