•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•

EPISODE XXXV - AN UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE

"Come with me. Now."

Rey leaps up, staring at Captain Phasma. "Where are you taking me?"

Phasma is clearly not used to being questioned. "Just obey me, girl!"

"Are you taking me to Snoke?" Rey demands as Phasma marches forward, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her out of the room.

"Don't ask any more questions," Phasma hisses, pulling Rey down the corridor. "Yes, we're going to the Supreme Leader." Her voice echoes.

"Why?"

"I said no more questions!" Phasma yanks her into a side room lined with blasters. "Take one."

"What?"

"There are a variety of ships, TIE fighters and escape pods, all down towards the center of the ship. I'll take you as far as I can."

Rey grabs the blaster. "Why?" Is this how Poe felt, when Finn rescued him?

Phasma shakes her head, face still concealed under the mask. "It doesn't matter."

"Thank you," Rey says, for a lack of anything else, as she stuffs two blasters—one for each hand—into her belt.

"Each ship, whichever you choose, will be outfitted with navigation. You'll have to find your friends on your own."

"You're not coming with me?"

Phasma straightens "I serve the First Order."

"Do you?"

Footsteps resound outside the room. Phasma holds up a hand as they wait for them to pass.

Hope—burning, brutal hope—blooms through Rey. She'll escape or die trying. She might be able to contact Ben again, soon—their child might have a future after all. Or at least, not wind up in Snoke's clutches. Anything would be better than that.

"Let's go."

"Please," Rey begs. "Come with me."

"No." Phasma tightens her grip on Rey's arm. "And stop asking!"

Rey's heart pounds as they approach the hanger. "Which one?" Phasma growls, clutching her shoulder so tightly Rey suspects there will be bruises.

"The TIE fighter. That one, right there." Rey points to the nearest one. It's farther from the exit, but if she can slip in unnoticed... "But how will I be able to fight back if you don't come?"

"How will you be able to leave if I don't authorize your departure?" Phasma marches away from her. "Ten minutes."

Rey breathes deeply before heading down the stairs like she belongs here. Several stormtroopers notice her, but they don't react. Did Snoke not tell them there was a pregnant prisoner? Are pregnant women common on First Order Star Destroyers?

Once she's on the hanger floor, Rey sidles along the wall, determined to avoid more eyes. As if sensing her anxiety, the baby kicks furiously inside her.

She opens the door to the TIE fighter and jumps inside, shutting it and hoping no one was suspicious enough to notify Hux.

"Departure authorized from terminal two," Phasma's voice cuts through the air. Rey presses the buttons and feels the TIE fighter lift off. Exhilarated, Rey aims for the exit point. And she's out. She's in open space, and the TIE fighter flies so fast, and away from Snoke, she calls out to Ben in her mind for the first time.

Ben!

Rey! Are you—how—

I'm good. The baby's good, too. I think.

How are—

Phasma let me go—I—

Where are you, Rey?

Let me check—we're at the Outer Rim, near—

A cannon shot slices past her. Rey bites her lip, drawing blood. She twists in her chair, trying to aim the gun and fly at the same time.

Rey? She can feel his panic, his almost hope, his fear of hoping—

And then a shot rips through the TIE fighter's wing. Shit!

What's going on, Rey?

Another cannon shot. Rey flies forward, her head slamming into the controls. Ben's voice disappears, and everything goes black.