Dawn of a new Force

Chapter 14 - Cross destinies.

He went back to his apartments and ordered do not disturb him. He took off his cloak and threw it on the floor as he hastily removed his belt and jacket. He had the sensation of choking, and even destroying the hologram table had not calmed him down. He paced up and down the main drawing room, then saw a picture on the wall. He took it and sent it to waltz, he kept pacing, then punched the bay window of the corridor. It cracked in shock.He did not know what to do to calm down. He did not want Hux, or even anybody, to guess his deep attachment to the prisoner. It would be a sign of weakness, which he absolutely did not need today.

Thrice! he raged. Three times she managed to escape. How many men, women, and creatures had he executed in his life? Thousands, but now she managed to escape him three times. And no doubt she would not come back to him anymore. It would be more difficult, perhaps impossible, to take her back.

Kylo felt that he needed to isolate himself, to think, to search the Force for his way to her. He went to his training room and then put himself in a meditative position.

Hux remained at Altaar Base 6 to oversee the operations of the rebel spies. He was sitting at his desk, and had also asked not to be disturbed. He was wiping his nose, which was still bleeding, and was cursing after the medical droid that was taking too long to get there.

Someone knocked on the door. It was Zulu, an officer, who told him that the requested droid had arrived. "Finally," he thought, typing a code to open his door. He saw Zulu's inquiring and curious gaze as the droid entered and he closed the door angrily behind him.

While, with his head back and the droid's lamps aimed at his wound, he felt the droid strengthen the nasal bone with glue and suture his wound, he was fuming. He thought back to his disgrace, to that fool of Ren, self-proclaimed but incapable! He had already started undermining high-ranking officers, and he knew that Kylo Ren's position was more than wobbly at the moment. Soon he could take his revenge. He understood that this girl was not insignificant, and not only for his "high importance" for the First Order. She was more than that, in Ren's eyes. He could not repress a smile at the thought that Ren had always been inclined to sink into his individualist leanings. He had often let his personal interests interfere with what needed to be done. 

Hux did not have that weakness. He thought that he had sacrificed everything to get there, and he had never let himself be diverted from his destiny. Per person, and especially not a girl. He was going to be able to bring down this incompetent quickly, so soon that he would have this girl in his hands. He would show all the leaders of the galaxy that Ren would not be able to kill this traitor, and no one would understand it. Indeed, had not she, officially, killed Snoke? This was worth the death penalty. How would the generals react by learning that he would not execute his sentence? And if he did, the Resistance would be completely defeated, especially since the tutelary figure of the General Organa had disappeared. 

He jumped as the droid pressed too hard on his wound and thought he should act in the shadows. Ren could read his thoughts if he wished, he should have no reason to be suspicious. He already knew who to entrust the capture. He rested his head calmly, finally relieved of his anger.  

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Rey could not restrain her emotion as he listened to Finn's story. She let him hug her, and the two were joined by Rose, Poe (badly) and Chewbacca. BB-8, R2 and C3PO were together in a corner of the main mess. It was a moment of tears and laughter, and it was followed by a glass shared by all. 

The five acolytes seemed to be such a family, and everyone shared the story of the last few days with others. But Rey omitted in her story some details, such as that forced kiss, or the monster buried in her. Finn knew she was missing some details, but out of modesty he let her say it and did not contradict her. He hoped that in due time they could share everything again. For his part, he had found Rose, but she did not seem to remember the kiss. He did not remember her. 

After a few hours, too weak, she apologized and returned to the room that had been assigned to her on board the Rebirth. Someone had bothered to put on a small table in the corner of the room the broken lightsaber. She took it in her hands, watching it and remembering the circumstances of its break. But the day had been too busy for her, and she lay down quickly, savoring the softness of the gray blanket she spread over her. It was a new luxury for her, having spent all her childhood accustomed to sleeping on boards spread out on the icy sand of the night. She sank quickly into sleep, a deep sleep.  

Finn apologized also a few minutes after Rey, leaving Poe a little too alcoholic, leaning on Chewie, starting war songs. Chewie was grumbling and apparently trying to remove his cup from Poe, but he seemed to be struggling. Poe kept going back to the goblet, alternating his songs with tears.

As he reached the corridor, he felt a hand gently grip his left shoulder. He turned around. It was Rose. He saw in her eyes that she had not forgotten anything. She had pink cheeks, and stammered softly. 

- I wanted ... I wanted to wait until we were alone ... it seems so futile ... well, you see ... I ... I ... I'm glad to see you again. 

Finn did not know how to react, he liked Rose but was not sure of his feelings. It did not seem to him that they were identical to hers. 

- Me too, I'm happy ... that you're fine. I'm happy, he repeated. 

Rose looked at him, amused, then took a step back. 

- You know Finn, I can wait. I'll wait until you know, that you're sure of yourself. 

- What? he asked, puzzled. 

- I see you're embarrassed. If you are embarrassed it is that you are not sure to love me. So I will wait. I've seen how you look at Rey, I know she's very important to you. I do not want you to choose me out of spite. 

Finn could not say anything, he was so surprised that she understood him so well. She had read in his heart better than anyone. And she was so considerate. He thanked her with a chaste kiss on her forehead, and he went back to his room, troubled. 

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Rey awoke with a start. She was on her bunk, but something was bothering her. Yet everything around her seemed calm. She turned to go back to bed, thinking she had a nightmare, but she jumped again. She did not dream. He was there, watching from the window of his private room, a tablet in his hand. He did not seem to have seen her at first sight. But, unable to move for fear of being seen, she saw him squeeze his left fist and turn slowly. He knew too, and that did not seem to please him.