Dawn of a new Force

Chapter 21 - The pact.

Silence reigned between Kylo and Rey all the way. Rey was sitting on a bench with her hands cuffed in front of her, her face closed. She watched her cold environment. Kylo was standing behind the pilot. He gave instructions for the next trip to an officer, by hologram. The interior of the cockpit, lit only by rays of light on the floor and ceiling, gave a felted and dark atmosphere. "Like him," she thought. 

As if he had read in her, he turned to her as she was at this stage of her reflections. The hologram disappeared, and he took a few steps to come and sit next to her. There was none other than the main pilot, he and she in this position. Kylo had confidence in his pilot, who had repeatedly out of perilous situations. He could read in him, and no trace of treason had ever been detected. He felt confident. 

- Do not be afraid, everything will be fine, he tried to reassure her. 

She bit her lip so she would not be too dry, but she had to tell him. 

- Ah yes? she said ironically. For who? For this man you killed, for my friends that you are chasing? Or for me who am your "prisoner"? 

She saw that she had touched him because he looked away from her, but sat by her side. He seemed confused, and his face showed no pride in the actions she described.  

- Ben ... he turned to her. Ben, I know it's hard for you to admit that you still have light in you, but we both know it's true. Free me, and come with me! 

- You still do not understand, he whispered. What do you hope, Rey? he asked, fixing her eyes. Do you think I'm going to leave everything, which I've been building for so long? That I am going to join your friends, that they will welcome me with open arms? That I will give up what is closest to my heart? He finished. 

- And you, Ben? What do you hope for me? she said vehemently. That I follow you, that I let you continue to sow death? Are you proud of yourself when you look at yourself? Are you Kylo or Ben? We will have to choose! 

He clenched his fists, got up, sat down again. She had put her finger on a very sensitive point. 

- I'm both. You do not know what I lived, you can not understand. But I am both. I do not want to sow death, I want to unify this chaos. I want life to resume, not war. 

- Then do it! Stop your death troops, stop behaving as if ... 

- As if what ?! he barked, getting up. As if it were so easy to have to lead fanatics? As if it were easy to face terrorists? And if you, you changed your point of view? Did any of your friends ever try to understand? Have you all really observed the functioning of the republic, of the new republic too? 

She looked away, eyes narrowed. 

- Oh, please, Rey, he begged. Let me show you, give me a chance to convince you that we can do it, both of us. 

- There's no way I'll follow you on the dark side, anyway. And I only see that in your actions. 

He squatted in front of her, and put his hands on her thighs. She felt a heat dump where her gloved hands lay. She tried to hide her confusion.  

- And to you? Have not I been benevolent? Did not I offer you help when you needed it, or when you felt lonely? Still, nothing pushed me there. I made this choice, it's up to you to dare to make new choices. 

He was right on that point. He still had light in him, she had to recognize him. She had to do everything to attract him to this bright side, it was her only chance to help the Rebellion, and her friends. But Maz's words remained in her mind. They might not have the opportunity to discuss the subject again, but Maz had talked to her about extremism, one way or the other. She had also talked about balance. Maybe Kylo could be brought back to a "gray" state, as she had said. For this she had to learn, to learn more about these "rebel" Jedis. She could question Kylo on the subject. Perhaps she could also learn from Kylo a little more about the Force, since he had followed the training. She had to try. But before all that, she had to send a message. And would not make any concessions on this point. 

- I heard what you had to say to me. I will try to learn the Mastery of the Force with you, but not the dark side. I will not make any concessions on that. If you want my help, I'll need yours, and in those terms. 

Kylo watched Rey. Her lips formed a straight line as she showed a determined face. Her eyes were hard, but he read in them the fear of being rejected again. He thought that it was already a step towards him, and that in good time he would be able to convince her to go by his side.  

- Okay, if that's what you want. You will progress less quickly, you will be less strong. You will discover for yourself which path is the easiest and the most powerful. 

She did not answer that. He could try to drag her there, she would succeed in convincing him to let go. 

- And there is something else. I want to be serene, so no way I'm trapped. I want those handcuffs removed, since I chose to come with you, she said curtly. 

Rey's handcuffs fell immediately as Kylo made a discreet gesture with his hand. She rubbed her wrists, then looked up to meet his gaze as he got up and was about to return to his seat. 

- And one more thing ... 

- Again? he said, annoyed. 

- Yes, one last. I want to be able to send a message to my friends, to tell them I'm fine, and that I'll be back to them soon. 

- Out of the question, he swept toward his seat. 

- Then you'll have to settle for a prisoner. I will not cooperate. 

Kylo was annoying this girl and her stubbornness. And at the same time, he loved that girl. It was stronger than anything, stronger than fractures and scars. It was something new and so strong. Everything separated them, and everything gathered them together. He thought that for her, he could do it. That would allow her to feel better, and he had a strange urge to feel good.He sat down and sang himself. He had the destroyer in sight. 

- Okay, he let go. But only when I have a sufficiently secure connection. I promise you that. 

She smiles slightly. He had accepted, he was making concessions. She was on the right track, and even in that ominous shuttle, even knowing where she was going, she felt good. She was with him, relieved to find a part of Ben, convinced that the best was yet to come.