Ouroboros

Twenty Five

Twenty Five.

Snoke rose to his full height, towering over the assembled watchers, his eyes cold and filled with contempt. Rey backed away, her lightsaber raised as the shape turned his ire onto the dark shape of his murderer. Kylo Ren backed up, his eyes wide and saber raised. To Rey's eye, he was breathing faster than normal and appeared...shocked. Almost panicked.

"I killed you," he breathed.

"I know," Snoke growled. "You were very skilled, my apprentice. Almost worthy of my praise. You finally conquered your doubt and fear, the conflict that had riven you for years-but for her!" The word was spat as Rey backed up further. Yet Snoke's attention was focussed on the dark shape of Ren.

"It was the only choice," Ren said, though his voice was doubtful.

Why? Why was doing the unthinkable so necessary when I know what he can do?

"You are WEAK!" Snoke roared, looming. "You did exactly what I planned: allowing her to see your conflict through the Bond, baring your soul, letting her think that you could be turned because you are so riven...and then betraying her!"

Ren's eyes flicked up at the almost inaudible gasp that Rey gave. The words gave him a sudden pang of pain, though he couldn't recall the incident in detail. He recalled the focus, the fact he stood over her with his saber in his hand, his other hand subtly turning his grandfather's lightsaber on the arm of Snoke's throne. Of making the decision...

...WHY?...

...and igniting the lightsaber through Snoke's body, slicing him in two before he could even call out. Of sparing Rey who was held helpless before him, presented to him for him to slaughter like a sacrificial lamb.

Rey who he had never truly tried to kill since Starkiller.

"What Bond?' he asked. Snoke loomed closer.

"The Bond I forged between you to allow your minds to touch..." he sneered and then he narrowed his eyes, driving his mind through Ren's, brutally reaming the man's mind. A claw-like, elongated hand moved slightly as he tore through memories.

Kylo Ren screamed. The watchers-even Poe-winced at the sound and Rey danced round to crouch by her friends.

"Are you alright?" she murmured. Finn nodded.

"Yeah," he conceded. "Um..."

"You don't know who I am, do you?" she realised, seeing the confusion in their eyes. Pain wracked her heart at the loss of these people, who she loved as the family she had adopted in place of those who had abandoned her. Rose shook her head.

"Ren did something to our minds," she apologised. "And I am sure that somehow...we will remember. But for now, we trust you, Jedi..." She paused and with a stab of grief, Rey realised that Rose-loving, lovely Rose-couldn't even recall her name.

"Rey," she said through a thick throat. "Rey of Jakku."

Because I will never claim the name that I have. I will never be known as Rey Palpatine. Rose gifted her a bright smile.

"I'm Rose," she said "And I'm pleased to meet you...again...Rey," she said.

"Poe Dameron," he said, his eyes wary and still fingering his throat. "Thanks for the save, by the way." Rey offered the briefest flash of her brilliant smile.

"You're welcome," she said. Finn eyed her sorrowfully.

"Finn," he murmured. "Sorry. I-I sense that...you're very sad about...all of this..." She sighed.