Star Wars: The Rebirth Of The First Order

Chapter 10

Kylo went to his chamber and sat down on his bed, placing his head in his hands. He was trying to change the First Order, make it better, but it wasn't as easy as he had thought. The voice in the forest had left him confused, and after his conversation with Hux, he was feeling very conflicted. Perhaps he was weak for being so broken over his mother's death, maybe he should be emotionless and wear a metal mask and armor around his heart.

He sighed deeply, if only he could be as strong as his grandfather.

He sat up as he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He looked over to see Rey sitting next to him.

As their eyes met, she offered him a compassionate look. "Ben... about your mother, she's still alive."

Ben was a little surprised. "But... I saw the bridge explode and I haven't felt her presence since. I thought I lost her..."

"You haven't lost your mother, Ben. She still wants you to come home."

"I want to, I want to see her again...to see you again, but I can't not until I've made up for everything I've done. And the only way to do that is to lead the First Order away from Snoke's corrupt teachings."

"Ben, I have already forgiven you, so has your mother. You don't have to earn our forgiveness."

He looked at her for a long moment, then his gaze fell to the floor. "Perhaps not... but I have to earn my own."

Rey looked at him for a long moment before speaking. "You killed Snoke to save me, that must count for something."

"But I helped him, and now it is my duty to fix what I had a hand in breaking."

"I'll try to convince the Resistance that there can be peace between us and the First Order," she replied after a long pause.

Ben allowed the smallest smile to appear on his face, "that's all I wanted," he whispered. "Maybe one day we can get rid of both the First Order and the Resistance and have a new order that rules the galaxy peacefully."

"I hope so, but I'm not sure that it works that way," she answered.

He reached over taking her hand, "it could if we joined together. You and I could bring everyone together."

Rey slid away from him slightly, seeming a little uncomfortable sitting so close to him, but at the same time she squeezed his hand tighter. He didn't understand, what did she want?

She looked into his eyes. "Do you really think that we could stop the war, that the First Order and the Resistance could resolve their differences?"

"We did," he answered softly.

*bang bang bang* a loud noise came at the door "Ren" Hux's voice could be heard from the other side as the door opened.

Ben looked at Hux, then he turned to where Rey had been sitting, but she was gone.

"Uh am I interrupting something?" Hux asked.

Kylo looked at him. "Yes," he replied, a little annoyed.

"Oh okay well you need to give your monthly speech if your not otherwise occupied everyone's in the cafeteria" staring at him for a moment then turn to look at the spot where Rey had been sitting.

Kylo followed his gaze, torn between wishing that she was there and not wanting her to appear in front of Hux.

"So" Hux pressed.

"So.... what?" Kylo asked.

"Are you coming or are you going to keep staring into middle distance?" he answered.

"Oh... I'm coming," Kylo replied, then he stood up and followed Hux to the cafeteria. He was already nervous about this speech, that had always been Hux's area of expertise.

"So......is there something I should know about" Hux asked as they walked.

"...no," he answered slowly.

Hux turned to look him over and decided that it was best to change the subject "do you have your speech written out it's your first one and we don't need you going up there looking stupid."

Kylo grumbled under his breath at the last statement. "No... I didn't know that I was supposed to do a speech until the last minute, I didn't exactly have time to prepare one."

"True which is why I took the liberty of doing it myself" Hux said seeming happy at the thought.

"You... wrote a speech?" Kylo asked.

"Yes why do you sound so surprised?" Hux asked a bit offended.

"I... um... I thought that you wanted me to look stupid," he said confessed.

Hux turned to look at him stopping dead in his tracks "why would you think that?"

Kylo shrugged. "You were always trying to make me look bad in front of the Supreme Leader," He didn't want to start a fight but he couldn't stop the words that had been built up for years.

"Well yes.......but you were meaner back then to........plus if you look bad then so do I" Hux replied.

"I guess I was, but I've...." he was going to say that he had changed, that he wanted him and the rest of the First Order to do the same, that some of Snoke's teachings were wrong. But he stopped himself, Hux would think that he'd gone soft for sure and he'd probably try to kick him out of the First Order. "May I see the speech?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"No" Hux said " 'I've what?"

Kylo took a deep breath. "I've changed," he answered in a low voice.

"I know" Hux said still walking and not looking in his direction.

"You know?" he asked, a little surprised.

"Of course I know, I'm not stupid Ren" Hux answered.

"Then why don't you do like Snoke, and give me the whole: 'you're weak and you failed your grandfather' lecture?"

"Well I didn't know your grandfather so I can't say but having some compassion is nice for a change" Hux said solemnly.

Kylo nodded. "I agree, can I ask you something?"

"I suppose"

"This is just between us... do you agree with everything that Snoke taught us?" Kylo asked, hoping the question wouldn't get him into serious trouble.

A angry streak seemed to appear on his face then it faded to a painful face"no" he mumbled looking at the wall.

"I was just curious, if you wanted to change any of the First Order's rules, I'm willing to set aside my deferences and listen to your opinions," he said.

Hux looked to the floor "well maybe.....but some other time"

"Of course, just be thinking about it. I'll schedule a meeting with you later," he replied.

"Yes, oh here's the speech not that you have much time to read it"

"That's fine. Thank you for writing it, I'm sorry if I was rude earlier," Kylo answered.

"Not anymore then usual" Hux snickered as he opened the door to the balcony that over looked the cafeteria.

Kylo's jaw dropped slightly, but he didn't really know how to reply, so he just stepped out onto the balcony. He looked out over the cafeteria, feeling a little uncomfortable with so many people staring at him. He had never wished for his mask more than his moment, if only he hadn't destroyed it. He looked down focusing on the paper and began to read the speech.