Saving the Monster

Chapter 43

"Look I'm losing patience here, who are you referring to?" Leia said, leaning heavily on her stick and wincing.

Hux began to pace now, hands behind his back, obviously enjoying having everyone hanging on his every word.

Poe and Kano had stopped fighting and they were now watching, frowns on both of their faces. Rey too was watching, her heart beating wildly. He knew, somehow he knew.

Hux stopped pacing to address the crowd, " My Supreme Leader, the mighty Kylo Ren has just one weakness. It's not money, gambling or....."

Finn stepped forwards, his face dark, his blaster aimed at Hux's chest, "Next you're going to tell us that his weakness is women"

Hux smirked, "Not women exactly, more like one woman"

Finn threw his hands up in the air, "Oh come on! We don't have to listen to this bullshit do we!"

Leia stepped forwards, "Let him speak"

Hux nodded once at her before continuing, "I have reason to believe that he would do almost anything for this girl." Hux paused, turning to concentrate his gaze on Rey.

Rey's face coloured and she realised with a jolt that she was shaking.

"In fact I have reason to believe that he killed our former Supreme Leader for her". Hux spoke slowly and deliberately and somewhere off to the side of her, Rey heard Leia gasp and Rey remembered then that she had told her that her son had killed Snoke for her.

Leia turned as quickly as she could, her face dark, "I take it you're referring to Rey?"

Finn spun, first to look at Rey and then Hux, "Say what?" He shouted, his voice squeaky.

Hux smirked even more, "Oh yes, some of you don't know my leaders level of commitment to your friend here.  He's obsessed and I can bet she feels the same way too"

"You take that back" Finn barked, his blaster in Hux's face.

Hux didn't flinch, "Apparently my leader was informed of your imminent attack by someone sympathetic to the First Order....well I dare say there aren't many who feel like that...."

Leia moved over to Rey, "Rey, a word please?" She said softly, her voice breaking Reys trance as she heard the evidence mounting against her.  Rey glanced at Finns furrowed brow and then followed Leia out of the clearing, and out of earshot of the others.

"Rey tell me the truth" Leia began, her hands taking Rey's, her eyes wide and sympathetic, "did you warn my son?"

Hot tears fell from Rey's eyes before she'd even had time to think about what she was doing.  She knew what the truth was going to do to her friends, but the last thing she wanted to do was lie to someone who felt more like a mother than a General, and so she nodded.

Leia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.  "How?" 

Rey shook her head and tears tumbled down her cheeks, "We're a Dyad.  I feel his pain, he feels mine...we're linked.."

Leia opened her eyes slowly, tiredly, "How did you warn him Rey?"

Rey swallowed, her hand coming up to swipe at the tears that clung to her cheeks, "We see each other through the force, we have since Ahch-to.  We can talk to one another, touch each other, see each other's destiny's, that's why I went to him, to save him, and why I wanted to save him now..."

Leias hands let go of Rey's and she stumbled back from her, "Your saving him killed dozens, and injured many more, and all this time, all this time you've been speaking to him, behind our backs, behind my back".  Tears shone in the older woman's eyes as she spoke.

Rey, frightened and shocked by the coldness now showing in Leias eyes, made a grab for her hand, but Leia moved it away, "We'll have to have a vote"

Sobbing now at the certainty of what was happening Rey's voice shook as she asked a question she didn't know if she wanted to hear the answer to, "A vote to decide what?"

Leia took a moment to compose herself, before straightening, her eyes strong again, "Whether you should be allowed to stay".