Saving the Monster

Chapter 47

When Rey awoke the next morning her whole body felt stiff and achy as she lay listening to the roaring ocean. A jolt to her stomach as the truth hit her, flooding back like a bad dream. She was here because Leia and the others had sent her away, because she'd saved Ben but inadvertently killed people they cared about. And then she remembered his words. He'd asked her to come to him today, and his voice had been gentle, kind, full of understanding and sympathy. Still the thought of flying onto a First Order base scared her, made her feel even more of a traitor.

But he was there, the only person she now had in the whole entire world, and so she ate, packed up her things and then went down to the small shingle beach, the only part of the island where the sea was accessible, stripped off her clothes and waded out into the sea.

The water was cold and the sharp jolt of it focused her mind.  This was the only option open to her now, she couldn't go backwards, only forwards, and forwards was him.  Rey floated on her back and closed her eyes, the only thing she didn't understand, the only thing that made no sense to her was the vision that she had had about Ben.  He had been with her and his mother, it hadn't been like this, wasn't meant to be like this.  Rey's eyes opened as she touched on another thought.  Maybe his vision was the one that was coming true, not hers?  Didn't he say that when the moment came she would stand by him? 

Exhausted from thinking and jolted from her rest by the terrifying sight of a huge beast rolling through the waves some distance away, it's huge spikes showing as it cut through the ocean, most likely hunting down a shoal of Coppergrin.  Nether the less, Rey headed for shore, suddenly feeling small in the vast ocean.

Rey changed her clothes and combed her hair, choosing to leave it down, tired of being who she thought she was, wanting a fresh start. She wasn't a resistance member or a Jedi. She was just her, she was going to have to try to embrace that fact.

Rey parted with the Lanais on far better terms than she had on her previous visit, leaving them Barabel fruits and Gold fruits as a token of her appreciation of their tolerance of her short stay on their island.

It was just before ten when Rey finally left the island behind, lifting the x-wing into the sky and punching in the coordinates for Eadu. She realised that her heart was pounding and her hands were shaking on the yoke as she flew and yet she kept going, knowing somehow that Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader of the First Order, would keep his word and not shoot her down.

Eadu soon came into view, with its vast mountains stretching into dark grey, stormy skies.  It didn't take Rey long to locate the base, it's squat grey buildings stark against the surroundings. 

True to Kylos word no attack came and Rey was able to swing the x-wing around so that she could enter the hanger.

The hanger was empty, save for three figures, one at the front and two stood behind.  As Rey got closer she realised that it was Kylo Ren and two stormtroopers that were waiting for her and a slight wave of panic filled her.  What in the world was she doing?

Despite her fears she landed and once the roar of the engines had ceased, she took a deep breath and lifted the hatch.

She could see him now, unmasked and watching her intently, his chest rising and falling quickly as she climbed down, pulling the pack which contained her belongings onto one shoulder.  She walked towards him then, feeling her cheeks prickle with heat.  He didn't move, just stayed completely still save for the rise and fall of his chest.

Rey was reminded of how tall he was as she came to stand before him, and also how striking his features were, how utterly handsome he was.  Not in the conventional way that Rey had seen on holo-vids, but in a darker, more mysterious way.  And his eyes, full of intensity which made it almost impossible to look away.

"Come with me" he said finally, his voice deep and steady, and then, without waiting for her answer, he turned and began walking away, "Leave us" he commanded the two troopers, who froze on the spot and turned briskly on their heels without a word.  Rey looked after them, thinking first of Finn, and then, when she managed to push that thought out of her head, wondering what on earth those two troops thought of a scavenger coming to stay with the Supreme Leader of the First Order.