Saving the Monster

Chapter 53

It turned out that Kylo hadn't been to Passaana for a long time, a very long time in fact. He had told Rey, with some hesitation, that he had last visited as a child with his father. That was the extent of what he had to say on the subject, and Rey knew better than to force it.

"We leave at first light. We can't sneak away, we'll be noticed whatever we do, but we can leave quietly" Kylo said, pacing the room.

They had eaten and now, with clear minds and full stomachs they began to hatch a plan.

"Who's going to be a problem?" Rey asked from where she sat perched on the bed, Kylo rubbed at his eyes,

"Pride, one of my Generals, well my only one now and my knights"

Rey's brow creased, "Your knights?"

Kylo let his breath out noisily, "I used to lead them. For a long time I kidded myself that they were loyal to me, they're not, I know that now, they're loyal to the First Order. I was a fool to think otherwise".

Rey nodded slowly, "What ship can we take?"

Kylo hesitated and then looked at the door, chewing on his lip, deep in thought, "My shuttle. It will be in docking bay five"

Rey nodded, butterflies in her stomach as the stark reality of what they were going to do hit her. They were going to run from the First Order, from the biggest, most feared organisation in the galaxy. If Lando turned them away.....

A hand on Rey's shoulder, making her jump and she looked up to find Kylo standing over her, his eyes gentle, "It will be ok, I'll make sure of it". Rey smiled, reaching up to touch his hand. "I have to go, people will be looking for me. I'll come back soon, stay in your room"

Rey nodded, enjoying how protective he seemed of her. For so long she'd protected herself, and, although that would never change, she would always be self sufficient, it almost felt like a luxury to have someone else looking out for her as well. She pulled him down to her and they kissed, his hands cupping her face, and then he was gone and she was alone.

Kylo had returned some time later. He seemed tense and quiet but Rey decided not to push him for answers, if he felt that he had the weight of the world on his shoulders that night, as Rey did, her pestering him would be the last thing he needed, so she told him goodnight and retired to her room, she needed to try to sleep.

But sleeping amongst her former enemies proved less than easy.  The bed was narrow and hard, the sheets crisp and cool and yet none of that was what was keeping Rey awake.  It was everything else.  The risk that they were taking, jumping together into the unknown, the fact that Rey was here, in a bed on a First Order base with no promise of a safe tomorrow. Panic filled Rey periodically, quelled only by the echo of Kylos words, "It will be ok, I'll make sure of it". 

When Rey awoke the next morning it took her a moment to remember where she was. Stark white walls, the drone of a ceiling fan. Rey sat up and looked around, her eyes settling on the holo-clock, it was still early. Rey swung her legs off the side of the bed and sat up, running a hand across her hair, flattening it down. Her eyes stopped on the door in front of her and she remembered Kylo telling her that she could wash there.

The water was unlike anything that Rey had experienced before, warm and soft and the shampoos and washes smelt of some exotic plant that Rey had yet to discover since leaving Jakku. Afterwards Rey dressed, combed her hair, cleaned her teeth and then waited, sat on her bed, waiting for him to appear, her missing half, her Dyad in the force.

When he did arrive he looked uncharacteristically worried.  Rey quizzed him but he was unwilling to share and so she left it, although his unease rubbed off on her as they entered the hanger and walked unchallenged onto Kylos shuttle.

"This is Supreme Leader Kylo Ren requesting clearance for take off from bay five"

Rey sat next to him as he spoke into the com-link, his features taught. A moments static and then a male voice, "Very good Suoreme Leader, you are clear for take off"

Rey and Kylo exchanged glances, it couldn't be that easy, could it?