In Time

Happening Again

"We have nowhere to go, General," Poe said in defeat. "We can't float in space forever. Rations, supplies, fuel, morale. They're all running seriously low."

"I know, I know. But we must have hope." Leia sighed in grief. Even after she's lost everyone she loved, hope was a needed spark.

"I'm sorry ma'am. But look where hope has gotten us." Kora snorted. She was relatively young, about Rey's age.

"Kora!!" Poe shouted at her in shock and mixed with rage. The looks around the cargo bay were an infusion of outrage, irritation and, restlessness, and sadness. But deep down they knew it was the truth.

"Kora, I understand." Leia lifted her hand, palm toward the girl. "We are in a tough position. We don't know where any of our allies stand. Let alone know if they will help us"

"No one came to help us, General." snapped Rentan "They heard our distress call and they ignored us. Left us to die!!"

Leia sighed on the verge of collapse. She was right when she told Holdo that she wasn't sure if her heart was able to take any more losses. It was breaking. Everything she's fought and protected for the last 30+ years was radically exterminated by her son. But she couldn't show her people her truest sorrow.

"I can't stress enough how badly we need supplies, Princess." Poe pleaded.

"If we ration the food that we currently have, we have less than a day and a half worth, ma'am," Finn interjected.

Heads hung low in the carrier.

______________

Rey was finding it hard to concentrate because of the heavy hum of the Falcon that was now brimming with life. Between what was left of the Resistance and the porgs, the Millennium Falcon made her feel like she was suffocating.

She was happy her friends had survived, but barely. By their literal skins, they were able to escape Crait. But space was very limited on the ship. She wasn't used to constantly being around people.  All her life on Jakku, after Starkiller base, on Ahch-To, and even, surprisingly, when the Force connected her with Kylo Ren. She was still alone.

She found it easier being able to flow in and out of the Force when Master Skywalker was around. He had a calm understanding of her newly raw and awakened power. He had told her the last time he felt this much power was in Ben Solo. He was more scared than ever, she felt that he didn't want Rey to end up like his nephew. She knew she couldn't end up like him. She wouldn't. There needed to be balanced. Like she felt on the island.

Her last image of Kylo was of him kneeling on the floor of the console room on Crait. She felt all of his sadness, malice, and his abandonment. Rey didn't have the time to care. He was a monster. And her friends' lives were at stake.

'Let the past go, let it die if you have to.' she remembered as his words haunted her ears when she closed the hanger door and left their bond behind her. He was to become part of her past.

Rey couldn't let it die. Not yet. And it bothered her down to her core.

She needed off of this ship.

______________

Kylo needed away from the Order. Even if for a day. He was suffocating. If he had to endure one more "strategic" session, he was going to Force choke all in the room.

"Supreme Leader, what are we going to do with these Rebellion rumors?" a general squawked as he slammed his hand on the table. Ren looked toward the general and nodded. At the moment, he could care less. There have been rumors like these for weeks. People kept sending reports about seeing a girl with a Wookie. Or seeing his father's YT freighter. Again, they were just rumors. In truth, she and the Resistance had seemed to have fallen off the face of the galaxy.

"Sir?" Vrei Yidrath, the diplomat of his knights, looked at Ren. "Sir, are you ok?" she leaned to him and whispered.

Kylo snapped out of this headspace. "What of these rumors? They are only that. But we can never be too careful. Send a small squadron of 8 troopers to inspect. Have Kier take command." Keir Astar was possibly the most level headed of the Knights, the monk. Ren sent her out knowing she would be able to acquire information from civilians without bloodshed being dropped.

"Yes, Supreme Leader." Vrei slammed her fist to her chest and walked out with her orders.

"Supreme Leader" Hux hissed. "We still haven't proceeded with the plans on how we are to replace the Supremacy."

"I could care less about the replacement of that ship." Kylo was glaring at the ginger Kowakian monkey-lizard under his mask. He hated him more than he hated Snoke. "It is a waste of resources." Ren rubbed his leather-covered hand over his mask out of habit.

"We need that ship!" Hux demanded

"We have no need for a ship of that size." snapped Ren. "We could use our finances elsewhere."

"Sir," Admiral Junicar Corcas interjected, "We could use push some of those credits towards ship upgrades or armor upgrades for our troops."

"Something I can agree on, Admiral." Kylo acknowledged.

"Thank you, Supreme Leader" Junicar smirked towards Hux. All he could was huff.

"Meeting adjourned" Kylo swiftly left the room before he was able to see the people bow to him.

While Kylo walked the halls, Stormtroopers walked out of his way to avoid him. He could sense their fear of him. Now that he was Supreme Leader, their fear was amplified. They were all scared he would lash out at them.

As Kylo entered his quarters, the world turned silent. The humdrum of the ships, droids, and its people had disappeared. The air around him felt heavy. His heart thumped wildly. He knew what this meant.

This must be a dream.

That was over.

It ended when he ended.

Kylo slowly turned around to her shape. She was here. Or there. Where ever she was. Her frame looked smaller than before. Kylo realized she was sitting on something with her legs crossed under each other, her hands dangled over her knees, eyes shut. She seemed to be meditating.

He could feel her but couldn't feel her, not like before. The connection was weak. Kylo Ren wondered if she knew he was there. Or here. He could see the fall and rise of her shoulders from breathing. Kylo stepped quietly towards her as not to startle her and had his hand stretched to her. She looked peaceful but drained. All spark and spunk seemed to be lost. Even in this state she still looked captivating.

As soon as she appeared she was gone.