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"you have found a thousand eyes, whirling images arise, for a moment they are clear in a flash they disappear."
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REY

TWO WEEKS AGO

"Breathe...Just...breathe."

Rey's eyes remained closed for most of the training session, her lungs deflated slowly as she focused on Luke's gentle voice. Honing in on his Force signature, predicting the exact moment he would-

"One." He demanded the first lightsaber stance.

As soon as his lips began to form the word, Rey's muscles tightened as she sprang into action; activating her blue saber and holding it across her chest in a defensive position.

"Four."

'He's going easy on me...' She thought while switching hands, swiftly twisting the lightsaber from her front to slanting over her shoulder as she sets her eyes away from Luke and to the ocean. A cold, salty mist fanned her face guided by the breeze; lifting the ocean up the islands cliff they stood upon. It was sunset. Rey watched with an unwavering gaze, as a fiery red orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, mingling with the rolling clouds, dyeing the skies first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sunset was a chalky mauve, and then that melted away in turn as stygian darkness took over the sky. Sequin-silver stars like the glowing embers of a dying fire winked down at me, illuminating the atramentous curtain of sky, and then suddenly the clouds parted, and she found herself looking at a lustrous, argent disc casting brilliant rays of moonlight onto the dark grounds.

Luke continued to repeat the lightsaber drill, dinning the numbers on and on until Rey could barely hold her arms up. The moon shined a white strip down the water, calming the tides. Bird's screeches died down, as well as the roaring winds that dissipated to a faint whisper. Everything was quiet, everything was in peace.

• • •

Rey's chest burned to the highest degree as she sprinted into the Resistance base. Bellowing down the hallways like a hurricane, kicking anything out of the way that was in her path. Her lightsaber strapped by a leather band at the hip, slapping her thigh as her legs launched every step. All of the muscles in her body felt stretched and numb from overuse.

Luke, Finn, and Poe including a woman Rey didn't know weren't far behind. The steel floor slammed against her feet as she rounded the corner to the communications room. The lighting suddenly changes from bright, sparking lights to a musky darkness. Almost instantly as the change in scenery, the Force rapidly morphed as well. It smoldered down into a hard mold within the darkness, unmoving and hot to the touch.

Before Rey's mind could even comprehend what she saw before her in the darkness, she sprung forward, igniting her saber across her chest.

'Three'. She heard herself within her mind repeat the defensive stance with her saber.

The red fiery lightsaber came closer and closer to Leia's shoulder, it's road paved out to slice right through her small frame.

What do I do? I need a distraction, I'm to late! MOVE REY! Her mind screened in utter panic, she cannot watch another person die. She just can't.

"NO!" A loud, guttural screech lifted from her throat. It was an inhuman roar trying to form words, desperately attempting to distract Kylo Ren from his next victim. Rey rapidly traversed the floor between her and Leia, closing her eyes against the bright red light that loomed before her face.

A loud painful screech that almost made Rey want to gag, reverberated throughout the room. As if someone had dragged their nails down on a board. Her eyes squinted open against the overwhelming brightness and heat, to see her saber crossed with Kylo Ren's. Sparking an almost beautiful, faint purple glow.

Kylo's eyes widened. He hadn't even sensed her presence. His mother had distracted him for too long. He hesitated.

Rey could feel the sweat run down her temples, her teeth ground against each other, jaw pinching as she tried to push Ren back. His dark gaze momentarily slipped from her to the doorway. Rey sensed Luke had finally arrived confirming Ren's lapse, at that thought- another lightsaber ignited.

A high-pitched cackle cracked through the air, freezing Rey's spine while the hairs stood up on her neck.

"It has certainly been a long time, old friend." Snoke addressed Luke with his steely gaze and trembling, jesting voice.

"That time hasn't treated you well, I see." He replied dryly as if he had somewhere better to be. Rey would always envy his calmness in the eye of a storm.

Snoke glowered in his direction, ignoring Luke's insult and cutting straight to the point. "I respect you Luke, but I do not condone your ways of teaching." He spoke as if he was not only debating with another but just as much as with himself, and yet malice continued to coat his silver tongue.

"Are you referring to how I do not revert to sickly manipulating my students, as you do?" Luke asked his temper seemingly slowly losing its grip.

At that moment a genuine, hearty laugh escapes Kylo Ren's mouth. Rey's eyes ascended to his face, which was disfigured, into what almost seemed to be a smile. Kylo disengaged his lightsaber while slapping Reys from her weak grasp. Sliding his hilt back on his belt, he let go of her, tumbling to her knees before she froze, breathing rate minimized as if time stopped.

"Let her go!" Finn suddenly yelled, roughly shoving passed Poe to stand next to Luke. The entire room was silent enough to where you could hear a pin drop. Not a face was turned towards him and Kylo ignored his words, erasing his sadistic smile.

"Your all the same!"

Rey's eyes darted to Luke's watery brown ones, seeing his reaction. A quizzical expression dawned on his face, not knowing his nefarious nephews meaning.

After another sterile moment of silence, Kylo Ren continued, his face resembled a scared child's as his lips trembled as if he was having trouble making the words he desires to say. "Neither of you are different." He sneered baring his teeth slightly in anger. Setting his gaze to the ground near Rey's feet. "You tore me away from my family." His fists clenched, the leather squeaking. "Attempted to show me the most beneficial path." Rens body was shaking now, the physical tremors caused him to sway from foot to foot. "Acting as if you even cared about me! Telling me I was special!" he screamed, sweat dribbled down his temples, his breaths shaky and uneven barreling out of his throat.

Snoke continued to stand tall above Leia, looking down past his own nose at her son. His eyes narrowed to pale slits as if he were dissecting Kylo from the inside out. Ren did the same with just as much resentment in his cold, distressed eyes.

"Then you've made your choice?" It was barely a question, Snoke's frown deepened as his throat produced a heavy growl in anger. Just as Luke thought the battle was about to be over, dark figures that were obscured by the shadows of the room revealed themselves by slowly strutting from the darkness. The Knights of Ren stood in defensive stances before their supreme leader. One, in particular, approached Kylo, mockingly stalking to his position on the floor.

"I knew you would fail us." He said, his voice full of disappointment and resentment. Rey could only stand by and watch silently as he drew his weapon. The scrape of the large spear could be heard throughout the hall, almost as much as Kylo's change of breath. He was scared. His eyes widening and mouth slightly ajar.

"Gath..." Ren breathed scarcely, his tone one of hatred as the name was only muttered from his lips.

Darth Gath suddenly jerked his spear, launching it into Kylo's side. The sound of ripping flesh and a loud roar could be heard as Gath twisted the wretched weapon further into Ren's abdomen.

"AHGH!" Spit flew from Rens' mouth as did bile rise up from his throat.

"Death would be a mercy for you!" Gath shouted through his helmet. Grabbing the fabric of Kylo's outer garments, while the spear was still burrowed in its resting place, bringing the face of his ugly mask almost touching Kylo's. "After everything? This is what you choose!" The sound of gouging muscle and flesh grew louder as Gath rotated his weapon.

The room was almost completely silent.

"What!" Gath roared his fist, that held onto Kylo like a vice, clenching more firmly. Rey squinted, a look of question on her face as she struggled to hear Kylo's uttered words. His lips trembled with each intake of breath.

"At least it's my choice." His voice struggled to reach full volume but Rey heard it.

Gath's clenched hand began to shake out of pure anger, a guttural animalistic cry of disgust bellowed from his helmet before ripping his spear from Kylo's skin and tossing him to the ground as if he were waste. The other knights continued to stand silently, just watching. Kylo laid on the floor in a sad heap, his breathing shallow, his dark hair flew in all directions and landing mostly on his face. "I..." He croaked out as Gath performed a half circle around him like a shark with hunched shoulders. Blood slid down the coated tip of the spear he held above him. Rey felt her stomach tighten.

"I'm not betraying the Order, merely-" he sucked in sharply through his teeth as he began to sit up, "merely declining the duty to kill the Resistance General. I've given everything to The Order!"

"Get him up." Snoke ordered sternly, moving Leia aside and signaling to two of the Knights. Instantly they swiftly glided across the steel floor over to Kylo Ren, roughly grabbing his shoulders, forcing him to stand. His black-clad legs sort of dangled beneath him, the toes of his boots dragged as they hauled him across to face the Supreme Leader.

"Is that so?" Snoke asked slowly, his beady black eyes narrowing to slits. He leaned down to get closer to Rens' face, in Snoke's presence it instantly fell out of fear more than respect.

Rey, her eyes were captured by the scene just as well as everyone's breaths. Luke stood, lightsaber continuously humming dully, his eyes focused less on Kylo and more on his beloved sister that was still held by Snoke. Finn stood next to him, armed and ready as well as Rose. Her cheeks still tight and salty with tears. Poe remained behind them, a fearful yet furious expression dawned across his features. Everyone in this room has a vendetta that needs to be settled, like lions pinned in a cage roaring and clawing at the bars to be freed. The Force swam in insane patterns throughout the empty spaces, dark and the light igniting an old flame from the past. The same war has been fought for so many years, the longest torture. Like a fist clenched around the throat of the galaxy, slowly squeezing out its last breath.

Snoke spoke again, "alright. Gath will carry out the order then since you are so incapable." A small smile briefly took hold of his deformed lips. Kylo's head snapped to his face, with a look of shock and horror. He couldn't hide his reaction to save his life. "Does this displease you? Are you sure you cannot?" Snoke was baiting him cruelly.

"Ben, do it. " Leia's voice spoke strongly compared to Snoke's weak tone. His smile grew.

Rey's heart leaped from her chest.

"Leia! No!" Luke stepped forward as one of the Knights of Ren pounced in front of him to block his path while caressing a large blaster.

Darth Gath strode up to Ren, switching the hand that held his weapon, making another fist before launching it into his stomach. A horrible pain filled wretch escapes Kylo's mouth, the two knights still held him by the arms as Gath continued to land blows over his chest and face. This lasted for minutes, Ren cries out in agony not even attempting to escape as tears streamed down Leia's face while Snoke forces her to watch.

"That's enough."

Gath let's one more pass before he obeys Snoke's orders, backing away begrudgingly.

"My early assumptions seemed to have been proven correct. There's too much of your father in you. You're just a child in a mask." Snoke spat, sneering and showing his ugly yellowed teeth. He drummed his long, slender fingers along Leia's brittle shoulders, teasing her anxiousness. Leia's mind did its best to order her body to fall in line, a show of weakness was an inlet for the enemy to surge through. Little in her face betrayed her fear, it was a mask of defiance and surety, that's why she was the General. She needed to scream, to cry, to beat her frail fists against a wall in regret of all the mistakes she's made but then was sure as hell not the time nor place.

She wanted to run to her grieving son, cradle his head in her lap like she once did. He was being ripped in two, the light and the dark acting as opposing magnets, pulling in two directions sending his physical and mental state into turmoil.

Yet, she couldn't. And that made her heart feel as if it were being dragged from her beaten and battered chest.

Rey's stomach dipped as Darth Gath began to stalk his way over to Leia. His heavy weapon in hand aimed right at her chest, arm poised and ready. A few more steps and Leia will be dead. It's strange how such a simple thought means something so awful.

Rey felt so helpless against these invisible bonds, she tried all her might physically and mentally to escape but nothing seemed to work, a growl of frustration and all the hopelessnes resounded deep in her throat as she continued her attempts to move at least an inch.

Suddenly an inner voice spoke out to her, a gentle but strained voice.

"Go." It said.

Instantly the weight that was pinned to her chest flew off and she tumbled to the floor. The light thumps of her limbs hitting the ground alerted the nearest knight, his head perked to the side slightly like a curious feline.

Luke's own head snapped towards Rey's position at the Knights feet, time slowed as he instinctively swung his lightsaber gracefully in the Knights direction, striking the first blow. A loud hum rezzed throughout the room before a deafening silence, until the body dropped to the floor. Thick, warm blood began to ooze from the corpse. Luke stood over him with his silent victory, holding his saber proudly before him in an attack stance.

Quickly the Knights of Ren assembled in front of Snoke. Rey's eyes widened unbearably as she watched them. Seconds felt like hours, her body could feel once again but this time on her own accord. Snapping back into reality, sweeping her legs under the nearest knight's, causing him to tumble to her level before launching above him to her feet. Wincing terribly, grinding her teeth from the previous pain in her thigh.

Looking to her left, Rey could see the black, crumpled form of Kylo Ren where the Knight's had dropped him. He laid on his side against his right arm, his legs splayed across the floor and hair disheveled. A pool of blood quickly developing beneath him, soaking into his already dark tunic, the only thing that marked him as still alive was the shaky, slow breaths raking over his body.

Switching her gaze, Rey's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Darth Gath was almost upon Leia's struggling form, his long saber in hand, ready to run her through.

Before her thoughts could comprehend what to do, her legs began to fly in their direction. Her thin tunics fabric flapping behind her, her muscles constricting and releasing as they worked in her favor. Breaths coming out in huffs, lungs freezing over with the cold air. Even just coming near to Snoke she could feel the dark energy radiating in waves, her mind began to buzz with an unknown and almost sickening power.

'Can you feel it?'

Eyes searching for the origin of this new but familiar voice. One that she's heard before, a corruptive voice, the same gurgle that tried to convince her to do unspeakable things on Starkiller the night it imploded.

'The dark side of the Force is more powerful than you could ever imagine.'

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Rey screeched, leaping into the air with determination and pure strength as she held her blue lightsaber, ready to strike. Catching Gath by surprise he turned frantically, his fear could be felt by any even a beginner Force user. So potent, so irresistibly heart pumping, Rey closed her eyes momentarily while still in the air, soaking it in.

"AAHHHHH!" A scream resounded throughout the chamber as Gath clutches his bleeding arm that used to hold his saber. A severed hand hit the floor with a whack, the black gloved fingers still holding onto the saber hilt.

Rey, continued to breathe heavily as he yowled in pain, pinning Gath to the floor with a pointed, smoldering glare. Murder in her eyes she looked to Snoke. It was like looking in the mirror, he let out an angered growl.

Releasing Leia and getting up without as much hesitation as Rey expected from a such a scarred creature as himself, he began to traverse the small space between them. Even in evil anger, he was graceful, the gold threads in his robe shimmering against the radiant blue of her saber. Whisking his left hand behind him, delicately plucking a large lightsaber hilt and reveals it before Rey. It was black with intricate gold carvings, portraying almost a serine object of peace and beauty, even if its master was less than such. Catching Rey in a daze, he ignited the blood red saber with a screech in response from the holy weapon.

"Rey, no!" Finn and Luke cried at once. Luke force pushed a Knight to the wall, charging at him with his saber of green light, penetrating the dark soldier through his armored chest. With another one of his victims falling to the floor, he turned to look back to Rey.

As for Finn, he saw his friend staring into the eyes of a monster he once saw as a respected and feared superior. The Supreme Leader himself, in the flesh. No matter how mangled that flesh actually was.

Snoke cried a loud, shivering cry. Like a wild beast ready to kill for its honor, bringing down his saber against Rey's.

She brought her lightsaber up, holding the blade even, a perfect, undaunted horizon; always leveled with the nose, just as Luke had taught her. She had stalled Snoke's strike but watched a wretched, stained grin split the leader's lips as her blade shivered under the brutality of his compelling strength. "It's a shame Lord Ren was never able to fully comprehend its power," he throatily crooned, pressing closer to her face. The blade flashed as he brought it over his head and hummed a low, snarl.

"The only shame," Rey let out a scraping groan trying to fend him back, pushing against his strength, "is that he was so easily seduced by you!" By pure adrenaline, she summoned as much of the Force as possible, feeling it mold in her hands she launched Snoke back against the adjacent wall. "By your sick and twisted ways of the Force!"

Snoke breathing heavy, his lungs groping at any air possible, "yet you still feel it."

Ignoring his jesting and the small voice at the back of her mind that was questioning if his statement had any validity, Rey squared her lightsaber up to her right shoulder as she ran at him once more.

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Chapter was 5,465 words long....wow. So I decided to split this up between two finished chapters, I hope you enjoy!