--BEN--

"Ren! Are you listening to a word I'm saying?"

The fog in my mind clears long enough for me to shoot daggers at Hux. "Not really, no. Your voice is irritating."

His face pinches up like he smells something offensive, and he opens his mouth to speak again. "I don't appreciate your humor, Supreme Leader," he says mockingly. "As I was saying, we've narrowed our search and believe we will find the Resistance hideout any day now. Our sources in the Inner Rim claim to have seen Resistance craft near the Dalastine system. I've sent a small unit of stormtroopers to scout the area. We'd thought the system was all but deserted after the Clone Wars, so they will be easy to spot."

"Excellent. Tell your squad not to engage if they do find them. I want the pleasure of watching my mother's world burn."

Hux bows slightly and leaves me alone in the throne room of The Supremacy. I let out a shaky breath and lean my head back against the throne, letting my eyes close once more.

The room is still in shambles, but I don't care. I know The Resistance is on Dalastine, hiding out in an old unknown Rebel base. I should have told Hux the second Rey left me, but I didn't. I wanted to give her time to run, to hide herself before we come for her. She belongs to me, and no one else. Not my mother, not the two imbeciles she's so fond of, not her grandfather, who will be summoning her soon, no doubt. She's mine, and I won't let Hux and his troops take her away from me.

The memory of last night flashes in my mind and I sink into it once again. I knew it was only a dream from the start, but it was a welcome relief from reality.

I had been fast asleep when I felt her presence next to me, solid and unmistakable. She sat beside me on my bed, dressed in a soft black shirt and training pants, the contrast to her usual light attire catching my attention.

"I know where you are," I told her.

"Yes."

"I could tell Hux right now and you'd be dead by sunset."

"But you won't." Her voice was soft and certain.

"No. I won't," I replied, equally sure.

She smiled at me and longing lit a fire in my heart. "You're still conflicted. The First Order will never have full control over you. Your destiny belongs to you and you alone."

"I want you to join me," I pleaded, grabbing her hand in mine. Her calloused fingers were warm and comforting, and I found myself squeezing tighter. I never wanted to let go.

"My grandfather is coming for me. I need the Jedi to help me defeat him, once and for all." She rubbed her thumb in circles on my palm.

"Luke can't do anything. He's been cut off too long. The rest of the Jedi are all dead, they can't help you now. Join me and I will help you overthrow the Empire. We can bring peace to the galaxy. Together."

Rey smiled and shook her head. "You're wrong, Ben. Every Jedi who ever lived has become one with the Force. They are in here," she touched her free hand to her heart, "and in here." She pressed her palm against my bare chest, and I felt a pleasant jolt as her skin met mine. "A thousand generations live in us now."

"I'm afraid," I admitted quietly, "that it's too late for me. The things I've done..."

"Are in the past," she finished for me. "You can still redeem yourself, and you will find forgiveness. Just as your grandfather did. But you must first learn to forgive yourself." Her hand moved from my heart to my cheek, and tears burned my eyes.

"Will you help me?" My voice was desperate.

"Always."

Her presence began to fade and I covered her hands with mine where they were still pressed against my skin. "I can't feel you in my head anymore. You left me."

"I never left you. We are destined, you and I. There is something between us, Ben, something bigger than either of us fully comprehend."

"But it died with Snoke," I protested.

Rey pulled my hands to her chest and rested them against her heart. "No, Snoke has nothing to do with this. This is something we were born into, something created by the Force. We are destined for one another. I'm still here with you, I never left. We are connected and nothing will ever change that."

I was no longer able to feel her skin against mine, and the sudden absence of her warmth left me shivering in the cold.

"Don't go," I begged her. "Please."

"Come find me. We'll face this together."

Then she was gone, and loneliness hit me harder than ever before.

I'd woken up after that, trembling and drenched in sweat despite the chill in the room.

The memory of the dream fades and I'm back in the throne room, surrounded by destruction. I begin to wonder about what she had said, that the Jedi live within me.

I sit upright on the throne and shut my eyes, focusing on my breathing, clearing my mind of all distraction. I picture Luke and draw on his image. "Be with me," I whisper. "Be with me."

--HUX--

"Phasma, a word?"

The captain turns at the sound of my voice and nods sharply. She finishes giving orders then spins on her heel and paces toward me, cape billowing behind her.

"Yes, General?"

I gesture for her to follow me into the corridor, then usher her into the first room and wait for the door to slide shut behind us. "We have a problem," I hiss.

Her metallic head tilts slightly. "Oh?"

I step closer, lowering my voice. "I fear our new Supreme Leader's loyalties lie elsewhere."

"To question our Supreme Leader is treason, General," she snaps. "I should report you for even thinking it."

"You know I'm right. He's gone soft. It's that damn scavenger. She got into his head when they held him captive and now he's weak."

Phasma laughs, the distorted sound harsh. "If she is his only weakness, get rid of her. That will bring him to his senses."

"And if it doesn't?" I question. She doesn't respond. "Take a Division and follow the scouting unit to Dalastine. If the scavenger is there, you must find her before the unit does, and and you must kill her. We were given strict orders not to harm her. Ren cannot know it was us."

"I hope you realize what you're doing," Phasma spits. "If anyone finds our about this, it will be both our heads."

"Just do it," I snap. "It is for the good of the First Order. We cannot let his foolishness stand in our way."

Phasma nods sharply and exits the room, her heavy boots echoing through the corridor.

I know I'm right. And if I'm not, I will dispose of Ren and take my rightful place as ruler of the First Order. He never deserved it. But I do.

--REY--

So far I've had three blissful, uninterrupted hours of successful avoidance of literally everyone on base. Not that it's been hard. The second I'd stepped out of my quarters, rooms seemed to clear unusually fast. When Finn and Poe woke me frantically from that dream, I'd been asleep nearly fifteen hours. They were afraid something had happened to me; I think they were afraid I'd escaped and was on my way to join my grandfather.

My grandfather.

Dread washes over me again. I lean back against the trunk of the tree I'm sitting in, stretching me legs out on the limb I've perched myself on. The sunset drenches the land before me in vibrant shades of red and gold, bathing me in its warm light. My eyes close and I inhale slowly, trying desperately to reach the point of meditation that would help clear my mind.

"Rey?"

That didn't take long.

An irritated sigh escapes me, but I plaster on a smile before leaning over the branches to peer at Poe. "Up here," I call out. He looks up and grins.

"Mind if I join you?" He asks, gesturing at the large branch beside mine. I reach down and offer my hand, and he hesitates a moment before taking it. I hoist him up and turn back toward the setting sun. "You okay?" He breaks the silence after several minutes.

I shrug. "I'm not sure. Half of me is numb, like I'm standing by watching my life unfold, but it's not my life. The other half is so overwhelmed it's feeling every emotion all at once. So yes, I'm okay. But at the same time I'm not. I'm just tired."

Poe doesn't respond for some time. I glance at him and watch the way the sun dances across his handsome face, and when he turns toward me his eyes reflect the golden hues of the dying light. "Do you think y- what are you staring at?"

I look away, feeling my face warm slightly. "Nothing. I'm sorry."

Poe laughs. "Why are you sorry?"

"For everything. For dragging you into my mess, for nearly getting you killed..." I pause, swallowing hard. "For what he said. About us."

"Oh." Poe rubs the back of his neck and looks down. "I mean, I didn't have high expectations going into this. You're kinda out of my league."

"Poe, look at me." He glances at me briefly, so I grab his chin and pull his face toward mine. "You have no idea how bad I want this," I whisper. His eyes widen and a blush creeps up his face. "You are so brave, kind, generous, and good. Any girl would be lucky to have you. Especially me."

"Yeah?" The corner of his mouth ticks up and I rub my thumb along his jaw, the rough texture of stubble tickling my hand.

"Why aren't you scared of me?" I whisper, staring at him in wonder.

Poe scoffs and takes my hands in his. "Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I've done, of who I am..." he cups my face in his hands and the warmth spreads immediately through my body. "And most of all I'm scared of walking away and never feeling, the rest of my life, the way I feel when I'm with you." He holds my gaze without wavering, and I can see straight through him into his soul.

Without another thought I close the distance between us, pausing only when my forehead rests against his. I hear his sharp intake of breath and feel his hands tremble slightly as they trace over the lines of my face. "You're so beautiful," he whispers, staring at me in wonder.

I smile and my stomach does a little flip. "So are you," I whisper back.

He grins, then his face turns serious. "May I? Kiss you, I mean." His eyes dart nervously away.

I nod and adrenaline shoots through my body, leaving something electric thrumming in its wake. Suddenly I'm nervous, wondering if I'll do it right. I've never done it, so what if I'm no good? What if he never speaks to me again after this? He would tell me if I was bad, right?

Then his lips are on mine and every worry melts away, because he's warm and soft and sweet and I can't get enough. My mouth moves of its own accord, keeping a rhythm with his that sends shivers down my spine. My fingers slide into his thick hair, relishing in the soft curls. For a moment I'm lost in the sensation of being cherished and it makes me forget all that's wrong in the galaxy.

Poe pulls away all too soon and smiles at me like no one has before, chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Wow," I whisper in awe.

Poe laughs and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Yeah, wow."

"Is it always like that?" I ask, running my fingers through the hair that curls over the nape of his neck.

"No. No, it's not." He kisses me once more, a brief but firm kiss that has me leaning toward him when he pulls away. "Tell me you don't love him," he begs, eyes full of hope. "Tell me I'm enough and you'll leave him to self-destruct."

Disbelief pools heavy in my heart. "Is that what this was about? You want me to prove to you that I care for you more than I do for him?"

"No, of course not! I just- I just want you to choose me," he says quietly. I cut him off with a wave of my hand and his eyes widen. "Please don't be angry," he pleads.

"Why not? Are you afraid now? Afraid of the big, bad Sith with uncontrollable rage? Good! You should be!" I shout. He opens his mouth to protest again but I leap from the tree before he has the chance. I land lightly on the balls of my feet and walk swiftly back toward the base, ignoring him calling my name so desperately. Hot tears race down my cheeks faster than I can dry them. I should have known. Good things don't happen to evil people. People like me.

Ice drips down my spine and stops me in my tracks. I feel a new presence now, stronger than Ben and Snoke combined. I know who it is before he speaks.

Come find me, child. I will show you the belonging you seek. Find me, and I will show you your destiny. Your birthright is my throne, and you shall have it soon.