Rey woke slowly, her head pounding as the disorientation faded. The room was dim and silent. Her wrists and ankles were bound to a metal chair, the restraints biting into her skin. Instinctively, she tried to move, but the binds held firm. She took a deep breath, centering herself as she reached out with the Force, trying to feel her surroundings.
The room was different from the rest of the temple. The ancient stone walls had given way to something more modern, cold metal, the kind used in military installations. She sensed people outside the door. She flexed her arms, testing the restraints again, but it was no use.
The door hissed open and a man entered the room. He was tall, slender, and his gray skin reminded her of ash. His hair was red and his brown eyes were cold and emotionless. She had never seen anyone like him. He studied her for a moment before stepping closer.
Rey reached out with the Force, probing his mind gently, searching for any trace of his identity. It hit her quickly, the name coming to her with a sharp clarity.
"Mar Corrik," she said.
He smirked, as if he had been waiting for her to say his name. "Rey Skywalker," he replied, his voice low and smooth. "You don't belong here, Jedi."
"You sent assassins to kill Senator Connix."
Mar sighed and shook his head, as though disappointed by the simplicity of the accusation. "Galactic governments rise and fall, all the while, Jedi and Sith manipulate the Force, bending the galaxy to their will. The Path of the Open Hand seeks to put an end to this cycle."
"The Jedi do not manipulate the Senate," she said. "We are simply trying to help people in need, to protect them from those who would abuse power, people like you."
"Help people? The Jedi came here, to Dalna, 400 years ago during an event we refer to as the Night of Sorrow. Soldiers of the old Republic massacred my ancestors, with the help of the Jedi. You call yourselves peacekeepers, but all I see are the seeds of the next Empire."
Rey felt her temper rising as she listened.
"Who will hold you accountable, Rey Skywalker, when you and your partner, Kylo Ren, grow hungry for more power? The Jedi and Sith are two sides of the same coin."
Her hands clenched, her knuckles turning white as her temper flared. "You know nothing of me, or Ben Solo," she said through gritted teeth. "The Jedi don't seek power, we protect those who can't protect themselves."
Mar's face remained calm. He took a step back, his gaze fixed on her. "If the New Republic senators plan to continue using Jedi as soldiers, we will need to send another message. This time it will be harder to ignore." Without another word, he turned and exited the cell. The door slammed shut with a cold, metallic thud, leaving Rey alone once again.
She closed her eyes, trying to control the anger rising within her. Mar Corrik's words echoed in her mind, stirring doubt. But she pushed them aside. She needed to focus on escaping. She could feel Ben's presence, distant but strong, and she reached out through the Force, sending a message.
I've been captured.
—
Ben was standing in the cockpit of the Falcon. The sun was rising over the horizon, casting a soft orange glow across the landscape, his mind was fixed on Rey.
On my way.
He immediately moved toward the controls, ready to power up the ship, but her next words stopped him.
No, wait for backup. There are too many of them.
Ben hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to go to her right away, but Rey was calm and collected. She had a plan, and as much as he wanted to charge in lightsaber blazing, he trusted her judgment. He took a deep breath, pacing for a moment before reluctantly agreeing.
Alright, I'll be close by.
—
Senator Connix walked into Finn's ship, her security team close behind, BB-56 trailing dutifully at her heels. The pink and white droid chirped softly as it rolled onto the sleek metal floor.
Finn and Link greeted them as they entered. "How did it go?" Finn asked.
"We successfully blocked the bill," she said. "The Senate won't be expanding the New Republic Security Force. Not for now, at least."
Finn let out a sigh of relief. It was one battle won, though he knew there were more to come.
"Good," Finn replied. "That's one less thing we need to worry about."
Daro, standing beside Kaydel, crossed his arms and cleared his throat. "We should get moving, Senator. We need to head back to Dulathia."
As he said this, C-3PO rushed into the room, his metallic footsteps clattering loudly as he hurried over, hands raised slightly in a panicked flurry.
"Master Finn! I have terrible news. Mistress Rey has been captured by Mar Corrik!"
Finn's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he stood frozen, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. Rey was strong, she could handle herself in almost any situation, but he was still worried.
The droidcontinued, "Master Solo has also reported that Mar Corrik is planning a military strike on Chandrila."
Link spoke up. "We need to go to Dalna."
Finn took a deep breath, his instincts pulling him in two directions. Rey needed help, that much was clear, but so did Kaydel. She was still a high-profile target, and getting her back to Dulathia safely was paramount.
"We need to get the Senator back to Dulathia first," Finn said. "She's still in danger. Once she's safe, we can go help Rey."
"No." Kaydel stepped forward. "We're going to Dalna, now. All of us."
Finn was surprised by her response. He knew Kaydel was brave, but he didn't expect her to want to charge headfirst into a potential warzone. "Kaydel, that's too dangerous. You've already been targeted multiple times. If we don't get you somewhere safe—"
"Rey is my friend," she interrupted. "She's saved my life more times than I can count. I'm not sitting this out. I refuse to stand by while she's in danger. We're going to Dalna."
She looked at Daro and he gave a firm nod.
Finn rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him. They were all right, Rey needed them, and every second they wasted was another moment she was in danger. But the risk to Kaydel was real. If anything happened to her, it could destabilize the entire New Republic, not to mention the personal guilt he'd carry.
But she wasn't backing down. He could see it in her eyes, she wasn't asking for permission. She had already made up her mind.
He exhaled, knowing that arguing further would be pointless. "Alright," Finn said, meeting her gaze. "Let's get moving."
BB-56 beeped in agreement, and Link smiled, clearly eager to get into the action.