Steady On.

Chapter 42.

Kylo, however, tried his best not to narrow his eyes at the man.

"Chirrut, what are you doing here?" Rey asked, her eyes watching him with amusement. "I mean... I'm happy you're here... I'm sorry for the way I acted previously...It was just... Well, it wasn't the best time."

Chirrut smiled, glancing away and back off into the distance.

"Don't worry, little Rey. You did good. You met your purpose, as I have mine."

Rey looked at him, confused.

Just then, she felt an odd energy around her...

"Your purpose?" Rey asked, distracted.

Chirrut nodded. "Yes, in escorting our guest."

Kylo's head turned, catching the soft gaze of another girl in the distance. His brow furrowed as his hand slowly made his way to his lightsaber.

Slowly, Rey's head turned as well, her eyes settling down on Kai, her skin glowing in the sun, her robes curling around the bottom of her feet. Kai's eyes shined, brimming with tears as she smiled at Rey, who was watching her in shock, stumbling her way towards her.

Kylo and Chirrut looked on, Kylo giving her a glance here and there.

He was ... confused, to say the least. He knew their presence here was not true, and for a moment, he wondered if it were a mind trick. However, when he did a quick check, he felt awake and in tune with his senses.

Right then, he knew.

Force ghosts.

Something he had never experienced... No one ever appeared to him, except for Luke...For a second, Kylo felt a sting of jealousy as he wondered if he were too weak to experience anything like this.

"If that were true, you would not be able to see me now." Chirrut said.

Kylo looked towards the man, half annoyed, half intrigued, crossing his arms as he waited for him to continue, fighting the urge not to attack the man for peering into his thoughts.

"I've called to one before, he refused my plea. It's nothing but a Jedi game." Kylo sneered, rolling his eyes.

"Ah, it is never a game. Though it is for the Jedi, indeed." Chirrut purred.

Kylo scoffed. "I'm no Jedi."

At this, Chirrut turned his gaze directly to Kylo, as if he was granted sight for just a moment, his crystal blue eyes landing directly on Kylo Ren's. For a moment, even the briefest moment, Kylo froze.

"Hmm." Chirrut answered, a small, knowing smile creeping on his face before he turned back towards the river, listening to the water lap against the dirt mounds.

Kylo followed his gaze, trying his best to brush off the man's expression, feeling the familiar frustration rolling into his nerves just as Rey met Kai's open arms behind him.

"I can't believe it...Kai, I'm...I'm-" Rey sobbed into Kai's shoulder, each woman holding the other.

"No, Rey, don't apologize." Kai moved back, taking Rey's face in her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You did good, Rey. You did great."

Rey tried her best to return the smile Kai was displaying, though Rey couldn't help the sadness as it crept through when she shook her head. "It wasn't worth it, Kai. I failed you. I couldn't sa-"

"Enough. Our goal was to track the First Order, and get that information back to Leia. You said we could trust Ben, and we did. We still do. Rey, because of you, the galaxy has a chance to survive on much more than hope, a hope that you brought to light to begin with."