The Little Things In Our Souls

Rey had been expecting this to go a thousand different ways, really. Of all the people that were going to stand up from the chair at the forefront of the room they had been led to, she hadn't been expected him. Her eyes widened, grip tightening on her staff. Her free hand balled into a fist as she fought against the anger welling up inside of her. It wouldn't do to lose her temper when Leia had made it so very clear that Xander's base could be an advantage that led to them winning a war. But that stupid smile on Xander's features had gotten under her skin.

"You?!" Rey's voice sounded, a surprise to even her. She didn't acknowledge the stares from just about everyone in the room. She instinctively moved to stand in front of BB-8 that had been just beside her. Moving the staff into a more defensive position, just in front of her, her eyes narrowed. At least she had an answer to where the waves hand originated from when she stepped off of their ship.

Too late to go back now. "Is this some sort of joke? What exactly are you planning? Going to take us to Kylo now?" Rey's questions flew from her lips as she took a step forward. Oh, she was livid as she stared up at Xander. It wasn't until Finn set a hand on her shoulder that she was brought back enough that she wasn't ready to swing for the fences - for Xander's face.

"Rey? What are you on about now?"

"This... this asshole can't be in charge here!" She spat the words out. Rey had been skeptical to begin with and now upon seeing Xander, alarm bells were ringing. Red flags were waving in her mind.

(I don't feel like this is exactly what I want but )

Suddenly she was shouting. It took Xander a moment to understand what she was shouting, but he surely knew the cause of why she was shouting. He was the cause. It was really obvious, knowing what both of them had done.

He could see the leaders looked startled, some looked confused while someone tried to move and grab her shoulder to probably calm her down. But Xander stood there and took her rage, for he knew he was somewhat guilty. "I'm not taking you to Kylo," he replied somewhat calmly but quietly, as if he were trying to prove himself innocent under the guilt tag over him. "My job with him is done. I don't work two jobs at once." How offensive. As if he would lower himself like that.

One of the leaders watched Rey then narrowed his eyes, "What's going on?" he demanded, looking all wary while Xander gently nursed his own ego at the mention of being called an asshole. Nikolai had moved closer to stand somewhat between him and Rey, but Xander waved him off. He looked at the leaders and shrugged, "I interrogated her under Kylo's command, that's all."

The representative narrowed his eyes, "You told the Order of BB-8's location." It was an accusation, but Xander saw it had no right to be placed. They didn't own him. He shrugged, looking down at the robot. "I told them what she told me, that you had him, and he was probably headed for Rodia."

"And our location?"

Xander folded his arms, a rather harsh tone settling on, "I don't share the details of my jobs. But if it brings peace to your hearts I did not tell them. There is information that cannot be bought from me, like the coordinates of the Resistance, or the Order." He pointedly looked at the representative. The group looked amongst themselves and then looked at Rey. They weren't sure of what to do. Xander could see that.

[its okay!!]

(totally skipped over this, thinking I replied )

Rey's shoulders relaxed the slightest of bits when Xander denied her accusation. She was still on edge though, she couldn't bring herself to trust his words despite him not appearing to have lied. Her attention moved from Xander to Finn, holding an arm out to stop her friend. "Leave it," she murmured, reaching to squeeze Finn's arm gently. She could feel Finn's anger coming off of him in waves. They had only known each of for a bit and yet he had shown her more kindness than she had seen since her early years. "It's fine."

By the time she turned her attention forward again, Rey realized that all the attention was on her. Her ground kept looking between her and to Leia's second in command, who was staring at her. As if expecting her to take charge. She raised a brow, silent. Their alliance needs to not fall into the Order's hands. Leia's words ran through her mind like a record, over and over. She took a deep breathe, wondering if she should take charge. A minute had ticked by and eventually, Rey realized that someone was going to need to.

Rey cleared her throat, moving to step around the rest of the ground, so that she was standing directly in front of Xander. She lowered her staff to her side though she still kept a tight grip on it, her knuckles turning white. She hadn't been trained for this, she barely knew what the Force was capable of, let alone what to do with it. So what was she supposed to do? Try.

"You know what the Resistance possesses. It's only a matter of time before we have Skywalker with us," Rey spoke, unsure of her words. She stood a little bit straight, squaring her shoulders. She could only hope that she was coming off as far more confident than she actually felt. "Together with Leia and myself, we will rebuild the Jedi Order. We will defeat the Order, of that I have no doubt," she paused, glancing to Leia's second in command. "Kylo as strong as he is, is clouded by his desire for power. He doesn't stand a chance if we unite together."

[All good ]

Xander was aware of the male that was standing by Rey and was looking extremely angry, like a chained dog ready to pounce. It made him wary, more so than he would have liked to be. But Rey seemed to calm him with a few words and he retreated but still shot Xander some cold looks.

He, and the whole group, watched as she moved to stand in front of him. He looked down at her expectedly, being at least a head taller than her. So small. Such a kid. He prepared to listen to whatever she wanted to say into his face but what she said wasn’t what he expected. He thought she’d scold at him for being a scum or whatever, but she was being mature. Thinking for the better good, putting their little history aside.

Everything was fine, but when she said ‘Jedi Order’, Xander felt his eyebrows twitch and suddenly he was all attention. Did he hear that right? Jedi Order? Again? He felt uncertain. He remembered what Kylo did and its fall and then… Xander pressed his lips together, desperately regaining his composure to finish listening to whatever she had to say after that.

“You know,” He said quietly, still looking straight into her eyes, “It’s not in my benefit to kill off a frequent client of mine.” He felt and partly saw the whole group, especially the Resistance’s representative, tense. Was he going to reject them? No. He just wanted to make sure that they knew he didn’t do this wholeheartedly and with a just goal in mind. He saw someone open their mouth to protest but ignored it, still looking right into Rey’s eyes. “I only have two conditions. One: After this is all over, you leave me alone. No strings attached. As always. I’m sure Leia knows.” He paused, waiting for a confirmation from Leia’s second in command who nodded slowly, acknowledging that it was a common thing. Then proceeded. “And two: If I feel something astray, anything that doesn’t follow the contract, I withdraw my aid.”

This was more directed at the second in command who, after a small negotiation with his group, nodded. They accepted it. Xander stepped back from Rey, her being quite close. “I’d like a private chat with your little Jedi hope here, before I accept.” He looked at Rey pointedly, half-turning to a passageway that would lead them away from the room for their little chat. He shot the worried friend and the representative a look when they looked sceptical, “If I’m going to be your ally, you’re going to need to trust me, yeah?”

Rey was uncomfortable with how intensely Xander was staring down at her. If it was anyone else in under any other situation, she probably would have found a way to leave, unnoticed. But this was far more important than just her, or him, or any of them for that matter. This was about restoring order to the galaxy so people didn't have to live their lives in fear of possibly angering the First Order or Kylo. She knew first hand what Kylo was capable of and that was enough to make her stand her ground.

"If I could leave you alone prior to that would make this deal so much better," Rey answered back, a smirk of her own coming to her features. There was no secret between the two - neither was particularly fond of the other. But partnering together had benefits for each of them. Rey would grin and bear it for as long as necessary but not a moment longer. "I think that's a fair stipulation," she admitted to the second demand, shrugging her shoulders.

Rey glanced behind her, to gauge the reaction of the rest of her group. Finn still looked like he was ready to strangle Xander and she was pretty sure if looks could kill, he probably would have been dead a time or two over. She couldn't help but to grin, only for it to fall and her head to whip around at Xander's next words. A private chat? Rey switched the staff to her left hand, narrowing her eyes at the man. This had to be the joke the. But she realized he was serious as he turned away from both groups.

Taking a deep breathe, she raised her gaze to the ceiling and said a silent prayer. Rey didn't trust Xander, she was sure that she wasn't the only one. But his words rang true. She begrudgingly followed after Xander, leaving her staff with Finn. She still had the lightsaber if the situation turned too bad, she would be fine. I'll be fine she kept repeating the line to herself until Xander came to a stop. Far enough away that no one would hear them. Rey took a step back to leave a healthy distance between them. "And what exactly is this talk about?"

Xander returned her smirk. "The feeling is mutual." He replied quietly to her, lips twitching into a small smile that showed off his displeasure at her very presence. Inwardly he prayed he wouldn't have to work with her closely. Wouldn't have to see her, all that. Unfortunately life wasn't at his command and he knew sometime sooner or later he would have to cross paths with her again, and again, and probably - if this whole ordeal finishes in favour of the Resistance - work with her and any Jedis that a maybe-alive Luke would maybe retrain. So many uncertainties. He almost felt sick just thinking about it. It was like stepping on a rock in a stream knowing full well that its probably lose but maybe, just maybe, it won't budge when you step and you won't fall and break your back.

He flashed a very polite smile to the second in command and representatives when they allowed him to take Rey away for a little while. What for? It was simple. It allowed him an excuse to get away from the murderous glare of her friend. Not that he was scared, he could well and truly overpower him, but even the strongest could become uncomfortable. And frankly, the glare the boy was sending was starting to get annoying. Why so protective?

Xander stopped by a window once they were far from the group and out of sight and out of earshot. He looked at the empty starry space beyond and then turned his attention to her reflection in the glass. "Leia sent you to me hoping I'd be swayed because you have some control of the Force and potential." It wasn't a question, that was really the only reason she would have sent Rey. He had worked enough with her to know some of her tactics, her hooks and secret messages - he learned to read between the lines, something important for a Leader to be able to do. Leia would have guessed the very same if it had been him who was requesting alliance with her and sent a small potential Jedi to her. "But you have…little control over it. You're all riding on the fact that perhaps this Luke is still alive and perhaps he is still willing to teach you, after all that happened." The Kylo, the massacre. He glanced over his shoulder at Rey, hoping she'd catch his drift: 'you're all riding on blind hope with no evidence'.

He turned around, arms folded over his chest and narrowed his eyes questioningly. "What will you do if after all this effort, you go to find him and he is not alive? No, let me rephrase that. What will you do?" Who will teach her? Will she learn alone? That's difficult. It could take years. She doesn't have years to prepare to face off Kylo Ren. Any obvious fool would know that in a sort of fight with Kylo, the first comes the gun, then the lightsaber, then the Force, and maybe the lightsaber again. She would need the Force is she wanted to triumph. And she really the only one that could, at this moment. Maybe Luke, if he was alive, but that was an uncertainty and he discarded its possibility already, to avoid any miscalculations. It was a nice bonus, to to speak, but not one that could be relied on.

But he wasn't going to hand over his knowledge willingly either. Hell, he had spent so much time and effort making up his own new fake past and killing his name in that massacre that he wasn't going to openly reveal his ability of the Force and thus his identity. There were no kids that survived Kylo's rampage. Nope. None. Zero. Sure she may have felt it, but if it didn't click in her head, then that's even better.

Rey had turned to face the window, not bothering to even look toward Xander's reflection. At his words, she raised a brow but offered no input. She didn't see a point in denying or affirming. They both knew why Leia had wanted her to come in the welcoming party. Rey was the one of the only ones alive with a natural connection to the Force, without any training to obtain it. "The Resistance has very little doubt that Luke is anything but alive. What information you obtained from me isn't the entire picture, don't be so naive to believe it is," Rey scolded. It had been a shot in the dark, Rey had no real idea what Xander had gotten from her memory, nor did she know if the Resistance had more information on Luke than she knew about.

"Kylo Ren has a great control over the force, I'm not here to deny that. But he lets his anger get in the way and cloud his judgement. There's a reason that when you interrogated me you were... more successful than he was," Rey admitted, careful not to say he had been successful. She still had hope that he hadn't seen everything that he could possibly have wanted to. Not that it would have mattered if he had, BB-8 was here with them, if Xander was after the bot, they had brought it right into his territory.

"You seem to have more control over the Force than Kylo himself," Rey pointed out, raising an eyebrow as she turned toward him. She was talking blind, with no real suspicion to back her words. Only a hunch that there was more to Xander than she quite realized. "How is that? Who taught you?"

Her gut was telling her that it was a bad idea. Her mind was telling her that it was, in fact, a terrible idea. Rey was sure that if she contact Leia, that Leia herself would tell her not to. That it was too much of a risk but Xander had pointed out that they needed to trust each other. Trust only came with practice and.."You seem so ready to doubt us but you're willing to aid us. So why is that? Because deep down somewhere you want to defeat Kylo? Because you realize he's just as much a threat to you as he is to myself?"

"I'm not going to plan for Luke not being alive, I have hope that he is. Until proven otherwise, I see no point in acting like it," Rey paused, turning away from him. She was studying his reflection in the glass now, contemplating her next move. A bad move's outcome could sometimes warrant making a bad move..right? Rey drew in a deep breathe, said a silent prayer that Leia would forgive her. It seemed like everything was in her hands now. "If you're so doubtful that Luke is alive, come with us. You, yourself. No guards because now, I think it's your turn to trust us, is it not?"

Xander furrowed his brows, "Okay, what if he is alive but he's not there? You don't have time to rush about the galaxy in hope to find him." In his mind he pleaded that this would be the case, but somehow felt that this Rey would find time to prance around the galaxy in search of Luke and stop at nothing to find him. Somehow that really annoyed him. Though when she mentioned he had been more successful than Kylo at interrogating her, he felt a little more satisfied, and pushed the growing annoyance out of the way. At least she admitted that.

Yet again, her questions swung his mood another way. Her words seemed hollow, as if they were flung with no consideration - just like a child who didn't want to lose an argument but didn't want to answer the question given. Xander felt the corner of his lips twitch to one side in a sort of annoyed smirk. Now he definitely knew she was aware of his possession of the Force, it was only a matter of time before she blabbed about it to someone. "It doesn't matter who taught me. I'm already taught. You are not." That was sort of a lie. He wasn't fully taught. His training was incomplete, and he lacked some vital control but she knew not of his weakness and so he didn't care at this point.

"Yes, I doubt the Resistance but I doubt it in finding Luke, not in winning the war." Why would he go against the Order if he knew they would fail to win? That was risky. If they failed and he was involved, it didn't matter how well he could hide, he'd be persecuted and jobless. That was not something he wanted. But if he stayed uninvolved, it didn't matter what side won. He would have his job. More or less. And maybe she was right, maybe he wanted to defeat Kylo. But these were things he wasn't going to talk about. He was here for military and war talk, not a trip down memory lane.

She had swiftly avoided his question and put him in a position where he could not refuse to go with them. Xander knew that no matter the excuse he could come up with, there was no weaselling out of this without bringing suspicion upon him, or lack of trust. She had a point. She had made many points actually. Rey had simply put him into a checkmate. It irked him. What the hell. The annoyance returned, and he felt restless inside. And then the thought of looking up at Luke again. He doubted the man would recognise him, but he felt uneasy. Xander hoped, for his own selfish reasons, that Luke would not be there, he could laugh, turn around and go home. Xander took a small breath, reaching out into the furthermost regions of his mind and working his way in to calm the restlessness. It was practiced to perfection, it took no more than seven seconds. Seven seconds to step away from local destruction. "Go where? To the x-marks the spot on a map of all the galaxies?" he chuckled, finding it ridiculous, "Fine. But know that if Kylo makes you fall, you'll fall because you didn't train your self."

"You doubt the Resistance and yet, you don't know the cards that we hold in our hand," Rey answered, a sort of satisfied smile ended on her features. She was winning, even if she didn't like the way she was winning. She was getting under Xander's skin, proving him wrong with each step she took. It was only a matter of time until Xander found out more than he knew now. R2-D2 had come to life the night before, she had been told. Offered the missing part of the map, BB-8 had held up the remaining section. X had indeed marked the spot. Rey hadn't seen the map herself, already fast asleep by the time it had happened. When she reached the ship that would carry them to Xander, Leia had given her the biggest smile. Explained that they had pieced together the map and that they would be able to send for her brother once Rey returned. With good or bad news, Rey would be on her way to find Luke Skywalker.

"X only marks the spot on a completed map. You only have a small portion of it," Rey pointed out. He hadn't denied finding out more from her, she must have been onto something. She shrugged her shoulders, knowing that she may be stepping into territory that she shouldn't have. But if trust was to be built, Xander needed to be willing to play in her court just as much as she would in his. Ultimately she answered to Leia, Rey only hoped when they returned to D'Qar, Xander on board, that the older woman would understand why they had come with plus one.

Rey's lips twisted down, the slightest bit. Xander was right, if Kylo found her too early, she was done for. If the Resistance found Luke, everything would change. He would become their biggest advantage in the war against the Order. Luke could not only train her but any other hopeful Jedi. The more they had, the better their chances were. "Kylo's only advantage is his relationship with the Force. With the training that Luke will provide," Rey paused, giving Xander a pointed look, "I will be a worthy match of his in no time."

Rey turned toward Xander once more, dropping the anger from her voice. The only thing that mattered right now was that they get back to her ship and back to D'Qar. They needed to prepare for their next journey, there was little time to waste. "The Resistance has their hands on a completed map, we know the exact coordinates of the island Luke is on. It's only a matter of us getting to him before Kylo does. We have a step up while he's still searching for BB-8. Who is on your ship currently, may I add," she said, her voice tainted with anger when she mentioned Kylo Ren. The brief minutes she had spent with him was enough to set her blood boiling. Rey had worked on keeping her emotions in control most of her life, she wasn't about to stop now. "We don't have time to spend all day chitchatting, as much as I'm enjoying it," Rey paused, sarcasm dripping from her words. "Do you need to pack a bag or shall we just get on our way?"

Xander just stared at her. This child was parroting words she heard back to him and then repeating her words over and over. Perhaps, maybe, yes with some irritation he would admit that he did not possess the knowledge they possessed, or knew the whole map, but even if they had a whole map and its very destination, how did they know Luke was there? Did they call him? Did they already know? Did he send a cute little flare saying 'Im here'? Xander felt the order he put in his mind was starting to fall apart again.

I'm signing myself a death contract, he thought, looking at this girl who was filled with hope and dreams and a certainty that Luke was alive and actually in his located spot. At least, he wouldn't have to deal with her. Leia surely would have better plans. He waved a hand at her dismissively, not bothering to reply to her parroting and turned away, heading down the long tunnel. "In your dreams, child," he called over his shoulder when she mentioned she'd be a worthy match of Kylo in no time, "Even Anakin took years to perfect it. If you somehow are a prodigy, and I'm not aware, let me know."

Sure BB-8 was on his ship, and given Kylo was hellbent on finding BB-8 now, BB-8 was probably in the safest spot ever. This ship could go undetected under even the best of radars. Xander looked over at her as he walked, meeting her sarcasm with a sneer of his own, "Yes I do. Unlike some, I actually have a change of attire." He walked out of the small passageway, meeting gazes with the second in command as he neared him. "I accept. Bring whatever contract to my office." He didn't stop to smile around and shake hands, breezing past the group and ordering another servant to make them feel very so welcome while they waited for him to arrange his departure. He couldn't drop all and go. There were things he needed to do, like pass over the control, establish plan and dispatch the forces.

Nikolai took care of most of that, setting a small team that would accompany Xander to the Resistance's base. Sure he'd go on the Luke hunt alone, but he still needed his secretaries and other few commanders and their own personnel, much like the Resistance representatives needed when they came to his base. Although they came for a short term, and he'd go to theirs for long.

It didn't take long for them to sort it all out, and two hours later they were boarding the Resistance's ship, Xander giving it a skeptical look. It docked away and he watched through a large window as his own ship vanished into the darkness of space in a mere second.

"Kylo couldn't get a single answer when interrogating me, I wouldn't place money on him winning just yet," Rey called after him. She began to follow him reluctantly - she hated to know that she had to rely on him to navigate her way through the ship. Getting lost would have been silly though. Rey left a healthy distance between the two. She had never encountered someone else with such a connection to the Force and being too close to him made her uneasy. There was more to his story, surely, because as he had so generously pointed out, she would need someone to train her. If she had needed something, so would he have.

Ignoring his jab, Rey moved over to the small group of Resistance members. Even as Xander told his men that he had accepted, Rey watched him, expecting for something to go wrong. This had been far too easy - her presence couldn't have been all that swayed Xander in agreeing to help them. He almost certainly would have been leaning toward helping them already, perhaps her presence had been enough to push him over the fence. Leaving her suspicions behind in the hallway, Rey offered Leia's second in command a gentle smile. Nervous but the decision had already been made. There was no going back now for either side - lest distrust and contempt be bred. "He's to come with us... back to D'Qar. And on the mission tomorrow."

---

The return back to base had been long and tedious, just like the trip to Xander's ship. Rey spent the majority of her time in the cockpit, actively trying to avoid any of Xander's men. If she had yet to trust Xander, his men were no different and she would still need to tread carefully around them all. The closer that they returned to base, the more nervous that Rey felt. She was afraid Leia would scold her. The mission to find Luke was of the utmost importance, having someone with her that was a newfound ally was risky. Especially if it turned out that Xander was right and Luke wasn't there.

Giving her head a shake once they landed, Rey waited until she was sure she was the only one left on the ship. Maybe she could hide. But no, she really couldn't. Where would she have gone anyway? Leaving would have only proved Xander right, that she wasn't capable and damn if she was going to let him be right. Rey finally left the ship, in search of Leia.

The room he was escorted to was not the room he wished to be in. After such a long flight, to be ushered into a meeting without having even a snack was ridiculous. Sure, they had no time to muck around and stretch but this was beyond guest-welcoming.

And as he had back in the Order's basement, he sat here at the round glossy table and drummed his fingers on its surface. Behind him stood Rita, his second most trusted warrior that was not so much his bodyguard but one that watched his back while he was preoccupied. She stood, still like a statue in the shadows of the room, quite the only company he had at this moment. She followed him everywhere, like a ghost. If at first he ever found her quietness unsettling, now he just expected her to be there behind his back. And he put trust in her with information for he had trained her, her mind impenetrable to jedi tricks and control.

The door opened and Xander looked up, watching as people filed in. Among them were unfamiliar faces, but he saw Rey and Leia all too quickly. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed Rita before the meeting started, and she left - giving Rey a rather narrow-eyed cold look. She had seen the girl around the ship, she watched her from close and from afar, gathered information on her and assessed her. She would be travelling with Xander - alone - Rita needed to know what this girl was capable of. She had no doubt in Xander, but one could never to be too safe.

Leia stopped at the end of the table and nodded to Xander. "I am honoured to see you have accepted the alliance, Xander." He nodded but averted his gaze the moment he could after a polite pause. Looking at her, he could see Luke, and while she did not recognise him, he recognised her and her brother in her eyes. And it was like an unsettling fog that he did not wish to dwell in.

The meeting got underway; most of which Xander wished he could sleep through. Soon enough it ended, the mission clear - find Luke at x-marks-the-spot. The members filed out, Rita standing at the doorway and watching them leave, reaching out to stop Rey by cutting her path out off and standing in front of her. "I want to fight you," she stated, looking the girl right in her eyes. "If you go alone with my Master, I want to know you can defend yourself - so he does not have to."

The few people that were left in the room looked up in curiosity, and Xander's lips twitched into a very smug smile. This would certainly be interesting.

Rey was in no mind to sit through yet another meeting where they discussed the future. They needed to be contain their hope, use it as fuel, until they found the missing jedi. If. The word popped into her mind as she settled down at the table that Xander was already sitting at. The energy drifting from Xander was exemplified, she couldn't quite place it. Rey glanced toward him just as Rita was dismissed, not missing the cold glare that the woman gave her. Rey gritted her teeth and looked away, knowing this wasn't the time nor the place to get into a petty argument. She was above that, even in other, more intense situations. She couldn't waste energy on useless arguments, she had figured that out growing up.

The meeting took longer than Rey would have liked. Between the way her day had gone the day before and the various trips she had gone on today, Rey wanted a moment to relax to herself where she could decompress. But the Resistance was above that personal problem, she didn't mind despite the mild annoyance when she let herself think a little too much about how tired she was. The meeting ended and Rey stood, ready to retire to her room. Rey would welcome sleep, they weren't leaving at dawn tomorrow. They would have the chance to enjoy breakfast before departing, at the very least.

Rey was just about to leave the room when a body moved in front of her. Her eyebrows knit together, barely stopping herself from running into the unexpected wall in front. Rey took a step back, tilting her head back so that she could look Rita in the eye. Listening to her, she shouldn't have been surprised, not with the way Rita had looked at her prior to the meeting's beginning. But her brows still rose in mild shock. "Master?" Rey fought against the smirk that was itching to show itself.

"Even on a better day, I don't care to fight without a just cause," Rey commented with a shrug of her shoulders. If it hadn't been the noise from behind her, Rey would have stepped around the wall and went on her way. She glanced behind her, eyes searching for Xander. And that stupid, smug smirk on his face sealed the deal. One day she would see Xander's blood, she had promised him.

"I suppose I'll just have to settle on your blood," Rey spoke to Rita, eyes still trained on Xander. She flashed a smirk of her own. "I'll get to you later, sweetheart." Turning back to Rita, Rey motioned toward the hallway that the girl was still blocking. "The training room is that way. You're currently blocking our way there so if you would be so kind as to move, we could hurry this along," Rey's voice was forceful. Angry, certainly, but it was likely misplaced. Had it been Xander who challenged her, she wouldn't have even hesitated at the chance to fight him. Get back at him for the bruise on her cheek.

Rita’s eyes showed no emotion when Rey questioned her word choice of Master. To her it was perfectly normal. She wouldn’t give this girl the satisfaction of being picky either. That’s just the way Rita worked.

“A little training will not hurt.” With her stoic expression, Rita turned around and headed down the hallway. She had already found the training room in the few minutes she had been separated from Xander; for her own use and for his if he so decided to use it. She walked briskly, already feeling the adrenaline rush of a fight. It had been too long. Training just wasn’t the same. Even if she did train against the best of soldiers in Xander’s little army but she knew them too well. There was nothing to study anymore.

Xander stood, following the two. Was he going to idly sit by and miss out on all the fun? Hell no. “People don’t usually hurry to their deaths,” he commented to Rey, still wearing that smug smile. “But I guess you’re an exception.” He kept his distance from the girl, in case she decided to whirl around and throw a punch, though that would be highly un-ally like of her to attack him out of nowhere. They reached the training room soon enough, and Rita placed down her weaponry on one seat, pinning her hair in place and warming up her arms a little as she headed to the centre of the room. Xander didn’t sit, there was no need to. He doubted this fight would even last long. Rey, a random girl with some little skills she knew would not be a challenge for Rita, a highly skilled soldier with training in so many different combat styles.

Seeing that Rey had a staff for a weapon on her, and to make it equal Rita picked up a training staff, one of medium thickness, not too thick (it would be too slow) and not too thin (not enough power). She whirled and twirled it around, finding its centre of balance and a good grip before turning to Rey fully. In this whole time, she kept an eye on the girl so she wouldn’t spring. Never underestimate your own opponent. Rita faced the girl then, watching her entire composure, and she didn’t ask if Rey was ready. Enemies don’t wait. She sprang forward, lightning fast, twirling the staff to send two blows to Rey’s head, letting them be blocked if Rey wanted to, and faking a third to whirl and sweep at her legs instead.

"Your girl won't be any worse than Kylo..unless you're saying she's a better fighter than he is. Should she go fight him in my place?" Rey ventured as she glanced behind her. She still wore her own smirk despite feeling like she was likely walking into a beating. Her words were partly said to comfort herself. It was no secret that ultimately, Rey would end up facing Kylo. A small little section at the back of her mind had her hopeful that another prodigy would be discovered and she wouldn't have to be the one because she didn't know whether she could be successful. She didn't like the idea of the whole world's fate resting on her shoulders. If she succumbed to Kylo, who would take him on next? Would they be able to stop him?

Shaking her head to rid her mind of the worries, Rey sat down on the mat. She stretched for a moment, staff laying by her side. She was half expecting a surprise blow, she had no idea what Rita was truly about. Raising to her feet, Rey gripped her staff, watching Rita warily. She would let the other take the first swing, there was no need to rush int a fight. Rey took a step back when Rita advanced, bringing her staff up to block the blows to her head. Swept off her feet, Rey was back on them in a moment. On the ground, people were most vulnerable. Vulnerable wasn't what she wanted to be.

Rey spent the first few moments of the fight dodging and blocking, throwing in a half hearted jab here or there. She grit her teeth, stepping to the left and ducking below Rita's swing, only to twist, aiming for the taller girl's side .

(sorry this is on the shorter side )

[It's fine I shorten things up too when it gets to more interactions ]

Xander looked at Rey amused. He had considered that option once before. Rita was very strong. But Rita lacked will to defeat Kylo. She'd see him simply as an opponent to train on. She had no will for anything other than to defend Xander. Which was a bonus and a downside in its own. "Rita doesn't have the Force," he replied, eyes giving their usual smugness, "Else I would send her."

He had also tried to teach her the Force, or coax it to come alive in her. But she was resilient and void of it. Her stoicnes and lack of will were like a double negative on it. She didn't want it and it wouldn't come. Xander had tried to even use the idea that it would 'help' her defend him, but it still didn't work. Eventually he just gave up.

The fight was partly balanced in Rita's favour. Rey kept defending, and Rita pressed on but always aware and never clouded by the idea of winning. Her blows were still kept light, testing, but once she saw Rey get back on her feet, Rita decided to step it up. Now she put force into her blows, although not all for she didn't want to slip and kill Rey. When Rey dodged her swing and went for her side, Rita saw a chance to hit the girl's throat. She grit her teeth, twisting herself so that her back caught the blow and spread the force out, travelling with the blow to soften it only a little, but her staff already going for Rey's throat. There would be no chance for Rey to defend herself now. The staff stopped short of the girls throat.

"Dead," Rita said.

Xander clapped once from his seat, pleased with the fight. "You'd also be dead, Rita, if Rey was wielding a lightsaber."
Rita's eyes twitched to narrow a little but were kept on Rey, though her head turned slightly to pay attention to Xander's words.
The man uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Again."

Rey wasn't used to fighting where your blows didn't actually matter. She was used to fighting for the parts that would lead to her eating that day because if she lost, she wouldn't eat that day. There were worse endings, dismemberment, torture, or death, that could have befallen if a fight ended not in her favour. Luckily for her, most people who stepped up to challenge a little scavenger girl weren't prepared for her to know how to do a think or two with her quarter staff.

With the staff at her throat, Rey grit her teeth. She was getting annoyed now, the girl seemed like she thought there was no challenge to be had. Rey was used to it though. Moving back to her feet from her crouching position, Rey bit back a remark when Xander spoke. Her eyebrows furrowed as she shot a glance in his direction. If he had been anyone else, she may have been happy to have someone speak on her behalf. But Xander? She'd rather him not.

Rey had been ready to leave the room, intent on pursuing the elusive thing known as sleep. It seemed to her the universe had other plans for her. "Again?" She prompted, cocking an eyebrow as she glared at him. "You may think you can boss your girl around but I'm not going to bend to your will, sadly," she said, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you can sweeten the deal and stand in her place? Or is that below you, buddy?"

Rita’s eyes followed the girl’s movements as she stood and took a step back. But she didn’t take her eyes off the girl. She heard Xander say ‘again’ and drew her staff up again, ready to strike but saw Xander move and a look of surprise passed over her eyes, it instantly disappearing.

Her words raised his eyebrow, and he looked at her. “Okay.” He stood, a smug smirk coming over his features. He had to admit, he was excited. He wanted to see how well she could do against him, and if she was so confident to challenge him, he would have no problem in accepting. He stood, taking off his coat and draping it over the chair, walking to the two girls his hand stretching for the staff which Rita passed to him, unsure at first – but not for his safety. She retreated to the side of the room and watched with a careful gaze.

Xander too, rotated the staff around his hands for a little, testing its balance and finding his own spot he liked to hold, before turning to Rey. “Try not to break a leg.”

The staff in his hands twirled towards her in a blur, and suddenly he was in front of her yet out of reach, and then around her where she had less defence and elbowing her ribs, his footwork practiced to perfection, his hits true and strong. He didn’t let any of her blows touch him, but he wasn’t going to play nice either. One hit from her he blocked with the staff and his hand gave a little push in the air as he summoned the Force to push her back six or so meters, not waiting for her to regain any balance, striding forward and continuously striking. The training from long ago lit a fire in his eyes. Every hit was meant to kill, but he had to restrain himself so he wouldn’t actually break her bones, but only just. She would bruise, surely. Disarm. The voice was clear in his mind, the teacher teaching them their first move. Among all these blows he sent at her, some were at her arms, catching her staff and twisting it so and so to attempt to throw it out of her grasp.

Really, he could have ended the fight by just throwing her into the air, but what good would that do her? None.

"Oh, I don't intend on carrying you around the Galaxy," Rey answered back, flashing a smile of her own. She had been mildly surprised when Xander stood without an argument. Rita's blows had been nothing, not compared to the first one that he swung toward her. She skidded a few inches back but still managed to not lose her balance.

An elbow to her ribs caused her to gasp, stumbling forward. Rey tensed, taking a deep breathe before she twisted around to face Xander. Her face was blank now, completely focused on the task at hand. Her attention was spent on blocking his blows for the most part. She knew that she didn't have a chance in offense but she knew that she could at least give a better attempt at evening the field with defending herself.

Rey's eyes widened as she flew backward out of nowhere. While Kylo had lifted her a few inches off of the ground, this had been a whole new playing field. Barely having time to block his next blow, Rey backed away from him, trying to catch her breathe.

After a particularly nasty blow to her arm, Rey was done. Her staff launched to the side and she began to back away from Xander. She was tired, over it. Over Xander's attitude. She narrowed her eyes, leaning down to grab at it without looking away from him. She let him land another blow to her shoulder before she slammed her staff up to knock at his hand. Rey brought her hand up, focusing all of her energy on the man standing in front of her. A mild shock ran through her, she hadn't really known what she was doing, not really. But as she watched the staff fly from Xander's hands, Rey couldn't help but to let out a triumphant laugh.

"Are we done yet?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow. Her eyes were narrowed, grip still tightened on her staff, half ready to strike.

The change in face gave him some sense of hope that he’d have actual competition, he tried to fuel the fire that burned to anger her, knowing full well she’d react. It was a bad thing to do, for anger clouded judgement, but Xander was being a little too reckless right now. It had been too long since he got a good fight in.

The pushback had surprised her, and it made his smug smile all the more smug but his eyes still crystal clear and his thoughts unclouded. She was down and easy target to his blows, the frown on his eyebrows letting his disappointment be known. Stand up, fight on. But when his staff was out of his hand, and he felt that familiar sensation of someone’s Force, and he heard her laugh – there was a mixture of feelings. Slight satisfaction that she had managed to use some, for he wasn’t exactly evil and wished her all the bad, but also wariness, and this wariness was more dominant – a reflex more than an anything that summoned the heaviness of the air around him. The staff went flying and clattered along the ground, and it was the noise that brought Xander back to reality, that no Rey wasn’t about to kill him and he was in no mortal danger. He relaxed, the air lightened, and he smiled, looking down at his empty hands.

“Usually that’s followed up with a finish blow,” He said simply, looking over at her, not letting her cockiness get to him. He would have complimented her, but thought she’d push it aside and so saved himself the breath. Though of course, if he wielded a lightsabre, or any sharp edged weapon, this wouldn’t have happened – she would have been dead the moment he hit her shoulder while she was still down.

Xander stepped away from her. The fight was done. For someone who kept losing but kept wanting to finish, oh she still had a lot to learn. “Yeah, I’m done.” Xander turned away from her, but only because he felt her presence and saw Rita watching her carefully. Should she feign a surprise attack he would push her away with Force, or Rita would jump in and block. He was done and tired and he too wanted sleep. They would leave tomorrow, he'd want to be awake for that.