Anavexi shook the clouds from her head and focused on the mark just ahead of her. Thena had looked so distraught when Elek told her about the First Order officer. He wasn't wrong when he said she'd been selecting more dangerous targets. They were necessary for the three of them to survive. Thena's begging on the higher levels wasn't enough, Elek selling the odd machine part here and there on the black market wasn't enough. The bigger the risk, the bigger the payout. They'd realize it soon; everything she did, she did for them. To survive.

For Thena, for now, she'd pick a few easier marks. Once they got hungry, they'd forget all about the officer. The new target was a pudgy man, too clean for the undercity—he patted his stomach, peering closely at the neon signs. He was probably looking for Ghrrik's place. They always were on this level. Ghrrik's girls were known within twenty levels for their "skills." Ana suppressed a shudder. She could spot one of those clients easily. She knew them too well.

Now, whispered a little voice in her head. She raised her hood and pulled it low over her eyes, rounding a corner toward the man. She attempted to breeze around behind him, hands nimbly sliding his wallet from his back pocket. She slipped it up her sleeve when suddenly he turned, knocking into her shoulder.

"Oh!" he said.

The force of the collision knocked her loose hood back. She put on a demure expression, averting her eyes, and threw a tremor into her voice for good measure. "I-I'm sorry, sir, I wasn't paying attention."

His small, beady eyes lit up when he saw her face and her stomach turned. "It's no matter, my dear, it's no matter at all."

She dipped her head again, but he caught her arm before she could escape.

"Don't run off yet!" he said, a smile spreading across his face. "You've got a beautiful face, why don't you stay a while? I'll pay you, of course, don't be shy—" His other hand was reaching for his pocket. Her eyes followed it but she knew he'd find it empty, so the panic that creeped in on his disgustingly eager expression was no surprise. She ripped away from the man's slack grip and broke into a run. By the time he shouted after her, she had disappeared.

When she was one level up, she hid in a shadow and delved into her spoils. One credit chip, a bit of cash, some useless identification cards—ew, he was a teacher. Foreign languages. Ana made a face and chucked the ID cards, tucking the wallet into a pouch on her left side. Not enough, never enough. This wouldn't feed them tomorrow. Tonight, maybe, maybe…

Then she caught sight of the Stormtrooper. She tugged on her hood again and watched. Was it one of the soldiers from yesterday? Was it a new soldier? Why did they all have to look like clones?

At the very least, this trooper had a different gun. She didn't recognize it, the white detailing on the barrel, a sight fastened on the top. Her interest peaked. A new trooper meant a new officer in need of escort, didn't it? A new officer. Maybe this one has deeper pockets.

She crept after the Stormtrooper, watching him meet up with a partner. She had nearly caught up enough to overhear them when someone pulled her into an alley, their hand over her mouth.

She shoved the hand away. "Elek!" she hissed. "What the fuck?"

"You were going after another First Order target, weren't you?" he said, voice ringing with accusation.

"I…" She groaned. "We need the money, Elek."

"They're looking for you," he said.

"What? How can you possibly—"

"Thena heard them talking two levels down and came to get me," he said. "And on 2172, at Ghrrik's, I saw—"

Elek stopped, his face pale.

"Saw what?" she pressed. "I was just there, Elek, there wasn't—"

"I saw Kylo Ren."

Ana couldn't help it. She knew it was cruel to laugh at him when he seemed so genuinely concerned, but truly he was being ridiculous.

"Kylo Ren," she repeated. Her cheeks hurt from laughter, her eyes watering.

"Keep your voice down!"

"Kylo Ren," she said, choking back her giggles. "Commander of the First Order, one of the most murderous men in the galaxy, is here over a little empty credit chip?"

Elek's jaw was set; she had made him angry with her flippancy. "Whether you believe me or not, we have to get down to the lower levels and hide out for a while, until they leave. Please, Ana."

"We can't hide out for longer than a day," she protested. "Thena's got to eat."

"Please."

Anavexi relented and gave a nod, and Elek took her hand to lead her away.

"There she is!" The Stormtroopers noticed almost as soon as Elek pulled her from the alley. "You there!"

"Ana, run!" Elek dragged her along, bolting away from the soldiers. She almost fell with the sudden urgency of it. How did they recognize her? Had the other officer been able to give that accurate of a description?

"Ana!" Elek was shouting for her to focus. "Come on, we've got to make it to the vents—"

The shot from the blaster took him down quick. His hand fell from hers and he dropped; she nearly tripped over him.

"Elek?" Her sight was blurry. She knelt by him, shaking him by the shoulder as his eyes stared past her. "Elek, we've gotta go. Come on, get up. I'm sorry, okay, you win."

He wasn't moving, and she had lingered too long. She staggered to her feet as the soldiers fired again, and she screamed at the pain blossoming along her left side. The blaster beam burned through her thick cloak, through the pouch—through the wallet she'd just stolen and the money Thena needed—

Thena.

Anavexi could see her through her haze, crouched by some crates just ahead. Was she hallucinating? Why was Thena here? Thena shouldn't be here.

"Go," Ana croaked.

Thena shook her head ferociously, lifting her hand. She crossed her ring finger over her pinkie, a gesture they had exchanged since Ana had found her.

Worry settled hard in the pit of her stomach. She flicked her eyes past Thena, trying to signal her to leave. Again, the small Mirialan shook her head no and crossed her pinkie.

There were people watching, people gathering and staring; enough to keep the Stormtroopers from seeing Thena if she just stayed hidden, if she just stayed.

Ana turned to face the troopers; when they approached her, weapons drawn, Ana spat at them. One moved to strike her with the butt of his blaster rifle. She closed her eyes and waited...and waited...still waiting.

What the fuck?

She cracked her eyes open. The Stormtrooper was frozen, the rifle raised.

"How troublesome." Panic spiked through her at the deep, altered voice. "Where is the data chip?"

She felt her brow furrow. "Data chip? What data chip?"

The Stormtrooper was released from whatever hold had been placed on him, but then the Force was redirected to Ana. Her entire body was constricted like something was squeezing her chest. The Stormtroopers stepped aside to reveal a tall, imposing figure clad in all black. It was the mask her eyes focused on.

"Kylo Ren, enforcer of justice, hm?" she said. Her voice shook with emotion, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. "Is a little pickpocketing really worth your attention?"

He said nothing, unreadable in the mask, and circled her. She tried to ignore that he had to step over Elek's body to do so.

"I haven't stolen any data chip, you've got the wrong thief." She tried to smile but couldn't muster the strength to hold it. "And usually I'm pretty fond of taking credit for things I didn't do."

"We shall see," said Ren, and then he was reaching into her mind.

A/N: I was going to build this up longer but I think this works better than I originally envisioned! Kylo is not a happy commander...

Please review and let me know what you think!