En Garde: A French warning, "on [your] guard", a direction to be ready to fence, taking the opening position for action.

"Alright," Kylo started with a slight cough and a wince at his ribs. "There are three main issues we need to address. First, security."

Rose projected the schematics up on the wall as Kylo gestured. "Security at the First Order is tight. They double cameras and sensors with on-site guards, so looping footage or hacking into their system won't do it, you have to deal with the people at each entrance and on every level. Plus, most of them are ex-military, so there's that. It's basically impossible to break in."

Finn glanced around with a hint of panic. "So how do we get Rey out?"

"We don't," Rose answered. "We wait for them to bring her to us."

Nodding in agreement, Poe stretched out on the couch. "Weakest part of security is in transit."

"IYS is handing her over to the FBI in…" Kylo checked his watch. "Six hours."

"Well, we better get moving then!" Finn stood, then paused as Rose shook her head.

"Second problem - evidence." Rose told him, clicking over to a photo of raw diamonds, a gold sapphire bracelet, and an emerald necklace. "They found these in Rey's apartment. They're currently sitting in an FBI evidence locker, along with everything IYS has connected to her so far."

"Shit," Finn murmured. "Those are from the Vorhees job. That was the FBI's first big lead on her, where they got that super blurry first photo."

"And that's not all. They have her phone, too."

The trio of thieves collectively tilted their heads at Kylo.

"So? It's a month-old burner. It's worthless to them." Poe shrugged.

"Not that one. The one that… was cloned."

"The one you cloned?" Finn reminded him archly. "She dumped that right after. That's not going to help them either."

"Not necessarily." Shifting his weight, Kylo scratched the back of his neck. "I… called it."

"Yeah, to tell her it was cloned. I was there."

"Not… just… then," he mumbled.

While Poe and Finn frowned in confusion, Rose's eyes widened in sudden epiphany.

"You've been talking to her, haven't you?" She asked in a tone of gleeful mischief. "A lot."

Kylo fidgeted. "…That's besides the point."

Looking around in disbelief, Finn held up a hand. "Wait, as in, you guys have been chatting on the regular?"

Poe leaned forward, his voice a mixture of shocked and intrigued. "As in, flirting?!"

"We have not been... Anyway, to get back to my point-"

"For how long?" Rose demanded curiously.

"I… it really doesn't matter."

"Oh yes it does." Poe grinned. "How long?"

"Immaterial."

"On the contrary, very material! How long?"

"I don't…" Fighting a blush, he mumbled, "A few months."

"Months!?" Finn shrieked.

Gasping, Poe held his hands to his face. "Oh my God, this changes everything!"

Rose gave a satisfied nod, as if this was a confirmation rather than a revelation.

Poe had a sudden thought. "Wait a minute, when I dropped you off at your place, you guys didn't…" His eyes grew wide with horror. "Did you?"

"Might I remind you that we have less than six hours to formulate and execute a rescue plan to get Rey out?" Kylo snapped through clenched teeth. "And that this is our only shot. If we don't pull this off now, we won't get another chance. Rey will go to prison."

The reminder quickly sobered the rest of the team.

Rose spoke quietly. "What's the third issue?"

"Timing. Which we are rapidly running out of."

…

Rey's eyes snapped open, her breath freezing in her lungs.

She was still in the interrogation room, alone with nothing but her thoughts and memories, but that's not what had set off her internal warning systems.

A soft footstep echoed outside the door, and it slowly opened to reveal Snoke's silhouette against the bright fluorescent lights.

Rey swallowed her fear the best she could, hands pressed together to hide her tremors as he slid into the seat opposite her.

"Rey. I think we've been long overdue for a talk," he began in a conversational tone that nonetheless sent chills down her spine.

"I have nothing to say to you," she bit out, which only caused him to smile condescendingly.

"Such spirit. When I first heard of your talents, I knew you'd be a good match for young Ren. He's determined, eager, but still so weak. He needed to learn greater control, build better defenses against the more… subtle breed of subterfuge." He tilted his head in consideration. "You provided a perfect opportunity to expose his failings, manipulating him as you did. One can only hope the lesson will stick."

Narrowing her eyes, she straightened her shoulders. "You don't know anything about me. Or him."

"Who do you think assigned him your case? I know more than you can possibly imagine. And I know that he's your source. Tell me now, and perhaps I can make certain arrangements for you. Ensure your time in prison will not be without its," his yellow eyes gleamed cruelly, "privileges."

Rey curled her lip in revulsion. "I don't have a source. And even if I did, I'd never tell you. You underestimate me, and it will be your downfall."

"You overestimate Ren. He has no loyalty to you, no reason to spare you a second thought, unless it's to advance his career. He's not even here. He left hours ago."

She couldn't help a small glance at the one-way mirror, where she had held out one last hope that maybe he was behind the glass, preparing for the right time to help her, to explain that it was all a ruse, that he would never...

Could never...

But no.

"Soft-hearted means soft-headed," Unkar Plutt had snapped at her ten-year-old self, boxing her ear to drive the point home. "Soft-heads crack, and end up dead. You want to survive? Assume the worst. That way, you'll be both right and alive."

Of course he wouldn't be waiting for her.

She was a fool to think he would.

"Now, tell me: how long has Ren been feeding you information?" Snoke inquired, his posture practically gloating in victory.

Rey closed her eyes, fighting the pinprick of tears, then lifted her chin in defiance.

"Go to hell," she spat out.

Snoke's eyes flared in anger, and he reached for her throat just as the door swung open, Hux and Canaday staring with wide eyes.

"Sir," Hux interjected hesitantly. "It's time."

With a hissed curse, the CEO whirled around and marched outside, slamming the door behind him and leaving Rey to her overwhelming sense of despair.

…

"This is impossible. It's never going to work." Rose shook her head.

"It's the only way!" Kylo argued.

"The only way this works is if we have a thief. And not just that, to pull this off, we need a perfect thief. I don't know if you've noticed, but we're kinda down a player, thanks to you."

"The plan doesn't work without it."

"Then we need a new plan."

"We don't have time!"

"Well, unless you happen to have a spare expert thief in your pocket, we're all screwed."

Kylo glared at the blueprints, then murmured, "I could do it."

Rose shot him an exasperated stare. "Look, even if you were a thief once upon a time, I guarantee you're not as good as Rey. And besides, they know your face. You step in there and the whole con is blown."

Finn sighed. "I know a few people I could call. Not sure about how much they'll help, but we could try."

"Can we even get them up to speed in time?" Rose asked.

"Ren," Poe interrupted, narrowing his eyes. "You look more constipated than usual. Something to share with the class?"

"I… might know someone."

"Really? You know a perfect thief, who can be here instantly, who would want to help Rey?" Finn asked sarcastically as they all turned to look at him.

He took an angry breath, then exhaled. "Yes."

Blinking, Rose furrowed her brows. "Who?"

"Well, it's…" Kylo twisted his mouth, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to say the next word.

"Thinking of me, dear nephew?" A low, arch voice came from the shadows.

Everyone whirled around to stare as an older, bearded man stepped forward.

"Who the hell is that?" Poe whispered.

"That's Luke kriffing Skywalker," Rose breathed in awe.

Finn leaned in. "I thought he was a myth!"

"Apparently not."

Poe turned and hissed at Finn, "Do you even have a security system here? Or can just anyone walk in?"

"Luke." Kylo nodded stiffly. "I thought you were dead."

"You mean that car crash in Paris?" Luke shook his head with a wry laugh. "No one fell for that one."

Rolling his eyes, Kylo grumbled, "The white doves were unnecessary theatrics."

Luke shrugged. "What is life without a bit of flair?"

"Realistic." Kylo cut back.

"Lifeless."

"Efficient."

"Ruthless."

"Weak."

Leaning towards Rose's ear, Finn spoke out of the side of his mouth, "What is happening?"

"Something that has nothing to do with us," Rose murmured back.

"Enough." Holding up his hand, Luke met Kylo's eyes with a simple question. "Did you need me for something?"

Fury flashed across Kylo's face.

"I have never needed you," he bit out.

"Should I go, then?" Luke asked calmly, and Poe was about to jump forward before Rose held him back.

Slowly unclenching his fists, Kylo let out a long breath. "But Rey does," he said finally, and Luke's gaze grew sharper. "She needs help. And she doesn't deserve to have her teacher abandon her."

There was a long silence, then Luke bowed his head. "No one does," he agreed quietly, his tone of regret somehow absorbing the tension in the room.

Kylo shifted his weight, then with great effort, met his uncle's gaze. "So. Are you in?"

Luke gave him a knowing smile.

"Always was."

…

Rey waited in silence until Phasma came in to place steel handcuffs on her wrists, tightening them just enough so the metal bit into her skin.

"Let's go."

The head of security pulled her out into the hallway, were Hux and Canady were waiting for them, giving each other suspicious looks in between eyeing Rey possessively. The procession made its way down to the elevator, which opened with a quiet chime as Kylo stepped out to greet them.

Her heart swelled in a painful mixture of anguish and hope as she couldn't help but silently mouth his name.

"Ben."

He only met her eyes for a moment before he turned away to stare at the polished black floors, killing what little remained of her dream of escape. Of her faith in him.

"Soft-headed," Unkar's voice sneered in her mind.

"And where on earth have you been?" Hux snapped at his colleague.

"I couldn't stand another moment of you and Canady bickering," Kylo answered in a bored tone. "Besides, I caught her. My part was done."

"I caught her!" The ginger argued as they all filed into the elevator. "I did the work, I tracked her phone, I-"

"Let her escape, then let her break your nose, then let her escape again?" Kylo needled, and Hux looked close to blows as Canady chuckled.

"He has a point, Armitage." The Special Agent added with a smirk. "One would almost think you were trying to let her get away."

Hux directed his glare towards the larger man as they reached the main floor. "If the FBI were even slightly capable at their jobs, they'd have-"

He was interrupted by Kylo's pull on his forearm, both of them lagging behind as the rest of the group moved towards the entryway, Phasma and Canady glaring at the bystanders milling in the lobby.

"Hux, as much as it pains me to say this, I have to admit - you did an admirable job," Kylo told him reluctantly, then extended his hand. "Well done."

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, Hux finally allowed himself to preen a little as he shook Kylo's hand. "Yes, well. I suppose you might allow yourself to take some credit. But it is some of my finest work. Perhaps you could learn a thing or two."

A tight smile appeared on Kylo's face as his grip tightened. "Perhaps I could."

Loud taps and surprised yelps echoed across the lobby, drawing both men's attention across the way to see Phasma yanking Rey up off the floor as Canady bellowed at two older Asian men.

"Look where you're going, you idiots! You're impeding an FBI matter!"

The smaller man whipped his cane around to whack Canady in the ankle. "I am so sorry, sir. I am blind, so unfortunately, I cannot take your excellent advice."

Flustered, Canaday tried to babble an apology. "Oh, well, I didn't mean… I didn't know… It's just… You can't go around knocking into people!"

"You and your ableist discrimination can see us in court!" The larger man shouted back as he took his friend's arm. "I want your name and badge number this instant! We are going to sue you, and the FBI for your insensitive, intolerant-"

"Please, sir, let's just… let's talk over here," Canady pleaded, and the smaller man folded up his cane and nodded imperiously.

Sighing, the larger man shook his head. "Fine. Let us talk."

As Canady motioned Phasma on, only Kylo noticed Rey slipping a small metal wire up her sleeve, or the fact that the blind man winked at her as she was bundled into a black sedan. The agents inside the car waved Phasma off when she tried to step inside, pointing to their badges, then to Canady. Growling, she gave them firm instructions, then stalked down to her own silver car to follow closely.

Kylo watched as the sedan and Phasma's sleek Mercedes took off down the street, counting quietly until he reached up and touched his ear.

"Showtime."