"Councilor, please!" Leia interjected forcibly. "We are not here to argue about the past, but to find a way forward. And we must do so quickly."

Hahmes was fuming, but did not respond.

"Councilor, I get how you feel," Dameron conceded. He pointed at me, almost theatrically. "The first time I faced that man an entire village of innocent people died, simply because they were there. He then tortured me mercilessly, tearing through my head with invisible fingers that burned like a blaster bolt." He took a breath, trying to control the emotion in his voice. "That is a man that has killed needlessly and without regret, having the blood of millions on his hands: including his own father's. He deserves every single punishment and penalty that is going through your mind right now and many, many more. But as bizarre and painful as it is, I'm standing here next to him. Our lives… your people's lives… they are all best served by using the information he has. His assistance may seem inconsequential when compared to his atrocities, but it is something. And right now, we desperately need something."

I regarded Dameron for a moment. His relaxed demeanor and irritating sense of humor had not disguised that he viewed me as an ally of convenience, but even so the words were a bit more caustic than I expected. Of course it was not surprising: the pilot had every reason to hate me. Deep within he burned the same fiery desire for revenge Hahmes felt. He would keep it in check as long as necessary, but it would never dissipate.

"Your point is well made, Commander," Hahmes said quietly. "The well-being of my people is far more important than any personal vendetta." The politician sighed. "I will do what I can. With limited communications and a great deal of confusion, it may not be possible to ground every speeder on the planet." He turned and walked towards the office he had been in prior to our arrival.

Leia looked at the pilots. "Poe, Joph I want you to get a plan together to check out any aircraft not heeding the no-fly order. As the councilor said, a lot of people may not get the message so we can't assume they are hostile, but we need to verify every single one."

Both officers acknowledged her instruction. "We are going to need at least two squadrons on patrol to cover the entire hemisphere," Dameron said, his eyes moving back and forth as he did mental math in his head. "At least three more on standby for relief or any other unusual situations."

Leia nodded. "Use whatever resources you need."

Dameron glanced at Seastriker, than back to Leia. "With your permission we'll return to the Emancipator to coordinate the patrols."

Leia nodded again. "I will inform the staff here to coordinate with you." The two pilots began to walk away, but Leia grabbed Dameron's shoulder and he turned to face her again.

"General?"

She was silent for a moment, as if reconsidering what she was about to say. "Until further notice I would like you to take command of the Emancipator."

Dameron swallowed. "Of course, Ma'am, but Commander Welles—"

"This is an operation that will rely on our fighter wings, and Commander Welles has no fighter experience," Leia said. It was flimsy justification: many senior military leaders had little or no experience in the cockpit but knew how to strategically and tactically employ the fighter wings under their command. Welles certainly would not have been assigned as second in command of the Emancipator if he had not demonstrated a capacity to effectively use all of its assets in combat, including the Starfighters in the vessel's hangar bays.

Dameron knew that as well. "Officially, of course General. But, is this… intuition?"

"I trust you to put personal feelings aside for the good of these people, and our people. I have concerns about Commander Welles's ability to work with my Son should it become necessary." She looked over at me. "I do not take my mistakes lightly, and will not repeat them."

"That would be wise," I said, tilting my head slightly. "Other officers might not be as fortunate as Captain Ankira."

I could feel the wave of revulsion wash across her mind, but her face remained impassive as she turned back to Dameron. "Good luck, Commander. May the Force be with you."

"And you, General," Dameron said. His eyes turned to me, and for a moment he struggled to come up with appropriate parting words. "And… I guess the Force is always with you." He turned to follow Seastriker to a nearby transport.

Leia watched him leave, then turned back to me. "How do we find them?"

I did not respond immediately. I was accustomed to the task: locating those who opposed or threatened the Supreme Leader had been among my core responsibilities. I had traveled to many worlds to capture or slay humans and aliens that had the audacity to resist the First Order. But this situation was different. As a leader of the First Order I had commanded formidable resources and had access to the most comprehensive intelligence gathering apparatus in the Galaxy. I also was empowered to use whatever methods I deemed aprproaite. Resistance idealism imposed new constraints, demanding that loss and suffering of bystanders be minimized.

"They are well trained in evasion," I finally answered. "And highly unpredictable. They may seek shelter in a remote location or attempt to blend in with the civilian population. These are not mindless Stormtroopers."

Again I sensed disgust and disappointment. "Suppressing individuality and denying free will does not make someone mindless."

I raised an eyebrow. "It seems to me it is the definition of the word." Leia frowned at my rebuke but remained silent, so I continued. "The training of these men will make the particularly challenging to find."

"For our troops..." Leia glanced downward, then back at me. "Can you locate them with the Force?"

I exhaled slowly. Though the thoughts of the First Order operatives would undoubtedly hint of their intentions, they were two minds amongst thousands that I would need to search. It would be exhausting and arduous during the best of times. Doing so in the time allotted could well prove impossible. Even the weakest of minds took time to explore, and over a distance the challenge increased dramatically. "I do not know," I admitted. "Differentiating them from others requires techniques that are not commonly exercised over such a range." I left it unsaid that such techniques were rooted in the Dark Side. I faced sufficient impediments without Leia questioning my methodologies.

Leia could sense that I was holding something back, but moved on. "The resources of the Resistance are at your disposal."

I suppressed a grimace, and noted the dry irony of the situation. Weeks before the people and equipment of the Resistance were arrayed against me in combat; now they stood ready to assist me. For whatever good it would do them.

"I have no need for your feeble-minded peons," I said bluntly.

Leia's face hardened. "Your negativity doesn't help."

"Neither does your baseless optimism," I countered.

"Let me help you," Leia said, taking a step closer. Though I had no desire to admit it, the assistance of another Force user would be valuable. With the only minimal guidance someone of sufficient power could work in parallel with me to dramatically increase the speed of the search.

Leia's skills, however, had atrophied. She maintained her sensitivity to the Force, but I doubted she would be able to effectively manipulate it. But she was not my only possible assistant. "You do not have the skills I require; however, you may be able to bring me someone who does."

Leia's expression turned sour. "I am not going to force her to—"

"This time she does not have the luxury of clinging to her ideals!" I interrupted harshly. "If she refuses to assist me, the blood of these people will be on her hands." I took in a calming breath. "I cannot guarantee success," I confessed, "but her assistance could materially benefit my efforts. You must give her the opportunity to make that decision on her own."

Leia starred at me for several seconds. "Do not attempt to deceive her or me," Leia said firmly. "If I agree to this—"

"I am willing to allow her to make her own choice," I interrupted. "I expect you to do the same." I looked over Leia's head, letting my eyes take in the dark silhouette of the broken skyline in the distance. "She is strong," I added. "If you doubt her ability to resist me, you do not know her as well as I thought."

"She is strong, but the darkness is both powerful and seductive."

"As I am sure your brother has told her," I replied. I looked back down, locking my eyes with hers. "If you refuse to allow her free will in order to keep her on the path you desire, how are you different than those that suppress the choices of a Stormtrooper?"

Leia reflected on my statement for several moments. Finally, she acquiesced. "I will send for Rey," she said, reaching for a communications device.

"No," I said gently. "I will find a suitable location for meditation nearby. She will join me there."

"We will join you there," Leia added firmly.

Recognizing I had reached the most favorable terms I would receive, I nodded. I silently exited the command building I walked several hundred meters to the east, looking for a location that would be appropriate for mediation and contemplation. My search took me to the edge of the forest, where a small clearing was appointed with a fire pit and several logs that had been fashioned into seats. Though the route was a bit circuitous, I had no doubt Leia and Rey would find me easily. Not only was my signature in the Force powerful, it was also unmistakable.

Such a quiet location had attracted other relief workers seeking solace from the activity at the main base. Four men and two women sat around the crackling fire, some staring at the flames and others focused on the forest. They immediately took notice of my approach, and all of them silently stood, gathered their belongings, and began walking away. They remained silent, but their thoughts were ones of antipathy and repugnance.

Appreciative of my new found solitude, I looked upward at the soft blue moon ensconced within a sea of stars and envisaged the task ahead.

A/N: I need to admit, the next few chapters have been very exciting to write! The dynamic between Kylo and Rey is challenging and fun, and needless to say Rey will need to balance her compassion and desire to help others with her disdain for the Dark Side and Kylo himself!

As always, thank you for the continued faves, reviews, follows, and other support! It means the world!