Paralyzed

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A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Twenty-One-The Supreme Leader of the First Order

One furious glare from Ben sent Lieutenant Dopheld Mitaka scrambling away from the infuriated Supreme Leader. He had been on the receiving end of one of Ren's rages before when he had been given the exact same task-delivering bad news. After the astromech droid BB-8 had escaped Jakku with the former stormtrooper FN-2187 and the scavenger Rey aboard the Millennium Falcon, Mitaka had been the one chosen for the grim task of informing the former dark side apprentice about FN-2187's role in the droid's escape. In a fit of rage, Kylo Ren had destroyed a nearby computer terminal with his lightsaber, with Mitaka bracing himself beforehand, initially thinking that Ren was going to lash out at him. When Ren had calmed down enough to inquire if there was anything else in the report, Mitaka had been forced to inform him about Rey's involvement. The Lieutenant still had nightmares about Ren using the Force on him. Ren had pulled the unfortunate Mitaka towards him and grabbed him around the neck. He then demanded to know more information about the blasted scavenger girl.

Because he had survived the hair-raising experience once, Allegiant General Enric Pryde had no qualms about sending him to deliver the latest round of bad news, deeming him to be more than qualified. Mitaka knew that Pryde had chosen him purposefully as he was one of General Hux's faithful followers. And as this latest incident involved Hux, it came as no surprise that the Allegiant General got a kick out of choosing him.

Ben had no idea of the flurry of thoughts running through the panicked Lieutenant's mind as he demanded answers. "What were you doing outside my quarters? Were you spying?" He demanded.

"No, Supreme Leader." Mitaka felt perspiration roll down his forehead as he tried to keep his panic under control. "The Allegiant General sent me here."

"Why?" Ben's eyes narrowed as he scrutinised the unfortunate Lieutenant's face for answers. He could smell the man's fear as sweat soaked through his uniform. The potent smell made his nose wrinkle in disgust.

"Ben, give the poor guy a chance to explain." Rey cautioned him. "I really don't believe he was spying. From the way he's acting I suspect he spent the last few minutes standing outside your quarters trying not to crap himself. You can be quite scary you know."

Ben nearly burst into laughter as Rey projected an image of the unfortunate Lieutenant doing just that into his mind. He had to struggle to keep his face straight. "I can't be that intimidating. You didn't show much fear when I was trying to interrogate you." He replied, reminding her of their first proper encounter on Starkiller base.

"Of course, I was scared." Rey teased him. "I was being interrogated by a creature in a mask, and then you took it off to reveal a handsome prince underneath."

Ben could feel his cheeks growing warm at her impression of him. He had totally lost his focus. He rearranged his features into am intimidating scowl as he refocused his attention on the hapless Lieutenant. "Why did Pryde send you here? Can't he deal with whatever it is himself?" He stated coldly.

"It's the Knights, Supreme Leader…" Mitaka stuttered as he glanced uneasily at Rey's black clothed figure standing behind Ben. Her face was covered by the forbidding mask and her similarity to the other Knights just made him even more terrified.

"What about them? I dispatched them ages ago to search for the scavenger." Ben snapped impatiently.

"Um…they had trouble with their ship. They never actually left." Mitaka explained hurriedly, deciding it was best to get the bad news over with all at once. "Apparently, one of the Knights…. had an altercation with General Hux earlier…and…and…. "

Ben's gloved hands curled into fists. "Spit it out, man." He snarled.

This was the worst news possible. He gave a quick glance behind him at Rey. Dread owned him, pushing against him like an invisible gale. His stomach locked up tight, nothing getting in or out. His jaw pulsed as he felt the same feelings emanating from Rey through their Force bond. The Knights of Ren were unpredictable at best. They may follow him, but they weren't intimidated by him, not like the craven creature bowing and scraping in front of him now. The Knights only true allegiance was to the dark side of the force. Their martial prowess was without equal, and they thrived in violence and strife. This was a confrontation he had wanted to avoid, and the reason he had deliberately sent the knights on a fool's mission to search the galaxy for the scavenger.

"One of the knight's is accusing General Hux of being the spy. He was about to dispatch him when the Allegiant General intervened and reminded him that he didn't possess the authority to make such claims…."MItaka babbled.

"Enough!" With one sweeping gesture of his hand, Ben used to the force to push the Lieutenant to one side.

"Ben, calm down." Rey cautioned him as she watched the poor unfortunate Lieutenant scrabble quickly away before he endured anymore of the Supreme Leader's wrath.

"We've spoken about the knights. You know what they are!" Ben reminded her harshly. "We can't let them see…"

It was already too late. Ben tensed as he felt their dark force signatures rolling toward him like a death wave. The Knights of Ren wore battered, hand-crafted armour that, combined with their weapons and battle helms, added to the aura of dread surrounding them. Being well acquainted with violence and strife, they wore the scars and implements of such on their armour. They appeared intimidatingly unified at first glance, but on closer examination each Knight was distinct, expressing preferences in combat style and tactics. All of their gear was custom, created through a combination of originality and heavy modification upon capture. They were a tight knit group and the Knights did not search for just any Force-sensitive individuals to join the ranks; they wanted those who had a strong affinity for the shadow. They would not just accept Rey on Ben's say so. They would expect her to make a sacrifice just like he had been forced to when he joined their ranks and became their leader. That's why he was so set on sending them away. Their mission was perilous enough without the cursed knights' interference.

There was no time to plan, or for Rey to hide. His knights would have already learned about the new recruit. Gossip was rife on board a ship like the Steadfast. Ben cursed under his breath as he warned Rey to be ready. If the worst happened, he would defend her to the death. Keeping her safe, keeping her alive was his only priority.

Vicrul was the first to round the corner. He was the group's spokesperson and always the main instigator of any trouble. Ben wasn't surprised that he was the one who had a run in with Hux. Vicrul was the self-styled harvester, the reaper of the fallen, and targeted souls. Every victim felled by his weapons augmented his power in the dark side, which was muted by his lack of Force-training. Yet with each strike his hate grew, allowing the dark side to surge through him. His latent Force talents, though unbidden and uncontrolled, manifested themselves in heightened reflexes and the power to magnify the fear in his prey. His prey this time was Hux. He shoved the unfortunate General in front of him roughly until he fell into a twisted heap at Ben's feet.

"There's your spy." He growled. "I was about to deal with the traitor until that blasted Pryde stepped in and put a stop to it. He's lucky I didn't behead him as well."

"You can't just go around beheading my officers on a whim, Vicrul." Ben scowled as he reached down and grabbed the back of Hux's tunic and pulled him back onto his feet. Immediately Hux began to pour scorn on Vicrul's accusations, feeling emboldened now that he could hide behind the knights' leader. Ben soon got weary of Hux's whining and used the force to freeze him into silence. He returned his attention back to Vicrul, his stern gaze encompassing the other knights standing behind him. "I gave you strict orders to search the outer rims for the scavenger. Why are you still here?"

Vicrul wasn't intimidated in the slightest by Ben's imperious glare. "We had trouble with the engine systems on the Night Buzzard." He sneered. "We needed parts. While the others were busy fixing her up, I thought I would amuse myself by carrying out the rest of your orders…finding the spy."

"And what proof do you have?" Ben demanded arrogantly as he levelled his gaze at Vicrul.

"I caught him in the midst of transmitting a message to the blasted Resistance using a hidden code…." Vicrul paused as he took note of the slender black clad figure standing slightly to the right of Ben. Even beneath his forbidding helmet, it was obvious he was leering at Rey's obviously feminine form. "We heard you found yourself a new companion. Are you not going to introduce us, Kylo?" He said maliciously as he gleefully tried to provoke a reaction out of his leader for the sheer hell of it.

"Back off, Vicrul." Ben's tone was heavy with threat.

"We have a right to know who she is!" Ushar demanded as he backed up Vicrul. He had a reputation for forcing his prisoners to grovel for mercy. He would take his time with the victims who whimpered for help, believing they deserved a slow punishment. While those who fought back earned his respect, Ushar would kill them all the same, but faster as they had earned a swifter death in his view. "We heard the rumours. You can't expect us to allow just anyone to join our ranks. They need to prove themselves just like we all did."

"Can't she speak for herself?" Another knight, Trudgen, said lasciviously as he stepped toward Rey. Trudgen was a collector of trophies from fallen conquests. He incorporated said trophies into his existing armour, weapons and equipment, part of which included a fragment of death trooper armour. He showed this armour off to best effect now as if in a vain attempt to show his superiority over the newest recruit, who had thus far remained silent.

Before Ben could react, Rey did. Calling upon the Force she stopped the brute in his tracks, just like Ben had with Hux, she froze Trudgen mid-stride, putting an end to his posturing. Her actions provoked grudging laughter from the other knights.

Even Vicrul seemed amused. "Ah, I see you have some powers." He said. "But can you fight? Mmmm?" He pulled out his own weapon, but was immediately confronted by a raging Ben Solo. He found himself with a vibrating red crossguard saber aimed directly at his throat. The tip of the plasma blade burned his skin and he snarled in defiance. "I get it now, Ren. She's more than just a new recruit. You've finally taken on a mistress." He laughed darkly. "About time. No man can live like a monk forever. Not even the great Kylo Ren."

There was more guttural laughter from the other knights. "I bet he didn't find this one in the pleasure tents." Kuruk joked. He was the most solitary of the Knights. In addition to his role as the group's rifleman, he served as the pilot of the Night Buzzard.

"We'll back off for now." Vicrul conceded as he stepped back from Ben's angry blade. "But whatever she is to you. She still needs to prove herself to us." He said pointedly. "She needs to make a sacrifice."

That was the breaking point of Ben's patience. In that moment, he was blinded by a five-course serving of rage that tasted bitter, yet surprisingly satisfying. He reached out with the Force, drawing Vicrul toward him and grabbed him around the neck. "Do not forget who your master is." He threatened with cold formality.

"Ben. Stop!" Rey called to him telepathically as she felt his rage in her defence beginning to consume him. "You don't need to protect me. I can protect myself. Let him go!"

Her desperate plea snapped Ben back into the moment. He released Vicrul, who retreated, muttering curses under his breath as he rubbed his throat, his hostility at being shown up in front of the others obvious in his demeanour. "You had your orders. Now get your ship fixed and carry them out before I really lose my patience." Ben said icily.

At the same time Rey released Trudgen. Only Hux remained in his frozen state, his eyes wide and staring. The knights trudged off to do Ben's bidding, their resentment simmering just below the surface.

"That was close." Rey breathed a sigh of relief. "Are they always like that?"

"Worse." Ben replied wearily. "I'm sorry you had to see that, hear that. Rey…"

"I know." Rey said in understanding when words failed him.

"Now I have to deal with him." Ben's irritated gaze slid to Hux. "You guessed he was the spy all along. It seems his hatred toward me trumped his cowardice." He finished bitterly. "What am I supposed to do with him now? Showcasing him front of the council will create a spectacle we don't need right now."

"I have an idea." Rey answered calmly. "If Hux is so determined to work with the Resistance then let's send him to them. I suspect that would be his worst nightmare. And I know just the person who can take charge of him. Can you get me a secure line from your quarters?"

"Did I ever tell you that I'm the Supreme Leader of the First Order?" Ben did little to hide his sarcasm as he released Hux from his frozen state and dragged the panic-stricken General along with him as he followed Rey back into his quarters.

"Hilarious, said no one ever." Rey countered as she and Ben continued to bicker telepathically as the doors sealed shut behind them.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review if you have the time.