"I hardly think she is ready, Supreme Leader."

"She not only has shown competence as a commander, but she has been able to take care of herself."

"Cutting off her hand was not taking care of herself!"

"She saw a weakness and took care of it."

"Is that what you're calling it!? She lost a fight and-"

"And was lucky it was me on the other end of the fight. If she had been fighting anyone else, they would have used that weakness against her. She saw that."

"She. Cut. Her. Hand. Off. Ren."

"And now has a prosthetic that is twenty times stronger than her organic one was. There is absolutely no way she would have been able to go to the field with that kind of deficit, especially not with being mostly untrained with the force."

"She doesn't need the force.She is more than competent with a blaster and leading troops."

"So, which is it, Hux? Is she competent or not?"

"I never said she isn't competent, Ren. I said that-"

"You said she isn't ready. The only reason she wouldn't be ready is her not being competent. Unless you have another reason as to why she should stay here within your grasp."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"It sounds to me like you don't want her to go for personal reasons."

Hux's face turned purple as he glared at Kylo. I was standing behind them perfectly quiet as Snoke's hologram looked down at the bickering men.

"Do you have any concerns about her leadership, General Hux?"

Hux whipped his head towards Snoke almost as if he had forgotten he was listening.

"No, Supreme Leader. She has shown efficiency as a leader."

"Do you question her character?"

"Absolutely not."

"My apprentice, do you feel she is strong enough?"

"I do, Master."

"You believe she will do what the mission calls, even killing?"

"Yes, Master."

He turned he gaze to me and leaned forward.

"Commander Aurora."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"Do you feel as if you are ready to leave General Hux's side?"

"I feel ready to fulfill my duties to the First Order, Supreme Leader."

"Even if it is to kill Resistance scum?"

"Won't be the first ones, Supreme Leader."

He cackled and sat back.

"That is very true, child. I do agree that your actions of late have shown a certain degree of strength and devotion to myself and the First Order. Your hand was beyond repair. Lieutenant Bael was a traitor and not devoted to anything but her own person gains. I think your weakness right now is your lack of force training, though you are strong."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kylo bite back a smirk.

"Aurora will go on the extended missions with my apprentice. General Hux, prepare the materials for her to study and Kylo Ren will brief her on the command shuttle. It's a long enough trip for her to read through it all."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"That is all, General."

Hux hesitated but turned and left the room. Snoke watched him leave and turned back to me.

"It seems as if you are clouding his judgment, Aurora."

"That was never my intention."

He chuckled and shifted to the side, acting more casual.

"I know this, child. You just seem to be able to draw those in around you. Could be part of your force abilities. That is something we will delve into later. For now, you will put the skills General Hux has taught you into use as a field commander. On top of that, my apprentice will resume force training with you. It isn't the top priority, but you will have time to home in your skills."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"Do not disappoint me, Aurora."

"I won't, Supreme Leader."

"Good. I admit that I was skeptical when you pledged your loyalty to me. You have not let me down."

The transmission cut and Kylo turned to me.

"Hux will want to remind you you're under his thumb, but as soon as he is done whining report to the command shuttle. We don't have much time before we must leave."

I nodded at him and let out a sigh as he walked past me. I heard his footsteps halt, so I turned to look at him.

"Don't let him convince you that you aren't ready. You are."

"He's going to be furious I didn't ask to not go."

"Snoke would have killed you and you know it. The moment you aren't useful, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"Good. Now go listen to him whine. I'm sure I'll hear it through the ship as he throws his temper tantrum."

"Kylo?"

He hummed.

"Do you really think I'm ready or do you want me away from him."

"They go hand in hand, Aurora. Fixing your hand and killing the bimbo were both wise decisions. Hux just doesn't like them because he wants you to bend to his will with no questions."

"I have a bad feeling about this mission."

He looked at me but gave nothing away.

"That's part of the force, Aurora. Just don't let it consume you. There have been those who have lost everything because they couldn't see the truth past their fears. Don't make the same mistake."

"You are not ready to be out on mission."

"It wasn't my call, sir."

"You should have told him you aren't ready."

"Sir I-"

"You made me look like a fool."

"I didn't mean to-"

"Silence!"

He slammed his hands down on his desk making me jump.

"Your obedience is to me."

"Sir, my obedience is to the First Order. I pledged myself to Supreme Leader Snoke and the First Order."

"I am the First Order! I run everything! You think he runs all of this on his own!?"

"Sir, I know you are in charge of a lot of things. I just.. I pledged my loyalty to him. I am alive because of him. I have been training with you and am incredibly grateful for everything you have taught me, but I will not lie to him."

He stormed over to me and grabbed my chin roughly. He was absolutely furious with me.

"What did I tell you last night."

"That you always get what you want."

He gripped tighter and grit his teeth.

"It seems as if you've already forgotten that, girl."

"Girl? Am I back on that damn table? Snoke is our Supreme Leader. He is the once in charge. I will not lie to him for any-"

He let go of my chin and immediately backhanded me. It split the inside of my cheek, filling my mouth with a copper taste. I took a step back and glared at him.

"Watch your mouth, Aurora. I am still your general."

"Ren was afraid I might teach you more than what the back of my hand tastes like."

"What?"

"That's what you said to me the first time I went to your chambers after I was taken from Kylo. It was when you told me you aren't cruel to those you command because it shows a lack of control."

"I don't-"

"You're no different, Hux. You may not destroy equipment when you don't get your way but you're all the same."

He went to grab me again, but I turned out of his grasp. My mouth hurt but his words were ringing in my head. Having cuts and bruises aren't a weakness, showing they pain you are. I continued out of the door and head to the command shuttle. I could feel him reaching out for me, angry, through our bond. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to feel him. I wanted to go on mission and forget that he even existed for a while.

So I did. I shut off our bond forcefully even though it hurt. When I got to the shuttle Kylo looked at my face that I was sure showed at least a red mark.

"Are you ready?"

"Let's go. I want to get off this ship."

He nodded and motioned for the pilot to head out. Part of me wanted to reach out and feel if Hux was still angry but I kept it shut and locked away. I didn't ever want to let someone treat me like that again. Kylo was right. I was ready.

After the briefing I sat in my room and worked on the inside of my cheek. He had smacked me harder than I had anticipated. I grabbed some medical supplies and winced at how gross the oral bacta gel tasted. I didn't mind so much that it was there, but I knew I would keep messing with it if it hurt.

"I do have to say I'm surprised he actually struck you."

"Not the first time I've been hit. I'll survive."

"He's still breathing?"

I glared at Kylo and tossed the medical supplies on my desk.

"He didn't like the fact that I brought up I pledged my loyalty to Snoke, not him."

"He does believe deep down the entire First Order would fall apart without him."

"He's just as expendable as we are."

He laughed and nodded, crossing his arms.

"Try telling him that."

"He will learn when Snoke rips his throat out."

Kylo tiled his head to get a better look at my face.

"What are you looking at?"

"Just seeing if your eyes change when the darkness hits you that hard."

"Shut up."

"They don't the way I thought they would, in case you were wondering. They get this dark vibrant rim around the edges."

"I don't care."

He shrugged and sat down across from me, his long legs taking up most of the floor. Sometimes it was easy to forget that he was human.

"Do you ever think of our time at the temple?"

"The past doesn't matter."

"I don't think of it as a good time. However, I sometimes think of things we would do. Like little snippets from a movie that I can't put together."

"I guess that's inevitable. What made it spark now?"

"Your long ass legs. I always envied being able to just power myself forward like that. There was never any getting away from you. It's like you were completely created just to be powerful."

"Snoke believes that those who are force sensitive are more superior."

"I can see him thinking that. Though he would be happy to destroy anyone on the light side."

"Not true. The light has a purpose. Disobedience does not."

I hummed and he chuckled. My data pad started pinging with Hux sending a slew of messages. I tossed it away from me and scowled.

"You could tell Snoke you would prefer to be his apprentice."

"I pledged myself to him in whatever way it took."

"Showing him that you show loyalty is going to put you even more in his favor."

"You just want him to see Hux throw a temper tantrum."

"I want Snoke to see him for the dog he is. Mangey mutt. He rides the coattails of his father and acts like the only reason he is a sociopath is because he was beat."

"You don't buy it?"

"Not at all. He gets off on hurting and control. He may have gotten his first taste from his father, but he has made the choice to push further with it. Control and conquer. He treats everyone poorly in a sad attempt to try to mask his insecurities."

"Look at you analyzing him."

"Know thy enemy, right?"

"You work with him, yet you see him as an enemy?"

"Everyone is an enemy under the right circumstances."

"And what of me? Am I your enemy?"

"Right now? No. Though you have been, and I do think that you could be if given the right opportunities."

"Isn't it lonely not trusting anyone?"

"You tell me. Is there anyone you trust?"

I considered what he was saying.

"You're right. I trust no one but myself."

"You've learned more than I expected you to."

"I'd like to say I have had good teachers, but your ego is already big enough."

He chuckled and pulled his knees closer, learning forward on them.

"My future isn't dead, you know. The one I saw before."

"My future lies with Snoke. Whatever he wishes is what will happen."

He nodded and stood right before the shuttle started to shift.

"I thought this was a long trip?"

"We're making a stop first. Not part of Hux's mission but something Snoke wanted us to do."

He tossed me a set of dark clothes.

"These look like your knights clothes."

"They're much smaller but yes. You will be with me and disguised. I need another force user."

"What about your knights?"

"They aren't what I need."

He walked out of the room leaving me alone to dress. The clothes were exactly like his knights. I slipped them on and pulled the hood up, tucking my hair in. I walked to the back door and he handed me a half mask. It covered everything from my eyes down.

"Put it on. It will shield your voice, recognizable face structure and filter the air if needed."

"My eyes are very blue."

"You aren't the only person in the galaxy with blue eyes, Aurora. Let's go or else we're going to be dealing with Hux whining."

I slipped the mask on and followed Kylo out. I imagined that I looked like a smaller, much less intimidating version of Kylo. Wherever it was that we were, no one seemed to pay much attention to us. I pat my side to ensure I had my blaster. If they weren't thrown off by a force user like Kylo they weren't the kind of people that could be trusted.

We walked through a few small towns until we reached what looked like the mecca for trade. I walked to his right as we came up to a dark building.

"Stay close to me and be silent."

I nodded and we walked through a thick curtain being used as a door. Even through the mask the shop smelled musty. The shop keeper was slimy and gave off a horrible vibe. We walked directly to him and he faked enthusiasm when he saw Kylo.

"Lord Ren! I have been expecting you! Your Supreme Leader sent word to hold a few items for you."

He looked at me and his smile fell.

"I wasn't aware that you took on an apprentice. And a female at that."

"She is of no concern to you."

"Of course! Of course. Follow me."

We followed him into an even darker part of the shop. I could feel the power coming from some of the items he had stashed away back there.

"I'm not sure why you need this broken thing. Kenobi cut it in half and broke it long ago."

"Don't worry about what you think."

We stood in front of a fractured sabre staff.

"It has been missing for years but I was able to find all of it! I always keep an eye out for things like this for Snoke."

"Do you have the other stuff as well?"

"Ah, yes."

He set a box down in front of us. It almost looked like a smaller jewelry box that I had in the temple that I used to hold my hair pieces.

"Leave."

The man gawked at Kylo for a moment before scrambling out. Kylo opened the box and took a step back. I stepped forward but was more focused on the sabre.

"This belonged to someone very powerful."

"Take off your glove and touch it. Tell me what you feel."

I slipped off my left glove and gently placed my palm on the staff. I didn't get images but I was hit by immense power and pain.

"Whoever owned this killed a lot. They were powerful and graceful. It's a little crude in the fact that it can't be split apart."

"It's very old."

I nodded picked up both pieces, inspecting where it had been split.

"This could be repaired. The set up is awkward but simple."

"How would you have constructed one?"

I set it down and turned to look at him.

"You know I haven't made one, but I would want two crystals. That way it could be independent of the other side. Either set it up to be split or not be left with one blade if it gets split."

"Wise. Look in the box."

I stepped forward and saw a handful of crystals.

"I thought the mines were destroyed?"

"They were. They still exist though. Snoke is very powerful and very wealthy."

"Do all of your knights have sabres?"

"Yes. Snoke wants you to make your own eventually. For now you will fix the broken one and use that."

"Who made it?"

"Darth Maul."

"It will be an honor to have his. Though I doubt I will ever be that cruel, he was a determined powerful user."

"Yes."

I picked up the two pieces. I clipped one to my belt and the other I wrapped in my bag. Kylo handed me the box and I added that to the broken piece.

"Snoke doesn't want Hux to know about this?"

"No. There is much that he has planned for you that Hux has no idea about. We need to get back to the ship and get that repaired."

"Will I be able to carry it in my commanders' uniform?"

"We will find a way to hide it though the outfit you have on now would make it easier to wear. Are you second guessing being a Commander?"

I ghosted my fingers over the sabre clipped to my side. It had so much power that was impossible to ignore. As much as I still wanted to make Hux happy regardless of how he treated me, the power felt like home. I didn't say anything but looked back up at Kylo. He nodded in understanding and we left. Snoke knew that part of me getting that sabre would make me question what Hux wanted for me. He knew that I could possibly make the decision that I no longer wanted to deny the force. He was testing me and it was working.