A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!
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They gave the trainees plenty of time to get used to the new knowledge, making sure they knew they were free to ask questions of both the Knights and Kylo and Rey. Kylo wasn't asked anything but he figured the Knights had done a well-enough job. Rey told him the trainees had stoked her with questions after their meditation session the following day, mostly about how she'd gone from being Kylo's enemy to his Supreme Duchess.
It was on the third day after the revelation that Rey nudged him over the bond as meditation came to an end.
"They want to know what will happen next," she said.
"I'll be right there."
And so Kylo once more made his way to Building K. This time, however, he merely brought Phasma and Ember, the latter because she'd insisted at least one of the Knights needed to be present.
"Supreme Leader," the trainees greeted as he entered. "Commander Phasma, Knight Ember."
"At ease," he muttered at them. He summoned a cushion and sat himself down next to Rey. "I heard you wish to know what the next step will be?"
"Yes, sir," they answered.
"First, Rey and I will check whether or not you still have a connection with the Force. If so, it will be a matter of making you aware of its presence, strengthening your connection with it, and starting your training. Although, before you get too excited, a lot of meditation will precede any active application of the Force. The reason for this will be explained to each of you in person.
"If you're disconnected from the Force, I will need to reconnect you. I did this for all the Knights, except Quicksilver and Rogue, who both managed to maintain their connection despite their training."
He explained to them the process of the reconnection as they all looked at him with wide eyes. Some still had an edge of wariness or disbelief in their gaze. He figured only seeing it happen or being reintroduced to the Force themselves would drive it away. He didn't blame them for it.
"When will we be tested?" one of them asked. "Will it take long?"
"It doesn't take long at all. It merely requires us to make contact with your mind. As for when, whenever you're ready, really."
"Now?" the same trainee asked.
"His name?"
Kylo felt kind of guilty for not knowing the trainees' names yet.
"Arnout."
"We can do it now, if you want, Arnout," Kylo answered. "But there's no pressure."
"I want to know," Arnout answered.
"Come here then and we'll test you."
He summoned another cushion and placed it in front of Rey, who promptly gave him a questioning look.
"You check first and tell me what you think," he explained. "I'll double check after. Show me what you learned."
She gave him a gentle, mental jab before turning her attention to Arnout who was settling himself in front of her. The intensity with which the other trainees were looking at them was almost palpable.
"Will you see my memories?" Arnout asked.
"No," Rey answered. "And if that does accidentally happen, I will pull out. There's no need for me to see your memories."
Arnout nodded and Rey lifted her hand. "May I?" she asked.
"Yes."
"This is going to feel odd but try to stay relaxed. Don't fight it because that will hurt."
It only took a moment before Rey pulled away.
"I don't sense anything," she said.
Kylo shuffled closer and lifted his hand, waiting for Arnout's nod before touching his temple.
"You need to be reconnected," he said after he pulled back.
Arnout nodded again, looking slightly disappointed, before standing and resuming his place amongst the rest.
"Can you test me too?"
"Sonea," Rey offered.
"Of course," Kylo agreed.
Sonea came forward and gave Rey a curt nod before closing her eyes. Rey smiled with some amusement before touching Sonea's temple.
"It's still here," she said with wonder.
Kylo double checked and agreed. "You still have a connection with the Force," he said.
"I do?"
"Yes," he confirmed.
They ended up testing all the trainees as they all seemed either to want to know, or to get it over with. Only two, both from 6th grade, still had a connection with the Force.
They reiterated to the trainees that the decision whether or not to train in the Force was theirs and that they could think about it for as long as they wished. The answers of the ones still connected came the next morning, the others followed in the course of the following days.
As they waited for them to make their decision — although Rey told Kylo multiple times she was certain they would all choose to be trained — their days followed the usual pattern. Rey was becoming increasingly familiar with the inner workings of the First Order and more often than not muttered about how unnecessarily complicated it was. Her continued 'this is inane' was driving Derek up the wall, much to Kylo's amusement. He much agreed with Rey but simplifying the hierarchy wasn't something he could afford to spend time on. Not at that moment, anyway. Neither did he have a sure enough foothold to risk the upheaval it would cause.
It was during one of those mornings where Derek was trying his best to ignore Rey's mutterings that he swiped a report to Kylo's tablet that required his fingerprint to open. It didn't happen often and Kylo raised an eyebrow at Derek before scanning his finger.
"It's from the research team," Derek supplied.
"Research team?" Rey asked, clearly perking up. "What research team?"
"They report they've hit a dead end on the helmet project," Derek elaborated.
"Helmet project?" Rey asked.
"It was your idea, you know," Kylo teased.
He watched with amusement as Rey blinked at him in confusion before realisation hit. "The Force-blocking helmets?" she exclaimed, excitedly scrambling to her feet.
"Yes, that one," Kylo answered, turning his attention to his tablet. He read it through, skimming past all the apologies to find the reason for their dead end. "They've found a way to guide the necessary force field along a specific frame within the helmet but they're unable to prevent it from interfering with the surrounding electronics," he said after a while.
"Let me read," Rey demanded.
"Can you put it on her tablet as well?" Kylo asked Derek.
"She wouldn't be able to open it, sir."
"I'll open it for her."
"That won't work. Your fingerprint isn't supposed to be used on the same document in two different locations at once."
"Then how are you viewing it?" Kylo asked.
"As your head administrator, I have access to the documents myself," Derek answered without any self-import in his voice. To him, it was merely a fact.
Kylo gazed at him. "And Rey isn't registered?" he asked.
"It would go into the system for many eyes to see, sir," Derek answered.
"True," Kylo agreed, giving his tablet to Rey who was practically bouncing where she stood. "What if you register her as your assistant?"
"Even more people would see, sir, and they would wonder why an unknown administrator would suddenly become my assistant."
Kylo sighed with irritation. "Never mind then," he said. "It will have to wait." He looked up to see Rey frowning. "Is there something you don't understand?" he asked, hoping she knew he didn't mean to judge.
"They managed to recreate the necessary force field, right?" Rey asked.
"Yes."
"But they can't keep it from practically frying everything around it?"
"Yes, indeed."
"So, they need to find a way to isolate the force field?"
"They do. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
"Ben!" Rey protested.
"It's true."
"I- You- Ugh!"
Kylo chuckled. "Tell me what you're thinking about?"
Rey looked up from the tablet. "Remember when I realised Andrea and Natasha had figured out who I am?" she asked.
"How could I forget?" he teased.
She stuck out her tongue before continuing. "The student I was talking to at the time was working on force fields," she continued. "Mainly on how to separate them. I don't know if he was in his last year or not though. Nor when they are supposed to graduate." She looked back down at the tablet. "Also, the energy consumption of this thing is wasteful. Even I know how to do it better than that."
Kylo laughed. "Are you looking down on our research team?" he asked.
"That would be rude," Rey muttered, going through the diagrams. "Maybe they simply need it pointed out to them."
He laughed again, louder this time, and Rey glanced at him.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he answered, shaking his head. "Do you think a student could help them?"
"He hadn't perfected his idea yet but maybe the research team can still apply it. They've hit a dead end so anything could help, I guess."
"True," Kylo agreed. "Do you remember the student's name?"
Rey tilted her head in thought. "No," she said with regret after a moment. "I don't. But surely Andrea would remember?"
Kylo turned to Derek. "See if they can figure out who it was. If it's his final project, he can finish it with the research team; if not, discuss with Andrea and Natasha how to proceed. We don't want to take his work away from him without credit." He thought for a moment. "There's still plenty of room in Building K, no?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Move the research team here so Rey can have a look at the helmet as well."
"Can they be trusted?" Rey asked.
"They work on a research project of the highest clearance level. I don't see why they should not be trusted with other secrets as well."
Rey shrugged and returned to the schematics. "Ooh," she said. "So that's how the communication is controlled."
Kylo shook his head and eyed Derek.
"I will get it done, sir," the man said.
"Get her the schematics of the other helmets we use as well, so she can compare. I get the feeling she's going to enjoy herself with this project."
"I will," Rey muttered, eyes glued to the tablet.
Kylo chuckled again. "Can I have my tablet back?"
"No."
"Then how will I work?"
"Have it printed."
"Seriously, Rey?"
"This is mine now," she answered, playful.
Derek sighed and went to take Rey's tablet from where she'd left it in her pile of cushions. He jumped in surprise as Rey mindlessly summoned one of those cushions and she sat down right where she had been standing in front of Kylo's desk.
"Seriously?" Kylo asked again.
"Shush."
Kylo was still laughing as Derek offered him Rey's tablet.
"There should be no more secured documents," Derek said. "There should be no interference."
With a sigh, Kylo got back to work.
Later that afternoon, he met up with Hux in Building K to discuss the architect's request to turn one of the rooms into a temporary office and to discuss the housing and lab for the research team.
Hux had mostly returned to his usual self although there was something about his energy that seemed somewhat muted or blurred. Kylo couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was and he didn't comment on it. He figured it had something to do with his confrontation with Rey as he still avoided her like the plague. He had asked Ember about it though, and had earned himself a snapped 'he's fine' for his troubles. He figured it was best to leave it be.
They hashed out the particulars of having a research team in a facility not made for it and, at the same time, Kylo approved of the additions to the maintenance team Hux proposed. Satisfied, Kylo returned to the Main compound looking forward to dinner. He was only a few steps into the hangar when Flock appeared from a side door, rolling at top speed. The little droid spotted him, made a sharp turn and whizzed his way.
"Mr. Tall! Mr. Tall!" the droid all but screamed. "Save me!"
Kylo was about to ask what was going on when a stripe of fur launched itself into the hangar from that same side door, making an even sharper turn than Flock had, hind legs scrambling as momentum made them slide, and promptly set to chasing the little droid.
"Mr. Tall!" Flock exclaimed, high-pitched. "This droid apologises for everything it said. Save me!"
It squeaked as it took another sharp turn when Kylo made no move to pick it up, too confused as he was at the situation.
"Miss Shiny," it pleaded next, zooming towards Phasma.
Kylo could sense Rey coming closer at a speed that suggested she was running. Soon after, she rounded the corner by grabbing hold of the wall and using the momentum to make the turn.
"Millicent!" she yelled. "Leave Flock alone!"
"Mr. Tall!" Flock exclaimed again.
As the little droid zoomed past his legs, Kylo swooped down to pick it up and out of Millicent's reach. The cat jumped but missed. She eyed Kylo before sitting down and staring at Flock with the look of a predator determined to get its prey no matter how long it had to wait. Her tail flicked in irritation.
"Thank you, Mr. Tall," Flock exclaimed, faking panting. "This droid owes you its life. I will forever be in your service. I will run at your heels and insult your enemies. I will-"
"I thought you were my droid?" Rey said, having caught up.
"Mistress!" Flock said. "Mr. Tall saved me."
"So I see," Rey dryly answered. She nudged Kylo over their bond in greeting and thanks. "So you've decided to abandon me?" she added to Flock.
"I wouldn't dare."
"Did you not just pledge to forever be in my service?" Kylo asked, playing along.
"Uhm." Flock's wheel spun, useless with how Kylo was holding him. It then beeped a few unhealthy sounding beeps, called out a badly faked "error", and shut down.
"Oh no, you don't," Rey said, failing at holding back her grin and tapping Flock's head insistently with a finger.
Flock momentarily flurried back to life. "I am dead," it said, before promptly shutting down again.
