A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!

xXxXxXx

"Creative," Ember muttered.

"I've spent half my life in a Trooper hospital," Reor dryly said. He lifted his hand and rubbed a finger along Sahrsa's scar, then felt the area around it. "How long ago?" he asked.

"Sahrsa was the last to get chipped, a little under three months ago. I don't know about the others but if it was registered in the Base's database, we should be able to find it."

"And what do you expect me to do?" Reor suddenly asked, withdrawing his hand and turning narrowed eyes on Kylo.

"Get it out of them, of course," Kylo answered.

"Just like that?"

Kylo gave him a sharp, little smile. "Just like that."

"What if it isn't possible?"

"It should be."

"What if they end up dead?"

"I'd rather they not."

"What if I refuse?"

"Why would you refuse?"

They stared each other down for a long while until Rey let out an annoyed sigh.

"What do you need to make it work?" she asked.

Reor turned to look at her. "Who are you?"

"Rey."

"Everything in due time, Reor," Kylo added.

"There are too many variables to guarantee success," Reor said after a moment.

"Such as?" Kylo asked.

"The content of the chip, the size of it, the exact location within their brain, the scar tissue around it, whether the programming has lasting effects. That's what I can think of off the top of my head. There are many more factors that come into play with using chips." He turned to warily gaze at Kylo again. "What will my fate be if I fail?"

"Does it matter?"

"Ben!" Rey protested, earning her a confused look from Reor.

Kylo merely shrugged in response.

"It doesn't," Reor finally said, looking from one to the other with a frown.

"You won't be killed if you fail, if that's what you're asking," Rey said.

"I'm not sure if you can guarantee that, missy."

Phasma slammed her baton on the floor once, startling Reor. He threw her a look. "I see," he muttered, turning towards Kylo again to be met with a raised eyebrow.

"Prying where it isn't allowed, however, can have consequences," Kylo stated.

"I apologise, Supreme Leader," Reor said, bowing his head.

"You're playing with fire."

"I have very little to lose."

"The opportunity to undo the result of the research you left because you stood against it."

Reor nodded once, then moved to better examine Sahrsa's neck. The Knight hadn't so much as twitched the entire time.

"I need to know what the chip does first," Reor said. "It may have a failsafe against being extracted. I need equipment. Images to determine its position."

"We have the chip's source code," Kylo answered. "Some rudimentary images have been taken to determine whether the chip was there or not. Any equipment you need can be coordinated with Hux and Derek."

He ordered Sahrsa back to her place among the Base Knights and stood to face them. "Medic Reor is now responsible for your health," he commanded. "Within a med bay, you will follow his orders. His jurisdiction starts and ends within that med bay."

"Understood, Supreme Leader," the Knights all exclaimed.

Kylo waved them away and Quicksilver started ordering them out of the hall. Reor watched them go, his look clearly troubled.

"I really can't guarantee success," he said again. "I will try my best to righten this abomination but there's no guarantee that it is possible."

"We are aware," Rey said. "But we have to at least try."

"If we don't try, we fail them," Kylo added.

"Is the project still ongoing?" Reor asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," Kylo answered. "According to my administrator, it disappeared from the records, meaning it was probably one of Snoke's private projects. Either it was contained within Base Z, which means it has been eradicated, or it was situated somewhere else. In case of the latter, they were either finished, have disbanded when Snoke died, or are still experimenting without reporting back to me."

"Unless they're reporting to someone else," Reor said.

"Like who?" Rey asked.

"It wouldn't be the first project that lost its spearhead and turned private as a result."

Rey's eyes widened as she looked at Reor, then turned her gaze to Kylo.

"Shit," Kylo muttered, dragging his hand through his hair. "The little one," he said to Phasma after a moment's deliberation.

"Others will be included, sir," Phasma cautioned.

"It has to be risked. This technology should not exist at all, let alone there where it can't be controlled."

"I'll see to it, sir."

Rey's face had turned dark during the exchange and Kylo nudged her over their bond.

"Everything okay?"

"Maz again."

"She has the connections we need. If this went underground, we will never be able to find it."

"I know."

She didn't sound happy about it, on the contrary, but from her tone Kylo could sense she understood it was necessary. He still didn't like how it seemed to make her brood. He wanted to prod her a bit more but was distracted when Hux walked in.

"Good timing," Kylo absentmindedly said, still eyeing Rey. "Hux, if you could show Reor to his room and then convene with Derek so he can receive all the information we have concerning the chip."

"Yes, sir," Hux answered, beckoning Reor. They quickly disappeared through the door and Kylo sighed.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Nearly time for lunch, sir," Phasma promptly answered.

Kylo looked at Ember, who'd stayed silent apart from the comment about Reor's cursing. "What are you thinking?"

"I hope he can do it," Ember answered.

"So do I," Kylo answered.

"It's good that he sees the entire project as an abomination," Ember added. "That he doesn't see us as tools."

Blinking at her, Kylo realised that that was probably exactly how Snoke had treated them—as tools.

"None of you are tools," Kylo said with a shake of his head. "Come on, let's go have lunch and remind the others that Reor does not know about the Force yet but will be out and about in the building."

"When will you tell them?" Phasma asked.

"In a few days," Kylo said. "Probably together with the research team."

"You're going to tell that research team?" Ember exclaimed.

"It can't be avoided," Kylo answered. "Certainly not once we start reconnecting and training the trainees."

"Don't forget about Fu's request," Phasma added.

"What does he want?" Ember asked in a tone that much implied an eyeroll.

"You know he's been working with the Guard," Kylo answered.

"Yes. Some enhanced strategy or other."

Kylo looked at her. "We've developed a technique for them to fight Force Users."

Ember practically stumbled. "What?"

"I didn't tell you?"

"No!" she exclaimed.

Behind them, Phasma sniggered.

"Don't you dare laugh," Ember snapped, turning around.

"I wouldn't," Phasma dryly answered, tone perfectly even.

Ember turned to Rey, who had her lips pressed tightly together and quickly raised her hands to placate her. Kylo could clearly feel her amusement though the bond though.

"A technique to fight Force Users?" Ember questioned, turning to Kylo again.

"Yes. They realised that they wouldn't be able to fight any of you if you knew the Force."

"Rightfully so," Phasma said as they resumed walking.

"Indeed," Ember said. "It's only normal they wouldn't be able to fight us."

"Rightful to be worried," Phasma countered, tone cold. "You are a danger."

"I'm what?"

"If any of you Force Knights decided to turn, then yes, you would be a danger," Rey said.

That drew Ember up short. She nodded once. "Fair enough," she eventually allowed. "So that's what Fu's been doing?"

"With our help, yes," Kylo admitted. "They've gotten pretty good, to be honest."

"Wait, does that mean they've defeated you?"

"Certain combinations of them, yes. The others keep me on their toes."

"Combinations?"

"It's a group effort," Rey explained. "It's meant to confuse how you sense them through the Force. The stronger and more skilled the User, the more of the Guard are needed. To fight Ben they need the biggest formation they can use and it takes forever, but they've managed to one-up him a few times."

Kylo fought the blush at Rey's public praise.

"And you?" Ember asked.

"I'm improving," Rey dodged.

Kylo smiled. He knew it irked her that the Guard could defeat her with less people and in less time, no matter how Kylo kept reassuring her it was logical given that she hadn't trained using the Force like that before. Her grumpy 'again' every time she lost was most endearing.

Ember seemed to catch on because she didn't press. "So," she asked. "What's Fu's request?"

"To have the Guard train with the Force Knights," he answered. "They're getting used to fighting us two and our fighting styles are similar to begin with."

"Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?" Ember asked.

"We aren't literally guarding against you six," Rey countered. "What are you thinking?"

Ember huffed. "Just saying," she muttered. A moment later, she slowed down again, causing Kylo to throw her an inquiring look. "That special helmet for the Guard that the research team is making, is it Force related as well?"

"Ah, yes," Kylo said.

"If we ever get it to work, it will prevent mind control," Rey added.

"Even Quicksilver won't be able to disappear from them anymore," Kylo said with a grin.

"Oh, he's so going to hate that." Ember snickered at the thought.

"He's still using it?" Phasma asked, alerted.

"He doesn't like to be seen, Phasma," Ember answered. "What do you think?"

Phasma's displeasure rolled off of her in waves.

"It isn't any different from Shadow doing her thing, Phasma," Rey soothed. "And Quicksilver knows better than to try it on us. At least Ben and I would notice. He has never tried to hide whenever he walked past us."

"It's a breach in security," Phasma grumbled.

"So is Shadow," Rey countered. "And although her technique is less watertight than Quicksilver's, the helmets won't help against her."

"There's nothing to be done about it," Kylo said. "Other than keep researching those helmets."

Phasma stayed silent and Kylo knew she was brooding about the issue. He left her to it. They reached the mess hall soon after.

In the following days, Reor used the med bay's current equipment to take images of each Knight's chip, then ordered a bunch of different equipment for better imagery and to manage the actual surgery. He studied the code and requested Derek to find additional information in Base Z's copied database. Derek was starting to look a little frazzled around the edges due to the extra work but insisted he was fine and could handle it.

Reor also borrowed Quicksilver and Hux on multiple occasions to test some limits to the chip's programmation that none of them truly understood the significance of. An argument—or, rather, a one-sided discussion with an unmoving party as the opposition—erupted when Quicksilver refused to echo a few of Reor's requests that might have ended up in the Base Knight getting injured.

It led to another discussion between Reor, Kylo, Rey and Ember when Reor insisted he needed to know exactly how the Base Knights reacted, or failed to react, to pain. Eventually, although it rubbed Kylo the wrong way, they decided that some experiments could be done within limits. They would trust Quicksilver's assessment to decide whether or not Reor's request was acceptable.

In the meantime, Derek had received confirmation that the student had agreed to joining the research team as his final project. The research team itself was delayed for three more days. When Kylo asked about the reason, Derek gave him an empty look and simply stated 'bad planning on their part'. Kylo had the distinct feeling Derek was tempted to roll his eyes.

Before the research team arrived, one of the two trainees that were still connected to the Force tentatively came forward to ask if there was any indication when they would start training in the Force, clearly eager for it. After some deliberation, it was decided to start after both the research team and the Academy student had arrived and settled. The trainee had accepted it with a bow.

When the research team did eventually arrive, it was with a lot of fake deference and a lot of pomposity. When Kylo introduced Rey as 'Miss Rey' and told the research team that she would be following their progress, they all said flowery words of welcome while their disdain was clear in their eyes. It caused Kylo's blood to boil but Rey merely smiled at the researchers, her smile a bit on the sharp side. They didn't notice, the fools.

The upside to the researchers' inflated egos was that, for once, Rey agreed when Hux verbally bore one of them into the ground when he dared to complain about the rooms they were assigned. She also encouraged Flock to find especially nasty nicknames for them but to never go near them on his own, lest they dismantle him. Flock accepted the mission with excitement and promptly set to scanning the dictionaries in his database for appropriate, insulting nicknames.

Eventually, the team was settled and the Academy notified that they could send their student. Once more, Kylo and Rey found themselves in the hangar awaiting a ship.