The next day, a second Knight was unchipped, a week after that, a third.

Protocols were put in place in preparation for the second Knight's reconnection, which would no doubt bring with it another power outage. The trainees were gathered and officially given the order to refrain from using the Force outside training halls or, in case of the now more experienced ones, their private rooms.

After they'd accepted the command, Kylo made them all sit and explained to them why. With Rey and Sahrsa by his side, he watched the horror on the trainees' faces as he told them about the chip and how they were planning on undoing the damage that had been done. All their eyes flickered to Sahrsa who nodded to them with a grim expression on her face.

"That's why I never saw you again, why we never saw any of you again after you'd finished your trial," Flora, one of the former seventh years said with a grim but also sad expression. "I'm happy they brought you back." She turned to Kylo and Rey, offering a bow. "Thank you for bringing her back."

Kylo figured they'd known each other while at Base Z. Maybe as sparring partners as no friends were made there. Still, something could be said about the resilience of the human need for bonding that the one who'd struggled most to let go of Base Z's indoctrination had continued to care enough to notice Sahrsa's disappearance.

He could see the determination settle in all the trainees' eyes though. He had had no doubt earlier that they would adhere to his order, but he was all the more certain now. They would not risk harming one of their own. It warmed Kylo from the inside out. He felt like he was creating a community where once there were only damaged Knights and trainees, and it felt right.

In the meantime, the research team was putting the final touches on their new helmet, listening to what extra information Rey had to offer. She told him it was very little as it was just a shield within a shield, but that the researchers were throwing her looks that grew more suspicious by the day. Kylo got the distinct impression that she was secretly enjoying their confusion, even though she would deny it when he asked her about it.

That was how, even before the second Knight was reconnected, Rey signaled him through their bond while he was working with Derek.

"They finished it."

"The helmet?"

"Yes. What do you want to do next?"

"Test it." Kylo grinned. "Show me your surroundings. I want to see their faces the first time you use the Force."

"You're not going to tell them first?"

"Oh, no. That's not nearly half as fun."

"You're evil."

"I can feel your glee, you know."

"Betrayal through our bond!"

Kylo chuckled and momentarily focussed back on his office. "I'll be with Rey for a while," he told Derek. "She's going to show them that she can use the Force."

"Oh Galaxy," Derek exclaimed. "Without you there?"

"Imagine their faces," Kylo said with another grin before returning to Rey. "Okay, I've informed Derek. Show me."

"Don't start walking around though. You'll bump into your desk."

"Get on with it," he answered her, not acknowledging that she had a good point and that he hadn't considered that at all.

Maybe he should have invited Phasma in but it was too late now. The research lab filled his field of view and he noticed how everybody was gathered around the new helmet.

"Should we send for the Supreme Leader?" one of the researchers asked.

"No need," Rey answered with a small, sly smile. "Let's start further testing."

"And how do you think to test it?" the team leader sneered.

Rey turned to him, that sly smile turning into something challenging and not entirely nice. Next to them, the helmet rose from the table. Surprised exclamations erupted from the researchers, some jumping away from the table and Rey. They were staring at either Rey or the helmet, wide-eyed. The team leader had gone ridiculously pale.

It was the most hilarious sight and Kylo was laughing so hard he lost his breath. He was vaguely aware of a door opening on his side of the bond and voices talking but he ignored it, assuming it was Phasma and Derek.

"I knew it!"

Both Kylo and Rey turned surprised eyes on Juan, who had clamped his hands across his mouth after his exclamation. Rey returned the helmet to rest on the table before raising an eyebrow.

"You knew?" she asked.

"Well, it was already suspicious when you came to the Academy. Our directors went from suspicious to almost reverent. They gave you the time and space to build a droid. It was obvious you were no ordinary guest.

"And then you were the one to recommend me for this project. This secret project to create a Force-isolation shield within a Trooper helmet. You had to be close to the Supreme Leader for that to happen. And then he said you knew what changes to make to the helmet. It would make sense if you were a Force user as well."

"Nicely deduced," Kylo said, honestly impressed. Then an idea struck him. "I'm coming over to kiss you."

"Ben!" Rey protested, unable to prevent a small jerk of her head in his direction as she did so.

"I'll be there in a moment. Stall for time," he said even while Rey started complimenting Juan for his observational skills.

He broke their connection and abruptly stood. "Apologies, Derek, I've got a woman to kiss and a research team to shock," was all he said before marching out of the office.

The only reaction he got from Derek was a resigned sigh. Phasma simply fell in step as he left.

"What are you telling them?" he asked Rey as he drew closer.

"Nothing much," she answered. "I simply agreed that I am, indeed, a Force user. I wouldn't want to ruin any of your fun. I'm testing if I can get the helmet to float if the shield is on."

"You're the best."

"I am, aren't I?"

Kylo huffed a laugh and breezed past the entrance of the researchers' section. He shook himself as he arrived, straightening his posture and forcing his face into something more neutral.

"Go have your fun, sir," Phasma said.

He grinned at her, pulled his face into something neutral yet again, and walked in. Startled greetings were heard all around but he ignored them. Rey merely turned to look at him. He could see she was fighting against the urge to roll her eyes. He smiled at her, wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her in, tilted her chin with his free hand, and gave her a kiss.

Shocked silence descended on the group. Then, Juan started laughing.

"Oh, no wonder," he hiccuped. "Do Directors Andrea and Natasha know? I bet they do. Oh, this is better than any holodrama I've ever seen."

"You're quite confident," Kylo told him, Rey still leaning against his side.

"Apologies, Supreme Leader," Juan managed to say. "But, really, talk about a plot twist."

Rey chuckled lightly and Kylo allowed it to pass. He couldn't begrudge Juan his amusement as he had great fun with the other researchers' shocked expressions. Where the team leader earlier looked pale, he now looked like a ghost that had been given a fright. The others were staring at them in various states of disbelief.

"Everyone," Kylo said. "Meet your Supreme Duchess. If this news leaks outside of this Base, you are all dead."

"Silent as the grave, Supreme Leader," Juan said with a greeting. "I promise."

Kylo bit the inside of his cheek in order to prevent from bursting out into laughter.

"Juan," Rey admonished, clearly fighting her own laugh as well.

"Right," he said, properly greeting now. "I accept the order of secrecy, sir," he said in an official tone. "What should I start calling you now?" he added to Rey.

"Miss Rey," she answered. "That doesn't change."

Juan simply nodded in acceptance.

"And you all?" Kylo asked the others who were still staring at them, stunned.

"I swear secrecy," one of them answered, snapping out of their daze. The others quickly followed.

"And you?" Kylo asked with a look at the team leader, who was still trying to process what he was seeing.

"She's…your woman?" he asked.

"Isn't that exactly what you've been saying?" one of the other team members sneered at him.

Rey looked up at Kylo, clearly uncomprehending.

"He probably thought you were my, uhm, woman of comfort," he answered her, trying hard not to blush in the midst of all the researchers.

"Excuse me?" Rey roared, turning on the team leader.

By the look on his face, he saw his life flash before his eyes right in that moment. Rey advanced on him, eyes narrowed and fierce.

"Is that what you've been thinking of me this entire time?" she asked, voice dangerously calm after her outburst. "That I would sell my body? For what exactly?"

"It- It was a logical conclusion," the man stuttered.

Rey slammed him against the far wall with the Force. Kylo thought it a magnificent sight.

"I did not sell my body when I was starving; I will for sure not sell it to join some research project led by a measly worm like you," she exclaimed.

"No," the man said, rising to the challenge. "But you sure are comfortable under our Supreme Leader."

Some of the research members actually flinched at the words. One sighed, the 'you idiot' written clear on their face. Juan looked furious.

More importantly though was the rising tide of Rey's fury. The team leader was scratching at his neck, his breathing laboured.

Despite knowing it might be a wrong move given the context, Kylo still stepped up to stand behind Rey, curling an arm around her waist and pulling her against his chest.

"Rey," he said softly, smiling a cold smile at the team leader. "Don't kill him."

The team leader abruptly sunk to the floor. "Thank you, Supreme Leader," he managed between coughs. "Thank you for sparing my life."

"It would be too kind," Kylo continued to Rey. "And I don't want blood on your hands." He pressed a kiss on the top of her head. "Check your breathing, Sandcat. Keep your balance."

Someone in the background snorted. It sounded like an agreement so Kylo ignored it.

"I don't think it needs specifying, but you're fired," Kylo said. "I will have to think about what to do with you. You know too much." He turned his head slightly towards the door. "Phasma," he called out.

The door immediately slid open. "Yes, sir?" Phasma asked.

"Contain him," he said with a nod to the team leader. "Away from any technology that might allow him to communicate."

"Yes, sir."

She walked up to where the team leader was still crouching on the floor and pulled him up by his upper arm.

"He insinuated Rey is my comfort woman," Kylo added.

Phasma's grip on the team leader's upper arm tightened enough to elicit a pained yelp. "I see," she said darkly, side-eying the man. "Come along," she added, roughly dragging him through the room.

"Are you okay?" he asked Rey.

"How could he think that?" she asked in return, sounding troubled.

"It does happen within the First Order, I'm afraid," Kylo answered. "Women staying with men who have high ranks so they would have a better life or so they could get promoted."

Rey sighed. "That happened at Jakku as well," she allowed. "Still, for him to simply assume… Without any form of proof."

"He's gone now," Kylo reassured. "I doubt any of the others shared his view, given how they've been reacting."

That seemed to pull Rey back to their present surroundings. "They're all staring at us."

"We have been standing here, all silent," Kylo agreed with some mirth.

Rey rolled her eyes and stepped away from him. Kylo let her.

"So, who will be the new team leader?" he asked the assembled researchers as if nothing much had happened at all.

Almost as one, they all looked at Juan, who promptly started stuttering. "Me?" he protested. "I've not even graduated yet!"

"You have the most in-depth knowledge of this project," one of the researchers said with a shrug. "I don't see why you shouldn't take credit."

The others easily agreed with the assessment.

"Has anybody else ever led a research group?" Kylo asked.

One raised their hand. "A rather unimportant research, but yes, I have."

"Help him with the administrative part of it," Kylo said.

"Now that that's sorted," Rey added, moving to the helmet with a gleam in her eyes. "Can we start testing?"