Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Lucasfilm/Disney
Author's Notes:
DanGuy96 - Hello, again! I know it feels a little soon to update this, but since a couple of the chapters Dttf and I have written are admittedly already finished, with them just needing a few touch-ups before they're ready to be uploaded.
To answer a question some have probably asked, why did I change the plot device BB-8 is carrying from a map to Luke to something akin to the plans to the Death Star, to being info on Starkiller Base? On the one hand, yes, this continues the trend of making this feel a bit more like A New Hope than TFA already was. However, I wanted to give Starkiller Base more of a presence and be seen as genuine looming threat our heroes need to take action against, rather than something that's introduced in the middle of the story with not much foreshadowing. And, like Lor San Tekka said in the previous chapter, the chip BB-8 is carrying has more than just schematics for Starkiller Base, as it also contains info which could blow the whistle on the secret alliance between the Confederation and the First Order, as well as other confidential state secrets of the First Order. I also plan to have the stolen data play a big role later down the line, so keep an eye out for that.
As for Luke, since the Jedi Order is still standing, he obviously isn't missing. However, there's still reasons for why he's all the way on Ach-To, and we'll learn about them later, along with just why he was given visions of certain characters we'll get to learn more about in this trilogy, and why he sent Jacen and Jaina Solo to locate them.
With that out of the way, let's get on with the show, as we find Poe Dameron being taken in to be interrogated by the Knights of Ren.
Chapter 2- Set Upon the Dark Path
Ray shields hummed as each transport entered the hangar bay. One by one, they landed, their holds opening to release their occupants. Stormtroopers marched to their armories in neat lines that they'd practiced since their birth. Only one trooper remained behind, standing alone in the dark confines of the hold. FN-2187 huddled in the corner of the craft and ripped off his helmet. Beads of sweat dotted his dark brow as he was finally able to breathe again. He spun his helmet around to see that it was pockmarked by dirt and carbon scoring. And blood.
With a soft groan, FN-2187 began to scrub at the faceplate with his palm. He thought he was making some progress when a noise from behind made him jump. Quickly, he turned to see who had interrupted him. Captain Phasma stood there, an unmoving statue of chrome. 'Oh no. Not her…' "That is not your task, FN-2187," she said slowly. "If your armor needs cleaning, you will report to the armory." 'Out of all the people to show up,' thought FN-2187. Standing up straight, he stepped to attention and controlled his breathing. "My apologies, ma'am. I'll report now." Before he could move, Phasma stepped forward, blocking his retreat.
She reached out, snatching the blaster rifle from his hands. Turning it over, she gave a quick scoff, ejecting the unspent power pack. "You were given a direct order, trooper. Why hasn't this weapon been fired?" she inquired harshly. FN-2187 couldn't quite answer. While he was struggling with a response, Phasma stepped even closer. FN-2187 thought he could feel the heat of her breath through the grille of her helmet. "Pity and remorse are not the hallmarks that have made the First Order the rising power in the UGC," she said. "If we are not unwavering in eliminating any and every seditious threat to our authority, then they will fester." Finally she stood up straight, taking a step back from FN-2187. "You will report to reconditioning so that you relearn the importance of values like 'efficiency' and 'vigilance'." With that, the captain shoved the blaster into FN-2187's chest and departed the craft.
His face burning with embarrassment, the stormtrooper pulled his helmet over his head and stepped from the transport. Outside, it was the organized chaos that one would expect of a hangar bay. Troopers and technicians walked back and forth, but they all made a point to avoid the command shuttle as much as they could. With a sigh, FN-2187 began his way to the armory, fighting the weak feeling in his legs. Phasma was sure to keep her eyes on him for the next few months, waiting for a mistake. 'Reconditioning shouldn't take long. After that, I can go to bed and forget about today.' FN-2187 stopped short when the doors on the next transport opened with a hiss. He could see the Republic spy being shoved from the troop bay as he squinted his eyes from the sudden light.
Poe could only observe the hangar facility in stunned silence. With his hands bound and stormtroopers flanking each of his sides, he couldn't exactly escape. He stared at the facilities with muted dismay. He'd been on UGC Star Destroyers before, during infiltration missions. They were staffed with bored soldiers and outfitted with standard facilities. The First Order had retrofitted the Finalizer with a greatly expanded fighter complement and staffed it with the most fanatical troopers he'd ever seen. Flight coordination facilities were located in an interior tower within the hangar itself. He'd heard stories of fighters losing the initiative after the bridges of their Star Destroyers were destroyed. With a secondary command deck, they'd eliminated that failure. Poe was sure that the outer hull was bristling with more turbolaser cannons and missile batteries than the standard Star Destroyer, too.
Across the deck, the command shuttle finally opened its doors. Kylo and Zayla Ren departed first, their cloaks fluttering in the shuttle's downdraft. As the fog settled, a pair of stormtroopers dragged Lor San Tekka away. Poe moved forward, ready to yell at the troopers, before Zayla stepped in his way. "Don't be a hero, flyboy," she said cooly. She looked back at Kylo Ren, acknowledging him with a curt nod. At that, he departed for the interrogation rooms ready to begin his work. Zayla sat on a cargo crate, her long legs crossed and her chin resting on her hand. "So, commander," she began. "Care to wonder what we'll do to you next?" Poe shrugged, chuckling. "Hell, you and the big guy can go jump in a sarlacc pit for all I care." The response elicited laughter from the Knight of Ren. The sound, filtered through her helmet, was warped and metallic. It sounded cruel.
Zayla stood up, arms crossed. "The Confederation was thoughtful enough to outfit this ship with its own interrogation suite. There, you'll tell us where the stolen information is." Poe sighed, fixing Zayla with an unimpressed look. "It's our own personal cell block, too," she continued. "No droids or injections. No shock prods, either. Just you, me, Kylo, and the truth." With that, she snapped her fingers. The stormtroopers seized the captive pilot and dragged him towards a hallway. He'd been questioned before, but torture was a first. He'd heard Leia recount her interrogation at the hands of Darth Vader. He wondered, for a moment, how he'd handle the ordeal that was to come. He wasn't looking forward to explaining this during the debriefing.
Zayla watched the pilot's departure with an eager smile. But, a nagging feeling seized her, suddenly. An unmistakable disturbance in the Force. Looking around, she found a stormtrooper staring at her. FN-2187 watched the Knight of Ren as she flipped her cape over her shoulder and marched away. 'Now, Phasma and Zayla Ren will be watching out for me. Great.'
xXx
The Finalizer's bridge was busy with multiple technicians at their consoles. Officers spoke in muted conversations or with simple status reports. One officer was given a wide berth as he ordered a junior lieutenant to send a message to the Confederate capital world of Bastion. "Send word that we've apprehended spies, but the information is still at large," he said in hushed tones. "We require additional ships to establish a blockade." The man was tall and lanky. With pale skin, broad cheekbones, and dark eye circles, he looked sterile and unhealthy. Most personnel knew him by his coiffed ginger hair and his narrow eyes. Being the senior officer in charge of the operation, General Armitage Hux looked at Tatooine with undisguised contempt.
'What a waste of our time,' he thought. "Our fleet assets have been denied, sir," the comms officer said as she turned around." Additional ships would attract undue attention from the Republic." Hux leaned down to look at the screen, his eyes scanning the message. "That was quick. Ah... That explains it. Orders from Grand Admiral Prydus," he murmured quietly. "Damn." Heavy footsteps thumped through the bridge as Captain Phasma made her way over to Hux, issuing a crisp salute as she came to a halt. "Sir. The Knights of Ren have begun their interrogation of the Republic spies." Hux didn't look at the gargantuan woman. His eyes are still looking out at Tatooine, as if he stared hard enough, he could see the data chip on the planet's surface.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm sure that Supreme Leader Snoke's pet akk-hounds will uncover something." With that, Hux finally turned away from the planet to face Phasma. "Are there any notable settlements that the remaining spies could use to escape or hide?," he inquired. "Mos Espa, Mos Eisley, and Mos Ila have the most notable spaceports," she replied. She had remembered each and every detail of the planet. There was no room for footnotes with the severe woman. Every scrap of information was important to the mission. "Unless they have friends in the moisture farms, then they'll have to make their way to a spaceport."
Hux crossed his arms. "They don't have any friends here. They know if they stay, then it's only a matter of time before we find them." With that, he turned towards a gunnery officer. "Arm a volley of probe droid drops," he ordered. "Target the open desert in the Jundland Wastes. Near the village." The bridge became a hub of activity as stations came alive. "Captain Phasma. You'll be deploying your men near the spaceports. Attempt to blend in," he commanded. "We'll let you know the description of the remaining spy once the Knights of Ren uncover it." Phasma gave off another salute and departed. Hux turned back towards the planet, lost in the sound of the comms chatter around him.
xXx
Pain rippled through Poe Dameron's body. Dull and unending, it throbbed behind his eyes. Every joint in his body seemed to burn. With a wet cough, he fought to remain conscious. It took all of his effort to focus on the smirking woman in front of him. Zayla Ren had removed her helmet to reveal her eerily pale face. She was skinny with sunken cheeks and the remnants of small scars that were almost imperceptible in the dim light. Her lips were drawn and colorless as they split to reveal her teeth. White hair hung down to her shoulders and her eyes were wide with expectation. Any attractive features she might have had were muted by the Dark Side. Her face remained gleeful as she administered pain.
Poe's throat felt like sandpaper. He had been strong enough to resist Zayla's work so far, but at the back of his mind, he worried about Lor San Tekka. Poe was a trained soldier, but San Tekka was an old man. A former soldier and an adherent to the Force, but an old man nonetheless. He groaned, trying to get comfortable on the vertical table that he'd been strapped to. With a shuddering breath, Poe could finally see clearly.
"Sorry, hun," he grumbled at Zayla. "You're not my type." Zayla's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Don't worry, commander. The feeling is mutual." With that, she sat forward again, intent on forcing answers from him with pain. The room was dark and circular. The only light seemed to emanate from a fixture on the ceiling. It bathed the two in a cold, blue light. It illuminated Zayla's face with her terrible and self-assured smirk. Though he couldn't see him, Poe knew that Kylo Ren was there as well, stalking in the darkness. As Poe's eyes scanned the room for the other Knight of Ren, a quick zap of lightning struck the side of his temple.
Holding back a murderous slew of curses, Poe shook his head to remain lucid. "You know how to make this stop, commander," Zayla said in a sing-song tone. With his head lolling against his chest, Poe murmured something that was barely audible. "You'll have to speak up, Mr. Dameron," Zayla said impatiently as she leaned closer. With a cough, Poe repeated himself. "The Resistance will not be intimidated by thugs." Zayla's expectant expression dropped like a brick. "Oh please," she groaned as she sat back. "You can drop the act. We know that you're still a flight commander with the Galactic Republic who's been tasked to assist the... Resistance." She spit the word with audible disgust. "In any case, your allegiance is no longer a matter of consequence," she continued. "The information we sought wasn't in the village, the old man, you, or the wreckage of your fighter. And it didn't just disappear into thin air." Poe felt a pressure around his throat. It wasn't enough to choke him, but it did leave him lightheaded and filled with an instinctual panic.
"It doesn't have to be this way, Poe," Zayla said as she leaned close to his face. "A war is coming. It's just a matter of when. The First Order has the resolve to see it through." She set a small medical kit on the table next to her. "The Republic is weak and ineffectual. It won't survive. You know that. You don't have to die with it." Poe's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?" he bluntly inquired. "Well," she started, shuffling in her seat. "Your independent streak aside, you're an excellent pilot. Easily a match for entire squadrons of UGC or First Order fighters." She reached a hand out, running a finger along the starbird insignia that adorned the shoulder of his jacket. "The First Order can provide you with options that can put your skillset to better use," she said with a wide smile that almost seemed genuine. All of his fatigue and pain seemed to dissipate as Poe laughed out loud. His mocking hysterics filled the small chamber, bringing a scowl to Zayla's face as she stood tall. "You'll provide the information, commander. What happens afterward is entirely up to you. Poe's chortling subsided as he grinned at the Knight of Ren. "That's a pretty easy answer, schutta. No."
"This is a waste of time," said a voice in the darkness. It was quiet but sudden, coming from everywhere at once. A chill shot up Poe's spine. Quietly, a shadow moved towards him, stepping into the light. Until Kylo Ren had moved, Poe had thought he was a pillar in the side of the chamber. The Knight of Ren extended his hand, grinding Poe into the table with the Force. "Alright then, oh 'Dark Lord'," said Zayla, raising her hands in mock submission. "Let's see if you can't do better." With that, it was her turn to wait in the dark.
"You won't betray your Republic, but it won't survive what's coming," Kylo Ren said, his mask level with Poe's exhausted face. "You can still save your loved ones, commander," he continued. "They can live peacefully and happily under the protection of the First Order." Poe looked up at his wrist, shaking his arm, rattling the binder that kept him stuck to the table. "Peacefully," he chuckled, mirthlessly. "It's no lie, Dameron," Kylo Ren said. "The New Republic is little over thirty years old and it's mired in corruption and sedition. Trade disputes. Droids. It's all coming full circle. If the UGC or the First Order don't destroy it, it'll unravel on its own." Kylo Ren finally sat down, hands on his knees. "Maybe you can't save the Republic, but you can still save your family."
Poe gave off a shuddering sigh. With a cough, he leaned forward as much as was able to. "Well, Mr. Ren, I don't have much family. My dad would never forgive me if I betrayed everything that he fought for. So, I'll pass." Kylo Ren didn't react. He sat perfectly still for an almost uncomfortable amount of time. "Well, fathers do have certain expectations of their sons, don't they?" He stood up, reaching his hand out. "Last chance, commander."
"Like I said, the Resistance won't be int-," Poe began before he was cut off. Pressure assailed him once more. Slowly, it focused on a point behind his eyes. He could feel his heartbeat in his throat and it took all of his effort not to yell in pain. "I see what's in your mind," Kylo said as he did his work. "Love. There are many people you hold dear. Fellow pilots. Your friends. Your father... Leia Organa, too. You'd go to the ends of the galaxy to keep them safe. But... you've put your hopes in... a droid." Poe finally relented. The pain became white-hot as he let out a desperate scream of anguish. As consciousness failed him, his body went slack.
Zayla rushed forward, gripping the pilot's head to look at his unconscious face. "Good work, you stooge! When he wakes up, he'll be catatonic!" Kylo stood and hit a switch that illuminated the room. A pair of stormtroopers marched in, grabbing Poe's unconscious body. "His will is strong," Kylo said softly. "He'll recover." With Poe gone, Kylo and Zayla stood in silence. Zayla took a seat, crossing her legs and staring intently at her compatriot. Her low bangs shadowed her malicious eyes. "You hesitated again," she said smugly. Kylo turned around slowly. "I moved our mission forward. There was no hesitation."
Zayla stood up, sliding her helmet back into place on her head. "You were too accommodating to the old man. And you left before the village was dealt with." Together, the pair made their way into the halls of the Finalizer. Troopers moved from their path and officers stood at attention. Outside of the viewports, Tatooine was still visible, hanging as a beige orb. Kylo could make out the telltale signs of a sandstorm on the surface. "Our orders required that Lor San Tekka and any other persons of interest be captured alive," Kylo explained. "And do not assume that I enjoy your propensity for casual slaughter," he warned, turning around, jutting a finger in Zayla's face. "Don't use Master Snoke's will to hide your cowardice," Zayla growled in return. "Mercy hampered you. Mercy is a weakness and weakness is failure in Lord Snoke's eyes." The two continued down the solitary hallway, now alone. "Murdering our only leads would set Master Snoke's plans back by years. That doesn't sound like something that he would appreciate," Kylo said. "Exterminating the village was a mistake. The old man will never talk now."
Zayla stopped suddenly. "He was planning on staying quiet before," she said. "On top of capturing a spy, we wiped out a cell." She walked around to face Kylo Ren. "I don't offer my accolades easily," she said slyly. "You've improved. You're no stranger to the Dark Side anymore." Stepping back, she trotted off. "It'd be a shame if you lost your way now," she called back over her shoulder. "Someone else would have to assume leadership over the Knights of Ren." With that, she stepped into a turbolift.
Kylo Ren stood there, his hatred for the young woman burning in the air. His seething stopped, abruptly, when another figure made his appearance known. General Hux stood there, his eyebrows poised in expectation and annoyance. "Have you learned anything, Ren?", he inquired dryly. Kylo Ren faced the general, straightening his robes as he did so. "You'll be searching for an astromech droid, General." Hux lifted a small datapad, keying in new orders. "Will we be intercepting the local Jawa population?", he asked drolly. "The droid is a newer model from the Republic. A BB unit. White and orange," Kylo explained. "It shouldn't escape you again." Hux's head shot up from his datapad, his eyes filled with anger. "My men are second to none. Impeccably trained and efficient," he fumed. "I hope so, General," Kylo Ren said, stepping into a turbolift. "For your sake."
A/Ns:
DanGuy96 - And there we have it. Our take on the interrogation scene, only this time Zayla joins in on the "fun", and we get more of a taste of her personality, including her sadism. We also see her a bit of her rivalry with Kylo Ren, which will certainly be a big part of this trilogy going forward. And let just say that it was really fun for Dttf and I to write Zayla. We figured that if Kylo is gonna have an Azula-esque foil, she should be a character you love to hate with how petty she can be, as well as being one of the few people who can actually banter with Kylo without getting a scratch on her, though that's mostly due to them being teammates. Also, we finally get to see her described without her helmet. If you want to see her full appearance, I'll be uploading art done for this story several different artists on my own DeviantART, so be sure to check that out.
And speaking of rivals to Kylo Ren, we're finally reintroduced to General Armitage Hux. Personally, I really liked Hux's cold and harsh depiction in TFA, and hoped to see him continue to butt heads with Kylo in future installments, but then TLJ happened and made a character who really should not be that comedic into a punching bag. And then there's the mess we got in TRoS, where Allegiant General Pryde pretty much took over his role. Fortunately, Dttf and I wish to keep Hux at an appropriate level of menace and rerail his character to be more consistent throughout this trilogy, and while we may likely see a few childish spats not only between him and Kylo, but also him and Zayla, we'll try to downplay the comedic aspects of them. Plus, for those who have read and/or hear about Colin Trevorrow's version of Episode IX, "Duel of the Fates", I think you'll like the direction Dttf and I are going to take Hux's character.
As for the mention of this "Grand Admiral Prydus, he's another OC for this story, who you'll see soon, but I won't give away anything until he makes his debut.
On a different note, we get to see more of the start of FN-2187's journey of defection, as he has now gained the attention of not just Captain Phasma, but Zayla Ren as well, so he'd best be careful when trying to navigate out of this situation, especially since Zayla has noticed something particularly odd about this one stormtrooper.
Anyway, tune in next time as we rejoin BB-8 on his secret mission, as he runs into a friendly face who just may help him, but involved in something far bigger than she realizes.
Make sure to follow, favorite, and leave a review, if you can, and stay safe out there.