Chapter Fourteen:

Addressing the higher echelons of the First Order's command, Hux has never felt more powerful. It is as he always wanted. He is the head now, he holds command. Kylo is either dead or dying. It doesn't matter. His word is law at last and there is no corner of the galaxy that he will allow to slip through his fingers.

"The Supreme Leader has defected, but we will be stronger without him. Our wrath will fall faster. Our might will be decisive. Under my leadership, the First Order will reign triumphant."

"And why should we defer to you?" One rat faced man asks, an admiral of the first class Hux has no care to remember the name of.

"Thank you for asking," Hux says demurely. He flexes his fingers as he has seen Kylo do so many times before. But this time, he is not the one left spluttering. And this time, he does not stop short of killing.

The useless admiral slumps dead over the table. Perhaps it is cliche to use death to warn off other naysayers, but Hux relishes the gulps of panic and squirms of unease the violence stirs in the group.

"I hope that is answer enough for you..."

"Yes, General Hux," the surviving members of the high council stammer.

"It is Supreme Leader now," Hux says.

"Yes, Supreme Leader," they correct themselves.

Hux swells in their capitulation. Deep within a voice whispers, "... a new era begins ..."

#

Poe paces, an agitated back and forth before the caves. Finn watches him in silence. He's lost that lingering begrudging feeling. It's hard to stay mad at Poe when he looks so lost.

"Can't believe... What was she...? What are they...? Can't believe... And if she thinks we're going to let that scum..." Poe mutters with growing aggravation.

Finn casts a helpless glance across the cave's entrance to where Rose and Chewie are watching with Poe with the same amount of concern. She meets his eyes, her lips pursed.

She clears her throat, turning her eyes towards Poe. At least she can find words to help "Look, I don't know what's going on any more than you do, but I think we have to let Leia do this. She and Rey know what's best."

Finn flinches at that. So much for words to help.

Poe turns on her. "After all the people he's killed. No. He deserve to die. That's all."

"Even if he's coming to our side?" Rose pushes.

"Some people don't deserve second chances," Finn says softly. He hears the hypocrisy of his words as he speaks it.

Rose points it out anyway. "Hypocrite."

"No," Poe says furiously, coming to Finn's defense. "He's right. And this is different. We know Ren's evil. He deserves to die. Your sister—"

Finn cringes as Rose's eyes throw daggers Poe's way. Even though he isn't on the receiving end, he can feel the condemnation in those eyes.

Poe flounders too, averts his gaze, kicks at dirt.

"I hope you never have to fancy a judge and jury," Rose says coolly and storms away.

There's a long pause between her departure and the next words that come through.

"I don't understand why she's defending him" Poe says, but there's no resentment in his tone, only remorse in his eyes.

Finn shrugs. He doesn't understand it, either. But then, Rose has always proven to be a better person, quick to forgive, easy to befriend.

Poe eyes him suspiciously. "Have you forgiven me yet?"

"Call it a temporary truce," Finn says.

The grateful smile that lights Poe's face almost compels Finn to rush at him and embrace. But he holds himself back. The moment isn't right.

"I'm glad it's temporary," Poe muses, glancing back at the cave. "I'd hate to be grateful to him for ending this terrible distance between us."

#

Leia's hands tremble, clasped before her. She's still standing, tall and strong, but her eyes droop with all the weariness she's keeping held within her.

Kylo's face is equally stoic, but Rey can see the lines of concern working their way into his forehead. Perhaps the moment for change is now.

"I hate to think what would have happened if Rey had not been there," Leia says at last, her voice grave, hoarse.

Kylo scoffs. "He would never have gotten hold of that gem. We would probably be better off."

A wave of contempt rushes through Rey. She has to stop believing that he will change. "Don't you dare put this on me. I didn't ask you to chase me."

Kylo just scoffs again, shaking his head on and on.

"Enough," Leia says, her voice even more worn with fatigue. "If what you say is true, we have to move now. If we wait for him to grow too powerful, we might as well admit defeat now."

"Good luck with that."

Leia coolly surveys Kylo. "Oh, you misunderstand. You are going to help us."

"No, I'm not."

"Says the man in chains," Rey mutters darkly.

Kylo glowers at her. He raises his cuffed wrists and shakes them violently at her. "I won't be of much use like this."

"Well, you're stuck with us for the foreseeable future, so temper your expectations."

"So, that's your plan? To keep me a prisoner while you go off to fight a doomed war?"

"Seems better than the fate you've led others too," Rey bites back. A fate she's starting to think might be the only one he deserves.

"Enough, please," Leia says, intervening once again, though her words are wretched with defeat. "We will doom ourselves if we cannot find common ground. Ben..."

Kylo flinches, but makes no word against the chosen name.

Rey refuses to see any spark of hope in it.

"Will you at least consider it?" Leia asks. "In this time, we are united by one known enemy. If we fight together, we can stop him. And after..." a heavy sigh wracks her. "Once he is defeated, you may go your way as we go ours."

"You would set me free?" Kylo asks, his tone suddenly bright with eagerness.

"If that is the price of your assistance," Leia says. "I would."

Rey can feel in her the sagging doubt of this decision. The Resistance would never agree to let Kylo Ren roam the galaxy free, not without holding him accountable for his crimes. But she sees, as Leia does, the hopelessness of the situation that calls their morality into question and forces them to wade through the grey of actions.

Kylo shrugs his shoulders, his whole body losing its tension. "Then, yes. I will consider it."

AN: Sorry that these aren't the most thrilling chapters. But things are coming soon. Promise. Groundwork is just being laid ;)