The ship that General Jase had brought them into was tight and stuffy with not a whole lot of room for them to move around in. However, Kylo understood where the General wanted to bring them aboard if they had stayed out Kylo would have been bombarded with questions. Until they had smoothed out a blueprint for their plans it was best that they were left undisturbed. The General, Kylo, and Falynn stood around a tight living space that had been divided away from the pilot seats with a wall and a narrow arched opening. A booth with curved metallic seating was set up against the far left corner that the General extended his hand towards inviting them to sit down. There wasn't a whole lot of room, but he could see that General Jase already had some layouts laid out. Being that the table was short it would be hard to take a good look at them while they stood being more inconvenient than it was worth. Kylo barely managed to squeeze into the curved seating, his knees hitting underneath the table. He looked up at his wife who was looking at the limited space in an objectionable way.

Or so he believed as he quietly commanded. "Falynn, come sit down."

"I don't want to."

Sighing at Falynn's all too familiar stubbornness Kylo placed an arm on the table as he leaned his head back. "Why?"

"I-I want to stretch my legs out," was her answer as she looked down.

Lowering his gaze, he noticed that Falynn was being a bit fidgety on her feet, slightly shifting her weight to one foot then switching it to the other. Even on the shuttle, her body seemed restless; he had heard her behind tapping her foot on the ground almost nonstop. She wanted to be moving around, or she needed to. He didn't know if it was because her body had become so anxious because of how much she had already rested, or because she felt like she needed to be doing something. He understood, he wasn't much for one to be sitting and waiting himself. A shred of guilt washed over him thinking of how isolated she had been in that room while she was healing. How he had barely come in to speak with her, nor did Henne. That in those two weeks she hadn't just been laying and unable to move, but also had no one to talk to. No wonder she didn't want to sit down or be confined anywhere.

"It is only for now," Kylo said as he began to spread out some of the papers. "After we have this discussion than you can go on a long walk with Henne and Mayea."

General Jase placed a gentle hand on Falynn's shoulder before he scooted in beside Kylo. The touch must have been encouragement enough, because Falynn slid herself in on Kylo's other side leaving him sandwiched between the two of them. He didn't have much room to maneuver his arms as his elbows kept bunking into the General or his Empress's. Not that mattered much, as he was more distracted by Falynn's leg that was tightly pressed up against his own, leaving where their bodies made contact feeling warm. Memories of her fresh out of the sonic shower and her mouth pressed against his burned in his mind, leaving Kylo to swallow using his energy to focus on the papers before him. The table was obviously not meant for three people. It didn't take Kylo long to realize this was where General Jase kept to himself privately probably to get away from his own ambush of questions from Stormtroopers and officials.

The General took no time to waste as he dived right into the information, "They are keeping their location underground. It took us a few days to locate exactly where but it is south from where we are camping now. We discovered a couple of days later that the ships were no longer here on Geonosis. I believe that will probably be the case on the rest of the planets as well. Whatever they needed to do they have moved past it."

Damn it.

Furrowing his brows Kylo declared irritably. "In that case, there is really no purpose for us to go to each individual planet where they had been located previously. The chances of their whereabouts are either here on Geonosis or space-born." Damn it. This certainly set back any plans he had. He would have to call off the troops he already sent...that included General Hux. He would have to figure out what to do with him too. Kylo continued "We need to wipe out the ones who are located directly here," Kylo straightened up in his seat. "If we do that, we will draw them to us. It would be too rash for us to start now, knowing what could possibly revolt against us. We need to make a plan for Geonosis and their response afterward. Call the troops to leave the planets we had sent them to. Send them back to the Star Destroyer or bring them here. Prepare them for a battle that will occur after we take out the Resistance main base."

General Jase balled a fist on top of the table, his dark eyes hardening in determination as he concurred. "That's what I believe we should move forward with as well. If we act too quickly things will more than likely blow back up in our faces. I think it is best we plan well in advance and make strong communications to the First Order before we make any type of move."

Kylo nodded in agreement then turned to Falynn whose face he had noticed had gone a shade paler.

"Falynn?"

Leaning forward, his wife brushed her fingers against the papers spreading them out centering her focus as her brows creased. Snatching up one of the papers she held it up narrowing her sea-colored eyes.

"If I may be so bold to speak, what exactly is your strategy that you have laid out here? To just blast them all away?" she inquired, surprisingly sounding bored. "All I see on these papers are weapons and ships. There is no actual clear view or line up at what you are thinking. If we are deciding to just go head on blowing them away like pieces of rubble won't that just be arrogant of us? I think silence on our end will prove to be more powerful. Like an insect crawling through the holes. They won't see us coming."

Kylo and the other man both stared at his wife stunned by her words.

Truthfully Falynn having valid points didn't come to be a big surprise to him. After all her father had led many troops belonging to the First Order, and Falynn had taken the time to teach herself combat. She was smart, smarter than what others believed her to be. He doubted that Falynn would have survived on Dantooine if she hadn't used more wit than strength. Her eyes did not waver as she studied the General. Instead of taking offense General Jase was actually smiling as he began to gather the papers, before he stood and easily tossed them into the waste.

"Our Emperor has truly chosen a good match," General Jase turned back around his broad shoulders held up straight, his eyes lighting on Falynn. "We could use you, my lady, in our planning. Would you be willing to elaborate more on how we become wasps in their nest?"

Falynn slid out of the booth and walked over to the General and held out her hand.

With that all-knowing smile that she had lost while she was on Dantooine Falynn shook the General's hand.

"It will be my pleasure."


She hadn't known what to say so she had made up whatever had come to her mind. To say anything that would keep them from marching into the Resistance and destroying all of them with barely a blink. She had not intended for them to actually be impressed by her words and to follow through with them. General Jase had looked at her so fondly she hadn't known what else to say, but at least she had delayed the plan some. If they could get close enough perhaps she could be the insect herself squeezing herself in and find a member of the Resistance to speak with and find out where Leia's whereabouts were while still staying close to Kylo. She hated how fast everything seemed to be moving. Falynn could barely keep a grasp on any of it. Turning her head and looking over her shoulder she kept her eye on Kylo who had soon followed at her. His hands were behind his back, his footprints silent on the red earth beneath them. It was still daylight on Geonosis which meant none of them really needed to rest. Especially her, she would be happy staying away from a bed for the whole day, but she couldn't help but wonder where she would be sleeping when night fell.

Or who she would be sleeping beside?

Thinking about the sleeping arrangements made her head feel tight. Stopping Falynn waited for Kylo to catch up with her, which he had in a matter of seconds. She waited for him to speak, curious about what his thoughts were now that the two of them were alone.

"Care for a walk?" he asked.

Falynn arched an eyebrow. "I thought you wanted me to go with Henne and Mayea?"

"I believe that Henne may be busy at the moment. Mayea is also taking her work on one of the ships sorting through supplies," Kylo responded nonchalantly. "So I shall be the one accompanying you in your walk."

"As you wish," Falynn simply shrugged.

She didn't want him to know that she was actually pleased that he was the one who decided to take a walk with her. It had been a while since the two of them were able to be just by themselves.

Walking in unison they passed the officials along with the group of ships and controls. They took their time walking in silence Falynn's steps still a bit slow for at least a couple of miles before they reached an opening where several monumental rocks were formed into arches with no other signs of life. Geonosis's air was thick and heavy with humidity and Falynn was grateful for her choice of clothing she had chosen and that her copper hair was pulled back off of her neck. They hadn't been on the planet for that long, but she could already feel the stickiness of it covering her bare arms and neck.

Under Geonosis's heated skies the arches of rock proved to be a miraculous haven of shade as Falynn and Kylo made their way beneath it. Sighing, Falynn leaned her back for a moment, wincing as she steadied her breathing. Her shoulder was beginning to ache along with her leg. Her muscles were burning from the satisfaction of being stretched, but they were stiff from the lack of movements in the last couple of weeks. She wanted to check on her leg but didn't want to do so in front of Kylo. Heavens knew if she did he would try demanding her to relax and take it easy again. Falynn didn't think she could take much more of that, from anyone let alone him.

"How are your injuries?" he questioned as he leaned up against the large arch of the massive rock formation. "May I see them both."

Damn.

He must have read her easily.

He was damn annoying at that.

Perching her leg on the grooved edge of the rock Falynn bent down and pulled her black pant leg up. The scarring looked similar to the one on her shoulder. Pink, fleshy, but no more signs of scabs or bleeding. While pushing himself off the wall Kylo took off his black gloves and set them on the ground before bending down by her leg. Grabbing her leg with one hand he used the other to brush his callused finger over the wound. Falynn's leg twitched underneath the cool touch of her husband's fingers. She looked down at his red cracked helmet wishing she could will it to completely crack away from him, where she could see his expression. What exactly were those hazel brown eyes inspecting on her? Gently moving his hand up her leg Kylo looked up at Falynn.

"Are you any sort of pain?"

Shaking trying to concentrate on her words as Kylo continued to gently press his fingers into her leg Falynn answered. "No, just a bit stiff. They will start feeling better the more I move around."

Nodding Kylo pulled her pant leg back down his knuckles brushing against her skin as he did so. Standing up his fingers quickly brushed over her shoulder before he instructed.

"Turn around,"

"What?"

"Just do as I say," she swore she could hear him rolling his eyes through the lightly exasperated tone.

Pursing her lips Falynn did as she was told, then stiffened as Kylo suddenly lifted the back of her shirt, then placed his hand on her bare back. The sudden touch had Falynn placing her hands on the rough edges of the rock heat rising to her cheeks. She closed her eyes as Kylo's fingers slowly moved over each of the wounds that the laigreks had made on her. His palm spread out flat on her back, sending warmth over the stickiness of her skin.

"These look worse than the other wounds," he stated unhappily. "I hadn't realized that those creatures had punctured you this deeply...if it had been any further…"

"It wasn't though," she looked over her shoulder then repeated faintly. "It wasn't."

Without removing his hand Kylo took a step closer to her. "I was impressed with all of your input on the matters concerning the Resistance today."

Falynn held back a grimace and instead smiled at her husband.

"I want to prove my worth as the Empress."

"You don't need to," Kylo uttered closely to her ear. "You are already more than enough."

Taking another step Kylo was close enough behind her where she could feel the thick fabric of his black clothing against the skin of her bare back. She was finding it hard to breathe with their close proximity and the humid air that was around them. It had been almost three weeks now since Kylo had touched her. It had felt longer since she had touched him. She wished that she could turn around to face him directly, to unclasp that damn helmet off his head where she could run her fingers down that long scar of his. She was frozen though between the sturdiness of his tall frame and the rock that shaded the two of them in shadow.

"Am I though?" Falynn eye's moved to where her fingers were splayed out on the rocks. "I have a feeling that your troops don't really believe that."

"What do they know?"

"They work under you," she smirked with a scoff. "You should know, for you are the one teaching them everything."

"The inner works of the Order have its skepticisms that's true," Kylo admitted dryly. "However, that is how all politics work." He paused for a moment then asked. "Is that why you decided to go off on your own on Dantooine. To prove your worth?"

She took a moment to answer as she lingered on his words that had struck some truths. Worth, yes, but she wasn't exactly sure on who she was trying to prove that to. Her husband, Leia, the Resistance, herself? There was so much gray area in her thoughts and heart where she didn't have an answer. Whatever the reason it had been foolish, and she hoped one day that the two of them could move past the mistake she had made.

"I guess I was," Falynn shook her head. "That horribly backfired on me did it not?"

"I am not going to lie on how insolent your choices were," Kylo words were blunt and pierced her against those rocks.

Falynn bitterly laughed as she bent her forehead against the rocks. "I guess that's fair. See fit to punish me as you see fit."

"Are you really giving me permission to do so?" Kylo's voice grew dark.

Swallowing Falynn nodded.

She was ready for any beating he had for her. Whether it be a force chokehold, or brutally beating her down into the ground. She would accept it, then she would stand back up and face him directly even if she had a swollen face, busted lip, or black eye. She would accept the consequences of her arrogance.

A sound of a click and hiss had Falynn snapping her head back until a large hand clasped over her eyes covering her sight.

"You are not allowed to look. Face the rock again."

With his other hand, Kylo moved Falynn's head forward before letting go.

"If you turn your head, you will face something much worse," a clear husky voice spoke to her as she heard him setting his helmet on the ground.

It was his voice.

Kylo Ren's.

Not a man behind a mask.

Falynn was silent as she heard him shifting behind her then jolted in surprise as she felt something warm and soft against her back. Was he...was he kissing her? The familiar touch of his soft lips moved over skin which she felt forming goosebumps. Falynn sucked in her lips as she felt Kylo's mouth moving around each wound that had been pieced on her back. His kisses were tender, but they lingered on each new forming scar. She felt herself shaking as Kylo continued to kiss around her bare skin even where there were no scars each spot burning as he moved his lips away. Her skin suddenly felt cold as he completely moved away from her back and pulled her shirt back down.

"Look up," he demanded.

Falynn did as she was told.

Kylo slowly lowered himself down before gingerly lifting her leg back onto the rock's ledge. Hooking his thumbs at the hem of her pants Kylo pushed the clothing back up before his lips hit the scar on her leg. Falynn closed her eyes as she took in the feeling of her husband's lips that once again moved too quickly away from her as he pulled the pant leg back down and she heard him standing up. A hand covered her eyes again as Falynn gasped when she felt his lips on her shoulder she had been injured on. This kiss was different than the ones he had left on her back and leg. She felt his mouth opening as he lightly began to suck on the scarring flesh, the softness of his hair she knew was a jet black brushing along the back of her neck. Digging her fingers into the rocks in front of her Falynn tilted her head back a small moan escaping her lips. Kylo's free hand moved around Falynn's waist pulling her closer to him as he continued to suck on her shoulder flicking out his tongue to caress the wound in slow circles.

Falynn involuntarily pressed herself against him and she thought she heard what sounded like a soft growl coming from him. She wanted to move her hands from that rock, to reach back and to touch his skin, to feel his hair but was afraid if she did so that he would stop. That he would move away from her. Through the darkness all Falynn could do was feel, was to feel him and the parts she hadn't realized she had missed. She wanted to see him. She wanted to turn around and to see his face, to look into those eyes to see if they still looked as lonely as they had before.

Before she could ask that of him Kylo's mouth had pulled away from her shoulder, with one last suck and motion with his tongue.

"Don't look," he demanded hoarsely. "Not until I tell you to."

Falynn waited as she faced the rock formation, her body shaking and eyes brimming with water.

She listened as Kylo's feet shifted on the ground, as he lifted his helmet, then to the sound of that heartbreaking click when she knew that the damn thing was back on his head covering him from her. He had already built that wall between the two of them back up. She would have rather him give her a good beating than what had just happened. Her heart was cracking inside of her from the feelings he had just erupted in her. How painfully gentle those kisses were, but even so he still didn't want her to see him.

"You can turn around now."

Falynn shook her head as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Falynn."

"No," her voice sternly cracked out.

"Falynn."

"I said no!"

Two now gloved hands gripped her shoulders spinning her around.

Falynn refused to look at that helmet as more tears fell down as she shook. She refused to look at him. She didn't think she could, not unless she wanted to crumble in front of him. Kylo held onto her for a long moment before he sighed and dropped his hands.

"You said I could punish you in any way that I wanted," his voice was too soft through that helmet. "Yet somehow you are angry with me."

"I-I-'m not angry."

"Then what are you?"

"I don't know."

She waited for him to belittle her, to command her to silence the tears, anything but what he had said next.

"I will send Henne for you," he promised. "Do not leave this spot. If I find that you have moved from this spot before she arrives your punishment will be far more worse than you can imagine. I will have Henne show you where you should rest tonight. I suggest you take a moment to relax before we begin to move our plans into action."

As Kylo walked away from her back towards the ships Falynn knew the answer to what she was at that moment. She wasn't angry with him, no she wouldn't even say that she was sad. She was broken, so completely and utterly broken. Each time Kylo had touched her, it almost felt like he was trying to patch her back up. Instead of patching up those wounds and healing them with his touch she felt like those scars were burning even deeper than they had been before. She had wanted a barrier between them at the beginning of this marriage. She had hated him and wanted him to burn where he stood. He had been a monster to her at one point, and she knew parts of him still were. So why...why was this space between them tearing her utterly apart? Why did she care so fucking much about watching his dark figure move further and further away from her? Why didn't she have a voice to call out to him. To scream at him to demand him to take off his helmet and to face her to stop being a fucking coward.

When had she become such a coward herself?

She watched as Kylo's frame grew smaller until he was out of sight before she fell onto her knees, her tears splashing down onto the red earth. She cried until she felt a pair of warm delicate arms wrap themselves around her.

Henne held her mistress as Falynn sobbed heavily, but even with the comfort of her friend Falynn's mind reached out to where her husband was back amongst the circle of ships.