Star Wars: Episode IX – Heir to Victory

by GrgBrns

The Final Order regains their strength! Facing total annihilation, the Resistance mount a desperate offensive to end the threat - but Finn believes there is another way to win this war! Meanwhile, Rey and Kylo Ren's desires are intertwined by the sinister Knights of Ren and the prophetic powers of the Oracle - the 'Heir to Victory' will change the future of the galaxy forever!

4. Part I - The Beacon

Three travellers clad in cloaks and hoods keep a running pace as they make a path through a deep canyon of a large mountain. Their hoods keep the morning sun out of their eyes, and they come to a halt at a fork in the road. The slightly older lead of the group retrieves a small blinking device from her jacket, pressing an insignia on the side in the shape of the Resistance starbird. The beacon activates, guiding them down the right hand path, towards the mountain's shadow. She beckons to her companions to follow, but stops dead as a blaster bolt strikes the ground just in front of her.

The three travellers whirl around, searching for the source of the shot. A rumbling sound answers as two speeder bikes charge towards them, circling them menacingly as two scarlet-armoured Scout Troopers atop them aim their blaster pistols. The three travellers slowly raise their hands as the speeders come to a stop, blocking their advance. One of the Scout Troopers dismounts, approaching the travellers cautiously.

"Don't you move!" She commands, pistol raised.

She approaches the leader of the group and snatches the beacon from her grasp, examining it. She fumbles with it, but without the secret button pressed, the beacon is useless. She throws it to the ground angrily, and pushes the barrel of her pistol into the travellers face.

"Where. Is. The Resistance?"

As if to answer, her pistol is knocked from her grasp by a single, well-placed blaster bolt, spinning away across the dusty floor. The shooter approaches from behind a rock, a man in his early twenties, blaster pistol raised. He's sporting a fine fit of navy trousers, dark shirt and a familiar brown leather vest, flashing a determined smile from beneath a crop of wild hair.

"Right here," says Finn, cocking an eyebrow cheekily. "Guess you need your visor checked, trooper."

The Scout Trooper begins to raise her hands, but her partner goes for his pistol. A flash of sparks erupts from his hand as it's peppered with blaster bolts. He shouts in pain, dropping his weapon. From behind him, a woman aims a blaster rifle at him, clad in a scrappy officer uniform in the colours of the Resistance, a metal pendant dangling from her neck. Rose Tico affixes the trooper with cold intent, her voice filled with confidence.

"Surrender, whilst you still have a chance!"

The Scout looks from Rose to Finn, and starts to panic. He raises a hand, only to bring it down on the handles of his speeder, which jets forward, forcing his partner to dive out of the way as he makes a desperate bid for escape. Rose is ready, dropping to one knee and unleashing a flurry of blaster bolts in his path. The rear of the speeder catches two, and the engine explodes, its rider's scream inaudible as he's engulfed in flame.

The travellers watch, amazed, slowly lowering their hands. The second Scout begins to stand, but Finn still has his blaster trained on her.

"Don't even think about it."

The Scout raises her hands once more but now, a blinking white light has appeared on her belt.

"Too late," she sneers. "You Resistance scu-"

Before she can finish her insult, Finn clicks a button on his blaster and hits her with a blue stun bolt. Her arms go limp and she falls comically forward, like a puppet with cut strings. Finn rolls her over and examines her belt, locking eyes with an approaching Rose.

"Oh no," sighs Finn, deactivating the blinking light on the Stormtroopers belt and locking eyes with Rose.

"They'll be coming for us."

The gravity of this statement is shown in Rose's anxious gaze; the Resistance's circumstances have just turned grave. They nod at each other, both acknowledging their next step without words. Rose digs deep, summoning her warm smile and looks to the three spacers, who gaze between her and the fallen Stormtrooper in confusion.

"It's a very brave thing you all did, making your way here." She says brightly.

The three travellers stay frozen, hesitant. Rose lowers her blaster, retrieves the discarded device from the floor, and indicates the Resistance symbol as she returns it to the eldest traveller.

"You're safe now!"

Finn lifts his now prisoner into a shoulder carry. He and Rose jog into the shadow of the mountain, beckoning the travellers to follow them. There simply isn't time to explain the danger they are now in. Finn matches Rose's smile, and gestures to the aftermath of the firefight;

"Welcome to the Resistance!"

---

"We heard about it all the way in the core worlds!"

A rusted looking speeder jets through the mouth of a large underground tunnel. Atop it sits Finn, Rose, their three recruits, and the Scout Trooper prisoner in binders. Finn leans the steering slightly as they turn a corner, exiting into an even larger tunnel and deeper into the mountain. Rose turns in her seat, giving her full attention to the recruits as they babble.

"Did Luke Skywalker really face the First Order alone?!"

The travellers eagerly search Rose's face for answers, and she nods excitedly.

"That's right!" Finn shouts back over his shoulder. "I saw him. Wouldn't be here myself if he hadn't saved us, and Rose here-"

He nudges his friend on the shoulder.

"-she made sure I lived to tell the tale."

Rose laughs this off, but there's genuine affection in the look she gives Finn. He turns the speeder into a smaller tunnel, approaching an orange light at the end. They exit into a large cavern, where artificial lamps have been set up to overlook the new Resistance outpost.

Crewmen and pilots tend to several dozen ragtag starfighters, some old, some new, all decorated in various colours to mark their squadron. Larger tunnels span out of the cavern, the widest occupied by a bulkier starship adorned with the Resistance colours. Several communication stations are dotted around, with a raised platform and holotable setup for the Resistance leadership to plan their next move. A number of caves double as barracks and common areas, and before them a small squadron of recruits are being drilled. The travellers look in awe at the view at their new surroundings, as Finn manoeuvres the speeder down a stone ramp, approaching the many different ships.

Rose shoulders some of the luggage the travellers toted, leading them over to security and beginning their orientation into the Resistance. Two security officers obey Finn's orders, taking the captured Stormtrooper to their makeshift penitentiary. He picks up the troopers belt, feeling his heart of optimism drop slightly. He looks around. Though their numbers have more than tripled in the year since the Battle of Crait, he knows in his heart there are still too few of them.

"We'll be ready for a fight soon," chimes in Rose as she re-joins him, scooping up her medic bag from the speeder. "It just takes time."

Finn puffs out his chest, grateful for the boost of morale.

"Thanks, Rose."

She shrugs, her expression turning to one of teasing. "Come on, Resistance Hero Finn!"

They both laugh as they move to the centre of the base, approaching the raised holotable. Around it stand many experienced pilots and officers of the Resistance, but the man they're looking for stands at the centre.

General Poe Dameron, ace pilot and leader of the Resistance forces, leers before the holotable, rubbing his stubbled chin as he thinks. He is dressed in a long coat, with his flight suit and apparatus tied haphazardly around his waist, ready for action. The holomap before him shows the spread of enemy forces, now occupying multiple worlds. He listens to suggestions between his lieutenants of the location of their foe's base, but none grab his attention. Something else pulls his focus away from military affairs.

"Finn! Rose! You're back!"

Poe moves through the small crowd and clasps a hand on Finn's shoulder, noting the jacket he donated still being in fashionable use as a handsome vest.

"What's new on the recruitment front?"

"Good! Good!" replies Rose from beside Finn. "Three newbies, but-"

She pauses, and Finn completes the sentence; "-but we've been found."

Finn holds up the belt. Poe examines it sharply, cocking an eyebrow. "Is it a flare beacon?"

"I think so," replies Finn. "I'm sorry Poe, I-"

"Hey, none of that," Poe interrupts, looking into the faces of both his commanders. "Any recruits are a success, alright?"

Vindicated, Rose beams at both Finn and Poe with renewed optimism. Poe straightens himself up, running a hand through his hair as he again strains to think. "How long do you think we have?"

Rose and Finn look between each other. "I'm not sure. I brought the Scout Trooper responsible back, she's out."

"That's great!" replies Poe, a plan slowly forming in his mind as he approaches the holotable, configuring it to show a local map of their current location in the root of the mountain.

"Leave defence to me, I'll cover all the tunnels." He turns to look down at them.

"Rose: begin to roundup the other commanders and get each squad into their ships for evacuation."

Rose nods enthusiastically, her ponytail bobbing up and down.

"Yes General!"

She shoulders her medpack and heads for the barracks to coordinate. Now it's just the two of them, Poe affixes Finn with a more relaxed look, which he returns.

"Want me to help with the evac?" Finn asks.

Poe shakes his head, taking the belt from Finn's hands and drifting off into thought once again. His tone suddenly becomes more serious as he taps the beacon with his thumb, anxiously.

"You know the Stormtroopers better than anyone, so I'm tasking you with extracting any intel you can from your prisoner. Lives will be saved the more we know."

Finn nods, the responsibility of this mission familiar to him. Poe passes the scarlet belt back to Finn, with a wink. "Maybe they'll tell us about their new colour scheme too."

They both chuckle at the joke and Finn turns to leave, but a question halts him. After a slight hesitation, he voices it.

"What if she doesn't talk?" He asks Poe.

Poe's expression of laughter turns slightly grave, revealing the shadow of his life as a soldier.

"The Stormtroopers are agents of the enemy, Finn. You'll have to take her out."

He salutes his commander with a nod, then turns to begin organising the defence of the base. The message is clear; 'that's an order'.

Finn returns the nod, but his hesitancy remains. Both he and Poe have felled many foes with both blaster and starfighter, but something about this gives him a cold feeling. Is it guilt? Still unsure, Finn makes his way through the throng of pilots and soldiers towards the penitentiary.

If only he had help.

---

Far beyond the welcoming lights of the outpost, a tunnel rumbles.

The sounds of falling dirt and debris can be heard, buffeted by large bodies moving through the rock. But another noise can be heard. A woman's voice.

"Lesson One: The Force belongs to all, not the one."

Leather gloved hands move aside two large stones, and raise a lantern, revealing the owner of the voice. Rey's hair is past her shoulders now, held in a single bun. She is clad in a long garb of sturdy grey cotton, leather belts and boots covered in grit. A worn hooded cloak is wrapped around her shoulders, and her wide eyes search the illuminated dirt beneath her. She digs a gloved finger further into the dirt, but no sign of what she seeks.

She turns the lantern to brighten the void behind her, and an eerie view is greeted. She stands atop the edge of a large underground tunnel, not dissimilar in size to the one Finn & Rose just traversed through. Below her, several truly grotesque creatures bury their faces in tandem into the front of the tunnel. Their long, pale bodies give them the appearance of giant worms. Their only distinguishing feature is the thirty-seven rows of teeth that spiral around and inside their large mouths, currently in use drilling them further and further into the earth. As Rey approaches the creatures in the lantern light, the comparison of size is thrown into sharp relief; the exogrubs tower over even the largest Resistance starfighter.

Rey breathes deep, the calm she feels rippling out. The exogrubs stop eating away at the dirt and instead sniff the air around them sharply, sensing Rey approaching the front of their group. They've been diggin too far down. She places a hand on the solid earth before them, her powers allowing her an insight even these evolved creatures lack, and she finds what she seeks. Rey can feel the warmth of the sun, hear the whistle of the wind, smell the fragrance of mountain flora, a few metres above them. But this gift does not just belong to her, if she wishes. With minimal effort, she expands these sensations in the Force, touching the minds of her writhing companions.

"Lesson Two: Victory lights the way, but failure teaches the path."

She opens her eyes, and the exogrubs cease their sniffing around, instead looking upward. They sense what she has sensed. Rey retreats and the exogrubs resume digging, changing their trajectory upward and working incredibly fast. As they crush and siv through the dirt, their teeth pick out large deposits of natural crystal in the earth, which they consume with relish.

As the grubs follow the veins of crystal in the earth, the mile-diameter tunnel begins to perk upwards. Rey keeps pace behind as the creatures work. She is joined by BB-8, who rolls out from behind one of the smaller creatures, whining beeps of concern. Rey, her face sweaty and grubby, chuckles at his worries.

"Wait for it…"

A sound like a large egg cracking signals what Rey has been waiting for. One of the taller exogrubs breaks through the top of the tunnel, and sunlight fills the cave. They fuss, crawling over each other as they carve a circular hole in the earth, which dwarfs Rey and BB-8 as they walk out into the sunlight.

Rey turns and looks back onto the horizon of Brentaal IV. They're a good distance away from the mountain now. The exogrups follow a vein of glittering crystal, and begin to dig a new tunnel, of which thousands litter the surrounding areas of the mountain. BB-8 whistles in admiration as the grubs swiftly disappear into the earth again. Rey grins in satisfaction, before entering their tunnel once more to make the journey back. She continues her meditation.

"Lesson Three - "

But Rey is stopped by her droid companion, who squeals in fright. Before them in the gloom of the tunnel sits a younger exogrub. It writhes violently, a coarse noise emanating from it's serrated throat, like a jammed engine. BB-8 backs away in fear, but Rey can sense with more than just her eyes. A familiar sensation emanates from the three ton monster - pain.

Rey steps forward, stretching a gloved hand towards the wall of teeth and gums that writhes before her. She slows her own breath, and the cries of discomfort coming from the young grub follow suit. Rey hovers her hand over the rows of teeth, filling her mind with the exogrub's anguish, and finds the source. An apple-sized stone has become stuck in the gap between gum and tooth, drawing blood on it's jagged edge. Slowly, Rey wraps her fingers around the rock and pulls it free, massaging the mind of the exogrub to dull the pain. It ceases squirming, gives her an inquisitive sniff, then wriggles past her and BB-8 to join it's fellows in the new tunnel.

The success of her good work puts a perky smile across Rey's face. The rock still in her hand, she senses something deeper about the rock, and decides to keep it. She bends down, unclipping a small bag from her belt, and tries to find room for it amongst other items. She maneuvers space between two ancient books with wooden covers, but the stone is too big. She eyes two broken halves of a lightsaber hilt in her bag with unease, before reclipping it and turning to BB-8.

"Can you look after this for me?"

BB-8 opens up a compartment diligently, but divulges a slew of angry beeps at her. He's clearly not happy she approached the giant grub. Rey's perky smile returns.

"Oh, and let's say I didn't help next time? Like a lone droid caught in a net?!"

Rey ignites her lantern and begins to traverse the slow decline back into the tunnel, enjoying her tease.

"How would you feel about that?"

BB-8 follows her at a lesser pace, letting out a sequence of grumbling beeps.

"Come on" Rey cheerfully responds. "I wasn't going to allow others to suffer whilst I could do something about it!"

BB-8 rolls his little red eye, conceding. Rey turns her attention ahead, lifting her lantern, but stops dead. The echoes of the cave and BB-8's rambling disappear suddenly as a familiar sensation washes over Rey. Before her is not the expansive gloom of the tunnel, but a man. His hair hangs unkepts around his eyes, as he looks into the flickering lights of a fire. This isn't a memory, this is happening right now. Their connection has regained its strength.

Ben's gloved hands are intertwined before his face, gazing at a fire Rey cannot see. She takes a step forward, hand reaching slightly, wishing he would look. But as unprocessed feelings bubble inside Rey, so do memories. Ben offers her his hand, vowing her the galaxy in exchange for the lives of her friends. She buries the memory again but more come, worse. The faint echoes of a crying girl, and other familiar adult voices. That Day.

No.

Rey straightens her back and marches forward, past Ben, refusing to be distracted. As she walks something else enters her senses; worry. Up ahead, she can feel the energy change at the outpost. Has something happened to the Resistance?

BB-8 catches up with her, beeping a question of concern. Rey knows that Ben is still there, but a closed-off sadness stirs deep within her. I can't help him.

"I think we're needed elsewhere" replies Rey, resolute.

With that, both Jedi and droid advance into the gloom together.

---

The Resistance outpost is now alive with activity. Pilots and personnel scatter amongst the starships whilst soldiers build barricades and pass blaster rifles between them. Above the bustle in an overlooking cave stands Leia Organa - matriarch of the Resistance and legendary Rebellion hero - who steels herself for yet another fight. Behind Leia, several comm terminals and datascreens have been set up. A small team of personnel and droids man the controls, broadcasting distress signal and requests for sanctuary. Leia herself looks over the planets they're reaching, of which there are too few.

"General! Oh, General!"

Leia turns in reply to the anxious cries of her personal golden protocol droid.

"What is it 3PO?"

The droid wrings his hands at his makeshift terminal. "We aren't getting any response as our signal isn't strong enough! If we carry on like this, we'll have nowhere to evacuate to!"

Leia's calm and motivated demeanour is unphased by such whinging.

"If you've done all you can 3PO there's no need to fuss."

She points over his shoulder towards a blue coloured astromech, working away near the back of the cave.

"Why don't you go and help R2 boost our transmitter power?"

3PO looks from Leia to R2 and back again, accompanied by an enthusiastic whistle by R2.

"I-err-yes General, of course."

He shuffles off to join his long time companion, and Leia resumes her work in peace. A familiar voice sounds behind her.

"Has something happened?"

Leia turns to look upon Rey filling the entrance to the cave, approaching her anxiously with BB-8 at her side. Leia feels a kinship with the young Jedi that allows the tension in her shoulders to loosen slightly.

"I'm afraid so, Rey. The First Order has discovered our location."

Leia clasps a hand round Rey's gloved one, patting it reassuringly. "You best go pack your things, the evacuation has begun."

BB-8 chirps a string of alarming beeps, and rolls past Rey and out the cave as fast as his round body can carry him. Leia dutifully returns to her comm terminal but Rey doesn't budge. Being strong in the Force means her surroundings are easily perceived, including the feelings of others. Though Leia portrays the warmth and calm of the leader she's always been, Rey can sense anguish.

The young Jedi approaches Leia, lowering her voice knowingly.

"Leia… let me help."

Leia turns to look upon Rey. In a way, this young woman sees parts of Leia that she masks from even her lifelong comrades. That, coupled with her connection to the Force, means the truth is difficult to conceal when Rey's around. Despite her life in military and diplomacy, Leia finds this comforting.

"The mountains of Brentaal IV are useful for avoiding detection, but are preventing us from broadcasting coded communications to our potential allies."

She indicates to 3PO, R2 and the power converters. "We're trying to strengthen our signals but not much seems to be working."

Rey drums her fingers on the keys of the terminal in thought, before an idea comes to her.

"Rose has been explaining some of her jamming tech to me. I think I know a way!"

Crouching down, she retrieves a screwdriver from her belt and opens the panels of the terminal, moving wires around.

"Instead of boosting the signal itself, I can ask the terminal to widen its range of signal reading!"

As she speaks, Rey wrenches a piece of circuitry away from the terminal innards, and tosses it over her shoulder.

"And if you use an older code - say, your personal code - it can reach further!"

Rey seems in her element as Leia nods along to her explanation.

"It'll take me a few minutes though!" Says Rey, realising she'd become caught up in her own tinkering.

"No, take your time," replies Leia.

Though she could see plainly Rey's excitement for electronics, Leia is no stranger to the Force either. Underneath the warmth and optimism, Leia could sense a discomfort in Rey's mind, a feeling she knew well. Sadness.

"Everything alright, Rey?"

Rey, stunned by the sudden personal question, bangs her head on the circuit board.

"Aargh!"

Rubbing the top of her head gingerly, Rey nods and dons a flustered smile. Leia ponders whether Rey is even aware of her own defences. The young Jedi clicks a few more switches and closes the terminal panel, straightening up. She clacks at the terminal keyboard and the images of planets in range slowly widen. Whistles and beeps of acknowledgement go up from the surrounding droids as their distress signal is received.

"Excellent!" Chirps Rey as she watches the fruits of her work. "I hoped that'd work."

She moves to leave the holoterminal, but Leia places a hand on hers, and affixes Rey's flustered smile with a stubborn, knowing expression. She isn't giving up.

"Rey… Let me help."

The repeat of her own words back at her catches Rey off guard. Her shoulders relax, and she sighs gloomly. Where does she even start? She looks from Leia's concerned face to the holomap of planets.

"Fixing things like this comes easy. I've disassembled and reassembled engines, compressors, processors so many times, it's all the same..."

Her eyes glaze over, as though peering at something Leia can't see.

"But there are some things… connections… I can't mend."

Beneath Leia's hand, Rey's fingers curl into frustrated fists.

"And I don't know why."

Leia bows her head, knowing exactly who Rey is referring to. But she refuses to let her carry this weight alone.

"In my time as both a senator and a General, I have seen so many tragedies, so many losses." As she speaks, Leia retrieves a familiar item from the inside of her coat - a pair of golden dice, linked by a chain.

"One could say, too many."

With her free hand, Leia presses keys on the terminal. The planets shown before them slowly light up, as her personal code begins to reach even further.

"But, there are people that rely on me to be strong, to protect them. And that's my job."

She completes the final transmission, and turns to look Rey dead in the eyes.

"And I gained that strength to endure these losses by having things to live for. My family, my friends, these are alI things I want. But to gain these bonds, you need to let those people in, Rey! Show them the real you!"

Rey avoids Leia's gaze, knowing where she's going, but Leia persists.

"You've shouldered so much for others already Rey, in fact you're doing it right now!"

She indicates to the holomap of blinking planets, coaxing a grin out of the young Jedi.

"Take some of that drive to help others and spend some of it on you. Work out what you want in this life, and let go of what's holding you back!"

Rey looks skeptical, as though such a kindness is foreign and wasteful. Leia responds by prodding Rey in the shoulder, affixing her with a firm gaze and an even firmer tone.

"Take it from me, that's how you grow true resolve!"

Rey lets out a short laugh, rubbing the spot where Leia had poked her.

"...Alright," Rey concedes reluctantly.

Leia places an arm around Rey and pushes her hurriedly towards the entrance.

"Now go! Collect your things and find a room aboard the Craitstar, no more sleeping rough!"

She points to the bulky cruiser filling the largest of the outpost's tunnels. Rey nods, then pauses in the doorway. Leia's colossal patience is beginning to be tested.

"I won't repeat myself-" Begins Leia, but Rey shakes her head.

"No, it's not that."

She looks to Leia once more, stubbornly.

"I won't leave him."

There is no delusion in her tone, and no question between the two women of who she is referring too. Leia retrieves her cane and matches Rey's stubborn gaze.

"Neither will I. But my son has entered the lion's den willingly. When he chooses to fight his way out, he will not do it alone, we will be there."

She stamps the cane down before her.

"Until then, we'll do everything we can to rebuild all we have lost. Agreed?"

A huge weight upon Rey's shoulders falls away. She smiles wide, acknowledging this as both a pledge and an order;

"You have my word, General."

With that, Rey hurries off to rejoin the other Resistance fighters still bustling across the outpost. Leia watches her go. After a few moments pass she turns back into the cave, stowing the golden dice inside her coat, but not before gifting herself a long look at them.

---

In the bowels of the Night Buzzard sits Kylo Ren. This crude dungeon ship is large, easily able to accommodate the multiple squads of flametroopers in its rear compartments. The cockpit and immolation room, of which Ren now occupies, are reserved only for the Knights of Ren and chosen allies. It is a sacred space.

Trophies and ancient dark-side texts adorn the walls, but it's most distinguishing feature is the fire pit. A large triangular hole is cut into the floor, descending downwards to a large artificial pyre burning at its centre, the smoke of which is filtered out with the engines. Broad steps ring the inside of the pit, Ren's tall throne crowning the highest step, it's back to the cockpit. Ren's tall form reclines in the angular chair, watching the scene before him.

All six Knights of Ren stand in unison, watching the flames. Ushar, his warclub on his shoulder, approaches the pyre and extends his hand. He holds a small wooden sculpture of a hooded figure posing with a lightsaber. He crushes the wood beneath his fingers, and throws it onto the flames with a dark growl of laughter. Some, like the axe wielding Ap'lek and explosive expert Cardo, join in with jeers of the Jedi, of their weakness and hubris, their metal shrouds distorting their insults. Others like Kuruk, Trudgen and Vicrul simply watch silently, hands resting firmly on the handles of their weapons.

The offering of Jedi ARTIF to the Dark-Side is gratifying to watch, but Kylo Ren grew restless. He ceases twirling a silver, circular device in his hand.

"Kuruk!" He growls.

Sitting near the top of the fire pit, Kuruk tears his attention away from his rifle and approaches the foot of Ren's throne. He kneels.

"Yes, master?"

"Tell me what you know of this."

Kuruk angles his emotionless helmet to stare at the compass in Ren's hand.

"We were given a mission. The loadstone inside the compass can lead us to the Oracle, master."

Ren twists the compass carelessly in one gloved hand, as though it is a confiscated toy.

"The Oracle is a myth, a Jedi fable."

He affixes Kuruk with an intense stare. "And on whose authority was this mission commanded, Kuruk?"

Kuruk's emotionless mask remained still, pausing for a little too long.

"Supreme Leader Snoke's, master."

At the mention of the name, the muscles beneath Ren's face tighten, his scar pulses to a deeper shade of red. His words, though calm, barely conceal his venomous tone:

"Snoke was an arrogant fool. He was worthy only of becoming fuel for us to consume. The same is true of the Resistance, of the First Order, the Republic, the Jedi, all ammunition for the rise of the Final Order."

He squeezes the compass in his long fingers. The metal groans in protest.

"Why should I heed the interests of a corpse?"

"Certain victory, master," comes a voice from behind Kuruk.

Ren turns his leering gaze upon the jagged and cruel looking mask of Ap'lek. The shrouded knight approaches the throne, standing level with Kuruk, and retrieves a book bound in red bark from his large cloak.

"The Sith feared this power, but we will transcend them by harnessing ultimate control over the future."

He brings the ancient tome before Ren, unfolding one of the pages. Ren scrutinizes the scrawl of sharp looking characters and two illustrations; one shows an alien-like being with several arms spread wide, the second details two hooded warriors haloed by jagged symbols. Whilst Ren examines the pages, Ap'lek continues.

"It is written that the Oracle possesses 'unparalleled future sight'. She bestows absolute prophecies upon those who prove their worth."

He gestures around to Ren and the other five knights, all listening now.

"And who is more worthy than us?"

Ren looks from the page to Ap'lek, his expression unchanged by the attempt at flattery. He continues to turn the delicate compass over in one hand. Ap'lek bristles, turning the page and running a gloved finger over its reverse.

"The prophecies she has given were instrumental in changing the tides of battles and overthrowing dynasties!"

He points excitedly to an illustration of a kingdom aflame.

"The Disciples of Lettow were toppled in one night with her aid!"

Ren remains unmoved, and Ap'lek's frustration begins to bleed into his attempts at explanation.

"The Jedi squandered this resource and they were wiped out! They were weak, soft."

This probing of Ren's heritage has the desired effect, as he now affixes Ap'lek with a dangerous stare. Ap'lek draws his attention to the final illustration; a hooded figure commanding a jagged blast of mystical energy.

"Once we are proven worthy, the Oracle constructs her prophecy around our desire, our ambitions, to influence the future."

He steps over the tome and kneels directly in front of Ren now, Kuruk also following suit in a show of subservience.

"The Knights of Ren will demand our future from this Oracle, and certain victory will be yours, master."

Ap'lek keeps his head bowed as his master stands and towers over him. Kylo Ren considers the possibilities, the potential to realise his dream. With a clatter, he drops the compass before Ap'lek and Kuruk, issuing a single command;

"Summon her."

"Yes, master," utter the two knights in unison.

Ap'lek snatches the compass hastily, approaching the glowing pyre at the centre of the pit. Kuruk follows, carrying the tome in one hand, flicking the pages with the other. One hand holding the compass still, Ap'lek digs his fingers into the intricate device and wrenches the central crystal stone free. He tosses the once ornate trinket to the floor, peering around before taking a blade from Trudgen's belt, who swipes at him irritably as he scurries back to face the pyre. Revealing a section of tan skin from under his glove, Ap'lek drives the jagged blade across his palm until beads of scarlet blood leak from the cut. He holds the crystal stone in the now bleeding hand, as he and Kuruk recite an incantation;

"Mis satchi dzis ri qo an hatsi dirtsarias, diâ nakirji a ajiasosûtsa iw ri tzirji zûtawtumriki zijia kirs, an shasona udati ir kakasosûtsi dzis ji awatia!"

Kylo Ren watches from above as the room begins to dim, the flames of the pyre reducing to glowing embers, hissing as drops of Ap'lek's blood drip onto the coals.

"Ziji mus! Ziji mus! Ziji mus!"

At the utterance of Ap'lek and Kuruk's last chant, a claw of smoke billows upwards from the pyre, almost reaching the ceiling of the immolation room. The shapeless ashes take the form of a large creature, with a thin body and face, six spider-like arms, a pointed mouth, and wide staring eyes. Kylo Ren and his Knights watch with stunned attention. Finally, the Oracle speaks in ethereal voice;

"I see you, summoner, and accept your offering. What future do you wish to bring?"

She directs her echoing words at Ap'lek, but before he can speak, thudding footsteps behind him indicate the approach of Kylo Ren. The tall warrior sweeps his cape behind him as he addresses the smokey form.

"My disciples tell me you have absolute future sight. The Knights of Ren have need of it."

The Oracle straightens her large head to look at Kylo Ren, standing tall before his throne.

"There is nothing absolute about my vision, as all depends on the quality of provision."

She raises two of her spider-like arms and gazes upwards.

"I see many tangled futures, all messes, guesses. But, those proven of inner competence I can guide to a desired consequence; a prophecy."

Ren absorbs her words for a moment before answering.

"If given a goal, your prophecy can guide us to it?"

She nods at Ren, then looks around the room at all warriors clad in black.

"Continuing down this path yields absolute knowledge, but be warned. My prophecies can lead to rebirth, victory, or enemies reformed."

She bows her head, almost melancholy.

"Acting on prophecy means the Knights of Ren will either achieve ultimate triumph or absolute dismantle. Are you seven prepared to take this gamble?"

Ren turns his attention to the tome Kuruk used to summon the Oracle - an account of a successful prophecy. He wonders if those who gambled on prophecy and didn't win faced a worse fate; forgotten by history. Failures.

He refuses to be a failure.

"Your prophecy will be of use to the Knights of Ren."

Kylo Ren climbs the stairs and approaches his throne, now looking down into the Oracle's staring eyes.

"You will guarantee the victory of the Final Order."

The Oracle bows her head in acceptance, although her eyes linger on Ren.

"Summon me once more with the blood of your leader, and your greatest enemy..."

She arches her arms back into her body, as the smokey vision of her form starts to dissipate.

"...and I will use that to divine a path to absolute victory."

Her words echo around the immolation room as the smoke fades, the flames upon the pyre bursting back into life. Ren watches as his knights gather, united under a cause, and the words 'absolute victory' reverberates inside his skull. Vicrul raises his vibroscythe with renewed spirit.

"Our greatest enemy? She must mean the Jedi!"

Vicrul indicates a lump of burned grey cloth amongst their loot from Ahch-To - a poncho that once belonged to Rey.

"Hunting the Jedi is what we do best. Hell, I'll do it myself!"

A roar of approval goes up from his gathered kin, but Kylo Ren's heart skips a beat. Rey. He'd been so preoccupied with deciphering the Oracle's riddles that he'd omitted that crucial detail. As a Jedi, Rey is the ultimate enemy of the Knights of Ren, and now it is their mission to bring her blood. But Ren knew it wouldn't stop there.

"Only her blood, Vicrul." He warns. "Nothing more."

Vicrul nods, obeying his master. Ren attempts to once again banish his feelings, rectifying his internal uneasiness when Ap'lek speaks.

"The other offering is spoken for!" Hisses Ap'lek. "Master Ren will give his blood, as he is the strongest of all of us."

Most grunt in mutual agreement, but one of the six approaches the foot of the stairs and points his warclub towards Ren.

"Don't be so sure Ap'lek" growls Ushar, leering up at his master.

"He may be strong in the Ren, but I can sense weakness, hesitation, sentiment, in our 'Supreme Leader'."

Ren faces away from Ushar's words. Regaining his composure, he slowly turns and stares down at the audience of emotionless helmets, rudely reminding him of the one he used to hide behind. Ushar's senses are sharper than Ren gives credit for. However, not one of his disciples saw his lightsaber hilt leave his belt, now resting comfortably in his left hand beneath his cloak. Kylo Ren sneers.

"Is there an accusation in there somewhere, Ushar?" Ren sneers down at him from atop the stairs. "Or are you going to fumble your words all day?"

Ushar clenches his warclub in both gloved hands, his voice dropping to a serious whisper.

"No accusation 'master', a challenge."

These words register an immediate response from the surrounding knights, who step into a crude circle formation around Kuruk and Kylo Ren, challenger and master. The precedent is clear; Ushar has formally challenged Kylo Ren as leader. Ren descends slowly closer to Ushar, his cape draped over his shoulders, concealing his hands. Ushar watches, his foot pivoting on the first step. After a few moments, the tension snaps.

Ushar yells, dashing up the stairs towards Ren. The caped warrior maneuvers out of his way, but Ushar keeps charging, passing Ren on the stairs. He turns and leaps down at his foe, warclub raised, aiming to crush Ren's head in a single blow. Ren reveals his right hand from beneath his cloak and extends it towards Ushar, commanding the Force. Ushar freezes in mid-air, then is thrown sideways by Ren's telekinetic blast. He topples head over heels into the sunken pit, stopping at the bottom. He raises his head, the gaze of his fellow knights on him. He's worse than injured, he's embarrassed.

Ren feels nothing but contempt for Ushar as he now gets to his feet, frustrated. Ushar walks away from the throne staircase, instead climbing the larger stairs that line the pit, until he is level with Ren. Without a moment to lose he charges towards him, warclub slashing at Ren's torso. Maintaining his composure Ren darts backwards, igniting his crackling scarlet lightsaber and bringing it down on Ushar's right arm. The time for showmanship is over. But Ushar's reflexes equal Ren's own.

At the last moment, Ushar maneuvers his swing to change Ren's disarming strike to a glancing blow. The tough leather of Ushar's armguards burns away, the tan skin scorching where it meets the lightsaber blade.

"HUURK-!"

Ushar swings his warclub crudely, twisting to face Ren who levels his scarlet saber at him. The pain only fuels Ushar's determination. His warclub's unique filaments mean it will resist Ren's blade for a few hits, so he has to make them count. Luckily, Ren is still underestimating him.

Ushar's next attack is parried by Ren's blade, but the second is not. Ushar twists his body and swings the warclub up from the ground, smashing directly into Ren's chest. The cloaked warrior falls back and, though his guard remains intact, his restrained demeanor does not. Kylo Ren's dark eyes burn with rage as he dashes forward, blade a blur of scarlet as it seeks to cut Ushar in two. Backtracking, Ushar changes tactics.

Swinging his club to the side, he outstretches his burned arm towards Ren and activates a switch on his glove. A small metal tube on Ushar's gauntlet ignites into a stream of flame that engulfs Kylo Ren. Beneath his mask Ushar grins with assured victory, but too soon. Emerging from the flames, Ren's crackling blade slashes upward - severing the flamethrower gauntlet and the arm it's attached to.

"RRRRAAARRRRGH!"

Ushar screams as his limb rolls away across the pit floor, but there is still fight in his heart. His weapon swings upwards, but Ren bats it away with his saber, instead kicking the side of Ushar's head with full force. With a sickening clang, Ushar is flung towards the pyre, rolling to a stop before it. Ushar tries to pull himself up on his good arm, but is stopped by the point of Ren's lightsaber hovering just over his heart.

"Say it."

Ren kicks Ushar in the stomach and repeats his demand with a roar.

"SAY IT!"

A trickle of blood dribbles from within Ushar's mask, which has been dented by Ren's strike.

"...Master."

Ushar bows his helmeted head. Though physically defeated, Ushar's challenging words have done their job, biting at the edge of Ren's consciousness.

Hesitation. Sentiment. Rey.

Ren turns to the surrounding knights looking down at him from the edge of the pit. He points with his saber.

"Does anybody else have a challenge?" He shouts in their direction.

In response, they all kneel. Kylo Ren unclips his cloak, still smouldering from shielding him against flames, and discards it. He steps over the now unconscious Ushar and ascends the stairs to the throne, his back to his so called allies. He reaches the top of the fire pit, issuing his order from upon high.

"I will have the power of the Oracle. Get me what I need."

Vicrul and Trudgen nod, taking Rey's poncho with them as they prepare to hunt. Behind Ren, the cockpit doors open to reveal General Engell, a middle aged woman with a sharp face. She bows her head carefully before she speaks.

"Supreme Leader, urgent news."

Ren turns and towers over Engell, sweat still dripping from his brow.

"Yes?" He growls.

Though Engell looks up into Ren's face with barely repressed unease, she speaks her next words with satisfaction.

"We've located the Resistance."

---

BB-8 rolls back and forth across the floor of the Resistance outpost, his red eye searching. He makes his way through a crowd of pilots, beeping alarmingly as he's almost stepped on before finding who he's looking for.

"All done with helping Poe?"

Rey ascends up the boarding ramp to the Resistance flagship Craitstar, her travelling pack and sleep mat in her arms, junk net slung over her shoulder.

"What do you need me for?"

BB-8 trails after Rey as she places her bags down in a small cabin aboard the flagship. He splutters his reasons for needing her, finishing on a beep that catches Rey's attention. She finishes affixing a cloak around her shoulders, and turns to the little droid in surprise.

"Finn needs my help?"

Rey and BB-8 exit the bulky flagship and descend the tunnel leading to the detention level. A chill bristles Rey's cloak as they reach the cells. Two guards stand either side, pistols and shock prods holstered in their belts. They both greet Rey with a welcome nod, and linger on her for a few seconds when she returns the courtesy. Her rescue of the Resistance at the Battle of Crait is well known and, coupled with her attitude and skills synonymous with the word 'Jedi', Rey has garnered a curious respect amongst most of the Resistance troops. Having most of her life in the company of no more than herself, Rey has incorrectly assumed that nods and awe-filled looks are just common courtesy.

BB-8 rolls ahead and gives Finn's boot a slight nudge. He's crouched on a bench, deep in thought, and looks up when BB-8 and Rey come into his view. His mood immediately changes, as the pair pull each other into a welcome hug. When they break apart, Rey's smile is all cheeks and warmth.

"Someone call for help?" She enquiries, sarcastically.

Finn chuckles. "Ha, always."

He places a hand on her shoulder and turns to face the end cell. Whilst BB-8 wanders around their feet, Rey examines the cell, which is the only one occupied. A woman sits upon the bed block inside, staring at the wall. Finn shakes his head.

"I'm having trouble getting any info out of her, she refuses to talk," he admits.

Frustration, with a twinge of guilt, still bubbles in Finn's stomach.

Rey spots a pile of scarlet armour to her right, with the Scout Trooper helmet perched atop, presumably the prisoner's. She comes to a natural conclusion.

"She's the reason we're evacuating?"

Finn nods.

"The First Order has sunk it's claws deep. She won't listen to me."

Rey looks from the dark shape in the cell to Finn, realising that he has already conjured the answer subconsciously. She considers how to lead him naturally to this conclusion.

"Why did you send BB-8 to get me and not Poe?"

Finn straightens up, flustered by the abrupt question.

"Err well, I know what Poe would say-" The tinge of guilt inside him spreads, like a chill.

"-'We are at war.'"

Rey knows exactly what he means. Such apathy for the life of a prisoner lights a righteous flame in Rey's chest, but she moves past resentment towards Poe. It's important that Finn understands too, and she senses the same flame bubbling inside him already. She presses on.

"Why did you ask for my help, Finn?"

Finn looks at her and sighs. It isn't Rey - his friend - that he seeks for guidance. It's Rey - the Jedi. He knows the feeling he gets from this prisoner is beyond his five senses, and that the only person who understands is Rey. He tries to put that feeling into words.

"When I'm in there talking to her, I can… feel something. Like, we're sharing an emotion."

Rey tries to imagine what it must be like to be captured and taken to the base of the enemy, alone. Infact, from her several brushes with the First Order, she doesn't have to imagine hard.

"Fear?" guesses Rey.

Finn shakes his head solemnly.

"Terror." He affixes Rey with an intense, almost pleasing look. "And she's not terrified of us."

Rey doesn't need her connection to the Force to see that Finn has felt the same dread once before, when he was a conscripted soldier of the First Order as well. The scarlet helmet leers at them through the darkness. Now Rey allows the righteous flame inside her to fill her body with warmth, drawing strength from it, summoning her smile.

"Then that's our approach. We don't interrogate her, that's their way."

Understanding blossoms over Finn. This terror he'd experienced before, over a year ago when he'd been deployed on Jakku. Terror, as he watches Slip die in his arms. And rejecting that terror as he lowers his weapon against defenceless villagers. Terror, intimidation... that is their way. So what is the right way?

"...saving what we love," says Finn, more to himself. He makes up his mind, and matches Rey's smile.

"I think I know what to do. Ready?"

Rey nods and they advance toward the cell, passing the emotionless helmet. The click of the electric lock and vanishing rayshield alerts the prisoner, who stands immediately. She's slightly shorter than Rey, with a crop of thick black curls and deep brown skin. Without her Scout Trooper armour, she wears only her standard issue body glove and boots. Her brown eyes affix Finn with a look of utter disdain as he and Rey enter the cell. A moment of silence passes before Rey moves in front of Finn to match her gaze with warmth.

"May we sit with you?"

The prisoner gazes at Rey, unable to comprehend such pleasantries. She looks to Finn, as if waiting for an explanation

"I'll take that as a yes," Rey says calmly.

The Jedi takes a seat on the empty bed block, facing the still standing prisoner. She retreats until her back rests on the wall, looking down at Rey in confusion. Finn leans against the frame of the cell door, and makes a show of discarding his blaster from his belt, leaving it outside. Rey looks up at the intimidated woman.

"We'd like to ask a few questions," she continues calmly. "If that's alright?"

The prisoner doesn't answer, looking between Rey and Finn suspiciously. Rey shuffles a little closer to her.

"We mean you no harm, I promise."

And Rey means it. Finn nods in agreement. Another moment passes of intense staring, then the prisoner sits gingerly near the back of the bed block and faces Rey. Finn can almost feel the compassion rippling out from Rey in waves, as though her emotions were as plain as the clothes she wore. He's unsure if this is her skills in the Jedi arts, or just how she is. Either way, he's glad she's here. Rey smiles warmly at the prisoner.

"My name's Rey, what's yours?" She chirps.

The prisoner glares at Rey, as though insulted, and stares at the wall between her two guests.

"I know who you are," she says to the wall, voice as sharp as her stare. "And I know you're going to invademy mind."

Rey is slightly taken aback. Is this really what the First Order said about her?

"No, I'm not-" but the prisoner cuts across her, breathing rapidly now.

"I'm not going to give up the Final Order, my fellow soldiers, and I'm not scared of either of you traitors."

Her insult is filled with poison as she glares at Finn.

"When they come for you, you'll never leave Reconditioning."

Finn remembers the Reconditioning Division aboard the Finalizer, where Phasma had tried to send him. It is a dark place. If you went in, you never remembered coming out - just a feeling of fatigued conformity and the occasional blind nightmare. A shiver creeps up Finn's spine as he rubs his arms, uneasy.

Rey can sense his distress too. She stares into the face of the woman now glaring at Finn, and picks out the part of her insult that most fascinates her.

"The 'Final Order'?" She inquires. "Isn't it the 'First Order'?"

A smile crosses the woman's face.

"What does it matter, I only care about my garrison."

Rey presses on. "Don't you have a homeplanet?"

The prisoner scoffs at Rey's ignorance, still not looking at her.

"Living in the gutters of shipyards I wouldn't call 'home'. The First Order relieved my family of their burden before I can remember. I'm glad. They are my real home." Her voice swells with pride.

"They trained me and gave me a purpose: under the Supreme Leader, we will rebuild the galaxy. That is the Final Order."

She looks directly into Rey's eyes with nothing but deluded contempt.

"You wouldn't understand."

But Rey does understand. She had heard this plan before, and from the 'Supreme Leader' himself. But, surrounded by flames, she had seen the true intentions of Ben Solo. It wasn't to rebuild the galaxy - but to burn it, to punish it, to demand penance from the Galaxy. It is a familiar feeling, one she'd shared many nights in the boiling days and freezing nights alone on Jakku. The sadness she had buried for so long has reared its head, striving to climb out and take a hold of her once more. But, just like she'd done during those cold nights on Jakku, she'd refused. Surrounded by flames and dead warriors, she had seen where this vengeful path would lead, what would be sacrificed if she followed Ben. And Rey had been strong enough to make the right choice.

If only this woman could see.

Rey interlocks her hands before her and leans forward, preparing to speak from somewhere deep inside her chest. She'd only really done so at length with one other person, over a year ago on Ahch-To, and he was not in this room. She took a deep breath before speaking in a low voice.

"I do understand."

She grimaces faintly at the sting of memory before pushing on.

"My parents sold me when I was five. I guess I was a burden too."

Rey allows a moment for her words to land. Finn's mouth drops open in shock. He'd assumed he knew all there was to know about Rey's home, having met her there, but he'd never asked further. Finn felt ashamed. He had dismissed Rey's desire to return to wait for her parents as they were swept up in the fight against the First Order. He felt further guilt when he realised that he'd never taken the opportunity to ask her about it over the past year, the assumption being that she was just 'fine'. His look of sympathy is matched by the prisoner as well, who quickly resumed her mask of sharp indifference. Rey continues, solemnly.

"I had to scrap all day just to eat. I thought my parents would come back for me, but it wasn't long ago before I feared they were never coming back."

She doesn't have to spell out why, all three of them know - they didn't want her.

"When I finally left, I took nothing with me that I hadn't made myself. My clothes, my staff." Her lip trembles, sadness and memory rearing inside her. "Even my name. I made it up."

She looks into the attentive eyes of the prisoner with this somber truth in hand, and just smiles. Finn is reminded of how Poe had given him a name in the heat of their escape, whilst Rey had no one. His guilt bubbles into frustration at her parents for abandoning her, and anger at the First Order for taking him away from his own.

"The Jedi and the Resistance has helped me get stronger," Rey continues. "-But it is my choice what I do with those skills." She reaches out a hand, and places it upon the prisoner's own. "You have that choice too."

The prisoner's muscles tense and she withdraws her hand as though Rey's touch burns her.

"No, I can't, I won't I-" she fumbles between confusion and resentment. Finn approaches the edge of her bed block.

"'Reconditioning', can you remember it?"

His tone is direct, which startles the prisoner somewhat out of her tangled muttering.

"What? Yes. Of course." She looks almost defiant, like a child proud of being reprimanded. "My blaster malfunctioned, I was sent there and learned better."

Finn can't help but look at her with the greatest sympathy. She really believes she deserves to be tortured. He averts his eyes, staring at his worn boots.

"I don't remember it. But my friend Slip, he did."

Finn clears his throat, searching for words.

"We were being deployed, but he didn't want to fight. So he asked for a transfer."

Rey and the prisoner watch Finn with rapt attention. Finn finds his words again.

"He was sent to Reconditioning. When he came back, he was different, like he was asleep whilst walking. His laugh was gone. He wasn't my friend anymore. He was a tool. The only time he emerged from that was when he was dying in my arms, not a day later."

The discordant guilt and fear inside Finn that had emerged since Poe's order became almost unbearable. He looks directly at the prisoner, and makes his own decision.

"You won't face that fate from either of us or the Resistance. If you answer our questions, you're free to go."

The prisoner stares at him, completely shocked. She searches his face and finds no hint of deception Rey simply beams at her friend.

"The Final Order is about remoulding the galaxy?" questions Finn. "Well, the Resistance is about making sure no one experiences Reconditioning again, ever."

Suddenly the warmth leaves his voice, and Finn kneels to gaze into the prisoner's eyes intensely.

"I'm not asking you to join, but if you don't help us, a lot of those people are going to die. Please."

There is a long pause as the prisoner stares at the floor, thoughts racing.

"You'll let me go?" She says, in a small voice.

"We can't give you your armour and weapons back," Rey points out, "But yes, free."

The prisoner stretches and retracts the fingers on her right-hand anxiously. Her options are few. If she was being truthful with herself, her garrison would hand her over as a liability immediately. Then, the Final Order would at best execute her, and at worst, recondition her until she forgot who she was, like Slip. For the first time in her life, the prisoner made a choice unburdened by fear.

"I'll do it." She says, finally. "I'll help."

Finn stands, full of delight, offering a hand to pull her up.

"Thanks! You won't regret it…. errr….-"

He pauses awkwardly, realising 'prisoner' isn't a flattering address.

"It's AJ-2522," the woman admits quietly. "That's the name they gave me."

"You have our word, AJ-2522," promises Rey, escorting her out of the makeshift cell.

"I'll take you upstairs, you tell our General all you know about your garrison - weapons, numbers, and the nature of the beacon on your belt. Then you're free to go. Sound good?"

AJ-2522 nods solemnly. She'd made up her mind, and assumed there will be no hiding from these two - who possess annoying sharp intuition.

"You've probably got an hour til they're here," she admits dutifully.

Finn and Rey exchange hurried looks of alarm. Finn holsters his blaster, and retrieves a standard issue vest from the lockup, giving the discarded Stormtrooper armour a private glare. He passes the vest to AJ-2522, marking her as a friendly.

"Alright, follow me."

The three of them approach the stairs and climb. BB-8 rolls behind them excitedly, leaving the guards he'd been annoying in his wake. AJ-2522 seems to not really comprehend his bleeps and whistles, and stares at him as he chatters away to her. Whilst further up the stairs and out of earshot, Finn looks to Rey.

"Rey, about what you said..."

Sympathy and regret leak onto his face.

"Rey, I'm so sorry I didn't ask. I didn't even think I-" But Rey raises a hand.

"Finn, I wasn't ready before. It was still a bit, you know." She brushes a stray hair behind her ear, failing to find the words. "And I'm sorry about your friend, and what they put you through. It's not fair."

Finn shrugs, his relaxed persona returning.

"Ah it's alright, I don't remember much of it anyway, just the aftermath."

He bops her on the arm, affectionately. "Plus, I had you guys looking out for me."

Rey laughs, but something catches in her throat. The memory of a man with long curtains of hair, sitting alone, growing smaller as she walks away. Alone. She sighs.

"Well, there are some that weren't so lucky."

Just like the emotional connection he had sensed with AJ-2522, Finn can sense who Rey is referring to from her feelings - Ben Solo. The scar on Finn's back aches slightly and his stomach twists, thinking about the dark warrior.

"You don't mean Kylo Ren?"

Rey stops on the steps, a little surprised at Finn's reaction, but a flash of defiance returns to her next words.

"And what if I do?"

AJ-2522 and BB-8 were further down the stairs and out of earshot. Finn stops as well, his grip tightening on the hand rail.

"It's not the same."

Rey, a little ahead, looks down at him. Though she has her own doubts, she settles on the truth.

"If there's one thing I know, it's that there's light in everyone." She smiles, remembering something Finn said some time ago. "I saw it in you, didn't I?"

Rey continues her climb, leaving Finn speechless. The comparison between himself and the monster who attacked him in the forest made him sick, but the truth in Rey's words looms over him. After a brief pause he continues after her, thoughts of Kylo Ren replaced by determination for the task at hand. There are people to save.

---

The jagged silhouette of the Night Buzzard blots out stars as it exits hyperspace above a curious planet.

A sphere of crimson sand, its surface hollowed out in one particular spot, appearing like a jagged black scar. The waste of such rigorous mining now rings the planet in a belt of scarlet rock and debris, which the Night Buzzard guzzles past, making a course for the shadowy scar. The mining stretches so far it disrupts the very horizon of the planet. The sand covered crust has been levelled into sheer cliff faces that end hundred of miles deep, where precious metals have been stripped greedily. This planet is named Othkore.

Atop a two-mile wide square of artificial flooring sits an insidious structure; a collection of rectangular durasteel blocks, with a tall, gated entrance - the Final Order Fortress. Several square towers top the keep, one on each corner and a master at the centre, whilst a thick outer wall rings the entire complex. Red flags adorned with the Final Order crest hang from the ramparts above the gate, which face a long scarlet track to a docking platform reserved for senior command. This track is flanked by no less than 1,000 Stormtroopers, standing to attention in neat scarlet lines, awaiting the arrival of their Supreme Leader.

Beyond the platform and either side of a continuing track, large shafts had been constructed, hollowing out the earth to form multiple construction pits. They stretched out two-miles in length, and at least half that in depth. Here, conscripted engineers utilise raw materials to construct warships, though they are concealed from view. Currently, the Star Destroyer named The Finalizer is the only one in working operation, having been raised out of its pit.
These internal shipyards are managed by control towers along the centre track, and conclude at the cliff's edge by a scarlet building with few windows.
The Night Buzzard passes over this structure and coughs to a halt above the docking platform, facing the track towards the Fortress. It lands between a number of other personal ships, including a large, jet black shuttle with vertical extended wings - Kylo Ren's personal command shuttle.

The Buzzard's docking ramp descends with a hiss of white smoke, and two lines of Flametroopers disembark, forming two lines either side of the ramp. Then, a party of six advance towards the Fortress, up the track flanked by loyal soldiers. Kylo Ren leads, his cape billowing and his expression that of renewed determination. General Engell follows at a brisk pace, flanked by warriors Trudgen, Ap'lek, Kuruk and Ushar. All carry their weapons upon their left shoulder, excluding Ushar whose left sleeve has been drawn around a stump that now ends in a grizzled metallic cap.

As they close in on the Fortress, Kylo Ren locks eyes with a man watching from one of the large tinted windows of the Central Command Tower. The man has a sharp face, a vigorously combed crop of red hair, and a clenched jaw that gives his scowl of contempt an extra edge. He holds his gloved hands behind his back, pristine white Officer's uniform freshly pressed and neat in every way. His clothes now contained accents of red, mirroring the scarlet armour of the Stormtroopers under the Final Order. The dual stripe insignia on his arms indicates he holds the rank of Admiral. As his Supreme Leader passes through the outer wall gate and enters the Fortress, Admiral Armitage Hux allows his true feelings to leak onto his face for just a moment; that of genuine hatred.

The highest floor of the Fortress' main block contains the war room; rectangular and high ceilings with a thin holotable at its centre, surrounded by a number of chairs. The largest of these seats Kylo Ren; a slightly raised triangular throne with controls inlaid in the arms. Along the table sits the Final Order Senior Command - Generals Engell, Bellava and Quinn, and the slightly older Admiral Griss. Far opposite Ren sits Admiral Hux. They all wear similar jet black uniforms, with the red accent of the Final Order present. A swirl of red sand beats against the tall windows in a constant storm.

Ap'lek and Cardo guard their master, standing either side of his sharp throne with their weapons held before them, ready to defend him at a moment's notice. On the opposite end of the table, Trudgen and Ushar flank either side of Hux, but their intimidating presence has nothing to do with protecting him. Ren deliberately chose Trudgen and Ushar for this job due to their height and physical intimidation, and he senses Hux's discomfort already. Ren considers the information Engell had given him earlier, running through the meeting plan in his head but where to start is obvious. A verbal desecration should do the trick.

"Admiral Hux." Ren's voice rumbles calmly, almost courteous. "The 'Final Order', is it ready?"

Hux stands from his long back chair, running his fingers over the holotable controls. A series of red holo images flashes before them, and Hux launches into an evidently rehearsed dialogue;

"Our military forces are nearing a peak of 8,000 troops, Supreme Leader." The ghost of a smirk traces his lips, but he keeps cool.

"Since the untimely demise of Captain Phasma, I have not only suppressed the irksome circumstances of her death by her own traitorous soldier, but improved upon her duties as leader of the Reconditioning Division."

A holo-image of the scarlet building with few windows appears, along with a cross section.

"I have accelerated the recruitment of the Stormtrooper Corps by both conscripting cadets from conquered planets, and improving upon previous methods of Reconditioning that make instances of non-conformity impossible."

Hux clears his throat, choosing his next words carefully.

"I have also regained complete control of the narrative regarding the betrayal of FN-2187. It has become 'known' amongst our troops that he was executed at the Battle of Crait. Any mention of his name, or any other vague signs of non-conformity are being met with swift reprimand and immediate Reconditioning."

The holo-image changes to a map of the known galaxy, with a web of a dozen planets marked by the Final Order insignia.

"4,000 Stormtroopers now maintain our hold of these key planets. They have rooted out any and all opposition, and will continue to hunt the remnants of the enemy. The remaining 4,000 troops remain here, aiding in the restoration of our naval forces and defence of this Fortress."

A holo-image of six Star Destroyers forms alongside his words.

"We will soon be fully recovered from the Battle of Crait, and victory will be within our grasp, with no military units opposing us."

Hux shuts off the holotable and takes his seat, affixing the Supreme Leader with a piercing gaze. The complete domination of his own success and inarguable results in his address should be enough to overshadow any undermining Kylo Ren is planning to throw his way.

Since Ren's wild rampage on the surface of Crait, Hux decided that Kylo Ren didn't just need to be outranked, he needed to be cut away from the First Order like an infected limb. The only other person Hux knew as well as his enemies is himself. He had seen a wild lack of discipline that day, as Ren screamed order after order, driven only by adolescent frustration. Hux had envisioned his overthrow before they'd even left Crait's surface; planning to divert control of the Stormtroopers to purely flow through him and him alone, under the guise of Ren's military revival as 'the Final Order'. Then, simply wait for Ren to explode again. He'll give him a push, a nudge, an undermining here and there, but Hux possesses something that would've made Kylo Ren unstoppable; patience.

Hux smirks, plainly, so Ren can see. He had seen to his enemies destruction countless times; Admiral Brooks, Commander Pyre, his own father, dead by his hand. All he has to do is wait.

Unfortunately, Kylo Ren knows all this and more.

From across the table, Ren can sense the resentment and spite emanating from Hux, like badly masked body odour. Ren strokes his chin with a gloved hand, considering his old rival and decides to build up to the revelation of Hux's inadequacy. He doesn't deny that the thought of it fills him with smug delight and punches the first of many holes into Hux's outline.

"The death of Skywalker has fueled dissent, many flocking to join the Resistance," states Ren, leaning forward slightly. "Where are they?"

Hux is taken by surprise. He'd been sure that Ren wouldn't resist attacking his achievements. What is his game? He clenches and unclenches his fists under the table as he twists Ren's question in his mind before replying.

"Not only have the worlds my troops conquered been specifically targeted to keep valuable resources out of Resistance hands, but we've also made a show of punishing Resistance sympathizers. The destruction of Tah'Nuhna, for example."

As Hux speaks, a holo-image of a planet appears. One of its cities has been levelled by orbital bombardment, which is barren apart from a garrison of Stormtroopers manning an outpost there, TIE starfighters circling the destruction like vultures.

"We have kept the pressure up to prevent them from catching their breath, and sooner or later they will fall to one of my hundreds of garrisons." Hux continues quickly, giving no opportunity for interruption. "However, there remains a complication."

The holo-image switches off and Hux affixes Ren with a glare, full of spite.

"The Jedi is making both ambush and capture extremely difficult. And as ordered, I have left her to be dealt with by the Knights of Ren." He musters up the cheek to gesture vaguely at Trudgen standing beside him. "Yet she still remains free to grow stronger by the hour."

Hux teeters on the finishing blow, allowing himself to relish in the moment.

"Following her murder of the Supreme Leader, I imagined her capture would be swift..."

He folds his arms and leans back, leaving the question of Ren's incompetence hanging in the air, like a foul smell. Hux admits to himself that he may have made a slight oversight: Kylo Ren's ultimate flaw isn't his lack of discipline, it is Rey.

A vein underneath Ren's scared brow twitches. To him, Armitage Hux is just a tool, an obstacle the Final Order will have to overcome to flourish into the new Galactic power. Ren stands from his throne and walks around the table towards Hux. The Admiral masks his fear almost immediately but Ren passes him, instead approaching the large rear window and the howling dust storm beyond. Molten rage bubbles deep in Ren's stomach, threatening to melt his precious restraint.

Ren stares out into the whirl of red sand, Hux's accusation against his integrity still hanging in the air, and he exerts his control over the Force. The windows groan with strain for a moment, then the dust storm that pelts the windows subsides, the very power of nature secondary to that of Kylo Ren. The silence unnerves the surrounding Generals and stimulates worse reactions inside the mind of Admiral Hux. Ren turns once his subtle display of power is understood by all and addresses the question.

"The resurgence of the Jedi Order is a danger more serious than even the most able bodied Resistance fleet. The actions of lone Jedi felled the great Galactic Empire, but we are not so foolish."

Ren gazes down at his senior staff with rapt determination.

"The sworn duty of the Knights of Ren is to hunt and kill Jedi. My men surrounding you here have all achieved that feat, exchanging a life for a place amongst our number. They will give their own lives for their mission; the complete eradication of the Jedi Order."

Ren approaches the side of Hux's chair, standing shoulder to shoulder with Trudgen, who looks straight ahead, his chest swelling with pride.

"These men aided me in hunting down the remnants of Skywalker's students, and we will do so once more. We have acquired the power to fulfil our mission, and with the Jedi religion destroyed, the galaxy will be reborn anew under the Final Order."

He comes to a stop behind General Engell and General Bellava, who do not turn to him. Like Trudgen, they stare straight ahead and listen carefully. Their Supreme Leader continues.

"General Engell has already exceeded expectations. Using the unity of the Final Order, our General has discovered the location of the Resistance!"

Engell is surprised Ren even mentions her involvement. The tall warrior places a gloved hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly, and indicates for her to speak. Hux stares at them both in complete shock.

"Y-yes, Supreme Leader," begins Engell tentatively. "Certain garrisons of Scout Troopers have been given flare beacons, specifically to aid in our hunt for the Resistance. An activated flare beacon will summon the entire planet's garrison to that location and, if the Scout's lead turns up false, they face execution."

She presses keys on the holo table, and a large mountainous planet appears, with a radar-like signal pinpointing one of its mountain ranges.

"Our garrison on Brentaal IV is currently mobilising, after the activation of a flare beacon." She finishes with a satisfied nod, which Ren returns. He continues to circle the holotable, and chooses his next words carefully.

"Complete dedication to the Final Order has gifted us with this information. Modelled on the duty of my Knights, this means that every Scout is betting their life on their decisions, and thus our power grows." He points to the holo-image. "The Resistance will be crushed."

Ren watches as his senior staff relax at this news. After over a year of chasing, the Resistance has been found, and by Kylo Ren's methods no less. Even the stern Admiral Griss eyes the holomap before him with surprised approval. Hux's pale cheeks flush red as he watches the scene unfolding before him. Satisfied, Ren approaches his throne to deliver the finishing blow. He stays standing, leaning on the holotable to bring him closer to the people he's attempting to win over.

"We created the First Order here, on this very planet, to replace the Empire. But we have grown beyond that, beyond the ideals of old. We will succeed where both the Empire and the Republic failed. We will not bind the Galaxy to weary ordeals, we will craft a future of our own."

He clenches his fist, and the windows of the room rumble with strain once more.

"We are the Final Order!"

With that Ren reclines into his throne and waits, releasing his hold on the dust storm. The effect is instant; the howl of the wind returning and the generals looking from one to the other in approval, enthusiasm replacing their fear. They discuss the details of the 'flare beacon' and its results in murmurs for a moment. The only one who doesn't share in this buzz of excitement is Hux, whose face has now drained of all its colour. The four leaders conclude their brief discussion, all looking to Kylo Ren.

"Most extraordinary, Supreme Leader." Admiral Griss' voice is low and rumbling, but his complimentary tone is genuine. "What are your orders?"

Ren's gaze wanders between them, but it now focuses unblinkly upon his rival.

"Admiral Hux. I am giving you command of the Finalizer. Go to the Brentaal system and destroy the Resistance."

He leans back in his throne, wondering if he is overselling the bait. He decides this impossible, due to the bottomless nature of Hux's insecurity.

"The Resistance is small and ignorant of our plans. The Knights of Ren will deal with the Jedi and you will destroy the Resistance."

He lowers his voice slightly, just to make sure his threat is absolutely clear.

"I will not tolerate failure. Do you understand?"

Hux staves off grinding his teeth long enough to mutter, "Yes, Supreme Leader," in response.

With the meeting adjourned, all rise and bow to Ren and make their way towards the tall door behind the throne. When Hux tries to follow, Ushar and Trudgen block his escape. Ren issues some commands to Ap'lek in a low mutter, then rises to face his pale rival. He approaches, flanked by his Knights, until all five of them tower over the seated Admiral. Beads of sweat start to form on Hux's sharp cheeks.

"Is there something else you need of me, Supreme Leader?" His courteous tone strains.

Ren scoffs, instead looking at the planet of Brentaal IV represented in holo-image.
His thoughts sink towards the person he is most interested in, staring at the indicator where she now lived, trained, and slept. He blinks hard, as though this will banish such seductive thoughts. He has come too far.

"No, Hux. There is only one thing I need to make clear; your army is mine."

Anger floods Hux's face.

"You dare even-"

He tries to stand, but Trudgen's gloved hand comes down hard on his shoulder, silencing him by slamming him back down into his seat. Ren talks over him.

"Your position in the Final Order all depends on this mission. You can either succeed and destroy the Resistance, aiding the First Order in winning the war..."

Ren straightens up, turning to lock his dark eyes upon Hux's expression of confused shock. Ren's long, draped cloak seems to increase his already fearsome height even more. A dangerous glint crosses his vision.

"Or, you fail to destroy the Resistance with all the resources I have provided, and I will execute you personally."

Ren watches this ultimatum dawn on Hux. A mixture of anger and fear battles for supremacy beneath the pale face, and Ren relishes his victory.

"I look forward to watching you fail yet again," he says, confidently.

Ren turns and sweeps towards the door, his cloak billowing behind him, his four knights falling into step in his wake. Trudgen digs his thick fingers into Hux's shoulder before moving away. Hux contorts his face into a mask of defiance. Anger at his loss of control overwhelms his patience temporarily.

"And what will you be doing whilst I'm off winning the war for you?" Hux shouts.

Kylo Ren can't help but smirk. Hux knew so little of the Force and all that can be achieved through rending its power, a lesser man might have pitied him. But Ren takes further pleasure in revealing this to him.

"The importance of superweapons, hyperspace tracking, and obedient armies are nothing next to the power I will possess." Ren curls his gloved hand into a fist. "Certain victory."
He takes one final look at his hated rival before disappearing through the tall doorway. His four warriors depart, leaving Admiral Hux alone in the war room slumped in his chair.
He stands, and attempts to quiet the shacking rage pulsing through his blood. A single thought calms him finally; he is being forced to make his move. He smirks, if only Ren knew what he had in store. Armitage Hux is far from beaten.

---

Inside the Reconditioning Division on Othkore, squads of Flametroopers share meek and cramped barracks on a windowless floor. Some are beginning to remove their armour and weapons, exhausted from the day. Amidst the bustle of the cramped rooms, a lone Flametrooper holds her helmet before her. Somehow, the sounds of dying caretakers from the island can still be heard.

This eerie sound is cut off by an earsplitting siren. A red light bathes the once dim quarters, and a mechanical voice sounds:

"Squads TN, PR, and MT. Report to Battlestations aboard the Finalizer."

The message circles on repeat, as the troopers all replace the helmets, armour and weapons and march from the room. The lone Flametrooper dons her helmet and follows, slightly behind. High above the barracks, a two-way window houses Admiral Hux and gaggle of younger officers.

"Maintain the pressure, I want what we paid for, and I want it now" finished Hux, addressing one of his younger underlings. "Arms dealers are fickle creatures, they need us far more than we need them."

"Right away Admiral" the young officer replied, escorting themselves out of the room.

Hux watches the tardy Flametrooper with disdain. He picks her out with a gloved finger, indicating to an armoured trooper to his left. "Captain, round up our Reconditioning offenders before departure, and add TN-2729 to the list. We must bore out weakness."

The Captain bows his head in acknowledgement. Flametrooper TN-2729 is halted, cuffed, and led down a deep staircase, along with three other restrained Stormtroopers. Admiral Hux follows behind, his white uniform contrasting with the black and red interior. The lights grow dim and the purpose of this under level is revealed; large vertical beds are affixed to the floor by large metal arms, several masked medical attendants surround them.

The four troopers are ordered to surrender themselves, strapped down to beds, mechanical arms lifting off their helmets, revealing passive expression but terror in their eyes. With Hux's order, the attendants and mechanical arms of the Reconditioning cradle go to work, beginning a well-practised procedure of discipline torture. The trapped troopers stare straight ahead, and Hux watches with business-like apathy as they start to scream. Hux truly believes this is necessary.

Out on the Othkore landing platform, the Knights of Ren make adjustments to the Night Buzzard and Kylo Ren approaches the docking ramp, but halts. He turns slightly to survey the red building beyond, the 'Reconditioning Division', and the screams of the four troopers are audible to him through the Force. The muscles underneath his face twitch as he feels their pain.

Hux continues to look upon his cruel work, almost bored.

Rage bubbles behind Ren's eyes as they become wild. With a great effort he turns away, approaching his personal command shuttle and ordering his pilot droid FA-17 to prepare for takeoff. He slumps into a chair in his large, personal quarters, the window shuttered, wincing at pain of his own now, sharing in the torture. Upon a plinth before him sits the charred remains of a helmet - Lord Vader's helmet. Ren stares into the blank eyeholes, conflict bubbling inside him. Memories can be heard - a voice in his ear, his beloved uncle Luke standing over him with a lit blade, the cutting words of Snoke. His own words come as a desperate plea.

"Show me, Grandfather."

But there's no answer. Desperate, Ren snaps his eyes shut, banishing the swirling voices of memory back to the recesses of his mind. Forgotten once more.

Hux approaches the upper docking of the Finalizer, a two-mile long Star Destroyer flagship, in one of the six pits built to house such ships. The red sandstorm of Othkore howls around him. Below, Hux watches the four troopers file out of the Reconditioning Division, joining their squadmates and boarding the huge vessel, with a satisfied sneer.

"The greatest army ever to walk to stars has no need for undesirables" he mutters to himself. His underling from earlier approaches.

"Failsafe successfully acquired Admiral, with a little persuasion." Pipes up one of his aids.

Hux's sneer curls into a dark grimace. "Excellent. Keep on them, I want all the failsafe protocols made, tested, and at my disposal." He gives the younger underling a firm glance. "Nobody steals my life's work. Nobody."

The underling nods, and Hux's swept towards the boarding ramp. "Prepare the Finalizer for lightspeed immediately."

As he strides ahead across the boarding ramp, his white Admiral uniform can be picked out easily from below. Though many troopers face forward and await boarding in neat lines, a single Flametrooper looks up at Hux. Her face is concealed by her helmet, but her hands shake angrily. Though she is fresh from Reconditioning, it is not conformity and dedication to the Final Order that forces this reaction.

TN-2729 shakes with rage.