Glitter and Gold
Chapter 10
30 ABY – Dustig System
3 Months Later.
Vex sat on the floor of her quarters, elbow-deep in a pile of droid parts. They belonged to the nanny droid that Vex had demolished when she was ten. As soon as she'd received her lightsaber, she'd destroyed the droid that had zapped her for punishment. Its remains had been shuffled in the corner of her bedroom since.
She'd been tinkering with them since she'd been restricted to her rooms with Kylo Ren. She'd carried on since. Once they'd discovered she was pregnant, Kylo was allowed to leave. Vex wasn't. In the interest of protecting the child, she was not to leave her quarters unless she was going to sick bay or to Snoke's throne room. Even then, she was only allowed to leave with guarded escort.
Vex hadn't seen Snoke since her pregnancy began, and her doctor appointments were weekly – but beyond that, Vex was left alone, to her own devices. So she had decided to try and build a droid of her own.
Kylo Ren was the only one that came to see her. It wasn't often. He was constantly sent off on missions, probably carrying out the missions that would have been hers. When he was on the Supremacy, Kylo would come and spend time with her, take down a list of whatever parts she needed for her project. It was all she had to look forward to.
Their relationship had progressed since that night. Before, there was only an uneasy truce between them – and a tenuous trust. Now, there was something between them. What exactly, she didn't know how to name. It wasn't soft or kind, but it was warm, tender, and utterly confusing. The Force that linked them was powerful, often making her feel dizzy in the midst of a moment between them.
Vex slowly stood from where she'd sat in her pile of droid parts, smoothing a hand over her belly, where it was beginning to protrude. The nausea had just begun to pass, and now her appetite was beginning to return full-force. She plucked up her commlink, requesting food to be sent to her room. She stepped into the other room, sitting down in one of the cushy chairs to relax. She picked up the datapad on the table before her, bringing up one of the manuals on droid construction.
Her commlink chirped. Vex pressed the button to answer it. "Hello," she greeted, not taking her eyes from the datapad.
"Vex," Kylo Ren purred.
Vex straightened in her seat. "Kylo-" she began, laying the datapad to the side – "Will you be back soon?" she asked hopefully.
"Late tonight. I will have to report to the Supreme Leader before coming to you. Don't wait up for me," he answered.
Vex sighed. "Alright," she acknowledged.
"What are you doing?" Kylo Ren asked. "Working on the droid?"
"Mm, just took a break. Waiting for food to arrive," she said.
"The nausea's gone? Appetite's returning?" he said.
"With a vengeance. Every three hours, like clockwork, I'm starving," Vex told him.
"That's good, isn't it?" Kylo asked.
She made a thoughtful noise. "Means the baby's growing, I guess,"
"Good," he said. Despite Kylo's reserved tone, Vex knew firsthand how excited he was about the baby. How much he wanted it. He didn't show it in words, more in gestures. He called her every day he was away over the commlink, making sure she was feeling well. When he was with her, he touched her often, his hand smoothing along the curve of her belly.
Vex didn't share his excitement. It wasn't because she didn't want the baby. Something innocent and kind to love and be loved in return? Vex wanted that. But she knew Snoke didn't want this child just as his heir. He wanted to twist it as he had Vex and Kylo Ren, make it a being of pain and anger. Vex didn't want that for anyone, much less her child.
"I'll see you soon?" Vex said as the door alarm chime went off. "Oh, the food's here!" she said, popping up from her seat.
"I'll leave you to it. Soon." Kylo promised.
"Soon." Vex returned, before ending the call. She went to the door and accepted a plate of food before returning to her perch. She ate leisurely as she read through the document on her datapad, planning her next step in constructing her droid.
Her commlink chirped again. Without looking away from her datapad, she picked it up again and answered it. "Yes?"
"The Supreme Leader has summoned you to his throne room immediately."
"Alright, I'm coming" she said, setting the commlink back down again. She stood, brushing off her clothing of any crumbs. Vex stepped out the door, finding two Stormtroopers posted outside. "I'm to see the Supreme Leader," she said, pausing for them to fall into step with her.
She made her way there quickly, not allowing herself to think of what Snoke wanted from her. She hadn't seen him since the announcement of her pregnancy. Whatever he wanted, it was sure not to be good.
Vex was hesitant, stepping into her master's throne room. A smile crossed his gruesome face, his long arms gesturing her over. "Come here, my child," Snoke called.
She went to him, one hand pressing over her stomach as if to protect it. It was a useless gesture. Vex knew if Snoke wanted to hurt her or the baby, she wouldn't be able to stop him. "What is it, Master?" she asked.
Snoke took hold of her wrist, towing her closer. His large hand batted her hand away from her stomach, replacing it with his. "I wish to examine the child." Snoke said.
"For what?" Vex asked in confusion. She couldn't help the fear that had begun to thrum through her, starting as a tremble in her arms.
Snoke ignored her, his brow furrowing. Suddenly, Vex could feel fluttering from deep inside her womb. She'd felt it before, but it'd been different then. This time it was wild, almost agitated – churning Vex's insides. Whatever Snoke was doing, it was hurting the baby. "Master!" she cried out in fright.
Snoke drew back suddenly, face creased in confusion and anger. "The child is not force-sensitive," he said in disbelief.
"What?" Vex questioned. "How can you be sure, Master? It hasn't been born yet!" she argued. She tried to put distance between them, but Snoke's grip on her wrist held her fast.
"If the Force is in a child, it is there from conception. I waited three months to be sure, Vex. This child will not be my heir," Snoke said forcefully, spittle flying from his lips. Vex flinched away, trying in vain to tug her wrist away from his grip. "I will not wait for this waste to be born, Vex. You and Kylo Ren will try again," he ordered
"What?" Vex asked in alarm as his free hand reached towards her, slowly closing into a fist. She cried out as pain surged through her middle, falling to her knees. The pain quickly intensified and something inside her burst, something warm and wet and thick beginning to trickle between her legs.
Snoke drew his hand back, staring down at her. Even though he'd stopped, the pain only grew. Soon black began to ring Vex's vision as she slumped to the floor. "There. It's gone, and you will be free to try again soon," his voice followed hauntingly into the darkness of oblivion.
/
Somewhere not too far away.
Kylo Ren stiffened as if lightning had struck him. Something was wrong. He didn't know what. Didn't know how. But the sense of overwhelming worry overtook him. He tried Vex's commlink and received no answer. It didn't mean much – Vex often laid the device down absentmindedly and walked away. But something felt wrong.
"How long until we reach the Supremacy?" he questioned as he arrived in the ship's bridge.
Hux turned to face him, his pale and pointy face sneering. "Thirty minutes, maybe less." He answered.
"Make it faster." Kylo ordered, facing one of the windows.
/
Kylo Ren swept into Snoke's throne room, dropping to one knee. He wanted to get this over with, so he could get to Vex and make sure she was alright. He could feel her presence on the ship, but it was diluted. Weak.
"Your report, Lord Ren?" Snoke said.
"We swept through the suspected rebel base on Centares. It was uninhabited. Whatever messages we intercepted from it must have been from someone passing through, gone before our arrival," Kylo Ren explained.
"You're certain?" Snoke questioned.
Kylo nodded. "Yes, Master. Everything inside the base was covered in dust. It did not look as if it'd been disturbed," he said, beginning to stand.
Snoke nodded. "Disappointing…" he murmured, tracing spidery fingers across his chin. "Before you go, I'm afraid I have distressing news," Snoke said.
Kylo Ren paused mid-motion, dropping back down to his knees. "Master?" he asked, taking off his helmet.
Snoke sighed. "Vex has miscarried. She's in sick bay," he said in a regretful tone.
Kylo Ren jolted to his feet, alarm crossing his feature. "Is she alright?" he asked, worry entering his voice.
Snoke nodded. "She will be fine. You may go see her now, Ren," Kylo Ren instantly turned on his heel to leave, his long strides carrying him to the doors within seconds. "You must try again as soon as possible," Snoke called after him.
Try again? That was a thought Kylo Ren couldn't bear to entertain. He could barely comprehend the fact that their child was gone. He swept through the corridors of the ship, his expression thunderous. No one would dare cross him now.
Kylo Ren marched into sick bay, features still stony. "Where is she?" he growled at the first doctor he saw. The doctor stuttered out a fearful answer. Kylo never broke his stride, following the directions.
He found Vex at the far end of sick bay, partitioned off for privacy. He slipped in, standing at the foot of the bed. He stared down at her, hands clenching into fists.
Vex lay unconscious in the bed, looking pale and small tucked underneath the dark blankets. She was utterly still and quiet, entirely unlike her. Kylo knew now that when Vex slept, she shifted and moved, sighed and whimpered in her sleep.
He pulled the chair from against the wall to the bed, sitting down to be near her. He lay a hand on her forehead – she was clammy and cold. Beneath that, Kylo could feel her spirit, still there but weakened. He moved his hand to lay atop her belly. He closed his eyes and reached out.
Where there used to be a bright, shining beacon of light inside her womb, there was nothing now. The baby was gone. Kylo withdrew his hand, curling forward and covering his face.
It was hours before she woke. The moment she saw Kylo sitting beside her, she began to cry. He quickly moved to circle his arms around her shoulders, her head resting against his shoulder. "Kylo – the baby –" Vex began, between wracking sobs.
"I know," he tried to soothe, pressing his lips to the side of her forehead. "You miscarried,"
Vex shook her head wildly. "No," she cried. "Snoke killed the baby – crushed it inside of me!"
Kylo looked down at her in disbelief. "What? Why?!" he questioned, pulling away to look at her.
Vex sniffled for a moment, trying to find her voice. "He said… he said the baby wasn't force-sensitive," she cried. He tightened his arms around her to pull her close.
"I'm sorry," Kylo said, at a loss of what else there was to say. Vex didn't reply. She continued to cry, holding onto him tightly. He returned the embrace, a few tears escaping as he pressed his face into her hair.
Review, Please.
Thoughts? I know we're moving sort of fast - but this is sort of background for Vex. Once we get to the Force Awakens time, more action/more chapters.