Glitter and Gold
Chapter 29
34 ABY – Kylo Ren's ship
As Vex returned to consciousness, the first thing she became aware of was the burning stripe of pain across her torso that throbbed with a growing intensity.
The second thing she noticed was the utter silence surrounding her, something cold and tight around her neck. The absence of something she'd felt as long as she could remember. The Force. She'd felt this before.
"You're awake,"
She knew that voice. Faintly, vaguely, like it was a distortion of a voice she knew well. Even groggy and disoriented as she was, she knew it in her marrow. "Kylo," Vex breathed. "I don't feel right… something's wrong,"
A low breath left Kylo. "It's the collar. It inhibits your ability to use and perceive the Force. It's called –"
Her eyes snapped open, finally. "- a Creel collar. I'm familiar," she snarled, slowly sitting up on the bunk, despite her pain.
Kylo exhaled lowly, hitting a few buttons to put the ship on autopilot. Then he rose from his seat to approach. "Of course you are. I'm sorry," he said.
"Take that stupid thing off," Vex growled, refusing to look at him until he did.
He stilled in his approach, sighing. He drew off the helmet. "I'm sorry," he said again, with his voice.
"For what?" Vex questioned, finally meeting his eyes. "For hurting me? Or for where you're taking me?"
Kylo sighed again. "I didn't want this," he told her.
"Why, then?" Vex retorted. "You didn't even hesitate. Kylo,"
"I didn't have a choice, Vex," Kylo said, crouching in front of her. He took in a deep breath. "Three years, Vex,"
"What?"
"Three years I kept you and Anakin safe. I followed every false lead, went on every wild goose chase. Always intending to let you slip through my fingers, but Snoke got wise,"
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"If I didn't capture you when the opportunity presented, Snoke said he'd kill you. Use me to do it," he explained.
"Kylo," she whispered.
Again, he sighed. "This way there's hope. As long as you're alive, there's hope," Kylo sighed.
Vex sighed, reaching out to trace a finger along his jaw. "And what makes you think Snoke won't kill me?" she questioned honestly.
"He still sees you as his daughter," Vex scoffed, looking to the floor. "The pilot," Kylo said, changing the subject. Her eyes shot up, full of panic. "He loves you."
"What did you do to Poe!?" she questioned.
He shrugged lightly, adopting an arrogant look. "Nothing. I simply extracted what I needed to know," Kylo said nonchalantly. "But what he told me of his own free will was much more interesting,"
"What, Kylo?" Vex asked with dread.
"He's our son's secret keeper. No one else in the galaxy, including you and me, know where Anakin is," Kylo Ren said coldly. "What kind of fool –"
"I trust him, Kylo," Vex said, cutting him off.
"And you love him," he presumed, eyeing her carefully. She simply looked at him for a long moment. "I'm not angry, if that's what you think,"
Vex sighed, lowering her eyes to the floor. "He has to survive, Kylo. If you or I ever hope to find Anakin again, Poe has to survive,"
!
The Finalizer
Poe had been left alone for a while now. Kylo Ren had left, with a note of finality. Two Stormtroopers had stood beside him ever since. The door suddenly slid open, another Stormtrooper entered. "Ren wants the prisoner," he said.
The cuffs around his wrists instantly opened. Poe looked up in surprise, slowly stepping out of the chair. The Stormtrooper grabbed his arm roughly, escorting him from the room and through the halls, blaster pointed at him.
"Turn here," he ordered, shoving Poe into an alcove. Poe flashed him an incredulous look. "Listen carefully. If you do exactly as I say, I can get you out of here,"
"What?" Poe questioned in bewilderment.
The Stormtrooper took off his helmet, revealing the young face beneath. Earnest, with cocoa-colored skin, and entirely sweaty beneath the collar, huffing for breath "This is a rescue. I'm helping you escape! Can you fly a TIE fighter?"
Poe's brows furrowed. "You're with the resistance?" he asked.
"What? No, no, I'm breaking you out! Can you fly a TIE fighter?"
"I can fly anything!" Poe breathed. "Wait, why – why are you helping me?"
"Because it's the right thing to do," the unmasked Stormtrooper said, resolutely.
Poe looked at him for a moment. "You need a pilot," he assumed.
The Stormtrooper sighed, and gave a little nod. "I need a pilot,"
A grin spread over Poe's lips before it suddenly slipped away. "I can't," he said, to the other man's look of bewilderment. "I can't go without Vex, I have to –" he paused, seeing the look on the Stormtrooper's face.
Dread. Sadness.
"What?" Poe questioned.
"Vex – the Reaper – she's gone. Kylo Ren left, half an hour ago. He's taking her to the Supreme Leader," All the breath left Poe in a rush. That quick moment of relief, of hope – was gone. A pit formed in the bottom of his stomach, beginning to roil with intensity. The Stormtrooper gripped his arm, getting Poe's attention. "I'm sorry – but this is our only chance,"
"Yeah," Poe agreed, in a distracted tone. "Yeah, yeah, of course,"
!
The Supremacy
Vex never thought she'd step foot on this ship again. She'd prayed for it every day since she'd escaped. Everything she'd thought she'd gained since leaving – hope, love, light – was suddenly gone as Kylo Ren led her to Snoke's throne room.
She felt like that frightened child again. But older. Wiser. With so many more reasons to fear.
Vex kept her head down, silent as Kylo guided her through the ship. Her wounds from their battle had been treated, before leaving the Finalizer, but she could still feel them, with every movement and shift of her frayed clothing. The Creel collar was cold around her neck, a reminder of so many humiliations and agonies.
"Supreme Leader, I bring you your wayward child," Kylo Ren stated once they'd entered, as if to remind Snoke of his supposed affections. He forced Vex to her knees in front of him, to face the decrepit old man she'd escaped three years ago.
"You may return to the Finalizer, Lord Ren," Snoke dismissed, a surprising calmness to his booming voice.
At first, Kylo didn't move. He stood, stock still. Almost as if in shock. Vex didn't dare look back at him, her gaze instead fixing on the floor. With the Creel collar around her neck, she couldn't reach out to him. But, within her mind, she begged.
Please, please don't leave me. Please. Kylo, please. Don't leave me alone with him!
"Lord Ren." Snoke said, a hint of warning entering his tone.
Kylo Ren remained still a few moments longer, his conflict obvious. But then he turned, and he left. Vex's hands twisted into fists, pressing against the cold floor of Snoke's throne room. She did not look up. She did not look at the creature who'd tortured her for so many years.
"I find… that I do not know what to say in the face of such treachery. My own child…"
Vex's gaze snapped up, eyes filling with hatred. "I am not your child!" she snapped. Snoke's hand snapped to the side, and she immediately winced back. But there was no pain. No torment. Vex's eyes pricked open. What was he up to?
Snoke had returned his hand to his side, now resting his malformed chin upon it. He watched her, carefully, thoughtfully. "You'll find my patience has run out. Long ago, child." He warned.
Vex straightened, climbing to her feet without bothering to wait for his permission. Snoke leaned back in his throne, far calmer than she expected.
I will not cower before you, she swore. Vex found his milky, pale eyes with hers.
"I am not your child. And you are not my master,"
Review, Please.
Sorry for the long wait! Crazy, crazy summer!
Thanks to my reviewers last chapter - Guest and Mstngsali1!
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Much love, Suz Singer.