Chapter IV: Slaves to Love

Chewbacca thrashed against his restraints; a wild beast finally caged. He whipped himself as far as he could get and roared at Kylo Ren. The Wookie's saliva coated his mask causing Arielle to smirk as Kylo nonchalantly wiped the slime from his visor.

"Why do you resist?" the supreme leader whispered, his distorted voice honied with malice. He held his hand towards Chewbacca's face, "I only want to help."

Arielle did her best not to wince as Chewbacca howled in pain. The torture chamber they were in was hexagonal and his screams were reverberated, yet she still refused to look away. A strong mind was known to be able to resist mind probes and tricks, and the Wookie's mind was apparently unbreakable. So Kylo had resorted to forcefully ripping Chewbacca's mind apart to get the information he needed.

What were Rey and the Resistance doing in the desert? Was it just the Sith dagger they were after, or what it something more?

She remained transfixed as Chewbacca's howl turned to a whimper and then to nothing at all. What needs to be done, she repeated to herself. Dark sider and enforcer of the First Order she may be, but torture still caused Arielle's stomach to churn. Kylo withdrew his hand.

"Somehow the rebels knew about the Wayfinder, specifically Palpatine's," Kylo said as he turned towards Arielle. "They were on Pasaana to find it, only to discover the dagger instead. A breadcrumb on the trail."

"A trail that will lead them to the second Death Star's ruins," Arielle said, "I gleaned as much from the dagger."

She peered over at Chewbacca's body – he still hadn't moved. "Is he-?"

"Dead?" Kylo casually replied, "no. His mind may be a little jagged when he awaked, but Uncle Chewie will live. I'll have him sent to a labour camp – a very lenient punishment for a rebel terrorist."

"Uncle Chewie," The child-like title was so at odds with the dark, menacing warrior before her that Arielle almost laughed.

Kylo regarded her coldly. "What did you do to Rey?" He'd been mentally pestering her about this ever since they had left Pasaana.

"The dagger's purpose is to locate the Wayfinder in the second Death Star," Arielle explained, dropping any trace of humour, "all I did was relay that information to Rey."

"And then you gave her the tool to do it," Kylo added, his curiosity growing, "to what end?"

"Rey will go to the Death Star, where she, already angry and grieving, will be met by us," Arielle said. "She will either die by our hands or join us. Either way, we rid Palpatine of his granddaughter, or, more hopefully, we gain a powerful new weapon."

"You're putting a lot of faith in our powers of persuasion."

"I am, aren't I."

Kylo snorted and removed his helmet. He may have appeared to be more tired, yet the determination and power Arielle saw filled her with a sense of dread. She also took off her mask, and now Kylo looked her dead in the eyes.

"Last time I extended my hand to Rey, she foolishly rejected, what's going to be different this time?" he asked.

"Last time, you opened with "you're nothing"," she snickered, "so, first of all, you need to improve your game."

How about I try shirtless? Kylo's eyes shone as the words formed in Arielle's mind, and she couldn't resist smiling slightly.

You're not that ripped, Arielle replied, even as she knew she was lying.

"No, this time, the circumstances will be different," Arielle said out-loud, "last time you had Rey believing that the dark side was only a choice. This time, we need her knowing the dark side is in her blood."

Rey stared at the blanket.

She knows what's underneath but can't even think about it without tearing up.

She knows that, for the sake of the Resistance and the entire galaxy, she should be stronger than this.

Rey remembered looking up, clutching her side from where Arielle Ren had thrown her to the ground. Some ribs had been shattered, but that was miniscule to what she had been suddenly watching. Finn had seen the dark warrior injure her, and, like the good person he is-was, had come running.

He had yelled her name and fired at Ren. But she had spun around and ducked. The blast barely scorched her arm and it hadn't stopped the lightsaber from being thrown.

It had whirled and spun, and Rey knew she would never forget the horror on Finn's face – the way his eyes widened and how his mouth opened, maybe to say something nice or probably just to scream.

But the next sound was the one made as the lightsaber separated her best friend's head from his body, followed by a thud as it fell to the ground.

She had been unable to move, unable to process anything. The only thing Rey could do was scream his name, as if that would bring him back. Her best friend was dead. Finn was dead.

No, she had thought as the world stopped crashing around her. Not dead. Murdered.

Murdered by the bitch standing before her.

Arielle Ren had stood up, her short golden hair waving slightly in the passing breeze. Traces of the adrenaline rush had still been visible on her scarred face and the deep hazel of the dark sider's eyes were alight with sadistic pleasure.

The sight made Rey angry, angrier than she had ever been. Her parents abandoning her, Han Solo's death, Ben refusing to come back to the light… Rey felt it all erupt within her.

The kriffing mission to stop Palpatine or whatever paled in comparison to the fact that Finn had been slaughtered and his killer was still breathing.

Strength unexpectedly came to her. Maybe Rey had known where that power had come from, but in the heat of the moment, she hadn't cared. Power was power.

Now, Rey sat in Ochi's ship, staring at the blanket that covered Finn's body. She knew that she had willingly used the power of the dark side. Everything Rey thought that she had strode against and resented Ben for, she had just done.

And the worst part? It had felt so good. Natural even.

Rey turned away from the blanket, not wanting to continue with that train of thought. Poe and C-3PO was in the cockpit, flying the ship to Kef Bir, while BB-8 was rolling around exploring the ship. Poe had mourned for Finn as Rey had, but he seemed to be able to lock away his grief for the sake of the mission, something which Rey was unsure if she could.

Especially when their team suddenly seemed so small. They had lost both Chewie and Finn on Pasaana and it was unlikely they could get either of them back. The First Order had captured the loyal Wookie and taken if to their star destroyer. Rey had quietly opted to try and rescue him, but Poe pointed out they were outgunned and undermanned. Rescuing Chewie was suicide, so they had to go on.

Rey got up and shut the door of the cargo hold she was in. Taking out the dagger, Rey once again examined it. Threepio claimed it was against his programming to translate the markings on the blade, but, thanks to Arielle Ren, there was no need to. Not now that Rey knew what it was for.

After the bitch had stuffed Rey full of sand – a defeat which Rey was still kicking herself for – she had implanted a series of visions in Rey's mind. The dagger's function and the true location of the Wayfinder on the second Death Star's remains.

Why Ren had done it didn't matter. It was obvious she wanted Rey to go to the Death Star, which meant she was almost certainly walking into a trap.

But they were low of resources, morale, and options. Trap it may be, finding the Wayfinder on the Death Star remained their best, and only, option.

And Rey would have been lying if she said she wasn't thirsting for vengeance against Arielle Ren.

The thought sickened and excited Rey, but then she felt a very familiar sensation. A whoosh of air around her, gooseflesh bursting on her arms, and the feeling of another presence behind her.

She turned around to see Kylo Ren standing before her, his mask off. Rey didn't say anything – she had nothing more to say to him. Whatever misery and pain he must have read on her face caused his own to morph in one of pity.

"I'm sorry about your friends," he said, the sympathy in his voice genuine, "it appears my orders bringing you and your companions in alive were ignored."

"You as good as killed him," Rey snapped, her temper getting the better of her. Okay, maybe she did have something to say to him. Even if it was what she was warned against, Rey clung to the anger that flared up inside her. It was a hundred times better than the emptiness she felt before. "Do you even remember his name?"

"FN-2187."

"His name, not his number!"

"Finn then," Kylo calmly replied, "Not that whatever he called himself even really mattered."

"He was my friend!" Rey screamed at him, and several crates around her were suddenly flung back. She tasted salt and realised that there were tears running down her face. She wiped them away and did her best to remain composed. "Who was she," Rey asked quietly, "Arielle Ren?"

Kylo eyed the scattered crates curiously. "My friend," he said indifferently.

Rey raised an eyebrow. She knew that, after he had burnt the temple, several students had been unaccounted for. Luke had presumed Kylo had killed them elsewhere or they had followed him over to the dark side and were as good as dead.

But it still shocked Rey that Kylo had someone, even after what they had both done, that he somewhat-cared about.

"I wasn't aware that supreme leaders had friends," she said frostily.

"Yes, we have them."

Rey shook her head, trying to ignore the rage gnawing at her bones. "Not for much longer. Finn's death will not go unpunished."

"You would kill my friend to avenge your friend," Kylo remarked, "that's not the Jedi way, is it?"

"Arielle's going to get what's coming to her," Rey growled, and that hate inside her snarled its agreement.

Kylo looked at her deep in the eyes, and Rey saw there was worry there. Just for a moment, and then it vanished, replaced by the usual coldness. "You feel it then – the dark side. It's wild, untamed but it's within you and in abundance." He dared a step towards her. "I regret Arielle's role in Finn's death, but it appears it was necessary to show you the truth."

Rey wanted to punch him in the jaw or turn and run herself – anything to get away from this. But she was rooted to the spot.

"I wasn't wrong when I said your parents were nobodies. But they didn't abandon you, but rather left you on Jakku to protect you. And their efforts cost them their lives."

Even as Kylo spoke the words, memories of a man and a woman slammed into Rey. You'll be safe here, the man said – her father, Rey realised. And then more flashes – the Sith dagger being plunged into their hearts. Rey nearly fell to the ground.

"Palpatine was looking for you even then. Because that power inside you is his." Kylo paused for breath, but Rey didn't dare breathe. "You're his granddaughter. You are a Palpatine."

Then Rey really did collapse and then she was breathing, rapidly and wildly. Kylo looked down at her apologetically.

"We'll be seeing each other soon." Then he was gone.

"We'll be seeing each other soon."

Leaning against the wall outside of Kylo's quarters, Arielle felt the Force-connection cut-off. He had agreed with her that it would be better for them to let Rey know of her heritage before they confronted her, allowing time for the scavenger to wallow in her confusion, and emerge all the more vengeful.

And then Arielle had been promptly ordered outside while Kylo activated their Force bond. Apparently, Rey would be more inclined to listen when her friend's murderer was out of view. So, Arielle waited, doing her absolute hardest not to press an ear to the door and listen in on the juicy conversation.

Kylo was standing up as Arielle entered, staring at the wall with a hand stroking his chin.

"I assume you heard all that," Kylo said, distantly.

"Was I not suppose to?" Arielle purred. "That revelation will send Rey into turmoil. The drop she took into the dark that Finn's death started will turn into a freefall." She gave a cat-like smile to Kylo. "You just need to be ready to catch her."

Kylo put on that all-too-familiar scowl at her underlying words. "I have no attachment to Rey. She is merely a means to an end."

And the First Order is peaceful and porg-loving. Even aside from the slight arousal that Arielle could feel in the room that certainly hadn't been there before he'd spoken to Rey, it was more than obvious from Kylo's inner uproar regarding the scavenger Jedi that there was more to their bond than just the Force.

It wasn't as if she particularly cared. Maybe someone with a full heart would be jealous. But Arielle felt no envious tug in the place where it should have been. She supposed that was a good thing, as it seemed to be the one thing both of her trainers had in common.

Whereas Luke had always maintained that attachment was not the Jedi way, Snoke and the Knights of Ren had encouraged passion, or at least the strength that came with passion. But in neither case had they explained exactly what should be done with the impulses that only flourished with age.

And so, while Luke and Snoke instructed Arielle how to swing her lightsaber, she had turned to the darker side of the holonet for the topics of love and sex. Not to mention her and Ben's own experimentation.

Those occasions had filled her with passion and desire, but Arielle was fairly certain that didn't equate to what was generally considered a romantic relationship. It left her satisfied but… But what she felt from Kylo towards Rey was more than just blind lust and passion, but something more. Something deeper.

Definitely different from anything he'd ever felt for her.

"Make sure you remember that" Arielle answered Kylo eventually. She didn't particularly want the emotional baggage and confusion that seemed to accompany this deeper feeling in Kylo.

From Arielle's experience, emotion, especially love, always seemed to lead to downfall. Han Solo had been convinced he could bring his son back, and he had ended up with a plasma blade in his withered chest, courtesy of said son.

Love is a dagger to the back, Arielle though to herself as she left, best to be avoided.

But some broken piece of her still wanted to know what it was like.

Arielle stood in one of the control boxes overlooking the Steadfast's hanger. Panels and screens of bright lights and shrill noises echoed around her along with the constant chatter of the masked technicians and black-capped controllers. But Arielle kept her focus on the TIE whisper below.

Kylo had decided to travel to Kef Bir, where the Death Star ruins lay rotting in the moon's ocean. As per their plan, he would confront Rey here and use her heritage to lure her over into joining them, where they could overthrow Palpatine together.

Or at least, that was what he was supposed to do.

The supreme leader had opted to go alone, arguing that it would be better if Arielle were not there, or the aspiring Jedi might suddenly get a thirst for revenge. His logic was sound in theory, but Arielle had other musings.

If she were smart, Rey could demand that, in exchange for her allegiance, Arielle would be put down. The act would push Rey firmly into the dark side, and Kylo Ren would finally have her at his side, not-to-mention the armada of star destroyers.

Arielle watched as he climbed into the whisper. Despite their history, she held no illusions over their current relationship. Kylo would almost certainly betray her if it meant Rey joined with him.

Not that she intended to give him the chance.

Arielle refused to be a slave to love as Kylo was. For her goals to succeed, she must do what needed to be done, no matter how bitter it made her feel.

The moment that Kylo Ren's fighter flew out of the hanger, Arielle turned to the nearest officer. "Prepare my ship."

The officer barked his compliance and marched off. She activated her commlink and Sergeant Azriel, the second-in-command of Griffin Company, picked up almost instantly.

"Sergeant, have Captain Phasma and General Hux report to the throne room immediately" Arielle ordered.

"Yes general. Will there be anything else?"

She considered for a brief moment. "Yes; send a few of your troops down there also. I will have need of a firing squad."

Turning off her commlink, Arielle stared vacantly at a nearby stormtrooper on patrol, the blaster in their hand gleaming white. Bone white.

I'm no slave, she reminded herself, what needs to be done.

The throne room remained in its usual colourless ambiance, with not a sound to be heard besides the echo of approaching footsteps. Arielle lounged on the throne as Phasma and Hux marched in and bowed their heads. She had elated not to wear her mask for this, wanting the two of them to see her face.

Phasma saluted. "To what do we owe the honour, general?"

Arielle didn't answer for a moment, instead fiddling with her sleeves. "Treason," she said at last.

Hux's usual sneer dissolved into fear and panic while Phasma merely placed her hand on the pistol at her side.

"Tr- Trea- Treason?!" Hux spluttered and swivelled his head around in sheer fright. Only then did he notice the twenty or so Griffin Company stormtroopers hiding in the shadows.

"Yes, treason, I trust you know what it means."

"On what grounds?" Hux demanded, even as Phasma remained silent. Hux, Arielle knew, she would have had no problem in cornering. The captain on the other hand… Honestly, the firing squad she'd sent for was mainly to swiftly deal with the battle-hardened veteran.

"Betraying precious First Order secrets to the Resistance," Arielle stated, "for spying for a terrorist faction."

Several First Order secrets had been leaked to the Resistance over the last few months. Whilst Kylo and Pryde had dismissed them, convinced the traitor would soon be exposed, Arielle had dispatched her ship's droid, BB-EN, to monitor the transmissions and track down the culprit. And the small and unassuming EN had come through.

The revelation that it had been Hux was surprising, but Arielle cared little for the reasons of Hux's betrayal. All it had mattered was that it gave her a reason to call for his execution.

While Hux stuttered, Phasma stepped forwards. "And me, general?" She spat out the last word.

Phasma was a good soldier. Maybe not a good person, but she was someone who cherished loyalty, justice and a strict, but fair, regime. Arielle liked her. But Phasma was too dangerous to keep alive, and Arielle disliked having precarious variables in her plans. But finding a reason to execute Phasma had proved to be difficult. The captain did everything by the book and was, to Arielle's annoyance, the most loyal First Order member in existence.

So, Arielle did what she did best. She lied.

"Defection," Arielle said, "specifically, abandoning Starkiller Base in the midst of battle. Thousands of troopers died that day whilst you fled, captain."

Phasma was a survivor of Starkiller, had lived while many others didn't. Enough facts fitted that the lie wouldn't be too suspicious. The captain had retreated, but only when the evacuation order had been given.

"I deny it," Phasma announced loudly, "I demand a trial as per First Order law".

"Unfortunately for you," Arielle said as she beckoned her troops forwards, "the First Order is going to be a bit too preoccupied in the coming hours to be concerned about you." Arielle sat up straight and stared straight down at the two. She knew she needed to do it before she lost her nerve. What needs to be done. "Execute them."

Her stormtroopers swept forwards and opened fire. Two shots slammed into Hux's chest before he could react, but Phasma let loose a few blasts of her own. Even as Hux's steaming husk fell, three stormtroopers collapsed with holes in their heads. Phasma rolled forward and for a moment Arielle though the captain would survive. That she would escape and wreak Arielle's plans.

Then a shot took Phasma in the arm, then the leg and finally the hip. Her helmet rolled off as Phasma crumpled onto her knees. Those bright eyes of hers turned and stared into Arielle's own, one final look of defiance. Then five energy bolts cleaved her head apart and Captain Phasma was no more.

"Clear the bodies up," she commanded to the nearest stormtrooper, "if anyone asks, say the supreme leader ordered their deaths of the grounds of treason."

The troopers obeyed and Arielle stood up. She crossed the room, hoping her ship had been prepared by now. The feeling of their fading auras in the Force was unbearable, one reason why she hated standing around recently deceased bodies. But more to the point, she still had a lot of work before the day was done. More murders and sins to commit.

Phasma was too efficient and Hux was too defiant. Their deaths were necessary for the endgame Arielle had planned. But her business on the Steadfast was not yet complete.

Arielle's TIE glimmer waited in the hanger. While based off the old TIE striker design, the cockpit was rectangular rather than spherical and the wings were slightly shorter in length. The shields on the fighter were strong, even if the weapon system consisted of only the basic cannons.

Yes, the TIE glimmer was far from a cheap, effective fighter for the First Order, but Arielle appreciated the attention to stability and endurance in the glimmer rather than raw speed and firepower. So, she took the prototype as her personal fighter and had it outfitted with red and silver décor alongside the standard black colouring. She was a dark sider after all – some style was required.

BB-EN was waiting for Arielle besides her fighter and he beeped his greeting. Like her ship, Ian was coloured predominantly black, but with red and silver markings swirling around his rounded structure. She gave the little droid a genuine smile – Arielle was very fond of the small sneaky robot, so much so that she had begun to call him "Ian".

She tapped her commlink and General Pryde answered.

"General," Arielle said softly, "no doubt you have heard by now of the fates of your colleagues."

"Words has gotten around of the treasons of General Hux and Captain Phasma." Pryde's tone was even, contemplative and Arielle could virtually smell the schemes the allegiant general was cooking up.

"The supreme leader has summoned me to Kef Bir," lied Arielle, "so you will act as leader here in our absence."

"I live to serve, Lord Ren."

Arielle cut off the call. If he hadn't already, Palpatine would be in contact with Pryde, reminding his old general of his true loyalty to his emperor. And with Arielle, Kylo, Hux and Phasma gone, there would be no-one to stop him merging the remaining First Order flagships with that of the Sith armada.

The two orders would become one, and, if Arielle played her cards right, would be that much easier to bring down.

She turned to Ian, patiently waiting for her. Arielle took one long look at the loyal droid.

What needs to be done.

Arielle was beginning to sincerely despise those words.

"Ian," she said remorsefully, "I've got an incredibly special task for you to complete."