Chapter Eight

Kylo wished that he had the ability to control the bond he shared with the scavenger. Everything would be so much simpler if he could manipulate the bond at will. Although, in times like this he was not complaining.

This time, when the force had connected them, Rey had been the one to be partially undressed. When he felt the connection snap into place he was unprepared for the sight before him. Rey had just finished pulling her top over her head. Clearly preparing for a shower.

The beautiful expanse of her back was exposed, revealing creamy skin that practically begged to be touched. Her hair was completely unbound, and it fell in fetching waves against her neck as she pulled the top over her head.

Kylo was stunned. His anger at her momentarily forgotten. But as he spied a long scar that ran from the bottom of her left hip straight up to her right shoulder, his anger returned in full force. He knew the kind of instrument that would leave a mark like that, a whip.

"Who gave you that scar?" His voice was thick with anger.

Rey shrieked in surprise and clutched her top to her chest before turning around to face him.

"Get out of here," she demanded. A blush stained her cheeks. She was clearly embarrassed, but she met his gaze full on.

"Who gave you that scar?" Kylo repeated, his voice even firmer this time. He would like to use a force compulsion on her, but he knew that it was useless.

"That is none of your business," she replied. "At least turn around and give me some privacy while I put my top back on."

Kylo waited a moment before responding. The air grew heavy in anticipation. Deliberately, he took a step closer to her. He didn't break eye contact with her as he replied, "No, I don't think that I will."

Rey's chin shot up in defiance and she clutched her top tighter to her.

"Fair is fair, scavenger. You saw me undressed." His voice was velvet over gravel. Deep and resonant.

Rey blushed all the harder at the memory and she finally looked away.

"This is ridiculous," she huffed. "Fine, if you won't turn around, I will."

Kylo stopped just inches away from her. His eyes scanning her every inch of her body. Soaking in the sight of her. Slowly, he raised his hand as if to touch her. Rey's breath caught in her throat and she stilled. Kylo's fingertips hovered just millimeters above her skin. He could feel the heat of it, even through the bond.

Taking a step back, he let his arm drop. This scavenger had betrayed him. She was nothing, just some Jakku scum. Unworthy of the attention he bestowed upon her. He could not allow himself to feel anything for her other than contempt and anger. What did he care if someone had hurt her. He was planning to hurt her. Had dreamed of scenarios where she was on her knees before him, begging him to stop.

Clenching his fist. He turned around and walked away from her.

"I meant what I said," he taunted. "You should cherish this time. It is your last moments of freedom."

Her back stiffened but she didn't respond. The connection severed and Kylo found himself alone again.

….

Kylo's hand gripped into a tight fist. His mind constantly pulled back to the memory of the almost touch between himself and the scavenger. It was days later and still he was haunted by the sight of her bare skin and the heat that emanated from her flesh. Would the Force have allowed them to physically connect again?

Forcefully pulling his mind back to the meeting at hand, he nodded his assent for the Vice Admiral to continue. The transition was going better than he had hoped. Already star systems that had previously resisted the First Order were willing to meet for negotiations on a cease fire. Giving people the illusion of a choice made their subjugation so easy. The Emperor and Snoke were fools for doing any differently.

The purge within the First Order ranks had also gone smoothly, thus far. He shouldn't be surprised. The people that were drawn to the First Order craved a strong leader. Wanted someone to tell them what was right and what to do. The need for rules, and respect for hierarchy were paramount in their minds.

It helped that Snoke had modeled Kylo Ren's place within the First Order on Vader's within the Empire. A figure outside of the traditional hierarchy with the power to supersede any general or commander, even on their own ship. Few within the order had actually encountered him for prolonged periods of time. However, his fearsome reputation and ruthlessness were well known. As was the high trust Snoke had placed in him. Kylo smirked at that thought. Snoke had trusted him right up until the point that the saber had severed his spine. The expression of shock on the old man's face a memory he would cherish for a long time.

After issuing his commands he dismissed the assembled party. Only moments later, Vars Ren entered the room. Dropping to a knee, Vars waited to be acknowledged before speaking.

"My lord, I have brought you someone with insights into the female force user."

"A friend," he queried?

"I doubt that she would call him that," Vars replied cryptically.

Intrigued, Kylo rose and directed his knight to lead the way. As they walked through the corridors to the interrogation center, Kylo could feel the fear of the individual trapped inside. Whoever it was, they were terrified.

Like all dark side users, Kylo feed off fear. It rolled through his body and enhanced his powers. Entering the cell, the prisoner's terror spiked when he saw them. Kylo used the Force to push the man's head back and hold his eyelids open. The hulking Crolute was disgusting. Unwashed clothing hung in tatters around the man's girth. Blood mixed with saliva and who knows what other filth clung to the creature. It was obvious that Vars had brutalized him before bringing him in.

"You are familiar with the scavenger known as Rey." It was a statement, not a question.

The man visibly swallowed before replying, "yes."

Something about the man was familiar. Not from Kylo's memories, but from hers. This man had played a significant role in Rey's life. The memories that she had of this man were tinged in resentment, fear and hatred. Yes, she clearly had strong feelings about this creature.

"I will tell you whatever you want to know. The bitch means nothing to me. She stole my ship and flew off. I haven't seen her since."

The man's reply came out in a stuttering rush. Clearly willing to sell out anyone to save his own skin. The prisoner's words should have pleased him but Kylo found himself feeling nothing but anger. He used the Force to tighten his grip on the prisoner's windpipe. Slowly tightening until the man could barely breath. He needed him alive but only for a little while longer.

"Your words are not necessary," Kylo replied coolly.

Using the Force, Kylo ripped through the prisoner's memories. Unkar Plutt, that was his name. This creature had known Rey for a long, long time. Since she was a child. He was the man that bought Rey from her scum parents.

Plutt screamed as Kylo tore through his mind. He could no longer form coherent words; the pain was too strong. Kylo relished the sound. Relished this man's pain. Plutt had been the source of so much pain in Rey's life. Forcing her to work and keeping her near starvation so that she would always be too weak to leave.

Plutt had delighted in finding a child that was so tiny that she could fit into spaces otherwise inaccessible to other scavengers. Often sending her into fallen Imperial ships that had already been carved out by others. The remains dangerously unstable from the previous scavenging. Sometimes, Plutt would even send her into a ship that he knew had nothing of value in it just so he could punish her when she returned emptyhanded. This man was a monster, and Kylo knew monsters.

Probing deeper, Kylo ravaged every memory the man had of Rey. Saw her grow. Saw her defiant spirit remain resolute in the face of every deprivation and degradation. One memory gave him pause. This man did not carve the mark into Rey's back, but he was responsible for it.

Rey looked like she was just 10 or 11 in the memory. Just a gangly child with a dirty face and unkempt hair. Still one of Plutt's regular buyers, Renken Dorrien, caught sight of the girl and decided that he would like to use her for more than just scavenging. Plutt didn't even hesitate before making the deal. No, he had been pleased. Plutt thought that it would be many more years before he could start making money off Rey's flesh. Why wait? Especially when the price was so good.

Plutt reconsidered his opinion when he heard Renken scream. Leaving his booth, Plutt saw Renken stumble out of the hut that he had taken Rey into, clutching his face. Rey darted out after Renken and took off running. She fled to the desert without looking back.

Renken continued to holler. It was disturbing Plutt's other customers. Walking up to the man, Plutt saw that he was missing an eye.

"Thought you liked the feisty ones," mocked Plutt.

"Fucking bitch took my eye. You are going to fucking compensate me for it and give me my money back."

"Give you your money back?" Plutt was incredulous.

Glaring up at him with his remaining eye, Renken replied. "Yes, you are going to give me my fucking money back. I didn't get what I paid for. The little bitch only took one lash before attacking me. You need to train you whore better. And I want it all back, including the extra I paid because she is a virgin. Fucking virgin my ass. No virgin attacks like that."

Kylo pulled out of the memory. Plutt's chief concern during that interaction was to get out of issuing a refund. Plutt didn't care that he had sold a child to a predator. Didn't care how badly she had been injured by the encounter. Nothing mattered, as long as she could still earn for him.

Kylo stopped squeezing on the creature's neck. That kind of death was too good for him. Instead he shifted his focus. Kylo began using the force to squeeze the man's brain and other vital organs. He inflicted enough damage to maximize Plutt's suffering without killing him. No, Plutt would take a long-time die, he would make sure of it.

Plutt's screams were deafening. Blood started to leak from his eyes, ears, nose, mouth and every other opening on his body. When he finally passed out, Kylo turned to Vars.

"Have him treated enough so that he will live."

Bowing his head, Vars replied that it would be done.

"Alert me when he regains consciousness, I will handle this personally. And get me information on a dealer of old Imperial technology called Renken Dorrien."