They were soon accompanied by General Hux and a group of his men, who were clearly far more concerned with the threat of the Resistance than the fact their Commander was almost murdered only minutes ago. The fact that KC was still not wearing her helmet quickly came to Hux's attention, as he turned to glare at her.
"Who gave you permission to remove your helmet?" Hux barked, as KC bit her tongue, knowing any response would only get her in more trouble.
"I did. Her vision was obscured" Kylo interjected, as Hux still seemed unconvinced.
"Obscured by what…" Hux trailed off, as KC picked up her blood-soaked helmet.
KC tried to stop a laugh that threatened to escape her lips as she saw how Hux's face paled at the sight. For a General, he certainly didn't seem comfortable around his enemies' blood. KC was surprised as her helmet was taken from her hands by Kylo Ren, who wiped the blood away with his sleeve a few times, seeming to have no problem with the red substance. It was a strange sight to see her superior cleaning her helmet. She felt oddly proud at that moment.
"We will raise the alarm. Announce that the Resistance are in the base in Stormtrooper uniforms-" Hux began, as KC couldn't help but speak up.
"Which will only create a blind panic" KC pointed out, as Kylo returned her helmet to her.
"Do you suggest we just let these criminals get away?" Hux scoffed.
"Of course not. But I know these men. If we tell them the enemy is a dressed as a Stormtrooper, it will end in a bloodbath-" KC insisted, as Hux raised a warning finger.
"Remember your place, Trooper! Do not question your superior" Hux warned her, as KC looked away from him, hoping she had gotten herself in even more trouble.
"What would you have us do?" Kylo Ren inquired, as KC realised he was talking to her.
"…Well, we need to put the base on lockdown. No one gets in or out. But we can't tell the Troopers what the true reason is. Perhaps we could say there has a been a leak of some sort? That everyone must return to their quarters?" KC suggested, now growing unsure of her idea under Kylo Ren's gaze.
"General, see that it is done" Kylo ordered, as Hux's mouth opened and closed a few times in shock.
"You can't expect me to take orders from this…this girl?!" Hux gaped, as Kylo's head snapped up to look at him.
"She is not the one who gave the order. I am. Are you refusing to follow my order through?" Kylo questioned, taking a few steps forward so that he was standing only inches away from Hux.
KC watched Hux gulp nervously, obviously having been on the end of Ren's fits of anger more than once. With a curt nod of his head, he gestured for his men to follow him as he marched down the corridor. KC placed her helmet back on, hearing it click into place and quickly felt more comfortable. Kylo began to walk forward a moment later, coming to a stop when he realised KC wasn't following. He raised his arm out and made a gesture for her to follow him, as she rushed to catch up with his long strides. As they marched through the long black corridors of the base, they heard Hux's voice over the announcement system, ordering precisely what KC had suggested.
"Do you believe the Resistance scum will have knowledge of which quarters they should go to?" Kylo Ren asked her, showing no sign of slowing in his pace.
"It's unlikely…but I suppose it depends how long they have been planning this" KC exclaimed.
"How many Stormtroopers do you think there are on this base?" Kylo queried.
"Uh…a lot?" KC replied, truly having no idea.
"Five thousand" Kylo informed her, as KC's heart sank.
"Maybe Hux was right…" KC trailed off, as Kylo stopped in his tracks, and turned to her.
"A leader should never question their decisions. Even if they are wrong" Kylo advised her.
"Well, I'm no leader" KC sighed.
"Then you shouldn't have put yourself forward for promotion" Kylo stated, as he began walking once again, as KC's jaw dropped.
"How…how do you know about that?" KC frowned, by got no reply from her superior.
He must have looked into her. That was the only explanation. She wondered why he seemed to be so interested in her.
"A leader should take responsibility for their decisions. What would you suggest we do next?" Kylo asked her, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"We…we should look for Captain Phasma. I'm sure she would be able to give us vital information" KC suggested.
"She could be dead" Kylo pointed out.
"No. I'm sure she is alive" KC shook her head.
"Do you…sense it?" Kylo queried, unsurely.
KC frowned at the strange question and wondered what he meant. There was another question she could feel he wanted to ask.
"No. I don't. But Phasma would never allow herself to be killed by the Resistance. She's far too proud for that" KC explained, not missing how Ren seemed disappointed by her answer.
KC realised Kylo had stopped walking a few moments later, looking straight ahead, staying still as a statue.
"Uh, what are you doing?" KC questioned, as Kylo shushed her, much to her own annoyance.
Crossing her arms, she continued to stare at Ren as she guessed he was using the Force. She didn't appreciate being shushed, even if it was from her superior.
"Stop looking at me" Kylo snapped.
"Why?" KC retorted, standing her ground.
"It's distracting" Kylo insisted, as a grin spread over KC's face.
"I wasn't aware the great Kylo Ren could be distracted by a lowly Stormtrooper" KC pointed out, clamping her mouth shut a moment later, as she worried she had overstepped her mark.
"Do you always talk this much?" Kylo sighed, his concentration weening.
"It's just part of my natural charm" KC shrugged, hearing a low chuckle from her superior.
KC got the feeling laughing wasn't something Kylo Ren did often. She supposed there wasn't much time for humour when you were a Commander in the First Order.
"She's this way" Kylo announced, walking past KC, who frowned at the statement.
"How'd you know?" KC inquired, marching beside him.
"I can use the force to find people. In close range" Kylo confessed, as KC's eyes widened.
"Well, that's mildly terrifying" KC mumbled under her breath, trying to keep up with Ren as he took a sharp turn.
Kylo was surprised when he came to a halt in the dining hall, his eyes scanning every inch of the massive room. It was to no avail as there was no sign of the large woman. He frowned, as he could still sense that she was in the room and began to search under the tables.
"She's over six foot. How is she going to hide under there?" KC stated amusement in her voice as she watched her superior storm around the room.
"She must be here somewhere" Kylo insisted, crouching on the ground to look under the seats.
"Uh, sir?" KC called out, walking towards the nearby trash chute.
She kicked it open with her foot, as the small metal door swung open, the disgusting smell of rooting food wafting up.
"Phasma?" KC called down, hearing shuffling down the chute.
"KC-3998?" Phasma's croaky voice replied, with a hint of relief.
"What happened?" KC inquired, as Kylo strode over to her.
"I believe the Resistance scum found it rather humorous to throw me down here" Phasma explained, as KC's lips twitched into a smile.
"I guess they thought they were taking out the trash, huh?" KC joked, clearly very proud of her statement.
"If you are going to continue torturing me with your bad jokes, please close the door and leave" Phasma retorted, making KC chuckle.
"She likes me really," KC told Kylo, who seemed amused by the interaction.
"And then what?" FN-2187 inquired, as they sat in canteen later that week.
"You know what happened. They found three more Resistance members and executed them" KC replied, not missing the way FN flinched at the word executed.
"I mean what happened with Ren?" FN insisted as KC picked at her food.
"Nothing really. Hux turned up and asked him to go deal with the intruders" KC shrugged, but FN didn't seem convinced.
"You just saved the guys life and he didn't even thank you?" FN scoffed.
"He stood up for me against Hux. I didn't need anything more than that" KC told him.
"Well Ren could have at least given you a promotion, that's all I'm saying" FN murmured, trying and failing to pick up some of the watery substance on his plate with a spoon.
"Hey! We agreed that the word's promotion and corporal are off the table this week" KC exclaimed, as FN held his hands up in defence.
"…So, what was he like? Is he as bad as people say?" FN couldn't help but ask a moment later.
"Well, he's not chatty, that's for sure. But…no, he's not really what I was expecting…" KC trailed off, as FN raised an eyebrow at her.
"Wait…what was that look for?" FN gaped, as KC looked at him innocently.
"What look?" KC frowned.
"That dreamy look. Please tell me you're not crushing on Mr. Dark, Tall and Murderous?" FN insisted, as KC chuckled at the nickname.
"Please, give me some credit. I just don't think he's as bad as people say" KC insisted.
"Well, if you ask me-" FN was cut off as an announcement began over the speakers, causing the room to suddenly become quiet.
"Oh no…I forgot they were doing the promotion announcements today" KC cringed, listening as the announcements began to go through the ranks.
"Maybe they'll have taken what happened into consideration. You did help find Phasma" FN pointed out.
"Have you ever known Phasma to go back on what she says?" KC retorted as FN nodded sadly.
Soon enough the announcement got to their own rank, announcing that a trooper with over ten more years' experience than KC would be the new Corporal. KC tried to hide behind her hand as she heard the whispers start up in the room, as everyone had been expecting her to get the job. Her eyes flittered around the room, finding some pitying looks, which annoyed her even more. She didn't want pity. She wanted respect.
"Can we go?" KC whispered, as FN nodded.
They both knew they would be sanctioned for leaving the canteen during announcements but in that moment it didn't really matter. However, what came next stopped the pair in their tracks.
"Transfer's to the Commander's unit…NB-4575, BB-8787, LK-0999, KC-3998 and FN-2187" The next announcement came and went, as KC's eyes widened.
She was being transferred to Kylo Ren's secretive unit? And FN too? Whose decision had that been? Phasma's or Ren's? She was brought out of her thoughts as she realised FN was storming out of the room, not caring as other Stormtrooper's called after him, wanting to congratulate him. KC rushed after him, catching him up in the corridor and grabbing his arm.
"FN, wait!" KC insisted, as his head snapped around, and she could tell even with his helmet on he was glaring at her.
"I told you! I told you I didn't want anymore than to be a Trooper!" FN exclaimed, as KC dropped her hand.
"You think I asked for this?" KC scoffed, beginning to get annoyed.
"You must have" FN snapped.
"Well, I didn't! Maybe Phasma wanted to get rid of me, I don't know-" KC started, but FN cut her off.
"And I become the collateral damage as usual" FN mumbled, as KC's shoved him hard in the chest, causing him to stumble back.
"Mature" FN mocked, in a sarcastic voice.
An hour later and they had been taken to meet the rest of their new unit, including the few new trooper's who would be joining them. It was a very small unit, only a dozen but most were very experienced. KC and FN were the only juniors in the unit, and by far the youngest. They stood arm to arm with the rest of their teammates, as their leader walked into the room, as stoic as ever.
"You are all here because you are the best at what you do. I only accept the very best into my unit and if anyone falls below that threshold they will be quickly demoted. The confidentiality of what we do here is of the upmost importance. You will not ask questions. Every order should be followed out as quickly and effectively as possible. What we do here, will change the fate of the First Order" Kylo Ren explained, as he paced in front of them.
KC mulled over Kylo's cryptic announcement and wondered what exactly their orders would be. From the small pieces of information, she had been able to piece together from rumours, they were primarily an interrogation unit. Her eyes flitted over to FN, as she couldn't think of a worse Stormtrooper for such a task. She had no experience in interrogation either. What would happen if they couldn't perform well enough? Surely, they wouldn't be sent for re-education for that. Suddenly the group were moving out, as she realised, they had been dismissed.
"Sir…could I speak with you for a moment?" KC exclaimed, hoping she didn't sound as timid as she felt under his intense gaze.
The only response she got was a curt nod, as the others quickly left the room, the last to leave was FN who seemed concerned about leaving her in a room alone with Ren. KC gulped when the metal doors shut with a bang, leaving the room dark and quiet apart from the pair's breathing.
"Why am I here?" KC questioned.
"Are you looking to discuss your place in the universe?" Kylo Ren asked, with amusement in his voice.
"Did you just make a joke?" KC snorted, surprised.
"You're here because I gave you a promotion" Kylo replied, quickly.
"Why? I don't need your pity-" KC started, as Ren cut her off.
"Pity?" He scoffed, in confusion.
"Phasma turned me down for promotion. I helped you, so you think you'll throw me a bone" KC exclaimed.
"Your simulation results are outstanding, you have the respect of your peers and I have seen how...effective your skills are first hand. You have potential" Kylo explained.
"Potential for what?" KC frowned.
"I don't know yet" Kylo replied, making KC sigh at how cryptic he was being.
"And FN? Why has he been promoted? Because he's my friend?" KC insisted.
"He's the best gunner in the First Order. I wanted him in my unit. It was tactical. Not personal" Kylo went on, as KC was quiet for a moment.
"He never told you about his simulation scores?" Kylo guessed as KC looked away.
"No…he hasn't" KC murmured.
"You think of him as a friend?" Kylo queried, as KC bit her lip, not sure what to say.
Friends weren't so much forbidden in the First Order, but they were frowned upon. Stormtroopers were trained to disregard fallen comrades in battle and to press on, no matter the cost, even when the odds were stacked against them. Friends could make that difficult.
"…Yes" She admitted, after a few seconds.
"Friends disappoint you" Kylo informed her, in a tone that KC suspected was supposed to be comforting.
Later that day, KC was looking around her new quarters. They were bigger than an average Stormtrooper's, but not by much. Not that it mattered to KC. Everyone's quarters apart from Ren's were on the same level, which was on the floor above. KC expected it was that way to remind them that Kylo Ren was their superior, not their equal. A soft knock at her door caught her attention and for a moment she thought it could have been the man on her mind. Shaking the silly thought from her head, she opened the door to reveal a Stormtrooper, which she instantly knew was FN.
"What happened?" He questioned, as KC let him into her quarters.
"Ren thinks I have potential. I don't know if that's a good thing or…kind of terrifying" KC replied, as FN took off his helmet.
It was a rare occasion for her to see her friend's real face, as their time in privacy was almost non-existent. Stormtroopers didn't get leisure time. It wasn't needed. FN always had such a kind, open face. However, concern was currently the predominant emotion on his face.
"Look, I'm sorry about earlier, okay? I believe you. It wasn't your choice for us to be transferred" FN apologised, as he placed his helmet on his bed.
"Why did you never tell me about your simulation results?" KC blurted out, as FN's eyes widened.
"…How did you…Ren told you?" FN guessed, as KC rolled her eyes.
"That's your response?" KC scoffed; annoyance clear in her voice.
"I didn't want things to be weird between us" FN told her.
"You thought I'd be jealous?" KC asked, in disbelief.
"You've always been the fighter. Not me" FN went on, as KC threw her hands up in the air in annoyance.
"I'm your friend, FN. I would have been happy for you" KC insisted.
"No, you would have pushed for me to go up the ranks. Which isn't what I want" FN told her.
"Why not?" KC frowned.
"Have you seen what our superiors are like? The kind of decisions they make? I could never be like that" FN informed her.
"What are you saying?" KC gaped, hoping he wasn't saying what she thought he was.
"Don't you ever question what we're doing here? We hurt people, KC. We're not the good guys" FN stated, as KC took a step forward, a furious look on her face.
"Don't say things like that. You can't! If anyone hears you…" KC trailed off, not wanting to think of the implications.
"I guess we're more different than I realised" FN mumbled, sadly.
"I'm just trying to protect you! What you're saying...it's treason!" KC insisted, as FN went to pick up his helmet.
"You really agree with what the First Order is doing?" FN questioned, as KC mulled over this question.
"I've seen the Resistance first hand. I've seen what they're capable of. Any enemy of the Resistance is an ally of mine" KC replied.
"This is about your parents, isn't it?" FN suggested, as KC grit teeth.
"Drop it, FN" KC warned him, turning away, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes.
"I'm just trying to protect you too. Be careful around Ren. That's all I ask" FN exclaimed, as she heard him walk away, leaving her alone with her conflicted thoughts.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! All will be revealed about KC's parents soon, but don't worry they're not going to be character's we know. She won't turn out to be a Palpatine all of a sudden, haha. Looks like there will be trouble ahead for KC's friendship with Finn, as he's already showing his doubts in the First Order. Is Kylo going to take advantage of this? Please leave a review:)
The Gnomist: I agree, most OC's I've seen have been force-sensitive and a bit Mary Sue if I'm honest. Thank you for the review, I'll bear it in mind:)
thatfanboi: Glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing:)
LoveFiction2019: Thank you, I hope you like this new chapter!
WitchofDuva: Aw, thank you:) I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
Guest: I'll take your vote into account, thanks for reviewing!
NotRob: She's definitely going to be a badass. Maybe not on the same level as the Mandalorian though, he's just too badass, haha. Thank you for the review!