Thank you SO MUCH to Nancylovesreylo who has joined this story and helped a lot with the translation ! And thank you to everyone who continues to read.

CHAPTER 6

15 days after the Battle of Crait- On board the Finalizer

"Sir, we'll reach Coruscant in about eight minutes. "

Sergeant Datish's face faded away from the holocom to make way for the half-dozen technical blueprints projecting a bluish halo in the semi-darkness of the meeting room. Kylo Ren greeted the information with indifference, staring at the detailed plans in front of him and at the intrigued faces of the Knights of Ren, sitting in their chairs all around the table. Sylla was the only one not there. Even Hux was present. It was he who, for the past fifteen minutes, had been explaining the latest technological advances made by their teams of scientists.

"It's absolutely amazing," the general said enthusiastically. "We will make a phenomenal leap forward in the field of armament."

Shortly before the completion of Starkiller base, the First Order explorers sent to the far reaches of the galaxy made an interesting discovery in the unknown regions: a seemingly ordinary and habitable planet on which they had, first and foremost, thought to install a new training center for stormtroopers. But to their surprise, further study of the planet revealed the existence of a multitude of underground kyber crystal deposits. The mines on Lothal were almost depleted, as well as those on the few other planets that had once produced the precious source of energy. Ilum had been sacrificed to become the Starkiller base. And now, there was nothing left. This promising planet, dubbed Sato, was a real godsend and assured the First Order a new energy monopoly.

Snoke then ordered the establishment of a research center. The planet also harbored many rocky canyons dotted with shallow caves, inside which was a strange, unlisted ore. And it turned out that this mineral was able to greatly amplify the power of the kyber crystals when combined.

"The ore acts as a catalyst. I'll spare you the details, but it seems that if we combine the crystals with the ore in the right proportion, we could multiply their energy output by a thousand."

Silence reigned around the table. Hux was rather proud of the effect his news had on his audience.

"Supreme Leader," he dared, "we could revive the construction of a new Starkiller base using this planet. Snoke had ordered new plans. You have them in front of you right now. Sato is about the same size as Ilum, and this time we would not make the same mistakes in …"

"No," Ren cut him off in an unequivocal tone.

Hux, taken aback, shot him an indignant look.

"But we need ... "

"I said no, General!"

This time, Kylo's icy look pierced the soldier, who closed his dry mouth and swallowed his saliva.

"I do not want a new Starkiller base," he said. "I want five."

Hux thought for a moment that he had misunderstood and stared at him with round eyes. Ren did not give him time to recover from his surprise.

"No planets, but rather smaller structures. More mobile. They must have energy fields that render them invulnerable to attack. They need to be real warships in addition to being destructive weapons, and they'll have to operate with the minimum staff necessary for smooth operation, so that we can limit our losses in case of destruction. And since the power of kyber crystals can be amplified, it's unnecessary to use Quintessence to power their weaponry. We all saw the limitations and disadvantages of a single weapon such as the Starkiller base: too much energy concentrated in one place, too much reload time, and the need for a star to be exhausted nearby. I want these weapons to be improved copies of the Empire's Death Stars. They will have to act autonomously for smaller targets or combine their power by encircling a larger objective to be destroyed. As you say, Hux, let's learn from the mistakes of the past."

The general was still stunned by the news and was struggling to find his words. Who would have thought that Kylo Ren would finally have some common sense?

"How did you know about ..." Hux began.

"I came across a report from one of our young researchers. Apparently, his superiors did not see fit to take him seriously."

Hux winced.

"I heard about the impractical idea of this lowly technician. Chief Engineers found the project unrealistic and too expensive. I find his idea brilliant, and I want him to be promoted to the head of the whole team. I want reports on the progress of the project regularly," Kylo ordered.

"But it will cost a fortune! Not to mention the zersium we'll need to negotiate for and extract on the planet Nag Ubdur!"

"Money is not a problem," Ren announced as the Finalizer finally came out of hyperspace.

The dark surface of Coruscant, studded with billions of luminous points, appeared behind the bay window. The spectacle it offered, when seen from space, was always so fascinating.

"Sylla is about to leave the ship to negotiate financing for our future operations with the five largest banks in Galactic City. And you know how convincing she can be. Nor do I need to tell you that we have more than enough financial resources in many accounts on Coruscant. Snoke was a master at preparing for every contingency. As for the zersium, well ... We only have to annex the planet Nag Ubdur."

"Just that!" Hux gasped.

"Send about twenty squadrons of stormtroopers. The Ubudians do not have the strength to resist us."

"I'll go with them, Master, to make sure everything goes well," Bram said.

Kylo Ren thanked him with a nod.

"I also want you to make sure they stop using slave families in the mines," he added to the young Arkanian.

Everyone around the table froze as if Kylo Ren had just announced the worst of enormities.

"Kylo ..." Elias began, before being instantly silenced by the raised hand of the Master of the Knights of Ren.

"I said," he said slowly, weighing each syllable, "we will never again use slave families on the planets under our control. Only criminals and proven opponents of the First Order will now be condemned to work as slave labor. I want every inhabitant of the galaxy to become loyal to our cause. And one of the keys to loyalty is the image we project. We must inspire respect and fear, but also a sense of security. We will pay the workers and the miners. We will provide them with our protection. All those who oppose this decision declare themselves as enemies of the First Order and will be treated as such. Spread the message, Hux."

"I do not think that…"

"How many of you still want to discuss my decisions?" Kylo screamed, getting up suddenly.

He received only general silence as an answer.

With a wave of the hand, he turned off the holocom.

OooooO

Kylo Ren was holding his lightsaber in front of him in his usual fighting posture. The crackling of the blade covered his panting breath as he grabbed the guard with both hands. His face, illuminated by the scarlet glow of the beam, was covered with sweat, and some of his dark locks were sticking to his temples.

Yehnu had made progress, that was certain. And he could feel the underlying animosity in every move Viri Pax made. Two against one. He loved that.

Once the meeting was over, Kylo had decided that a training session with his comrades was a good idea. It had been too long since he had had the opportunity to compete with them. And it was the perfect excuse for him to let out the aggression he had been trying to contain for the past several days.

During the many discussions he'd had with his knights since their arrival, the same subjects came up again and again: the future of the First Order, the annihilation of what was left of the Resistance and, above all, what the new Supreme Leader should do for the spread of the Sith doctrine throughout the galaxy. Viri Pax was the most insistent on this last point, but he knew that all the others agreed with Viri.

Kylo Ren was boiling inside. His disciples still did not understand. The past must disappear. All these old shabby beliefs and narrow dogmas were only hindrances. The Jedi. The Sith. He hated them all.

The Jedi tried to repress his true potential while the Sith wanted to make him a simple obedient puppet. It had to be shattered.

Moreover, he had also thought of renaming the First Order, which continued, under this name, to convey the image of Snoke. He had shared this idea with Hux, who smiled politely.

Viri Pax attacked his left flank. Kylo turned and parried before the Zabrak's sword hit him in the thigh. Nobody held back his blows — this was the rule imposed on the Knights. If the Master was not strong enough to defeat his followers in combat, then he was not worthy to be at the helm of the Dark Side warrior group. Yehnu went on trying to hit him on the right side. The blades clashed and swirled for several minutes in a multicolored, sizzling ballet. His opponents were talented, but they were no match for him. His mastery of the Force allowed him to anticipate their movements a fraction of a second before they moved. He knew them too well. They were predictable, unlike ... her.

Everyone was wondering why a simple scavenger from Jakku had been able to get the better of him in the forest on Starkiller. It was simple. She had acted instinctively. Each of her strikes, each of her movements ... Nothing had been calculated. He had been unable to read her as he had done for so many years with his disciples. And that had destabilized him just like in the interrogation room. This girl was an enigma. This girl was fascinating and had upset all his convictions, everything upon which he had built his certainties since his surrender to the Dark Side.

The blows barely allowed him to relieve his frustration. His movements were inelegant and hasty. At the Jedi Academy, Luke had always reproached him for his lack of restraint and fluidity in his handling of the lightsaber. Damn Skywalker and his criticisms!

Viri's purple blade whipped through the air just where his throat had been two seconds earlier. He dodged and saw Yehnu ready to reply on his right. The latter had his guard down and Kylo sent his left fist knocking with all his might in the Rattataki's jawbone, who collapsed under the impact and lost his sword. Yehnu felt the metallic taste of blood spilling into his mouth and his vision flickered. Ren took the opportunity to reach out, and his opponent's weapon was instantly in his possession. Seeing his comrade on the ground, Viri called on the Force to try to destabilize their master. He threw a shockwave in his direction, and thought for a moment that he had managed to gain the upper hand when he saw Kylo wobble and struggle desperately to avoid being propelled against the metal wall of the room.

But, now with a sword in each hand, Ren straightened up and raised his head with a smirk. The small household droid in the back of the room, loaded with towels and bottles of water, did not have the same luck.

"All moves are allowed to defeat his opponent. You have learned this lesson well," Kylo said in his deep voice.

Viri's effort to intensify his maneuver snatched him a grimace from his master. But Kylo pinned the Zabrak with his intense brown gaze and, with a dry movement of his head, sent his fellow flying across the room to crash against the polished black ground. Before Viri could regain his senses and get up, Kylo leaned over him, his two blades crossed dangerously a few millimeters from his throat. The Zabrak turned off his lightsaber and raised his left hand, palm upward, announcing that he capitulated. His face was still distorted by anger.

Yehnu had joined Elias who was watching them from a corner of the room, smiling. Ren took a step back, the blades still crossed in front of him. Then he turned with the intention of going to what was left of the little droid and especially to the bottle of water on the ground.

The opportunity was too good. The Zabrak rekindled his sword, got up at lightning speed, and struck knowingly and without hesitation between the shoulder blades of the new Supreme Leader. Kylo felt the threat but not early enough to dodge properly this time. He threw himself to the side but was not fast enough to prevent the laser beam from slashing his left bicep to the bone. Kylo barely stifled his moan and was forced to let go of Yehnu's weapon. The two spectators at the back of the room froze, surprised also by the slyness of their comrade. Viri went on without waiting, galvanized by the effectiveness of his last move. But his joy was short-lived. The red sword at the end of Kylo's working arm shot out like an infernal lightning bolt to slice without mercy into the exposed chest of the Zabrak. Under the impact, he was thrown several meters away and fell again heavily on his back. A gaping wound now ran across his chest, and the edges of his tunic around the wound were burning, giving off smoke. The smell of his own burned flesh filled his nostrils and he lost consciousness.

Kylo was panting now and trying to ignore the pain in his left arm. He walked over to Viri and looked down at him again.

"Training is over," he said coldly, trying to control his breath. Passing in front of Elias and Yehnu, frozen near the door, he added, "Take him to the medical block. An hour in a bacta tank and he'll be like new."

With these words, the Supreme Leader left the training room. He still remained the Master of the Knights of Ren.

ooOoOoOoO

Areb Wilkins had been working for the First Order for twelve years now. He had obtained a technician position in the Finalizer's internal communications department after he failed miserably at the Officers Academy. To tell the truth, he was not deluded too much. He knew very well that the majority of the ship's officers had made their connections work and were most often the sons of former staff members of the old Empire. He, son of no one, and visibly more comfortable with computer circuits and binary language than with a pulse rifle or the canons of a TIE, had quickly understood where his place was. That's why he was strangely surprised when, two days ago, General Armitage Hux himself came to him in the cubicle where he was working to ask him to perform a special mission for him. He was convinced that this was the first time the soldier had set foot on Level (-15) of the Finalizer. The astonishment was short-lived and then gave way to a certain pride. Had his work been noticed? Could he hope to climb into the hierarchy and perhaps become the head of his division? Or why not the head of the entire communications department?

The heart of Areb Wilkins was beating wildly in his chest as he stopped at the door of Hux's apartments.

Hell, he had to calm down and avoid saying anything once he was in front of the general. Hand sweaty and throat dry, he quickly ran his fingers through his blond hair to restore a semblance of order and tried to chase away the imaginary dust he feared was on his clothes. He then decided to press the call button in the panel near the door.

Less than five seconds later, the wall slid open and Hux's voice prompted him to enter without waiting. He had walked only a few steps when the door closed instantly behind him.

"Ah, well, here you are, Willis."

The general, from the depths of his little sitting room, motioned him to approach. The poor man, more than intimidated, began to stammer once he was standing at attention in front of his superior: "It's an honor, General, and excuse me my name is ... Wilkins actually …"

"No matter," Hux said in a tone that betrayed both his nervousness and his impatience. "Did you manage to find something?"

"You were right. Lord Snoke's console in the throne room was in permanent recording mode. The data was stored forty-eight hours in the device before being sent to one of our servers at a lower level. I could not access the full video of that day, because the console's memory card was damaged by some sort of energy wave of unknown origin. But I managed to recover some pictures."

The technician pulled down the zipper of his work suit and pulled out a touchpad that he handed to the general. Hux grabbed it and began drumming his fingers on the screen. His face gradually brightened at the sight of the series of pictures scrolling before his eyes.

"All right, Wilson," he said as he turned off the device. "You have followed my advice and remained discreet about this little research done for me, have you not?"

"Yes my general, I did not speak to anybody and I erased all trace of my investigations," the technician hastened to answer, not bothering to try to correct the error of his surname this time.

Hux moved away to put the tablet on the furniture behind him. Areb Wilkins waited without moving, his heart beating and with a triumphant smile on his face. His superior looked satisfied. However, when Hux turned around and the technician saw the blaster pointed at him in the general's right hand, the poor man had just enough time to hear the shot go off before stumbling to the ground at the feet of the redhead who looked upon him with contempt. One last thought crossed his mind before everything became cold and black: he, Areb Wilkins, son of nobody, had definitely had no luck in life.

OooooO

His outstretched hand was offering everything he had never offered to anyone else. Rey stared at him, her face wet with tears. He blamed himself so much. He did not want to make her cry, but he had no choice. She had to understand that unlike her parents, unlike Skywalker and the Resistance, he was willing to do anything for her, as long as she agreed to be with him. She could not imagine how much she had shaken up his life. She had no idea what she had awakened in him. Rey was not his weakness. He was convinced that she could be his greatest strength, if she wanted him ...

"Please… "

Around them, the glowing dust of the remaining red drapes of the throne room fluttered in all directions, and time seemed suspended. Just as he had during their unexpected connections of the past few days through the vagaries of the Force, he saw only her. She hesitated a moment. Then she also raised her hand towards him. She took a step and, with a slow gesture, her fingers gripped his.

His heart, already pounding, seemed to want to spring out of his chest. Finally, she had let go of the past, as he had asked.

He wished at that moment to be rid of those damn gloves which deprived him of the contact of her skin against his. He pulled her closer. She looked up at him and he bent softly toward her. Only a few inches separated their faces now. He could feel the warmth emanating from her breath and lithe body. So, without further ado, he put his mouth on hers and closed his eyes. The flavor of her lips was pure delight. Then, with a tenderness all new to him, he deepened their kiss and his tongue began to caress hers. She offered no resistance as their bodies clung to each other. And then he felt the Light — Rey's Light. It penetrated each fiber of his body and he let himself be enveloped. It was new and reassuring; it was sublime. He wrapped his arms around her, too frightened that she might decide to run away and deprive him of that moment of absolute ecstasy. Her hand landed on his scarred cheek and he just wanted to merge with her and kiss her for eternity.

But suddenly, Snoke's scornful laugh echoed in his head again. The heat and the light suddenly gave way to cold and darkness. He opened his eyes and stepped back as if pushed back by an invisible force. Rey was still facing him, her lips still parted and her eyes now empty. Without being able to do anything, he saw the scavenger's body gradually turn to ashes and disintegrate in front of him to end up in a pile of gray dust on the ground at his feet.

No. It was impossible. Rey ...

His lungs emptied and his blood instantly froze in his veins. There was only a void now between his outstretched arms where, a few seconds earlier, the young woman had been nestled in his embrace. He did not understand. Still in shock, he turned in the direction of Snoke's mutilated corpse lying near the throne and saw Viri Pax, Sylla and Hux standing on the platform. All three looked at him with disgust. Especially, Sylla, whose perfect face showed a cold and total hatred. The general suddenly burst out laughing as, without a word, his two disciples activated their lightsabers and rushed straight at him.

"Kylo?"

He opened his eyes sharply.

He was in the shadows.

His throat was dry and his breath short. His head was spinning a little and he instinctively passed his hand over his sweaty face to try to regain a semblance of balance. Reality gradually took over. It took him a few seconds to remember that he was in the medical annex next to his bedroom. His mind, still fogged by the lingering snatches of his dream, perceived Elias' aura in the next room. He inhaled and exhaled deeply to try to control the trembling of his hands. He had to take back control.

"Here," he grumbled, finally straightening up on the stretcher that he had been lying on.

The light of the Bacta-Patch device attached to his injured arm was now flashing, indicating the end of treatment. He clenched his fist and tried to contract the muscles of his biceps to make sure he had regained full use of his lacerated limb. The pain was gone. He would have only one more scar on the spot where Viri had hit him. The massive figure of Elias appeared on the threshold of the room.

"Is everything OK?" asked the tall blond while approaching him. "You have a terrible expression on your face."

Kylo unfastened the patch and threw it into a nearby bin without a glance at the newcomer. He got out of bed and began to put on his tunic. Elias watched him silently.

"Viri?" Ren asked, once dressed.

"He left the infirmary an hour ago. Only his pride is hurt now."

"He will live with it," Kylo sighed, heading for the dining room.

"Can I speak freely?" Elias asked, following suit.

Kylo smiled sarcastically as he grabbed a jug of Corellian wine on the table. He filled two glasses and handed one to the black knight.

"As if you have not always done so," retorted Kylo, emptying his in one gulp.

He was not used to drinking. But there, he needed it. Alcohol might help him push the last reminiscences of his nightmare deep into his brain.

Elias drank too before continuing.

"What happened with Sylla? You seem to have been avoiding her for several days. Did you two …"

"I do not want to talk about that," Kylo snapped. "I made a mistake. It will not happen again."

Elias decided that it was better to give up and then touched on the subject that was really bothering him.

"You cannot blame others for being a little reluctant about any new measures you want to implement in the First Order."

"I am the new Supreme Leader."

The tall blonde sighed. "Yes, you are. Nobody disputes it. And the decisions you made are largely good decisions."

"Largely ?" retorted Kylo, now falling on one of the chairs.

Elias, still standing, paused before continuing.

"First, ending mass slavery in the galaxy will not happen in a day, or without relentless resistance from systems whose entire economy is based on such practices. And we both know that they are numerous. To reserve this fate only to criminals and opponents of the First Order will plunge some planets into chaos."

"They'll have to do it," Ren snorted as he suddenly put his glass on the table.

"We need these billions of people to build our ships and extract the resources we need from the hearts of the planets. Whole families have been enslaved for generations. They only know that way of life. They are only good for being owned by someone else and doing what they are ordered to do."

Kylo slowly looked up at him and Elias saw in his eyes all the violence Ren was trying to suppress right then. Yet he continued.

"Are you sure that your decision has nothing to do with more personal reasons?"

This time the Master of the Knights of Ren stared at his interlocutor with questioning eyes.

"Shmi and Anakin Skywalker," whispered the big blond. "Born slaves. Sold from master to master like ordinary cattle. It's understandable that their fate, and especially the circumstances of your grandfather's childhood, could have influenced your decision."

Kylo leaned back in his seat and clenched his fist on the table. Elias had always been the most insightful of his knights. Ren hated it when his convictions were put to the test. Now, without even using the Force, his friend had the ability to expose the deepest faults in a person's heart and mind. And that annoyed Kylo to no end.

Yet Elias was wrong this time, he tried to convince himself.

He had nothing to do with what had happened to Shmi or Anakin Skywalker. Why would it matter to him? And why, as he tried with all his strength to erase everything that linked him to his life before, did the ghosts of the past always seem to want to come back to haunt him, whatever he did?

"You and the others, you still have not understood…" sighed Kylo. "What motivated my decision has nothing to do with any sentimentalism. I've had a complete break from my family for a while now. What has happened to them, or what will happen to them now, makes me indifferent. This is purely strategic. Slavery is the crucible of rebellion. It is largely because of slavery that the Resistance was born in the days of the Empire. It instilled in people's hearts that spark that pushed them to fight for more equality. That is why the people joined their cause and joined their ranks. That's why my great-grandmother let my grandfather follow Jedi training. And that is why hundreds, thousands of children across the galaxy with extraordinary potential, sensitive to the Force, who could pledge allegiance to the First Order, remain in the shadows today: because they are afraid that we are nothing more than a new version of the Empire."

"I see," retorted Elias.

Kylo saw him weighing in his next words carefully in his head, and he knew what the conversation was about to be.

"But you seem to have forgotten something fundamental. You cannot ask your knights to give up in a few days all that they have sworn their lives to: the dark side and the Sith doctrine."

"I am not a Sith. Snoke was not a Sith. It is you who have decided to hang on to these precepts of another era."

Kylo reached for a new glass of wine.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion," Elias declaimed. "On the contrary, I find that idea rather contemporary. We draw strength from the conflict around us. We are warriors. Without conflict, there is only stagnation. This is our reason for being."

"Well, I offer a new meaning to our existence. Maintain order instead of spreading darkness. Snoke is dead. Skywalker is dead. The time of the Jedi and the Sith is over."

Elias plunged his blue eyes into Kylo's.

"But we are the heirs …"

"We are the Knights of Ren!" corrected the new Supreme Leader. "It is up to us now to build our future and live according to our own rules."

Elias nodded but Kylo was not fooled. It would take time for his disciples to accept his vision of things. But he had faith that they would eventually understand.

"One last thing," Elias added, "what do you do about this girl from Jakku?"

Kylo hesitated as he prepared to bring the glass back to his lips.

"I'll take care of her personally."

"You are the Supreme Leader of the First Order. It will be done according to your will."

Elias lowered his eyes without a word and bowed to his master, ready to leave.

"Wait," Kylo asked him one last time. "Where is Viri Pax right now?"

"I saw him heading for his quarters."

The two men exchanged a knowing glance.

"Be careful with him," Elias advised. "He has always been one to carry a strong grudge."

"Me too," retorted Kylo.

OooooO

Sitting in an armchair in his living room, his arms resting on the wide armrests, Hux looked at the little domestic droid with a satisfied air, cleaning the last traces of blood that stained the anthracite floor. Suddenly, the familiar sound of his holopad sounded again. Yet he was not expecting anyone this late in the afternoon. When he glanced at the window that had just appeared on the screen, he straightened abruptly in his seat and looked astonished. A black silhouette was standing in front of his door. He immediately recognized the characteristic mantle of the Knights of Ren. Hux had barely opened the door to his quarters before the shadow rushed into the room and came to stand before him.

"To what do I owe this visit from you?" he purred, still unaware of his visitor's identity.

Apparently, the knight wanted to keep the mystery a little longer. It was a man and the hood pulled over his head completely masked his face.

"I thought you were all busy with your dear Supreme Leader. I'm sure that you're going to be," Hux said with a chuckle.

The black figure remained motionless and dumb.

Bad idea, the general almost immediately lashed out at him.

"It seems you and I have more enemies in common than I thought, General," the enigmatic stranger finally announced.

This voice ... The soldier finally thought he had guessed who it belonged to.

An approving grin blossomed on Armitage's pursed lips. Initially suspicious and defensive, Hux felt all his courage come back in force. It was time to play his master card.

"You know, you can be yourself at ease," he said with difficulty, pointing to the hood on the knight's head. "We are sheltered from indiscreet eyes and ears here."

A few seconds of heavy silence passed by before the knight finally revealed his face.

"Very good," Hux said, jubilant, reassured to know that the man was finally trusting him. "In fact, it's lucky that you came to find me because I have something to show you."

Eyes bright with satisfaction, Armitage Hux, who could not stop smiling, walked to grab Areb Wilkins's precious tablet on his desk.

It was the beginning of the end of the Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren.

ooooo