Don't be Afraid

The Shadows know me

Let's leave the World behind

He watched the radar as it showed his army that swarmed around the Supremacy.

"Orders, sir?" Hux questioned.

The man had learned his place, finally. No longer did he question, snub his nose at him, or make snide remarks. Fear had curbed him. It had trained him to be a good, loyal dog.

"Breach the atmosphere. Gather half of the troops in sight; deploy the Troopers to the ground. I'll take the lead in my shuttle."

He turned—his cape swirling around him dramatically—and strode off toward the hangar. He'd forgone all the tiny changes he had made to his outfit in order to please her. Now, he knew how silly it had been, how silly he'd been to think that would lure her fully to him.

No, he needed to stay true to himself, true to the Darkness that coursed through his veins. So back to full, black regalia. Only the mask he didn't replace. The thing had been bothersome, despite its intimidating factor. He had forgone it for kohl around his eyes. He had been called intense before; now, he knew, he could turn his gaze truly terrifying.

Troopers and pilots alike jumped out of the way as he marched through the busy hangar. His shuttle was ready for takeoff—the small crew obviously having been warned by Hux of his approach. Kylo smirked at it. He'd trained the man very well. It was almost sad Hux's training was over; it had been so much fun.

At the head of his fleet, he plunged through the atmosphere of the grass- and mountain-littered planet that housed one of the last Resistance bases. She would be his. The thought made his blood run pleasantly warm. Almost, almost.

He guided his troops to just out of shooting range of the base, before ordering the pilot to set down. He breathed in the clean air and smiled again. Victory was near; he could feel it. Not losing the grin, he walked closer to the base's front gate, saber at the ready.

"Rey!" he yelled. A shot was fired but he easily deflected it. "Rey!" he shouted again. "Come out; let us talk!"

A buzz came down the mostly closed Bond. He knew she'd heard him, that she would come out to him. She always did, didn't she? How was it she could not see she belonged with him?

While waiting, he studied the men scurrying around on the rocky cliff that surrounded the base entrance. He almost laughed. It wasn't much different from Crait. Yes, he would have the victory that was denied him then. No Luke to save them, only Rey, perhaps.

Finally a small side-door opened and Rey stepped out, the repaired saber in her hand. He glared at it. That, too, was his. But he could forgive her, for she would soon be his as well and then all would come together quite nicely. He would let her have it; an early celebratory gift, as it were.

He frowned and bared his teeth as he saw how she was flanked by the traitor and the pilot. Were they the ones holding her back? Keeping her talent at bay? Kylo growled. They would pay for it.

"What do you want, Ren?"

With a hum, he tilted his head to the side. It had been so long since he had heard her voice. It already sounded like a siren's call; how much more powerful would it call to him when it was laced with that same power, that same darkened Force that coursed through him? Not long now. Almost.

"Rey," he said, knowing full well she would hear him but her comrades would not. "The offer still stands, Sandcat."

He watched as she narrowed her eyes. The traitor and the pilot were talking to her, but she ignored them.

"You betrayed me!" she called to him instead.

"Did I now?" He smirked. "I offered you the world! It was you who didn't take it."

"I want nothing more to do with you, Kylo Ren!"

Anger surged through him, tinging his vision red at the edges. How dare she keep refusing him? But not for long now, no, he would make her see, one way or the other.

"Don't you want to save your friends?" he called out to her, his voice almost teasing. "I might be tempted to save them if you come to me."

He saw her facial expression change, saw the calculation in her eyes, saw her look back at the base before settling into a grim frown. She took a step forward but both men grabbed an arm each and urgently started talking to her.

Kylo growled. Nobody touched his woman. She was his! They started pulling her backwards, back towards the door. She was obviously arguing with them, but suddenly seemed to give in. They stopped and she turned back to him.

"Never, Kylo Ren! I will never be yours! Go die a lonesome death only to be forgotten by the Galaxy!"

He saw her shocked surprise as he smiled in return. It was a good start, a very good start.

With a single motion of his hand, he started the attack. He stood his ground as fighters battled in the sky and gunfire hit the ground around him. He stood, and he grinned.