Day 3. Chapter 3. The last of the first evening's chapters.
A note: A flashback occurs in this chapter. It is designated by being in italics and contained by page breaks.
Without further hesitation:
3. Ben I
"Is it too late for us?"
Ben could feel the biting sting of the words as they left his mouth. They tasted of anger and of sadness. And of regret.
But he would not receive a response. Not tonight. The moment after the words lay bare in the space between them, the ridge closed. Rey faded from his sight. He was forced back from the ridge and into the cool steel of his sanctum.
Did she close the ridge? Ben wondered to himself as he gathered his bearings. Did she learn how?
It was possible but unlikely. Neither of them had chosen to connect in this manner. And because of this, neither of them could choose when to open the ridge again. At least, not yet. Did Skywalker teach her? Ben wasn't sure. He couldn't feel Luke's presence in this. In fact, he hadn't felt Luke in years.
How could he have been so stupid? The thought haunted him. Skywalker gave me every chance to recognize the act. Every opportunity.
Ben could feel the anger building within him-the familiar sensation. A welcome sensation. The only thing he knew for sure anymore was this anger. He held the lightsaber shattered by me and Rey! He left no traces! He looked as he did when he betrayed me! When he tried to kill me!
Ben held out an open hand. Within a moment, the black hilt of his lightsaber slipped into his glove. He ignited it.
How could he have done it? Ben asked himself. How could he appear like that? How was I so fooled! How?
The lightsaber cackled and burned bright red-illuminating the room. The heat from the jagged blade bit at Ben's face and scar. This saber had brought death to so many before this moment. This saber should have taken the life of Luke Skywalker. Why didn't it? Why?
Ben no longer held himself silent. With a pained roar, he screamed as he threw the lightsaber away from him. He watched as bright sparks ignited from every wall and table the saber touched as it was thrust away from him. The saber slid a few feet more, before stopping at the foot of his bed. The red blade faded back within, and the saber turned off once more.
The raw heat had set ablaze the grey sheets that lined the bed. Flames licked at the sheets and spread wildly across the bed until half the room had been set ablaze.
Without hesitation, Ben pulled the lightsaber back into his hand and exited the small sleeping quarters. These had only been temporary anyways-as he had seen to it that the main chambers of this vessel were being prepared for him at this very moment.
As the doors that separated Ben from the main hallway opened, he spotted two captains walking nearby. Upon seeing him, the two young captains stood at attention.
"There's a fire in my chambers," Ben said as he passed them by. "Handle it."
"Yes, Master," came the furtive response.
Ben stopped dead in the hallway. He returned his gaze to the two captains.
"What did you just call me?"
The men stood still, but Ben could sense their fear. The shorter captain-a snide-looking fellow no doubt even younger than him-failed to make eye contact. He was the one who spoke the words. He would be the example.
"M-Master," the captain stuttered.
"And why do you call me that?" Ben asked. He kept his tone gentle as he leaned closer to the man. Their eyes were now only inches apart.
"You are Kylo Ren, sir," the captain said. He seemed to swallow his spit and pride all the same. "Master of the Knights of Ren."
"How right you are," Ben said. "But...and correct me, if I'm wrong, captain...but I was under the impression that you were to refer to your superiors by their highest rank."
Ben let the dark side of the Force swell in him once again. He allowed himself to squeeze the man's throat-just enough as to have him wonder if it were happening at all. "You see, the problem is that 'Master' is not my highest rank. I received a promotion today. Did you know that?"
The captains nodded simultaneously.
"And what is that rank?
"S-Supreme Leader, sir," the captain sputtered. "You are the Supreme Leader."
Ben nodded. He quelled the darkness within him and released the poor bastard. He could see the captain shaking now. Both were quivering. Weak.
"So?" Ben asked. He let the word hang in the air. He had been speaking to the captains for so long, the fire behind him was heating the black cloth on his back. "There's a fire in my chambers. Handle it."
"Yes, Supreme Leader!" The captain nearly shouted. The two men scampered off to deal with the situation.
"Not you!" Ben shouted after them. He lifted a hand to the captain he had yet to speak directly to. The captain was pulled back as if tied to a rope around his chest. His back slammed into the floor, and he slid directly to Ben's feet.
"You need to deliver a message to General Hux," Ben said. "He is to board a transport vessel at once. I will see him in our Overbridge."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," the captain spoke-loud and clear.
Good. This one knew his place.
Satisfied, Ben began the long walk to the Overbridge.
There were three issues prescient to Ben as he ascended to Snoke's rank of Supreme Leader. The first was the issue of Rey. The very thought of her was enough to bring conflict back into his heart. After tonight? He would deal with her at a later date.
The second was the issue of security. He knew that loyalty was in short supply in the First Order. The bickering and arguing amongst the general public of the First Order had to be stamped out. And he needed an ally that was beyond reproach by his side.
Perhaps one day that position could go to Rey, but for now, he had a different plan. One that already was in motion.
Immediately after the Resistance had escaped Crait, Ben had held congress with the generals aboard his newly nominated personal vessel-a Mandator IV-class Seige Dreadnought, known as the Apex. Until further notice, the Apex was his home.
In that meeting with the high command, Ben was briefed on the damages sustained by the First Order following the Battle of Crait:
"We need to send an armada after that ship!" one general shouted above the rest. "If we destroy them, we destroy the Resistance!"
The other generals nodded in their approval, but one did not. Ben turned to this man.
"You disagree?" He asked this lone dissenter.
The dissenter sat up in his chair. He was a young man for his position. A dark-skinned and broad man with slick, black hair and stubble that violated First Order regulations. "What do we gain by destroying the ship?" He asked. His eyes locked with Ben's. He showed no fear. "Leia sent out her distress signal. My star destroyed detected it immediately."
"So you take credit for that revelation?" Ben asked him. His mind briefly thought of his mother, and the revelation today that she still loved. He quickly brushed away his feeling and warmth for her. He thought of it no longer in this meeting.
The dissenter, however, continued on: "Why shouldn't I take credit I deserve?" He asked. "My star destroyer was the only vessel to discover it. But this is not my point." He rose from his chair to continue: "The Resistance travels now to the Outer Rim. This much is certain. But those sympathetic to the Resistance have already heard the plea. No doubt as we speak, the will hear of the Legend of Luke Skywalker."
"Legend!" one general cried out with contempt. "You speak of him like a hero!"
But the dissenter was not finished speaking. "This new rebellion has a spark of hope in it yet, and destroying that ship will not wipe out this hope. We don't need to waste our time and resources chasing some ship when those sympathetic to the cause will simply rise up in their place. If we destroy the Resistance now, another Resistance will take its place"
"So what is your proposal, general?" Ben asked. "You have my attention, but my patience wears thin."
The dissenter still was unfazed. "I propose we prepare our armies for a show of force. Get to the sympathetic reaches of the galaxy before the Resistance does, and show them what happens when you so much as consider aiding a rebellion."
Ben was taken aback. "What was your name again?" He asked the dissenter.
The general smiled. "General Tol Warren, sir."
Tol Warren's plan was simple: The First Order would salvage what they could from the Supremacy and regroup their armies. In the meantime, trusted allies of the First Order would seek out planets that had received Leia's distress message. The First Order would then travel to and ravage the planets-dismantling their armies, depleting their resources, and crushing all remaining hope.
The First Order could continue this strategy until there wasn't a sympathetic ear left in the entire galaxy for the Resistance to turn to. The Resistance would wither and die.
After hearing his plan, Ben knew that Warren was to be his trusted ally. He had ordered Warren to take his best men and assume control of the Apex in his stead. He then created a new rank for the young man. He was to be known now as High General Warren-the only high general in the First Order's ranks, and a rank not used since the days of the Imperial Army.
Ben had entered the elevator to the Overbridge by this point, and the elevator doors opened quickly to reveal High General Warren-who waited with a party of his best men to receive the Supreme Leader.
"High General," Ben said. The newly-commissioned Warren bowed in unison with his best men. "I take it these are the men you wish to transfer from your vessel to the Apex."
"Absolutely," the High General said. "I would trust these men with my life."
"Very well," Ben said. "They will replace the current officers of the Apex."
Ben watched as Warren leaned over to one of the men. "See it done," Warren said, and the welcoming party disbanded.
Ben stepped forward and walked, side-by-side, with Warren. "I apologize for the abrupt transition, High General," Ben said. "I hope it's not to your dissatisfaction."
"The appointment is an honor, Supreme Leader," Warren replied. Ben was impressed-the man knew when to show decorum, and when to show strength. Warren continued: "I am pleased you have chosen to accept my advice concerning the Resistance."
"You were the only one to see the greater struggle," Ben replied. "I know who my friends are."
"You honor me, sir," Warren replied.
With each passing minute, Ben could feel himself filling the role of Snoke's position. He had learned so much from the old creature-from how to handle dissent, to how to speak to subordinates.
But Snoke's fatal flaw had been his chosen allies. And Ben would not be making such a mistake. Ben would take the time to ensure Warren was fully satisfied in his new position-and thus, fully subordinate.
"Do you know what the purpose of this meeting is?" Ben asked his new ally.
Warren thought for a moment, before speaking: "To ensure support?"
"To establish the new normal," Ben corrected. "What do you know of General Hux?"
"Only what my officers joke about when they believe I am not listening," Warren jested.
Ben laughed, almost to himself. "He's a sniveling little thing. But he's capable, under the right circumstances."
Once the two reached the door to the meeting room, Ben stopped. "Wait here. Enter when the time is right."
"How will I know?" Warren asked.
But Ben didn't respond. He opened the door and stepped inside. If his instincts were correct, Warren would know when the time was right.
Now inside the meeting room, Ben closed the door behind him. This room was cold and dreary-much like the rest of the space aboard the dreadnought. A single table was situated in the center of the room. And seated at this table, was a very tired-looking General Hux.
Ben almost broke into a smile. As per his intention, his immediate summons to Hux came in the middle of the General's sleep. Deep bags hung under the General's eyes, but Hux refused to show weakness otherwise.
"You wanted to see me, Supreme Leader?" Hux asked.
"We missed your presence at today's council, General," Ben said in a calm tone. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."
An expression of worry came upon Hux's face. "I wasn't informed of such a meeting, Supreme Leader," he stammered out. "If I would have known-"
"No matter," Ben said. "Besides. There are other matters to attend to."
The truth was, this was all part of the plan. Ben deliberately ensured that Hux's ship did not receive any transmissions concerning a meeting. Ben was sure Hux thought of himself as second in command. Tonight's meeting was to correct his line of reasoning.
"I wanted to inform you of the new chain of command," Ben said. As if on cue, the door behind Ben opened, and Warren took his place at his right-hand side. Good, the Supreme Leader thought to himself. Warren knew precisely when to make his entrance.
Ben watched as Hux's eyes darted from Warren and back to him. "General Warren?" Hux asked.
"This is High General Tol Warren," Ben said. "He's recently received a promotion. I'll try to speak to you when I can, but Warren will be acting as intermediaries between the Generals and myself moving forward."
"I look forward to working with you," Warren said-perfectly snide.
"Supreme Leader, please," Hux tried to say. "If I could have a word with you-alone-"
"There's no need," Ben dismissed. He and Warren began to leave the room. "Get some sleep, General. You look as if you need it."
"Supreme Leader-!" Hux called out one last time-before the doors silenced his pleas.
Ben knew that Snoke was right about Hux being a powerful ally. But Hux thought of himself as equal to the Supreme Leader. And he couldn't have a right-hand man that stood ready to strike him down at his first moment of weakness.
No...he needed distance between him and Hux. He needed Hux to be begging to return to his side. And he needed a right-hand man who came from nothing. He needed Tol Warren-a man suddenly thrust into more power than he had aspired to. A man who knew that the slightest mistake would have him demoted-or worse.
Yes. All was according to plan.
"Your chambers are ready, Supreme Leader," came a voice to Ben's left. He turned to see an officer had been waiting outside the meeting room.
"Thank you," Ben said simply and dismissed the officer. As the man walked away, Warren turned to Ben.
"I will alter my schedule to better align with yours, sir," Warren said. "Will you be resting, now?"
"I admire your enthusiasm," Ben replied. "Yes. Get some rest, Warren. It's been a long day."
The High General bowed and left Ben. Ben began to walk now in the other direction-towards his chambers.
It has been a long day, he thought to himself. It was true-he had not taken a moment to rest since Rey's arrival on the Supremacy. And discounting the amount of time he had been knocked out by the destruction of Luke's lightsaber, he had not rested in far too many hours. Tonight, he would rest in his chambers and continue on with his mission of re-building the First Order in his own image.
There would no longer be dissent in his ranks. There would no longer be conflict in his fleet. And-once he built up the armies of the First Order-he would fulfill his promise to Luke Skywalker.
He would destroy all of it.
But as soon as that thought crossed his mind-as soon as the finality of all of it weighed upon him-he knew he didn't mean it. He could destroy the Resistance, surely. Entire planets would bow before him.
But could he destroy Leia? He had failed before.
Could he destroy Rey? He didn't even want to.
Would Rey answer his question?
"Is it too late for us?"
These were questions that he feared the answers to.
Obligatory apology for typos.
Also, my choice to refer to Kylo Ren as "Ben" in chapters based on his perspective is based on my own feeling that Ben thinks of himself in this way. There is conflict in him. Kylo Ren is simply a persona. But in his mind...he will always be Ben Solo.
This was the last chapter of the evening after the Battle of Crait. We continue on next in a new day. Or, what I am referring to as a day. Regardless-
Until next,
-BYIT