ON BOARD THE FINALIZER
RESURGENT CLASS STAR DESTROYER

Day 18, Month 4, Year 34

There were exactly two instances when the Finalizer changed direction that day. The first time was when a call came in from Ziost.

Pol Wingins, the vessel's chief communications engineer, abruptly stood up as soon as the Dark Enforcer entered the former's office. He observed that Kylo Ren still walked with a slight limp. There was talk that the culprit was a crossbow arrow, but Wingins was quick to reprove that idea. Such weapons, he reasoned, could be easily deflected by the Force User. It had to be something else.

The Communications Room, a small annex that branched out from the ship's Main Command Center, featured multiple plasma screens, a wide horizontal panel filled with blinking lights and switches, a custom-built holograph projector, and the standard supply of comlinks. It barely had enough space for more than two people. Taking his cue, Wingins left the office and positioned himself outside, near the doorway. Kylo Ren, fortunately, did not bother to close the door. Whether this was unintentional or not, Wingins didn't care. His ears pricked as he listened in.

Static came on as Ren activated the projector.

Wingins wondered who the other party was. If the call came in from Ziost, he contemplated, then it's very likely that Kylo Ren is about to address his legendary Knights. Wingins felt a jolt of excitement as he strained to catch what the conversation was about.

"Speak," the Dark Lord commanded.

Immediately, a chorus of frantic, garbled male voices filled the room.

"...thought she was staying."

"…gone the next day."

"…no directives."

"Fools!" Ren's voice rang sharp and clear.

The voices quieted down until only the buzzing of the holograph could be heard.

"I've placed you in your positions with hopes that you will exercise discernment and make decisions even without directives," Ren continued, frustration apparent in his speech. "Did you at least place a tracking device in her shuttle?"

This was met with silence, then a mumbled "No."

"Prepare the landing area," Ren said hastily. "I will deal with you as soon as I arrive."

The Star Destroyer was originally bound for the mid-rim planet Mytaranor where Hux and Ren were scheduled to have a meeting with the Slaver Federation. However, Wingins learned that Kylo Ren personally went to the Navigations Department and Forced the pilots to change course, causing the ship to make a complete U-turn and head towards Obsidianite Castle instead.

It was only a matter of minutes before Hux came marching into the ship's bridge, his face contorted in anger. "Why are we going to Ziost?" he demanded.

The featureless black and gray mask slowly turned to face the General. "I have to speak with my subordinates," Ren said callously before starting towards the door.

Wingins and the crew watched, with both admiration and fear, as the General hurriedly stepped in front of Ren to block his way. "What about the meeting? The Mytaranor Slaver Federation is an indispensable, powerful ally. Do you not know this or are you once again so caught up in your little flights of fancy that you fail – "

Hux never got to finish. In an instant, he was clutching at his neck as if wrenching off an invisible hand. Beads of sweat began to form around his temples and his complexion started to turn into a disturbing shade of reddish purple.

"You will remember not to speak to me in that manner again," Ren said as he finally released the General from the Force-choke. "I will not be so lenient next time."

Hux dropped to the ground coughing and panting, one hand still holding his neck.

As soon as the visit to Ziost was over, the Finalizer returned to its original course to Mytaranor. Things appeared to be going smoothly until the second call came. This time, it was from Choleron Space Station.

The caller identified himself as Nombus Bey, editor-in-chief of the First Order Gazette. The hologram showed a humanoid creature with large black eyes and a pair of fleshy flaps on each of his cheeks. A Sullustan. Wingins was not fond of the species and he reckoned it had something to do with their odd, gurgling language.

"This is to report that we've recovered documents containing libelous material in the datapad of my associate – a certain JA-40916," the Sullustan said in heavily accented Basic. "I believe this is related to my missing T1 Shuttle, which, coincidentally, was last used by the same associate."

Ren came in a minute after he was called to review the message. This time, he did not even bother to go to the Navigations Department. He turned on the intercom and announced, "This is Kylo Ren. Change our destination coordinates to that of Choleron Space Station. I expect to be there in at most thirty minutes."

General Hux did not interfere this time. He simply got into a smaller transport shuttle and made for Mytaranor by himself.

Exactly an hour later, as soon as the Finalizer took off from Choleron, Kylo Ren returned to the Communications Room. In his hand was a datapad. Wingins watched as the Enforcer placed the device on the docking port, uploaded its contents to the main database, and selected a certain file.

The monitor instantly blinked with life and displayed what appeared to be a resume of an attractive young woman with brown hair and grey eyes. The name "JA-40916" was printed below her photograph.

Ren pointed his finger at the screen. "Alert the entire galaxy. Find her and bring her to me."

ROXIN AVARIS
WANTED BY THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES OF THE FIRST ORDER FOR PROSECUTION

Name: Roxin Avaris
Aliases: JA-40916, Scratch
Homeworld: Chandrila

Sex: Female
Age: 27

Species: Human

Color of hair: light brown
Color of eyes: grey

Height: 1.65 cm
Weight: 53 kg

Weapon: none
Vehicle: T-1 Shuttle, grey and red, stolen, registered to Nombus Bey

Charges: Avaris, a journalist formerly affiliated with The First Order Gazette, has been convicted of treason and libel for writing and attempting to promulgate defamatory and unfound claims regarding the nature, identity, and history of Kylo Ren.

A reward of 300,000 Galactic Credits has been offered for her capture. If found, Avaris is to be brought to higher authorities ALIVE and UNHARMED.

If with any information concerning this individual, please contact your local First Order Outpost or Stormtrooper Garrison.

Author's Note: I made small changes regarding vessel names. Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle was changed to the Finalizer, which turned out to be the bigger ship I was trying to describe. I apologize for the mistake. Thank you to those who have read up to this point. Please let me know what you think and leave a review.