"Sir," said Markson. General Hux ignored her.
The Supreme Leader had ordered many preparations for Organa's execution, and put Hux in charge of arranging the elaborate viewing structure. No one in the galaxy would miss this. Hux himself wanted to shoot the bitch and be finished. Shoot her useless pup as well, instead of dragging him back for questioning. Hux had no patience for Jedi.
"Sir!"
"What is it?" he snapped.
"There's a shuttle ordering landing privileges. It matches the description of the ship the Resistance leader Dameron was last seen in. With the Stormtrooper."
The Stormtrooper. Hux held his sigh. FN-2187 had caused him no end of grief. The word was that he'd aided in the devastating loss of Starkiller Base. Worse, from Hux's point of view, FN-2187's defection had started an unfortunate wave of questioning in many other Stormtroopers. Fifteen had attempted to defect, and two dozen had unionized demanding proper wages. Wages! They were soldiers bound to the First Order. Ridiculous. Hux had spent more time executing his own Stormtroopers in the last three weeks than he had shot Resistance members. Something had gone wrong with the subfrequency, but none of the technicians had discovered anything amiss. No one said that Kylo Ren had defected, but Hux wondered, and wondered too if his dark Jedi cronies had felt the same urge. Hux had certainly disposed of enough black-clad bodies over the last month.
"Fire all weapons."
"Sir, the transmission has Kylo Ren's personal codes. He's demanding to speak to you."
Hux nearly didn't. He nearly told Markson to assume this was a trick and to blow the shuttle out of the sky.
Nearly.
"Ready weapons. Open the channel."
The viewscreen changed. Ren stood there in his dark robes, haughty and stupid. His mask gave nothing away. "Took you long enough."
"I didn't recognize you without your own shuttle. Have a temper tantrum on your way?"
"I wish to land. Lower the shields."
"Sorry." This was delightful. Hux knew he could only torment Ren so far before one of those tantrums was directed his way. He took enormous pleasure in finding that line and staying on the safe side. "I'm afraid I can't do that until we've confirmed your identity."
"I sent my codes. Can't you read?" He flared his lightsaber. If Hux goaded the imbecile enough, perhaps he'd attack and crash his own ship.
"I can't confirm you're not a Resistance spy under the mask. The last people seen aboard that ship were Dameron and FN-2187."
"Dameron's dead." Ren turned and grabbed down behind the pilot's chair, dragging a scared human male with bound hands. "As you can see, I've captured FN-2187. I have another prisoner in the back, and very little patience left. Open the damn shield. Now." He squeezed his fist, and Hux's throat closed with a gasp. Ren broke the transmission and his hold.
Hux truly despised that man. "Open the shields and send a landing authorization. Send guards to greet him, and detain him. Inform the Supreme Leader that the spoiled child has returned."
The good thing about his underlings was their lack of questions. There was no "I don't understand, sir." There was only obedience. Had Lord Snoke beaten that lesson into Kylo Ren's sallow hide a decade ago, the whelp might not be under arrest now.
"They'd better buy this," said Poe. He'd crawled into the cavity of a panel Rey had carefully excavated. He hated small spaces. She'd promised not to affix the bolts, but his heart hammered that she'd do it anyway, lock him inside this panel where he'd starve, only to be found weeks later by First Order flunkies searching out the source of the bad odor.
"They will." Rey hesitated, then she handed him her lightsaber. "Keep this for me." The metal lay warm in his hand.
"You're sure?"
"We'll want it near. I can't trust Kylo with it, and Finn and I will be searched. I'm counting on you." Poe had heard better pep talks.
"All right. Shut me in. Good luck."
"You, too."
"Hey," he said, blocking the panel with his hand. "One thing. If I don't make it out of this mess, promise me you'll look out for our little fluffken. He needs someone to keep an eye on him. He's too nice."
She smiled with a wan expression. Rey had been distant for the last leg of the trip, sitting in silent meditation in the passenger area with Ren next to her. "One last lesson," he'd said, annoyed at the interruption when Finn had asked them what they were doing.
Finn was positive Rey was coming back after the mission. The more he watched her, the more Poe was sure she was already gone forever.
She took his hand and shook it. "The same for you. Whatever happens to me, swear to watch over him."
"Agreed."
Finn wasn't scared. Finn was pants-wettingly terrified. The gangplank lowered to reveal about a legion of his former co-workers, all armed, none friendly. Captain Phasma stood in front. He might have imagined the slight dents in her armor from the garbage chute they'd dumped her into. The thought cheered him. Something had to.
"You did something right, I see," said Phasma. "How did you locate the traitor?"
Ren's face couldn't be seen under his mask. Finn had to imagine the eye roll. Fortunately for their plan, he didn't have to pretend to be a pretentious ass. "I used my brain, Captain. These two," he shoved Finn into Rey, "have been spotted together ever since Dameron's droid went missing. Find the girl, find the traitor. As I said."
"You were supposed to retrieve Skywalker. Instead, he's dead due to your incompetence. You were ordered to kill his new apprentice, but here she is, alive and well. Are you sure the traitor didn't turn himself in to you? It's the only possible explanation for how you managed."
Ren lit his lightsaber, which came uncomfortably close to Finn's torso. "For someone who lowered the shields to Starkiller Base, you're exceptionally brave today, Captain. I'm surprised Lord Snoke hasn't had you arrested for treason."
Finn said, "If you two want some alone time to fight, we could just go." Rey caught his eye and smirked.
The red lightsaber came up to his throat. "The only reason you're alive is because I'm sure General Hux has been privately inventing new ways to kill someone, and I didn't want to deny him the pleasure of destroying you personally. Be still."
Phasma said, "Odd that you should mention arrest, Kylo Ren. My troops haven't gathered for these sorry prisoners. The Supreme Leader is very disappointed in you. He's ordered me to drag you before him." She leaned in, her helmet gleaming. "I've heard he's fed up with your silly little order of pretend Knights. You may want to grovel when you reach his feet." She raised her blaster. "I know you can stop a blaster bolt. We've all seen the trick. I feel you're not capable of stopping five hundred at once, but I would love for you to give me a reason to find out."
"As it happens, I am eager to see my Master and present these gifts to him." The arrogant prick actually led the way to Snoke's chambers, forcing Phasma to fall in behind him.
"Take FN-2187 to his cell," she said. "Execute the other."
Forget the plan. The plan was stupid. "Rey!" Finn was instantly grabbed by three Stormtroopers, one of whom kneed him in the groin, and another punched him in the kidney. Pain exploded in his entire body as he fell to his side. He saw two more troopers take aim at Rey.
"Enough!"
The troopers grabbing him were yanked away by the Force. The two with the guns found them pulled from their hands. Ren stood there with his hand raised.
"I told you, I intend to give these gifts to Lord Snoke. Do not damage his property."
"You don't give orders any longer!"
Finn watched through streaming eyes as Ren stalked back to her, and stood with his own helmet facing hers. "Captain, you know how little patience I have, and you are testing the last of it. Unless you want my next trick, as you call it, to be decompressing this bay with us standing here, I'd suggest you remember whom you're dealing with."
"You wouldn't."
"I wouldn't use the old Jedi trick for surviving in vacuum that Skywalker taught me when I was eleven? No, of course not. Why would I possibly do that when I could gasp and die with the rest of you rabble?" He touched his mask to hers. "Let's find out together."
"Rey? Is he actually that crazy? I think he's actually that crazy."
She didn't reply in his thoughts. He wondered if she heard him.
Phasma blinked first. Metaphorically. "The prisoners may go to see the Supreme Leader together. All three of them."
Finn was dragged to his feet. He looked into the helmet of someone he probably knew. Blinking the pain from his eyes he thought about the plan. This wasn't any better of a plan.
"You don't have to do this, you know," he said in a squeaky gasp. It had sounded cooler and more confident in his head. "They raised us to do this, but you don't have to accept that destiny. You can make your own."
"Move along." The trooper shoved him against Rey.
"You all right?" she whispered.
"I'll be better with some ice. A lot of ice. You ever been to Hoth?"
"No talking," said the closest trooper.
"You can't get through to them one by one. Not now. That's the way to start a revolution."
"I'm not a revolutionary."
"You're a symbol. They've been talking about you. Their brains are full of you." Rey closed her eyes as they walked. Around them, Finn noticed the troopers losing the formation of their march. At his wrists, he felt a silent twitch as the lock on his binders released. He moved his hands to cover. If he showed that he was free now, he'd be free and dead.
The party stopped moving. Ren turned, and Phasma raised her blaster again. Ren said, "She's trying something. Bring her forward with me, away from the other prisoner."
Rey was dragged away from him, her eyes blinking open. Around him, Finn heard voices muttering. Had she gone into all their heads? Was she that strong in the Force?
Ren turned his head. "You may take FN-2187 to his cell."
"Changed your mind?"
"If this one is showing her powers, I'd like not to have my attention divided." Ren grabbed Rey by the neck, shoving her roughly in front of himself.
Finn held onto his tiny electronic key digging painfully into his cheek as he was forced away from Rey and towards the detention block. He let them push him, and fell again when he was kicked in the knee well out of sight of the others. Still he held onto his binders. Not yet.
"I've heard they plan to exsanguinate you over three days," said one of the troopers escorting him.
The one who kicked him said, "They're going to cut a piece off each hour. We've been placing bets on what's getting cut off when."
The third trooper said nothing.
"You better lock me up tight. I'm as dangerous as General Organa."
"Then you're another weak old woman who's going to die screaming." The third one shoved him inside. "We'd bring a screen in here for you to view her execution, but it's scheduled for a few minutes from now. You'll have to watch the recording. It will give you something to do over the next three days." Mouthy leaned in. "My friend here thinks they'll start with your toes and make you stand the whole time as they're removed, then take your fingers one by one. Me, I'd start with your face. Cut out your lying tongue first, and after that one ear filled with Resistance lies then the other."
"You're an ass, Seven," said the third trooper. "Come on."
They locked the door. No window. No way to see if someone stood guard or if all three had returned to their posts. He didn't have time to wait around.
Okay. He was in position. Use the Force, Finn, he thought, and wished he knew how. He closed his eyes and tried to listen with his brain. Someone was standing out there. He didn't know the soldier, but he didn't have to. They'd all been taken as little kids and turned into something they weren't. Sure, some were natural bullies, but most were just like him. He had to hope he was dealing with another lost child.
"Hey." He breathed. "Can you hear me? You should know, you're better than this. You're meant for more than this. You can choose."
He spit out the miniature key, smaller than a fingernail. He'd nearly swallowed it when his testicles had been half-crushed. He placed it against the lock. "They don't have to control you."
The cell door slid open.
The trooper standing guard already had a blaster pointed at Finn's head.
This was a terrible plan.
They searched the ship.
Poe didn't let himself breathe until the last of the boots left his hearing. Carefully, he pushed open the hatch for the panel. Sharp pains ran down his arms and legs from the cramped position, and he half-fell to the floor.
"Ow."
Creeping silently, he returned to the cockpit, keeping out of sight of the viewscreen. The trackers were active. He wasn't surprised to see Finn led away from Rey. He'd be taken to the prison level, where General Organa was. All Poe had to do was ensure the ship was ready to leave, and if he could, help them escape.
The communicator was still set to the First Order frequencies. He turned the sound on low, hoping to catch more intel.
All troops were ordered to come to the main viewing area, or to turn on their private viewscreens. The execution was scheduled for fifteen minutes from now. Lord Snoke would be delayed in his arrival.
He heard mutters from one of Finn's private chatter lines: "It's that fool Kylo Ren again." "The Supreme Leader ought to shoot him at the same time." "Don't let them hear you say that."
Despite his bitter enjoyment to confirm everyone here hated the obnoxious bastard as much as he did, Poe didn't like the schedule. They'd caused a delay, but that didn't leave Finn any wiggle room to get free from his cell and find General Organa. The plan wasn't going to work.
He clipped the lightsaber to his belt and covered up with his cloak. He'd stick out badly in a sea of Stormtroopers no matter what. He kept his eyes peeled. Fortunately, they were all worried about finding a screen to watch Poe's boss be killed. He wasn't sure how he was going to prevent that yet. The original plan relied on stealth, but their ace in the hole relied on stomping his feet whenever he didn't get his way.
Come to think of it, Poe did remember that second party.
"Okay," he said to himself. "Finn's that way. Which means the General is probably that way. Looks like I'm going that way."
The weird thing was, he wasn't frightened. He was on the enemy base, surrounded by people who'd be glad to shoot him dead. His friends were nowhere to be seen, and their safety depended on trusting someone who not only had tried to murder each of them, but who was very clear about his intention to kill them all as soon as he had the chance.
Poe pressed his back against a dip in the corridor wall, allowing five troopers to march past without seeing him.
He ought to be scared witless. Instead, the life and death stakes exhilarated him. Yeah, they might all die. They might not make it in time to save the General. But then again, they might.
His confidence lasted all of two corridors before he was trapped between two groups of Stormtroopers, neither of which saw him yet but wouldn't miss him for long.
There was always the old one about luring a trooper around a corner and knocking him out for his clothes. It was worth a try.
It turned out the Stormtroopers knew that one, too. They surrounded him instantly.
"Hi, guys," he said, sticking his arms up in surrender.
Kylo forced himself to kneel. Behind him, two of Phasma's guards yanked Rey down to her knees as well. "You will kneel in front of the Supreme Leader," Phasma said in a low voice.
Lord Snoke tapped the arm of his chair impatiently. "Your failures are truly staggering, my idiot apprentice."
"I apologize for my delay."
"Your delay is not at issue. You failed to bring me Luke Skywalker. You failed to destroy General Organa. You failed even to destroy this pathetic child. Cut her down now and I will consider calling off your execution."
He raised his head to Snoke. He lit his lightsaber and turned to where Rey was held. Her skin glowed pink in the light of his blade, bright enough for him to see the fearful jump of her pulse at her throat. She still didn't trust him, would never believe him. She knew him too well.
He clicked off the lightsaber. "No, my Master."
"You have lost the last of my patience. I admit to some affection towards you for our shared past. You were my first apprentice. How you disappoint me now."
"I know I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them. I have brought you something of great value. I told you I could bring the girl to our cause, and I have. She is a powerful prize."
"She's a minor pest. Your infatuation with her is obvious and pathetic. Next time, visit a prostitute. When a whore manipulates you with her body, it's only for money."
Under his mask, no one could see the flinch. "Read her soul. Her mind is too well-shielded for you to touch, but you can feel the aura of her Force." He glanced back at Rey. "Before you carelessly throw away a gem, appraise it."
Lord Snoke tilted his head. "Fascinating." He smiled, and it was a hungry smile. "My apologies. I doubted you."
"Sir?" asked Phasma in a worried tone.
"She's been corrupted. I can taste the shape of the Dark Side surrounding her. My apprentice has done well."
Rey blanched and struggled to her feet. "No. That's not true. I haven't fallen to the Dark Side."
Snoke's smile spread. "Oh, child. You may not be all the way ripened, but I can feel how plump and tender you've become. How much anger you feel. How many minds you've pushed for your own purposes. There remains some regrettable Light within you, and had we more time, I would watch you snuff it dead."
"If you'll take my advice, have her slay FN-2187. There's an affection between them. Two problems, one simple solution."
"Your advice is noted."
"I'm not evil. I will fight you!"
"Yes. I hope you do." Snoke nodded. "Kylo Ren, this is an acceptable tribute. Captain, you may release him, if you ever had him under your control. You may all leave."
He rose to his feet. "Master, I would like to pay my respects to the General before her execution."
"Your mind is shrouded to me. Not getting sentimental, are you?"
"Have no fear. I'll leave Organa's death to you. I merely wish to savor the expression on her face when I describe Skywalker's demise in gory detail. I want her to know I lured his would-be successor into my bed and into this trap with a pathetic sob story of wanting to change my evil ways and save my dear mother's life." He brushed Rey's cheek with his glove as she shuddered away. "I want the General to die understanding how thoroughly she has failed."
"Kylo, don't do this." Rey's face was frightened. She struggled with her captors, sending out a desperate tendril of Force energy towards him, snatching for his lightsaber. His grip was faster, and this one had always been his. "Don't leave me with him. You know what he'll do." She stopped struggling. "Please. I'll be your apprentice. I'll do anything. Stop this."
"Enjoy your meal, Master," he said, and walked out as Rey screamed his name.
tbc
Reviews welcome.