Kylo Ren intentionally took his time making his way to Supreme Leader Snoke's chambers. This was a confrontation he was not looking forward to having. He couldn't think of a positive outcome in any scenario. He felt along his belt for the relic, Revan's Cynosure, tucked into a pouch he clipped on the inside of his belt. He always carried it with him but hadn't been in a battle since he took the relic and Rey back to the First Order base from Tatooine. He had no idea what the relic actually did, beyond the description. He had been receiving odd looks from every single person he passed on his way through the base when he realized he left his quarters without his mask. No one on the base, except for a few, had ever seen him without it. He cursed himself under his breath.

Of course, the doors to Snoke's chambers were already open. He was there, waiting for Kylo; Waiting for an explanation on why the prisoner killed his top general, waiting for an explanation on why Kylo had been lying all this time about his feelings for Rey. Snoke had to know at this point. Did it really matter? There was no longer a time constraint now that Hux was dead. Whatever was going to happen to them was going to happen now. Kylo entered the room, dropping to one knee, for the last time, he thought. He waited to be addressed.

There was a long, extremely uncomfortable silence. Kylo stared at the floor, not daring to make eye contact with Snoke. He longed for his mask, his disguise, his solace. Finally the Supreme Leader spoke, "It seems we have a development with the prisoner."

"Yes, my Lord. So it seems."

"Do you think she has truly turned to the Dark Side?" Snoke peered down at him over folded hands.

"She is frightened, my Lord," Kylo continued to stare at the floor.

"I told her to kill Hux, she need not fear repercussion from me," Snoke continued to stare intently at Kylo.

Kylo refused to meet his gaze, "She is afraid of her own power, Master."

Snoke nodded, "Understandable. She confessed this to you?"

"Yes, Master."

"She is even more powerful than you, my apprentice."

Kylo bit his bottom lip, still staring at the floor, "Yes, master." He couldn't deny the truth.

"So it seems we have a...situation," Snoke was boring holes into the top of Kylo's bowed head.

"How so, my Lord?"

"What am I do to with the two of you? Shall I have two apprentices?"

A wave of nausea came over Kylo. The thought of Snoke teaching her disgusted him, "We are not Sith. There is no rule of two."

"I felt the emotion from you just now, apprentice. Did you hope to be her teacher? Surely not, your studies with me aren't even completed."

Kylo felt his nerves harden and he stood, looking Snoke in the eye, "Perhaps my studies should be complete, Master." He hissed, not bothering to hide his distaste. He was tiring of this cat and mouse game.

Snoke laughed, "Really now? You've done well to hide your true feelings, apprentice."

"She is mine," Kylo growled. He balled his fists at his sides.

"I knew your grandfather and you are just like him - only a fool would throw away everything for sentiment," Snoke practically spat the word out.

"I am throwing away nothing. I am taking what is rightfully mine," taking his lightsaber from his belt, he took a step towards Snoke and the dais he sat upon.

Snoke laughed again, "Now you wish to kill me? It's about time, apprentice," he said the word menacingly. "You have been blindly following orders for so long I was wondering if you even had it in you to try and kill me." Snoke rose from his seated position.

Holding out his hand, Kylo pushed his focus into the relic which amplified his natural power. Snoke's black stone dais started to shake, then crack from the bottom towards the seat. Cracks split through the seat and up the back, spreading to the arms as it continued to shake. Snoke began to lose balance as the dais shook even harder, then collapsed to the floor in a heap of rubble. Snoke tumbled down, but quickly came to his feet. The old creature was more nimble than he expected. Kylo ignited his lightsaber, "It is time, Master."

Snoke immediately cast Force lightning, and Kylo blocked it with his lightsaber. Given it's already considerable instability, he wasn't sure how long it could even last against Force lightning. He raised his off hand, palm towards Snoke and began to push back part of the Force lightning to Snoke. Dropping his lightsaber, he used both hands, pushing back even harder. He focused on the relic, putting all of his thoughts into it. The Force lightning made it's way back to Snoke, turning on him for a moment before he ceased the flow of electricity.

"You're stronger than I expected, apprentice, but that doesn't mean you're strong enough to defeat me," Snoke spoke with disdain while executing a Force choke on Kylo, lifting him from the floor.

Kylo struggled to breathe, surprised at how strong and quick the choke was. He focused on breaking the choke, removing the Force from his neck, and was finally able to loosen Snoke's grip. Snoke's face registered surprise as Kylo fell to the floor, gasping for air. Having recovered slightly, Kylo threw a Force push at Snoke, sending him flying some feet into the air and into the wall behind him. Snoke hit the wall hard, the rubble beneath him vibrating from the impact. Not trusting his legs to stand, he instead levitated some of the debris from his shattered dais, sending razor sharp shards into Kylo's face, dropping him to the ground with the force of the rocks flying. Wounds from Kylo's forehead began to bleed profusely, obscuring his vision. He quickly used Force healing to stop the bloodflow and wiped the blood from his eyes with the back of his gloved hand. Snoke tried to rise from the floor, but Kylo held him there with the Force. Snoke quickly broke Kylo's hold on him, sending Force lightning his way again. Kylo wasn't quick enough to defend against it this time, taking the full brunt of the attack. It knocked him back to the ground, leaving him there twitching.

Snoke walked over to where he lay, towering above him. "Did you really think you could defeat ME?" He put out his hands to attack again with Force lightning, but Kylo deftly rolled to the side, using the Force to call his lightsaber to his hand. Igniting it from the floor, he took a swipe at Snoke, but completely missed. It was enough to get Snoke to back away, giving Kylo the opportunity to flip up to his feet into a standing position. He swung and jabbed at Snoke, but each time the old creature was able to deflect his blows with the Force. Snoke then picked Kylo up and threw him into the wall opposite him with a Force push. Kylo's head hit the wall with a jolt, momentarily stunning him. Snoke then threw Kinetite at him, hitting him with a solid projectile of pure energy. It knocked all of the air out of his lungs, leaving him doubled over on the floor, unable to catch his breath. The Kinetite hit him so hard it broke open his lip and chin, leaving him dribbling drool and blood down the front of him.

He felt Snoke standing over him again and heard him laughing, "You disappoint me, boy." He posed to hit Kylo with Force lightning again, but Kylo kicked out and swept his legs out from under him and threw him back with a Force push.

"This isn't over," Kylo growled. He stunned Snoke by using Force lightning himself, sending Snoke into convulsions. Kylo smiled as he felt his power grow through the relic, sending more electricity into Snoke's body. Snoke was still able to use telekinesis to send a large chunk of rock from his dais hurtling towards Kylo's head. He was able to dodge it, but it ceased his Force lightning. Snoke rose to a sitting position, extending his hands while using telekinesis to lift a huge piece of the dais that hadn't broken, flinging it Kylo's way. Kylo put his hands above his head, catching the jagged rock with the Force, suspending it in mid-air. With a wave of his hands he threw it to the side, sending it crashing down. Kylo reached up and wiped his chin, then his forehead, damp with blood and sweat. The two adversaries stared each other down, trying to anticipate what the other would do next.

Snoke's next move was something Kylo would have never imagined. He reached under his robe and produced a lightsaber; a double bladed lightsaber. "It would seem we are not going to reach a conclusion using the Force, my apprentice."

"Apparently not," Kylo brought his lightsaber back to him with the Force, igniting and spinning it. He walked aggressively towards Snoke, a swagger in his step. He raised his weapon to striking position, "Master," Kylo said between gritted teeth. It was an invitation he was all too happy to extend.

Snoke attacked and Kylo defended, their lightsabers clashing with a burst of bright light that illuminated the whole chamber. Kylo was shocked at Snoke's strength and dexterity; he met each of Kylo's blows with a solid defense, attacking back with the next stroke of his lightsaber. Snoke wielded his double bladed lightsaber expertly; Kylo couldn't guess where or from whom he had learned his skills. Sparks flew as the blades met again and again, neither combatant gaining ground. Snoke finally used a Force push to knock Kylo off balance, but it wasn't enough and Kylo came back with an aggressive swipe at Snoke's midsection. It didn't land but Kylo spun and came down with a heavy blow from above his head. Snoke only blocked it, taking a step back.

Growing tired of the impasse, Snoke used telekinesis to throw multiple pieces of rock from the dais towards Kylo's head. Kylo ducked, barely missing the flying debris. While Snoke had one hand on his lightsaber, Kylo took the opportunity and attacked, sending the lightsaber flying. Kylo raised his own to Snoke's neck, smiling menacingly, "She is mine," he growled. Snoke said nothing, but struck Kylo with Force lightning before he could react. It sent him skidding across the floor, tremors coursing through his body. Snoke used telekinesis to send a large piece of the dais into Kylo's skull, almost knocking him unconscious.

"And you are mine, apprentice, to do with and dispose of as I please," he stood over Kylo, who struggled to raise his head from the floor. He raised his hand to dispense Force lightning again, but Kylo was able to take a sharp, cylindrical piece of the dais and send it through Snoke's body, impaling him and taking him to the floor. Kylo pulled himself to his knees, looking for his lightsaber. Finding it, he stood and went to where Snoke kneeled doubled over on the floor.

"She is mine and the First Order is mine," Kylo put his foot on Snoke's neck.

Snoke, struggling to breath, still tried to laugh and said, "Yes, but killing me will weaken you, just like killing your father did."

Kylo yelled out in rage, igniting his lightsaber and driving it through Snoke's heart. He removed his foot from Snoke's neck and ran his lightsaber across it with such force it left a groove in the floor. Snoke's head rolled from his body. It was done. Snoke was dead. He picked up Snoke's lightsaber for future use, clipping it to his belt.

Without giving the chamber a second look, Kylo turned and headed for the door. He stumbled out, injured and exhausted from the battle. He hadn't turned off his lightsaber yet and had began to walk back to his own quarters with it still on. People stopped and stared at him without even thinking of the repercussions and at this point, there wouldn't be any. Kylo didn't care. His only thought, his only purpose was to get back to Rey. The death of Hux had started making it's rounds; that combined with the sight of Kylo Ren made members of the First Order completely confused as to what was going on in their organization and they didn't dare ask the Master Knight of Ren, especially with that lightsaber blazing.

Reaching his quarters, Kylo keyed in the code to enter. Upon entering, he immediately fell to his knees, utterly spent and completely exhausted. The rush of adrenaline that had carried him through battle and back to his quarters was waning. Every inch of his body hurt, his face was caked with blood and sweat. Rey had been sitting in his chair, cross legged and jumped up when the door opened. Rushing to him, she wrapped her arms around him. She stroked his back and kissed the top of his head, just like in his dream. Looking at his bloody and battered face, she started to cry. She tried not to, but she couldn't contain her emotion. He looked like hell, face crusted in blood, hair slick with sweat. She stepped back and framed his face in her hands, taking a closer look, "What in the hell happened, Ben?"

"He's dead. Snoke is dead," he leaned into her, savoring her touch.

Rey's entire body stilled, "He's….You killed Snoke?" Her voice was incredulous

He nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist, "Now the First Order is ours."

Rey was having trouble processing what she had just heard. She knew that Kylo had wanted to kill Snoke, she just didn't think everything would happen so fast. What did he mean by "ours"? Her mind raced. She knew that he had labored under Snoke's tyranny for a long time, and she was sure that killing him felt incredibly vindicating. But surely he knew that she couldn't stay here? He didn't think she….Oh hell.

Rey stepped back, out of his embrace, and knelt in front of him, "Ben….I….." Where did she even start? "You know that I can't stay here."

Kylo blinked twice, her words not registering, "Of course you can stay here. I told you I would give you the galaxy, and now that Snoke is dead, I will be Supreme Leader, and we can rule together. You're no longer a prisoner. Once I set things right with the security team and other leaders of the base, you'll be free to roam around wherever you please, train as you please…" he searched her face, "Rey, you can't just leave me. I've worked toward this moment my entire life and I want you here, with me. You can move into my quarters, or we can move into a bigger space….," he searched her face. Surely she wouldn't just leave. She couldn't. Desperation bubbled up inside him threatening to choke him.

Rey was silent, her eyes on the floor. She was being selfish, and she knew it. How could she ask him to give up everything he had worked for? She couldn't…. But she also could not stay here. Her place was not here, and the Darkness frightened her. She wanted no part of the Dark Side, or it's lawlessness and chaos. She craved Light. She knew that Ben struggled with his Light side as much as she struggled with her Dark Side. Maybe if he came back with her….

"Come back with me," she blurted the words as soon as they came into her thoughts and almost immediately regretted it. She knew he'd never agree. Why would he? He would face certain death if he returned, and they both knew it. She didn't want him to come back only to be taken away from her, and only a fool would give up being Supreme Leader to return to the Light side and imprisonment. She sighed heavily.

Kylo stared at her. "Come...back? Rey, I'm never going back. I have nothing to go back to!" He stood abruptly and began to pace the room. Rey stayed where he left her, kneeling on the floor, her hands prone in her lap. Tears swam in her eyes.

"I...I know. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking….I just can't stay here, Ben. There's nothing here for me…"

"Nothing? What about me, Rey?!" Kylo exploded, fear and despair and anger intertwining, his battle wounds forgotten in the face of a far more serious hurt.

Rey jumped to her feet, "Did you not just say the same? You said there's nothing for you to go back to - What about me, Ben? Just…" she put a hand up to stop him from retorting, "Look. I know I'm asking a lot, and I know you've worked for this moment for a long time. I'm glad you killed Snoke, and I'm glad you're out from under his evil grasp, but this is not the place for me, Ben. I won't ask you to go back with me, I can see that you won't. But I cannot stay here. I'm sorry." Tears filled her eyes as she turned on her heel and ran toward the door. Kylo stood motionless, unable to respond, unsure of what to say. He knew she wasn't happy here - she may never be happy here. Asking her to stay for him would be as selfish as her asking him to go.

"Rey, wait!" He called after her, but it was too late. The door opened and she was gone. Kylo cursed under his breath. His heart was pounding, his breathing ragged. He couldn't lose her. Terror filled every inch of him; terror unlike anything he'd ever felt before. She was part of him, as vital to his livelihood as the heart that pumped his blood. He started to go after her, but stopped mid stride. He didn't have any idea what he would say, and he wasn't sure they could overcome this impasse. The only thing he knew was that he couldn't lose her. Not now. Not when the world had finally upended itself in his favor.

He paced the room, restless. Walking into the refresher, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and winced. I do look like shit. He stripped out of his layers and turned on the shower.

Rey had intended to go back to her room, but realized quickly that she didn't actually know the entry code. She also couldn't return to Ben's room, not only because she didn't know his code either, but because she just couldn't. She needed distance and space and a chance to clear her head. She couldn't stay and he wouldn't go and she didn't know how to compromise on something so important to both of them. She felt bad for walking out and leaving him. She heard him call for her, and she could have turned back, but she didn't. She didn't want anymore confrontation, and she didn't want her love for him to weaken her resolve. She couldn't let that happen. This wasn't the place for her. She had a Dark side, yes…. But that wasn't who she was; it wasn't who she wanted to be. How could she make him understand? She knew that he struggled with the Light within him. Could she persuade him to live in the Light? Once she thought she could, when they were sharing a meal and wine and making love….her cheeks warmed at the thought of his touch, but she shook her head to clear her thoughts. The way he loved her made her believe that he could live in the Light….but now, she wasn't so sure.

She wandered down the corridors absentmindedly, turning when she felt the urge, and by pure happenstance she found herself just outside the transportation bay doors, beyond which lay the entire fleet of ships that would take her from this forsaken place. Should she just get in one and go? The thought was certainly tempting, but she couldn't do that to Ben. She didn't want to leave that way. She hadn't seen anyone on her journey through the corridors. It occurred to her that this was odd, but she wasn't in the right frame of mind to consider the reasons. She assumed that someone would be guarding the bay, though, and she was certain they wouldn't let her just get into a ship of her choice and leave. She peered in through the glass, angling left and right to see if she could spot anyone, but she didn't see any guards. She did, however, spot Ben's ship. She decided to take a chance and opened the door.

Expecting to be confronted any minute, she made her way gingerly toward Ben's shuttle. The entry ramp was open, and she walked up into the holding bay. She made her way to the captain's chair and sat down, running her palms down the leather arm rests and surveying all the buttons and levers in front of her. Oh, I can fly this. Easy.

Kylo stepped out of the shower. He felt better than he had when he got in, and was considerably less sweaty and bloody. He toweled his hair and donned fresh clothing. He had to go talk to Rey. He slipped his gloves onto his hands and reached for his helmet, but reconsidered and left it behind. He didn't need it to talk to her, and she'd just ask him to take it off anyway. As for anyone else he saw… Well, frankly, he didn't really give a shit.

He walked out of his quarters and covered the short distance to hers, keying in her entry code. When the door slid open he stepped through, forgetting again to knock until it was already too late. He didn't see her on her bed, or in her chair.

"Rey?" He called out for her, heading toward the refresher. She wasn't there, either. Panic inched up his spine. Where the hell is she?

Back in his own quarters he rummaged through a drawer until he found the communicator he never wore. Up until this point he had refused to wear it mostly because it annoyed Hux to have to physically track him down when he wanted something. He fiddled with the device and pinned it to his robes. "Captain Phasma."

"Er, yes sir?" She sounded confused. He didn't blame her. He'd never used the comms systems to speak to her before.

"Meet me in the security room immediately."

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." She replied.

He grabbed his helmet and exited his quarters, covering the distance to the security room in record time. Captain Phasma joined Kylo Ren in the Security room as he was giving out orders to the officers there. "Surveillance of the prisoner's room will cease immediately because she is no longer a prisoner. She is a member of the First Order and will be my apprentice as I assume the position of Supreme Leader. Do whatever needs to be done to alert the base to the change for security purposes."

Captain Phasma cleared her throat, not wanting to interrupt Kylo, but wanting to make her presence known, "Sir, I got here as quickly as I could."

"Good, good, thank you, Captain. I assume you know that General Hux is dead," he didn't feel the need to mention it was Rey that killed him.

"Yes, sir. I was alerted as soon as his body was found with the other two officers. It is a great loss to the First Order."

Kylo tried not to laugh, "Yes, indeed. He will be...sorely missed." Phasma knew of Kylo's dislike for the General, but opted not to say anything. "I am putting you in charge in his place."

"But, sir," she protested, "My rank isn't high enough…"

"No matter," Kylo interrupted her. "You are the person I trust for the job during this transition. We can deal with official promotions and other such things at a later point with the other officers."

"Does Supreme Leader Snoke know of your decision?" She asked.

"Supreme Leader Snoke is also dead. I had already told the officers here before you came in. I will be taking the role of Supreme Leader."

Phasma's mask concealed her surprise, "Supreme Leader is dead?"

"I'm not dead. I'm quite well, I assure you. It was time for a change in leadership. For now, our objectives and strategies will remain the same while we are transitioning. Rey, the prisoner, is no longer that. She is my apprentice and will be taking a similar role to what I am stepping out of, but before we cover all that, I need your help with a different task."

"Certainly sir...er, Supreme Leader." Captain Phasma corrected herself, not used to addressing Kylo as Supreme Leader.

Kylo smiled behind his mask. He enjoyed being called by that title far more than he had anticipated. "Scan the security cameras and find Rey. She isn't in her quarters and I need to speak with her. She's free to move about the base, an order that I want relayed immediately. No one is to touch or disturb her, and I want the cameras removed from her quarters within the next thirty minutes, is that clear?"

"Yes, Supreme Leader!" One officer scrambled to adjust screens and flick through different camera views while another barked orders into his communicator. Captain Phasma began to communicate with other high ranking officers on the security changes the new Supreme Leader had made.

"Here, sir," the officer working the security footage said after several moments, "She's in the hangar, sir. She's uh…. She's inside your ship."

"Good work. Do not let her leave." Kylo turned on his heel and left the security room. He was furious. She was trying to leave without saying goodbye. Had her words been empty sentiment only meant to distract him from his orders? Snoke was right - he was a fool. He didn't regret killing Snoke, either way, but the thought that he may have been right only served to further sour his mood.

He maintained enough control over himself to keep from running until he was in sight of the hangar doors. He sprinted through them and down the corridor to the gangway, running into the holding bay and bursting through the doors of the control room.

"So this was your plan!?" He shouted, his fists balled at his sides. Rey jumped, startled by his sudden entrance and his vehement words. "You're just going to leave, Rey? You weren't even going to say goodbye? Snoke was right - I'm a fool. I was a fool to ever believe that you could love someone like me. You've deceived me, saying what I wanted to hear, manipulating me so you could get away from this base and go back to the Resistance!" He tore his lightsaber from the clip on his belt and smashed the control panels in front of her. Rey jumped out of the captain's chair and backed away from Kylo, unsure of whether or not he would hurt her. She'd never seen him this angry. "You're not leaving, Rey! Not on this ship! I'll destroy the entire fucking ship before I let you leave me like this!" He brought the lightsaber down on the panel again sending sparks and bits of metal flying everywhere, all but cutting the panel in half.

"What the hell are you talking about!?" Her voice was high pitched and there was fear and anger in her eyes. "If I had wanted to leave I would've done so an hour ago when I first got in here. I couldn't get into my room! You never gave me the entry key, and I couldn't go back to your room because…..well because, dammit! I needed space to breathe and think, and now you barge in here, assuming the worst, wielding a lightsaber at me! Maybe I should have left!"

Kylo froze. He hadn't considered the entry code angle. Shit. His voice was considerably calmer when he said, "This is my ship. I can't barge into my own ship. It's mine. Just as you are mine. You cannot leave me, Rey." He reached up and removed his helmet, dropping it onto the floor. It rolled across the room, coming to rest against the busted panel. In two steps he was across the room and standing in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. "Were you really going to leave?"

"No, Ben," her expression was flat and her anger wasn't abating as quickly as his had. She crossed her arms over her chest as she said, "I can't believe you would think something so foolish. I only came here because there wasn't anywhere else for me to go. I don't have the key code to get into either of our rooms, and I wasn't about to come back knocking on your door to ask for it. I only ended up here by chance! I was just wandering the corridors! I needed time to sort everything out…" she pushed herself off the wall and out of his grasp. "I can't stay here, Ben! I do not belong on the Dark Side. Yes, I have a Dark Side, but I'm not like you. I can't give into it the way you do. That's not who I want to be. I know you struggle with the Light within you - please, Ben. Please, come back with me."

"I can't go back, Rey. You know as well as I do that the minute I step off the ship I'll be arrested. The crimes they'll try me for are punishable by death! Why do you want me to return only to die? I don't understand you!" He shoved his fingers into his hair. What the hell was she thinking? "Yes, I struggle with the Light, but I can never be forgiven for the things I've done, Rey. Why can't you understand?"

"I'll talk to General Organa. I can communicate on a private channel that only certain people know so they don't know where we are. If she won't agree to give you immunity, then we won't go, and I'll…. I'll stay here." She didn't know what else she could do. She didn't want him to die, and she wouldn't take him back if General Organa wouldn't grant him immunity. That much she had worked out, at least, while she sat in the captain's chair. The rest….she wasn't entirely sure.

"You know that my mother will not grant me immunity. I've told you - she sees only light and dark. She doesn't see grey areas, Rey. She will not go against the laws of the Resistance and grant me freedom…"

Rey was terrified he would be right. Her only hope was to make an appeal to her because he was her son. "I….You're her son, Ben… Surely that will make a difference."

"It didn't make a difference when she sent me away." His words were emotionless and her heart ached for him. "If you want to try, you may. I'll take you to the communication room. If she grants me immunity…..I'll…..I'll return with you." He couldn't believe his own ears. Had he really just said that? Clearly he was insane.

Rey rushed to him, throwing her arms around him. Tears sprang to her eyes and before she could stop herself, she was sobbing into his neck. "Ben, thank you. I love you. I won't let them hurt you, I promise. If they won't guarantee your safety, I'll stay with you. I can't be without you anymore than you can be without me."

He wrapped his arms tight around her and held her to him, taking in her scent, all the tension in his body ebbing away. He ran his hand down the back of her head and down her spine.

"I love you, too, Rey."

"All of you, out," Kylo commanded to the communications officers upon stepping into the room.

"But sir," one protested.

"OUT!" Kylo shouted and they all scrambled to leave. He looked at Rey, "Do you know how to do this?"

Rey nodded, "I think so," she adjusted a few dials, watching the display for the right frequency. Hitting the right number, she stopped and waited for a response.

A male voice came across the speaker, "This is a secured frequency for General Organa. Who is this?"

Smiling at Kylo, Rey responded, "This is Rey. I need to speak with the General."

There was a pause before the voice responded, "Rey? I'll get the General right away!"

Soon General Organa's warm voice came across, "Rey? Rey! Are you alright?"

Kylo cringed at hearing his mother's voice, but Rey was excited, "Yes! I'm fine, I'm fine. It's so good to hear you!" Rey heard a cheer go up in the background.

"Where are you, Rey? What happened? We've had no idea where you've been since you didn't return from Tatooine. We sent a search party there and found the bodies of the men that went with you, but with no sign of you, we had no idea where to even start looking."

"I was taken prisoner by the First Order," she didn't include that Kylo was the one who had personally taken her prisoner. "They've been holding me at their base since then."

"Are you alright? Are you hurt? What did they do to you?" The General demanded.

"I'm fine, they questioned me, but I'm ok. I'm not hurt or anything. In fact, they're letting me go."

"What?!" The General was incredulous. "How is this happening?"

Rey looked at Kylo and he shrugged, "Supreme Leader Snoke is dead. Kylo Ren is releasing me."

There was silence on the other end of the communication, "He's...releasing you?"

"Yes and," Rey took a deep breath, "he's coming with me."

There was an even longer silence this time, "Ben is coming, coming with you?"

"Yes, but only under certain conditions," Rey said. "These are my demands, not his."

"Alright," the General said with hesitation in her voice. "What are the conditions?"

"He must be granted immunity from execution and you must promise to keep him safe," Rey's voice was firm.

"Rey, I can't guarantee what the courts might do…"

Rey interrupted her, "Immunity from execution or neither of us are coming."

The General was too intelligent to be so foolish as to lose Rey to the First Order, even if she didn't understand her strange demands, "Alright. I'll make sure that immunity is granted."

"And he'll be kept safe?" Rey pressed.

"Yes, I'll personally see to it that Ben is kept safe," the General had always refused to call her son Kylo Ren, no matter what deeds he committed, he was still her son.

"Good. We will be there soon. I'm not exactly sure where I'm at so I don't know how long it will take us to get there. I'll update en route," she paused, looking at Kylo, "Are we taking your shuttle?" He nodded. "We'll be arriving in Kylo Ren's transport shuttle. I'll use a normal frequency once we are off world."

"Acknowledged. Rey, it's so good to hear from you. I was so afraid you were lost."

"It's good to talk to you, too, General. I'll be there soon," Rey broke off the communication. She looked at Kylo, "Ben, we're going home."