"Rey, we have to attack now!" Kylo Ren paced around the table in the middle of the command center.

"They've probably already evacuated the base!" Rey protested. "They know we're coming!"

"Rey, we are in a war. You decided to come back to the First Order. You are part of the First Order now. There is no in between. The Resistance is not your home. They are not your friends. I can't believe I'm even saying this. That was clearly demonstrated to you," Kylo paused. "There is no going back."

"I know! I know," Rey sighed. "But do you have to be so hell bent on aggression? Can't we try to make peace?"

"Do you think they have any interest in making peace with us? Did they try to make peace with us when we returned?" Kylo ran his hand through his hair. "Do you think they have any intent of making peace with us now?"

"I, I don't know. We don't know…" Rey's voice trailed off.

"Rey, I'm not even sure how many people we killed getting out of there. You're now a wanted war criminal like I am. It's time to face that. We are not in any position for peace talks right now. Not after what we've just done. The only reason we escaped is because my mother couldn't kill her son. The only reason you're alive is because you were with me. She's probably going to lose her position over it. She'll have no credibility left."

Given the situation, Rey didn't know how to feel about it. She was still angry about how things played out, but she never meant for things to happen the way they did, either.

"I feel your confusion, your regret. Let it go. You were tricked. You were lied to. You were wronged. Hold on to that, Rey. Hold on to your anger."

"I'm not of the Dark Side, Ben."

"And I don't think there's any Ben left in me, Rey, not now. Not after all of this. And if you're not of the Dark Side, exactly what caused that escape on the Resistance base?" Rey didn't know how to respond. He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You're not of the Light, either."

She let out a long breath. "Send a small squad to do reconnaissance to see if the Resistance is still there. If they're smart, they've pulled the base and relocated. If not, then we attack."

He ran his thumb along her cheek. "Beautiful."

Kylo had yet to decide on where exactly he would headquarter himself as Supreme Leader so he was temporarily using General Hux's old office until he decided. He wanted to be more hands on than Snoke but understood the air of mystery that he needed to portray as a Force user to his subordinates. He despised Snoke's lair for all the negativity he experienced there but knew the power that such a foreboding space held. The stark sterility of an officer's space simply wasn't appropriate for a Dark Sider but he still wasn't comfortable stepping back into the place where he had slain Snoke and had been through so much with the old wretch. He was roused from his thoughts as General Phasma stepped into the room.

"Supreme Leader, I have the report from the reconnaissance mission to the Resistance base."

"And, General?"

"They have indeed relocated. It would seem they started evacuation immediately after you and Lady Rey fled the facility."

"General Organa is no fool. Our next priority will be expansion of our territory. We'll do this first by proposing to a neutral planet an alignment with the First Order and if they refuse then we simply take them by force. Put together the necessary teams to accomplish this." Rey had been sitting quietly off to the side while Kylo and Phasma had their discussion. "Rey, do you have anything to add?" Kylo asked.

"Taking planets by force?" Rey asked.

"Yes," Kylo replied.

"It was one thing to attack the Resistance. We're at war with them. But attack neutral planets?"

"We have to expand our influence. If negotiations don't work, then we take them by force. I thought you would be pleased that I'm offering negotiations first." Kylo tried not to sound frustrated through his voice modulator.

"If they wish to remain neutral, then they should be free to do so."

"The First Order is not a democracy."

"Perhaps it should be!"

"General, could you leave us for a moment?" Kylo motioned towards the door.

"Yes, Supreme Leader," General Phasma turned on her heel and left the room, sounding a bit relieved.

"Rey, I can't have you challenging me like that in front of subordinates!" Kylo took his mask off and slammed it down on the desk.

"Then don't ask me if I have anything to add!" She shouted. "You can't go around the galaxy invading planets and subjecting them to tyranny!"

"Yes, I can and that's what I intend to do! That's what the First Order does. That's what we've always done. We rule by force. What did you think you were getting into, Rey? Did you think you were going to come back here and change this into the New Republic, especially after the discussions we've had about the flaws with the New Republic and my views on it?"

"No, but that doesn't mean you have to keep doing the same thing! Have you even considered that the way the First Order does things is wrong, that maybe some of the things the New Republic does is right?"

"The way Snoke did things was wrong. The way I will do things will be right."

"But you're doing things the same way! You're forcing people into the First Order!"

"Sometimes people need to be told what is good for them. What about a planet where slavery is legal? The First Order doesn't allow slavery. We will abolish that. Is it bad that we take over that planet and free those slaves? The New Republic would allow that neutral planet to continue on, turning a blind eye. Is that the right thing to do?"

Rey faltered. "I...I don't know. If the First Order doesn't allow slavery, why do they take children from their parents for the Stormtrooper program?"

Kylo sighed. "Because we need troops and we need them programmed from birth for loyalty. Why did the Jedi take children from parents at birth?"

"That was voluntary!"

"Was it? Was there no pressure put on them? Were they not told the Jedi could provide a better life? That it was their duty to the galaxy? Were those children given any more choice than our Stormtroopers? I thought you learned some things my grandfather's journals." He paused. "Rey, you have a choice to make. You're either with the First Order or you aren't. Seeing as you chose to return here, I thought you made that choice."

"I chose to be with you," she said quietly.

"And I am the First Order. I am the Supreme Leader." Rey didn't answer. "We also need to speak of your position within the First Order."

"My position?"

"Yes. You're no longer a prisoner, as much as I never considered you one. We need to decide your future."

"I could work in maintenance…"

"Are you serious?" Kylo interrupted her. "I should be training you. How can you even consider something as lowly as maintenance of any sort?"

"Training me? As in being your apprentice?"

"Yes, my apprentice. Your power shouldn't go to waste. Let me train you, Rey."

"I won't use my power to subjugate others," she crossed her arms defiantly.

"Everyone on this base already fears you. Don't let that go to waste." He paused. "I also want to initiate you into the Knights of Ren, after sufficient training."

"The Knights of Ren? I...I need to be alone. I need to think," Rey rubbed her hand across her forehead. "I'm going back to our quarters."

"Alright. I'll join you after I speak with Phasma about our next objective with the Resistance and our other priorities."

Kylo watched her as she exited the office, running his hand through his hair. He hadn't expected so much defiance from her upon their return. He actually hadn't known what to expect from her. He had simply hoped she would fall in line with his running the First Order, but he should have known better than to expect that from Rey. As much as she might have disagreed with the treatment they received from the Resistance, she still agreed with their principles.

He picked up the data pad on his desk and reviewed the stats from the weapons factory that were dropped off earlier. Production was going as planned and delivery was on schedule. He grumbled and rubbed his eyes. Did Snoke worry about these things or did he leave them to subordinates? This seemed to be the sort of thing Hux would have been interested in. He needed to meet with Phasma and work out delegating duties. He certainly had no interest in micromanaging the operation but he didn't want to be as hands off as Snoke was, either. He wanted to be seen more than Snoke was, be more of a presence than the old being ever was. Kylo was roused by his thoughts by Phasma herself rushing in.

"Sir, there's been an incident. You need to come quickly."

"An incident?" Kylo rose from his seat.

"Yes, Rey has assaulted an officer."

"What?"

"Just, come with me, Supreme Leader."

He followed Phasma out and she led him to the hallway where they found Rey and several stormtroopers and an officer sitting on the floor, clutching at his throat and struggling to breathe.

"She tried to kill me!" the officer sputtered.

"Rey, what is going on?" Kylo asked, looking at her.

She glared at the officer. "He called me a Jedi whore under his breath as he walked by me."

In his haste, Kylo has failed to put his mask on when leaving his office. His full anger was apparent on his face. "Lieutenant, is this true?"

The officer struggled to rise to his feet. "Well, uh, Supreme Leader, I…"

"IS THIS TRUE?!" Kylo roared.

"Yes, yes, Supreme Leader," the officer stammered, looking down at the floor.

Kylo looked at one of the stormtroopers. "Execute him."

"Sir?" General Phasma asked.

"Execute him!" Kylo repeated.

The stormtrooper raised his blaster, but not quickly enough for Kylo. He unclipped his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it, running it through the officer. He looked at the stormtrooper. "The next time I give you an order, you follow it, or you'll be next. Clean up this mess." He looked at Rey. "To our quarters?"

She only nodded in response and followed him. She remained wordless until they reached their quarters once inside, she spun to face him. "What in the hell was that?"

Kylo looked at her blankly. "What?"

"You just killed a man for no reason!"

Kylo huffed. "I had every reason. He insulted you. That will not be tolerated."

"You can't kill someone for insulting me!"

"Rey, I don't need a reason for killing someone. I'm the Supreme Leader."

"This. This is why I won't let you train me. I will not become...this." She waved her hand up and down his form.

He crossed his arms. "Yet I'm supposed to believe you love me."

"I...I do. But I can't condone these actions. I can't let you indiscriminately kill people for slighting me. People are going to have different opinions."

"They can have their opinions. Voicing them is another story, especially directly disrespecting you. I will not tolerate that. Disrespecting you is disrespecting me and that will not stand."

"But you can't kill someone for it."

"You Force choked the man!" Kylo exclaimed.

"I didn't kill him! I stopped myself. I controlled my anger before it got out of control. I should have never started. I'm ashamed at myself for even losing control in the first place. I had no right to do that," she looked down at the floor. "I'm fairly sure that he learned his lesson just from that."

"But did others learn anything from it? I guarantee a lesson will be learned from my actions."

"Kylo," she sighed. There was no calling him Ben in this instance. She was certain she saw a faint glimmer of a smile when she called him Kylo. "I still need to be alone."

He stepped towards her and placed his hands on her face. "Everything I do, I do for you."

"Why is that so frightening now?" Rey felt a chill run down her spine.

"Don't be frightened," he ran his thumb across her cheek. "You've only see my power restrained. I'm without limitations now. Snoke no longer controls me, the Resistance will not put me in chains. Nothing can stop me now."

"I don't know if this is what I want," she whispered.

"Do you want me?" he asked, looking into her eyes, their lips almost touching.

"Yes," her voice was barely audible.

"Then this is what you must accept," his lips brushed across hers. "I told you before. I am not a good man. I am of the Dark Side. Ben Solo is dead. You think you see glimpses of him and maybe you do in my love for you but that's the only place you'll see him. If you're in love with Ben Solo, you're going to end up with a broken heart."

"I'm in love with the man that protected me even though I was a prisoner and killed Snoke despite the odds."

"That man is Kylo Ren, Rey. I killed Snoke for you, for your protection but I also killed him for us. To make the First Order ours. I told you that from the beginning, from the moment I collapsed at your feet after killing the bastard. You didn't want that...I even tried giving it all up for you. Everything I do, I do for you," he repeated. "Yet it's still never enough." He dropped his hands from her face. "What more do you want from me?"

"I...I didn't expect things to be so...harsh. I don't know. I don't know what to think. Or to expect. I just need time to adjust I guess. I don't know." She sounded exasperated. "I'm surrounded by war. The First Order, the Resistance, my heart, my mind, the Light, the Dark. It's too much."

"You have time to straighten your thoughts. You're safe here."

"Am I?"

Kylo's face turned dark. "Of course you are. No one would dare harm you. Words are one thing and that has been dealt with. If you're concerned, you can stay here or with me at all times."

"A prisoner again."

"Only of your own fears. Your own actions against that officer will spread. Given your killing of Hux, I was shocked to hear anyone said anything in your direction. Rey," he took her hands in his. "You walk these halls under my authority. Act like it." She only nodded in response. He leaned in and kissed her softly. "I tried to take you home, now let me make this home and give you the galaxy." She said nothing as she watched him leave.

Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren were seated in a room adjacent to their training area following an intense training session. "But there's always been eight Knights of Ren," Altania Ren protested. "Ever since the beginning of the Knights of Ren. Eight. No more, no less, including the Master Knight."

"I propose that changes," Kylo Ren stated. "As the Master Knight of Ren, I can change things as I see fit."

"But why?" Jaxion Ren demanded.

"Rey is an extremely powerful Force user and competent warrior. Once she is trained, she will be a valuable asset to us. I think she will function better as a Knight of Ren rather than a tenant of the First Order. She doesn't fit with the First Order. She will be better served as a Knight of Ren."

"I propose she remains in your bed where she fucking belongs," Jaxion snarled.

Kylo stood and ignited his lightsaber, pointing it at Jaxion's throat. "I killed a man for saying less yesterday, Jaxion. Do not test me."

"Does the truth hurt, Master Knight?" Jaxion stood, almost matching Kylo in height. "Why should we change tradition, accept change, induct another Knight simple because you are fucking her?"

Kylo's lightsaber now pointed at Jaxion's heart. "I should kill you where you stand." Kylo's voice seethed with rage.

Rylan Ren stood and placed his hand on Kylo's arm. "Steady, Master Knight. This is not the way to replace a Knight."

Kylo's lightsaber remained pointed at Jaxion. "I am not only the Master Knight of Ren but the Supreme Leader of the First Order and my decision will stand."

"The Supreme Leader never had power over the Knights of Ren before," Jaxion spat.

"He didn't?" Kylo challenged. "Then who sent us on our missions? Who did we operate under?"

"We operated under you, our Master Knight, who we trusted," he responded.

"Trusted?" Kylo countered.

"Your judgement is clouded by this girl," Jaxion's lip curled at the word.

"Do you speak for all the Knights or just yourself?" Kylo's lightsaber was still pointed at Jaxion.

He glanced around at the others. "I do not know."

Kylo looked around at them all. "Do any of you have anything to say?" He swung his lightsaber around in a circle. He received no response and a few looked down at the floor. "Then this matter is settled. When Rey completes her training, she will be inducted as a Knight of Ren." He switched off his lightsaber. "This meeting is over. Continue training. I have matters to attend to as Supreme Leader." He clipped his lightsaber to his belt and left the room, Jaxion staring daggers into his back as he left.

"He's going to get us all killed over that bitch," he growled.

Kylo Ren sat the desk in General Hux's former office, his office, he supposed. He and Rey had been back with the First Order for a month and there had been no activity from the Resistance since then. Nothing. No movement, no indication of rebuilding a new base, nothing. On the other hand, there had been little activity from the First Order. Given Rey's protest regarding aggression, he had done nothing on those orders, listening to her concerns. He balled his hand into a fist and put it into his other. Perhaps she was clouding his judgment on at least some things. He had been hesitant to act since she had spoke up in his office that last time. He pressed the button on his comm link. "General Phasma."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"Are you available to give me a report on what our Resistance spies have reported in?"

"Yes, sir. Shall I come to your office immediately?"

"Yes, General."

"Right away, Supreme Leader." General Phasma arrived momentarily in his office, datapad in hand. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long, Supreme Leader."

"Prompt, as always, General. First, what is the status of General Organa? Is she still in command?" He couldn't help but be curious as to the status of his mother and what happened to her after letting him and Rey escape.

"She was demoted but is still in an advisory position. Given her extensive experience and knowledge, they knew she was too valuable to completely expel from the Resistance. However, given her obvious emotional attachment to you and presumably Rey, she was relieved of command."

Kylo nodded. "Not a surprise. We know they evacuated their previous base. Do we have any intelligence of their new location?"

Phasma shook her head. "We've heard rumor of a few locations on the Outer Rim, but so far our spies haven't been able to pin down any concrete location. Operations seem to be spread out among numerous small bases among the Inner and Outer rims, maybe even a few Core locations. We're just not sure. There's not enough of a concentration of equipment in any one location to constitute a base of any sort."

"Where are the commanders located? There has to be some sort of centralized location…" He trailed off. "Or does there? Not necessarily. They could be running as separate cells, much like the Rebellion of old, against the Empire, in the beginning." His mind ran back to his studies of the Empire and the Rebellion and the loose affiliations the Rebellion had in the origins of the movement.

"There's word that they are afraid of centralizing their forces because they fear the power of you and Rey combined. They fear being totally destroyed and centralizing could bring that down upon them."

Kylo lightly laughed. The didn't fear the First Order. They feared the Dark Side. It wasn't the TIE fighters or the ground forces of the First Order they feared but the power they he and Rey held. "So we have them on the defensive?"

"It seems so, sir. To the point of paralyzation."

"Then we need to act."

"I agree, Supreme Leader. Our own forces grow restless at our...inactivity."

"Oh?"

Phasma shifted uncomfortably. "May I speak freely, sir?"

"Of course."

"There were hopes that you would be more aggressive than Snoke. So far that hasn't happened."

"It's only been a few weeks. These things take some time. There's a period of transition."

"I as well as other officers understand that but lower ranking troopers aren't as astute. They want action. It's what they're trained for. I'm sure you understand, Supreme Leader."

"Yes, yes, I suppose." This is where he needed to rely on her expertise and knowledge of her troops as he truly didn't have much insight on the thoughts of the average First Order Stormtrooper. "Though upon approaching new systems, we may not encounter much resistance to joining the First Order. The troops may not find the action they are seeking."

"Deployment is better than nothing, sir. They grow restless remaining here at the base repeating training exercises."

"Make preparations for a delegation and a regiment to head to the nearest neutral system. If they can't be persuaded by the delegation to join the First Order then perhaps the regiment will convince them. It seems the Resistance is too spread out and ineffective currently to be of any threat until we have already secured the system. We'll force them out of hiding."

"Yes, Supreme Leader. I will make the necessary preparations. Anything else, sir?"

"No, we'll meet again before the invasion to cover details and then after to review the results. You're dismissed until then."

"Yes, sir," Phasma turned and left the office.

"Report, Mitaka."

Captain Mitaka shifted uncomfortably as he stood before Kylo Ren. There were several other officers in the room, virtual maps displayed on console screens with a conference table in the middle. Datapads littered the table as the officers discussed the situation on Phindar and the strategy for the First Order following victory from there. It was in close proximity to Mandalore, making it a bold move for the First Order, but Mandalore had managed to re-establish neutrality following the collapse of the Empire. It was nowhere near the strength it was during the Clone Wars, but it wasn't a challenge Kylo was prepared to take on so early in his new reign. That would come later.

"Mitaka?" Kylo repeated.

"Supreme Leader," Mitaka started, his voice wavering. "Our occupation of Phindar was...unsuccessful." His statement hung in the air as the room grew quiet.

"What?" Kylo said, his voice a growl through his modulator.

Rey rose from her chair in the corner of the room. "Occupation?"

"When we arrived on Phindar, we were immediately met with a small delegation from the government. We landed just outside of their capital city, still an urban area but with enough room to land the ships. An easy march in from there to occupy the capital building and install the delegates as the new government leaders. They declared on no uncertain terms that they would be maintaining neutrality, having no interest in the First Order, the New Republic or the conflict between the two. Our delegation informed them, as per your order, there would be no choice in the matter. Joining the First Order would be compulsory and welcome to the regime."

"Compulsory? This was an invasion," Rey seethed.

"Not now, Rey," Kylo snarled at her. "Mitaka, continue."

"The Phindarians produced blasters, at which our delegation then ordered the battalion to deploy. It was at this point that what we assume Resistance fighters appeared and began firing on our troops."

"Resistance? They're a neutral planet!" Kylo roared.

"Our delegation was executed by the Phindarian delegation. Upon the order to deploy the battalion, the Phindarians fired and joined with the Resistance fighters. It's unsure at this point if they were truly diplomats at all given their lack of hesitance to kill our delegation."

"And our troops?"

"We lost nearly half."

Kylo bellowed in rage, producing his lightsaber and destroying the table in the room. The durasteel melted and bent under the heat of the saber and the table became nothing but a pile of twisted metal and a small fire as the officers stood back from Kylo's temper with Rey stepping forward, the only one brave enough to come close.

"You invaded a neutral planet! I thought we discussed this!"

"NOT NOW, REY!" he shouted at her, pushing her back with just his voice. "Not now, not here!"

She took a few steps back from him, not used to his temper being directed at her. She could always calm him, but she had taken an aggressive stance with him. "Kylo, calm down. It's just one loss…"

He cut her off. "It's a loss we can not afford. And do not try to placate me here. Not now, not here," he repeated. "Mitaka, do you have anything else?"

"No, Supreme Leader. I would only offer an observation, if I may," his voice wavered.

"Yes?" Kylo hissed.

"It seems as if they knew we were coming." Mitaka flinched as he waiting for a reaction to his statement.

Kylo remained silent for a moment. "We have spies among us."

"Perhaps so, Supreme Leader."

"Make finding them a priority. I want them brought to me as soon as they are discovered. There will be an assembly. There will be executions. By me personally. Everyone will see that treason will not be tolerated or taken lightly."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"But, Kylo," Rey said. "You have to have trials, you…"

"Rey, I'm taking my leave. Come with me." He gave her no option otherwise. He looked around the room and left without saying anything.

Rey struggled to keep up with him as he quickly made his way to his office. He used the Force to slam the automatic doors open, taking no heed to the hydraulics or if they would be damaged. He took his helmet off and threw it across the room, crashing it into a set of shelves left there by his predecessor. He went to the desk and slammed his fist down on it, over and over until he couldn't feel his knuckles, screaming in rage as he did so.

"Kylo…"

He turned and pointed at her. "Don't say anything."

"What? You're…"

"I said Don't. Say. Anything." He accented each word. "You are making me look like a fool."

Rey snorted. "I think you are doing that just fine one your own."

Kylo roared and punched the desk again. "You keep questioning me in front of subordinates. You keep challenging me in front of my lessers. I can't have you doing that. Then you try to pity me in front of them?"

"I wasn't trying to pity you. I was trying to calm you down! You were making an idiot of yourself in there by losing your temper!"

"You're making me look weak!"

"You're making yourself look weak!" She countered.

"Rey, I am the Supreme Leader. You have to accept this."

"So I am your subordinate?"

"I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that you need to respect it in front of others. If you question me, others will start to question me. I can't effectively lead if people question me."

"Maybe you should be questioned. You're going to execute people without a fair trial. What if you are brought innocent people?"

"Innocent spies?" He spat.

"No, the wrong people. That aren't the spies. What if you're brought people that are loyal to the First Order, that aren't spies and you execute them and they've done no wrong?"

"If a thorough investigation is done, there is no issue. I have full faith in my officers."

Rey sighed. "People make mistakes. Kylo, you can't indiscriminately execute people."

"Rey, here's the difference between you and I," he walked over to her and stood in front of her. "I have. I can and will. You're trying to reason with a murderer. It's nothing I haven't done before and I'll do it again. I will stop at nothing to further to the First Order. Get that through your head."

"You're just angry…"

"You're right. I'm angry. I'm always angry. It's who I am. It's the Dark Side, Rey. This is what I do. This is what I was doing when I wasn't with you before. What did you think I was doing when we weren't together? I was out on missions, doing things you don't even want to consider."

"I don't have to accept this."

"Maybe not, but you have to accept that you're part of this. You chose this. You don't have to be an active part. You don't have to participate. You want to just sit back and watch? Fine. But let me do my job. Don't try to usurp me. I don't need a coup from the woman I love."

"I'm not trying to overthrow you!"

"You're giving ammunition to those who might. Consider your actions in front of others." He walked away from her, gathered his helmet and put it on. "There is much work to be done. Perhaps it is best if we are apart while I try to repair this disaster." Rey could only nod as she watched him leave the room.