Author's Incessant Rambling: Oh hi everyone! Hope you had a FANTASTIC weekend with your families and loved ones or just doing your own thing. All of those are wonderful options. Mine? Not so bad. I had a good weekend over.

Oh so, here's a really long chapter with plot, plot and more plot to set up the future of Ashlyn Novafall.

And I need to know something from y'all. What are you thoughts of an NSFW chapter? I will have to change the rating on the story if I put in here or I may just direct you to another location where that particular NSFW moment will be. Let me know in your review!

Speaking of...

Reviews:

TishaLiz: I try to add some humor into the whole Hux-Phasma-Kylo trifecta. It makes their relationship more fun haha. Also, prepare to see more insight soon on the overall plans! Hence the... name of the chapter... I guess? Haha, thanks for reviewing!

kuppcake: We will definitely be touching on his past eventually soon! How soon? Well... we'll just all have to read and find out! Thanks for reviewing!

LoveFiction2017: Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank y'all for the reviews! Remember, if you review to also answer the question above... and uhhhhh... have plot!

And of course, you know the drill!

Read, Review and above all... Enjoy!

Even though Ashlyn had taken over Sid's office, as per the request of Hux and the rest of the team, she still never sat at his desk. She sat on his desk, but never in his chair. She felt weird about it, like she didn't deserve sitting there. She hadn't earned the right.

Her team, however, would say otherwise. Yet right now, Ashlyn was more concerned over the fact she felt like she was leaving instructions to her children before leaving on a very important business trip. "Okay, you guys just need to work on the refractile ray, make sure it pulls the right angle of light otherwise this place could blow. If you need me, I have my datapad" They all gave her a knowing look as she exhaled. "Any questions?"

"Relax, mom." Grim teased. "We can handle this."

Ash smiled, relaxing as she looked at her team. "I know. I'm just nervous about leaving, there's so much still to complete and I haven't really left this base since I first came here."

"Now we can't get rid of her." Taka said knowingly, with a grin. "We'll be fine, Ashlyn. You'll be back in no time from wherever it is you're going."

"Training." She said quickly. "I'm training and making a presence up on the Finalizer. I can only assuming that means we'll be branching out from here."

"Great, more work." One of the twins said in passing. The group dispersing to their own side conversations over the concept of expanding. Except for Taka, he was more concerned about something else.

"You think that's a good idea?" He asked Ashlyn.

Ash looked around, sensing no one was really listening to them as she responded. "Branching out? Definitely."

"No." He said, smiling slightly. "Going off with the Commander alone?"

She laughed nervously. "I do it all the time here."

"Yes, but you always have us to watch over you." He said. "You'll be completely isolated with him."

While she appreciated the concern, she knew it was unwarranted. "I'll be fine." 'I won't be fine. I don't like the way he looks her.' Without meaning to, she was listening in on Taka's thoughts. As much as she tried to push out his thoughts and focus on anything and everything that wasn't Taka, she couldn't help it. 'He could never appreciate her the way I do.' Ash quickly changed the subject. "So, keep them busy and I'll see you guys soon."

Taka nodded. "Be safe."

Without another word, Ash high-fived Grim and practically ran from Sid's office and to the training areas. She was late for her last training session with Phasma, which never went over well with the blonde haired captain.

Captain Phasma had just finished a quick training session with a few of her Troopers. Ash assumed they must have been new recruits, considering their lack of proper position and the slight aggravation on Phasma's face as she dismissed them. She nodded to Ashlyn as the recruits exited the room, signaling for her to come over. Ash did exactly that, not wasting too much time, knowing Phasma would never allow it. "Captain." She said with a smile. "Forgive my tardiness, I had to prepare my guys for my departure today."

Phasma nodded, understanding as she smiled in return. "Excited for your first off-base mission?"

Ash shrugged. "Honestly, not really. I'm nervous about leaving the base alone and also meeting with the other First Order officers." She grimaced then. "No one mentioned that Sid being head of maintenance also meant he was really head of maintenance."

"What else would it mean?" She replied knowingly. "It's a lot of work, but if the General didn't have any faith in you, you wouldn't be sent off to the Finalizer."

"Is the Finalizer as scary as everyone makes it out to be? Every time I mention it, I can sense everyone's dread."

Phasma chuckled. "It's definitely a different pace comparatively." She saw the uneasy expression on Ashlyn's face before sighing. "How about this? Instead of training you physically, let's prepare you mentally for the Finalizer. Consider it a crash course in the First Order."

Her bright smile reappeared at the offer. "I'd love that."

Phasma grabbed her datapad before finding a clear spot for the two women to sit. Ash follow suit, sitting in front of Phasma as the Captain began pulling up information on the datapad. "You need to remember the politics of the First Order; that is definitely important. However, your title may rank towards the lower part of the food chain, remember that you are just as important and powerful as the rest of them. You have something they don't have, you have the Commander."

Ash frowned slightly. "His rank is clearly way above mine. How can I use that to my advantage?"

Phasma gave her a pointed look. "Are you not his apprentice?" It then clicked for Ashlyn. People feared the Force Users within the First Order. "You have an ace up your sleeve with that title, use it if you need to. The boys on the Finalizer are greedy for power, but know their place. They will try and use it to their advantage; fight back. Do not show any weakness or they will eat you alive." Phasma explained. "While the General wishes he could come, he loves watching his subordinates squirm when Ren enters a room, he sadly will not be joining us on this outing."

"But at least I'll have you there, right?" Ash asked.

Phasma smiled. "Yes, you will have me. I know how hard it is for a woman to keep her place among those who would rather watch others fail for their own gain. However, I've worked hard to make my place and my stance known. They do not challenge me."

It made sense, Ashlyn knew the respect not only Hux had for Phasma, but also Kylo Ren had. "I assume the Commander will use his favorable tactic of intimidation."

Phasma tensed slightly, Ash could feel it. "That is my next point. While the Commander will be there to assist you when he can, just remember that he is the Commander. He will be just a cold and cruel to you as well. Consider it for appearance sake as well as for your protection and ultimately his."

"So he's going to be a bigger dick than normal?" Ash groaned.

Phasma tried hard to not snicker at the comment. "It's best to let him do his thing with little to no interference. It's also recommended you two hide whatever it is between you."

"There's nothing between us." She snapped, a little more panic in her voice than she would have liked.

"That's exactly what he said too." Phasma said. "Hux and I have a bet as to which one of you will admit it first."

Ash frowned. "Not that it will happen, because there's nothing going on, but who do you have?"

"I picked Ren." Phasma grinned wickedly. "I feel I'm very close to winning." Ash blushed, the idea of Kylo Ren saying out loud what was going on between them made the whole thing feel just a little more real. "Although, if you keep blushing like that when you think about him, I may lose."

Ash laughed nervously. "Anything else I need to know?"

Phasma thought for a moment before nodding. "Meetings are boring and don't eat anything tinted grey. I promise you, it's as awful as it looks."

"Or the green gelatin thing." Another voice interrupted, the two women looking over to see Kylo Ren walking further into the room. He loved his silent and surprising entrances, especially if it meant being able to overhear conversations.

Phasma shuddered. "He has a point."

Kylo Ren was now standing by the women, looking down at them as he held his helmet tightly under his arm. "Luckily for you, you won't have to be burdened with one of Hux's infamous lectures." He said sarcastically. Ash looked at Phasma to see her grinning slightly. "He's known for his inspiring and motivational speeches."

"Now I'm almost sad he won't be joining us." Phasma quipped before standing up now, Ash stood up with her. "When do you leave today, Commander?"

"Once I've collected the head of maintenance, we can leave almost immediately." He said, winking at Ashlyn.

The wink didn't go unnoticed by Phasma as she rolled her eyes. "Then I will see you both in a week's time."

Ash looked confused. "You're not coming with us?"

"We are training first." Kylo Ren informed her finally. Of course, he kept his plans close to his chest. "We will meet Captain Phasma on the Finalizer once we are done."

"We will be reunited before you know it." Phasma agreed. "You best get ready to leave, then. The Commander is not known to be patient."

Kylo Ren glared, but with a smile as Ashlyn laughed at his expense. Captain Phasma left the training room, and ultimately left the two Force Users alone. Almost as immediately as the door closed, Kylo Ren dropped his helmet and wrapped his arms the redhead's waist as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. "Are you ready?" He asked, his voice low. He sensed her hesitation. As brave as Ashlyn Novafall was, sometimes, it took her a while to get any traction. The 'what if's' typically took over before she took any big plunge.

"Ready for hours of grueling training and then being forced into a void of total grief thanks to all the politics on the Finalizer?" She asked. "Totally."

He chuckled as he leaned down and captured her lips with his. "You'll be fine. I won't be too awful to you."

"You're too good to me." She teased, reaching up to peck his lips again.

Ren smirked. "If you believe that, I should be a little crueler then. We can't have you thinking I'm actually nice."

"Oh, don't worry. I would never think you're nice."

He kissed her forehead endearingly before reluctantly pulling away from the red head and picking up his helmet. "We really do have to go, however."

"I'll meet you at the ship?" She asked, receiving a hum in acknowledgement as Kylo Ren began to walk to the exit. "Will you behave yourself on our trip?" Ash called to him.

"You already know the answer to that." He replied, placing the helmet over his head and exiting the room, leaving Ashlyn feeling just a little more excited to be leaving StarKiller.

Ash wasted no time in packing, making sure she had her saber and datapad, as she made her way to the main Launch Bay. His ship was prepped for their departure with enough food and water for the two for a week and until they ultimately arrived to the Finalizer. She nodded to the flight crew in the area as she quickly boarded the Upsilon. She stared at the empty ship, realizing then that it would just be her and Kylo Ren from here on out.

"Did you think we'd bring Troopers with us to train?" The distorted voice said as he came up the ramp in full typical Kylo Ren gear.

Ash frowned as the ramp began to close behind him. "No, I just didn't really think about it until now." Kylo Ren began preparing for takeoff as he messed with the ship's autopilot mode and entered the coordinates. The hiss of the cabin stabilization separated their conversation for a moment as the ship began to rise from the ground. There was no turning back now.

He was grinning under his mask, even the distortion couldn't hide his cocky tone. "Does that scare you knowing you're alone with me?" She thought back to Taka then, he was more concerned if anything that she was alone with Kylo Ren. What difference did that even make, they had been alone before many times. Just not completely alone. "Good to know you're thinking of your friend and his warning back on base." His mask growled, Ash could feel the powerful and angry wall of emotion that suddenly washed back towards her.

The ship was making it's way out of the Launch Bay and upwards towards the atmosphere of StarKiller as Kylo Ren turned to face her now, the mask hiding his glare as Ash tensed. She knew she screwed up for even thinking of it. "First of all, privacy." She reminded him dryly. "Second, it was an accident. I didn't mean to hear him."

Kylo Ren stopped, the ship shaking now as it broke through the atmosphere and now in the dark blackness of space. "How so?"

Ash then realized she hadn't told Kylo Ren about her little mishaps recently. "I've been hearing people… on accident."

"And?" He was egging her on, waiting for her to say the words out loud.

She frowned. "I heard his thoughts, okay?" He said nothing as Ash folded her arms over her chest. "I heard Grim's too. I thought maybe it was a fluke or something, but if I concentrate enough I can hear it."

Kylo Ren removed his helmet, taking it under his arm and making a somewhat amused expression as he walked passed Ashlyn and made his way to the back of the ship, muttering an 'Interesting' under his breath.

She turned, watching the man stalk to the back of the ship. "This doesn't mean I'm going to be doing it more, I'm going to make a conscious effort to not do it again."

"You're doing so well already." He said flatly, causing Ash to glare in his direction as she watched him toss his helmet on one of the bunks in the Upsilon. He began to stalk back to where Ashlyn was standing, the tension still radiating off his person as he got impossibly close. "What else did you hear from your dear friend, Taka?" His tone venomous as he asked. "Perhaps you finally heard the awful thoughts he has about you."

"Enough, Ren." She warned, looking up into his dark eyes. "Let's just not talk about Taka anymore."

"I can show you what he thought that day." He pushed. "Maybe you'll finally think differently of him then."

"I said enough." She snapped.

He continued to push. "Afraid you'll like what you see?"

Ash had had enough of the Force User in front of her. She didn't like him standing so close, the way he towered over her, the way he spoke to her. Without really thinking about it, she put her hands to his chest, ready to push him away. However, she never physically touch him.

He stumbled backwards from the Force Push, taking him roughly two to three steps backwards as he steadied himself. Kylo Ren looked back at Ashlyn, his anger subsiding just enough to feel her own anger radiating from her small frame. Her glare still as menacing as she walked forward, pushing passed him and heading to the back of the ship to the only place she could to get away from him.

Kylo Ren had a few options here, one would be to immediately follow the angry Force User and apologize for being a dick. He could admit that, at least. He was being a dick. The second option was to let her calm down on her own and then perhaps maybe give a backwards apology. Kylo Ren didn't apologize often, and when he did, it was never honest. Yet, he was doing it more and more when she was involved. That was all added to the other problem that Ashlyn was able to Force Push him further than she had ever done before. This was a sign that she was growing stronger. What worried him, however, was the continuous use and strain on the dark side as she pulled from it. He brought out the worst in her, he knew it. In that thought alone, he decided it was better to leave her alone as he went to the cockpit of the ship and sat in the pilot seat.

Ash stormed off angrily into the main computer room of the Upsilon. Her anger still there, but diminishingly greatly as she stared at the inner workings of the ship. At least she had something to distract her while she hid from Kylo Ren.

He had an awful temper, granted, it was her fault for thinking about Taka in that moment. Although, it was his own damn fault for listening in. Then again, their bond made it harder for Kylo Ren to not listen in. Not that that was an excuse, although he'd use it and run with it.

He had this way about him that brought out so many different emotions in her. She found safety, comfort and overall companionship with him. He also had a way of making her want to punch his stupid face in. Right now was the latter.

They hadn't been traveling for ten minutes and already they were angry with each other. The level of jealousy Kylo Ren had over Taka was just unfathomable and Ashlyn couldn't stand it. He had no reason to be, yet he was anyway. She was a caring person, she cared about people who were close to her, people she wanted to protect. Kylo Ren didn't really have that strong of a need to protect anyone. Well, anyone other than her.

No. She was not going to forgive him or give him an excuse. She was going to wait until he apologized, even if that meant she was going to die in the back of the ship waiting. Ash sighed. "Stars, I'm going to die back here, aren't I?" She was answered by the calm humming of the ship's computers.

An hour into the trip and both parties were silent. However, Kylo Ren was now pacing outside the door where Ashlyn was. She could hear him and ultimately chose to play his childish game by giving it right back and ignore him. "Come out, please." He said, aggravation in his tone.

"Are you going to apologize?" She called back, staring at the wiring that ultimately controlled the auto-pilot. She began to debate if she should unplug something to give Kylo Ren another headache to worry about.

"Not if you break my ship." He growled from the other side of the door. He was met with silence before he exhaled sharply. "Look, I'm sorry that Taka is the cause of our fight."

The door was practically ripped open as Ashlyn stormed out, glaring. "That's not how you apologize, Kylo Ren!"

He grinned with that sick smugness Ash wanted to punch off his face. "No, but it got you to come out." Ash turned to go back into hiding, only to have Kylo Ren wrap his arms around her waist and pull her back to him. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry." He said in exasperation. "I'm sorry, okay? I get it. I'm a dick, as you so eloquently put it."

Ash stopped struggling then. "You are." She reassured him of that. "You have no reason to take out your hatred of Taka on me." She continued as she turned around to face him, his arms still holding her tightly against him. "That's not fair, I've done nothing to give you reason to doubt me or accuse him."

He frowned. "That doesn't mean I have to like him."

"I never said you did, but you don't get to take that dislike out on me." She restated. "He's my teammate. I'm not spending alone time with him, we have no secret rendezvous, we work together. Instead, I'm here on a ship, in the middle of nowhere and with you. Don't you think that says something?" Ash said. "Whatever Taka feels about me is none of our business. I obviously don't reciprocate any of it because if I did, I wouldn't be here with you."

His shoulder's deflated slightly as he gently rested his forehead against hers. He exhaled sharply, looking for words as his eyes closed almost painfully. "I know. I know and I'm sorry." He said softly. "I'm not good at sharing what's mine."

"I'm yours now? Since when?"

His lips twitched, quirking upwards into a smirk. "Since you let me kiss you."

She wanted to roll her eyes, but didn't. "Does this mean you're mine then?"

He scoffed, Ashlyn waited for him to give her a reason that the great and powerful Kylo Ren could never be owned. However, his actual answer surprised her as he lifted his forehead from hers, now looking at her full on. "I was yours the moment you smiled."

Ash blushed deeply now as she quickly avoided his gaze and unable to hide her smile. "You're quite the smooth talker, Ren." She mumbled.

He leaned forward, kissing the top of her head as he replied. "Forgive me?"

"Let me hold it over you for another hour or two." She said, she was joking.

Ren chuckled. "Of course, starshine."

Kylo Ren made Ashlyn happy even with the smallest of gestures; such as bringing the book on planets on their little adventure. She sat quietly in the co-pilot's chair of the cockpit, which he sat in the captain's chair. His eyes were on the stars and empty space before them, but every so often glancing over to make sure the redhead was still content as she read.

"I didn't know you were also a pilot." Ash said in passing as she continued reading. "Is there anything you can't do?" She teased lightly.

He thought for a quick beat before answering. "Fix things."

She laughed. "You're really good at breaking things. I can see why fixing things isn't your strong point." He smirked at her comment. "How did you learn to fly ships?" It was genuine curiosity. She wanted to learn more about Kylo Ren. It was only natural, right? The two were growing closer and closer each day with no end in sight to their blossoming relationship. Of course she would want to know more about the mysterious man in black. He seemed to know so much about her.

"I can't get away with saying it's just a natural Force gift?"

Ash scoffed. "Apparently my skill in maintenance is also a Force thing, but I still learned the trade from somewhere." She backed off, feeling his overall hesitation over the matter. "You don't have to tell me. I was just curious."

"My father." He said bitterly and yet with such a simplicity that was overall complex. Kylo Ren felt he owed her some sort of answer, whether it be short and to the point or in full detail. This would be the former, he wouldn't give too much information just yet. However, he also knew Ash would accept that right now. She was better at not pushing the subject than he was.

Ash nodded. "I think this is the first time you've ever mentioned your family."

"And probably the last." He looked over at her, his expression dark.

She peered over her book at him, matching his glare with her own, yet softer glare. There was that smile to go with it. A smile that helped melt the harshness of his tone. "Well, I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to let me in at all." It wasn't sarcastic or meant to hold any malice. It was a sincere sentiment. She was happy that he gave her some piece to a puzzle. And although she wanted more, she wouldn't push for it just yet. Ash's eyes fell back to the book once more. "So what are you planning on teaching me during our little trip?"

He would have sighed with relief over the conversation change, however he kept that to himself. "First, we need to work on your new little mind reading trick."

Ash grimaced. "Please."

"You need to learn control." Kylo added. "You've been unknowingly trying to get into my head for the last hour."

Ash frowned, the concept of reading minds was still foreign to her. What was a bigger surprise for her was the option to read Kylo's thoughts. She never once thought it was even something she could do. "I didn't mean to."

"That's why I said unknowingly, starshine." He said. "Thankfully I know how to counter someone trying to read my thoughts."

"Can you teach me to do that?"

Kylo looked over at her again. "Now why would I do that? Then I won't be able to read your thoughts."

"Exactly!" Ash exclaimed, receiving a chuckle from her counterpart in the pilot seat. "I'd love to know I have some semblance of security in my head."

"It's something I will teach you, don't worry your pretty little head." He said, causing her to blush slightly at his phrasing. "Besides, you will need to know how to block out anyone who could use your thoughts against you. Especially if they see things they shouldn't."

Ash nodded. "I sometimes forget there's a whole dangerous side to being a Force User. I wouldn't want them to see my past or… whatever we're doing."

His grin widened. "Whatever we're doing?" He repeated teasingly. "And what are we doing, Ashlyn?"

She wouldn't be baited so easily. "We're getting into a whole lot of trouble, that's what."

Kylo laughed as he agreed. "We are." If only she knew just how much trouble they could be in. For now, ignorance was truly bliss and Kylo Ren wanted to keep Ashlyn out of that chaos for as long as possible. "We're approaching Maridun." His expression changing completely from playful to more serious as the planet came into view.

She peered over her book again as the brown and yellow planet appeared before her eyes. Immediately, she flipped the pages in the planet's book to find the matching photo. It was exactly as picture.

"It doesn't look like much from up here." Kylo mused, feeling the excitement as it built up next to him. "We'll be lodging at the accommodations that were arranged for any Empire personnel that was staying on site. It's not the most magical of places, but it's perfect for training without disruption." He said as the ship broke atmosphere and began it's final descent towards a clearing.

Ash stared in wonder, she had only ever been on two other planets beside StarKiller. Each planet varying in what it had to offer. Something about this empty, grassy planet was comforting. "It's perfect." She said quietly as the wide field came into view. In the distance, she could see a rather large satellite dish that took up a decent amount of the skyline. She was so distracted by it, she almost didn't see the small hut in the field. It blended in well to the forest behind it, unlike the dish.

Kylo Ren landed the ship with ease, Ash was already out of her seat and rushing to the cabin where her bag was. She grabbed the bag and slung it over her shoulder; the book clutched under her arm as she raced to the ramp. Kylo was amused as he stood from the pilot's seat just in time to watch Ash run out of the Upsilon and into the field. This was a whole new experience for her and the excitement pulsating from her being was intoxicating to the other Force User.

He let her have her fun as he grabbed his own bag and exited the ship, the ramp closing behind him as he walked over to the redhead that was now sitting in the grassy field. "We didn't have fields to sit in on Lothal." She explained. "Well, we had prairies and mountains, but I was mostly in the industrial section. Never got to travel to the more rural areas."

"And Coruscant is definitely far from luscious fields." Kylo quipped, noticing Ash stiffened slightly at the mention of her home world before she ultimately smiled.

"Definitely not the same." Ash agreed. "So when do we begin training?"

"I'd like to begin right away, but one of us is distracted by grass at the moment." He said teasingly.

Ash laughed. "Alright, I get it. I'll get focused."

Kylo Ren put down his bag and sat down next to Ashlyn. The two staring at the small hut in the distance. The sun was getting lower in the sky as they sat silently for a moment, taking it all in around them. "What do you feel?" He asked her then.

She closed her eyes, her mental state focusing on all that was around her. The electricity pulling from the earth, the grass, the trees around her. Their life force calling out and unifying. She felt the darkness next to her, yet it felt different today. It wasn't such a heavy weight pushing against her. It felt tamer, it felt like it was blending with her existence. Her body was tingling then, the sensations washing over her but not overwhelming her.

Kylo Ren noticed, it was hard not to, she was unknowingly making small rocks and dirt clumps float in front of them. She was focusing, connecting. Ultimately, she was pulling from both sides and balancing. Something he hadn't seen her do before without a struggle. She was beginning to grow as a Force User, soon she'd bee the viable asset he needed her to be.

Yet, there was something else there. He felt her tugging at his being. She was pulling from the darkness that lied within him; creating that connection that had nearly gotten them in trouble not too long ago. The bond made it all the more harder to pull back as they connected through the Force.

Ash finally laughed, the connection still there but dimming due to her break in focus. "I can feel you." She said. "But you don't feel so... dark today." She couldn't find the right way to explain it. "You feel different."

He frowned slightly. "Different how?"

Ash opened her eyes as his aggravation grew, pulling the darkness back into the equation. "I'm not sure, but I think I felt light?"

Kylo Ren sighed, he had a feeling this would happen. Ashlyn was a driving force in pulling him out of the darkness he so easily hid in. She made it impossible to stay on one side, she was pulling him to the other without even realizing it. "As a grey Force User, you have influence over me." He said. "That's not exactly a good thing."

She panicked slightly. "How do I stop doing that?"

"I'm not sure." He tried to play it off as nothing, although Ash could sense his hesitation. Kylo Ren had never really dealt with a grey Force User before. He had only read about their allegiance to either side and in doing so, it was easier to pull a dedicated user to a different side. Granted, Ashlyn was doing it completely on accident. "I'll just have to be stronger in preventing it." He said dismissively, before smirking. "Perhaps you're simply too tempting." She rolled her eyes in reply as he stood up then, offering her his hand. "Come, let's go inside and rest. We have a busy week ahead of us."

Ash graciously took his hand as he helped her stand, she grabbed her bag and the two wandered to the hut.

"They should have reached Maridun by now." Hux commented in passing, whether or not he expected Phasma to have anything to say about the notice, or if it was more just a courtesy on his part to inform her.

Phasma rifled through her belongings in an attempt to make sure she had everything she needed for her upcoming trip to the Finalizer. "Do you think he'll let her in on the situation?" Phasma asked, her focus still in her bag as the two stood in her apartment.

"I should hope so." Hux said. "We need her participation in all this as well. Ren believes having another User on our side would be detrimental."

"And if she says 'no'?" Phasma asked the right questions as she turned to look at the General now. "We cannot forget that Ash has never really had an alliance or even an allegiance to us. We can't expect that to suddenly change now."

"No, we should not just expect that." Hux agreed. "However, I have a feeling she won't say 'no' to him."

Phasma nodded, frowning slightly. "This better have not all been a ruse just to get Ashlyn to join us."

Hux chuckled. "While I'm sure it started out that way." He paused. "You and I both know that something changed within Ren, perhaps out of his control. I doubt he planned for it to go this way."

"And now it has." Phasma said. "And we all know that Ren does things for his own personal gain."

"While true, I don't believe Ashlyn is simply just a pawn. Not anymore." Hux said as he began to pace around the room now, his focus on his surroundings. "Do you think it's time?" He asked.

"Honestly? No." She said. "I think we need Ashlyn to understand what we are trying to accomplish first; she needs to be trained. Ren has even said her control over certain things is nonexistent. She's almost hazardous at times without realizing it."

Hux frowned. "He seems to tell you more than me."

Phasma smirked knowingly. "It's because I'm trustworthy. He also loves seeing your discomfort."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Regardless, what does he mean that Ash is hazardous?"

Phasma shrugged. "Apparently she lacks control, which is something he will help her with this week. However, she's something different; a grey Force User. She has no allegiance to either power. Ren says that could be a problem or detrimental to our success depending on her. She wants nothing more than to protect those she loves and that could be to our advantage."

"She's going to need to learn control sooner rather than later. Ren and I have been pushing off her meeting the Supreme Leader for quite some time now. He's growing restless; soon we won't be able to protect her."

"And once Ren has taught her the proper control, you should be fine. I have faith in her, she could make or break this. I believe she can do so much in this fight." Phasma said, sighing once she realized she was now overpacking.

Hux smiled lazily at her sentiment. "It's quite strange to me that we're not only fighting a war with the Resistance, but internally as well."

"The things we do for order." Phasma shrugged. "And you still firmly believe in it?"

"I believe in returning the Galaxy to a former glory, regardless of who we have to step on to get there."

"Careful, Hux." Phasma said. "Your totalitarian side is showing."

He chuckled. "We will have order in some sense. First, we need to take care of the bigger problem." He stopped pacing then, noticing Phasma was now looking at him again. "Are you still willing to take recon on the happenings on the Finalizer?"

"I can, although I'm sure some of the higher ups would rather speak to you personally." Phasma said.

"It would be too suspicious if we all went. It's already enough that he's bringing Ashlyn." Hux said. "Find out what you can, I trust you can get this done." Phasma nodded, confirming she was ready to do what was necessary to further their plans. "Oh, and please do keep Ren out of trouble. Ashlyn too, he's a horrible influence on her."

"You did clear them for a week alone together, you're just asking for them to cause trouble." Phasma smirked.

He frowned. "Don't remind me."

Final Thought: What's in store for Ashlyn Novafall? What is this plan that Hux and Phasma are speaking about? Will Kylo Ren behave on this trip?! Okay... that one we know the answer to and it's a big no. Remember to review and see you next time!