Standing in the physical presence of Snoke was like swimming in a pool polluted with pure evil. It invoked fear in all who experienced it. The dark energy surrounding him drained the life of any who could bear even just a few brief moments of conversation with the Supreme Leader. His countenance ripped through the most brutal souls and oppressed them to their knees.

Kylo Ren was an exception to the norm. He fed off of the darkness of his Master as if it were the very nourishment his young body needed. Snoke was terrifying to him, but in a way that empowered him. Where others were driven to the brokenness of insanity, Ren found his Master's presence to be an exhilarating boost of confidence and a means to achieve what he had sought since his betrayal of his uncle and former Master, Luke Skywalker.

I will give my life for you, Master, Ren thought while kneeling before the throne of Snoke. I will serve you well…

"Be mindful you are serving the right master, Kylo Ren," Snoke's voice boomed in the expansive throne room aboard the Supremacy. "I sense in you a great torment. It pulls you toward the light and the darkness simultaneously. It is futile to attempt to serve two masters at once."

And be aware of my thoughts as they will betray me, Ren thought. He brought both knees to the deck plating and looked up at Snoke.

"Precisely," Snoke replied with a sinister grin. "Your thoughts are your weakness. Your obsession with the past is as well. Embrace Vader as an example and an influence. But refrain from emulating him as he betrayed his Master." Snoke approached Ren and leaned over him. "I sense the same spirit of conflict within you, Ren. Bridle it and control it before it consumes you. I will not fall to betrayal as did Palpatine."

"Master, I will never take it to that level," Ren said with a slight hint of uneasiness. "I know you are testing me. You are purifying me through the fires of your judgments. If this spirit is such a detriment, I will relinquish it."

"My corrections of you serve a specific purpose," Snoke said, stepping away from Ren and taking a seat on his throne. "Have you sensed why I summoned you to come before me?" He gestured with his right hand. "Rise before responding."

Ren stood to his full height. "Master, I sense my purpose for being here is related to the reappearance of Admiral Prolov and his fleet. But I cannot sense anything else. Forgive me."

"Another weakness of yours. Apologetic mumblings will earn you no favor from anyone," Snoke said. His eyes narrowed while his face twisted in disgust. "A true master of the Dark Side will never stoop so low. Apologies lead to compassion for enemies. Compassion leads to submission. A soul worthy of learning the Dark Side needs no such foolishness." Snoke waved his hand dismissively. "Enough of that for now. We have great use for Admiral Prolov. And you will be central to guiding him into our grasp."

Ren nodded. "I will do as you ask, Supreme Leader. I will bring Admiral Prolov before you."

Snoke chuckled while listening to Ren. "You do have your grandfather's ambitious nature. However, bringing Prolov to me solely by military force is insufficient. We must entice him to draw closer to us. We have a need that must be fulfilled, and Prolov will satisfy them."

"Supreme Leader, I am under the impression that Captain Phasma was personally chosen as Prolov's liaison," Ren stated. "Are her efforts not successful?"

"My boy, she is fulfilling her duty with aplomb so far," Snoke replied, leaning back in his chair. "Though she does not know the true nature of her meeting with Prolov. She is under the guise of meeting with her hero, but the actual reason safely concealed from her."

Snoke's words piqued Ren's interest. "Supreme Leader, what are your plans for Prolov?"

Snoke rested his hands on the arms of his throne. "The ancient Sith Archives describe a weapon of immense power created by one of their own who went rogue thousands of years ago. Its presence cannot be detected by existing technology nor can it be destroyed by conventional means."

Ren's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet. "What kind of weapon, Supreme Leader."

"It is known as the Heart's Blaze. And the Dark Side of the Force has revealed to me that a holocron holding the key to the weapon is in Admiral Prolov's possession." Snoke replied as he gazed over Ren's head.

Ren reached out with the Force. His mind took him across time and space. It whispered in his ears while revealing information about Admiral Prolov. "He is a native of the Outer Rim World S'Varia. The only surviving member of House Prolov, the ruling house of the S'Varian star system. And-" Ren's Force-driven mental voyage across the heavens abruptly stopped. He gazed up at the Supreme Leader. "Is the Dark Side telling me the truth, Master? Is it an accurate portrait of Admiral Prolov?"

Snoke shifted his posture and clasped his hands. "It is revealing you the truth about the Admiral. He is the heir to the S'Varian throne by birthright. S'Varia aided the Republic during the Clone Wars and embraced its successor, the Empire. There is a great secret concerning S'Varia. Has the Force revealed it to you?"

Ren nodded. "Yes, Supreme Leader. The former Emperor knew of the weapon and its S'Varian origins."

Snoke exhaled and kept his eyes on Ren. "Palpatine also knew that attempting to land on S'Varia without invitation is likened to drinking a chalice full of poison. Which is another reason why we must exercise caution."

"S'Varia is an untouchable world," Ren remarked. "Even Brendol Hux avoided it in his search for warriors suitable for the First Order's needs."

"Untouchable, my apprentice," Snoke agreed with a smirk. "Except for the likes of Admiral Prolov. He is the key to unlocking the weapon's full potential."

Ren relaxed his rigid stance. "Supreme Leader, surely you know of the secrets shared by the S'Varian people. They are an enigma to most in the galaxy…and a threat to us all."

Snoke leaned forward. "They are nothing more than drifting vessels needing a steady hand at the helm. We will place Prolov on S'Varia's throne and his fleet in command of the star system. And then we will reap the benefits of that world and its people."

"Is Captain Phasma to lead an assault to secure this weapon?" Ren enquired. He stepped towards the Supreme Leader. "I would presume that is why she was assigned to be Admiral Prolov's liaison."

"Partially correct," Snoke corrected Ren in a benevolent tone. "She genuinely admires Prolov. I decided to use her admiration for him to gain control of the weapon. My apprentice, to control the weapon is to control the S'Varian people. It is a secondary means of obtaining their throne."

Ren pursed his lips beneath his mask. "If it is the secondary means of obtaining the throne, then what is the primary method?"

"One must be born into House Prolov," Snoke replied while locking a cold gaze on Ren. "Or one must obtain favor by entering into marriage with the next in line for the throne."

From Ren's perspective, Snoke's words were like a light piercing a solid wall of darkness. "You intend Phasma to enter into House Prolov in such a manner? Would that not become a risky endeavor? What if it were to alter her allegiance to the First Order?"

"It would be of no consequence, Ren," Snoke answered with a hint of a growl. "She is expendable either way. No one can challenge us once we have the weapon in our grasp, along with Starkiller Base. We will have complete reign over the entire galaxy."

Ren nodded. "What is your plan to obtain it, Supreme Leader?"

"I summoned you to witness the next step in our process of obtaining the weapon," Snoke said while pressing a control on the armrest of his throne.

The holograph of Commander Sven Jerek wavered into view. "Supreme Leader, how may I serve you?", Jerek asked as he bowed in respect.

"The time has come to begin phase two," Snoke ordered in a firm tone. "I am promoting you to General to prevent Hux from exercising authority over you. Send the conscripts you have assembled to the provided coordinates. And continue your efforts to secure additional conscripts for the dimensional gate project. Before you do, order Captain Peavy on the Finalizer to recall Captain Phasma from Prolov's star destroyer. We have a use for her elsewhere."

"Consider it done, Supreme Leader," Jerek replied just before his hologram faded.

Snoke turned his attention back to Ren. "Now, allow me to describe what I have in mind." Snoke paused and glanced up at the aliens known as Attendants. "Leave us immediately." He watched them file out of the throne room before resuming his discussion with Ren. "Share this with no one."

Phasma laid her chromium-covered hand on the edge of the durasteel frame holding the bridge viewports in place on the Apollyon's bridge. She gazed down at the yellowish-brown surface of Jakku far below. Beneath her helmet, she grinned in arrogance. The fools below were scavenging from the broken wrecks while she glared at them from a working Imperial Star Destroyer. In her mind, she was far above and superior to those simpletons.

I have bested every single one of you, she thought as she gazed at Jakku. She turned away from the viewports and visually scanned the bridge crew. And I will best every single one of you as well. You will all bow to me and call me your Captain soon.

"Captain, please excuse our backtracking to the bridge," Prolov said as he approached her. "I thought it would be prudent to check with Captain Aveen to see if he had made progress on identifying the vessels on the surface."

"I understand, Admiral," Phasma replied coldly. "Though, I could provide you with their identification if you wish."

Prolov shook his head. "That will not be necessary, Captain. We are more than capable of finding out on our own." He smiled at her and thought, No, Captain, I will not take the bait and allow you or Hux to infiltrate our systems with any software that will install tracking programs. "Captain, I would be remiss in failing to ask if there are any other questions you have for me regarding the fleet," Prolov said, breaking from his thoughts.

You better believe I have questions, Admiral, Phasma hissed in her mind. Why did you take me into the past to see Annalisa and then lead me into a vision with that woman who threatened me? Who is she? And why do either of them, mere ghosts of the past, have any control over you? Without a fight, they will not take you from me and my plans for you. Phasma shook off her mental venting. "I believe you have answered all of my questions, Admiral," she replied.

Prolov smiled and gestured towards the corridor beyond the bridge. "Good, Captain. If you will walk this way-" A loud chime on the bridge cut him off. He looked over to Captain Aveen. "What is it, Captain?"

"Sir, we have a request from the Finalizer for Captain Phasma to be returned immediately," Captain Aveen said, approaching Prolov and Phasma as they walked through the corridor. "They expressed it was an emergency."

Prolov looked over to Phasma. Her posture had tensed significantly. Her breathing had increased as well. She is unaware of this. It is not her doing, he thought. "Very well," he replied, turning back to Aveen. "We have no choice but to honor their request." He glanced up at Phasma. "Captain, my apologies. It appears we are going to have to end the tour here. May I have the honor of escorting you to your shuttle?"

"Of course, Admiral," Phasma said in a tone that lightly veiled her frustration. She glared out of the bridge viewports at the Finalizer in the distance. Damn you, Hux, she thought while staring at the blackened ship before moving alongside Prolov to leave the bridge.

The walk to the hangar bay was a silent one. There was nothing that could be said about the emergency that had arisen. It was a test of resolve, and Phasma and Prolov knew that fact well.

If the First Order desired to raise my suspicions, then they succeeded. What in the hell is going on here? Prolov thought as he stepped out into the Apollyon's hangar bay. I am glad I followed through with preparing this fleet for surprises from them. There will be more, that much I can be assured of.

Nex to Prolov, Phasma bit her lip. She wanted to vent her anger at the meeting that had been cut short. She enjoyed her time with Prolov as his company was much more pleasant than the "all business" persona of General Hux. You better have a justifiable reason for ending my time with Prolov so quickly, Hux. If this is another one of your schemes, I'll make sure you pay you.

Prolov turned to Phasma as they reached the landing ramp of the shuttle. "Captain, perhaps we will meet again shortly."

"I assure you that we will, Admiral," Phasma replied in her beautiful voice. "And it will be very soon."

With that said, she turned and motioned for her troops to board the shuttle before walking majestically up the ramp herself. She paused at the top and glanced down at Prolov. Orders aside, I am developing a more personal interest in you, Prolov. I should follow it more than the wishes of Hux and Snoke. Time will tell, she thought as the ramp closed with a hydraulic whine.

Prolov spun on his heels and moved quickly out of the hangar bay. A chime on his comlink rang out as he walked through the corridor. "This is Admiral Prolov. What is it?"

"Sir, this is Colonel Veriss. May I meet with you momentarily?" a voice responded.

Prolov nodded as he let out a chuckle. "Good timing, Colonel. I was about to remind you of your scheduled meeting with me. Can your information wait until then?"

"Of course, sir," Veriss replied. "I believe we have much to discuss regarding our First Order friends."

"Indeed, we do, Colonel," Prolov answered. "I'll see you at the appointed time. Prolov out."

In his observation post "The Lair," Veriss turned his elevated chair to a holoscreen to his right. He studied the shuttle's approach to the Finalizer. He glanced down at the deck below to a silver third-generation RA-7 droid, personally reprogrammed and upgraded by Veriss himself. "Vee Ess Seven Three, monitor the Finalizer's headings when it turns to make a hyperspace jump. Lieutenant Revii and I will analyze the vectors of the shuttle and the fighters that came to escort it back to the Finalizer."

VS-73 began its monitoring as Lieutenant Revii stared up at Veriss. "Sir, are you detecting what I am?"

Veriss nodded while maintaining his smug expression. "I am, captain. They claim to be confronted with an emergency. Still, their trajectory and velocity say otherwise." Veriss noticed the shuttle slowing and heading towards the main hangar on the screen before him. "In an emergency, the proper procedure would be to direct the fighters and shuttle to separate hangers to allow for rapid recovery. The fact that they are doing the opposite reveals much about their alleged emergency."

Once the smaller ships were aboard, the Finalizer, the massive First Order star destroyer, turned on its axis and soared into hyperspace. Veriss kept his eyes on the space above Jakku as he crunched numbers and data in his head.

"Sir, there are thousands of possible destinations from the Finalizer's jump point," VS-73 stated in his robotic voice. "It will take quite some time to analyze them all."

"That's why I upgraded your central processing unit," Veriss stated blankly. "I suggest you use it."

Veriss continued to lock his eyes on the stars on the holoscreen before him and thought, Do not think for a moment you have fooled me, General Hux. Your actions are intentional. You desire to mislead us. The First Order came from the same stock as the Empire. Examining you is like reviewing a wayward and inferior twin sibling in a mirror. We know your weaknesses and how to exploit them...