The morning came quickly in the wake of the intrusion. No one was entirely sure of the details of what happened, but they knew it was some kind of attack. Everyone aboard the bridge who had arrived before the captain eagerly awaited him, and with him, they hoped, would come some kind of answer. It wasn't long after he stepped aboard and sat down that Chekov burst in, teary eyed.
"Keptin! Keptin!" He cried, sliding to a stop.
Kirk barely had time to turn and face him before he spoke again, voice shaking.
"She's gone, sir. Rey's missing."
Kirk closed his eyes for a second to process the news.
"I guess that's the last piece of the puzzle. You all knew that we were attacked a couple of hours ago. We had to make a quick stop and before we knew it, a small First Order ship containing Kylo Ren had snuck up on us. He must have used the Force to hide himself from us somehow."
"He broke into the ship and infiltrated the Brig. I was pretty sure he'd taken Rey but not positive. I hadn't asked the engineers that were sent to fix things yet."
"Vat are ve going to do now?" the young Russian asked with a hushed tone. "Ve-ve are going to help her, right?"
All eyes were on the captain, some more angry than others.
"We can't just let her go. She's still a member of the crew. The rule is innocence until proven guilty, and that's what I'm going to go off of."
With a momentary collective sigh of relief, the energy on the bridge changed from tension to determination.
"First step, we need to figure out where they took her. We look for leads."
He sighed and continued. "I wish we knew how to contact the Resistance."
"Vat about Takodana? Rey told me about ze lady zat helped her get her lightsaber. Ve probably could just hail ze whole planet and maybe she'd pick up," Chekov suggested.
Kirk looked at Uhura quizzically.
"It might work, sir. I can send out a planet-wide communique and see who gets it."
"How close do we need to be?"
"I could do it from here. We're not that far off."
Kirk nodded. "Send it."
A few moments passed and Uhura spoke again. "Sir, I'm being hailed from what looks like a castle."
"Chekov, what was her name again? I vaguely remember from Rey's debriefing. Katana or something?"
"Maz Kanata, sir."
"Put her on screen, lieutenant."
Uhura obliged and in a moment an orange alien appeared with her goggles on her forehead, giving her eyes the appearance of covering half her head.
"You're with that young Jedi, aren't you?"
"Yes. I'm captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise."
"I see. Where is she?"
"That's exactly what I needed to speak with you about. Early this morning Kylo Ren popped in on us and captured her. I have no idea where they would take her. I know the Resistance might, but I don't know how to contact them, so I contacted you instead."
"That is a predicament you've gotten yourself into, Captain James Kirk. Let's see… I'm sure she's aboard a Star Destroyer at the moment, but I don't know exactly where they'd take her. I've been getting information that they are in the process of completing a mega-base, but since they're not done with it—well I guess there's no need for you to look there. So, I'd suggest Asekith. It's an Outer Rim planet not too far from here that they've been using as a Star Destroyer base. Or they may simply keep her aboard the Destroyer, in which case I would ask the General. I'll send you the information on how to contact her."
"What Star Destroyer would she be on?"
"I'd say Ren's flagship, the Finalizer. You have seen it many times before if you've fought them. I'll send that information your way as well."
"Or—" she said, cocking her head, "It could be the Harbinger. He uses that one often as well. I'll send you those specs too," she said with a little laugh.
"Thank you," Kirk said. "I guess I have another question for you regarding Rey."
"And what would that be?"
"I was a little wary of her because she had the same powers as Kylo Ren. I had her sent to the brig yesterday afternoon because she knocked us all unconscious. I thought she might be a traitor and telling the First Order where we were. Either that or Ren was using her to track us somehow."
Her eyes widened in surprise, and it was a minute before she spoke, "I'm glad you decided to get her back. She should be able to keep Kylo from tracking her if she hones her abilities a little more. Her explosions simply made it too easy for him. Since he has her now, though, he likely won't want to chase you around anymore as he's gotten what he wants."
A smile formed on her lips. "That being said, your wariness was a bad decision. I'm going to speak frankly, Kirk, you are…an idiot."
His eyes widened with surprise that turned to amusement.
"Well, that's not the first time someone has told me that," he said with a little chuckle.
"She needs training and stability, not questioning. She'll figure it out. Your worry that she'll end up like Kylo Ren brings her closer to it.
"I'm going to give you a little history lesson, Captain. There were multiple types of people in our galaxy's past that have used the Force. The Sith, like Kylo, were some of them, yes, but not all. The Jedi, guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy, were its main users for the longest time before they were all but wiped out. That's the side that your Rey currently leans toward, and it seems to me that she draws a strength from all of you that would make it hard to turn her. She loves you all like family, and if you abandoned her, it would crush her and let Ren and the dark side in."
"I see. I hope it's not too late."
"I wouldn't say so. Hurry now, save her. In the meantime, I'll let the Resistance know so they can help you."
"Thank you."
Everywhere was cold and hard. She tried to move her arms and could feel the coldness there, too. As Rey came closer to consciousness, she felt a little claustrophobic as she tried to move around but was prevented. Once she woke up, she panicked and looked all over to figure out what was happening and gain her bearings.
She remembered seeing Kylo and blacking out. I must be on his ship. I gotta get out of here. She tried to pull her wrists and ankles forward but to no avail. Taking a breath, she observed her metallic surroundings. The room was rather small and almost completely black, like just about everything else in the First Order. Looking down, she saw she was stuck on a restraining bed like she had been in her vision what seemed like so long ago. Fear coursed through her body as she wiggled around more frantically, trying desperately to escape.
Breathe, Rey. It'll be okay. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Now that she was a little calmer, she observed the room a little more tactically. Nothing really appeared promising, though. I hope they come for me. The thought of them abandoning her brought more fear to her than the idea of being trapped in her vision. She forced herself not to think that way.
The opening of the cell door pierced the near silence, ripping her out of her thoughts.
"Kylo Ren," she said with a snarl.
"Hello, Rey."
"What do you want with me? How'd you get on my ship?" she demanded.
"I think you know what I want with you. You're too powerful to be restricted by morals. As for your ship, that isn't of your concern."
"I think it is!" she snapped.
He reached toward her face, extending himself with the Force. Suddenly she saw herself as a small child as in her vision. She promptly stared at him, breaking his hold and forcing him to pull back.
"You're a coward for hiding your face. You think it makes me scared of you? It doesn't. You're the one that's afraid."
He reached to his mask and hit a button. It folded itself up a little and he pulled it off, revealing thick dark hair that fell to about his jawline.
She was taken a little aback by his random action. "I'm still not scared of you."
"I know what you are afraid of, Rey."
"I'm not afraid of any—"
"You know your friends on your ship aren't coming to get you, don't you? They think you're on my side. They'll let me have you to get you off their hands."
"They wouldn't," she said, barely above a whisper. "They're coming back. You don't know what you're talking about!"
"No. They're not."
"Pavel would, at least."
"He wouldn't disobey an order."
She was silent at that.
"You- you don't know what you're talking about. You don't know me. You don't know him."
"I would have thought your parents of all people would have come back for you. We both know what happened there."
"They had no choice! They may be dead, who knows! I like to think they at least tried!" She started at a scream but ended up almost crying.
"But you don't know."
"I—" she paused.
"No. I don't," she said quietly.
"Come with me and you can have retribution for the second family that abandoned you."
She glared up at him through her eyebrows and hissed, "Never."
Letting out an angry growl, he reached out again and suddenly, all she felt for a moment was pain. She cried out for a moment before she gritted her teeth and stared at him again in resistance. He was forced to pull back. He then slammed her head back onto the metal bed, knocking her out again and leaving.