Hours later, Rey stood at the observation deck studying the Emperor's fleet. She counted troop transports, destroyers, bombers, and in front of them a massive battlecruiser- it's lines as sharp and sleek as a cut-throat's blade. A voice over the intercom announced that they would dock on the Imperial Battleship 'Chain-Breaker' in four minutes. The voice droned on about personnel assignments but she tuned it out. All she could think of was the fleet. There were so many more vessels than she had imagined. Her heart felt like a lump of rock. How could the Resistance ever hope to stand against so many?

"Lady Rey," A mechanical voice sounded at her elbow.

"I told you not to call me that." She frowned at the view port as they passed under the belly of a star destroyer.

"The Emperor was quite clear that you are to be treated with all-"

The protocol unit's voice, both tinny and officious grated on her nerves. "What do you want?"

The droid shifted on its feet, like it was resetting to answer her question, "The Emperor requests your presence at the cargo bay doors."

"Does he?"

"Yes, my lady."

It remained hovering at her side. No doubt it had been instructed to wait until she complied.

Rey's jaw worked. She imagined staying exactly where she was and to hell with what the Emperor requested. Then she sighed. What would be the point? She had agreed to this assignment, hadn't she? Might as well go along for now. A shadow crossed her face as the Emperor's ship slid into the docking bay. She was out of warships to count, anyway.

The girl stepped into the cargo bay just as the doors began to open. His eyes flicked to her and then moved away. The tall red head followed the Emperor's gaze and when he saw Rey, he gave her a sour look. Her fingers gripped the trailing edge of her kaftan.

Instead of staying at the back of the party as she had intended, Rey pushed her way past the ginger to stand beside Kylo Ren. There was a hissing breath somewhere behind her and she smiled into the distance.

As the exhaust from doors cleared, Rey braced herself for the sight of block upon block of storm-troopers or clusters of sycophant generals. Instead, it was the usual bustle of a busy docking bay, just mechanics and flight specialists hard at work. At the bottom of the ramp was one man holding a clipboard. He bowed smartly when the Emperor's eyes fell on him.

Glancing over at her, Kylo raised an eyebrow, "What?" He murmured.

She surveyed the huge chamber theatrically and asked, "Where's all the pomp? The pageantry? The rows of fanatic soldiers screaming your name? What's the point of being Emperor if a bunch of idiots aren't waiting around to salute you?"

He answered softly, "If I had to pause every time an idiot saluted me, I wouldn't get much done." Then he was stalking down the ramp and she had to hurry to catch up.

"General Pexon," He greeted the man with the clipboard, "What news from the-"

The red head stepped up and the three engaged in a conversation Rey didn't bother to listen to. Something felt. . . wrong. She could sense the force bending around the little one in the dark helmet, lurking behind her. And the Emperor, burning like a supernova just a few feet away but there was something else.

She frowned, trying to focus in on the sensation. It was cold, like sweat in the wind but instead of rolling down her spine, it crawled it's way up. Tendrils slipped into her hair, wrapped around her neck, licked down the skin of her exposed arms. She rested her hand on her lightsaber and frowned at the faces in front of her. . . . .who was it? Someone was watching her. She turned a tight circle, ignoring the expressions of surprise around her.

"Rey?" Kylo asked, his voice tense.

"Do you feel it, too?" She murmured.

Behind them a woman's voice spoke out. "Emperor-" A small body in a dark helm stepped up next to Rey-

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The sound echoed across the vast chamber. Rey's lightsaber was in her hand in less than a breath. Time slowed to a crawl. Screaming through the air she could see a series of small, metal projectiles. Kylo Ren stepped forward. His lightsaber cut through the air like a ripple of silk.

The little missiles exploded into shards. Rey felt a sharp heat in her arm. Someone pushed her to the ground and when she looked up, she saw a small dark body standing over her. From her vantage point on the floor, Rey could see running feet and hear screams- there was another volley of shots. Once again the Emperor did his best to strike them down but she could hear the tinny rain the pieces made as they struck the deck around them. Rey tried to push herself up onto her elbow so she could see what was going on but a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.

"Azalon-" The Emperor roared and the little helmet obliged by pulling out a blaster and returning fire.

Rey found herself hoisted suddenly into the air and then she was being carried. Kylo dashed across the open floor to the accompaniment of blaster fire. He ducked behind a set of crates and lowered her to the decking. His face, pale as milk, was suddenly so close she could see the beads of sweat on his lip. "Where are you hit?" He demanded.

She raised her arm and tried to answer but her mouth didn't seem to be working.

He tore a strip of material from his tunic and took her elbow in a gentle grip, "It doesn't look too bad-"

Rey opened her mouth to agree and then leaned over to retch painfully onto the floor. The liquid remains of her breakfast sat in a stinking pile under the shocked gaze of the Emperor.

"I think it's worse than it looks," She whispered before she passed out.