"Unfortunately, her family was taken by space pirates from Jakku," Snoke says, leaning forward on the smooth table and clasping his hands together.

"Space Pirates?" My stomach drops. Rey would lose all her identity if she's sold as a slave by the pirates, then I'll never find her.

"Yes, they took many families from Jakku, including hers."

"Then we'll hunt the pirates down," I say a little too loudly.

"Ren." Snoke sits up straighter in his chair. My heart pounds. Is he going to tell me I can't use the First Order resources to chase after these pirates? That we have more important matters to attend to?

"This is your army now," he says. "If you want to take the First Order to war against a fleet of pirates, then do. But you will need some additional resources." He gets up from his seat and takes his cane. "Get your Commanding Officer, General Hux, to acquire additional fleet, from our nearest base. The Skandrei Bandits have been around for a very long time and I believe they've joined together with another pirate group to form a considerable opposition for you."

"All I want is the girl."

"Then that is what they will try and keep from you," Snoke says, leaning heavily on his cane.

"I'll destroy them all until I get what I want."

Snoke nods. "They aren't of any benefit to the Galaxy. So if you feel they aren't of any benefit to you, then by all means, destroy them."

"They are of no use to me, Your Leadership. They're no better than my father."

Snoke smiles then shuffles over to a keycoded safe box up on the wall. "I know you are restless to get started in this, your first act of righting the wrongs of the Galaxy, retrieving slaves and killing space pirates. It's a good first mission for the First Order. But we do need more weapons and troops and power. We need to get working on our super weapon as soon as possible. I have plans to get the Galaxy under our rule."

"Yes, Your Leadership," I say, anxious to get going.

Snoke enters the keycode and the safe box opens. He reaches inside. "Many feared your grandfather. His name still brings nightmares to children and is revered among even the darkest of Sith Lords." He pulls out a new black mask and my breath catches. It is like my grandfather's, but different. "And now, you will follow in his footsteps. You are Kylo Ren, grandson of the great Darth Vader. You must stand before your enemies and instill fear into their hearts, and command the respect of those who follow you." He hands me the mask. "It's no matter that you are young, it is your power and your name, which matter."

I take the mask carefully, my chest filling with emotion. The door call button sounds and Snoke smiles.

"Come in General," he says. I turn to see Hux step into the briefing room. He's wearing a black General's uniform with the First Order insignia on the upper arm and stripes on one sleeve. He has black gloves, boots and belt and his hair is combed back in a clean-cut way. He bows slightly to Snoke then glances at me, the hint of a grin on his face. He gives me a wink then returns to his serious expression.

"Nice to have you join us, General Hux," Snoke says.

"Your Supreme Leadership," Hux says. "The fleet is awaiting orders."

"Don't look at me General, Kylo Ren has a new mission for the First Order and I imagine you will need to ready your fleet and have Phasma ready the troops, right away."

Hux turns to me, giving me a slight bow. "Kylo Ren," he says.

"General," I say in return.

"A new uniform has arrived for you." He glances at the helmet in my hand. "Are we going to war... Sir?"

"Yes. But first we need reinforcements. How many troops and fighter planes can you assemble in a short time?"

"A lot," Hux says, a smile forming on his face.

I turn to Snoke and give him a hurried bow. "Thank you, Your Supreme Leadership," I say, then walk out of the room.

* * *

"I am Kylo Ren, Leader of the First Order," I say to the Pirate Leader on screen. My voice sounds metallic and unfamiliar through my mask. Hux stands beside me on the bridge, as my newly appointed First Officer as well as Fleet Command Officer.

"We haven't heard of the First Order," the large Pirate with massive square shoulders snarls down at us. I don't care about him and I know we have more fire power than they do.

"We're looking for a girl, taken from Jakku with her parents."

"Jakku..." The pirate says. "We plundered some loot in Jakku. What's it to you? We submit to no authority but our own, and we answer to no one. The Galaxy does not have a ruling order."

"Do you know where the families from Jakku were taken?" I say.

"The slaves are not with this fleet. Those carrying them have left to go trade them, in other Galaxies."

"Where have they gone?"

"I have no reason to tell you."

"Sir," Lieutenant Jaylon says. He's an intelligent looking man with grey hair and hard facial features. "We can trace the warp signature of the disbanded fleet."

"End transmission," I say to the Communications Officer. She quickly ends the link.

"Lieutenant Lucas, raise defensive shields."

"Yes, Sir."

"Ready the Dual Cannons and fire at will," I say to the Operations Officer, whose name I forget. He nods and starts pushing buttons. "Destroy them all." I turn and walk out of the bridge, Hux follows close behind.

"Have the ship and the fleet follow the warp signature once the pirate fleet is destroyed," I say to him as he steps into stride alongside me. He reaches out his hand to stop me from walking.

"Ren," he says, setting his hand on my chest. "I had Lieutenant Carle scan for life forms aboard all the ships in this pirate fleet while you were on the Comm System with the Pirate leader."

I freeze. Could they have been lying about Rey not being with them?

"Is she with them?" I ask, suddenly afraid that I just gave the order to have the fleet destroyed.

"There were no young life forms on board... but Ren," Hux looks me in the eyes. "You can't trust what a pirate says, and you need to slow down."

I push his hand away from my chest, ready for a fight, but then stop. He's right, and there's no one around to see him speaking to me so defiantly, otherwise I'd have to do something about it, to keep the respect of my crew. But right now it's just us.

"Get the fleet on the trail of that warp signature," I say to him. The ship shakes, startling us both. Hux frowns.

"They're firing back," he says, then hurries away to return to the bridge.