The desert air is hot, even in the night hours, and my black clothes are way too warm for Jakku. They cover every inch of me down to my fingertips, so that no part of me can be touched, something required for a Dark Lord. The ventilated mask, at least, keeps the air in the helmet cool for breathing.

I don't bother with introductions but go straight to reading Unkar's mind when we approach the junkboss counter. I reach my hand out and Unkar's eyes go wide like his brother's did when I killed him. Beads of sweat drip down his brow.

I search his thoughts. He's an unfair junkboss, like all those involved in trading, but he's not interested in Rey in any way other than possibly getting her to work for him when she's older. I see the AT-AT Walker where he left her, with some food and water. He doesn't care much about his brother and took all of his money and possessions the moment he found out he was dead. But he had enough of a heart to put some of that money aside to feed Rey until she's old enough to work or scavenge for him.

I let him go and he falls forward, grabbing hold of the counter top in front of him to steady himself. He gives me an angry glare but is smart enough not to say anything. He thinks I'm here to steal from him.

I turn to face Hux and the two Stormtroopers that came with me.

"I know where she is," I tell them. Hux nods and we walk away from Unkar's trade station.

* * *

"You let him live," Hux says as we make our way to the AT-AT Walker in the near distance. It sits dark in the night time shadows, such a lonely sight that it makes my heart ache.

"He's not like his brother," I respond, my pulse speeding up. I can feel Rey's presence now, stronger than ever. It's like a fragrance from childhood that I'd forgotten, but now that I am smelling it again it takes me right back to the Academy and spending the summer with Rey. It's as though we were just there yesterday and I'm the person I was before I became the leader of the First Order, before I stepped into my destiny to fulfill my grandfather's Legacy, just a boy with no idea what he's doing.

We stop in front of the makeshift door at the foot of the AT-AT Walker. The Stormtroopers didn't come with us. I didn't want to alarm Rey unnecessarily with their presence. But it's so quiet I'm worried we may end up startling her after all, if she's sleeping.

Suddenly the fabric curtain in front of the door flies open and a high pitched battle cry startles us. Hux jumps and I step back as Rey lunges forward with a large stick in her hand. She whacks it at my head and it bangs my helmet, the sound ringing in my ears.

"Rey..." I start to say, reaching out for her but she smacks my gloved hand hard. "Ow..." I retreat, fumbling for the release buttons on either side of my helmet to take it off. I was going to remove it before going in, but Rey surprised me. I should have taken it off sooner but I prefer the filtered air in the mask to the dust blowing over Jakku.

Rey continues to smack at my hands, her little face angry, and I can't get the mask off with all the whacking. I grab her stick and pull it out of her hands. She screams and runs to Hux. He crouches down immediately and she throws her arms around his neck, pulling him onto his knees. His startled expression quickly turns to confusion. He glances at me. I take my mask off and wipe the tears from my face.

"You're from the school," Rey says to Hux, gripping him tight. "Help me, he's one of the evil aliens that took my parents away and he's going to take me away too."

"No..." Hux says, trying to pull her back from him but she won't let go. His hand hovers over her back as though he's not sure how to comfort her, or if he should. "It's just Ren, wearing a mask."

"Ren?" She lets Hux go and turns to me. I crouch down too, tucking my mask under my arm and reaching my hands out to her. Rey's eyes widen in fear and she buries her face into Hux's shoulder. "Tell him to take off the mask, it's scary."

My heart squeezes in my chest. She's never looked at me that way before, with such hatred. I reach my hand out to read her mind. She's terrified. She doesn't see me, even with my mask off, she sees...

"He did take his mask off," Hux says to her. "Rey? Look, it's Ren-"

"That's not Ren," she cries. "That's a monster."

* * *

I stop slashing the control console with my light saber for a moment to catch my breath. Everyone has left the Bridge, getting out of the way of my anger. The image of Rey's terrified face won't leave my mind, nor what I saw in her thoughts, what she was seeing when she looked at me. She saw what I've become, an evil Dark Lord, killing without mercy, feeding off the fear of those I intimidate. She saw who I really am inside now. That's why she didn't recognize me.

His name still brings nightmares to children, Snoke had said, about my grandfather.

"Ren?"

I turn to see Hux standing at the entrance to the Bridge. He glances around the room at all the damage I've done and frowns. "Snoke sent a message to have us return to Base to meet with him and give a report."

I retract my light saber and tuck it into my belt.

"Can I tell the crew they can return to the Bridge?" Hux asks, watching me carefully. He can't see my face through the mask and his expression is unsure. My breathing slows and I look around the Bridge at the burn marks on metal and open wires coming out of the consoles. I turn abruptly to Hux and he startles slightly, standing straighter. I walk past him and storm off the Bridge.