Despite Kylo Rens doubts the two woman, and their shadowing guards, made it unharmed to Captain Phasma's personal quarters. The ship they were on was large, too large for Rey to map out should she decide to attempt an escape. The woman who Rey supposed came to her rescue, hadn't said more then two words since they'd left Kylo to brood in Rey's absence.

Admittedly there was a part of Rey that didn't want to leave him. She didn't know the woman she was with and she certainly didn't like being followed by the shadowy figures that had set themselves like morbid statues on either side of the only exit to the room they were now all silently inhabiting. But she was still angry, confused, hurt, and lots of other things where Kylo Ren was concerned.

The scenery had changed so much since she'd arrived here that everything was beginning to blur. There was one dark room after another, prodding bots with big needles, a rude red head, and a creature she didn't want to acknowledge the existence of but had little choice since it seemed the thing had some kind of hold over Kylo and had plagued her since her youth. And likely had Ben Solo in his sights even longer then that. It was a demoralizing discovery; Heartbreaking to know that Ben never really stood a chance and even more so knowing there was a slimmer chance she'd ever get him back. She hated thinking of Ben in the past tense, as though he were no longer on the same plane as she was, but the evidence was hard against the idea that he had somehow survived in the form of Kylo Ren.

Rey stared at the large protein pack the woman named Phasma had brought her. She sipped at some water cautiously, careful not to drink too much at once. This wasn't even close to the first time she'd dealt with mild dehydration. The same went for the food. After going so long with little to none, as bad as she wanted to scarf down everything in sight, it wasn't something her body would allow without her suffering painful repercussions immediately after. So she sat and carefully monitored everything she ate and drank. It didn't take long for her tummy to feel full and she begrudgingly listened to her brain's protest at being max capacity. She didn't want to be sluggish if she needed to suddenly run or fight and she didn't need the sick feeling of eating or drinking to much after running on bare minimum for so long.

"Not to your liking? You can choose something else if you'd like. Most of the officers prefer a genuine meal to the protein packs." A woman's gruff voice filled the silence over Rey's head and she jumped. She was disappointed that she'd let her guard down while her mind wandered but up until this point the woman had left her to herself. Rey ignored the Captain's attempt to engage her with small talk, it's not something she felt she had the energy for right now, not since she woke up in cell with her hands shackled and especially not since the loss of Luke.

She hated the idea of playing fifty questions with the enemy, even if they were feeding her. She wasn't foolish enough to sit through a polite interrogation and that's what she felt this was. Instead she held up the protein pack and gave a polite smile.

"Just filling," She patted her stomach. "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll save the rest for later." And she rolled up the end of the silver package and tucked it into the waist band hidden beneath her tunic wraps.

Phasma arched a golden brow. "No need to be so scrimpy. We have plenty more you know or I can order some real food for you." Phasma suggested but Rey shook her head, silently declining the offer.

The trooper, shrugged. "I prefer the packs too. It's got a full days worth of vitamins and nutrients in it. Besides," Her chin lifted in the direction of the hidden pack. "Quickest way to get you back on your feet." She added, and ignoring Rey's attempt to withdraw, Phasma sat down next to her at the small table. "I can afford you a little time before tall, dark and always angry comes back, but you'll learn quickly, Kylo Ren doesn't like to be kept waiting. It's best for everyone if we get your health in line ASAP." She set her hands on the table where Rey could see them and for a long drawn out moment there was just silence between them.

Rey rested her hands in her lap and in response to having nothing to currently keep her usually busy hands occupied, she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. She was debating how she wanted to approach the First Order Captain about the questions she had that needed to be answered and while Ren wasn't around, nor was their connection anymore open then it had been over the last twenty four hours, not that she'd use it anyway, this Phasma person was the best she was going to get. She wrinkled her nose at the decision to ask the Captain about her friends but had little choice otherwise.

"Ren brought prisoners aboard a couple of days ago, at least, I think it was a couple of days ago..." Rey momentarily trailed off in her speech, her mind working overtime to try to pin down how long it's had been since she'd been brought here. Catching her loss of thought her eyes flicked back up to the Captain's. "Do you know-" Rey continued but Phasma wasn't getting involved with Ren's affairs. She knew better then to interfere with her superiors and she wasn't inclined to question Ren about any prisoners he may or may not be in custody of.

Her hand went up and the gesture stopped Rey in her tracks. "Don't mistake what you saw earlier for me having any kind of leeway with the Commander. He's my superior and I'm not in any position to meddle in his affairs. It's my job to handle the induction of new recruits, I'm simply doing that job by incorporating you into the system. Ren doesn't have the time to waste on things like getting cadets caught up with physical evaluations or outfitted to First Order standards." She casually brushed Rey's question off with the wave of an armor clad hand.

Rey arched a brow. Immediately she wanted to argue with the armored woman. This trooper clearly had a little more sway then she was giving herself credit for. Rey hadn't misinterpreted they way she spoke to Ren. She'd practically scolded him and she'd survived without so much as a little sass in response. It was impressive to say the least and Rey couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship the two had and how it had developed. She wasn't jealous per say, but she was certainly curious.

Rey glanced past Phasma's shoulder. Her eyes flicked over the Knights who stood guard on either side of the only exit to the room, then back over to Phasma. Finally she bit her lip, sucking lightly on the bottom half before she had the guts to ask what she'd be plundering for the last twenty minutes. "So who are you to him?" She asked brazenly.

"I could ask you the same." Was how Phasma chose to respond. She slightly leaned forward and her almost white blond hair slid free from behind one ear before she swept it back in place. "I assume your the reason the General is in the infirmary?" She shifted in her chair, readjusting her position to better accommodate the lack of range her armor offered her but even hole distracted she didn't miss the new look of surprise on the girl's face.

"The cocky red head?" Rey inquired and there was a sense of hope in the short question. With good reason, Rey had immediately disliked him but then came the following twist of confusion and doubt.

"That would be the one, and be thankful there is only one of that man." Phasma chortled but Rey didn't miss how uncomfortable the Captain suddenly looked. Clearly the General was a big deal around here and it wasn't a good sign that this woman would step toe to toe with Ren but grow sheepish at the mention of the General.

Still, Rey couldn't help but smile inwardly at the idea of that awful man waking up like she did; with droids looming over him while they attempted to stick him with needles. The thought was quickly washed over by uncertainty and a little dash of anxiety. Why was he in the infirmary? Was Ren the one who put him there and if so, why? She was so bloody lost. There just didn't seem to be anything in the universe more confusing or unstable as Kylo, bloody, Ren.

"Alright," Rey crossed her arms. "He trusts you." Rey pointed out, leaving no option for denial to attach itself to the statement.

Now it was Phasma who raised her brows at Rey. "Just barely." She responded skeptically and she truly believed what she was saying. Ren wasn't some one who trusted. Their understanding had come form the battlefield and she wouldn't be surprised if that trust paused the second their boots touched neutral ground again.

"Rey lifted her chin and her eyes narrowed. "But he does." She confirmed. "Something tells me that's not an easy feat." Rey eyed the woman through her own skepticism.

"And he cares for you..." Phasma accused, leaning closer into Rey's space, her voice lowering to a near whisper and her eyes sharpened as she took in every change in Rey's face.

"Ha!" Rey, huffed and rolled her eyes. "It's likely he's not capable of such things." She said viscously. She was still seething over the death of Luke and nothing she had undergone here was helping to cool the flames she felt over that hurt and anger.

Captain Phasma narrowed her eyes at the girl across from her. "Tell me your not this stupid?" She asked with bitterness in her voice.

"Beg your pardon?" Rey asked defensively but Phasma ignored the offense taken and the confusion wafting from Rey in thick waves.

"Do you even have any idea?" Phasma's jaw clicked as her mouth set in disbelief. She shook her head at the girl across from her, biting the side of her cheek in an attempt to keep from lashing out at her. She was a young thing, couldn't be more then her early twenties at the most. Perhaps she doesn't know any better. Phasma tried to excuse the ignorance Rey seemed to be suffering from. Her naivety clearly showing through her lack of awareness.

"The resources alone that he's spent on finding you, not your Master or the Resistance; You!" She added with a shake of her head and her face locked in sheer disbelief.

Rey just stared at her expectantly as if waiting for the punchline to a missed joke.

Phasma couldn't help the laugh that bubbled from her chest as sudden hysteria took her by surprise.

They were both daft. Both stubborn and clueless. Neither had any idea about who the other really was or what they wanted from one another. Ren likely had no idea how to handle this girl, a girl who had little idea about who the man was that pursued her more then half across the Galaxy or what he wanted with her. Force, she doubted Ren even knew what he wanted from her. Both clueless! She silently repeated to herself.

If Ren wanted a toy he could have his pick, no need to search far and wide for a no name with no experience in his world. Phasma was even certain that after they saw the man beneath the armor, anyone he chose would be more then willing to oblige him. He'd grown into a powerful man. Attractive and strong and even if he wasn't he could have whatever he wanted simply by utilizing his position in the First Oreder.

She continued to eye the clueless girl across from her. Why her? Why had he worked night and day to hunt this girl down? If it was about having some one with power he'd have claimed his third for himself by now. This was clearly something else and this girl sat here clueless; she would be a problem, a weakness. She was completely unaware that she could be used as a weapon against the man who fought so hard to safely bring her into his world. And what's worse; she clearly harbored resentment and anger towards the Commander.

Phasma really hoped Ren knew what he was doing.

There was a sudden protectiveness that rose up in Phasma's chest. She'd watched over Ren since the first day he'd arrived here as little more then a willing prisoner. He'd had no real choice in the matter but he'd accepted his fate and he'd rose high through the ranks in a matter of a few short years. They were undoubtedly long for him. Hard painful years full of broken promises and lies. Battles and beatings and seclusion. Phasma remembered when she'd joined the Order and she saw a lot of herself in the boy that had been introduced to her as Kylo Ren.

Phasma rose from her seat angrily. Her armored hand slamming aggressively along the surface of the table they sat at as she stood up. She'd purposely startled Rey and both she and the two knights at Phasma's back snapped to attention in the aftermath.

"Your ignorance will cause him more suffering than you know." She snapped as she rose to her full hight.

Rey popped up from her chair and the two knights stepped forward ready to intervene should a fight break out between them.

"Settle down, dogs!" Phasma sneered over her shoulder. "I haven't the time to fight with a petulant girl." She turned away from Rey as though she were exasperated, but got no further then a pivot before she angrily turned back, her anxiety over Ren's safety bringing her to a boiling point. "What in the Maker's creation was Ren thinking bringing you here?" She fumed. "He's going to get one or both of you killed." She ran her hand through her short hair in frustration.

Rey's first instinct was to give this woman a mouthful right back. She didn't ask to be here. Didn't want anything to do with the First Order or Ren if he wasn't willing to leave the Darkness behind, but something told her to look past the insults. The outburst meant something. This woman was being protective and Rey recognized the hard glare she was getting. She'd seen Ren give Luke that look a few times before and it was always when Ren was trying to defend her in his own messed up way.

"If he's just your Commander... then why do you care?" Rey asked, fueled by both her curiosity and a sense of offense. Something Rey couldn't explain was happening here. She couldn't imagine an organization like the First Order sharing sentiment for each other. In fact she imagined the creature in the throne room having little tolerance for such things.

Phasma looked away. Her tongue clicked along the top of her mouth and she rolled her eyes in quick contemplation before responding. "On the battlefield, you can tell lot about a person; I've fought and bled beside the Commander many times." Her voice lowered and there was a sense of strain in her uneven tone. "Ren's not like most of the others." Her hands resettled along the surface of the table until her palms were flush with the metal and she lowered herself towards Rey, her eyes sharp and her voice suddenly very dangerous. "What ever you think you know about him, you don't!"

Rey met her hard stare with a challenging gaze and a lifted chin. "I know he killed his own father. I know he's attacked my friends. Killed without thought or remorse, abducted me twice and slain his own uncle. But lets not forget the planets The First Order blew up." Rey shamefully went through the list that seemed to be growing longer by the day. She shouldn't have felt guilty over the things Ren had done, yet there it was. A heavy guilt settled over her like a blinding fog. As angry as she was and as wrong as it had to be, she felt like he was hers to defend and she wanted to. She wanted to be on the side of the table where Phasma stood, defending a man she knew she morally couldn't.

"We've all killed, girl. No one in this war has clean hands. If you've chosen a side, either side, you have blood on your hands, too. I'm not saying it's right and I'm not justifying the blood shed, but it's a fact that comes with war and the longer the conflict continues the more desperate both sides become. Tactics change and so does the extreme with which either side is wiling to go. Ren is a Leader, a Commander and has the unfortunate weight of having abilities that I do not wish on the worst of my enemies. He has gone to extremes, Han Solo... the fact the Ren was the one to do it, is a terrible thing, but it had to be done. The man was a war hero, a nuisance, and a thief. I don't know about your friends but I'm assuming they were Resistance, if this is the case you may want to keep that knowledge to yourself while you're here. There are many who want revenge for the family and fiends they lost when the Resistance destroyed the StarKiller. Thousands worked and lived on that base; Men, woman and children, most didn't make it off before the planet exploded, but you and yours don't think about the every day families and residents who called that planet home, because it was associated with the First Order. This is the same as the few that were actually responsible for the destruction of the Hosnian System. They only saw an effective way to annihilate an enemy."

Phasma straightened her posture and though she still looked down at the girl across from her, she watched through the shock and hurt on the girl face that her words were actually sinking in. She was pleasantly surprised that Rey was genuinely attempting to see the facts from another point of view. Usually the Resistance spewed some nonsense about not being intimidated and what not. Maybe the girl really wasn't Resistance.

"Ren called you his Apprentice, and while I'm not entirely sure what that means for you, I know for him it's everything. Whatever he did to get you here and whatever he did to gain the Supreme Leader's blessing for him to keep your head on your shoulders, it was big. You think you've sacrificed but I'm telling you now, you're not the only one. Open your eyes and pay careful attention to everything around you, girl. You want to live, accept what ever he offers you. He'll keep you safe. It' just his way. He's loyal to a fault. He doesn't know how to forsake what he thinks is his to protect." She added in a reflective state.

Rey slid back down in her seat. She really hadn't thought of what this war had cost the First Order. It wasn't something she'd ever considered. She certainly hadn't tried viewing the circumstances of the past through Ren's point of view. Rey's eyes lowered to the table between she and the insightful stormtrooper.

"Is that why you care about him? His code or what ever it is, he clearly has one and you respect it." Rey asked thoughtfully.

"Amongst other things." Phasma gave a very indirect and short answer. She had no intention of going into further details with this girl. She didn't know her and as of right now she didn't fully trust that she wouldn't use the knowledge she was gaining against Ren in the future. She'd already said too much and still she felt the need to cross one more line.

Her eyes burrowed into the hazel orbs that stared back at her. "I've heard about the Jedi. To the Resistance You're supposed to be some kind of beacon. Some kind of light in the dark; personally I don't really believe in all of that crap. I know very little about the Force and even less about the how or why some beings have access to it while millions of others don't, but I know a weapon when I see one and to some, that's all you and Ren will ever be. It doesn't matter how bright you shine now, or how much good you could have done, corruption only knows how to corrupt. Keep that in mind while you decide whether or not you'll convict Ren for all the wrongs in the universe." There was a long pause of silence between the two.

Phasma sighed. "Alright, Enough stalling. Go get cleaned up before the Commander gets back. I won't risk my neck buying you time anymore then I already have." She pointed Rey in the direction of the refresher and tossed her a pile of tightly folded clothing.

Rey caught the bundle of clothes in her hands before silently making her way to the refresher to clean up. Some how she felt like a child who'd been rightfully scolded. Though the adult in her knew some of Phasma's defense had been bias she didn't begrudge the woman of the valid points she'd made while making her case.

Heading to the refresher Rey couldn't help but reminisce about the first shower she'd ever had. It was back on The Resistance base and just after the mental attack she'd had. The one where Ren was tortured and now she had enough information to piece together what had happened. It must have been the creature in the thrown room. The one The Order called the Supreme Leader. Rey wanted to be angry at Ren for aligning himself with the monster, she wanted to blame him for not being able to break himself away from that thing the second he'd gotten the chance but she knew there was something deeper that she was missing.

It's strange, she could see the boy she'd first met in the interrogation chamber subcoming to the Supreme Leader's abuse, but she couldn't picture the man she knew him as now doing such. It was almost as though they were two different people entirely. Previously Rey couldn't picture Ren bowing to anyone or anything, but now, having recently met the creature, Rey couldn't judge him for it. She wanted to melt into the floor when she fell under that things scrutiny. She wanted to flee. To scrub her brain until there was nothing left just to be rid of the places that thing had touched during its interrogation of her.

Rey squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She swallowed hard. It had known so much about her in so little time spent with her. It was terrifying how quickly he was able to manipulate her thoughts, especially those about Kylo Ren. Rey let out a shaky breath. She had to let her mind rest for a little while. She was running on fumes but at least her tummy had a little reprieve from the starvation that consistently snuck back up on her just as she was getting comfortable with having scheduled meals.

She'd been tempted to take a shower but with little argument from her survival instincts she decided against it. She would certainly take advantage of the soap and towels that she now had access to and she was excited to find oral hygiene tabs and even a special soap for her hair. She'd always only had one kind of soap and she'd used it for everything she needed cleaned. By the time she was done scrubbing up she'd never felt cleaner.

This was the first time she didn't smell like salt in as long as she could remember. Whether it was from the desert sand or the spray of the ocean, Rey always seemed to smell of salt. Now she smelt of softer things. Things she couldn't decipher but they were nice things. The garb she was given was softer then she was accustomed to as well. Admittedly she'd been freezing since she'd woken on this infernal ship. She was used to being outside. Used to the sun on her skin even on the island with the unrelenting wind she hadn't found her skin and bones as cold as they were here.

Unrolling the fabric of the clothes she was supposed to wear she noticed a very distinct theme. All black and emblemed with First Order badges. Rey balled up the clothing she no longer intended to wear. It just felt wrong. She couldn't stop thinking about Luke or her friends. Poe and Chewie were still here somewhere. She only hoped that Ren would keep his word. He'd said that he'd let them live, that he'd free them the second they were on his ship. The part about his ship worried Rey because he'd recently said that they'd be leaving this shuttle for another as soon as Rey's bill of health was cleared. Did that mean Poe and Chewie weren't on this vessel? When did Ren plan on taking her to his ship?

Rey's head hurt. She was so confused about where she stood in everything. Shivering from her sponge bath and the relentless chill in the air, Rey eyed the pile of dark clothing. She really wanted to wear it. It looked and felt so warm, but Mustafar if she didn't feel like a grade A traitor for having that desire. Her trousers were blood stained and torn so she couldn't be blamed for taking the new set from the discarded pile and pulling them on. She couldn't deny that she was already much warmer then in the previous pair. This material was thicker and yet somehow still softer and though formfitting she didn't feel restricted. She changed her underwear and breast band too but kept her tunic and arm wraps on. They were dirty and a little stained but the worst of her outfit had been the trousers anyway. Overall she'd felt much better, though honestly, she would have liked to soak in the refresher, she just didn't trust those around her enough to do so.

She was silently sulking when she thought she heard a familiar voice on the other side of the door. She flattened her body to the durasteel that separated her from her bond mate and her heart flopped in her chest when she felt the slightest pull from his end of their bond. It was the most he had allowed to get through their connection since he'd cut her off on Yavin four. The pull was gone as quickly as it began and Rey rested her forehead along the cool metal of the door in an attempt to steady her already wavering resolve. Her hands were suddenly shaking and she heard his vocoded voice grow louder.

He was moving closer to the door. Suddenly she forgot how to breath. Her insides instantly twisted at the idea of having to face him again so soon. Her hands flattened against the door and she waited, listening to the steps on the other side as though they were strokes of a ticking clock. Each step a second that moved them closer together and she found the memory of his voice in her already confused head.

"Why keep putting time between us...?" His deep baritone echoed through her memory. His voice like smooth silk wrapping around the entirety of her body, sending warmth shooting all the way down to her toes.

The breath she'd been holding in shot out from her burning lungs to collide with the steel she now leaned against. Damp oxygen ricocheted off of the door to fan back across Rey's face. Her eyes closed and the room beyond the door was silent. She waited to hear something, anything that told her what was happening on the other side, but the silence continued and her strumming heart seemed so much louder in comparison.

Rey's head turned and she flattened her cheek against the door. There was a sound, something quiet. Almost unnoticeable in its subtlety. Maybe the shuffling of cloth or a hesitant step along the floor. She wasn't sure but she knew it was close. She felt it. She felt him. Her Force pulled her flatter against the door and she knew he was close. Her essence clung to the cool steel like a magnet and she could feel him on the other side.

Heat pulled at the skin along her palm. She felt the Force moving around her, gathering at the hand she still had flattened on the door. The source of the heat was larger then her own hand and it encompassed it entirely. She stepped back from the door, peeling herself from the metal like pulling a magnet from its counterpart. She starred at the palm of her hand entranced by the feeling she was getting from the other side of the door.

"Ren?" Phasma's voice broke the damn that was holding the power between them at bay and it washed over Rey for only a split second before the source was gone. On the other side of the door, the space that had covered the circumference of Rey's hand was now empty. What ever it was that had been there drawing her Force out, was now gone, jerked away in one startled motion.

Eyeing her hand in wonderment Rey stepped back from the door. The Force tingled over her skin and she squeezed her hand shut and brought it to her chest. For just a moment she allowed herself to savor the sparks that ran over her skin. To relish in what was left of the silent exchange they had made. Then her eyes opened. Shaking her head Rey shook her hand as though trying to fling something unpleasant away. She wiped her hand along her tunic trying to dampen the tingling sensation that was left in the wake of his Force mingling with hers.

No matter what she did to remove the feel of him, she couldn't get past the brand his Force left along her skin. If that wasn't problematic enough, she honestly didn't know if she wanted to.

~Hello my Freaky Darlings! I'm sorry the last couple of updates have taken a bit to get out. It's just been one thing after another lately and as the holidays get closer I'm afraid I'm having trouble finding the time to write. I've also had some personal stuff going on that's been interfering but I'm hoping to get back to my weekly updates. I know I was posting an update or more weekly but fair warning it may not be like that again until after Christmas, we will see. Anyway I really thank you all for sticking around for the wait. I hope you liked this update and I'm excited for the next one so hopefully I get some sit down time to start that tomorrow.~

*Rate, comment, follow, love you!*

-DarkGuardian-