KYLO

Kylo Ren left the bridge and walked into his empty Ready Room.

Hux and Kylo's mother were at the Control Room where all the action was. Kylo had come to the bridge to watch the fighter planes, their united army, take off for war. It was oddly like seeing Snoke's intentions come to pass, all the alliances under one rule. But whose rule was it? Right now, Kylo's mother and Hux were calling the shots. Even that derelict Resistance pilot was leading a fleet of fighter planes. Everyone was doing their part, except for him. He was the only one not in the frey. 

Kylo removed his mask and ran his hands through his hair. This was like reliving his childhood all over again, his mother calling the shots and Hux taking his place alongside her. First it was Luke, now Hux, but it was never him. His mother seemed determined to replace him in any way she could.

But it didn't matter who was making the battle plans. They were all still working under his rule. Their plan to destroy all the Ruling Order Command Stations at once, was a good one. It would succeed. It had to. 

Kylo paced the Ready Room. The plane that had been assigned to Rey was still in the docking bay, yet she'd already left her room a while ago; their room. He couldn't seem to concentrate on anything else, while not knowing what she was up to. She'd been so keen on finding FN2187 and that other maintenance Resistance worker. It didn't make sense that she hadn't left yet to find them. He took out his light sabre from his belt and spun it in his hands absentmindedly.

"Computer," he said. "Locate Rey."

"Locating Rey. Rey is not on board," the automated voice reported. It was not the response he'd expected. Where was she if not on board? Had she flown off with the Pilot?

Kylo cursed under his breath and the computer continued. "Incoming transmission."

There was no more information. Who was contacting the Ready Room? No one even knew he was there.

"Incoming transmission from where?" he asked.

"Unknown."

Kylo stopped pacing. How could it be unknown? The transmission was either from on board or off planet. "Is the transmission coming from on board?" Kylo asked. Maybe it was Rey trying to contact him. But that was unlikely. Unless she was in some kind of trouble.

"Unknown," the computer said again.

"Put it through," Kylo said and began to pace the room again.

"The mighty Kylo Ren." The voice coming through the speaker was computerized, yet the way the words were spoken sounded oddly human. Was someone trying to disguise their voice? Kylo stopped pacing and waited.

"This is the Ruling Order," the voice continued. "I believe you've lost your rule. How tragically predictable."

Why did the slow articulation of words sound so familiar?

"I haven't lost my rule," Kylo answered cautiously, wanting to listen more than talk.

"Haven't you?" the voice continued. "The Resistance General, your mother, is in command now, and you, you are useless."

Kylo's grip on his light sabre tightened. How much did they know? They must have hacked into their computer and be aware of all their plans. If so, then all the fighter planes that had gone out that morning were now in danger. The surprise attack wouldn't work if the Ruling Order knew they were coming. 

He had to keep this... robot, or whatever it was, on the transmission a bit longer, get more information.

"There is more than one commander in an army," Kylo said, stalling for time. He had to keep this robot, or whatever it was, on the transmission with him as long as possible, to find out what they knew. Maybe they didn't know about the surprise attack - not all the ship's systems were connected, and definitely not access to the Control Room, which was highly guarded. 

He punched a code into a console, searching for the source of the transmission. He was unable to find one. Maybe they didn't know about the attack yet. Yet Kylo's instincts told him it was unlikely. He had to contact the fleet. His gloved hand paused above the console buttons. If he contacted the Control Room where his mother and Hux were, from the Ready Room then he couldn't speak freely, with the channel open to the Ruling Order.

"I'm disappointed in you, Ren."

Kylo moved his hand away from the console. "Supreme Leader..." He swallowed hard. That's where he recognized the condescending tone, even through an automated voice. So Snoke was alive... But how? Kylo immediately regretted addressing Snoke as Supreme Leader. He wasn't the Supreme Leader anymore. Kylo had destroyed him with his own light saber.

"My unfaithful servant." The eerie voice said. "You thought my existence could be wiped out so easily?"

Kylo didn't know how to respond. He gripped the console, overwhelmed with an emotion he was unfamiliar with, fear. Fear didn't take a hold of him, because he'd immediately channeled it into anger. But this time there was no one to fight, to cut in two with his light sabre; just a voice from the past, which was now all too real. 

"All of my thoughts," Snoke continued, "my entire mind, everything that I was, everything that I am, is uploaded to this system. Did you think I wouldn't be prepared, for my own death? My body was never what was important. I can not be snuffed out that easily, my boy."

Kylo thought of the fleet again, heading for the Ruling Order command stations at this very moment. Did Snoke know of their plans? He must. He always had a way of knowing everything. Then another thought struck him.

"Rey."

"She's left you, boy," Snoke said. The monitors suddenly lit up with a star chart. "See, she's taken an escape pod." Kylo recognized the tracker code of Rey's bio-signature.

"You're manipulating the system..."

"See for yourself." The monitor directly in front of Kylo flickered on and he saw the escape pod, flying as fast as it could go. Three bio signs on board. FN2187 and the Maintenance Worker. "I didn't even have to intervene," Snoke continued. "She left you all on her own. She never planned to fight by your side. She was waiting for her Storm Trooper to return so she could leave with him, to hide until this is all over, until the others are destroyed fighting this battle. Then they will try and take your throne, along with the Pilot."

"She wouldn't do that," Kylo said under his breath. He knew Rey well enough to know she didn't run from a fight. And yet, the escape pod was leaving. 

"I have access to the computer of this ship, and all the sleeping quarters. I can hear what is said behind closed doors. She told FN2187 to take your throne, once this is all over."

Kylo stormed out of the Ready Room. The few crew on board turned their heads when he stepped out.

"Have any escape pods left the north docking bay?" he demanded.

The officer in charge of keeping tabs on the ship's traffic, fumbled around on his console.

"Yes, sir. One," he stammered.

"Who's on board?"

"Three bio-signatures..."

"Hail them."

The Communications Officer quickly did as commanded, listening in her ear piece for a response.

"No response, sir," she said, giving him a fearful look.

Could this be a distraction, by Snoke, to set him off track? Or did Rey really leave with FN2187?

"Sir," the other commander said. "A ship landed on planet, unannounced, during the speech, right before-"

"What ship?" Kylo demanded.

"The Millennium Falcon."

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Author's Note: Hi guys, sorry I disappeared for a while. I do want to finish this. I'm revising and adding chapters here where I left off then will hopefully finish this entire novel before this summer! Thanks for reading!