KYLO

Kylo Ren walked onto the bridge feeling more in control and in command, now that he was using his helmet again. Everyone he passed in the hallways kept their distance. He could watch their reactions without them knowing. No one could tell where or at whom he was looking.

"We're not at liberty to disclose that information," one of the commanders said as he made his way to the front of the bridge.

"We're working together now." Rey's voice got his attention. He hadn't noticed her there at first, but seeing her on the bridge of his current ship excited him. Her hair was secured neatly in elastics and he had the sudden urge to remove them and let the strands go free. He quickly pushed the thought away. He had no intention of letting her have command over his officers. They noticed him before Rey did and quickly returned their attention back to their stations.

Rey turned, as though sensing his presence. She seemed surprised at seeing the mask, taking a moment as though to decide what she thought of it.

"Your officers won't tell me where Temiri is," she said after a moment. "And I can't get access to the control panels."

"You don't have authority here," Kylo replied. His voice sounded mechanical, even to his ears, through his mask. He walked away, towards the Captain's Ready Room. He didn't want to have this discussion in front of his officers and commanders. If she wanted to talk to him, she'd have to follow.

When he stepped in the Ready Room and saw the destruction he'd made earlier, he cursed under his breath. But it was too late. Rey had already followed him in. The door slid closed. He turned to face her, standing tall with his shoulders back, his height towering over her. He knew she couldn't see his expression now and he liked it that way.

"Kylo? What's going on?" she asked, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. It was amazing what others let show on their faces, when he had his mask on, as though they thought they too could not be seen, if they couldn't see him. The only person who showed no emotion at all, when confronted with Kylo's mask, was Hux.

Rey crossed her arms. "We're working together now, Kylo, the Resistance and the First Order. Your mother is one of the Generals on this current mission, remember?"

"You will address me as Supreme Leader from now on."

Rey frowned. "Why the sudden formality?"

Kylo didn't answer and she continued. "I was asking to see Temiri. I'd like to meet him. Can you tell your officers that I have command here now, too?"

"You don't."

"So we're your prisoners, then." It wasn't a question, but more like a sarcastic remark.

Kylo lifted his hand and Force choked Rey before he even consciously made the decision to do it. Rey was quick in freeing herself, with her own Force ability. She wasn't helpless anymore. She held him fast and they faced each other, at a standstill with their strength. Yet he knew he was stronger at that moment and could overtake her. He felt it. She was weakened by something, likely her emotions, but not the angry kind. Had he hurt her feelings? It didn't matter. She didn't much care about his feelings either.

"I asked for you to join me, but you said no," he said, letting go of his hold on her. She dropped her hand, too. "You're not a leader here," he continued. "Nor my partner. And you're not a commander or a general either."

She blinked, as though he'd struck her. In a way he admired her bravery. There were few who would confront him with such boldness and confidence, as though they had any hope of succeeding in getting what they wanted from him. But she did it with ease, as though he owed her something.

"I wanted you simply for your power," he said now. It was what she needed to hear, so that she'd leave him alone. He had to regain control of his crew, which had started with Hux and now he needed to deal with Rey. And he knew just how to do that. "I offered you my physical attentions for your sake, so you wouldn't jeopardize all you have, your power and potential, everything, for some worthless union with someone else, the way my mother did, giving up her destiny just to be with Han Solo."

"But they had a child, they had you..."

He couldn't ignore the sting of her words, but he continued nevertheless, his reaction hidden behind his mask.

"You're useless to me now. We're not partners. You had your chance."

The pain in her eyes was so raw he almost regretted his strong words.

"Take off your mask," she said between clenched teeth. Her words reminded him of Snoke's belittling comment about him being a child in a mask. It was a challenge. She was implying that he was hiding behind it, which he wasn't. He reached up and unlatched the mask. The rush of new air cooled his face as he removed it.

Rey's angry expression quickly changed to a more somber look at seeing his face.

"Do you want to know what I think?" she said softly, all traces of anger gone now. He didn't want to know, but she continued anyway. "I think you're hurt. By your mother and by me. You allow no one to get close to you."

"You say that as though it's a bad thing."

"It is."

"In your world, perhaps."

"Do you really want to be like your grandfather? A ruthless leader who alienated himself from everyone he loved?" she asked. "You're not like him. You care about your mother... and me."

"You're wrong." Kylo turned away. His voice didn't have the monotone droning of his mask which would have made this conversation a bit easier. "I'm exactly like my grandfather. I can only hope to accomplish what he did, and to finish what he started."

"No. Everything is different now. We've got a real enemy, which needs to be stopped."

"I'm well aware of who my enemies are," Kylo said. "Those who oppose me or my decisions are my enemies."

"Why won't you let anyone in?" Rey said softly. She moved closer.

"Enough of this!" Kylo stepped away, before she could get too close.

"I know Luke betrayed your trust and Snoke abused his power over you but-"

"This conversation is over," Kylo said, walking away.

"No, it's not!" Rey stepped in front of him.

"Yes, it is." He grabbed her, knowing that physical touch was her greatest weakness. She was shocked, as he'd expected, when he grabbed her waist.

"There's no light inside of me, Rey," he said, as menacingly as he could. "Stop searching for it. Stop searching for some goodness you imagine is there."

"It's there. I've seen it. You just keep pushing it away, as soon as it begins to surface."

"You think you know me. You think I'm secretly compassionate and good. But you're wrong. I killed my father and I blew up a ship to kill my mother." It wasn't entirely true. He hadn't blown up the ship his mother was in, even though he had a clear shot and the opportunity to do so. He'd hesitated. But it got destroyed anyway and she'd miraculously survived. It didn't matter, though. He wanted Rey to believe he was a heartless monster. 

She seemed shaken by his words, as he'd hoped she would be. He had to get a reign on the hold she had over his heart. She could destroy him, if he let her. She already had, in a way. But he wouldn't leave himself vulnerable any longer.

He pulled her against him and felt the rapid beat of her heart. Then he leaned in close and spoke into her ear.

"What would the pilot think, of you being this close to me right now?" he whispered. "Tell me, Rey, did he keep my bed warm for me while I was away?"

She shoved him hard and he barely took a step back. He was not surprised when she slapped him. The sting of it was impressive.

"Do you want the truth?" he said, running his hand along his cheek to check for blood. "I don't care anymore. You came from nothing and I offered you a place at my side. But you refused me again and again. You mean nothing to me now, so stay out of my way."

He brushed past her to leave, then stopped to add one more thing. "There are rooms in the maintenance staff quarters. Find yourself a place there, because your place is no longer with me." And with that, he left.

POE

Poe knelt in front of his robot friend. BB-8 was switched on, but completely unresponsive.

"What did you two do to BB-8?" he asked the boy and the black robot, who looked to be the same model as BB-8.

"Is that what his name is, BB-8?" Temiri asked excitedly.

Poe smiled. "Yep."

Temiri pulled out a computer chip from his pocket and handed it to Poe. "Here you go, Sir," he said. "It came from inside BB-8."

Poe took the chip. "You can call me Poe."

"Are you a Resistance Pilot?"

"I sure am." Poe pulled out a small knife from his pocket so he could unscrew a panel on BB-8 to reinsert the chip.

"I want to be a pilot too," Temiri said.

"I can take you on a ride in my X-Wing someday."

"Really?"

"Sure."

The black robot began beeping wildly and Poe stopped what he was doing.

"Don't put the chip back in," Temiri said.

"Why not?"

"Dusty says it will reveal our location."

"Who's Dusty?"

Temiri pointed at the black robot.

"Interesting name. He's a BB-Unit too, isn't he?"

"He's BB-8's brother."

"Really!" Poe looked at the other BB-Unit, which now backed away from him. Temiri may have simply deemed that they were brothers because both robots were BB-Units. But the resemblance was uncanny. "Nice to meet you, Dusty."

Dusty responded with a series of Beeps and Poe laughed. "He says Dusty isn't his name." He got up and returned the knife to his pocket. Apparently Captian Phasma, Finn's old boss, had successfully rid this ship of the A.I. virus. Maybe the crew here could do the same for BB-8.

"Let's take BB-8 to the repair wing," Poe said, picking up his heavy little robot with a grunt.

"How long have you and BB-8 been friends?" Temiri asked as they started walking.

"A while. He's my co-pilot. We go on all our missions together. That's why I need him back in working order, before tomorrow. We're flying out first thing in the morning to shut down those Ruling Order space stations."

"Can I come?" Temiri asked.

"Sorry, kid, not this time." Poe shifted BB-8 in his arms to look down at the boy. "I don't think you're old enough yet for this type of mission."

"I am. Today's my birthday."

"It is?"

"Yes."

"Tell you what," Poe said. "You can come sit in on the strategy meeting I'm having with the other fleet pilots this afternoon. Then, when that's done, we'll go get some cake in the mess hall, to celebrate your birthday. And I'd like you to meet my friend, Rey."

"What's cake?"

"It's the best tasting food there is, made specifically for birthdays." Poe winked at the boy. "Trust me, you'll love it."