𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉
—𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳—

     AS POE'S SHIP landed on the top of a sand dune, he was quick to dismantle himself from his seatbelt, before tossing his helmet to the side. He made his way straight for Bexley's crashed ship, breathing in the humidity around him. Poe felt completely overwhelmed upon seeing the flames that reared high over the remainders of her x-wing, leaving a trail of smoke to linger in the air.

"No," he murmers, rushing over without hesitation. "No, no, no!"

A ship took off high above him, one that was no doubt from the First Order. Why had they stayed so long? He couldn't seem to find an answer, but stopped in his tracks when his mind wandered elsewhere. The First Order wouldn't have taken Bexley . . . would they? Then again, they'd have no reason to.

Other than the fact that she was now a part of the Resistance.

When Poe was finally close enough to examine the ship, he noticed that, beyond the fire, there had been cuts made by a lightsaber. A large portion of the ship had been removed, and tossed to the side carelessly. And from there, he could see no sight of a body. The only thing remaining in the abandoned ship was broken glass, Bexley's helmet, and blood that was beginning to sink into the damp sand.

---

Bexley was almost blinded when her eyes finally began to open, her eyelashes fluttering as she flinched. With the small movement of her hand, she came to realize that she was restrained by metal cuffs that held her to an upright table. It reminded the blonde of one she had seen in the Resistance interrogation room a few months back. Unfortunately, she already knew this wasn't a Resistance room.

Although the room was bright with florescent light, the set up of the place had a different aspect. There was near nothing around her, except for a silver chair that rested on the floor to her left. She could only imagine who it must be for. Then again, who could she be seeing? And where was she? As the blonde laid her head onto the table, she closed her eyes to try and recollect her memories.

It seemed the last thing she could remember was the stars from the opening in the ship, and then a bright light that turned away the darkness. But everything after that moment was unclear, like it was fogged over.

A set of double doors opened ahead of her, someone stepping inside without any hesitation. From the person's stance, Bexley could tell that it was a man. He held his shoulders with a certain posture, his chin held up. But his face was hidden behind a mask that Bexley found familiar.

He took the seat in front of her, making a move to remove his mask at once. Beneath, he looked normal. His black hair fell in waves to his shoulders, reminding Bexley of Poe's short curls. Oh, how she wish he was the one standing in front of her now.

"You're with the Resistance," he states clearly, his dark eyes falling on hers. "Bexley Terris, I presume."

Bexley swallowed back the urge to ask him how he knew her name, keeping her lips sealed and looking away from him. It was clear now‒ from the way he adreesed the Resistance‒ that he was a part of the First Order. Her heart began to pound in her chest, and she wanted to launch herself at him.

"The First Order is looking for something on Takondana, and I assume you know what we're looking for," the man tilts his head to the side, his voice growing softer. "But from your thoughts, you don't seem too sure."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bexley says through gritted teeth, clenching her restrained hands into fists. "Why am I here?"

"Your ship was shot down," he explains, sinking a little further into the seat. "And we saved you from the fire for interrogation. I know you come from a long line of assassins, and that could come as an advantage."

It was as if a knife had lodged itself into Bexley's chest. Now that the First Order knew about her family's loyalty to the Resistance, she was bound to be punished or to do something against her will. She only hoped someone was looking for her.

"If you answer my questions, I can guarantee your safety," he continues. "Otherwise, I can't guarantee anything."

"What do you want from me?" She demands, still not meeting his cold and emotionless eyes. "I'm not valuable to you."

"You could be a great asset for the First Order," he chuckles, not an ounce of humor dripping from his tone. "Especially with the proper training and equipment. I've heard that you graduated flight school a few months ago."

"I won't be an asset for the First Order, let alone listen to all the plans you have for me," Bexley seethe, leaning forward. "I'd rather die than work for you and your crew of ravenous murderers."

"You see, that's where you're mistaken," the man says. "You don't have a choice in the matter. If you don't tell me what I need to know, I can coax it out of you. And if you decide the First Order isn't for you, there are always several forms of brainwashing that can change your mind completely."

Bexley was disgusted with his presence, and his words only made everything worse. She wanted this to be a nightmare‒ one she would wake up from soon enough, and would tell Poe about the next time she saw him. But her ship had crashed, the First Order had taken her, and she was about to be forced into submission for their dangerous and cruel ways.

"Just kill me already," Bexley murmers, laying her head back again. Tears filled her eyes, but she held them back. It was obvious that he had found her weak spot.

"You're more useful to us alive than dead," he shakes his head.

As Bexley looked to him, she felt a wave of sudden recognition. He looked oddly similar to Leia, and that could only mean one thing.

"You're Ben Solo," she says, disregarding his earlier comment. "Han Solo is your father, and Leia Organa is your mother."

Bexley knew very little of the story of Ben Solo; only how he had turned to the Dark Side in a quick moment and didn't look back. She heard that he strived to be like his grandfather, Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Han and Leia were left wondering what they were to do with themselves.

"My name is Kylo Ren," he corrects her, a sort of anger sparking in his eyes for a short moment, before disappearing again. "But yes, you're correct."

"Why aren't you with the Resistance?" Bexley finds herself asking.

"I don't prefer weakness over power. The Resistance is based around family and friendship, and it's weak. Love never prevails and power never fails."

"You're wrong," Bexley says, her tone growing soft. "And it's never too late to go back, Kylo. Everyone needs a family."

"Where is Luke Skywalker?" Kylo changed the subject, seeming discontent with her statement. "The Resistance has a map, I hear. And his lightsaber is hidden away somewhere on Takodana."

"You've been destroying the planet to find a lightsaber?" Suddenly Bexley is angry, a picture of her mother lingering in her mind. "You've demolished a planet and murdered so many for something that no one knows about?"

"It wouldn't have been a problem if the Resistance handed it over," Kylo shrugs with utter nonchalance. "Yet here we are now, having a conversation of how it could've been avoided. They had a choice in the matter, yet casted it away because they thought they could be smarter."

"You can't tell me that you chose this‒ the First Order," Bexley shakes her head. "You aren't devoid of emotion yet, I can tell by the way you offered me options. Killing all those people is wrong, no matter the excuse."

"Your dream world may consist of happiness and perfection, but it will never truly exist, Bexley," Kylo sighs. "We ask for simple things, but get no response. Things like this don't have to happen."

"Exactly," she points out. "You don't have to be with these people, there's always another way out. A life like this isn't a life at all."

"I've managed to climb my way up the ladder, and I won't be moved by your meaningless words," he stands, picking up his helmet. "But remember this Bexley; your time for answering questions is running out. Tell me where the map and lightsaber are, and the Resistance and people of Takodana will be safe."

Kylo pauses as he walks to the door, before looking over his shoulder to finish. "But if you deny and everyone you ever knew is destroyed, just know that their spilled blood will be on your hands. There's never a way out, and it's time you know that."

And with that, Kylo was gone. Bexley wanted to cry, to scream at him for dragging her into a situation she knew nothing about. She didn't know these things still existed, let alone know where they were. So what was she to do?

She sinks into the table, gasping for breath as tears finally escaped her closed eyes. How did Bexley manage to get into this situation, and how would she get out? It seemed as though she would never know, and the people she knew would die because of it.

But for some reason, as Bexley was stressing of how she would get out of this mess, she couldn't help but remember what Kylo was saying right before he left her alone in the sterile room. And how there was a look of complete regret when he told her that there was never a way out of the First Order.

That, in itself, scared her the most. Because if she didn't comply, not only would everyone perish, but she, herself, would be forced into the same position he was. Bexley would be a cold-hearted murderer without consent.

_______