CHAPTER 52
A HIJACKING

IN the eye of a hurricane, there's a haunting kind of silence. A moment of calm, tranquility, before the evident catastrophe. You feel at peace for a mere second, and that's enough to keep your breathing normal as you're blasted into oblivion.

Raena wondered when she would feel that silence again. She experienced the hurricane when her parents died, and she had to get up and brave the storm. The hurricane came again when she died, when Kylo Ren twisted that saber right through her chest, and as her skin cauterized, she heard the silence. Everything was so peaceful as she fell on the floor and all the oxygen left, before her body awoke what felt like seconds later. The next hurricane was imminent. She hoped she could survive another.

Hux was dead. Gerardo and Pacey had deflected and escaped with the Resistance. Raena was left on the Steadfast with no allies or friends. All she had now was eyes watching her every move, waiting for her to explode. She knew what happened on Kijimi was a good thing – Hux had to die; her friends had to leave – but that didn't mean she wasn't struggling with her own obvious loneliness. How could she endure this war alone?

Leia's voice echoed through her ears again and it filled her with a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a very, very long time. She tended to do that to people. You're never alone, she had whispered, and no one's ever really gone. Leia was right. Raena wasn't alone, especially if she had someone like her to count on.

The general's voice moved on a delicate wavelength: You don't need to finish this on your own, she had said. Then what else was there for her? What could Raena's purpose be if not to repay Leia for her kindness, and – somehow, someway – find the same kind of kindness in her own heart, where there had once been darkness.

There is good still left in everyone. Was there, though? She could make the argument that Kylo's was long gone, but she wondered if it was the same for her. If she had no purpose, nothing to repay – who was Raena Nhagy in this war, besides an unkillable assassin? She was just another asset in the army, a face amongst the crowd. She had never liked too much attention, but she almost hoped that her name would go down in the history books. Raena Nhagy – last of her family, a revolutionary hero. But fate had an entirely different plan, and kept twisting her left and right.

Was she simply bound to Kylo for eternity, until he, eventually, withered away and died? If she couldn't end this war and use her past relationship with him to her advantage, then nothing else mattered. She might as well deflect and live out the rest of her days in hiding, refusing to acknowledge either side, and searching the galaxy for a cure to her serum. This couldn't be her future. She wouldn't allow it to be, and she'd be damned if she had to spend another year faking loyalty for a deranged leader.

The only way to answer all her questions, sadly, was the worst fate of all. Raena Nhagy had to follow Kylo Ren to the end of this war, or it would all be for nothing. She was going to finish this.

•••

Raena stopped short as she eyed the area below the hangar deck. She had just returned from a shower, feeling more refreshed than ever before, but that only lasted for so long. Her thick, wet hair whipped across her back as she turned, approaching the deck that sat above the entrance for boarding ships. She had been on her way to see the Knights of Ren training session. (Curiosity had gotten the best of her. She hardly knew shit about the knights, and she needed to see what they were made of.) But upon spotting Kylo Ren and General Pryde with a large group surrounding them just below her feet, she decided this might be more important.

A unit of stormtroopers huddled in a circle around their Supreme Leader and Allegiant General on the loading dock. As Raena strode down the stairs and approached them, she realized that she hardly recognized the names on their suits. (And by "names," she meant the ridiculous code they were assigned the minute they stepped foot inside this prison cell.) They had to be new recruits.

"When the shuttle is ready to depart for Kef Bir, I need you all to be lined up and following the Supreme Leader's instructions once inside." General Pryde explained. The Xi-class shuttle was being prepared by a few technicians as he spoke. "He's taking a small squadron, but you'll all be playing a very important role. Your one goal: find the scavenger. Execute anyone else that gets in your way."

Appearing at his side, Raena glanced towards Kylo with an arching brow. Why would he take new people on a mission that seemed this significant? They weren't fully trained or committed. They were easily killable. Sending off easy assets would be a good distraction so he could go find Rey and kill her by himself.

More innocent lives lost, and if Kylo managed to find Rey ... Raena shuddered at the thought.

Kylo almost jumped back when he noticed her standing right next to him. He was wearing his helmet again, but Raena knew how startled he was from his body movements. She was one of the only people on this ship that knew him too well, besides Snoke, and that was a punishment in itself. Placing a hand on her hip, she asked, "Why are you so nervous?"

He looked over at Pryde for a moment, and it was too quick for Raena to notice the exchange. Kylo laced his arm through hers and walked off, patting the exposed skin where she had tugged up the sleeves on her dark blouse. Raena swallowed hard, pushing back the memories that tried to creep up.

"It's nothing. Just been in my head lately," he replied, far too quickly for her liking, but Raena didn't question it. "This Supreme Leader business ... it's still difficult to wrap my head around. And I've been thinking more and more about Luke Skywalker lately, as well as my grandfather. Their voices are in my head and I ..." He sighed dramatically. "I've been thinking too much."

Get in line, she thought to herself, hoping he hadn't listened in. When he didn't react, she released a silent breath of relief.

"So – um ..." Her eyes flickered over to the assembled stormtroopers. "Is this your squadron for Kef Bir?"

"Yes," he nodded. "We've tracked the rebels to the planet and need to act fast. You never know how long they're going to be in one place. If Rey finds Palpatine's Wayfinder in the wreckage of the second Death Star, we might be too late."

Raena swallowed hard. "Okay," she replied, not knowing much else to say. Her whole body felt like it was shaking, but she remained completely still. "When will we be getting on the shuttle?"

Kylo went silent. He turned over his shoulder to look at the technicians waving over his squadron of stormtroopers, indicating that the ship was good to go. He sighed heavily through the voice modulator, and Raena wished she could see the expression on his face right now. He was getting harder and harder to read, which was the last thing she needed right now.

He rubbed at the exposed skin on the back of his neck. "Raena ..."

"Supreme Leader!" General Pryde exclaimed. "It's almost time to depart."

He didn't need to say anything more. Raena already knew where this conversation was going. Kylo was taking away her power again, and if he was going to treat her unfairly, she was going to do the exact same.

"Are you fucking insane?" She whispered loudly, though it was obvious that others could hear. "Who is giving you the idea that I shouldn't leave this goddamn ship? Is it Pryde, or are you just becoming that deranged?"

Kylo opened his mouth to speak, but Raena simply continued, "You know what? I don't want to fucking hear it. I don't want to hear your excuses again. You're clearly not in your right mind and I don't want to hear from you until you have at least a little bit of sense in you."

She was gaslighting him. It was clear as day. Raena was trying desperately to be good and just, but not to him. If he was going to spend the rest of her days confining her and gaslighting her every move, then he had another thing coming. She had a cold heart and she was going to throw it right back.

"At least, let me explain," he muttered, leaning in close to her face. Raena only pushed his shoulder back. "This is for your own safety. You complete me. I've seen it. I don't know what I'd do if I ever –

"I don't need an explanation," she interrupted, venom seeping from her tone. "And safety? That's what you call this?"

Raena couldn't stop herself from releasing a cackle. Kylo's body began to shudder. "This isn't safety, Ben." His name came out as a hiss, and even he hadn't expected that. "This is confinement."

He exhaled, "Raena –"

"Piss off," she muttered, already turning on her heel to walk away. Raena moved quickly towards the door, afraid that she might turn back around. She had a deep hatred for Kylo, but sometimes it felt like someone else was taking over her body and urging her to embrace him. She wouldn't do that this time. She couldn't.

As she placed her hand on the exit door, Raena spun on the edge of her heel, but stopped herself from moving forward. Kylo was still watching from the middle of the hangar, waiting for her to run back. "By the way," she barked out, gaining everyone's attention, "you can forget about your stupid empress proposition." With a flick of her wrist, Raena held up her middle finger. "Because I want nothing to do with it!"

The door closed with a loud slam. Raena shoved her way past hordes of stormtroopers and trainees until eventually, the crowds parted for her. She stomped her feet brashly towards her room, wanting nothing more than to just lay down in her bed and sleep for an eternity. This was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous! Her anger was reaching new heights and she couldn't stop herself from shaking. Raena was so close to ramming her fist in someone's face, hard enough to cause severe damage. She wished it was Kylo's.

What she would give to just down a bottle of sunberry wine right now. That might just be the only way to calm her.

Raena huffed, rounding the corner towards the executive wing, where her and Kylo's quarters were placed. She just needed to curl up in her bed for the rest of the day and forget about everything. If she was still going to be kept here like a prisoner, she might as well ignore her responsibilities. It wasn't like they mattered, anyway.

Two stormtroopers walked by her, hardly casting a glance in her direction, as their shoulders collided. They didn't even apologize. Raena turned and looked at them over her shoulder. She opened her mouth, ready to fire back a response when she heard their conversation.

"I think we're really late," one trooper said to the other. "The shuttle departs in fifteen minutes."

The second stormtrooper laughed, "Fuck that. Maybe if we take long enough, they'll leave without us. I'm tired of these early morning missions."

It was like a lightbulb turned on at the top of her head. Raena's lips curled into a smile as she watched the troopers continue to walk slowly to their destination. This wouldn't be her best plan, but she didn't have time to think about that right now. Raena was already walking forward, and then sprinting to keep up with them. The troopers hadn't seen her attack coming, not until she was diving onto their backs, hooking her arms around their necks.

One of them choked out, "WHAT THE –"

She kneed him at the base of his spine, sending the trooper to the floor. His friend gasped, looking from Raena to the man he had just been talking to moments ago. Raena raised a brow in his direction, waiting for what he would do next. The stormtrooper released a yelp before running the other way, but Raena yanked him back just as quickly. She pulled on the black fabric wrapped around his neck and muttered, "I don't think so." His friend was shaking his head and trying to get up from the ground, and she simply stomped her foot into his back again. His helmet smashed against the hard ground and he stopped moving.

"Grand Admiral," the other trooper said, voice trembling, "I swear, I was going to the hangar. I wouldn't abandon the Supreme Leader on his mission. Please, let me go. I won't ever –"

"Gods, just stop your blubbering," she groaned. The man clamped his mouth shut immediately. "I don't care about your dillydallying, and I don't want to hurt you either. But ..." Raena sighed, and the trooper slowly turned his head to look at her from over his shoulder. "I'm really sorry. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Huh?"

She thrust her leg out, kicking the stormtrooper back and sending him the ground. He scrambled to get up, but she was now sitting on top of his chest, pulling off his helmet. Blood was already trickling from his nose. That wasn't enough to knock him out. She didn't need either of them dead – stormtroopers were treated badly enough as it is ­– but she certainly couldn't have them conscious for what she was about to do.

After one quick punch to his face, the trooper was out like a light. Raena huffed and wiped the sweat off her brow. She got to her feet, looking around to make sure no one saw. Luckily for her, she managed to take down these two in an area of the executive wing with no cameras. (Kylo thought it was invasive and didn't want any of his employees watching him go to and from his quarters.) She was in the clear.

Raena dragged one to the corner of the room. She shoved his helmet back on and slumped him against the wall, making it look like he had been taking a nap. She placed the other trooper beside him, but not without removing his armor first. Raena took off every single piece as quickly as she could. She only had fifteen minutes and it was going to take another two to get back to the hangar.

Shoving on each piece of armor was harder than it looked. Her body was toned, but not as muscular as a man's. It was a bit lose and baggy all over. If she walked with confidence, no one would notice. (At least, that was what she hoped.) Raena glanced over at the two unconscious stormtroopers, kicking their legs, before carefully sliding the helmet on her head.

She felt like holding her breath as soon as she opened her eyes. Damn, did this thing stink. Hopefully, it would become easier to bear the longer she had it on. The first whiff was always the worst. She began fast walking back to the hangar, admiring the specs that the visor broadcasted in front of her. Raena was so busy taking in the functionality of the helmet that she almost walked into a wall, but she saved herself just in time. She did her best to control her breathing, making sure to not press her lips to the voice modulator, and even saluted a group of troopers as they passed by.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Her feet slid across the floor as she arrived at the hangar. She gulped hard, slowly pushing her way through the entrance. Technicians and engineers ran about, waving over their superiors, informing that the shuttle was ready for take-off. One lone stormtrooper ran for the shuttle and they were patted on the back by Pryde. Raena just had to take a few more steps and she'd be there with them.

She had to follow him to the end. That was the only way to finish this war, and maybe, find her purpose.

Pryde turned, narrowed eyes suddenly fixated on Raena, glued to her spot in the middle of the hangar. The general scoffed loudly and ran over, immediately pushing her forward by the small of her back. "Gods, what is wrong with you, AO-0312?" Pryde was practically dragging her across the floor. Raena felt like she could hardly move. "Where's BV-0726?"

Raena attempted to drop her voice. "Um –"

"It doesn't matter. Just get on the ship!"

Pryde shoved her forward, and Raena almost fell on her kneepads as she entered the shuttle. She managed to grip the sides of the entrance and steady her feet before walking in. Looking around, Raena didn't spot Kylo anywhere. He must be piloting. She never realized how jam-packed these shuttles would be until she was squished back-to-back in a suit of heavy armor.

"Doors closing," an officer spoke flatly through the loudspeaker. The engine rumbled underneath their feet. "Clear for take-off. Next stop: Kef Bir."

Raena did her best to inhale and exhale, trying to calm her nerves. But even she knew that all her years of training could've never prepared her for what was about to happen.

•••

A/N: let's not mention that I referenced HAMILTON in that first paragraph........but that song still slaps 😳

anyways!!! I'm almost done prewriting this story and I'm 🥺 sad