As the command shuttle zips between systems through light speed, a trooper aiding the medic droids with Ben in private rooms suddenly appears in front of me, prepared to apply a large bacta bandage to the open stitches on my thigh at Hux's reluctant behest.

I wonder for only a moment what he could possibly want with urgently dressing my wounds, but I shake the notion in favor of worrying about Ben, and just how critical his condition might be.

A long time ago, he had been the one to slash my own face with his lightsaber (which I now accredit to his receiving training from the dark side), and while it was extremely painful to endure and left some permanent scarring (emotionally as well as physically, of course), I hadn't been cut anywhere close to as deeply as he had. I hadn't lost so much blood.

Not to mention the blaster wound at his hip, which was surrounded by severe bruising, that suggested he might have been slamming his hand over it repeatedly to draw from its dark energy. This I had learned through having prodded the medic trooper as he continued to apply my bandage.

When the trooper left, I had deemed it useless to ask Hux for any new information, because he, like every other member of the First Order, refused to divulge information of any kind due to my allegiance and technical status as a prisoner.

And, of course, his contempt for me.

When I feel the command shuttle briefly shudder, I quickly peer out the window, hopeful that I might catch a glimpse of where exactly we're headed.

My eyes widen as round as saucers when a massive Star Destroyer fills my gaze- and we're headed directly toward it.

"Prepare for landing." The pilot's voice informs over an intercom. My knuckles turn white as I clasp the edge of the metal bench I'm sitting on, feeling a sudden urge to attempt an escape. Even from such a distance away, I can feel the Force swirling around me, pulsating and burning, sitting on my chest and squeezing out my breath agonizingly slow. The presence is powerful and so undoubtedly dark, and I'm too off-kilter to face it.

I begin to scan the room, hoping for any indication of an escape pod, when a grinning Hux enters from the direction of the cockpit.

"It's called The Supremacy. Ren would have told you that, I'm sure, but as it would seem he's a little... incapacitated." He taunts, his flinty eyes glowing as he notices my unmasked grimace.

"Is he awake?" I ask, momentarily disregarding my resolve to not bother with questions that would likely remain unanswered.

He smirks but remains mum, continuing to stare at me. I look away uncomfortably, once again gazing through the window. I see several troops of thousands of troopers and clusters of officers only feet below us, which indicates that we're inside the hangar, moments from landing.

The second we touch the ground, I feel a hand unexpectedly clasp my arm and wrench me to my feet. I yelp in pain, positive it'll leave marks.

"Hey!" I shout, slapping at Hux who had begun to drag me from the shuttle. I use my free hand to try to reach for my lightsaber, which rests inside the pack of things strapped over my shoulders.

"Remove the bag." Hux barks at one of the troopers that follows, and I feel them immediately rip it free. Knowing they'll search it and find it anyway, I realize I have nothing to lose with trying to free the weapon with the Force.

I turn over my shoulder as I'm being ripped away, raising my hand to beckon the saber towards me, hoping desperately that it might work- otherwise all of my training in the Temple would've been for nothing.

I clench my teeth and focus harder, eyes glued on the pack clutched in the trooper's grasp. Hux hisses at me to quit struggling, but I shut him out.

Suddenly, the lightsaber wriggles loose, slicing through the air into my fingers before the trooper has time to blink.

I switch it on at once, the humming blue glow silencing everyone around me. Hux immediately releases me, stumbling backwards, terrified.

I spin around, sprinting towards the hangar.

After the initial surprise, I hear Hux faintly order troopers to pursue me, blasters at ready. I clench my teeth, narrowly avoiding blasterfire which screams past me. I desperately attempt to formulate a haphazard plan of escape in my first moments of freedom.

A huge fighter stands unattended just up ahead, its distinct pointed wings distinguishing it from other TIEs. This must mean it belongs to someone important.

I resolve to finally make use of my piloting skills, secretly honed by Ben as we were training as Padawans together.

Ben.

I gasp, briefly faltering.

I can't leave him here alone- not after what I know about him. Not when I know that there's still a chance.

There's still hope in him.

I can't leave him.

Why the hell can't I leave him?

I blink back tears, slowing to a stop. I cut off the power to my lightsaber and turn with my hands over my head, the hilt still in my grasp. The troopers cease firing.

What the hell am I doing?

"Drop your weapon!" A trooper commands as they close in, his blaster raised. I loosen my grip, and my lightsaber clatters to the floor. I make a point of kicking it towards them, to show I'm not intending to trick them.

I let the soldier harshly grab both of my wrists and hold them at the small of my back, while another clicks them into cuffs. Just as my first night on the Finalizer, an event that transpired eerily similar, I am then led out- only this time, I am completely alone.

Though I don't long for them, as I wouldn't ever wish this upon my dearest friends. Not again, at least. Nikana and Sheva are safe at home in Naboo, and I fully intend to keep it that way.

We meet with a seething Hux along the way, who hurls continuous curses and insults at me from the moment that I'm within hearing distance. I tune the sound out, taking in the new ship around me.

It doesn't look much different to the Finalizer or the Starkiller. If I hadn't been told so, or seen its size for myself, I would've easily mistaken it for the Finalizer.

But there was no doubt that the Supremacy sheltered something- someone- very powerful, who I have no desire to meet. The feeling they emanate through the Force is one that has disturbed me since we entered the system, and it spoke of something particularly sinister. Bloodthirsty.

My contemplations are interrupted as Hux suddenly halts in the middle of the corridor, removing his glove and placing his palm on the pad by a door. The door hisses open to reveal a room no bigger than a closet.

He smiles to himself, then turns to me.

"In you go!" He says. The troopers remove my cuffs, still holding my wrists firmly behind my back. Hux steps out of the way.

They shove me in, hard. I bite back a scream as my face makes jarring impact with a hard surface, wrist cracking in front of me. I slump to the floor, eyes trained on their hazy feet as the door shuts on them. Sleep calls to me. Then, and endless sea of black.

-

HI!!

if you guys haven't checked out my latest post to my wall regarding this story, please do! and don't be afraid to reply, i want to hear from you!

what did you think about this chapter?

also.

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

HOLY SHIT

tell me yalls favorite predictions so far, i'm curious!

will kylo ren live or die?

will he be redeemed?

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-kait