A/N - Hello my little Reylos!  I hope you liked the last chapter!  I know it was scary - but like I said - just breathe.  Unfortunately, the heartache isn't quite over yet.... so, sorry.  These two both need to grow a little bit more.  Thanks again - SO MUCH - to everyone who has been reading and sharing your feedback.  Your responses have been totally awesome, and I love reading them!  I hope you enjoy this one too!   Please leave me some love, quips and snarky comments!  And please don't forget to vote!  Thanks again!!

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Two days.  It had been two whole days since he had heard from her.   He'd been desperately trying to reach out to her through the bond, yet there was no response.   She'd sealed it shut.  It wasn't like when she was being held on Corellia – at least then he could feel little jolts of fear now and then, and had known that something was wrong.  But this time there was just – nothing.  The knot in their tether was tied tightly.   As always, he could still feel her Force Signature - muddied like it had been for the last little while – but her mind and presence were completely cut off from him.  He hated the feeling of not hearing her in his head, not feeling her in his very being.  Not knowing where she was.   Not knowing if she was okay.

He sighed heavily.  This was bad.  Very, very bad. She hadn't even given him the chance to speak with her.   To explain.  Realization was slowly dawning on him, and with it a feeling of terror and impending doom.  His breath shuddered out of his chest.  She thinks I did this.

From the moment it happened, he'd had a feeling of inevitability about it all – and with it a nagging fear and a tightness in his chest that wouldn't go away.  Now, understanding that Rey likely believed that he was behind the attack, the pressure in his chest increased tenfold.   He began to feel sick.  He could lose her over this.  His breathing became erratic and he began to hyperventilate.  No!  He would not let that happen!  He had to go to the Resistance Base to speak to her.  Today.  Now.

****

Hostile gazes were focused on the landing pad as a First Order shuttle touched down on the Resistance Base for the third time in a week.   One would think it was almost becoming a normal occurrence, yet a small crowd still gathered.  Kylo walked down the ramp, dressed in his casual attire – black trousers and a simple black tunic.  He hadn't wanted them to see him as the frightening Kylo Ren for this particular visit.

When he got to the bottom of the ramp, he noticed that Finn stood not far away, a blaster pointed directly at him.  "What in the hell are you doing here?"

Kylo raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.   "I just need to talk to Rey."

"Really?"   Finn smirked.  "Do you honestly think she wants to talk to you after you blew up yet another planet?  Took another few billion lives?  What, the Hosnian System wasn't enough for you?"

He kept his hands extended, so everyone could see them.  "Finn, please –"

"She's not here."  Finn cut him off before he could go on.

His heart dropped into his stomach.  "Where is she?"

"I'm happy to tell you I have no idea."  He said with a smirk, which caused Kylo to growl.  "She left in the middle of the night.  Didn't tell anyone where she was going.  I'm guessing that it was to get the hell away from you!"

The breath huffed out of his lungs, and his mind spun at a hundred miles a minute.  He stilled his rioting thoughts in attempt to think clearly.   "Okay.   Then I need to see my Mother, please."  He asked calmly.

Finn smirked once again.  "Sorry.   Can't help you there either.  She left on a mission to help pick up the pieces on the planets in the same system as Vandor-1 used to be in, after your little stunt."

"Finn –"  He began to plead.

"There's nothing for you here Ren!"  Finn barked.  "You stupid son of a bitch!   You even had me fooled.  You're lucky that I don't pull the trigger!  The only reason I'm not is because I know that Rey would be upset!"  He spat.  "Now, just turn your ass around, get back on your shuttle, and get the hell out of here.  And don't come back!"

Kylo swallowed, trying to come to grips with the situation.  His whole world was crashing and burning around him, and once again, he felt as if he was about to break down in front of a crowd of people.  Under the circumstances, he did the only thing he could.  The mask of cold indifference dropped into place, and his face and body posture outwardly became that of Kylo Ren once again.  Nodding curtly, he turned, walked up the shuttle ramp, and departed from the base.

Finn stayed rooted to the spot, watching the shuttle as it cleared the lower levels of the atmosphere.  He shuddered, recalling the way Ben Solo had literally turned back into Kylo Ren right in front of his eyes.   He thanked the stars that Rey wasn't here to see it too.

****

When Kylo dropped out of hyperspace at the Finalizer's location, he could see that the Ascendancy was hovering nearby.  She really was a beautiful ship.   Almost twice the size of the Finalizer and much more technologically advanced.  He had looked forward to discovering his new flagship, which was essentially his new toy.  But he no longer cared.   The only thing he cared about was the fact that Hux was here.  It was about time too.   It had taken two days for that fucker to find his way back to the Finalizer.  For two days they'd all watched and waited, and for a brief time Kylo was actually afraid that Hux would run from them and continue blowing up planets at will.  Thank the Maker he didn't.

His despair at not being able to talk to Rey bubbled over into anger and then rage at the extent of Hux's treachery.  Good.  He needed an outlet for everything he was feeling.  His Generals had already been briefed.  Hux would be charged with high treason, and likely sentenced to death by firing squad.   He knew that Rey would be disappointed in him, but he almost couldn't wait.

When he exited the shuttle, Pride met him in the hangar.   "Sir.  As I'm sure you've noticed, the Ascendancy has arrived.   I have assembled the rest of the Generals in the main conference room.  General Hux has not yet come aboard, however."

Kylo nodded at Pride's preparations.  "Thank you Pride.   I want a full squadron of Troopers to meet Hux in whatever hangar he lands in, and to apprehend him on exit.   Have him brought to the conference room immediately.  I will be there in 10 minutes to wait with the rest."

"Yes Sir.  We're already monitoring the channels to ensure we know where he'll be docking."

"Good.  I'll see you in the conference room shortly."  He turned and exited the hangar, heading to his quarters to change into his full uniform.

When he got to his quarters, he slumped down onto the bed for a minute, burying his face in his hands.   He took a deep breath and reached out to Rey again, finding the bond still tightly closed.  Despair threatened to overcome him.  He had to find her!  She needed to know that he didn't – would never – do anything like this.  She had left the Resistance Base, but he wasn't sure what that meant.  Letting out a shaky breath, he knew he didn't have time for this right now.  He needed to get to the main conference room to be ready to deal with Hux when he arrived.  Rising from the bed, he quickly donned his full uniform and made his way to the conference room where the long overdue showdown would finally happen.

****

Rey opened her eyes to bright sunlight, blinking in the unfamiliar surroundings.  It took a few seconds before it all came back to her – the cold reality of her situation crashing in on her once again.  Biting back a sob, her body began to shake, as it had been shaking since the moment she woke up in the MedBay on the Resistance Base.  Would she ever get over this sense of betrayal – this sense of utter loss at what he did?   How could he have done that?   She thought that she knew him – understood him – better than anyone else in the galaxy.  She supposed she did.  She just didn't know him as well as she had believed.

Such an act of vengeance.  Of violence.  It seemed so incongruous with the now relatively gentle man she had come to know and love.   And love so deeply that she must have been blinded by it.  How could she have missed it?  A renewed sob broke from her chest.   The problem was, she still loved him.  Would still give up anything and everything for him.  And that was why she had had to leave.  She knew that she simply couldn't live with herself if she gave up her morality by staying with him, trying to convince herself that he could still change.   She also knew that she was weak enough that if she saw him, she might actually give in.  Because that's what would have happened.  So instead, she did the only thing that she could.  She'd sealed the bond tightly shut, and ran – going into hiding from him.   Begging Leia to help her hide away somewhere he wouldn't find her.

Recalling their tearful conversation, she remembered Leia's words.  "Rey – are you sure?  Do you not want to at least talk to him?  See where his head is at?  Why he did this?"

Rey had retorted through angry, heartbroken tears.  "Leia, you know as well as I that there is no reason – no excuse – for anyone to blow up an entire planet!  To take billions of lives in an instant!"  She shook her head in frustration.  "No Leia.  There is simply nothing to say to each other."

Leia just nodded and agreed to help her, making a promise.  "Your secret will be safe with me."

And now here she was, in these strange, new environs, having to learn to cope with what is now her new and still changing life.   A quiet knock sounded at the doorway, and after a few seconds Leia walked in.  "Good morning Rey.  How are you feeling?"  She asked gently.

She sat up slowly and took a few deep breaths, wiping the tears from her face.  "Same."  She said quietly.

The older woman gazed down at a heartbroken Rey in quiet regard.  Something felt off about this whole situation, but she didn't want to press it.   The typically strong young woman now seemed emotionally fragile, and she didn't want to upset her even more by talking about it again.  Hopefully, she'd recover in time, and grow stronger.  She needed to - for everyone's sake. "Chewie is going to leave shortly.   Is there anything specific you think we'll need in the next few weeks?  We're pretty well stocked now."

Rey shook her head.  "Thank you, Leia.  I'll be fine for a couple of weeks.  You should go with Chewie."  She gave her a pointed look.   "I really think I need to be alone for awhile.  To process....everything that's happened."

"Rey, I don't think –"  Leia began, but Rey cut her off.

"Please Leia."  She implored.  "I really will be fine."  Giving a tremulous smile, she reassured her.  "Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid."

"Okay.  Chewie will return with supplies in a couple of weeks.  You're free to come back any time you change your mind.  You know that, right?"

"Yes, of course.  But I won't.  He can't find me Leia.   He just can't...."  She said, her voice breaking once again.

Leia came over and engulfed her in a warm hug.  "Shhhhhh.  It'll be fine.  It'll all work out one day – I really believe that."  She pulled back and gave Rey a knowing look.  "Great love often requires great sacrifice – and its even worse for you because you both have the Force – which often demands that you face even greater tests.  But I'm confident that in the end, it will work out."  She gave Rey a motherly kiss on the top of her head.  "And I'll come whenever – as soon as you need me – all you have to do is let me know."

Rey nodded gratefully.  "Thank you Leia.   For everything."

****

Hux breezed through the doors of the conference room almost as if he didn't have a care in the world.  The fact that he was accompanied by 6 Stormtroopers hadn't seemed to have phased him in the least.   Prior to his arrival, everyone in the room was engaged in muted conversation as to how the confrontation would go down procedurally.   However, all conversations ceased immediately upon Hux's arrival.

Hux had been the first to speak, almost as soon as he entered.  "Supreme Leader –"

Kylo cut him off by raising his hand and speaking to the Stormtroopers.   "Has he been searched for weapons?"  All eyes widened at his question, and Hux's pasty face went several shades whiter.

"No, Sir.  We didn't –"  Stuttered the squadron leader.

The Supreme Leader raised his hand once again.  "Do it now."

Feigning innocence and confusion, Hux began speaking once again.  "Supreme Leader, Sir, what is the meaning of this?"

"Really Hux, you would be wise to be silent for one more minute."  Kylo calmly replied.

The Troopers finished patting him down and had removed two blasters and a small knife from beneath his cloak, and stepped back.

"Now General Hux, you may begin explaining your actions, starting with your annihilation of Vandor-1."

Again, Hux pretended to be confused.  "My actions Sir?  I was simply demonstrating the power of our new flagship to you and the rest of the galaxy.   I thought, that given their resistance to banning slavery – something that appeared to be so near and dear to your heart – as well as their attempt to assassinate you, that you and the rest of the First Order would find the choice of Vandor-1 completely fitting for that."  The look on his face appeared to be innocently genuine, but his tone was completely patronizing, and Kylo wanted nothing more than to wipe that look off of his face.

"I see."  Kylo said, pondering.   "And your little display had nothing to do with the fact that you were conspiring with them to prolong their resistance as well as to try to kill me?"

"Sir?!"  Hux's face looked wounded.   "I don't know what you're talking about! I would never-"

Kylo nodded to one of the Troopers who exited the room, returning a moment later accompanied by Aldermen Kyne and Rute, who both gazed at Hux with murder in their eyes.  He watched Hux's face carefully as they entered.   While Hux had learned to block both Kylo's and Snoke's invasions into his mind, he had to give it to the man.  His face showed absolutely no emotion.  But Kylo could feel his heart rate spike, and knew their presence had touched a nerve.  Hux remained silent.  "What's wrong Hux?  You don't want to say hello to your old friends?"  Kylo smirked.  "Fortunately – well, maybe unfortunately for you - they had already come forward with your treachery, and had not yet made it back to Vandor-1 before you heinously blew it from existence."

At this, Hux's composure finally slipped.  "This is ridiculous!   Its a set up!  I've never seen these two men in my life."

The Supreme Leader walked over to Hux and leaned down into his face.  "Keep talking Hux.   I can feel your lie."  He told him quietly, and Hux blanched, going silent.  "How did you do it?   How did you find cannons that powerful, yet small enough to fit in the ventral bays?   And how did you have them switched out without anyone else knowing?  I commissioned the construction of that ship!   The supplier answered to me!"

Hux smirked evilly.   "The ventral bay array was Snoke's idea.  The cannons charge and are placed such that when fired the 12 of them combine into a single beam strong enough to destroy almost anything."  He smiled proudly.  "I thought you'd be amazed at this new technology, Sir, rather than upset by it.  But I guess your little Resistance Jedi has made you soft – and become a source of extreme....distraction?"   He smirked once again.   "That's why Snoke never allowed attachments."

"I see.   And Vitka?  Why help her escape?"  He asked.

Again, Hux pretended innocence.  "Why Sir, I had nothing to do with that!"

"Really Hux?  You're losing your touch.  The access card you had supplied her with wasn't completely wiped.   The tech's were able to trace the last known system access back to your log-in, when you tried to wipe it."   Kylo looked him dead in the eye as he lied.

Hux sneered.  "That's impossible! I gave it to –"  He fell silent when he realized what had popped out.

Kylo smirked in satisfaction before adding.  "Also, the two Stormtroopers that were on duty in the detention block that night – who had managed to successfully hide from you for the past week – came forward after you blew up Vandor-1."  He paused, letting the information sink in.  "Anything more to say Hux?"

Hux remained silent, just glaring hatefully at the Supreme Leader.  "So be it."  Kylo's mouth tightened into a firm line. He backed up slightly and stood to his full height, facing Hux.  "General Armitage Hux, you are hereby charged with high treason for conspiracy, attempted assassination of your Supreme Leader, and crimes against the galaxy for blowing up Vandor-1.   If I could charge you for similar crimes for also blowing up the Hosnian System, I would do so.   Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Hux also pulled himself up to his full height before he spoke.  "I acted in the best interests of the First Order, which is something you have failed to do since Supreme Leader Snoke's death.  You are weak!"  He shouted.   "And I believe that you killed Supreme Leader Snoke – not the girl – the enemy you now consort with!!  You are the real traitor and a disgrace to the First Order!"

His patience and restraint at an end, Kylo reached out his arm, fingers held in the shape of a claw, and Hux's face began turning a mottled shade of red.   His hand shook with emotion as he continued Force choking Hux, when both Varda and Tiga stepped forward.  It was Varda who spoke.  "Sir.  You don't need to do this.  Let us vote on our decision.  Leave it for the firing squad."

The Supreme Leader's hand continued to shake and his breath huffed out of him when he released his hold, causing Hux to fall to the ground.  The Stormtroopers roughly yanked him back onto his feet.  Looking to Varda, he took a deep breath and nodded, turning to walk over to the viewing panel, looking over the marshalling bay.

One by one, the Generals rendered their votes – guilty or not guilty.  In the end, the guilty verdict was unanimous.  Hux was furious, and began putting up a fight - struggling when the Troopers put him in binders.   Kylo turned back to him.  "General Armitage Hux, by unanimous decision you have been found guilty of treason and are hereby sentenced to death by firing squad for your crimes.  The sentence will be carried out immediately in Bay 4."

Hux wasn't going to go quietly, nor would he accept his fate in a dignified manner.  He continued to spit venom at Kylo.  "You will be the biggest failure of the First Order – and will be responsible for its complete downfall!  Mark my words Ren – you will ruin everything the First Order stands for!"

Kylo simply raised a brow at Hux, and turned to address the Stormtroopers.  "I will lead the procession to Bay 4 with the rest of the senior officers.  Follow me."

He brushed by Hux, heading towards the doors to take the lead when Hux spoke again.  This time, his voice was calm, but downright evil.  "Do what you will with me Ren, but when Vitka gets ahold of your precious Jedi whore she will not only kill her, she will leave her in so many pieces there won't be anything left for you to mourn."

A series of audible gasps could be heard, almost all recognizing that Hux had gone too far.   Stopping in his tracks, Kylo held his hand up beside him, as if to silence everyone and stop the procession.  His back remained to the room, and his posture was visibly tense as he took several deep breaths before giving a quick twist of his wrist.   An audible snap could be heard as Hux's neck broke and he slumped to the floor.  The room was eerily silent when he retorted.  "Gentlemen, the firing squad will no longer be needed."  He lowered his arm and continued walking from the room without looking back.

The hush in the main conference room transformed into a cacophony of conversations after the Supreme Leader left.  Everyone had been stunned by the sudden turn of events, but it didn't appear that anyone blamed the Supreme Leader for what he did.   The end result was the same.   Hux was a traitor, and was now dead.

General Avanti questioned the wisdom of her next actions, but she hurriedly chased after the Supreme Leader.  Tiga also followed.  They exchanged a look between them and tried to follow in the direction he appeared to have taken.  It took a few minutes, but eventually they caught up with him.

"Sir!"  Avanti called out when she sighted him in the corridor after rounding a corner.   If he heard her however, he didn't stop.  "Sir, please."

She could see him straighten his shoulders and come to a stop, rigidly turning to face her. "General, now is really not the best time."  He said as they approached him.

She looked at his face, posture and overall countenance and could see that he appeared to be the old Kylo Ren once again.  Smiling softly, she replied gently.  "I know Sir.  But I – we – just wanted to make sure that you're okay.  And I have something I need to show you."

Kylo was desperately trying to keep himself together, and so had fallen back into his previously typical impassive demeanour.   He really didn't want to speak with anyone right now, but both Tiga and Avanti were two of his most trusted staff, and they were clearly concerned about him – which in some small way it made him feel a bit better.  He swallowed thickly, his adam's apple bobbing up and down in his throat.   "I'm....fine.  Thank you for checking."

Tiga also spoke.  "Sir.  You did what was necessary.  Everyone knew that Hux was a poison in this changing First Order.  He proved it on his own – and you took care of it.   Regardless of what anyone says, he faced judgement and was convicted.  You just carried out the sentence."  Trying to inject a bit of levity, he continued.  "And it was a lot cleaner this way."  That earned him a stern frown from Kylo.  "Sir.  He never should have said that about the Lady Rey..."

He swallowed again, his impassiveness slipping a bit, and nodded at them, wide eyed.

"Sir."  Avanti interjected.  "I... received a message from the Lady Rey – to my holopad."

His eyes snapped to Avanti, shock showing on his face.  He tried to speak calmly, but she could hear the tremble in his voice.   "What did she say?"

Avanti pulled our her comm-link, and looked back at him.  "Come with me – let's find someplace a bit more private to play it."  They walked down the corridor a little farther and ducked into one of the smaller meeting rooms.  Avanti handed the link to Kylo with a sympathetic look.

He looked down at the comm-link in his hand, staring at the flashing button, fidgeting with it for a few seconds.  So she contacted her friend, but wouldn't speak to him.   The fearful feeling that had been sitting in the pit of his stomach for the past two days grew further.   Taking a deep breath, he pushed the flashing button, and heard her tremulous, shaky voice.   "Amala?  Its me...Rey."   He could hear her unsteady breaths.  "I...I'm not sure what's going on... but...I don't think I'll be coming back."  Her voice broke, and it took everything in him not to break down upon hearing it.  "I just wanted to say Thank You...for being my friend."

He handed the comm-link back to Avanti, desperately trying to hold himself together for a few minutes longer.  Doing his best, he steeled himself, and locked his emotions up as tightly as he could.  "Thank you General.  If you'll excuse me."  He left the room quickly, leaving both Tiga and Avanti staring after him in shocked silence.

****

When he arrived at his quarters, he closed and locked the door.  He stood in the middle of the room for a few seconds, swaying on his feet, before dropping to his knees.  His breathing was ragged, and tears began coursing down his cheeks as he let out a tortured scream.  "Nooooooooooo!"  Falling forward onto his hands, he leaned his forehead against the floor and quietly sobbed, pounding his fist on the ground.  It had all been for nothing.  He was completely and madly in love with her, and she was gone.  She wasn't coming back.  She was supposed to be his future – his very life – he knew it as surely as he needed air to breathe.  Yet this had happened – Hux's vindictive act to save his own ass - and it had torn them apart.  Why would the Force allow this to happen?

The pain in his chest – his heart – was unbearable.  Why didn't she trust him enough to even talk to him?  After everything, how could she not?  She knew how he felt about her – she knew it!   Knew what was in his very soul.   That's what hurt the most.  Although she may feel betrayed by what she thought he'd done, he also felt equally betrayed – even more so – by her lack of faith in him.  And it was tearing him apart.   What more could he have done??!!

Taking deep gulping breaths, he sat up and wiped his face with his hands.  He had to make this right – had to find her.  Had to let her know the truth – that he hadn't done it.  He had already told her that – he'd never obliterate an entire planet.  Not even when Snoke was in his head, but especially not now.  The destruction of Alderaan touched too close to his heart.

He would start a search.  There had to be some clues – she couldn't have just disappeared without a trace.  Somebody knew where she was.  Eventually, he would find her.  He didn't care if it took the rest of his miserable life – he would find her.

His hands were shaking as his brain processed his next thought.  What if he never found her again?  He couldn't do this without her – he didn't want to.   She really was his everything.   Nothing mattered without her.  His breathing stuttered as he felt panic start to set in, and he began tearing his shaking hands through his hair.   No – he would find her.

Pulling himself up off the floor, he realized that he needed to do something to let out some of these roiling emotions.  He needed to go train.  Needed to go break things in the training room.   A good, exhausting workout would help balance him – even if only a little bit.

Striding over to his closet he quickly changed into looser attire and headed to the Training Room where he spent the next several hours desperately blowing off as many of his more volatile emotions as possible.  He worked through not just one, but many of his training programs, destroying almost all of the training droids he could find.    It was many hours later, in the middle of the night before he'd finally decided he'd had enough, almost collapsing in sheer exhaustion, before he headed back to his quarters to shower and fall into bed, where he dreamed of a pair of hazel eyes with a hole in his heart.