charliedawn

[charliedawn]

Arthur I got a question, *slides over by him with the matching sweater* if we can’t see the air can fish see water?

Arthur: "I unfortunately do not have the answer. But, you know who does ? Penny. He is more fish than man."

Penny *looks at you* : "No. They can’t."

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 22

"~Ah…The prodigy child finally awakes."

Ben opened his eyes and found Supreme Leader Snoke with a wicked grin on his face. He felt fear take over him once more as he found himself unable to utter a word.

What was Supreme Leader Snoke doing here ?

Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of General Hux standing next to Supreme Leader Snoke and his eyes widened at the realisation that the man must have warned Supreme Leader Snoke.

His breath caught in his throat as Snoke stood before him, the General standing behind the Supreme Leader. Ben looked around the room, realizing that Supreme Leader Snoke had found him, that he was back on the ship.

But he said nothing.

"It appears the General found you out." Supreme Leader Snoke huffed a mocking laugh and Ben closed his eyes. He forced himself not to appear weak in front of him.

Supreme Leader Snoke sighed before shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"Such a disappointment…apprentice."

He felt his heart sink as Snoke spoke the words. He had failed...again. A part of him had hoped that the meeting would go unnoticed by Snoke, that no one would know he and JR had been together. But now he was back on the ship, at the mercy of the Supreme Leader once more.

Suddenly, Supreme Leader Snoke threw Ben against a wall and boomed.

"Weak boy ! You let a puny little trooper manipulate you !"

His back slammed into the wall and a soft gasp escaped his lips. It was humiliating for him to be thrown around like this. He felt such rage within himself.

And to be told it was all because of her...

He knew he shouldn't have let the emotions and the connection get the better of him. But he had been so happy in her arms. He had let himself believe it was something more.

"I...It won't happen again..." His words were choked by the breath that was being squeezed out of him...

"It is the SECOND time that the trooper successfully played you for a fool, Lord Ren !" Supreme Leader Snoke shouted and before Kylo Ren could utter a word, Supreme Leader Snoke slapped him across the face. "I have NO need for Ben Solo in my troops ! You assured me he was dead ! The weak pathetic little boy who came to beg for me to teach him about the Dark Side !"

He was hit back to reality by another slap from Supreme Leader Snoke. This one left his face sting and he had to take a deep breath to gather himself. He felt the General's gaze on him. He knew that he was enjoying the sight. And the words hurt a lot more than the slap.

He tried to speak but no words came out. He didn't remember even falling to his knees...

"Lord Ren ! Answer me !" Supreme Leader Snoke shouted.

He felt the ground beneath his knees as he shook his head. It was humiliating and degrading to be treated this way. But at this point, there really was not much he could do about it...

So he chose to obey his Master.

"Yes..." He answered the question. "The storm trooper tricked me again and in letting her get close to me I let my guard down."

Supreme Leader Snoke scoffed disdainfully at him.

"I thought you were strong. That you were Darth Vader’s successor. But, look at you. Crawling on the ground like an insect…"

Supreme Leader Snoke forced Kylo Ren to look up at him.

"…You are a disgrace. I sought to make you the most powerful Sith Lord to ever exist, and you let that insignificant trooper play with your emotions and try to bring Ben Solo back !"

He gulped as he felt the disdain coming from the Sith Lord. The words were so harsh and so degrading. It felt as if he was being degraded as a human being. He could barely breathe.

"I know..." He replied and his body was trembling as he reluctantly admitted next. "I have failed you, Master."

"Yes. You have. Thankfully, General Hux informed me of your frequent absences, or you would have returned to being weak little Ben Solo." Supreme Leader Snoke spat. Kylo looked at the General who was smirking victoriously, Kylo felt his lips curl into a hateful glare.

"Yes. Thankfully…" Kylo finally said. He was still on his knees, unable to keep himself steady and unable to look into the Supreme Leader's eyes...

It had been his mistake...

His failure...

He had let his emotions weaken him...

He had let himself fall back into the pathetic little boy...Ben. Solo.

Supreme Leader Snoke stepped forward now, looming over Ben. He had made himself appear even taller this time, making the Dark Side feel even stronger.

He was more imposing now than ever before.

"You have too much of your father’s heart in you, young Solo. But your emotions will not be your undoing again..." He spoke with a condescending tone. His tone was full of disdain for him, but also stern dominance over Ben. "Do you understand ?"

Supreme Leader Snoke threw the mask at his feet.

"You will take back that ridiculous and pathetic mask of yours...Because you are nothing without it." He spat and Ben closed his eyes. His mask hit the ground and bounced back slightly before coming to a halt at his feet.

Ben had no choice but to put it on...Or else face consequences.

He felt his feet move on their own once more. They dragged him closer to his mask. Before finally kneeling down and picking it up.

The metal was cold and harsh against his skin as he gripped the edge of the mask. His hands trembled as he held the mask and slowly but surely he lifted the mask up.

He held his mask for a moment. His eyes staring at the mask as his hands shook. The mask that had defined him, that had kept him from showing his weakness, that was now once more the only thing that would protect him from Supreme Leader Snoke's wrath and the world…his own shameful feelings.

Slowly, he put it back on. His mask was back in place and secured on his face. His expression was cold and empty. All his emotions and feelings were hidden within the black mask that hid his identity. He was no longer the weak pathetic boy...

He was the Dark Side.

He was Kylo Ren.

As the impenetrable mask slid into place once more, Ben felt his last vestiges of hope fade into the void. All that remained was the creature Snoke demanded—Kylo Ren, servant of the darkness without fear or mercy or doubt.

Yet even in that hollow shell, something flickered defiantly. A seed, buried so deep not even Snoke could sense it. A seed that had taken root thanks to one selfless act of compassion from an unexpected source.

JR. Her name echoed distantly in Ben's shrouded mind, giving him strength even amid this new descent into shadows. Perhaps she had been right—there was power to be found in embracing both light and dark, not rejecting either. A power Snoke could never understand or conquer.

Rising to his full, imposing height, Kylo Ren faced his master without flinching. Through the vocoder, his tone emerged cold and powerful. "I live only to serve you, Supreme Leader. Your will is my command. Any...distractions from the past are dead and buried."

He waited in frigid silence, daring Snoke to perceive the steely core beneath obedience's fragile shell.

"Who. Are. You ?" Supreme Leader Snoke asked.

Through the mask's filter, Kylo drew a slow breath before responding. When he spoke, his voice echoed with modulated authority.

"I am the wrath of your enemies, the shadow that darkens their lives. I am the blade that pierces the light. I am he who wields the power of fear to enforce your Dominion over all those who would oppose us."

He straightened to his full imposing height, gloved hands cradled formally behind his back.

"I am Kylo Ren, Master of the Knights of Ren, servant of the First Order and the darkness it embodies. I have slain the weakling Ben Solo, as was your command, and accepted my destiny to rule through strength rather than sentiment. Any distractions or lingering doubts have been crushed beneath my boot. I exist only to expend my power in your name, Supreme Leader, as your vessel of shadow and enforcer of your will across the galaxy."

Pausing, he tilted his expressionless mask slightly, awaiting Snoke's judgment. Through it all, he held fast to the buried spark of defiance, keeping hope, like an ember in its fragile shield of ashes, safely hidden from view.

"I am Kylo Ren." His voice was monotone, devoid of any emotions or feelings. Just like he was supposed to.

Supreme Leader Snoke grinned.

"Good. And tell me. What is JR-6025 to Kylo Ren ?"

Kylo knew this was a test—one meant to expose any lingering weakness or hesitation regarding the trooper. He steeled himself, allowing no reaction to Snoke's words to show. When he spoke, his voice was cold as space.

"JR-6025 is nothing. Just a lowly stormtrooper. She holds no importance to him. She hold no importance to me. She served her minor purpose in helping me vanquish my final doubts, but is otherwise inconsequential. As Supreme Leader, you alone hold dominion over my destiny. I exist only to wield your power to its fullest, without hesitations or…distractions."

He paused, awaiting Snoke's assessment of his answer. In truth, he knew JR would always endure in the unreachable depths of his memory. But she, like his fears and doubts, must remain buried - a secret hope to nourish his secret spark of rebellion in the loneliest corners of his being. For now, obedience was his only defense. His only chance to someday turn the tables.

Supreme Leader Snoke seemed satisfied by his answer as he smiled and continued.

"And if she tries to turn you to the Light again ? What will you do ?"

Kylo felt a pulse of something—anger, fear, defiance—swell within him at the suggestion. Yet outwardly he remained stoic, hands clasped serenely as he formulated his response.

When he spoke, his vocoder infused words carried the chill of absolute resolve. "If the trooper were foolish enough to approach me again, she would learn the deadly price of such treachery. I would show no mercy."

He tilted his masked head slowly. "The light no longer tempts me, Supreme Leader. I have embraced the power of the darkness fully and without reservation. Any who jeopardize that will face swift judgment by my hand. JR-6025 poses no further threat. You and the Order are my sole purpose going forward. This I swear to you, my Master."

Letting the vow linger in ominous silence, Kylo waited for Snoke's seal of approval.

"I will kill her..." He spoke the words without a second's hesitation, to further Snoke’s belief that he would never betray him. "She knows I'm weak when I'm with her. I won't let her get close enough to exploit that weakness..."

Supreme Leader Snoke sat back on his throne before looking back at Kylo Ren.

"You won’t connect to the trooper again. You won’t speak to her. You won’t see her. Your little secret meetings are over. You will focus all your attention on the scavenger girl and destroying the Rebellion…Is that clear, Lord Ren ?"

"It is clear." He answered Supreme Leader Snoke's questions like an obedient soldier. The connection with JR-6025 was over. And there would be no secret meetings between them. He would cut himself away from her as much as possible. He would not get caught again...

He would not let his feelings and emotions rule him...

"Good. Now, dismissed." Supreme Leader Snoke said dismissively and both General Hux and Kylo Ren bow before walking towards the exit. Once they were out, General Hux smirked before looking back at Kylo Ren with a smug expression.

As Kylo swept from the throne room, he ignored Hux's smug smirk, simmering silently beneath his mask. He had survived this test of wills, though barely. Now more than ever, he could not afford missteps or distractions from his mission.

And yet, the thought of severing his only connection to light and hope left an aching void inside the darkness where his heart lay shattered. JR did not deserve to become a pawn in this sinister game—she, who had shown him the first true kindness in forever.

As they walked, Kylo paused and turned to face Hux, his modulated voice icy. "Speak your mind, General, lest it rot from disuse. But choose your next words carefully, if you value your life."

With that silent threat delivered, he resumed his march, turning plans over in his mind. There had to be a way to warn JR without endangering them further. His duty was clear—but so, too, was his spark of defiance. Perhaps a simple message, coded so none but she could understand. A small gesture to repay the light she had tried to bring, before the gathering darkness drowned them both.

General Hux sneered openly behind Kylo Ren's imposing mask. "You may have charmed the Supreme Leader with your vows of darkness, Ren, but we both know where your true allegiances seem to lie these days."

Kylo stopped without turning. "I warned you once already about choosing your words carefully, General. Do not test my patience further."

Undeterred, Hux pressed on. "All I'm saying is it would be…l could take care of that problem myself before you could jeopardize us all again with your sentimental whims. Allow me to take care of the problem for you. I assure you, no traces would remain for even Lord Ren to find."

In an instant, Kylo whirled, igniting his infamous lightsaber to hold its crimson blade mere inches from Hux's throat. "You will not touch her," he growled through clenched teeth. "Try to harm her, and it will be the last thing you ever do."

General Hux smirked.

"Supreme Leader Snoke gave me full authority over the retrieval and judgment of the traitor JR-6025. It seems that you have lost. I shall be the one to find her and make her mine after all…A shame I had to cut your little connection off, isn’t it ?"

Kylo froze at Hux's insufferable smug tone. White hot rage clouded his vision, yet he choked it down, forcing calm. He turned slowly to face the general, head tilted in a mockery of polite interest.

"So confident, yet still so naively foolish," he replied evenly. "You underestimate the extent of my power, Hux. Did you truly believe this petty show of authority from Snoke could protect you from my vengeance ?"

In a fluid motion, he extended his hand. Hux gasped, clawing at his constricted throat as invisible fingers closed around his windpipe. Kylo took a deliberate step closer.

"Hear this clearly, General. Lay one hand on the trooper, and you will learn the true meaning of pain. I will tear each glimpse of her from your mind until nothing remains. Then I will discard what is left of your broken body for the praetorians to feed upon."

He leaned in until their faces nearly touched. "Do I make myself clear ? Or shall I give you a small…taste, of what defiance will earn ?" His fingers tightened marginally, awaiting Hux's answer. None would threaten what was his and expect to live. None.

General Hux grasped helplessly at his throat, eyes bugging as his airway constricted further under Kylo Ren's lethal grip. Yet still he managed a strangled chuckle.

"You...will not...defy Supreme Leader," he gasped out. "Sentiment...will be your...undoing."

Rage flared within Kylo, yet he tamped it down, reluctantly releasing his hold on the general. As Hux collapsed wheezing to the floor, Kylo towered over him, the picture of icy menace.

"Consider this a mercy I do not often grant," he growled through his mask. "But know that if you touch the trooper, your suffering will be legendary, even in hell."

General Hux gritted his teeth.

"She is one of MY stormtroopers."

Through his mask, Kylo stared down General Hux with barely contained fury. The man's obstinance knew no bounds. But two could play at this game.

"And I," Kylo replied in a voice like the crackle of flame, "am the Master of the Knights of Ren, appointed by Supreme Leader Snoke himself as his executing fist. Do not mistake your politics for authority over me, General."

He took a deliberate step closer. "If you insist on continuing this path of folly, I suggest you brace yourself. I have shown restraint today only out of respect for my master. But push me further, and you will learn what true darkness looks like when its patience runs dry."

He paused, allowing the menace of his words to sink in before continuing softly. "Interfere at your peril. This is your final warning, Hux. The next time you seek to undermine me will be your last."

Kylo Ren suddenly raised his hand once more and then pain that struck Armitage was beyond words. The General suddenly suffered from a nose bleed as he felt Kylo Ren squeeze his mind. He gritted his teeth.

"You truly think I would hurt her ? I…need…her." He confessed. General Hux suddenly felt a squeeze at his heart that had nothing to do with Kylo’s mind tricks as he confessed.

"You…You cannot take the only being in the universe who ever believed in me."

He felt the words. He felt the General's need. His desires. The General loved her too. In his own twisted and messed up way.

He understood.

Suddenly, General Hux fell to his knees as he felt an intense headache. He bit back a scream of pain.

Kylo let out a deep breath. He felt guilty over the amount of pain he was causing. But he pushed the guilt aside. He squeezed even harder. The General had to be put in his place.

"YOU WON'T HAVE HER." He boomed authoritatively and General Hux closed his eyes.

"WHY NOT ?!" General Hux finally cried out and the pain made his eyes water. "Why couldn’t I have something good for once ? Someone of my own ? You took EVERYTHING else away from me ! I never had anyone loving me…And then, finally. Finally. Someone."

General Hux looked up at him and took a shaky breath.

"Why can’t you just let me have something I want for once ?"

He felt a coldness inside as he listened to the General. A mix of anger, rage, pity, and sadness...He could have shown him the kind of affection he craved.

He could have...And yet he didn't. His grip on the General's mind loosened and he let out a deep breath. He could let the General have someone to care for...

But it could not be her.

"You can have someone to care for. But not her." He spoke his words with a soft and sad tone. He felt sorry for the cruel world the General had had to live with. But it was a world they had to share and he could not let him have this...

He wanted her too badly.

General Hux was breathing heavily and glared up at him.

"Why ? Why must you always take from me ?"

"Because I want her...." He said his words with a soft but determined tone. "...More than you. More than I have ever wanted anything..."

"AND I NEED HER !" General Hux screamed and his forehead touched the ground as his face turned red and her felt tears running down his cheeks. "DO YOU HEAR ME, REN ?! I NEED HER !"

"NO ! YOU WANT HER BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO ONE TO LOVE YOU !" He yelled out his insult. A harsh word thrown at the General's face with malicious intent. But, the general didn’t deny it.

"I KNOW !" He screamed. "You had everything...A loving family. A good father and mother who would never hurt you. A wonderful little life as a prince ! BUT I never had ANYTHING !"

General Hux stayed on the ground as he looked up at Ren and for once, he didn’t look at him with arrogance or annoyance—but he gave Ren a pleading look.

"My whole life was pain and misery. But when I saw her, I..." He stopped. "…I felt as if I could be someone important—truly important—to somebody. And she somehow succeeded in making me happy…Happy. Can you even fathom what that was like for me ? Me who had NOTHING. And suddenly, I had…someone worried about me. Someone who believed in me. Someone who truly and genuinely cared for me. Me. Can you…Can you even imagine how that was like for someone like me ?"

He could...

He knew the General was not lying. He knew just how much she meant to him. He knew that the General was truly broken inside. Because he knew how broken he, himself, was. His grip on the General's mind loosened as he watched him beg.

The anger surged again inside of him.

"...You think she cares about you...?" He asked with cold cruelty and General Hux closed his eyes and shook his head. But…Kylo finally et the grip on the General's mind loosen, as he said it.

"She does." General Hux was still hunched over the ground as he spoke—forcing himself not to tear up. "I do not know why she does. But, she does. She visits me in my head. She offers me comfort, even after I have hurt her and sentenced her to death. She keeps coming back to ensure that I rest and cares about my wellbeing…"

General Hux finally looked up at Ren and he gripped the fabric over his heart tightly.

"You…can’t take her away from me."

He knew that the General loved her. He knew that she meant so much to him.But he himself felt so much love for her. He couldn’t give her up.

"I need her too…" He confessed and suddenly, General Hux looked up with tears of rage in his eyes.

"No !" General Hux shouted angrily. "No ! You do not NEED her ! I…She is the only person who ever said I was a great leader. The first. The only one. She defended me. She was willing to die for me…" General Hux’s grip tightened as he felt his heart beating out of his chest. "You could have anyone else ! Anyone ! You can have the scavenger girl to love ! You can have a Jedi, a princess or literally anybody else ! But, not her !"

"I WANT HER !" Kylo screamed back. "IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I COULD HAVE ANYBODY ELSE ! I WANT HER."

The rage inside of him swelled.

But...At some level, he knew that what the General said was true. He could have anybody else. A Jedi. .A Princess. Anyone besides her.

And yet...His heart still wanted her above all else.

"YOU BASTARD !" General Hux screeched. "WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS WANT EVERYTHING ?! WHY MUST YOU STEAL EVERYTHING OR EVERYONE WHO REMOTELY CARES OR LOVES ME ?!"

"...Because I am empty..." He spoke his words softly. The rage inside of him swelled once more. "...Everyone else in my life has tried to own me...Or control me..."

His grip tightened around the General's mind once more. But he still felt some guilt.

"...But she didn't want to own or control me...She just wanted to care...And I love her."

"Except that you had everything, Lord Ren." General Hux whispered and tilted his head as he looked up at him. "While I was left with nothing…but she saw something in me—and never wavered."

His grip once again loosened. The General was right. He DID have everything growing up. Everything that the General missed out on, he had access to. And yet even with everything he had, she still wanted the General.

"She won't care if you have everything either..."

The rage inside of him subsided, as he saw the empty look in the General's eyes. He could see the hurt there.

"…I do not care about having everything." General Hux stumbled forward as he stood back up. "…Don’t you get it, Ren ? SHE is my everything."

His grip loosened again. The General's words pierced his heart. He could see the sheer desperation in the General's eyes. He saw a broken man who had been through so much pain...

"You would fight me for her...?"

His words were simple. But he already knew the answer. General Hux scoffed mockingly.

"I would kill you for her."

"...And you know I would do the same."

He knew that the General was not lying. He knew that he would do ANYTHING for her. He saw the determination in the General's eyes—matching his own.

"Yes. I know…" General Hux sighed and looked away.

"I guess that means we have reached an impasse..." He whispered and looked away as well. "...Since neither of us seem willing to step down from this."

"…It doesn’t matter anyway." General Hux took a deep breath. "Neither one of us has a chance to live long enough to love her…"

His gaze softened. A strange sense of truthfulness filled his mind. Neither of them did. A new feeling rose inside him. A new fear.

"...Then why are we..." He hesitated with his words. "...Why are we even fighting about this, Hux ?"

Armitage sighed.

"…Because we’d like to think we do." General Hux finally replied and closed his eyes as he contemplated the future ahead. "We are at war, Ren. And strength comes from unity. But, the First Order is not as united as it should be. Look at us. Bickering. Over a stormtrooper. We are individually weak and Supreme Leader Snoke knows. He put us against each other constantly. Over everything. Over anything. We are just pawns in a game so far above us…And if we keep being separated and in conflict then…neither one of us stands a chance at being with her at the end."

The General's words echoed in his mind. It all made sense...Why they were kept separated. Why they were constantly pitted against each other. But what the General proposed had even greater consequences...

A surprising thought. One that he had never considered before now. One that he had always thought couldn't happen.

"...We could join together..." He suddenly proposed and General Hux’s eyes widened at the surprising offer.

General Hux huffed a humourless laugh.

"Us ? Really ?"

Kylo Ren nodded.

"If we both work together, then we have a better chance than if one of us wins and takes her..."

General Hux started thinking about it.

"What proves me you won’t betray me ?"

"Nothing." Kylo Ren answered frankly. He looked at the General's eyes as they searched for an understanding. "But, we have a common enemy. And the only way we both get what we want is..."

He paused for a moment.

"...If we work together..."

Snoke COULD be defeated. And the two of them could unite the First Order.

General Hux tilted his head—observing Kylo Ren carefully. There was no way to assure either of them that one would not betray the other...

Trust had never been a strong suit of his. Trust was the enemy of the First Order and the Dark Side. The First Order was supposed to have no trust...And yet this was a path he couldn't ignore.

He extended his hand forward for Ren to shake.

"Then…I guess we shall have to see where this partnership leads us to won’t we ?"

Kylo Ren took the General's hand in his own. He had no doubt that the General would betray him at the first opportunity. He didn’t trust him either but, in order to get what they both wanted...what they both needed. They needed to work together.

And trust...each other. No matter how absurd or ridiculous it sounded.

"...I guess we shall..." He finally agreed.

They both let go of the shake. Neither of them trusting the other...But having no other choice than to work together...

To unite.

In order to survive.

General Hux took a deep breath before the corners of his lips slightly turned upward.

"I still hate you."

"As do I." Kylo Ren replied with a smirk. It was a strange feeling working alongside the General. But both of them had to put aside their personal desires. They had to work together. They would need each other even if they hated each other...

General Hux nodded.

"Glad we are on the same page."

"...Just remember..." Kylo Ren spoke with a smirk on his face. He still felt hatred for the General but he was more than ready to put it aside…for now. "...If I get one inch ahead of you in my position with her the l I will not hesitate. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that I get to win her over completely."

General Hux huffed disdainfully.

"Arrogant prick."

"...You're no different." Kylo Ren smirked. "Don't pretend you wouldn't go to the same lengths..."

He knew the General.

If he could, he would go to such insane lengths to ensure that it was him who got her. Both of them were ready to do anything to get her...

General Hux faced towards the immensity of space before glancing over at him with a small smile playing on his lips.

"Maybe. But the difference is ? I would never plan getting rid of you out loud."

Kylo Ren returned the smirk...

"You have a more subtle nature..."

Ren knew it was true. General Hux had always managed feats far beyond his own by using his wits and ingenuity. But it was almost admirable, the way the General would go about things...Not revealing his plans. Even going inside his head was like swimming in a sea of incomprehensible runes and numbers. He could barely glimpse at a word or two before General Hux blocked him away. He usually spotted pretty quickly when Kylo Ren tried to enter his head.

"We have a lot to learn from each other..."

"Learning ? From each other ?" General Hux said before letting out an amused huff. "…Now, that is something that I’d never thought I’d hear in this lifetime."

"We are both two sides of the same coin..." Kylo Ren spoke his words, looking towards the General. "And we both want the same thing..."

Ren kept his smirk.

"We can hate each other all we want. But there is one reality we cannot deny..."

"Oh ?" General Hux looked back at him. "Which is ?"

"...We need each other." Kylo Ren spoke his words confidently. It was the truth that he was forced to accept. Neither of them could go at it alone. "If we don't work together, I know that Supreme Leader Snoke will win and we both know what that would mean..."

"I know pertinently what is at stake, Ren." General Hux said and his eyes returned to the stars above. "You know…I used to never look at the stars before. Having grown accustomed to their existence by living most of my life in spaceships, I had lost the ability to see or appreciate their presence…Funny how it took one particular star to light up my life to make me realise that stars are to be seen and admired."

"Indeed..." Ren’s eyes were now also staring at the stars above. It was a peaceful moment. "They bring with them wonder and beauty..."

A sense of tranquility took over them both.

General Hux remained silent as he thought of JR.

"She likes them…Not only the stars, but the darkness surrounding them."

Ren was also silent. His mind shifting towards her.

"She enjoys looking into the darkness just as she enjoys looking at the stars..."

She liked gazing at both...The light and the dark.

General Hux looked at him.

"…I was always jealous of you because I thought you shone brighter than me. But truth is ? We were both just dying stars, weren’t we ?"

"Indeed we were..." Ren spoke with a sad knowing smile. "...And yet, in her eyes both of us shine far brighter than we normally would be allowed...We both were dying stars...But in her eyes…"

He paused.

"...We are two of the brightest stars alive."

"This feels...strange." Kylo Ren noted. "...Us being so civil after all that has occurred..."

"First time in our shared history." General Hux confirmed.

"Indeed..." Ren smiled slightly. "It feels rather...alien to be this...civil around each other."

General Hux chuckled.

"I could always throw insults at you all day if you’d prefer ? I do not lack the words or the motivation…"

Kylo Ren chuckled as well.

"Same could be said on my end..." He smirked at the General. "...But what purpose would that serve ?"

General Hux shrugged.

"I don’t know. It just came as a second nature to me after all this time just wanting to kill you."

"As have I with you..." Ren replied with a smirk. But the two of them were now finding common ground. At the mere thought of having to work together. They had set aside their differences. At least for a moment...

"She is changing us both..."

The both of them knew that this time was only a temporary thing. But it still was a time that they could be considered somewhat allies.

"…What happens when we find her ?" General Hux asked and Kylo Ren frowned.

"I suppose we will go back to fighting, arguing. Maybe even to trying to kill each other...But until we actually find her..." He then smirked. "...We might as well enjoy the time where we CAN be civil."

General Hux smirked.

"Well, take a good LONG look. Because the next time I will be smiling will be at your funeral—if anyone bothers with providing you with one that is."

"The feeling is mutual..." Kylo Ren grinned. "In fact. I can't wait for that day..."

The two of them once more returned to their usual animosity. But for a time...a short time...

Both of them sat underneath the stars.

They both remained silent until Lieutenant Mitaka came in—out of breath.

"General ! Lord Ren ! Come ! Quick !"

Kylo Ren immediately jumped up upon hearing the Lieutenant's words. He then quickly looked back at the General.

"Something has happened ?"

Lieutenant Mitaka was breathless as he breathed out with difficulty.

"We found the Rebellion !"

Both men were stunned at the news.

Kylo Ren was immediately on high alert...

"...Where ?"

"They are currently heading towards the mineral planet Crait ! We are trying to trace their location !" Lieutenant Mitaka explained and General Hux nodded.

"Get the fleet ready and prepare to launch a frontal attack !" Ren's words were instant and he immediately put his mask back on. "...They won't escape."

General Hux nodded in agreement.

"Do as he says. And ask Captain Phasma to join us in the control r—" Suddenly, Hux noticed Ren walking away towards one of the X-Fighters.

"Ren ! Where are you going ?!"

Kylo Ren didn't bother turning around or answering. He had the Rebellion to destroy.

He had already started the X-Fighter's engine when General Hux stood next to him with a disapproving stance. He looked back at the General.

"I will be leading the attack." His voice left no room for discussion, but Hux still had to voice his opinion.

"You most certainly will not ! You are a Force user, not a pilot !"

"And since when has that stopped me ?" Kylo Ren said with a cocky smirk on his face. "Are you challenging my skill ?"

General Hux scoffed before shaking his head.

"We barely just became allies, and you already seek the easy way out I see ?"

"Easy way out ?" Kylo Ren frowned. "I would not call a frontal attack against the enemy the easy way out..."

But he knew what he was implying.

"You just don't want me on the frontlines because you are still afraid that I could betray you...And you'd rather have me sit back here on this ship."

General Hux was frustrated at Kylo Ren’s stubbornness.

"Yes ! Because that is suicide, you damn fool !"

"And you think I'd die just like that ?!" He snorted. "I am a powerful Force user. Just because I've never flown an X-fighter doesn't mean I've lost my capabilities. You think I am incapable of handling some stupid fighters ?"

"You ? Ah. You know what ?" General Hux took a step back and smirked. "Go on. Take the X-Fighter and die. See if I care. It’ll just make JR all mine."

"...Don't act like you don't care..." Kylo Ren's voice was now laced with a tone of anger. But it was mixed with a sense of frustration. "...You want to keep me safe so that you ensure our alliance doesn't crack. I know that..."

General Hux rolled his eyes and humphed.

"Right well…I cannot exactly stop you. Just come back alive."

"I will...Just don't get any wrong ideas..." He grinned slightly. "Because as soon as we find her..." He started the X-Fighter. "...You and I both know that everything goes back to the way it was..."

General Hux snickered.

"Can’t wait. But, until then…Avoid the big red laser beams coming straight at you…It would be a real shame if you were to die like an idiot. And believe me, I would love nothing more than watch you die with a 'told you so' on my tongue and a smile on my lips…"

"I won't die..." Ren said confidently. "Not while I am this close to finishing what I started..."

Before the General could say anything else, he closed the lid of the X-Fighter.

"I'll be back."

The ship then quickly launched itself...

General Hux shouted before quickly commanding the other X-Fighters to follow Ren into battle. Several X-Fighters quickly took off after. It was an all out attack. The First Order was aiming to take out the Rebellion’s fleet.

And just like that Kylo Ren was gone. His X-Fighter flew off towards the enemy. The rest of the fleet was behind him.

General Hux stood there. He watched the X-Fighter and the other ships as they headed towards the enemy fleet and he tsskd.

"That idiot." General Hux then went back to the control room to monitor the battle—only to see Captain Phasma waiting for him. He frowned as he noticed that she seemed to want to talk to him.

"What is it ?"

Captain Phasma waited a moment before announcing.

"Sir. We found the traitor FN-2187. He attempted to damage our tracker. He is with a droid and a member of the Rebellion…"

General Hux was stunned as she delivered the news, but he quickly collected himself and smiled.

"Very well. Bring them to me. Immediately..."

Captain Phasma nodded before going to retrieve FN-2187 and Hux could only smile. General Hux would wait patiently for Kylo Ren to return. He did not expect the traitor to be found so quickly. But he wasn't about to complain about that development...

This day was only getting better and better…

#fandoms #imagine #star wars #kylo ren x reader #general hux x reader

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 21

JR received a call from the Resistance camp and Chewbacca decided to let her use the communication links of the Millennium Falcon to receive the call. As soon as she opened it, both Poe and Finn asked at the same time:

"JR ! Are you alright ?!"

"Yes," She said with a reassuring smile, her voice soft and distant. "I'm alright."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look of concern. They could sense that something was troubling her, something deeper than mere tiredness.

"JR. We heard you. You called for us. You seemed in pain." Poe said in a worried tone and Finn then added.

"How did you do that by the way ?! How did we hear you ?"

JR-6025 hesitated for a moment, unsure how to explain what had happened... "I'm not entirely sure..." she admitted finally, "But somehow, I was able to reach out to you. Through the Force, I suppose."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look of surprise and wonderment. "That's amazing..." Poe whispered under his breath. "I've never heard of a Force-sensitive being able to communicate across such distances before..."

"Wait…So are you like…a Jedi too ?!" Finn asked excitedly.

Poe chuckled, amused at Finn's enthusiasm. "Careful now, don't get ahead of yourself, buddy...let's hear what she has to say first."

Finn nodded eagerly, barely containing his excitement. "You're right, you're right..." he admitted.

Rey, who was nearby, overheard their conversation and couldn't help but have a small smile on his face at Finn's childlike enthusiasm. Jedi or not, the Force was a part of all living things, and sometimes even non-Jedi were capable of using it without even realising it.

JR seemed hesitant as she replied.

"I don’t know. I just…I guess I was just so scared that I managed to call you two through the Force cause I thought that…I trusted you two to come save me or something."

She laughed awkwardly—not realising what she just said.

Poe and Finn looked at each other, a mix of surprise and admiration on their faces. "Well...I guess that answers that," Poe concluded with a chuckle. "You may not be a Jedi yet, but you're definitely beginning to show some Force sensitivity. And who knows ? Maybe with some training, you'll be able to do even more."

"Wait ! Hold up…" Finn seemed momentarily shocked before he grinned. "…So…You were scared. And the first people you thought about calling to get help was me and Poe ?"

Poe and Finn looked at each other again before grinning broadly. "Well, well, well...looks like you've got yourself a rescue team, my friend," Poe teased JR. "We're always ready to lend a hand, especially when it comes to saving our friend in need."

Finn nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. We're here for you no matter what. You can count on us, always."

JR smiled.

"I mean…Obviously I would choose the best pilot in the universe and a fellow ‘deserter' to come save me. Wouldn’t let anyone else rescue me."

Poe and Finn burst out laughing at her response. "Well, thank you kindly, ma'am ! Always a pleasure to be of service," Poe exclaimed with a wink. "We'll be sure to hang an oversized 'mission accomplished' banner above your head after all this."

Finn snorted in agreement. "And don't forget to add some fireworks to that banner !" he added. "Because that's how we roll, right ?"

Rey arrived just at that moment and smiled at the camera before saying.

"You two wouldn’t get to her in time. Besides, she called me too. I think I may be best qualified on the rescue team since I am also a Force user."

Poe raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, is that a challenge, Rey ? We'll have to test that theory sometime soon."

Finn grinned, a competitive glint in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, let's see about that. We'll have to see which is better—pilot's skill or a Force user's power. Let the best rescuer win !" he declared.

"Right." Rey playfully rolled her eyes. "Not much of a competition."

Poe and Finn playfully groaned, knowing that Rey was right. "Alright, alright...you win," Poe conceded. "But just know that we'll be ready for a rematch should the need ever arise !"

Finn chimed in: "Exactly ! We may have lost this round to the resident Jedi, but we'll be sure to step up our game next time."

Rey chuckled before waving them goodbye.

"Well, this Jedi is gonna go train with her lightsaber. Bye."

She walked out of JR’s hurt and JR smiled before looking back at the screen.

"I…kinda miss you."

Poe and Finn laughed at Rey's playful arrogance before she waved them goodbye. When she was gone, they turned back to the screen and both their expressions softened as they heard JR's confession.

"We miss you too, friend," Poe said, his voice filled with sincerity. "But don't worry, we'll see each other soon enough. And until then, just know that we're always thinking of you."

Finn nodded in agreement. "Exactly. You're never far from our thoughts, JR. We're a team, remember ?"

She smiled.

"Yeah. Am glad I got you all on my team."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look before breaking into more laughter.

"You've got that right !" Poe managed to say, still chuckling. "We're a pretty unbeatable team, if I do say so myself."

Finn nodded in agreement, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Absolutely. We've got the flying expertise, the lightsaber skills, and the desertion expertise all rolled into one great package !"

He raised his fist in mock victory. "Go team !"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Right right. Go team. Try not to annoy General Leia while me and Rey are gone, okay ?"

Poe and Finn chuckled in agreement.

"No promises there !" Finn teased, to which Poe added, "We'll do our best, but you know how it is with Leia—she doesn't always see our charm, as it were."

Poe and Finn pretended to be very distraught at the prospect as they shared an exaggerated frown.

"Right. Tell her hi on my behalf. And…we’ll see each other soon." She smiled.

Poe and Finn nodded, their expressions warm and understanding.

"We'll be sure to update the General on your progress, ma'am," Poe replied, a playful salute in his voice. "And we'll be waiting impatiently for that glorious 'mission accomplished' banner to be hung."

Finn chuckled. "And don't forget to add extra glitter when you hang it. We like our missions sparkly, you know ?"

"Pff…Okay. Alright. Enough. I am ending communication now." She playfully rolled her eyes. Her friends laughed.

"Fair enough," Poe said. "But we'll be here if you need anything, okay ? We're still here for you even if you're light years away."

"Exactly ! And we'll be waiting for you with open arms when you return," Finn added with a smile. "Take care, Jedi !"

The screen turned blank and JR stood there momentarily, feeling thankful for her friends. Even though she was far away, she had a team that she could always count on.

She wasn't alone anymore...

Her team...

Her friends...

Her people...

JR smiled as the thought crossed her mind. She wasn't just a mere anonymous stormtrooper anymore. She was part of something greater.

Part of a family...And her role was far greater than what she could have imagined. JR smiled at herself before standing up—not expecting to see Kylo Ren standing there. She frowned at his spiritual apparition.

"…What are you doing here, Lord Ren ?"

He tilted his head.

"…What ? Am I not allowed on your 'rescue team' ?" His lips curved upwards. "You called me too after all…"

JR raised an eyebrow, her face twisted in a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "Well, isn't that a surprise," she muttered tersely. "You were eavesdropping, weren't you ?"

Kylo Ren's smirk only widened in response, as if to confirm her accusation. "Of course," he admitted unapologetically. "It's not every day that someone seeks my help."

"…It was a mistake." She looked away. "Now, get out of my head, will you ?"

Kylo Ren laughed, a low and menacing sound.

"You know it's not that easy," he sneered. "The Force is strong, and it holds us together. Our bond is one that cannot be broken so easily."

He stepped closer to her, his presence imposing and imposing. "Besides...I don't think you truly want me to leave, do you ?"

She frowned.

"If it is Rey you are searching for, you knocked at the wrong door." She informed him before she tilted her head to the right. "Two doors to the right. You can’t miss her."

Kylo chuckled, a dry and raspy sound that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Consider me uninterested for now," he replied, his voice cold and menacing. "I'm after a far bigger catch...one that may take a bit more effort, unfortunately."

He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her shiver.

He was...intimidating. Even through a spiritual apparition. If anything else, he was a true Sith. JR's brows furrowed as she tried to keep her gaze from slipping. It was true that he was trying to establish a connection with her. Through the force...To feel her fear and ultimately, try to manipulate her.

She tried to think rationally.

But she couldn't deny the feeling of fear and weakness that came with his presence...

"You see, I've been watching you...watching your progress...and I must say, I'm impressed."

She grimaced.

"I am not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out by that…"

Kylo's smirk widened. "Take it however you'd like," he replied, his voice low and dangerous. "I merely find you...intriguing."

He took a step forward, his gaze intense, even through the holographic connection. "And I tend to be intrigued by what is mine."

"Yours ?" She bit back a laugh. "Now, you must REALLY confuse me with Rey. She is the one you care about."

Ren narrowed his eyes, his face growing cold at her words. "I don't know what you're trying to imply here," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But I suggest you watch your tongue."

The Force around them grew tense and heavy as he took a step closer.

"…Lord Ren. I am here because you asked me to keep her safe. To protect her. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just…"

Kylo Ren's expression softened slightly as he heard her words. "I'm not offended," he said, his voice quieter now. "And I know you were just doing your job...but sometimes I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had chosen a different path...a different fate."

He trailed off, his gaze growing distant.

"…What do you mean ?"

Kylo Ren clenched his jaw before responding to her question. His voice was tight and controlled, but still, with an edge of emotion lurking beneath its surface.

"I mean," he began, "that no one else is better suited to protect her...to stand by her side, as you do."

He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, there was a note of vulnerability in his tone. "She trusts you. You are her friend, and she values you. And...so do I."

She remained silent.

"…You shouldn’t. I am always uncertain. Unable to make a choice…I care about both sides. I keep thinking about you and General Hux and the people of the First Order. And I keep thinking that I would never be able to harm you. Even when I was so afraid during Skywalker’s test, I called out to both sides to protect me. I just wanted to have you by my side. To know that you were all safe."

She felt her heartbeat increase slightly as Kylo said those words. She felt his presence...his emotions. She felt...compelled. She was aware enough to know that it was the Force at work, and the manipulation at play, but...

Why did it feel so right ?

As Kylo spoke, her gaze remained fixed on his face. His expression was hard, but there was something...

Human about the way he spoke.

There was then a silence that lasted for several moments before Ren's voice finally came through.

"That is...quite a dilemma," he said slowly, seemingly considering his words carefully. "And to be honest, it is one that I find quite perplexing. You wish to have both sides, but ultimately, you know that such a thing is not possible."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "It is a predicament in which you must make a choice. Ultimately, you must decide whether to side with the Resistance or the First Order."

"Both sides are calling to me. I understand both sides, and it is driving me insane…" She let out a sigh of frustration.

"I know...but you must make a choice," Kylo replied, a hint of urgency in his tone. "You can't have both. It's either one or the other...or neither."

"…I cannot. I cannot choose to hurt. It is not my goal. It was never my goal." She buried her face in her arms and even though she had the urge to look out the window and ask the stars for guidance—she stopped herself. She had only ever wished to help…but now, the universe seemed to tell her that the only way to do so was for someone she cared about to die ?

The stars, as they often did, gave her no answers—and the Force, as it often did, did not respond. She was left alone to ponder her fate in silence.

She looked up to look at Kylo Ren.

"…Won’t someone show me the way ? The way for just this war to end without pain ?"

Kylo Ren's face twisted in a mixture of conflict and rage, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "There is no such thing," he said, his voice sharp and biting. "In war, there is always pain. Always sacrifice. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll find your place in this struggle."

"…I told you. I refuse to see it the way you do."

Kylo's face twisted into a fierce frown. "You may refuse to see it, but it doesn't change the facts," he retorted. "War is not a place for cowards or fools who can't make tough decisions."

He took a step closer, his expression growing dark and menacing. "You can't avoid the pain forever...it's time to face the truth."

She frowned and faced him.

"…You know that I won’t choose your side if the choice was to be inevitable."

Kylo's face hardened at her words. "I know," he replied, his voice like ice. "But you'll be making a mistake if you don't. If you can't see that, then you're a fool."

He took a step forward, his gaze intense. "Do you think the Resistance will welcome you with open arms ? Do you think they'll accept you for who you are ? You're nothing to them but a tool...a pawn to be sacrificed at their convenience."

"Maybe so. But, I am not fighting for them. I am fighting for the people I care about. I am fighting for those who believe in freedom and justice." Her gaze softened. "This is why it is so hard…because I know that the people behind the First Order are not evil. You, me and General Hux were born into this conflict. And everything would have been so different if the Force wasn’t so complicated and the world so cruel…"

Ren's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. "You're right," he said between clenched teeth. "It's not fair. And I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about what could have been...but that doesn't change the facts."

He took a step closer, his gaze intense as he stared into hers. "The war has been raging for years now. The First Order isn't going to go away. You can either join us or fight against us...but you can't have both."

Fight the First Order. Or join them ?

The choice seemed so simple, yet...it wasn't.

No matter how much she believed in the Rebellion, she simply couldn't deny the truth in Kylo's words. The First Order wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

She couldn't have it both ways...

Yet...

She didn't want to hurt the Rebellion.

Not at all...Not even a little.

"…Then convince me." She uttered in a whisper.

Kylo's face twisted in a mixture of frustration and longing. "You know I can't convince you," he replied, his voice trembling. He stepped even closer, until their faces were just inches apart, and reached out to cup her face in his hands. "You're stubborn and idealistic...but that's what I love about you."

He leaned in closer, his lips mere centimeters away from hers, as the tension between them grew thicker and more intense. Her breath hitched at his closeness and she screamed.

"LIAR !" She then pushed him away. Her sudden outburst caught Kylo Ren off guard. At first he stared at her with stunned silence.

But then a dark glare filled his eyes.

In that moment, all traces of the vulnerability that had filled his voice and mannerisms vanished in an instant, and a cold...even dangerous side of him emerged.

He glared at her...ready to strike back.

"YOU DARE CALL ME A LIAR ?"

He took a step back, his stance tensing as he prepared for whatever was about to come. The Force shifted around them, a tense and oppressive energy filling the air between them.

She glared at him.

"You love Rey. You’ve always loved Rey. From the moment you first laid your eyes on her. But since you cannot have her, you are trying to lie to me ! To make me believe in a love that isn’t !"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Kylo's eyes narrowed even more as he kept his gaze fixed on her.

The Force between them felt...

Tense...heavy...

Impending...

"You are a brave one," he finally said through tight teeth. His voice was calm...but there was a certain danger that hung over his tone. "...So you think you know me ?"

"More than you know." She looked at him and her eyes softened. "…I won’t accept your lies, Lord Ren. Please. I cannot."

His rage grew even more as he heard those words.

Her eyes softened.

She thought she knew him better than he knew himself.

The Force between them grew even more tense...There was a certain fragility about it.

"Oh really..." He seethed between clenched teeth. "...And what makes you so certain about that ?"

She didn’t hesitate before cupping his face and pressing her forehead against his.

"I have come to know more about you through your words. Every spoken word. You could be Kylo Ren or Ben Solo that it wouldn’t matter to me. I shall always care for the man who wears both names."

She had a point. She didn’t let his title scare her or intimidate her. She had no fear of him..

She was simply...there.

...With him.

Her words left him mute for a moment as he simply looked at her. Then, a certain tenderness came across his face. She instantly felt it and sighed before taking a step towards him.

"…Did he hurt you ? Supreme Leader Snoke ?" She asked worriedly.

His expression darkened for a moment at the mention of his master’s name.

"...Don't...don't bring him up. You...you don't need to know those things..."

His voice was dark.

He looked like he was trying very hard to appear unaffected...But his eyes gave him away.

She sighed before slowly and gently stroking the back of his head.

"Last time we spoke, I felt a dark force pushing you away from me. I was so worried. Was it him ?"

A brief flash of hurt crossed his face. He remained quiet for a few moments, before answering her question.

"He was..." He paused, struggling to maintain his composure. "...What do you want me to say ? That he hurt me ? That he was the reason I acted the way I did ? That he...Made me the person I am today ?"

The person I hate today. He thought.

She smiled before gently pulling his hand towards her and intertwining their fingers.

"And still…you came back."

He looked down at their joined hands and took a deep breath.

"Yes..." he muttered between clenched teeth, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Still, I came back."

She smiled again.

"I can feel it. You still feel the pull towards the Light, don’t you ?"

He sighed and looked away for a brief moment.

"Yes...I do." He looked straight into her eyes. "And I despise it."

She reached out for his chin and slowly forced him to look at her.

"Don’t. I felt scared too. At first. But…You do not need to despise the Light."

"I do." He tried to remove her hands from his chin, but his own hands were shaking. A tear escaped from his eyes.

He turned away.

"I despise it. I despise it all."

She smiled and pressed her forehead against his once more—her heart tightening at the pain and hatred she felt emanating from him in waves.

"Sssh. I know. I know. It hurts."

"It hurts." He leaned in close. "...It hurts."

The tension between them seemed to grow even thicker, the Force seemed to pulsate with even more intensity.

It was so close to snapping...

He reached up and brushed an errant strand of hair aside. And then he spoke in a whisper so soft...so small.

"I want it to stop hurting." He said as he tried to embrace the comfort she was offering him by her presence alone.

"It will…I will help you. I promise." She whispered.

He didn't speak. His breathing was shallow and fast and he was so close to her. His heart was beating fast. It was almost hard to imagine that he was an agent of darkness at all.

That he was even capable of hurting people...

He looked into her eyes, they felt like...warmth.

He reached his hands up and cupped her face.

Her breathing hitched.

Their faces were so close to one another...He looked like he was going to explode. He looked away and his jaw clenched.

"...I..." he whispered. "I am not..."

He looked up and their eyes met, their heads still inches from one another.

"I am..."

He paused and breathed in, his face growing paler and his hands shaking harder.

"I..."

She smiled and hugged him tightly.

"…It’s okay. Everything will be okay." She held his trembling hands in hers.

He felt the relief flood into his body as soon as she hugged him. His breathing slowed and his hands ceased shaking.

His body relaxed...

His heartbeat slowed...

"It hurts...I..."

He squeezed his eyes shut as his tears escaped and trickled down his cheeks.

"...I want it to stop..."

"I know."

He didn’t speak. His chest heaved as he tried to breathe and calm himself. And slowly, he felt the weight lifting off his shoulders and his breathing slowing...He held her tighter...as his tears continued to fall.

She stroked his back.

He shuddered slightly at her touch, but he also felt his muscles loosening.

His tears fell, but he stopped trying to wipe them away.

He gripped her even tighter and buried one hand into her hair.

"...I just want to...I just want to..." He was starting to lose control over his own tongue. There were so many things he wanted to say…but couldn’t.

"…I do not want to fight you. I do not want to be your enemy." She whispered and kissed his forehead. He stayed there for a few seconds...perhaps even more. The warmth of the moment washed over him. He lifted his head from her shoulder and looked back at her. He remained quiet for a few more seconds as he simply stared at her.

His hands were still interlaced in hers and he didn't want to let go.

"I..." he whispered and he added with a small smile. "I don't want to fight you, either."

A brief pause.

"I don't want to fight you, at all."

She nodded.

"In a different life..." he said in a small voice before pausing for a few seconds.

"Maybe we could...." He remained silent for a few more seconds, the emotions inside him too mixed to be named. "In a different life, maybe we could have..."

His voice grew even softer as he continued.

"Maybe we could have been more than enemies..."

"…Of course." She smiled. "We would have been friends. I am sure of it."

He remained silent for a few moments longer...

"Friends..." He remained silent until he finally spoke up again. "More than friends."

She didn’t say anything.

"...More than just friends," he added again, his voice growing even softer as he spoke. He was quiet for a moment, as if thinking about what he was going to say next.

"Maybe...in a different life," he continued, his voice taking on a slightly wistful tone. "...we could have been..."

A brief pause.

"...Lovers."

She sighed and looked away.

He remained close to her, trying to get a glimpse of her face. It felt like an eternity of silence as he waited for her to reply back, a million thoughts crossing his mind.

He wanted to know how she felt. And at the same time, he was so very afraid of the answer.

And so, he stayed silent as he waited for her to speak first.

She finally smiled sadly at him. "…I care about you. But…You cannot love me."

Everything in him froze.

His breath stilled, his heart slowed to a crawl...

He felt like he was about to drop to the floor.

It hurt.

"What ?" he finally whispered, his eyes betraying just how much it hurt him to hear those words from her.

"…You cannot love me because if you do, you’ll end up hurt." She explained rather unclearly.

"...I am already hurt. I’ve been hurt for a long time...and you know that. And..." He whispered and paused, finding it hard to get the next words out. "...You won’t hurt me—not you."

JR sighed and stroked his cheek. "I cannot love you. Not as long as you think love is weakness. It is the reason I will choose the Rebellion. Because I think the First Order just takes away any kind of love that could ever be…"

That broke something in him and his eyes flashed with an intense cold intensity. "Do not say another word," he warned, his voice tense.

She shivered at the shift in his demeanor. His anger was cold and hard, and she had never...

Ever

...Seen him this way.

He looked...dangerous.

She said nothing, keeping her mind quiet and her face expressionless as she tried to avoid triggering him. Then, with a swift movement, Kylo stepped up close to her and grabbed her by the arms, squeezing them so tightly that it became painful.

"W-What ?! Lord Ren ! Let go !"

Kylo Ren grabbed the back of her neck roughly, forcing her to look at him as he got closer, their faces so close that their noses were almost touching and his lips brushed against hers. Kylo took only a split-second to think before capturing her lips into a deep and passionate kiss, letting all the emotions of jealousy and hurt and longing pour out.

Her eyes widened as tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to push him away.

"L-Lord Ren. Stop."

"No," he replied, his voice hoarse and rough. He pulled her closer, pressing his body against hers as he leaned down to capture her mouth in a fierce and possessive kiss.

Kylo Ren's hands moved to her back and he pulled her closer, kissing her deeply and desperately. He could feel the tears on her face and he finally released the back of her neck, instead holding her face in his hands as they kissed passionately. They stayed like this for several moments until he finally broke the kiss to catch his breath, gazing into her eyes.

Her eyes were filled with so many emotions, and she felt so powerless, so overwhelmed...

And even so, she couldn't help but be overcome by the surge of pleasure as his lips moved against hers with such hunger...His kisses were so powerful...so intense...She felt herself melting in his embrace as she tried to push him away, but it felt hopeless...

She didn't want him to stop...but she knew she had to somehow. When he did stop and looked into her eyes...

She was breathless.

"Who do you think you are ? Telling me that I cannot love you. When you DARED let Hux kiss you ! Tell HIM that you love him ! Letting that…CRETIN make you his when he doesn’t even know how to handle himself." He roared and her eyes flashed as his words stung her. And she could feel his anger at Hux growing by the second, but the anger she saw in his eyes...

It wasn't directed towards her...

It was directed towards Hux.

"…General Hux. You are acting…exactly like him. You think I am just a thing to own. You are incapable of loving anyone." She said with tears in her eyes.

Kylo Ren's face darkened as he heard her words. "Do not compare me to that weakling," he seethed, his voice low and dangerous. "I am not doing this out of some sense of ownership. I'm doing it because I can't stand the thought of you being with anyone else."

He pushed her up against the nearest wall, pinning her with his body. "And if I have to prove that to you, then so be it."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head.

"You are no monster, Lord Ren. You would never hurt me…"

Kylo Ren's face twisted in anger and pain at her words. He released her, taking a step back as he tried to calm himself. "Do not underestimate me," he said through clenched teeth.

"I am not. I know your strength. But, I also believe that you wouldn’t hurt me, even if you could."

"You..." Kylo Ren's voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "You're right. I wouldn't." He reached out and gently cupped her face with his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumb. "I love you," he whispered. "And I would do anything for you."

She started crying and her voice cracked.

"I wish…I could believe you."

Kylo's hand trembled slightly as he cupped her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "I love you," he said quietly, his voice barely a whisper.

He dipped his head and captured her lips with his, kissing her deeply and with a sense of desperation that bordered on obsession. His body pressed against hers as he held her tight, completely lost in the moment.

Her eyes were closed as the kiss continued, her mind going blank as she felt a wave of ecstasy and desire wash over her.

His body pressed against hers, his hands on her waist...She felt his heart beat against hers.

Their tongues entangled with each other's...

...and she felt...something else.

Something that wasn't simply her heart, but her soul...It was a desire to be one with him, to be a part of him and to make her own the whole of him...

Kylo Ren's grip on the back of her neck loosened slightly as he felt her pain and the tears in his own eyes threatened to spill over any moment.

"Stop crying." He said softly but sternly, his voice hoarse with an emotion he couldn't fully explain. "You're only making this harder."

"Stop kissing me." She retorted.

Their breathing was heavy. The desire had taken control of their bodies, and the sensations of pleasure swept over them, leaving them lost in each other.

The desire...

It was overwhelming.

The want for more...

For everything.

She tried to push him away, she tried to stop the kiss...And yet, as she did, she found herself only falling deeper into his embrace, her body pressed against his, their breaths becoming one.

He reached out, letting his fingers grace her chin, as if to remind himself that she was still there. "Please..."

Her heart cracked at his pitiful please and her eyes filled with tears once more.

"You are not looking for love, Lord Ren. You are looking for someone to join your side."

"Join my side ?" Kylo repeated, his voice soft and wounded. "I don't want you on my side, JR. I want you to be mine."

"Liar."

Their breaths became heavier with that one word...

"Liar."

It wasn't simply a word of dismissal, It was an accusation, it was her doubting him and not believing him.

And it was...hurting him.

And the hurt in him grew into anger as he clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on her body once more.

"I am not...a liar." He grunted, his rage growing by the second.

"You want Rey…" JR uttered in a whisper.

Kylo's eyes flashed with an intense mixture of frustration and longing. "You could still be by my side," he said in a low voice. "We could rule the galaxy together...as partners, and equals."

He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to caress her face. "Stay with me," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Let me love you."

Her heart ached.

"…I chose forgiveness and peace. You chose revenge and rage. That is why I cannot fight alongside you. I am sorry."

Kylo's face twisted into a mask of rage and pain. "I'm not asking for you to fight with me !" he spat out, his voice strained with emotion. "Just be mine ! It's not that hard !"

Those words hurt more than anything he could have said. She didn't understand this desire for love. A need for something that was more than a mere bond.

She simply didn't understand.

She would never understand.

His grip on her tightened once more as his anger continued to build.

He didn't want her to join his side.

He didn't want her to fight alongside him.

He wanted her.

"Why ?! Why should I be yours ?!"

Kylo's expression shifted from hurt and confusion to anger once again. "Because I deserve you !" he snarled, his voice laced with possessive rage. "I deserve you. I want you. And I will get you !"

He grabbed her roughly, pulling her against him, his lips crashing into hers in a fierce and almost feral kiss.

JR-6025 gritted her teeth before a force surged through her.

"LET GO !", her voice boomed and Kylo Ren’s eyes widened in shock as he heard her and felt the energy—pushing him back.

He wasn't expecting her to fight back...He hadn't realized just what she was truly capable of. He stumbled back as he released his grip on her. His shock and anger grew in tandem as he saw what was happening.

She was fighting back.

And she was fighting with…

The Force.

JR’s eyes were wide open and she was looking down at him with fear in her eyes. She had never feared him before…

JR sighed.

"You are jealous. It is the only reason you are here. You are jealous of General Hux. You are trying to take over my mind. To make me into something I am not !"

He...

…Wait…

He suddenly realised something.

She was…

She really was...

She was reading into his very thoughts.

Reading his jealousy...

He was silent as he listened to her, a mix of anger and astonishment on his face.

"Yes." He finally confessed. "I am jealous."

His voice was tight with a mixture of rage, jealousy, and fear.

"Of Hux."

JR looked away.

"…Of course. Of course you would want the same thing. You do not care about me. Not truly. It is just another part of your childish game of rivalry…"

"It is not a game." He snarled, the anger boiling over as he finally let the mask drop.

"I..." He stopped, forcing himself to take a breath. His voice was a mix of pain and anger as he spoke again.

"I thought that..."

He shook his head violently.

"...I thought that...if I had you, I could..."

She closed her eyes and sighed as she saw his struggling with his own words.

"I think…I thought…I want to help you. I want to help you. But, I do not know how…"

She was so sweet...

So innocent and caring...

He felt such...

Such....such anger.

He didn't want to feel that anger anymore...

He hated the anger...

"Then...Help me."

His voice was soft as he spoke, the anger gone, replaced with something...different.

"How ?" She sobbed and cupped his face. "Tell me. How ? Please. Tell me. How can I help you ? How do I help you ?"

"Just...Be mine." He answered softly, his words full of pain and desperation. "Let me...have you. Let me possess you. Let me own you..."

He swallowed.

"Let me love you."

The words hurt her. They hurt her deeply.

"…Have. Possess. Own. The words you use hurt me. Because they go against everything I desire. Everything I fought for…"

He couldn't deny her words. They went against everything she stood for. Everything he had tried to deny. She didn't fight for her own gain. She fought for the freedom of others.

They were the exact opposite of his desires.

He was the exact opposite of her dreams.

He couldn’t deny any of her claims…

And yet, he still...desired her.

She gritted her teeth and sighed deeply.

"How could I love a man I know would bring my own destruction ? You would destroy me and whatever freedom I have fought so hard to get…How could I love…" She looked up at him. "…Kylo Ren ?"

"Because I..." He bit his lip as he looked at her. "Because I..."

He squeezed her arms, trying to get a hold on himself. His breath quickened as he found that the only thing he had to hold onto was her. His words were quiet, almost a whisper.

"...Because I love you."

She sighed and shook her head.

"…I do not think you know what love truly means."

The words hurt more than any blow he had ever suffered. Especially from her.

"I..."

He choked on his words, his anger growing once again.

"Then...Educate me."

Her eyes widened at his request and she looked sorry for him as she replied.

"I cannot."

"Why not ?!" His anger exploded again, but he was trying and failing to hold it back for her sake. "I am desperate for your love…I am desperate to hold it…desperate to possess it and claim it for myself…"

Words he had struggled to keep in came out in a rush.

"And you’re going to turn me away because I don’t know how to love ?"

"It is not something to be taught, Lord Kylo Ren." She started and he took a deep shaky breath.

"...Then I will learn it through you." His grip on her arms tightened, his anger spilling out again. He was desperate to have what he wanted. "...To have you."

"Have. Get. Possess…" She shuddered as she uttered those words. "…You still only see me as a stormtrooper. You grab me, squeeze me, use words that I have been told all my life. You wish to receive more than just love, but blind obedience…"

"If blind obedience is what it takes for you to be mine..." He was silent as she spoke, her words sinking into him. He couldn't deny his desire for it. His need to be obeyed. "...Then...Then I'll take it."

A threat. JR sighed. He would truly never learn or listen to her.

"…Then tell me…How would Ben Solo love me ?" She asked and Kylo was stunned.

Ben…Solo.

"He would treat you with respect...And kindness...And dignity..."

He was silent as his anger rose at the thought of someone else treating her with such things...

"He would ask things of you..."

His grip tightened even more.

"But he would want what was best for you...And he would never ask you to abandon your morals..."

She took a shaky breath. Oh how she wished for such love…But she then looked up at him with a sad smile.

"But you are not Ben Solo. So tell me…how would Kylo Ren love me ?"

His eyes immediately darkened as he grabbed her head and looked deep into her eyes.

"...He would possess you..."

His answer was blunt as he met her eyes, his anger and frustration slowly simmering down.

"He would claim you. Take you whenever he wants you...Whenever he needs you..."

There was a hunger in his words that he could not deny.

"He would bend your will to his wants and desires alone..."

She closed her eyes.

"…Would I still be…me ?"

He was silent for a few moments as his gaze fell on her.

"...No..."

He couldn't deny her words.

Her will would be bent to his own wishes. He would claim her as his own. She would do as he bid her...She wouldn’t be herself.

"...No..."

She remained silent and Kylo Ren could feel her pain.

"You wouldn’t be yourself. You would be what I want..." The words hurt as he spoke them. It hurt him to know that she wouldn't be herself...But he couldn't deny it. "…Or I would make it so..."

He was silent for a few moments, his fingers tightening on her arms as he tried to process what he was saying.

"...You said you wished. That you hoped for such love..." He was hesitant. "...But I am not Ben Solo..."

His voice still held some of that bitterness he had before.

"...And I...am not a kind man."

She looked away and took a deep breath.

"…What if I asked you to be ? For me ?" She asked and looked back at him.

His grip softened slightly at her question.

He was silent for a few moments.

"Do you want me to be…Ben ?" His voice was careful as he spoke, the hurt in him showing ever so subtly. "Do you...wish for me to be kind to you ?"

"Would you be ? If I asked you to ?" She asked again but with more confidence. But, Kylo Ten seemed in pain. Because he knew the answer. And she wouldn’t like it.

"...I couldn't..."

This had to be the hardest thing he had ever had to admit...

"...To be kind...To be gentle...To treat you as an equal..." He hesitated even now, his anger still simmering beneath the surface as he spoke.

"Yes. I could want to..."

But the harsh truth came out at last.

"But...I cannot be that man...Not for anyone...Not even for you."

She closed her eyes at the harsh truth.

His grip on her arms tightened again as he saw the hurt in her eyes.

He knew his words had hurt her...

And yet...

"...You did ask me. I am being honest. For you."

He paused for a moment, struggling to find the words.

"...I wish..." He couldn't finish the sentence, but he forced himself to. "...I wish I was that man...I wish I could be that man for you."

Yet the wishes of a man mattered little.

She slowly leant forward to kiss his lips softly.

"…This is a kiss for Ben. And I hope he will feel it."

His entire body tensed as she kissed him softly.

For a brief moment, he felt it...A warmth, a gentleness, something that reminded him of another...

For just a moment...He felt as if she had kissed…

Ben Solo.

"I…am not him. Not anymore." He whispered, but she just kept softly kissing his lips…There was no hurry or violent passion that threatened to burn. It was her first true kiss. A kiss she meant. A kiss full of hope and love and care…

He did not want to feel the gentleness, the tenderness in her touch. He did not want to feel the warmth of her kiss.

But he found that it was...

Comforting.

"...More..."

More than anything he could possibly deny...Than anything he wanted to deny.

Her lips felt gentle. Caring. Warm.

Hope.

Love.

Care.

He had never known such a gentle, wonderful, sweet kiss.

She pulled away.

He hesitated for a split second as she pulled away, as if he was holding on to a dream that was fading away from him.

Then he realized that the dream was real.

The kiss happened.

Her sweet kiss.

"...Again."

His voice was a whisper as he spoke, the hunger in him for her touch threatening to overwhelm him.

"Do not demand, Lord Ren. That kiss was for Ben. Not for you…" She denied him and he gritted his teeth.

"...Then give it to me..."

His voice was tight.

He was desperate for that kiss...

He tried to hide it.

To hold back from asking...

But he couldn't resist.

His hands tightened behind her back.

His tone had become hard once again...

...No longer gentle, but demanding.

"...Kiss me..."

"You wish to claim something that isn’t yours, Lord Ren. That kiss. It was for him. For…the man that could have been. That could still be." She said.

"...Then make it mine..."

His grip tightened on her.

He wouldn't deny her words. Not at all.

But he needed that kiss.

He wanted it for himself. For Kylo Ren.

And he couldn't resist...He couldn't deny the hunger that was growing inside of him.

"Kiss me once more, trooper..."

Her expression hardened as he called her that.

"That is NOT my name. Or what I am. Not anymore."

"I said..." His grip tightened, but his hands were trembling despite his effort to maintain his firm and stern grip. He needed her to obey, but his words came out weak and shaky and almost pleading.

"...I said..." The hunger in him had started to spill over. "Kiss me again."

The words were a mix of rage and desperation.

"No."

He was stunned at her mere utterance of the word. He was so used to getting his way. And now here she was, denying him.

And he hated it.

"I SAID..."

His voice rose.

The hunger. It was growing within him...

He wanted...He wanted so desperately...

"That kiss was for Ben. Only Ben Solo." She said and Kylo Ren’s eyes darkened

"Then you will be disappointed."

He tightened his grip again, trying to contain his anger. The hate within him.

"That man..."

Ben.

"...Doesn't exist."

His voice was cold, cruel, and brutal as he spoke.

"The only man that exists..."

He squeezed a little tighter.

"...Is me."

His grip tightened on her and his knuckles were white as he squeezed...

Rage boiling inside of him.

"You're mine..."

It was all he could think of as he squeezed her arms.

"...You're mine if I say you're mine..."

The words spilled out of him like poison, his anger growing as she refused and his hold on himself growing weaker...

"...Do you understand ?"

JR glared at him and wrench away from his grip.

"No."

His jaw twitched at her refusal.

"Very well..." His words were hard to get out as the hunger inside of him grew even more. "...Then I shall take what I want by force."

He watched as she refused him to his face.

And he hated it.

That hunger. That rage.

It wasn't being sated, it was simply bubbling up and up as his grip on himself grew weaker...He stared at her with a hard, almost cruel look, the hunger still boiling up and up and up...

"...If you refuse..." It took him an effort to speak the words. "...I will hurt you."

"You wouldn’t."

"...Try me."

The anger in him was spilling over now as he gripped his fists. He was desperate to keep her...And if she wouldn't be willingly...Then he would take her by force.

"Try to resist me. See if I wouldn't hurt you..."

She frowned.

"You are only a guest in my head, Kylo Ren." She reminded him.

His grip on his sanity weakened further as he heard the words.

Her head...?

He was just a guest ?

His rage rose, and with it came the hunger within him...He wanted to show her that she was wrong...And to make her see.

"...So you think you're safe from me here...?"

He paused, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he spoke...

"...That you can just refuse me here ?"

"Don’t."

She was still refusing him. She still believed herself safe, despite the situation they were in...

"Don’t..."

It was an absurd thing for her to ask.

She was his.

The hunger inside of him was growing, and he was finding it harder and harder to maintain his hold on himself...

"Don’t..."

He wanted to laugh at her naivety. Did she really think her words held any power over him ?The hunger was growing, spreading, taking hold of him...and there was no stopping it.

He took a step towards her.

She took a step back.

Another step forward.

His grip on his willpower was growing more and more tenuous as he stepped closer and closer to her.

Another step...

"Do NOT take another step !"

Kylo Ren didn’t listen.

"...You cannot stop me."

His voice was low as he took another step towards her...She gritted her teeth.

"Please."

A flash of amusement flitted across his face.

"You know very well that I don't care for please..." His voice was still hard as he took a step backward. "Besides, I already have what I want..."

He was close to her, just close enough to reach out a hand and touch her. Suddenly, she raised her hand towards him and tried to use the Force to stop him. His eyes widened as he felt something tug at him. He took an involuntary step backwards, his eyes flashing with surprise and annoyance...

He was still trying to maintain his grasp on himself. His voice was a snarl. But he took her grip by the wrist, holding it in his hands...

He pulled her towards him.

He was furious.

The hunger was gnawing at him.

And he was starting to think...

Perhaps I should break your mind...

JR’s eyes widened in fear.

"Lord Ren. Please…No."

"I will do what I please." He seethed and lifted her hand to do just that. The hunger inside of him was growing, just like the rage. His grip on her wrist was tight. He didn't want to hurt her if he could help it...But he was growing weary of her refusal to submit to him.

Perhaps if he just showed her...what he could do ?

"K-Kylo Ren. P-Please." She felt tears in her eyes as pain spread through her mind. "Don’t. You’re not a monster."

His grip tensed as he saw the pain and heard her words. He was almost ready to stop...almost tempted to release her.

...But the rage inside of him was growing.

"You don't know what I am..." He hissed as his grip tightened on her wrist.

"I know. I know that you think yourself irredeemable and that you feel there is no one you can trust and everyone is seeking to hurt you. But, I know there's some good in you. I know it."

His response came out almost instantly without a thought.

"There is no good left in me...I am what I am..."

His grip went even tighter...

"And you will learn to accept that fact..."

"Never." She still felt his mind clashing with hers and threatening to crush her. "I won’t…ever…stop believing."

He paused for a moment at her words.

Her resolve...

Her absolute belief that there was some sort of light left in him...

It was...disconcerting.

"...Then your beliefs will prove to be your undoing..." She felt his grip tighten on her just a little bit more. She suddenly reached out for his face and gently ran the back of her fingers over his scarred cheek.

"…So beautiful." She felt him trying to crush her but her eyes revealed nothing but love.

His mind was faltering as her fingers ran over his scarred face. The hunger and rage within him was starting to be overwhelmed by something else. He was trying to regain his focus, to maintain it. But her touch on his face. There was something...soothing about it.

Soothing and warm and gentle.

And she wasn't even trying...

She was just...

Touching him.

She kept touching him gently and smiled softly at him. Her eyes glassy and her thumb stroking his scar before she leant forward.

"…You wanted a kiss, Lord Ren ? Here it is."

She kissed his scar.

His grip on his sanity was gone the moment she kissed his scar.

She wasn't trying to tease him.

She wasn't trying to appeal to his desires.

And yet he found himself wanting something more, something he hadn't wanted or desired or needed since...

...It had felt like a lifetime ago...

His eyes fluttered closed as the kiss continued on his scar. She had finally kissed him...

She peppered the rough skin with kisses, her lips seeking to soothe all his scars. Her gentleness was almost torture for him…a sweet torture.

It was torture. And yet he craved it like nothing else. His mind was growing fuzzy as her lips touched him. The hunger and the rage were beginning to disappear. The sweetness was taking hold of him...

And he wanted more.

His hands ran through her hair...

Cradling her head as the kisses continued.

More...

She lifted her hands to grab the back of his head as her lips kept their tender assault on his scar. His grip tightened on her as she grabbed the back of his head. His mind was growing foggy as her lips kept up their assault on his scar...

More...

His mouth opened a little and his lips pressed against her cheek. There was no need for her to respond, no need for her to do anything at all.

Just let him drink in her affection...

Let her show him how gentle she could be...

She shivered at the sensation of his lips against her cheek and let her lips linger over his brow…

"I shall heal you…I shall heal you…I promise." She uttered in a whisper against his damaged skin.

He was breathless as her lips lingered over his cheek. His hands found themselves in her hair...

I shall heal you..

He was overwhelmed. He was overwhelmed by her soft touch and her words...Her confidence in him, her faith that he wasn't an irredeemable monster...He needed her to keep it up...

Keep up this...

Gentleness...

To keep showing him that he could be healed...

He needed her to keep it up...

Keep it up...

He suddenly pulled her closer and hissed in her ear.

"You are wasting your time trying to heal me. There is nothing left to heal. It is all gone."

She held him fearlessly.

"No. I will mend and fix and heal. It doesn’t matter if it hurts or takes me a lifetime. I will not give up on you."

His grip tightened around her as his voice was a low, harsh growl.

"...You will never succeed..."

His face tilted so that his lips were almost touching her ear as he spoke...

"...I am beyond repair..."

He pulled her closer.

Beyond healing...

"It's a waste of time..."

"There is...nothing..." He choked out as he pulled her closer to his mouth, his words growing more harsh and more bitter..."Nothing to heal. The time for healing passed a long time ago."

He was panting as he heard her words.

"There is nothing left to heal."

The hunger boiled up inside of him once more...There's nothing left to heal. The words pounded in his head.

His grip on her tightened as he hissed once more...But still she held him, refusing to give up on him even as he continued to refuse her. He wanted to punish her for her obstinacy. For her self-righteous refusal to believe him.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she kept him close. His grip on her tightened as his hissing grew into a growl.

There’s nothing…

Nothing left to heal.

Nothing left to heal.

The words repeated in his head like a mantra as his mind was growing hazy. The rage he felt at her stubborn refusal was growing into something else...Something he barely recognized...His hands ran through her hair, his fingers running through her soft locks.

His mind was growing more and more clouded. The anger and rage were bubbling up and up inside of him...His hands started to shake with the rage that he felt boiling up and up and up...

He wanted...He needed...

His eyes closed, and his breath was coming in short, harsh puffs as the rage and hunger continued to bubble and boil up. She was digging and digging and digging into his shoulders...But he was trying to get away...She wouldn’t let him.

His hands started to shake more...His breath coming more ragged...The rage was threatening to become unbearable...

...The hunger...

The need for her...

His grip tightened on her as he tried to break free of her stubborn grip...His mind was foggy and haze as he tried to tear himself away...But all efforts were useless as he felt himself grow even more enraged.

"LET ME GO !"

"NO !"

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET ME GO ?!" He was shouting now, his anger burning hotter as every second passed. But there was something else he was feeling beneath this rising rage...

Need.

He pushed her hands away and tried to pull away from her...But every movement felt as if an anchor was tied around his limbs.

His breath was coming in short, harsh puffs as his face distorted in rage...

She let out a scream of determination and held on to him with every inch of her body—tackling him to the ground and wrapping her legs and arms around him. The scream cut through him as he felt her grappling onto him...

He screamed too as he tried to break free.

Her grip was too strong ! She was too strong !

He couldn't break himself free. His mind was cloudy.

"LET ME GO !" He forced himself to demand once more.

Let me go !

He pushed back, his hands gripping her legs and body as he tried to pull her off of him.

"NEVER !" She held on stubbornly.

"WHY ?!" His voice was filled with rage as he screamed, his grip on her tightening. "WHY CAN'T YOU LET ME GO ?!"

"BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU ! BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ONLY DAMN PERSON THAT I COULD CONFIDE IN AND I CAN SEE YOU IN PAIN AND IT IS KILLING ME !" She shouted back. She was tired and she just wanted him to understand that no matter what…She wouldn’t give up.

Her words hit him and stopped him dead in his tracks. No one had ever confessed such feelings towards him. No one had ever told him that he had been someone that they could confide in...

"You're lying." His voice was harsh as he said the words, his grip tightening as he tried to push her away again.

She held on strong. No matter how desperate he was and tried to get her off him.

"I WON’T LET GO ! YOU MIGHT AS WELL KILL ME RIGHT NOW !"

"SHUT UP !" He screamed in a blind rage, but there was something in his mind...Something that told him she wasn't lying to him. His grip on her grew slightly weaker...

"NO !" She buried her face against his neck.

His grip continued to slacken as he tried to push her away. But her grip was still too strong.

"...let me go..." His voice was barely a whisper now as his demand turned into a desperate plea.

"…No…" She took a deep inhale and grabbed a handful of his hair and pull him closer to her—but her grip was soft as not to hurt him.

He flinched as she pulled him in closer, holding onto his hair. But his eyes were beginning to grow softer. He was staring at her.

But he said nothing.

"…Never." She repeated—holding his gaze.

His gaze slowly softened. His face began to relax. He looked as though he were relaxing in her grip. As though her presence were something welcome, an anchor that prevented him from flying off the edge...

She smiled and restrained tears.

"Never."

Suddenly his grip loosened and his hands ran through her hair.

So soft...

He moved his forehead to hers.

"Never never never…" She kept repeating over and over as her grip on him grew stronger and more intense.

"Never never never..."

She wouldn't let go. And he wouldn't make her. He wrapped his arms around her, buried his face in her. He had no choice but to finally accept his fate.

She let out a sigh of relief and smiled before kissing the top of his head.

His arms squeezed around her, burying his head in her chest...

"Never never never..." He repeated the words. But this time, they were said with comfort and relief...

Never never never...let me go.

He thought and tightened his grip on her. She closed her eyes and held him as if she was afraid of losing him…as if she would never let him go…as if she sought to keep him safe forever.

He had never felt such comfort and reassurance. Such safety and relief...All her presence told him was:

Home.

He was safe.

She would keep him safe.

He buried his head deeper into her chest, clinging to her with a tenacity he had never shown before. She huffed a laugh at how calm he seemed now and she wrapped her arms around his head as she laid her cheek on top of his head and gently caressed his wild black locks.

His arms only tightened around her.

And he felt content.

He felt safe.

...And that's what he had craved all along.

His hair was as soft as silk...the strands of black, curly locks, curling loosely around her fingers.

He tilted his head back and looked at her. She was so…

...Beautiful.

He tilted his head back more, his gaze focusing on her lips...She noticed and smiled as she saw something else in his gaze. She was now certain that it wasn’t Kylo Ren in her arms right now…

She stopped and smiled down at him before uttering softly—as if she was talking to a scared kitten ready to run away at any moment.

"…Hi there, Ben."

He didn't answer her with words. Instead he moved his forehead forward more. Touching hers...And then his lips were moving along the curve of her cheek...her jawline...her chin...Before her lips were found.

She smiled before kissing him softly.

He kissed back, softly at first, trying to keep this tender and gentle. But soon it became more feverish, more desperate. He pulled her closer, gripping her tightly as he pressed his lips harder against hers.

She met his kisses with a soft smile on her lips.

His lips explored hers. And his hands continued to grip her, pressing him close to her, their bodies together now, their hips touching as their hands roamed each other's bodies...

A breathless chuckle escaped him as a smile spread across his lips too...

She smiled back and looked him in the eyes. She found a whole new soul there and one that was worthy of being loved…She kissed him again. Her lips were warm and soft and gentle and they teased him. They teased him into pressing back harder, teased him into holding her tighter. His body moved against hers as their hands roamed each other. He was holding her in every possible inch of him...not allowing her to escape his grip, while their lips explored each other.

She smiled and even though she had trouble breathing, she still kept kissing him. He moaned against her as his grip tightened around her, his hands starting to roam all over her body.

And the breathlessness began to hit her too.

They were both breathless as they kissed, their lips pressed together tightly as they both gasped for air.

She pulled away and breathed out a laugh.

"Just…Just a second. Give me…"

His eyes remained closed as a blush spread across his cheeks. His breath was still shaky...

"Alright...."

But his hands had their own agenda. They gripped her tight and pulled her back against him, his hands holding her to his chest as their bodies remained in contact...

She chuckled.

"Clingy much ?" She teased.

"Only when it's you..." His voice was still wobbly as he smiled and looked up at her. He tilted his head up and pressed his face against her neck, kissing the soft skin, his breath warming her as he did so...

"What if I just…?" She moved barely an inch away.

His grip tightened around her as she moved.

"Do not."

His voice was low and hoarse as he warned her. He buried his face into her neck again, moving to another spot, before his mouth found another patch of skin, planting a few kisses over it...

She chuckled.

"Okay okay…Sorry."

"Do. Not. Move." He spoke a little more forcefully and his grip tightened around her further as his voice dropped an octave. He continued planting kisses around her neck as his hands found his way to her hips, their hands and bodies still completely pressed together.

She smiled.

"Alright. That’s ONE command I’ll follow."

"Good girl...." His voice was husky as he spoke, his grip loosening just a bit. He planted a few more kisses around her neck before leaning back and looking up at her. "Now stay."

"…With the way you’re holding me. I don’t think I’d be able to do much moving even if I wanted to…"

Ben playfully rolled his eyes before holding her closer.

"Mmmph..." A small chuckle escaped him as he pressed his face against her chest.

He chuckled as well as he continued letting his hands roam...

"What a shame..." His arms remained wrapped tightly around her and he kept holding her. But he continued to plant kisses on her. As he moved his lips...to her jaw...And then to her ears.

Her ears were scarlet red.

He chuckled as he took note of the redness of her ears. He planted a kiss on one of her ears and then another on the other. He moved back once more, smiling cheekily, as he asked.

"Do they always get flushed when you're aroused ?"

They became even redder and she looked embarrassed.

"I don’t know what you are talking about…"

"Mmm-hmm....." He chuckled as he moved to kiss her on the tip of her nose. "I think you do..."

His hand ran over her cheek as he spoke. She humphed before suddenly reaching for the hair covering his ears—attempting to see them.

He felt her hand reach for his ears and suddenly his head was being forced to the side as she tried to take a look at his ears, trying to see if they were red as well...

"What do you think you're doing ?" His voice was hoarse slightly tense as he spoke. He glanced over at her, his eyebrows raised as he saw what she was doing...

She didn’t reply and only pulled back the hair behind his ears to look at them. She smiled.

"I knew it. They’re red too !"

"They are not red !" He spoke with a growl as he moved to cover his ears again but was pulled back again by her. His breath became shaky again as he spoke, but he was still trying to put on an angry expression. But the way her hand was pulling at his hair made it impossible to hold the facade for too long.

"…Don’t cover them." She said and smiled. "Please ?"

He thought about it for a second before slowly lowering his hands from his ears. And then, reluctantly. Keeping his eyes on her the entire time. He let his hands fall into his lap and sat still, letting her look. She looked at them and her smile widened.

"They’re big. And red. But…they’re also very nice."

She then pressed her forehead against his and smiled.

"And that way…we match."

Match...

The word hung there in the air for a moment between them...

Match...

The way their ears were red.

The way their lips were red.

"Yes. I guess you could say that..." He sighed and his arms went around her again. "…we match."

She smiled before resting her chin on his shoulder. They remained like that. His arms wrapped around her, her chin resting on his shoulder. Their bodies together as they stayed quiet. In that moment, there was nothing but the two of them in the galaxy.

No First Order...

No Resistance...

No Rey...

And definitely no Kylo Ren...

All there was was two red-eared lovers.

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as she kissed him. She was the only one that could make him behave like this. The only one who could turn him from the Supreme Commander of the First Order into just...

Ben

She squeezed herself tighter into him as her arms remained around his back.

"Now who is being clingy ?" His voice felt hoarse once more as he whispered the words in a tone that was somewhere between teasing and affectionate.

"Me." She admitted unapologetically and looked at him with a small grin.

He chuckled softly and hugged her even tighter.

"Yes...Now stay still." At this point he was just looking for an excuse to touch her more. He kissed the side of her neck again. "Or else...I might have to make you."

"That sounds like a threat." She grinned.

"It was. It is. And you better listen." His voice was huskier now as he spoke. "Now stay still..."

His grip on her tightened once more as he reiterated his threat.

"...Or I will make you..."

She chuckled.

"Is that so ?" She kissed his red ear. He shuddered at the sensation and his grip tightened around her as an instinctual reaction.

"Yes..."

His breaths were shaky as he spoke...

"And I'll keep making you until you stop teasing me. So stay...still."

She grinned.

"Sorry…"

She then held him closer and sighed.

"…Ben."

He felt himself melt as she said his name...

Ben...

She said his name in such a loving way...

This is who I am to her...Ben, her Ben.

In her arms, with her around him, his world felt right...She smiled at the loving gaze he gave her and only repeated the name again.

"Ben…"

He sighed as he felt a soft shiver run all over his body. How could she do this to him with such simple words...? With just one name ? His breathing became even more shaky.

"That’s right. Say it again."

"Ben."

"Mmm..." That was all he could manage at that moment. He pressed his face against her chest again. "Say it again..."

"Ben…" She kissed the top of his head.

"Again..." His voice was so quiet and weak she had to lean down to hear it. But she heard it all the same...

"Ben." She repeated once more and proceeded to caress his head with a loving smile.

He let out a sigh as her hand went through his hair and over his ear.

"Again..." His tone was husky, desperate, even. He wished to remember that name. To remember it until he could never forget it again. "...Just once more..."

"…Ben." She cupped his face.

A soft gasp escaped him as her hand ran across his face. And she cupped his face. He was powerless here.

Nothing but a boy. A boy who had finally found a home.

"Again..." He was on the verge of tears. He muttered the words but they were barely audible as he spoke.

She opened her mouth to say his name again when she suddenly felt like she didn’t have a voice any longer. And her eyes watered as she suddenly felt an invisible force tightening their grip on her throat. Behind Ben, she could see a tall dark figure standing there…Supreme Leader Snoke.

He stood there and suddenly, both her and Ben were thrown off each other and she tried to scream—but no sound came out.

The force holding them apart was so strong, so impossible to fight...Neither of them were strong enough to budge themselves even an inch. His grip tightened around her throat and she suddenly couldn't breathe. Her eyes were watering, her voice was silenced. He could sense the terror in her. He could also sense his own fear.

How had he failed to sense Snoke's presence...?

Suddenly, the connection was cut and JR was brought back to the island with Luke and Rey while Ben was brought back to the ship.

"BEN !" JR screamed…But he was gone.

And worst part was ?

She couldn’t even feel their connection through the Force anymore…Someone had cut their connection.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #kylo ren x reader #general hux x reader

[charliedawn]

Fanfic writers are like crows. If you give them treats (comments) they will bring you shiny things (fanfic)

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 20

JR was sleeping when her mind seemed to be called upon. She slowly opened her eyes and frowned as she found herself in a familiar room, far from the island. She looked straight ahead and found a man hunched over his desk—facing away from her. He was mumbling to himself and once she was close enough, she recognised General Hux. JR slowly walked towards him as he was working tirelessly to find her location. He didn’t even notice her by his side. She could see his sullen cheeks and telltale eye bags…She sat down next to him.

"…General Hux." She called him gently and he was momentarily startled. He looked in her direction and she almost gasped as his bloodshot eyes. He hadn't slept in ages and it showed.

He stood up and immediately reached for his blaster—but then he seemed to think about it and he huffed as he seemed to realise something.

"You…You’re not really here, are you ?" He asked knowingly and JR gave him a small at him. She nodded and General Hux sighed before sitting back on his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes…

"What do you want, traitor ?" He finally spat and her eyes closed. That awful name again…

Her eyes softened as she saw how tored he was. She sighed and her hand hovered over his.

"Rest. Please."

His gaze softened for just a second, but he quickly snapped back to his usual behavior.

"I need to keep working. I need to find the Rebellion. And…you." He looked at her and she could see the resentment in his gaze. He hate her. He hated her for having left…He wanted to ask where she was, but he knew it was no use.

He picked up his datapad again, but JR grabbed his arm gently to lower back down the datapad.

"…No. You do not." She said and General Hux sighed once more. He looked at her, the bags under his eyes were visible for miles. The stress clearly getting to him.

"This is for the greater good of the First Order...I have to keep working."

She sighed and faced him completely before taking her hands in his.

"…Please."

He looked her in the eyes and his throat felt dry as she seemed so close and yet…

"You know...I've barely slept for weeks...because of you." He blamed her.

"I know. I’m sorry." She smiled sadly at him. "I wish…I wish I could be there. To tell you that…everything will be fine."

He tried not to show his emotions, but she could see the weariness in his voice.

"...I'm just so...tired. I can't...I—" His voice broke slightly as he was about to say the word "sleep".

She smiled before lifting her hand to his face—but waiting for permission to touch him. A sudden soft look appeared in his eyes as she lifted her hand. It was so subtle that he thought she didn't notice, but she definitely did. He didn't say anything but he gave her a slight nod of permission.

She rested her hand against his face.

"…Stay strong, sir. Stay…Stay strong. Please. I promise we will see each other again. Soon. But until then, hold on. Hold on."

...For the first time today, he allowed himself to feel truly tired. He wanted to just rest his head on his desk that was in front of him. But instead he tried to keep working.

"I will." He said in a tired and hoarse voice, not realizing how defeated he sounded.

She smiled softly before slowly leading his head down towards her shoulders and stroking the back of his neck soothingly. The stress melted away the second she started stroking his neck, his head leaning against her soft shoulder. He was on the verge of tears due to the sheer amount of stress he felt for the last few hours, and the sleep deprivation. He tried remaining stoic but it was impossible for the general.

"…Rest." She whispered in his ear. "Rest, my general."

The stress was going away and was being replaced by sheer exhaustion, but the second she called him 'my general' something inside him broke. He tried to remain stoic, but the tears began streaming down his eyes, the stress, the sleep deprivation becoming too much for Hux. All he could do now was sob on her shoulder as she was stroking his head.

She sighed and kissed the top of his head.

"…Strong. You are so strong. They do not see it. But, you burn brighter. They will all see one day."

He tried to stop crying but the tears just kept coming at this point. He was so sleep deprived and stressed. Now she called him 'strong', which only made it worse. His body was too tired to care about trying to look and act like his usual strong and stoic self and he hugged her, trying to find comfort in her arms.

She embraced him.

"Rest…."

His arms were holding her so tightly, as if he was never going to let go. He was in emotional shambles right now. And as she held him, all he could do was sob on her shoulder and try to control his crying as to not embarrass himself any further. The stress, the tiredness, the fear for her whereabouts, everything just made it even more exhausting for him. But the only thing in which he could find some modicum of comfort in was her.

She sighed before holding him closer.

"…You know I never meant to hurt you, right ? I didn’t mean to leave. But…I just couldn’t stay. And I couldn’t come back because suddenly everyone knew I was Force-Sensitive and I thought that if I’d come back then I’d be killed. I never meant to betray you…"

He buried his head into her shoulder, not letting go for anything in the world. He understood what she was trying to say, but he was too emotionally exhausted to care or think about anything right now. All he could do was cling to her and sob quietly on her shoulder, his grip on her becoming tighter and tighter. He just wanted her in his arms, away from everything.

She smiled and understood. She simply held him.

His sobbing slowly started to fade away but he still wanted to hold her. She had come all this way to find him, and he was glad it was her who found him and not anyone else. He was glad she understood him and he was glad he had her back. He slowly started to let go of her and calmed himself down. The whole thing seemed unreal, it seemed like he was dreaming. It didn't matter because as long as he had her, it was like heaven.

She smiled.

"You are going to be alright, General."

He nodded silently and wiped his tears away.

"But what am I going to do without you, huh my silly stormtrooper ?" He whispered and stroked her cheek with his gloved finger. "Everyone is against me....what am I going to do..."

She took his hands in hers and whispered in his ear.

"Show them EXACTLY who you are."

His eyes widened when she spoke. His gaze hardening up, his grip on her hands tightening. The fire was going back into his eyes.

"...I will. I will show them ALL who I am."

She grinned.

"That’s my general."

She stood up as well before taking his hands in hers.

"…But first…rest." She slowly led him to his bedroom. He felt a bit annoyed at how she insisted on him getting some sleep. He was going to work right now, he didn't have time to rest. But...she was right. He was so exhausted he could barely think. He reluctantly went upstairs with her, feeling that now was not the time to be a stubborn and arrogant fool.

She guided him to his bed and helped him out of his coat before laying him down on his bed.

He didn't protest or say a single thing about any of this. He was just too tired to care. She was helping him, which he was definitely not comfortable with. But she was right, he was dead tired and he needed to get some sleep. He relaxed on his bed, his mind already trying to drift to sleep.

She caressed his cheek before standing back up to leave.

Once she got up, he said, in a very tired and drowsy voice.

"Don't go."

She stopped dead in her tracks to look back at him.

"…I need to."

He tried to get up but he was so tired that he just couldn't. All he could do was lay there and try to sleep a bit. The exhaustion and the lack of sleep were killing him.

"...Please…I'm so...tired and exhausted and...I don't want to be alone..." He confessed and reached out for her.

She hesitated before sighing and coming back to him. She got on the bed and wrapped her arms around him.

"…Goodnight, General."

He sighed in relief and wrapped his arms around her. He was so happy that she was here with him. He didn't want to go to bed alone, he hated being alone. He sighed in relief again as he closed his eyes and fell asleep almost immediately after she had cuddled with him.

She started sleeping as well.

The next day

General Hux woke up alone in his bed and sighed as he shook his head. He had dreamt of HER…Of the traitor. He looked up at his ceiling and closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. A dream…It had only been a dream.

He tried not to think about it too much. But...why did he dream of her? He tried to brush it off and got out of bed. He had a lot of work to do but he still felt tired and exhausted. He went to the bathroom to prepare himself before heading to the office. And of course, he was still thinking about her. He couldn't stop thinking about how she looked in his dream, it seemed so real.

He got to his office and opened the door. The moment he stepped in, he was met with countless reports that he had to look over. The stress was building up again. He sighed and started looking over the documents. He was back to being the tired and stressed General Hux as he got to work.

On the island

"Master Luke. How accurate are visions given by the Force ?" JR asked Luke who looked at her with an empathetic look and then gave her a small smile.

"The Force reveals itself in many ways...visions and dreams are merely one way it does. But they are never an absolute truth. The Force reveals what it wants us to know. It gives us a fragment of a picture, not the whole thing."

JR sighed.

"In the possible futures I saw in the cave, there was always a sacrifice. No matter which path the Force showed me, I ended up losing someone close to me. What if the happiness of others costs me mine ?"

Luke’s eyes softened and for a moment—JR could see pity in his gaze. For that was something nobody taught the Force users. They could be guided by the Force, but the Force was as much a trap than a blessing.

"That is the only thing I do not have an answer to, child. That is a choice only you can make. The Force shows you the paths, it is up to you which one you choose to take..." Luke could see the weight of responsibility and sacrifice on her shoulders. It was a heavy burden to bear, one that every Jedi must face...

"The Force is neither good nor evil...it is a power that will always seek balance, regardless of the cost. However, in the end, it is your choice which path you will follow...and no one—not even the Force itself—can take that away from you."

JR-6025 stood there, absorbing Luke's words. She understood what he was saying...that the Force was not something to be controlled, but rather something to be listened to and followed. It was a guide for the future, not a means to an end. And it came at a cost...

A sacrifice.

JR was filled with a new sense of realization as she processed the powerful lesson. She understood that the Force was not a tool for her control—it was a guide. A guide for the future, not a means to an end. But as Luke spoke, her expression grew solemn at his words on the cost of the choice and she understood in that moment that it was true. The Force was a power seeking balance, regardless of the cost and it took sacrifices to maintain that balance.

JR gritted her teeth and closed her eyes shut as she remembered the many paths she had seen and the pain in her heart grew.

"Master Luke. I do not want to choose. It isn’t fair. I have…I have been begging for a choice—but that choice is cruel."

Luke's expression remained understanding as she spoke, and he nodded his head slowly in acknowledgment.

"I understand child, it truly isn't fair," he uttered with a compassionate tone before looking away for a moment. "But sadly...that is the burden the Force seems to place on us all. We're the ones who must make the choice—and suffer with the consequences."

"I thought that…once I’d have a choice…everything would be better. That I’d know what to choose. But…" She sighed.

"You were hoping that once you figured things out, the choice would be easier." Luke finished her thought and JR nodded.

She was too tired to do anything else.

"For years, the First Order has deprived me of a choice. I was only meant to obey. Without question. I thought that once I would have a choice to choose my path—then the answer would come naturally to me. But…I am as lost and confused and terrified than when I was amongst their ranks."

"That's because you were so certain that the choice would make everything better, when in reality it doesn't." Luke said understandingly and JR felt a wave of embarrassment. She had been guilty of the same mistake. Luke's voice lowered as he spoke again. "A choice doesn't always make things better. Sometimes it makes things more complicated. It forces you to be responsible for your decisions."

"It's a heavy responsibility..." JR breathed in an out slowly, feeling her heart race with everything that had gone on and everything she had felt and thought.

She was embarrassed to admit that she had been so naive and thought that everything would be better once she had a choice and that it would all be simple and clear and uncomplicated...

But that wasn't how it worked...She was only starting to realize that.

"I just…wanted to be free. I thought that I would know what to do."

Luke sighed before sitting in front of her.

"You thought the answer would just fall into your fingertips if you waited long enough." Luke's voice was so soft and tender. The way he said this made her feel like a little child again. "I suppose when you've been denied freedom of choice for long, you don't know how to handle it once you have it..."

She sighed.

"…What should I do then, Master Luke ?"

Luke let out another sigh. He paused for a brief moment to think of a response. He didn't seem like he had all the answers either, despite his extensive teachings on the Force.

"I wish I could make the choice for you," he said with a slight smile. "But that's not how the Force works. I do not know...I wish there was an easy answer. But some choices are impossible...No matter what you choose, some people might get hurt. And it isn't fair. At all."

His expression became more serious as he stared into her eyes.

"But, I believe you will find your way, JR. Even if you don't know the answer now, you will find it."

JR kept her gaze downwards for a moment as she thought of his answer. He was right—some choices were impossible. And no matter what path you chose, some people could get hurt.

And that's what was so terrifying...

She felt the weight of the Force and of the galaxy on her shoulders in that moment as Luke's words pierced through her and made her realize how difficult of a choice she would have to make...

"I will find my way, Master," she repeated quietly, but with confidence. But quickly, she looked down and seemed uneasy.

"But…" She hesitated. "…is there really no other way ? Do I have to lose someone I care about to have peace ?"

"I have no answer to that, child. I wish I did." Luke sighed, holding her even closer as he felt her trembling. "The truth is...Sometimes there is no way out of the pain and the sacrifices. Everything has a cost. No matter what you choose...That is the sad truth..."

"…How much until it is enough ?" She asked and leant back.

Luke went quiet.

How could you even answer that ? How much pain was enough pain ? How much could people endure before they couldn't give anything more ? He had gone through a lot of pain himself. He had endured a lot of loss. The pain never seemed to end. But it had made him into the person he was today.

It had made him stronger.

"I don't know...I really don't..." Luke wanted it to be different. He wanted there to be an easy answer, some magic solution that would free her from her pain. But all he could do was hold her close, and the only thing this moment could offer her was a temporary reprieve in the midst of all her confusion and doubts...

She closed her eyes.

It really wasn’t fair…

There was a moment of silence between them as the sound of the wind and waves hitting the nearby rocks filled the air. JR was struck mute by his words as she absorbed everything he had said.

There was no easy answer.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't ever fair...

She felt his embrace and suddenly, it was everything she needed in that moment.

She didn't want to let go.

"It isn't fair..." she whispered again, but this time there was no determination or hope or peace in her voice. Just sorrow and pained resignation...

JR's grip around him tightened and her breathing became quickened, as if she was about to cry.

She was tired.

Of the Force, of the pain, of the sacrifices...

Luke knew that as much as she did.

But that's what the Force did to them all...

"You have a deep conflict within you."

She sighed and looked away.

"I do."

Luke could sense the inner turmoil within her, a struggle between light and dark, between the pull of duty and the tug of selfish desires. It was a conflict that many of his students had faced before, including Kylo Ren and even Rey...

He looked deep into her eyes and saw the battle raging inside of her. "Tell me, what is at the heart of this conflict ?"

"I know that I mustn’t let the First Order and the Dark Side win but…" She looked away guiltily. "…I have people I care about who chose to follow that path. And I understand why. And I refuse to hurt them."

Luke's expression was one of understanding. He had been through a similar experience himself when he had confronted Darth Vader...

"You feel torn between your allegiance to the Resistance and your emotional connection with those who are lost in the darkness..." he stated, his voice gentle yet powerful.

They stayed silence for a minute after her admission before she continued.

"Why is it...different for Rey ? She is also conflicted. But, she managed to get out of her nightmare faster and without even using her stone.", she asked and Luke sighed.

Luke hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Rey..." he began, "Rey is indeed conflicted in her own way, but the source of her conflict is different than yours. She was a scavenger on Jakku, thrust into a larger war that she never expected to be part of. Her feelings of responsibility and purpose can often come into conflict with the natural instincts of self-preservation and self-interest that come with being an outsider."

He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "Your situation is somewhat more...complicated."

JR frowned in confusion.

"But, I do understand the importance of the Light and the Force and the danger that the First Order represents. But I…"

Luke gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his eyes full of wisdom and understanding. "You have a big heart...that is a gift from the Force itself. It is a rare thing indeed."

He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "I believe that you are sensing the weight of this war the importance of each decision, the lives at stake and it is a heavy burden to carry."

JR looked at him and felt as if he truly understood her...She had felt that weight and that responsibility for ages now...

And it seemed that he did too...

"Yes..." she answered slowly, her voice soft and gentle. She felt as if she could breathe and take a step without the world collapsing around her. Even if the Force could sometimes be cruel and bring suffering and hardships—it was that light within it...That light she needed to grasp tighter than anything else...

JR didn’t say anything and closed her eyes. Luke then asked her.

"You told me you were following the sun in the hopes of catching it and mould it to your will...But, what does the sun mean to you ?", he asked and JR-6025 shrugged.

"Something I must protect. At all cost.", she replied truthfully before looking up at Luke who frowned and shook his head.

JR frowned.

"No. You are not listening to me. Search. Deep within you. What does the sun mean to you ?", he said and thrusted his finger against her chest significantly. He wanted her to search deeper...search for the meaning.

She sighed before thinking about it.

"The sun...Is a feeling.", she said and Luke smiled.

"Good."

She nodded.

"It is something I cannot see. It does not have a physical form.", she continued.

"Yes. Continue."

She looked up at the sky.

"It is...a path. A path towards happiness. But...not mine. It is...It is..."

She seemed stuck as she tried to finally make sense of her goal.

"Say it." Luke told her and she closed her eyes.

"It is the best path for everyone I care about. It is the only way I know they'll all have their happy ending. It is...the force. It calls me. Shows me the way towards the future I know they deserve."

Luke nodded.

"Exact. The force was never about yourself. It is a force compelling you to the path best for all around you. It guides you."

She reopened her eyes and her throat felt dry.

"But...how do I find that way?" she asked slowly, a note of desperation in her voice.

"All I want is for everybody I care about to be safe...how do I make that possible ?"

Luke's eyes filled with sympathy at her words, but also a hint of determination...

"You said the sun is a feeling..." he replied slowly. "Well then, I would say that the Force is also a feeling. A feeling of compassion and duty...and love. Find that feeling inside of you..."

"Love ?" she asked, and Luke nodded. "Indeed, the Force is the sum of all life around us that connection that makes us all one living thing and in that connection there is also love."

She felt her heart race at his words.

"And the Force calls you...calls you to find that love...to use it to help others. Do you feel it ?" he asked, and she looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Yes...I feel it."

JR sighed and looked back at Luke with tearful eyes.

"…But what if…what if my love ends up killing me ?"

Luke gave her a sympathetic look as he heard those words. He sensed the pain behind them—and understood it all too well.

"Love is never what kills a person, child," he spoke softly. "Rather…it is the fear of loss. To care is to be vulnerable, and to be vulnerable is to be afraid. And fear is the root of all suffering."

"I just…" She closed her eyes. "…Kylo Ren told me that if I went down this path, then I would be the sacrifice. That I would be the one paying the price of my own heart…"

"And do you believe him ?" he asked. "Do you believe that he is the one who can tell you what your choices mean for your life and for your path...?

"The Force connects us all, JR. The Force is within all of us...and it is a part of you too. It is your choice to listen to it...to follow it and to trust it..."

She took a deep breath.

"You did. And yet, you are here. On this island. Alone. I can feel your fear, Master. And you told me yourself that you once tried to reach peace. If you failed to stop this cycle…What chance do I have ?"

"That is a very good question..." he answered slowly. "What chance do you have...? I don't know..."

For a moment he was silent. Then he sighed. "But if I had followed my own fear...I wouldn't be here with you right now. You came here because you believed that I could help you. But you have to understand...that you are the one making the choices...

"You are the one in control. Not your fears...not even me. You are...the only one that can figure that out."

She sighed and sat down as the sun slowly fell down on the horizon.

"…I want to make the right choice, Master. But, I don’t know if I have the strength or ability to do so. To follow the Light’s guidance…"

"...You have to try, child." he spoke softly.

"If you fear, that is okay...it is a natural response. But don't let it overcome you. Don't let it win over you..."

"The Force will show you the way, JR. You just....have to be willing to listen..."

She smiled and nodded before closing her eyes.

"I am willing to listen…"

"That's all that you need." he replied quietly. "Now, get some rest...let the Force become your shield...and your strength."

He stayed silent for a moment before speaking again. "...And JR ?"

She stopped.

"Do not underestimate the power of the Force...or of your heart..."

She looked back at him and smiled.

"Yes, Master."

Luke stayed silent for a few moments, his thoughts deep within himself. It saddened him to see the pain in her eyes...but if someone like JR could find her way...Then there was hope for everyone.

With this belief, he decided not to stay much longer.

"Rest well." he said one last time before disappearing into the night...

She sighed before letting the wind run through her hair and slowly started walking back to her hut to get some rest. JR walked carefully through the night, trying her best to push aside her fear and doubts.

Slowly, she took deep breaths, as she looked up towards the sky. She then stopped for a moment, her eyes staring at the stars.

She smiled at them.

She knew they were watching and guiding her...With renewed strength, she slowly walked back to her hut, ready to get some rest. As her eyes closed, her last thoughts went to General Hux. She hoped he was okay…

On the Finalizer

That night, General Hux returned to his private quarters and barely made it to his bed before collapsing on it. He was starting to sleep when he felt a weight next to him and someone pulling him closer.

He froze for a split second when he felt the weight on his bed. He had barely gotten to bed again, he didn't even remember falling asleep. So who was this ? His eyes slowly opened and then widened when he saw a sight he had thought he was dreaming.

She was here. She was there next to him. He almost got out of bed once more but she pulled him back down. He stayed completely silent, trying to process this.

He wasn’t asleep yet.

It couldn’t be a dream. She was here.

She sighed.

"I…just wanted to make sure that you were getting some rest."

He didn't know what to say, she had showed up once more. He just stared at her for a good minute before he finally managed to speak.

"How did you get in here ?"

She sighed before tapping the general’s forehead significantly. "I guess…I found out how to travel into people’s minds somehow."

He could barely think about anything at this point. He was so confused and tired. And now she was saying she was here by traveling into his mind? He rubbed his temples trying to figure this out. His mind was so tired and so confused right now.

"...So I wasn't dreaming before ?"

She hesitated before answering him.

"Well…Yes and no. I am not physically here. I am just projecting myself I guess…"

He was still confused about this, but he was too tired to think about it too much. His exhaustion was still there, and now this whole situation made it even worse. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"...Why are you here in my head ?"

"…I was worried."

"...Worried about me ?"

She nodded.

"…I just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

...That's when it hit him. She was genuinely concerned for him. No one was concerned for him or worried for him...Nobody had ever felt concerned for him. Yet, she had come to his head just to see if he was okay.

"...Are you...truly worried about me ?"

She smiled.

"Of course. Why wouldn’t I be ?"

This was so foreign for him. The whole concept of someone being worried about him was so completely unheard of for him. He couldn't believe it at first. But...he knew she wasn't lying.

"So...You truly care about me...despite everything ?"

"You mean…despite you putting a bounty on my head, promising me a swift execution and trying to kill me and the Rebellion ? Well…" She sighed and hugged him closer. "…yes. Yes I still care about you."

A sudden wave of overwhelming emotions washed over him. Emotions of grief, relief, exhaustion and appreciation. He didn't want to believe that she cared about him and despite everything she had done to him, she still cared. Slowly, he moved one of his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, the other arm remaining by her sides.

He took a few deep breaths to take this all in, the realization that she still cared no matter what he did. He sighed again and slowly closed his eyes. He was so tired but he didn't want to let go of her.

She smiled before letting him snuggle closer to her. Suddenly, she saw Millicent climbing up to rest between them and she smiled.

He was so exhausted that he didn't even notice Millicent climbing on to the two of them. He just kept his eyes closed as he continued to rest. He was tired of trying to control everything, right now he just wanted to feel her presence. She made him feel safe and comforted, even if it was all in his head. It didn't matter to him, as long as she was here with him.

"I…cannot…leave you." She said and held him tightly. "I tried. Oh…The Force knows I’ve tried. But I am incapable of doing this. Leaving you."

Another wave of emotions hit him. Emotions of relief, pride and happiness. She wanted to stay. She said she couldn't leave. She genuinely wanted to stay with him. He pulled her even closer to himself, wrapping his arms around her whole body.

"...Then don’t. Stay."

He was starting to wake up fully now, but his mind was still foggy and his thoughts were still all over the place. It didn't matter though, all he cared about was being held by her. She was protecting him even when she was just in his head, she had always put him first. He still felt a bit tired but the sight of her made his exhaustion better. He moved his head up to nuzzle into her chest, his face slowly buried into her neck.

Her breath hitched. He was so soft…She closed her eyes and let out a weak sigh. She looked down at the redhead and caressed his hair.

"…I shouldn’t care as much…I shouldn’t worry about you. I shouldn’t even try to see you."

His face was still buried and pressed against her chest as she was touching his hair, and he could barely speak from the sheer comfort he was feeling right now. He managed to say something though, it was too hard for him to remain silent when she was caressing his hair.

"...Why shouldn't you...?"

He knew why. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it. Not right now. Not when she was so close to him.

"…Because as much as I care about you, you are dangerous. So very dangerous…"

For my heart…She thought.

He was suddenly reminded of just how dangerous he was, all of his rage and hatred towards her and the whole Rebellion came rushing back. Every single negative feeling he had ever felt for her was back, however...he tried to suppress it. He didn't want to think about any of that now. Right now, he wanted to be embraced by her, he didn't want to be alone right now. She had come back into his life and he wasn't letting her go just because of some anger.

She sighed.

"…You are like marble. Cold, but oh so beautiful."

That comment hit him harder than she thought it would. She knew him better than anyone else. He had been called many things: stubborn, selfish, ruthless, powerful…But she was the first to call him beautiful. She had already called him beautiful before—but he had never actually believed her until now.

He suddenly moved his head away from her chest so he could look at her. His eyes were still half-closed, his hair was all over the place. He felt like he was still half asleep but his mind quickly started to focus now. He was so tired however that he still couldn't move or get up.

She looked down at him and smiled at his disheveled head. She slowly started running her fingers through his hair.

"…The colour of blood, fire and passion." She mused.

He felt her running her fingers through his red hair and a soft smile appeared on his lips. Her words filled him with a strange warmth, as if a fire was starting to grow inside his chest. She made the color of his hair sound so beautiful, even though he knew it wasn't. He chuckled softly and closed his eyes once more, enjoying the touch of her hand on his hair.

She kissed the crown of his head.

"…Sun-kissed."

He smiled again when she kissed his head. Her words continued to fill him with warmth. She was finding beauty and uniqueness in the most ordinary aspects of him. His face slowly started turning slightly red at the compliment though, a slight blush showing itself. He chuckled once more, still feeling that strange, warming sensation within his chest.

"The sun…My sun." She smiled.

Those words caused his chest to burn up. He had never thought that he would be anyone's sun, and the fact that SHE was calling him that caused such a strong feeling within him. He wasn't sure what it was though, all he felt was a burning sensation in his chest but it felt...nice. He chuckled again and closed his eyes. Her touch on his hair and calling him her sun was just making him all the more flustered.

"My sun…My shining sun." She whispered and smiled. She didn’t know why she had felt the need to call him that, but she had just found the name to be fitting for him…She had always wanted to follow the sun and would have never guessed that the sun she wanted to follow was now sleeping in her arms…

Her whispering was causing him to blush even more. Her calling him her sun kept sending a strange feeling through him, he didn't understand what it was but it was a pleasant feeling. It was a feeling he hadn't felt before, at least not so intense. He smiled as he thought about her words, her comparing him to the sun was so very fitting for him. He was a sun to her, he was her guiding light...he liked that.

She smiled before kissing the top of his head again.

His smile slowly turned into a full grin when she kissed his head again. The feelings she was sending through him were slowly becoming intense, it felt different than the usual sensations he had. They were overwhelming. He had never thought that someone would call him their sun...and the fact that she was doing that made him feel so giddy. He was silent, he didn't want to say anything. He was just enjoying this moment and the feeling she was giving him. He was HER sun.

"Never let them break you, alright ?" She said.

Those words were simple, but they hit him even harder than the compliment at first. He remained quiet, still enjoying the feeling that she was giving him, but he still did hear her word. He gave a slight nod, the only movement he was capable of at the moment. He didn't want to let them break him, and he wouldn't.

She hugged him tightly.

"Stay strong, General. Stay strong."

He hugged back, tightly clinging to her. His face was still slightly red and his heart was still burning, but these words of encouragement seemed to ease some of the tension that had been building. He didn't want to let them break him, and he would do anything to stay strong. He slowly opened his eyes to look at her once more.

She met his gaze and smiled.

He smiled back at her, his face still flushed. He realized that he was probably going to remember this moment for a long time, maybe forever. Seeing her here had brought a sense of peace within him that he hadn't felt for quite a while. It felt weird for him to admit it, but he didn't want her to leave.

She stroked the side of his face.

"…Rest, my sun."

Hearing her call him her sun was still sending that pleasant burning feeling inside him. He closed his eyes and relaxed, his exhaustion was starting to catch up to him once more. He was trying to suppress all the worries that had previously been plaguing his mind, right now he just wanted to sleep. He slowly brought his face into her hand, leaning his head against her palm.

She let out a shaky sigh at the adorable sight…the way he was instinctively leaning towards her touch. She pressed her forehead against his and smiled.

"The greatest leader…Always have been, always will be…"

Those words, so simple, yet so powerful. He was the greatest leader...always have been always will be. He was still fighting for what he believed in, for the First Order. But right now, all he felt was tired. He couldn't fight the exhaustion any longer, he needed sleep. So he did just that, he slowly fell asleep against her hand, letting her touch and her words soothe him. It was a strange feeling to be so exhausted and so tired yet have no negative thoughts running through his mind...just bliss and sleep.

He could finally sleep…

The next day, General Hux woke up and sighed in relief. He was well-rested and stood up before getting ready for the day ahead.

Lord Ren would be returning with the scavenger girl and JR-6025, or that was what he had promised…and bet on. But, General Hux knew better. Both men were on a race and the price was too high to neglect.

Lord Ren returned empty-handed—as always.

They both stared at each other once facing each other. And General Hux couldn’t help but smirk as he knew that Lord Ren was as desperate to find the island JR had taken refuge on than he was. But seeing Lord Kylo Ren fail never failed to put a smile on his face.

"Let me guess…The hunt wasn’t fruitful ?" General Hux taunted Kylo who glared warningly at him. But, General Hux decided to continue.

"What ? The Force didn’t MAGICALLY point you in the right direction ? How surprising…" He mocked and Kylo Ren didn’t say anything.

General Hux stood next to him and chuckled. But then, Lord Ren shoved him aside and General Hux didn’t even have the time to be surprised that he landed against a wall and found himself on the floor.

He gasped and Kylo Ren loomed ominously over General Hux.

"One MORE insufferable little word out of you and I will kill you."

All the other troopers or First Order staff having smelt trouble were quick to leave the premises. They left both men to solve their issues and none of them stayed to make sure that there wouldn’t be any man slaughter. General Hux sighed. He really did miss JR-6025. The only stormtrooper who had ever dared stand against Kylo Ren to protect him…

Hux took a step back, shocked at the threat. His face was filled with anger and contempt, but a hint of fear was present too...

"Insuffer..." he began to bark the word with all the contemptual anger he felt, but he found himself unable to finish it as he saw the danger in his eyes.

"What makes you think you can threaten me ?" he tried to get back to his usual superior attitude...but found himself unable to do so.

Suddenly, Kylo Ren took General Hux by the throat with the Force and spat.

"I AM LORD KYLO REN ! SITH LORD ! THE DARK FORCE COURSES THROUGH ME ! WHAT ARE YOU ?! BUT A PARASITE ! A LITTLE GENERAL SO SELF-CENTERED AND WEAK AND LEISURING IN HIS OWN SO-CALLED IMPORTANCE !"

Hux felt his neck tighten as he was lifted up into the air, choking...his eyes filled with fear as he tried to shake free off Kylo's grip—but to no avail. He couldn't answer immediately as he struggled to breathe.

When he finally broke through, he tried his best to sound superior, but his fear had taken the best of him. But, he quickly chased it away.

"I...am General Hux..." He grunted as he finally found the breath to speak. He remembered what JR had said. To show them all WHO he was. He was GENERAL HUX. And he would no longer fear that overpowered brat ! Kylo Ren may have the Force to protect him. But, General Hux had JR. Caring. Worrying. And loving HIM. And that made him feel more powerful than ever.

"The fact that you won’t even try to look for her yourself only shows how weak you really are, General." Kylo spat out angrily as he kept squeezing the infuriating redhead. "Because deep down, weak is all you are."

"Do not lecture me about weakness, Ren." General Hux replied with difficulty as he glared at him. "Not when we share the same one."

"Same one ?" He asked angrily.

The General’s words cut right through to him. He could feel the heat of embarrassment and anger rise in his cheeks—he knew that what General Hux had said was right.

But something inside him was resisting the truth.

"We are not the same."

He huffed mockingly.

"Aren’t we ?" Hux replied, now sounding more calm while trying to get free. "You and I have a weakness in common..."

He paused for several seconds, staring blankly at his young rival.

"We both have a soft spot for her, and neither of us wants to admit it..."

Kylo Ren was panting heavily and his eyes were glaring daggers at General Hux. He let the silence hang in the air for a moment before finally saying.

"That would just make us...two of the weakest helpless fools, wouldn’t it ?" Kylo Ren said and General Hux huffed a humourless laugh.

"Yes. I guess it would." He agreed.

And with that, they both held an uncomfortable silence. The two rivals looked at each other, a mix of rage and embarrassment on both faces...They were both furious to see themselves reflected in the other.

For a moment, they seemed ready to burst out in a new argument.

But finally, their eyes lowered in shame.

They both knew it was true.

"First time we agree on anything…and it had to be about her." General Hux said and sighed.

How pathetic…

"...about her...that's right." Kylo agreed, and there was a hint of sadness present in his usually angry voice. They both knew what they were implying. It had always been about her, whether they wanted to admit it or not...

And it finally hit them both that neither would be able to keep her around if they kept fighting each other.

"What now, Lord Ren ? Are you going to kill me ? Would that satisfy you ?" General Hux smirked mockingly.

Kylo let out a harsh breath as he remained silent for several seconds, his eyes narrowed in rage at the general's remark. He tightened his grip around the General's neck for a moment, the Force choking him slowly...before finally replying.

"Not now." he snarled, clearly holding himself back. "Not now..."

General Hux closed his eyes at the growing discomfort.

"Then let me go."

Kylo didn't respond, instead he simply tightened his grip. His rage was like a burning fire inside him, but he managed to contain it enough to not snap.

"Let. Me. Go." Hux spat out, with a clear note of irritation and anger in his voice.

With a swift motion of his hand, Kylo finally released him.

The general gasped as he fell down to the ground and rubbed his throat in shock.

For a split second, they stood silent and simply looked at each other.

General Hux sighed deeply before finally leaning back against a wall and getting a cigarette out of his pocket. Kylo remained silent as he watched the general spark up a cigarette.

Once again, a few seconds of silence passed.

The general took a deep breath and blew the smoke out of his lungs.

"You really are a frustrating little prick, you know that ?" the general said, his tone sarcastic and frustrated.

"Coming from you ? It is a compliment." Kylo Ren said before purposely snatching the cigarette from the general’s lips and sitting down next to him to take a long drag.

"I hate you." The general said half-heartedly as he looked down at the ground. He stared blankly for a few seconds, feeling the tension in the air as he waited for the other to reply. But Kylo remained silent as he took the cigarette from his lips. The silence was deafening...until he coughed hard.

"I hate you too..." Kylo Ren replied equally bluntly before coughing again. General Hux restrained a knowing smirk at the cough.

"Ah. The powerful Sith lord. Chocking on the all mighty power of a simple cigarette…How embarrassing."

Hux took a drag of another cigarette he had lit up and smirked as Kylo coughed more violently this time.

"You are weak." General Hux added.

"That’s coming from the general that couldn’t keep her around." Kylo shot back immediately, and his tone was sharp and frustrated.

"Neither could you." the general shot back, his smirk growing as it now seemed a competition between who had the final word in their little battle of insults.

The awkward silence returned, only now the tension had been replaced by an awkward bond between the two.

"...But maybe is it for the best we hate each other." Kylo mused.

General Hux looked at him with a raised eyebrow before taking another puff of his cigarette.

"How’s that ?"

Kylo Ren remained silent for a moment.

In a sense, General Hux was the only one in the galaxy who genuinely understood him. They weren't all too different in that regard.

"I mean..." He started to say before falling silent again. "...We see each other for who we truly are...our ugliness, our flaws."

"Ah yes…so ugly." General Hux mocked. General Hux exhaled a large cloud of smoke, thinking about what his counterpart had just said.

"Our flaws...our weaknesses..." he repeated, now sounding less sarcastic and more thoughtful than before.

"I guess you are right about one thing." he added. "We do see each other for who we truly are..."

Kylo Ren nodded in agreement before General Hux sighed and added.

"Funny. The only person who ever call me beautiful was…" General Hux started, but didn’t finish his sentence. He took another drag of his cigarette instead.

"...her." Kylo Ren continued slowly, without looking at the general. "The only person who ever really cared about us, looked beyond the titles and the rank and the horror and the ugliness—and saw..."

Kylo fell silent as he looked at the ground, his eyes betraying his emotions.

"…us." General Hux finished.

Silence filled the room, and Kylo remained silent as he glanced at General Hux. Both of them knew it was true. Their rivalry, their pride...it all came from a common ground, and it had always been there.

They both wanted her, and neither was willing to accept that.

"…When did we turn out so pathetic ?" General Hux asked before bringing the cigarette back to his lips with shaky fingers.

"...When we met her..." Kylo Ren replied knowingly before taking a puff of his own cigarette—the taste not as unpleasant as before. The general took a deep breath, staring at his cigarette as he let the words sink in.

He had never admitted that before, not even to himself...and realizing it now felt like a punch to the gut.

"We always were pathetic, Kylo..." he added, his tone more honest and less spiteful, almost as if he was speaking to himself. "...we just didn’t acknowledge it before..."

"We’ve never been honest with each other before though." Kylo Ren recalled. "That’s new…"

"Yes, it is..."

No more sarcasm, no more mockery...just honesty.

They could still see themselves reflected in the other, but this time without anger, without hate, without pride. Just the realisation that they were both just two lost souls, caught up in this war. Their rivalry had been an outlet for all of their anger and frustrations for years, but after having lost her...after realizing what they both truly desired...there was no use for it anymore.

"...Maybe that's why we've always hated each other." Kylo Ren said and General Hux sighed.

"Perhaps." General Hux sighed before taking another puff of his cigarette. "Perhaps we’ve never seen the need to. Perhaps we didn’t want to talk. Perhaps we were always meant to hate each other. So…Why now ?"

"...Maybe because it’s the first time we’ve agreed about something." Kylo Ren replied and gave an ironic smile.

General Hux scoffed, but had no choice but to agree. He nodded and smiled back.

"It’s because of her."

"Maybe..." General Hux nodded, feeling the tension leaving his body when he realized how pointless this rivalry was before.

It had been going on for years, without any need for it at all…They had both spent years hating each other because they couldn't admit how similar they were. But when they started to lose her...it became a competition to see who was the most hateful, the most prideful, the most powerful...and it was all for nothing.

"Stupid JR-6025." General Hux said. "Stupid girl. Stupid and weak."

"At least we can both agree on our love for our weak pathetic little stormtrooper." Kylo Ren said.

"...Weak and pathetic." General Hux agreed with his same old tone.

He took another drag from his cigarette.

"Stupid." He added.

He knew it didn’t really matter whether he was talking to himself or to Kylo Ren.

"Worthless." He said before sighing. "...Lovely."

"...worthless...but lovely..." General Hux repeated the last two words as he took a drag of his cigarette. The tension between the two had finally disappeared, replacing it with the uncomfortable sensation of sadness and regret they both felt.

There was a long silence before the general finally broke it. He had something to ask, and he needed to say it.

"But…we still want her, don’t we ?"

"…I would destroy the galaxy for her." Kylo Ren closed his eyes as he confessed it. "I would let the whole galaxy burn…turn to ashes. If it meant having her."

"So would I..." General Hux confessed in response before he added quietly. "…I would destroy every planet, every system. I would destroy everything I ever accomplished..."

The general finally looked at him.

"...anything to be with her..."

"...Yes, anything for our pathetic JR-6025..." Kylo Ren mocked and they both chuckled at the absurdity of this situation, at how two of the most powerful men of the galaxy could fall head over heels for a mere stormtrooper.

Of all the things that they had in common...this was the most bizarre.

"...for our weak little JR-6025..." they repeated in unison, mockingly but also fondly. The thought of her made their hearts ache, and this new sense of...honesty, even though slightly humiliating, felt oddly comforting.

"We are lucky she doesn't know how much she has stolen from us..." The general continued, thinking about his own humiliation. "She has no idea what kind of a mess she has made out of two men like us..."

"She has not the slightest clue." Kylo Ren agreed and a bitter laugh escaped him. "Our little traitor. A little trooper. A nothing. Such a naive girl…has managed to shackle us both without even trying."

"She has us both wrapped around her little finger...she would certainly find it amusing, right ?" Hux asked with a faint smile crossing his features. "The great Kylo Ren and General Hux, two of the most powerful men in the galaxy's biggest army, two of the most influential figures of our time, and yet...we are both in love with a mere stormtrooper."

"…Worst part is ? We never actually got to act on it." Kylo Ren said and sighed. "We let her slip away without attempting anything."

General Hux huffed mockingly.

"Oh, but I did." General Hux finally found a trace of his old condescending tone in his voice again as he finally revealed the truth. "...We tried something. Once."

He could almost see the surprise in Ren's eyes. Because he had never expected that.

"At least I did..." he added, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the admission.

Kylo Ren frowned.

"What are you talking about ?"

General Hux chuckled bitterly.

"Before she went on her mission. When I sent her away. I…kissed her."

General Hux smirked as he saw the other's face.

He found a certain pleasure in being one step ahead of him for once, in being the one who had taken the lead in something after a whole life of getting beaten by Kylo.

"Did you really think I would let her go on a mission without trying something first ?"

Kylo Ren’s expression soured.

"You kissed her ?" He repeated in disbelief and General Hux suddenly felt the familiar sensation of Kylo Ren’s invisible fingers around his throat.

"...Yes, I did."

This was the moment where the game was lost again, but even so...a trace of satisfaction remained. General Hux had been the first...he had finally done something Kylo hadn't first.

"And she kissed me back."

Suddenly, Kylo Ren flung Hux across the room.

General Hux crashed to the floor, gasping for air. The surprise he felt was genuine...in all those years, he had never seen Kylo like this. So much rage for a simple kiss...It felt like a punch in the lung, but still...he couldn’t help but grin as a laugh escaped his lips.

"And how good it was…Too bad you missed it." General Hux purposely taunted him by running his thumb over his lips.

The general laughed, feeling a wave of pleasure at the look on Kylo’s face.

"And it was her first time being kissed, too."

He was pushing his luck here, he knew, and he might even pay for it now. But the smugness he felt was overwhelming.

"...Her lips were so soft...and she trembled when she kissed me." He wasn't even hiding it anymore. His grin was a little bit cruel now.

Kylo Ren’s breathing was coming out short and heavy as his hand hovered over the hilt of his lightsaber.

"You…WORTHLESS AND VILE INSECT !"

General Hux let out a loud and mocking laugh. He was pushing him over the edge now.

"It was amazing...she was scared...trembling...and she gave me all her trust...in that moment, she belonged completely to me..."

"Liar !" Kylo Ren shouted before General Hux chuckled darkly.

"Oh ? You do not believe me ?" General Hux opened his arms wide with a proud grin. "You are a Force user, aren’t you ? Look inside my mind and see. Hear. Feel. Everything I got to experience…and you never will."

General Hux's words hit Kylo like a knife stabbing him straight in the heart. But he had seen enough, had seen the smugness in the general's face and understood it all too well.

This...this was real.

General Hux...he really had been the first.

"YOU LITTLE..." Kylo shouted, but he choked on his words as the truth overwhelmed him.

General Hux stood back up and took sadistic pleasure out of Kylo Ren’s helplessness.

"Yes. Suffer. After years and years of always being second favourite to you in EVERYTHING. I FINALLY got to have something first. And oh…How sweet it was. Perfect. Her lips against mine—almost made for me."

General Hux couldn't help laughing at that last comment.

"She did seem destined for me, right ?" He closed his eyes and pretended to take pleasure out of the memory itself. "Her lips were so soft...so tender...her breath smelled like pure, refined honey..."

Kylo Ren was panting heavily and if looks could kill, General Hux would have been tortured, quartered, scorched alive and dead.

"Her fingers running through my hair..." General Hux continued, a taunting and mocking smile still plastered on his face. "Her breath against my neck..."

His eyes were twinkling as his smirk grew even wider.

"Her hands clinging to me, the heat of her body pressing against mine..."

He waited for a reaction, and sure enough, Kylo was about to lose it.

They had fought for years...fought over every victory and every title...and had never managed to beat the other when it mattered before.

But now...he had done it. And he had seen the truth in Kylo's eyes.

He knew he had hit the last nerve, and the pain on his face...was a thing of beauty.

"Her voice...so sweet and pure..."

The general mercilessly continued, looking directly at Kylo, and he couldn't help but think:

I finally won.

"Her hair...so soft and silky..."

The general laughed, and he didn't even try to hide it.

"Her heartbeat...so fast and hot..."

General Hux was truly enjoying the other's suffering. General Hux had always thought recognition, but nobody could compete with LORD KYLO REN ! But, here he was. He had finally found something to one up him. Finally.

"Her kisses...So tender and intimate..."

The general's smirk grew even wider.

"Her breath, her lips, her hands...everything was...perfection..."

He could almost feel the anger and despair in Kylo's body, and for the first time of his life, he felt that he was the one in control.

Kylo Ren closed his eyes and breathed heavily.

"It was just one kiss, general. You may have won a kiss, but I shall steal every other kiss she might have ever bestowed upon you."

"One kiss is all it took to win here, Ren..."

General Hux replied, smirking.

"You think the mere prospect of stealing all her future kisses away from me will make up for you having being left out on her very first one ? You think it will make up for you never getting to experience her first time ?"

Kylo Ren glared at him.

"You stole her first. But, I shall give her more than you could ever. I shall love her like no other. And it won’t be difficult to beat your heart of stone." Kylo Ren smirked. "Or did you forget that I have access to her mind ? We are connected, Hux. And if I am to find her and make her mine, then I will be in her every thought and dream…"

A cold shiver ran down the general's spine as he heard the other's words.

Kylo was right...if he wanted, he could get into her head and be with her even then...could make her fall in love with him without ever kissing her...was it even worthy to compete against him, if he was willing to go so far ?

"Then I shall find a way to make her forget you."

General Hux growled.

"She will NEVER fall in love with you like she did with me..."

Suddenly, Kylo Ren stood before him and they stared at each for a moment before Kylo Ren seethed.

"…We shall see about that."

And with that, he walked away.

General Hux took a drag from his cigarette as his rival disappeared from the room. They had been fighting for years, and now, it seemed that the war had evolved into another dimension.

They would no longer be fighting over battles, political influence and military power.

Now, they would be fighting over a girl.

A mere stormtrooper.

General Hux knew this was madness, but…

A column of smoke floated up in the air as he exhaled.

…How he was looking forward for another one of her sweet kisses.

There was something enticing in that challenge. Someone trying to steal what you possessed. To steal your toy. To replace you in her heart. To become, not just an equal, but to be something more for her...

And it was such a ridiculous thing to want...an insignificant stormtrooper girl. General Hux exhaled another puff of smoke, savoring the possibility of a new, exciting war.

He smiled.

Indeed, this was madness. But madness had never been so amusing.

He chuckled before stomping his cigarette underneath his boot.

"See you soon, JR-6025." He whispered to himself before looking up at the stars. He would find her…He wouldn’t let Ren or anyone else get to her first. He smirked before turning around swiftly and walking away.

The hunt was back on.

#fandoms #imagine #star wars #general hux x reader #kylo ren x reader #fanfic

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 19

(Hi. Author here. I spent a lot of time writing this and I am pretty proud of it. If you could just leave a comment or kudos if you like the story. That would mean the world to me. Or maybe share it ? Anyway, thanks for reading. 💜)

The search for JR-6025 began in earnest, and Phasma's troopers scoured every inch of the galaxy in pursuit of their target. Hux remained on his ship, anxiously awaiting updates, his mind consumed with the thought of reclaiming her. As the days turned into weeks, however, his frustration only grew. The hunt had yet to turn up any concrete results, and he grew angrier by the hour. His temper grew shorter, and his outbursts became more frequent, terrifying the crew and troops alike.

"What do you mean you found zero tracks ?" He screeched, causing the troops to flinch. "What do you mean there are no results ? Did you search all the planets ? Did you check the records on Exegol ?"

The soldiers, his troops, his loyal servants, quivered at his tone of voice.

"FIND HER. NOW ! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME ?!" He shouted, making the soldiers flinch.

The stormtroopers scoured the galaxy, scouring every corner, every nook and cranny for the traitor. But despite their best efforts, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months with still no sign of her.

Hux grew more and more frustrated with each passing day, his anger boiling over at the failures of his troops. All of them were incompetent fools ! They were weak, and he hated weakness.

"HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU FOUND NOTHING ?!" He screeched when an update was presented to him. He was livid and exhausted.

"What do you mean you have no results ?" He screamed, his voice cracking with anger. "Are you telling me that she simply disappeared into the void ?"

He was furious. More and more furious as time passed.

"FIND HER !" He bellowed, not caring who it was that was standing in front of him.

His rage was only growing.

"I WANT EVERYONE IN THE GALAXY TO BE SCANNED !" He shouted, not caring about the amount of resources he would waste, he didn't care anymore.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER EXCUSE !" He screeched, his voice echoing across the whole fleet.

"FIND HER !" He growled, his heart beating so fast he felt like it would explode any second now. However, he was surprised when a message appeared on his holopad...

It was a message from JR-6025...

He answered the call.

Hux’s anger boiled over at the sight of JR's face, his hands shaking with rage.

"What the hell do you think you're doing ?!" he shouted at her through the transmission. "You have no idea the trouble you're in ! Do you have any idea what you've done ?!"

What was she supposed to say ? What could she possibly say ? She hadn’t sent a single message in more than a month. She couldn’t tell him that she was with Luke Skywalker and Rey or that she had disobeyed him by not killing Rey…

"...Sir...I..."

Hux froze as he heard her voice. He felt both anger and shock, and for a split second, he couldn't believe it was actually her. He listened silently, taking in what she had to say. For a long moment there wasn't a sound apart from his breathing.

"Where are you ?" He finally asked, his voice barely holding back his anger.

She wanted to say something...But she didn't know what...She didn't know what she could possibly say to make him feel like she hadn't betrayed him...

Even if…Even if she had…

General Hux could sense her fear through the holographic transmission, and a dark smile spread across his face. "So...you've finally decided to contact me," he said in a cold, menacing voice. "I must say, I'm surprised that you even dare to face me after your little...disobedience."

He leaned forward, his eyes burning into hers through the transmission. "You have some explaining to do, don't you think ?"

Hux felt her fear and knew it was real. As much as he was furious, this moment right there...This had him worried at the same time. She was afraid of him...She was terrified. It hurt his feelings more than any insult he had ever heard.

"You have a lot of expla—" He growled but was suddenly cut off by his anger. He had enough of this. "You'll do well to have a VERY good excuse." He growled, letting out the anger contained within him.

"I am sorry, General. But, I will not be coming back."

Anger and disbelief flashed across Hux's face as he listened to her words. "You're not coming back ?" he repeated, his voice rising with each word. "Do you have any idea what you're saying ? You're a stormtrooper, JR-6025 ! And I am your superior ! You don't get to decide whether to come back or not !"

"Sir. I…I couldn’t kill Rey. She is with Skywalker. He is currently training her and I believe that she might actually bring back peace to the galaxy."

Hux's face contorted with rage as he listened to her words, his hands shaking with suppressed anger. "Are you telling me that you disobeyed a direct order and betrayed the First Order all because of one girl ?!" he snarled, his voice laced with venom. "You're nothing but a traitor ! Do you hear me ?! Do you understand the consequences of your actions ?!"

She shivered. "…Sir. Please. Understand. I am doing this for us. For us to be free. Free from fear. Wouldn’t it be something incredible ? To be able to do something for ourselves ? Be who we want to be ?"

She could almost hear him chuckle...Though there was still wrath in his tone...

"Don't preach the Force, soldier. Don't preach about freedom...Or happiness...Or...Or about anything else...."

His anger was evident...Even if he was trying to...To conceal it...

"You have gone rogue, soldier."

His voice was harsh.

"And if you do not come back this instant, I will come and destroy what remains of your life, myself."

At her refusal to obey his orders, Hux's face contorted in rage, his teeth bared in a snarl. "You traitorous worm," he spat out, his voice shaking with anger. "You dare to defy me ? You will pay for your disobedience."

He clenched his fists at his sides, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. "You think you can hide from me ? You think you can outrun me ?" he continued, his voice rising in volume. "You are a fool ! I will find you, JR-6025, and you will regret the day you decided to cross me. Come back now. And I might forgive your obvious mistake."

"…Sir. I…" She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "I wish I could. I said I believed in you and that I would always be loyal to you. But, I want…I want to be happy, sir. I want to…I want to give us the choices we were deprived all our lives."

At her words, Hux's anger seethed even hotter. "You think you can give me choices ? You think you can be happy ?" he spat out with loathing. "You are nothing but a soldier, JR-6025. You do not get to make decisions. You obey orders. That is your purpose. And I order you to come back now. You are a stormtrooper. A machine. A tool...Nothing else."

He was gritting his teeth and his eyes were almost burning her.

"You do not understand love. You do not understand the Force. And you definitely do not understand happiness."

He laughed as he said it...

"The only thing a stormtrooper should know is obedience."

Hux felt a deep sense of betrayal growing inside him. She had disobeyed him, had gone against everything they had ever stood for, had turned her back on him and the First Order, all for what ? Her own freedom ?

He was furious...And his anger only grew as he heard the words coming out of her mouth.

"You are nothing but a tool." And now he wasn't even trying to hide his rage. "You have no free will. No desires. You exist to serve the First Order."

Those words hurt her deeply and she sighed as she knew the next words would cost her even more.

"…Then how come I think I fell in love with you ?"

There was suddenly a deafening silence.

"What...did you just say ?" he asked in a quiet voice, his jaw hanging open in disbelief.

She remained silent. They both stood in silence, the transmission filled with a palpable tension. Hux was speechless...He felt his heart freeze for a split second...

Did she just...Did she actually say what he thought she said ? His eyes darted around as he struggled to hear the sound of his own thoughts.

"What..." He said finally, quietly. "...Did you just say...you...."

He was stuttering, trying to process this information. She smiled weakly at his stuttering. She was shaking herself. She just wanted him to see her as something else than just a stormtrooper.

"…I think I fell in love with you."

If she was expecting a reaction from him...She got it. Silence...Followed by a deep breath as his hands started quivering. She had just said the words...The words that he had feared the most. That the feeling he was holding on to...That was growing with each passing day...Was real. She had admitted that...She...She did fell in love...With him. And he felt his heart skip a beat.

But, he quickly composed himself and his eyes let no emotion show.

Finally, Hux spoke again. "Did you...really think that I would abandon my plans for you ?" he asked, his voice low and ominous.

He took a step closer to the transmission device, his face mere inches from hers. "You're a valuable asset," he continued. "Something to use and manipulate for my own gain. You're nothing more than that."

His words cut like a blade. She had been prepared for a negative reaction, but this...It hit her in a way she had never expected.

She was nothing.

Just a tool to him.

Just something to be used and discarded.

Just something...Something he had never really seen as...as a person.

JR-6025's heart sank. She had held onto the hopes that he felt the same way for her. Maybe it was her naivety or just pure foolishness. But still...She had held onto hope...

But all of that shattered at his cold words...

"…Yes, sir," Her voice was void of any emotions as she said it...He could sense the emotions in her voice. Even if she had tried to hide it, he could figure out how hurt she was. How she felt like she had been betrayed. And how her heart was broken.

"You thought I loved you..." He said softly, almost whispering. "You thought we were in love."

"You kissed me, general." She reminded him.

His eyes snapped up as soon as she reminded him of that. The kiss they had shared...It felt like an eternity ago.

"That was..." He said slowly, seemingly searching for the right words. "A lapse in judgment." His tone was dismissive...But that was far from the truth.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Right…Of course."

She sounded sarcastic.

And maybe she was.

General Hux had hoped that...That by dismissing that kiss, he would break her in such a way that he could make her come back. She would run back to him...Back to the safety of his arms and the First Order.

But something told him that that would not be the case.

Hux glowered at her, his anger and frustration at an all-time high.

How dare she bring up that moment of weakness ? How dare she make him feel like a fool ?

He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning white with the strain. His voice was low and seething with fury. "That was a mistake," he said, spitting out the words as if they were poison. "One I won't make again."

The bitterness in his voice was impossible to miss. Her eyes watered and she smiled weakly.

"A mistake…I see. Right. Just a mistake."

She sighed.

"Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it was a mistake. Perhaps that kiss meant nothing to you. And perhaps I am just a traitor. But…I will still see this through. I will see that future that I want. With or without your help."

She stood up and stared right at general Hux.

"I will not be returning, sir."

He seethed and shouted.

"You DARE to disobey me ?! To leave your unit, your duty to the First Order ?!"

His anger was overflowing...He was almost shaking with rage.

"Do you know what will happen to you if you do not come back ? Do you have any idea ?" He asked and shook his head in disbelief.

What an idiot…

"I don't care." She said simply, her eyes watering from the rage and pain she felt. "Whatever you do to me...You can't hurt me more than you've already hurt me."

Hux looked at her, his anger and disbelief growing in him with each one of her words. His hands were shaking and he could feel his pulse rise, making it clear of how furious he was.

"I won't ask again..." He said through gritted teeth, taking a step towards his communication device. "Where are you, JR-6025 ?"

She didn’t answer.

A cold rage began to simmer within him, building slowly until it seemed like it might burst out of him. "If you won't come back," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "then I promise you I will find you. And when I do, you will wish you had never been born."

The threat hung in the air like a dark cloud. "Do you think you can run from me ?" he continued, his voice starting to shake with anger. "Do you think you'll be able to hide ? I have resources at my disposal that you can't even begin to imagine. You will never be safe."

There were no emotions inside his voice now...Only pure cold anger.

She was defying him.

She was leaving him...

And she was choosing to live her life according to her own terms.

And in that moment...He hated her.

"You will regret every passing minute that you stayed away from me." He growled. "You will look back at your decision to disobey me as the worst mistake of your pathetic life. And when that time comes...I will not let you out of my sight ever again."

She felt the tears beginning to fall from her eyes. It hurt to hear the words coming out of his mouth. She had heard him threaten and intimidate others in the past...But this hit different...This time it was her that he was doing it to...All the anger, all the hate he hid behind his words. She was feeling it now...

"I won't return." She said, her tone breaking.

Armitage's heart was in pain now.

His fists shaking...

"It's treason, then."

He raised his right hand, pointing his finger directly at the holographic image of JR-6025. He then yelled with a hateful voice, with all his might.

"JR-6025, you are to be executed for your crimes ! And I, General Armitage Hux, will personally see to it ! Do you hear me ?" He sentenced and she closed her eyes. She knew it was coming, but she had still hoped that somehow she could be spared the heartbreak. General Hux’s chest was rising up and down...His breath short...His face red...

"Yes, sir." She said with a broken voice. The fear was in her eyes now...The desperation. She knew she didn't have much time left. She knew that once he ended the transmission, that the hunt for her would begin.

Yet still...She couldn't bring herself to say anything else right now. Her words of love weren't enough to deter his rage...Her declaration to find her own path meant nothing to him now...

He lowered his hand slowly, his breathing still quick and ragged. His face was twisted into a snarl. She could see the veins in his neck bulging under his skin. It was as if all the rage and frustration he had been bottling up had exploded out of him in one vicious burst of anger.

He stared at her through the holocomm link. "You will pay," he said in a guttural snarl. "You will pay for betraying the First Order. Mark my words."

She didn't dare to say a word as he yelled at her.

She didn't dare to look away either...

She knew that doing so would mean a lot worse than his threats.

So she just kept her eyes locked on his face.

Listening to the rage, to the words...And just letting it happen.

She didn't even try to stop the tears that were coming out of her eyes...

His face was cold and calculating. No trace of sympathy, pity, or pity. Only malice.

"You made your choice. Now suffer the consequences. I will see to it that your death is slow and painful," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You will regret the day you chose to turn your back on the First Order."

There was a glint in his eyes.

A dangerous glint.

That glint...That was not something anyone would want to experience. It meant death and torture...

"I don't want to die..." She said quietly.

The words were barely audible, almost a whisper. But he heard her. His face showed no emotions as he answered, his voice still angry and vengeful.

"You should have thought about that before you disobeyed me."

gritted her teeth.

"So be it."

"So be it," he repeated, his voice filled with venom. "I hope you're ready for what's coming, JR-6025. Because the end is near."

He was about to turn off the transmission, his face a mask of anger and hatred. He stood there in the darkness, his fists clenched at his sides, seething with rage.

"You are right. The end is near. For this STUPID war !" She stood up and went face-to-face with the hologram of General Hux. "I will put an end to this war. I WILL save you. Even if I have to drag you to reason with my own hands !"

Hux's fists were clenched, his face contorted with hatred. He was breathing heavily. His whole body was shaking with rage.

"You will do NOTHING," he spat out. "You are NOTHING but a TRAITOR. A DISOBEDIENT TOOL ! And you will pay for your crimes. I'll make sure of that."

He took a step closer towards the hologram, his face mere inches away from hers.

"I WILL save you, General Hux." She stated with complete conviction. Her eyes didn't flinch and she refused to break his gaze.

"I will not let you die in this pointless war."

Her voice was a mix of anger and desperation, but it also carried the sound of certainty.

"I said you will do NOTHING !" He screamed, his voice filled with pure hatred and rage. There was no more control in his tone, just a rage filled torrent of words, all dripping with spite and malice.

He felt like he was losing himself...

"Says who ?! You ?!" She laughed. "I am FREE ! I am free, general Hux. And I have thrown away EVERYTHING that ever made me a stormtrooper ! I am no longer under your control…I will NEVER be again."

"You are NOT free. And you NEVER will be...." He screamed, the hatred in his tone palpable. "I will never allow you to be free...Do you understand me ?"

There was nothing but pure contempt in his voice...Just pure, undiluted rage.

"I am myself ! I am FINALLY myself ! I shall NEVER go back to the First Order ! Not for you ! Not for Kylo Ren ! Not for ANYONE !" She raised her voice again and dared face him.

The look on his face was nothing short of pure rage. "You are nothing but a traitor," he snarled. "You will never be free. You belong to the First Order. You BELONG to ME."

His breathing was heavier now. His eyes were burning into hers with a cold, menacing stare.

"I belong to NO-ONE..." She shouted back. Her voice was a mix of outrage and sorrow. She was standing firm, standing her ground against the General of the First Order, against the man she thought she loved, her arms were tight against her sides and her eyes were locked to his like a vice. "I will not be controlled...Not by the First Order...! Not by you...! I will not—"

Armitage's eyes were narrowed into slits, his face contorted with hatred. The veins in his neck bulged with the force of his rage. "You're a traitor," he spat at her. "A traitor to the First Order. A traitor to all of us. You will be hunted down like the animal you are."

She chuckled at the irony.

"Me ? An animal ? No, general. I am human. But, you wouldn’t know much about that, would you ?"

Hux's lips curled into a smile, but only for a moment. Then he sneered. "You're wrong. I would know. I know you like the back of my hand, JR-6025. You're nothing but a pawn. A puppet. A slave. And you always will be."

"…Not yours." She smiled. "Not anymore."

Hux stood there, his fists clenched, his face contorted with rage. His chest rose and fell as he tried his best to control himself. He hated her at that moment. He hated her with a pure, deep hatred. And it was a feeling he'd never felt before: pure, white-hot fury. He could feel it coursing through him like liquid fire.

This was no ordinary anger. This was a primal, animalistic feeling, rooted in a deep, bitter resentment. He wanted to hurt her. He wanted to make her suffer.

"I will find you..." He growled out, his tone devoid of the emotion that he tried to hide in other interactions.

"And, when I do...I will inflict pain that you will not be able to imagine." His expression was cold as ice. His voice was sharp, his words were precise. It was like a promise...And it was one he meant to keep. "Don't you dare think that you can get away from me."

Her smiled faltered at his threats and she sighed. She used to want nothing more than his approval and now…she felt as if there was nothing left to say.

"I wanted to believe in you. The Force knows I tried !" She shook her head. "I wanted to believe that you were the greatest leader the First Order had and would even see…but you disappointed me, general Hux."

She sighed.

"…You made me think that I could be more than I was. And I resent you for that."

He gripped his own transmitter and shouted.

"I don't give a DAMN about what you think of me," he spat out. The fire in his eyes was like nothing she'd ever seen before. It was a primal, animal-like rage, fueled by a hatred so intense it seemed to radiate off of him. "I don't care about you. All I care about is power and the First Order."

He took a step closer, his fists clenched so tightly it seemed like they might burst from the strain.

"You're nothing to me."

Her heart ached and she restrained tears.

"…Well then…I guess there is nothing left to say now, is there ?"

"No." He said quietly. "There isn't."

The bitterness in his voice was palpable. The hatred and disdain he felt for her was nearly overwhelming...And she could tell. She could sense how much he despised her in this moment...He was about to end the transmission...He just wanted to say one last thing.

"If you're smart...You'll go into hiding and pray that I don't find you." Hux was silent for a moment, his breathing heavy and ragged. He was angry, extremely angry, but he couldn't seem to find the words to express it. He could feel his hands shaking with rage, his heart pounding in his chest, and his vision was blurry with hot, angry tears. But he just couldn't bring himself to say anything. Instead, all he could do was stand there, seething, as his body tensed with anger and frustration. He wanted to hit something, to kick something, to break something. But he just couldn't. He just stood there, shaking.

"Goodbye. Sir." She said and took a shaky breath.

There was a moment of silence, and then General Hux said in a cold, calculating voice, "Goodbye. Traitor."

He snapped the connection off.

She was left staring at the now blank hologram, her face set in a hard expression as her heart ached from the things he had said. The General's cruel words had left her feeling more than just hurt...They had stung her in a way she didn't think was possible. Her breathing was heavy...Her hands were shaking...And she could feel the hot tears running down her cheeks.

"Goodbye. Traitor."

Those were the last words he had said to her...And they echoed in her mind. JR decided to get out of her hut and walk towards the ocean. After a while, she smiled. JR continued to stare at the ocean as she smiled, the feeling of freedom washing over her.

She felt it, and she embraced it.

She let the rain come down on her, feeling every drop against her skin as if it was a part of her.

The feeling of the water running down her hair was like a rebirth...

She was not just free of the First Order...

She was free...

Free to be who she chose...

Free to find her own path...

Free to live at last.

But then, a voice behind them startled her.

"Having fun ?" She turned around and saw Luke standing there, his blue eyes staring fixedly at her. She looked next to her for Chewbacca, but found that he had already left. She sighed. Of course.

"What is it to you ?" She replied defensively—her brows furrowed and her arms crossed over her chest. "Last time I checked, the island didn’t belong to you."

He startled her once more by chuckling and shaking his head.

"You’re right. But, I remember clearly telling you that stormtroopers aren’t welcome." His features softened as he looked behind her at the sea. "But, you really aren’t a stormtrooper anymore, are you ?"

He waited for an answer and she asked herself the question. Was she ? After a moment, she smiled and shaked her head.

"No. I am not." She admitted truthfully and Luke humphed thoughtfully in response.

"Alright then. Follow me." He told her before walking away—not giving her the time to follow him easily. After a moment, she almost ran after him.

"Hey ! Wait up !" She called out for him—but he pretended not to hear her. She was certain the old man smiled a couple of times when she almost slipped in her eagerness to catch up.

"One more student will be joining us today." He simply declared to Rey who looked back and was taken aback by seeing JR-6025. But, she eventually smiled and JR-6025 smiled back before wordlessly sitting down next to her.

JR listened intently with a curious look on her face. Rey looked at JR and the happiness of her smile was contagious. Rey then gave her a quick nod, and JR smiled back in return. JR then turned to Luke, her face full of curiosity.

"One more student ?"

Luke nodded.

"I believe you have a gift. Kylo Ren communicated with you through your mind. He couldn’t have created such a link with you if you weren’t at least a little Force sensitive…"

"A gift...?" JR repeated, her brows furrowing. "You mean that I could learn to use the Force...?"

Luke sighed.

"That…remains to be seen. Your connection to the Force is weaker than Rey. But, it is there."

"But...even a little bit of the Force is still the Force, right...?" JR's question may have sounded childish, but she was just so excited that the Force might have been within her grasp. She wanted to have a special connection to the Force, to learn to manipulate it...

To learn to use it...

She would have to work hard if she wanted to be able to use the Force. The idea was intimidating, but she was eager to learn and explore her potential.

"Will...will you teach me...?"

Luke looked at her for a moment before asking:

"Would you let me ? Even though you know now that I am not the hero you thought I was ?"

JR took a moment to think...She could not deny her disappointment in Luke...But, she could also understand his reasons...In the end, she nodded.

"Yes...I would still let you teach me."

JR thought for a few moments before looking back at Luke. She paused a moment, before she continued.

"You may not be the hero I once thought you were. But, the Force called me here for a reason, and if I am truly sensitive to it, then I need to know how to use it."

She smiled at Luke.

"So, please teach me."

"Alright. Then, I will train you. But, beware. Your training will be as hard or even harder than Rey’s. Are you ready for it ?" Luke asked.

JR nodded firmly, her eyes shining brightly.

"Yes. I am ready."

Luke nodded and Rey smiled.

And hence, JR-6025’s training started. The former stormtrooper was now learning to harness the very power that she had never fully understood. She was ready and willing to learn as she had never been before. This was the start of a whole new world for her. One with peace, wisdom, truth, and enlightenment instead of war and pain.

JR was a very dedicated student. She had been raised for harsh conditions and so, Luke's training felt challenging but not impossible. The only thing that she seemed to have trouble with was meditation. She had never enjoyed sitting passively and allowing things to simply happen around her. She was used to acting and being active.

Rey tried to help her when it came to wielding a lightsaber and both women were trying to help each other during meditation and encouraging each other.

Over time, as JR's training progressed, she began to develop a strong bond of friendship with Rey. They would often encourage and support each other during training and even in their daily lives on the island.

The both of them had never felt like they belonged anywhere before, but now they found comfort in their friendship, knowing that they were in the same boat.

JR and Rey worked hard during training and both grew closer and more confident as the days went on. They would talk to each other during breaks and would often try to teach each other things they were good at.

They also made a habit of sharing small jokes and stories of their pasts when they weren't training or meditating. JR and Rey had become fast friends and both seemed to find comfort in the company of the other.

JR slowly began to learn to find peace within herself...To find that sense of calm that allowed her to access the Force. The training was hard and the meditation was exhausting, but the patience and support that Rey provided made it all that much easier to bear.

JR's bond with Rey was growing stronger with each passing day, and she was grateful to have someone who understood her and who she could trust to help her on her journey.

They were both growing in their skills and their understanding of the Force, and their friendship was a source of strength and support for each of them.

Early one morning, Rey and JR woke up and prepare themselves for their first lesson with Luke Skywalker. They both found him sitting on a rock—waiting.

"Sit."

They obeyed. Luke finally opened his eyes to look at them.

"Tell me. What is your goal ? What would you do if you were to learn to wield the Force ?"

"...The goal...?" JR repeated, her voice almost a whisper...She had taken a long time to understand that word again...She had never been taught to have goals...The First Order had only ever taught her to do whatever they told her...What was HER goal...? Was that even a question for her...

She looked around. At the sea...At the birds and the sky. She felt the wind in her hair...She felt so...free.

"…To catch the sun." She murmured. "And let it lead me to a better life."

She was silent for a couple of seconds...She would never have thought that in her darkest days...She would ever have that thought...She had not had a life worth living...

One of her own.

One that was free from fear.

One where she could do and be what she wanted.

The thought was not foreign to her, but never had she disclosed it so openly before. It was strange, but also satisfying. It was as if someone had finally opened a door—a door that she didn't even know existed until now.

The door of possibilities...

Skywalker smiled and nodded shortly before looking at Rey.

"And you ?"

Rey also looked at him. Her expression was similar to JR's as she thought about it. She was silent for a long time...

"...To...To find my place..." She said after a while. Her voice was almost a whisper. "To find where I belong..."

He nodded before giving them both stones.

"Keep that thought and concentrate on what you want. Those stones will turn your thoughts into energy…"

JR held the stone and she focused on that dream she had.

I want to be free. Live freely. Be myself.

...And the stone glowed...

It glowed a bright purple while Rey’s stone shone a light blue. Skywalker smiled.

"Alright. Those stones will serve you in building your lightsabers when you are ready. Take them as representations of your souls."

JR looked down at the stone. She looked at it in wonder...It was purple. Why was it purple ? Was that really the colour of her soul ?

...Her identity...?

"This is...mine ?" She mumbled as the stone glowed brighter.

"Yes. And they will help you whenever you feel the pull of the Dark Side. To stay and remember yourselves and who you want to be." Luke Skywalker confirmed and JR smiled as she caressed the stone with the tip of her thumb.

JR looked at the stone in awe and wondered about the meaning behind its color.

Purple ?

She had never heard of a purple lightsaber before, but then again, she had been raised to believe that Jedi only used green and blue lightsabers. The idea of her own color was exciting to her.

She turned to look at Rey and her stone, noticing it was blue.

Blue like Master Skywalker's lightsaber...

She smiled, feeling a sense of unity with Rey.

"Now, you will be tested. The stone will lead your path. Just remember that whatever you see and whatever happens, you have to get back."

JR frowned and was about to ask back from what when Luke threw black sand in the air and suddenly, the two women fell asleep.

"Close your eyes and fight against the Dark Side that is trying to control your mind…" She heard Luke Skywalker tell them before she blacked out completely.

JR closed her eyes and let herself go into a deep trance. She was aware of the dark side, and it called to her. Her thoughts began to wander and the images in her mind became more and more intense until they became vivid and disturbing...She saw herself on the bridge of a First Order starship, and her voice rang out.

"Fire."

As the Star Destroyer fired its cannons into the side of a New Republic ship, destroying it, her voice continued...

"Fire again."

"No ! No !" She screamed at herself to stop—but the other her didn’t as she mercilessly kept ordering the troops to fire.

"No ! Stop !" She tried to scream, but the voice was louder now and getting more overpowering with every word she said...The star destroyer kept firing, destroying the New Republic ship. The bridge crew of the First Order vessel just followed her command.

"Keep firing." And she couldn't control her hand...The troopers were going into panic and shouting "No" and begging her to stop, but there she was, as their commander, ordering them to continue firing...

Her mind was suddenly filled by darkness and a dark place took over…the place where nightmares and lies took shape. JR and Rey needed answers, and JR knew she didn't have the time to get them by any other means…She took a big gulp of air before entering the dark place that she feared.

She firstly saw Finn and Poe. She smiled and ran to hug them.

"Finn. Poe. Oh…I’m so glad to see you both."

But, she immediately felt as if something was wrong. She took a few steps back and saw that both men were glaring at her.

"…Traitor." They both said in unison and her eyes widened.

"W-What ?"

Poe and Finn walked towards her and their eyes only translated loathing at her. She shivered and she felt cold sweat run down her back. She kept backing away as their voices grew louder as they kept saying the same word again and again.

"Traitor. Traitor. TRAITOR !"

She fell backwards and her very soul felt sucked in by the darkness—her throat constricted by the darkness which sipped through every inch of her body. She tried to scream—but no sound came out.

Finn and Poe kept approaching her. They were growing bigger and larger with every step they took, their faces contorting with rage and anger as they kept shouting at her:

"TRAITOR ! TRAITOR !"

She fell backwards and everything went dark. Her throat was constricted, her legs felt like lead. She couldn't breathe or scream. Her soul felt like it was being sucked into the void of darkness that was taking over her...

She closed her eyes and once she opened them again, she saw a version of herself with a bog grin on her face and who quickly went to hug Lord Kylo Ren.

"We did it ! Ben ! We saved them ! All of them !"

JR saw herself scream excitedly, throwing herself in his arms while he laughed. She smiled. But then, JR’s smile dropped when she saw the Ben Solo of her vision turn pale and die in her arms. Suddenly, Ben slowly slid to the floor, but her doppelgänger got a hold of him and shook her head.

"No..NO !"

He smiled at her with half-closed eyes and touched her cheek tenderly. The real JR started crying and tried to get to Ben, but couldn’t.

"No ! I can fix this ! We can fix this ! Rey ! Rey !" Her doppelgänger cried out and Ben took her hand and shook his head with a weak smile.

"I gave my life for her…"

Her dream version looked back at him and sobbed.

"No…Why ?"

He smiled again and stroked her cheek tenderly before replying.

​​​​​​"Because, that's who I am. An idiot. An idiot to have followed such a dark path, an idiot for being blinded by my rage…And an idiot for letting you in. For letting you change me…but thank you. Thank you for letting me be Ben again."

JR waited for him to say something else, anything…But when she opened her eyes again, she was met with lifeless eyes…Ben Solo was dead. The image of his dead eyes following JR out of the vision itself.

She looked at the vision in horror as she watched her doppelgänger sob over Ben Solo's lifeless body. She heard the darkness whisper to her...It spoke of her deepest fear...Of the possibility that she had caused the death of someone she cared for...Of the fact that she might have been the one to hurt Ben...

"No...No..." She uttered in realization. She tried to walk to the vision, to help, to do something...But, the vision did not respond. It just continued to play regardless of what she tried to do.

"No ! No ! There must be another way !"

JR was horrified by the vision, she felt like she was witnessing a nightmare come true. However, JR quickly noticed that the vision seemed to be affecting her, and she knew she needed to resist the darkness that was trying to take hold of her mind.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing all her energy on the purple stone that she had been given. She could feel the stone's energy spreading through her body, giving her strength and helping her resist the darkness. She remembered the lessons that she had been taught about the Force, about maintaining a connection to the light.

"Resist...Resist...Resist."

Why is this vision so painful...?

JR felt more than she ever had. A pain that went deeper than the wounds that had been inflicted upon her during her time serving the First Order…A pain that was deeper than anything she had ever felt before…It was a despair and grief that was so profound, so intense that it felt as if it was tearing apart her soul…It was so powerful, so overwhelming, that she couldn’t even bring herself to move…To run away…And she couldn’t stop crying either.

JR couldn't breathe, couldn't move. She was completely paralyzed by her worst fears. She couldn't resist the images the vision showed to her.

All sorts of possibilities were playing in her head. Was it possible that she would cause Ben's death ?

The darkness had seeped deep into her and spread like poison throughout her, corrupting her mind and making her thoughts distorted and irrational.

She tried to focus on the stone, but it felt as if the darkness was getting stronger and the stone weaker...

"…Hello, JR-6025." A voice called behind her and her breath hitched.

No…Not him. Please.

She closed her eyes and slowly turned around to find general Hux standing there.

"So…this is the end ?" He asked, not seeming particularly shocked or scared while JR was wondering what was going on. He even smiled when she faced him.

"General…I…What ?" She asked—confused. But then, her eyes looked down to see that she had a blaster in her hand—pointed at him.

"Well…I suppose that it was inevitable. If it's of any consolation, I'm happy that it's you. It makes it all the more…personal, don’t you think ?"

JR couldn't believe what she was seeing. General Hux, the one who had commanded her and the other stormtroopers for so long, was standing there smiling at her despite the gun in her hand. The thought of shooting him made her feel sick to her stomach. But he seemed unfazed, almost as if he welcomed death.

"I...I don't understand. Why are you so calm about this?" JR asked, her voice shaking.

General Hux shrugged slightly. "I've always known that this day might come. It makes it easier to accept when you're ready for it."

He looked around, the smile not leaving his face.

"I've had a good run. It was good while it lasted. But, I never was made to be in charge forever...was I ?" JR felt tears run down her cheeks, her hand shaking.​​​​​​ He chuckled and raised his arms. "Come on, JR. You know that if you don't pull that trigger, it's me who will kill you. I am ready. Are you ?"

JR's eyes were wide with shock, her arm shaking, her finger just centimeters from the trigger. She didn't know what to do...A part of her wanted to fire the weapon, to finally end this man's life, the man who had been so cruel to her and had done so many unspeakable things against the innocent people of the galaxy...But another part of her couldn't bring herself to do it.

All she felt was pain. Suffocating sadness...And despair...

​​​​​​"It's not fair ! I never wanted this ! Any of this !" She cried out.

General Hux's smile was still there, cold and calculated, but with a hint of sadness behind his eyes.

"It rarely is," he replied, "But this is the nature of things. Life is not fair. War is not fair. And we are merely pawns in a game far larger than ourselves."

He looked at the blaster in JR's hand and sighed. "So are you going to just stand there, or are you going to finish this ?"

Hux's face showed a rare moment of compassion, unlike the cruelty she had always seen in him. It was clear that he understood the pain and turmoil she was going through...

He stepped forward, his arms out as if to embrace her...

"It's okay..."

His voice was gentle, comforting....

"No. No, it’s not. It’s not." She shook her head and tried to lower the blaster—but she couldn’t.

There was a moment of complete silence, broken only by her sobbing and the sounds of the wind and the rain.

General Hux looked at her, his eyes full of acceptance.

"It's alright."

JR's hand trembled as she raised the blaster's aim, pointing directly at General Hux's chest. She couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger...

"I want to hate you. I want to hate you, but I can’t." She cried harder. "It would be so much easier…"

He chuckled. "I understand. Believe me, I know what it feels like to want to hate someone and yet be unable to do so."

He took another step closer to her, his chest just centimeters away from the blaster.

"Go ahead. Pull the trigger," he said softly, "and end this."

"No."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound being the sound of JR crying. General Hux placed his hand on top of hers, steadying her shaking arm.

"JR...do what you must."

Those words broke something inside of her. All her hatred, all her pain, all her sadness came crashing down like a tidal wave, overwhelming her, and in that moment, she knew what she had to do.

"I can’t. I can’t kill you. I can’t. I…" She stopped herself and looked at him. "Please. There must be another way. I can’t…do this. Please. Please."

General Hux's expression softened slightly. He understood what she was saying, and he wished more than anything else that there had been another way...

But there wasn't...

He moved closer, placing his hand over hers on top of the blaster.

"Sometimes in life, there are no choices."

He took a step towards her and suddenly, JR pulled the trigger unintentionally. He was thrown backwards because of the force of the blast and, in his final moment, forced himself to smile at JR—blood dripping from his mouth.

​​​​​​"Goodbye, JR-6025."

He collapsed and JR’s gun fell to the floor. She took a step back. This was a nightmare. She wanted to wake up…

"Nooo !" She screamed and quickly threw the blaster away and dropped to her knees—pulling his body close to hers. "Please. No. Stay. Stay with me. Don’t go."

JR held onto his body, tears rolling down her cheeks as she begged for him to stay with her, but it was too late. General Hux was gone. She was left alone, holding onto his lifeless body, with nothing but her pain and grief to keep her company. She had hated him for so long, but now...all she felt was sadness. All she felt was the pain of losing someone she had never expected to care about.

Her pleas were ignored as he lay there, unmoving.

JR held onto his body, tears rolling down her face as she realized that he was gone. "No...please...come back..."

She continued to hold onto him tightly and shake him, hoping beyond hope that somehow, someway, he would open his eyes and look back at her once more…

But he didn't. He remained still in the darkness at her feet…cold and quiet.

She pulled his body close to hers, cradling his head on her shoulder and cried for what felt like hours until she couldn't anymore. The darkness that had been surrounding her was slowly starting to become less oppressive...and more welcoming...In the darkness, JR could feel the Dark Side growing and feeding off every negative emotion she had been feeling over the course of her life. It was like a bottomless pit that was willing to take all the suffering inside of her. Her thoughts grew distorted and she felt the cold, soothing embrace of the darkness as it enveloped her, comforting her pain and her tears.

She couldn't see anything and her thoughts grew even more warped as she felt like she was falling deeper into this pit...

"Resistance scum !" JR suddenly heard and looked around to find herself surrounded by the shadows. She narrowed her eyes as she saw red light coming through the dense dark fog. She barely managed to get out of the way as a red lightsaber almost cut off her head. She backed away and saw a dark-hooded figure stand forward. JR was panting as her heart squeezed in fear as the hooded figure stood before her and revealed its face.

Rey.

Her red eyes were looking down at her and she sneered.

"Surprised ? Of course you are...I finally took my rightful place as the Empress ! As Ren wanted. As YOU wanted. Aren’t you proud of me, JR ?The Resistance is crushed…And all that is left of it is you."

JR shook her head in disbelief as she thought about Poe, Finn and Leia…

"No. It…It can't be."

Rey laughed evilly before looking back at her disdainfully.

"How ironic, the traitor becomes the last one standing…Tell me, how does it feel to lose everything ? To have failed to save anyone, you couldn't even save your precious general Hux, of course you couldn't save me, or Ben or anyone.."

JR's heart nearly stopped at the image of Rey standing before her, a sinister and evil grin on her face, her lightsaber glowing an ominous red.

She couldn't believe it...it wasn't possible...

But the cruel, cold, and calculating look in her eyes told her everything she needed to know...

The darkness had claimed Rey, and now her only friend in the galaxy had become her worst enemy. The girl she thought she could trust and rely on had turned into a monster...and she was here to kill her.

"You are nothing but a nightmare ! An hallucination ! An apparition here to make me fall into despair and fear !" JR shouted and gritted her teeth before slowly standing up. She felt the darkness starting to wrap its tendrils around her mind, its cold touch making her shudder. However, she pushed it back with all her will, holding onto the light deep inside her. She stood tall...facing her nightmare head on...

"You think you're going to break me...but you're not. I won't let you ! I'm stronger than you give me credit for...I'm not done fighting !"

The apparition of Rey looked at her with hateful eyes. "You're right. I'm nothing but smoke and a dream. But that does not mean that what I say has no truth to it. I am just telling you what you already know. That your efforts were in vain. That you have failed everyone."

JR covered her ears while yelling.

​​​​​​"No ! Stop it !"

Rey’s voice entered her mind and JR felt her fingers dig into her shoulders.

"You thought you were a hero ? You are just a traitor…A failure. How could a traitor ever become a hero ?"

Rey’s voice distorted to resemble a mix of all the voices of the people she ever cared about…They were all repeating the same word—over and over.

Traitor.

"Please…No more." JR sobbed and sank to the floor. She had only ever wished to protect those she cared about. But by doing so, she had become a traitor to both sides. A spy from the First Order and a rebellious stormtrooper. She belong to both sides, and neither…She felt their voices in her head—accusatory and terrifying.

She felt lost.

She had already felt the pull on each side, but she was incapable of choosing. She had always complained about not having a choice, but once face with one—she found herself doubting. She didn’t know who or what to choose.

"Please…Someone…Help me. Tell me what to do." She uttered in a weak whisper and her tears doubled as she realised that no matter what—she had been conditioned to never be able to make a choice. She wasn’t capable of it. She wanted free will, but what was the point when picking a side would end up hurting the people she cared about ?

She felt such pain in her chest that she screamed—for anyone to hear her. She wanted someone to stop her inner bleeding and the conflict raging within her.

All of her fears were amplified by the illusion's voices and the darkness around her. The voices of the people she cared about repeated a single word over and over in her head: traitor.

Her failure to save anyone, to make a choice, to have a place on either side...it crushed the last bit of light she was trying to hold on to.

She felt like she was being pulled in different directions by these voices and it was too much for her to handle. She was losing touch with reality and felt like she was losing control...

Unbeknownst to her, in different parts of the galaxy, people heard her call.

Kylo Ren heard it so loud and clear that he fell backwards in shock as her scream reverberated through his head like a siren call. It was so loud and strident that he was momentarily stunned as he looked around for the source of the sound—only to find no one.

"…JR-6025." General Hux uttered in a whisper—her scream having reached even him. For the first time, he felt genuinely worried. It had been days without any transmission from JR-6025 and that scream made him ball his knuckles into fists. Where are you, JR-6025 ?

At the Resistance camp, Leia, Poe and Finn all heard her call and felt her pain. It made them immediately react. Finn stood up and his heart was beating a thousand times a minute as he felt her helplessness.

"Poe ! That was…" Finn started and Poe nodded.

"Yeah. I heard it too." He was breathless too. So much fear.

"We need to go get them." Finn said. They both turned towards Leia who remained impassive as she spoke up.

"Rey and JR are in good hands. Trust in Luke. Trust in the Force."

Back in the cave

The voices in JR’s head grew so loud with everyone hearing and feeling her pain, she was drowning in it, and the voices were starting to sound like a loud ringing in her ears that was making her head spin. The dark entity's whispers were now deafening and she couldn't hold on to any other thoughts. She felt her arms reaching out, reaching up, searching blindly for someone to come save her...

The darkness seemed to be closing in around her, its tendrils reaching for her mind...But she fought back...She closed her eyes and began to recite a Jedi mantra that she had learned from Luke Skywalker.

"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony." JR could feel the darkness slowly starting to recede...And in that moment, she felt a sudden rush of relief. Luke and Rey had also heard her call. Rey was about to wake her up—but Luke stopped her.

"No. Let her face her fears." He then turned towards JR and whispered. "Use the Force, child. Use the stone. Remember your goal. Remember…"

JR heard his voice and gritted her teeth before retrieving the stone and tightening her grasp on it. Suddenly, she felt the Force surge through her and when her eyes opened, she no longer held a stone—but a lightsaber. It lit up and she held it up in the air—chasing the shadows away.

A beam of light shone through the dark fog; a hope in the dark. JR’s eyes widened as she felt a surge of energy. She held her lightsaber up in the air, feeling its powers coursing through her body and through the air itself. The dark clouds scattered away beneath her presence like paper. As the dark haze lifted, the figures surrounding her all stepped back in fear at the sudden light. They watched as it cleared away, and all of them could see that she was now holding a lightsaber of her own—a bright beam of light piercing through the darkness.

The dark tendrils and shadows were now pushed back and she was feeling their fear and surprise. She gripped the lightsaber tightly and was now standing tall, the light from her blade illuminating her face.

She wasn’t a traitor who failed and couldn't choose anymore. She was someone who was strong and not afraid to face their fears.

The dark forces had backed away, seeing the light that had always been inside her.

She was in control...

The apparitions looked at her in surprise, their forms flickering in the light of her saber.

"Impossible," the Rey apparition whispered, "How are you doing this ?"

JR didn't answer, but instead focused on the strength of the Force that was flowing through her body. She could feel the power of the light within her...and she could feel it pushing back the darkness...

JR held her lightsaber up high, its brilliant glow illuminating the darkness that surrounded her. As the light grew stronger, so did her confidence and resolve. She could feel the Force flowing through her veins, empowering her with strength, courage, and determination to press on. The darkness seemed to retreat further as she took another step forward. Then another. And another. Until finally its tendrils had vanished completely.

JR stood there for a moment, surveying her surroundings with a newfound sense of power and clarity. She had faced down her inner demons and come out victorious...

She finally opened her eyes and saw Luke staring at her. He was stunned at the power he felt within her. It wasn’t like Kylo’s or Rey’s. It was…different. A power that came from a place unknown to him. Luke looked at her with confusion and wonderment. He sensed that there was something...different about her Force sensitivity. It seemed to be a mixture of light and dark, yet somehow...in balance.

As the light grew stronger and the darkness faded to nothingness, she felt the rush of the Force more than she had ever felt it in her entire life, and it filled her with a feeling of absolute certainty and conviction.

JR's power didn't resemble Kylo's or Rey's—it was something else entirely. It came from a place of balance and harmony, a mixture of both light and dark. Something that was somehow in equilibrium...

As the apparitions faded away, and even the darkness dissipated around her, she looked at Luke in disbelief. She then looked down at the stone in her hand as it slowly stopped glowing and she smiled—tears of joy filling her eyes.

"No more fear…" She uttered in a whisper.

The stone slowly stopped glowing as all the fears and horrors that had been haunting her disappeared in silence, leaving her free to finally breathe and smile as the peace she so greatly desired settled over her.

"No more fear," she repeated with a small smile, looking down as she clutched the stone firmly in her fist, feeling its power, while she felt the light of the Force around her and through her—a new sense of clarity, certainty, and comfort that she hadn't felt in a long time...

JR smiled and looked up at Rey who smiled back. Both of their stones lighting up.

…No more fear.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #general hux x reader #kylo ren x reader #ben solo

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 18

Kylo was brutally brought back to his body on the Finalizer and gasped for air as he suddenly fell forward in front of none other than Supreme Leader Snoke himself. His master didn’t seem pleased at all as he seethed.

"What were you THINKING ?! You almost let that useless trooper sway you away from the Dark Side, Lord Ren !"

"I..." Kylo began. But Snoke didn't let him get a word out.

"You idiot ! You fool !" His rage was evident. "Did you...Did you really think that girl was worth throwing away everything ? Your legacy ? Who do you think you are ?!"

Kylo remained silent. He couldn't really say anything in his defense and he knew it.

"However...There is one good thing that came out of this...A single good thing..." He looked down on Kylo Ren. "You have just shown me something...I didn't realize..."

Supreme Leader Snoke chuckled darkly to himself.

"It would seem that that stormtrooper is more than capable than I thought she would be…" He then looked down at Kylo Ren and glared at him. "She almost destroyed all the hard work I put into shaping you into my powerful apprentice…"

"No." Kylo glared up at him. "That’ll never happen." He forced himself up, despite the weakness in his knees, despite the shaking in his hands. "...She won't break me...She won't change me..."

"I am afraid she already did, my dear apprentice. But do not worry…" The door of the throne room locked behind them. "…It will be the last time she will ever succeed into putting doubt into you."

Kylo felt a cold shiver wash over him as the door closed.

"What do you...?" He began.

Suddenly, Kylo Ren was hanging three feet away from the ground and Supreme Leader Snoke smirked evilly as he held his apprentice high above the floor and with an iron fist.

"I shall SHOW YOU why you should never turn your back on the Dark Side."

Kylo gritted his teeth as he felt himself being held up in the air. The Dark side of the Force was coursing through him as anger washed over him, and he struggled vainly to resist it.

"Please..." He whispered, more for his own sake than because he thought he could win this. "Have mercy…I will serve you...I promise..."

"SILENCE !" Supreme Leader Snoke tightened his hold on him.

Kylo screamed as his body was squeezed even tighter, the Dark side of the Force making his anger grow all the more. He let out a yell of anguish and rage as he struggled to free himself, to even just take a single breath...

"Feel ! Feel the power of the Dark Side ! Feel it ! Embrace it ! Let it feed you !" Supreme Leader Snoke commanded. Kylo's face scrunched up in pain as he felt the sheer power of the Dark side. Anger. Hate. Rage. Pain...Everything he had been suppressing for so long...It all came back a hundredfold.

He let out a grunt of pain as his struggle grew even more desperate.

"DO NOT RESIST IT !" Snoke yelled and Kylo screamed in agony, struggling with every fiber of his being...Yet still, the Dark side continued to flow...All around him...Through him...Suddenly, his grip on the Dark side...It grew stronger.

He felt himself growing even more powerful...And he also felt an urge to obey.

"Here. That’s it, apprentice." Supreme Leader Snoke smirked. Kylo gasped for breath as all the suffering he had endured faded. Now... Now, he was stronger...And he felt it. He knew it.

"Yes..." He growled, "I...I can feel its power."

"DO YOU ?! WILL YOU EVER DOUBT THE POWER OF THE DARK SIDE AGAIN ?! WILL YOU REJECT YOUR LEGACY ONCE MORE OR EMBRACE IT FULLY ?!" Snoke boomed and Kylo Ren immediately submitted.

"I embrace it." Kylo replied. "I embrace the Dark side..."

His face was a mixture of pleasure and rage as he let the power run into his soul.

"I won't let her corrupt me again..."

Supreme Leader Snoke finally released him and Lord Kylo Ren fell to the floor.

"Good. Now, get out of my sight and FIND ME SKYWALKER !"

Kylo coughed as he lay on the floor, the Dark side still flowing through his veins as he crawled to his feet. He took a deep breath as that urge...That urge to obey, to serve came back in full force.

"Yes, Supreme Leader..." He said obediently, as he made his way out the door.

A few minutes later:

General Hux frowned as he received a message from Lord Ren. He sighed before going towards Kylo Ren’s quarters.

He knocked.

"Lord Ren ?" The door opened and General Hux came inside. Kylo Ren slowly turned around to look at General Hux who had remained stoic. JR-6025 was gone. Rey was too. And yet, he was still standing. A rat. A weasel to a fault. Kylo had many things to say about General Hux—but one thing stood up above anything else…He was a survivor.

True First Order product.

"Tell me, general…After having spent so much time with her, how did it slip your notice that JR-6025 was FORCE-SENSITIVE ?!"

General Hux’s eyes widened at the news and shook his head.

"Impossible. You’re wrong. It can’t be."

General Hux had spent months with her. She had never shown any ability. She had been trained and regularly examined throughout her childhood. But what Hux meant as a fact came out as judgement in Kylo’s ears. He looked back at him and his eyes alone made General Hux realise his mistake.

"Are you questioning my words, general ?"

He gulped and shook his head.

"No, sir. I would never. I simply implied that you might have been…confused ?"

Before he could continue, Kylo Ren raised his hand and proceeded to strangle him.

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I AM CONFUSED NOW, GENERAL ?! BECAUSE I WOULD GLADLY SNAP YOUR NECK TO PROVE HOW CLEAR-MINDED I AM !", he boomed and General Hux had never missed JR-6025 more than at this very moment. It brought him flashbacks of the last time Kylo Ren had dared use the force against him. She had acted so rashly and confidently. He had mistaken it for foolishness, but oh…How he missed that foolish girl now…General Hux could only gasp for breath, his throat closing up as Lord Ren gripped it even tighter.

He couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t even fight back. He was at Lord Ren’s mercy yet again...And there was clearly no mercy to be had. He could feel his eyes start to water, and the urge to scream came back as he struggled once more.

"You…" He choked out, "You don’t have to do this…"

Ren pulled his hand away, watching Hux scramble for air. His face was red and sweaty, his uniform dishevelled and hair disheveled. He looked like a scared little boy. Ren stepped forward, his eyes burning with rage.

"How dare you question me," he spat out. "I am Lord Kylo Ren, apprentice of Supreme Leader Snoke. You will show me some respect."

"…Yes…Yes, you are..." General Hux said fearfully, trying to contain another sneeze as he desperately tried to breathe. "And I respect you...I do ! I simply..."

He coughed.

"I thought...I only thought..."

His eyes began to plead.

"I thought that you had made a mistake...That maybe she couldn’t possibly..."

"SHE IS FORCE-SENSITIVE ! AND YOU WERE THE ABSOLUTE BLINDED FOOL THAT MADE HER GO ON A SPYING MISSION WITHIN THE REBELLION !" Kylo Ren raged on and lit up his lightsaber. "YOU ABSOLUTE MORON ! YOU WASTE OF AIR !"

General Hux flinched as Ren’s lightsaber ignited, and he took a step back instinctively. His eyes were wide, and his breath was still shaky, like he was just waiting for the end.

“No...No...No ! Wait ! Please !" He begged, his eyes beginning to tear up again. "I didn’t know ! I’m sorry !"

"I COULDN’T CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR APOLOGY ! OR YOUR BEGGING ! OR YOUR PATHETIC GROVELLING !" Kylo Ren stomped on General Hux’s back, his lightsaber an inch from his neck.

General Hux screamed out in pain as Ren stomped on his back and brought his lightsaber close to his neck. The pain was unimaginable, and General Hux couldn't hold back his tears anymore.

"I'm sorry !" He begged desperately, his face growing redder as he struggled to survive, "I'll do better ! I'll do better ! I swear !"

Kylo Ren had his lightsaber over his neck…He could get rid of him right here and now. He had every right to. He certainly deserved it. But then, he remembered the promise he had made to JR-6025 about protecting the fool…

He sighed before turning off his lighsaber.

"Get up."

General Hux gasped for breath when Ren's lightsaber disappeared, and he struggled to get up as he felt the pain in his back and could barely breathe from the pressure upon his throat.

After a moment, he finally managed to get to his feet.

"Would you EVER question me again, I shall not hesitate to cut your head clean off, understood HUX ?" Kylo Ren took him by the throat again for good measure—making him float just a few inches above the floor.

"Yes…sir. You’ve made your point.", he finally submitted and Kylo Ren held him a few seconds more in the air before finally dropping him. General Hux took a few big gulps of air before Kylo Ren’s boots came into view.

"Tell me, Hux…Why do you think she left with them ?", he asked and General Hux didn’t answer at first—hiding his true feelings from Kylo Ren. He wouldn’t admit they had had deep conversations about stars and a life after. He wouldn’t confess how much he felt betrayed and thought she would never leave—the fear urging him to make damn sure she never would. But, that all his plans to make her stay had failed. And that he was probably the reason she was gone. He slowly stepped back up and shrugged.

"She believed in the First Order…until she decided that the First Order was no longer worthy of her dedication.", he replied as emotionlessly as possible and Kylo’s breathing picked up significantly after his answer before he started walking away.

If there was one thing he hated more than anything, it was liars.

Why ?

Why did JR-6025 try to protect this fool ?!

Kylo Ren thought before turning around swiftly to face General Hux once more.

"You understand nothing.", he spat and General Hux’s eyes widened at the ferocity in which he had pronounced those words. But then, what Kylo Ren told him next made his saliva stuck in his throat. "She wasn’t staying out of loyalty to the First Order. She was staying for you, Hux. And she left because she realised your only real love is and will always be power.”

Kylo Ren took a step forward and his hatred for General Hux showed as he added spitefully.

"And this is why I haven’t killed you yet. Because I know of your utter and disgusting loyalty to any force above you. You would lick any boot—as long as it would get you what you want. You would never fight me or betray me, because there is not a single ounce of bravery in your entire body. And I can’t believe it took JR-6025 so much time to realise it was just best to leave such a lousy coward behind."

General Hux was absolutely speechless.

Every word that had come out of Ren's mouth seemed to have landed right in the bullseye.

He felt his face burn with shame and embarrassment as he took a step back, completely at a loss for words.

General Hux couldn't remember the last time he had felt this much like a worm...

Kylo Ren stepped right up close to General Hux, their faces just inches apart. "You are nothing," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "Just a sniveling worm who cowers behind his rank and title."

Kylo's hand rose and he grabbed Hux's chin roughly, shaking his head back and forth. "You aren't loyal to the First Order," he spat out. "You're loyal to yourself."

General Hux could only lower his head as he looked at his feet.

It was true.

He wasn't loyal to the First Order…He wasn't even loyal to the Dark side. Deep down...All General Hux ever cared about was himself.

He had been loyal to the First Order for so long because the First Order gave him the power he so desired...But in the end, he would sell out even his own mother for a shot at the throne. Suddenly, General Hux smirked before looking up at Kylo Ren and slowly crossed his hands behind his back with an air of superiority on his face. General Hux’s expression shifted slightly as he looked up at Kylo Ren with a dark shadow in his eyes—but he quickly regained his composure and spoke in a very composed way.

"Of course she cared for me. Why do you think she was so easy to manipulate all this time ?"

Ren's eyebrow raised. He hadn't expected General Hux to try and talk back...

"Manipulate ? You didn't manipulate her...She manipulated you." The Supreme Leader sneered. "She saw right through you... She was always one step ahead of you..."

"Maybe so…but she did manage to make me look good and be useful while under my service." General Hux said and pretended to be completely unbothered by the news of her betrayal. "She was a good pet while it lasted…"

"You actually believe she was your pet ?!" Kylo laughed, not quite believing what he was hearing.

"You really believe that you had her under control ? That you had her completely enslaved ?" He continued mockingly, slowly stepping closer once more. "You’re more delusional than I thought."

"A loyal pet remains a loyal pet. She will return to me. In time." General Hux claimed confidently and Kylo Ren laughed out loud.

"Return to you ?" He sneered mockingly. "You honestly think that, don’t you ? That she still cares about you ? That she’ll miss you ? That she didn’t want to leave ?"

"…She is a pet. With a leash. Of course she’ll come back. She remembers where she belongs. And who she belongs to…" General Hux didn’t seem bothered and stayed stoic under Kylo Ren’s degrading speech.

Kylo laughed again.

"It’s almost funny…How naive you are. She never belonged to you, General. She only ever pretended to belong to you..." He suddenly got very close, his hand once more reaching towards General Hux's throat as he kept laughing.

"And you were the one on the leash this entire time..."

General Hux slapped Kylo Ren’s hand.

"You think that I am the only one on a leash ? Don’t think for a second that I do not know how attached you’ve become to her. Ever since she saved you when the Starkiller Base was destroyed."

Kylo’s smirk faded as he took a step away in surprise. General Hux had seen the truth, just as he did often enough. He knew of the connection him and JR-6025 had formed.

"That doesn’t matter," he said, not wanting to admit his feelings. "That doesn’t mean she'll come back either."

It was General Hux’s turn to jeer as she chuckled darkly.

"She is a stormtrooper, Lord Ren. She will always be a stormtrooper." General Hux said confidently. "She will find her way back, as they all eventually do. We will find JR-6025. And FN-2187."

"Maybe..." Kylo pondered, as if questioning his own words. He shook his head and looked away for a moment.

"But either way...Whether she comes back or not...Whether we find them or not..." He said as he suddenly stepped in close again, his voice filled with anger. "You will never have her again. And that is something you will just have to accept."

General Hux narrowed his eyes at him.

"She is mine, Ren. Don’t you forget that. Supreme Leader Snoke gave her to me."

"Then you should be even more humiliated…For you have failed to keep what was given to you." Kylo mocked. "And don’t you forget that."

He was enjoying this. General Hux’s reaction was exactly what he needed, and he looked forward to seeing more of it. To crush that pathetic little pest under his foot…

"Lord Ren…I think you are mistaken." Armitage stepped forward. "I. Never. Lose."

"No ?" Ren asked, with a smirk.

"Then please, do tell me...Have you won yet ?" His voice was sarcastic, mocking and full of bitterness. "Do you have JR-6025 ? No. Do you still command the Starkiller base ? No. Are you the Supreme Leader ? No."

General Hux remained silent, but his eyes spoke volumes.

"I should kill you here and now for what you've done," Kylo Ren continued, his eyes burning with hatred. "You're nothing but scum, Hux. A sniveling, pathetic weasel who thinks he's better than everyone else."

General Hux gritted his teeth before replying.

"Well then…How about a bet then ?"

Kylo Ren raised his eyebrow.

"A bet." He smirked. "That seems like a strange request coming from you. But, I’m not against making you look even smaller than I already do."

His eyes were still burning with hate as he spoke.

"So, tell me...What would this bet be on ?"

"…JR-6025. What is the saying again ? Ah. Yes. Finders keepers, is it ?" General Hux extended his hand forward towards Kylo Ren. "Do you agree ?"

The Supreme Leader smirked as his own hand reached forward.

"I agree," he said, "Finders keepers it is..."

General Hux smirked, but before he could retrieve his hand—Kylo Ren pulled him towards him and whispered in his ear.

"I hope you do have a plan to get her back. Or I swear that I will rip your heart out."

General Hux felt a shiver run through his body as the Supreme Leader whispered in his ear. He was beginning to wonder if he had made a mistake...But, he quickly quashed that thought.

"Do you really believe I haven’t already made a plan ?" He asked, his voice as confident as ever. "I would never let someone like her…A mere stormtrooper…slip from my grasp so easily..."

Kylo Ren gave him a hard look, the threat still hanging in the air like a dark cloud. "See to it that you do not fail. Like always."

General Hux returned the glare evenly. If Kylo Ren thought he would simply bend the knee just because of some flimsy empty threat…He was clearly mistaken.

"Your intimidation tactics are not going to work on me, Lord Ren." He spat. "I’ll get what is mine."

The sith lord scoffed at General Hux’s pretentious response. Kylo Ren then bumped his shoulder purposefully on his way out. It was almost ironic. Kylo Ren would have gladly given up any connection he had with the force to have her—while Hux would have gladly sold her out for only a taste of his power…but she had chosen him nonetheless.

He didn’t see however when he walked out of the room the way General Hux almost stumbled forward and pressed a hand to his chest. He had never felt such pain in his entire life…He waited until Kylo Ren was far enough before punching the wall next to him—leaving a tiny dent there.

General Hux then spent hours looking over JR-6025’s past examinations—desperate to find an answer to this omission. At the end, he clenched his teeth and swept the content on his desk to the floor and walked to the main gate—looking over the planets and wondering which one she had taken refuge in. He should have put a leash on her, a tracker at least. He had done everything to gain control over her, to protect her. And how had she repaid him ? She had betrayed him. And lied to him. And hid things from him. And he had been blind to it all.

General Hux tried his best to think rationally, but he couldn't.

He was furious.

He was hurt.

He had felt so confident. So confident she would never leave. So confident he could keep her if he wanted her to stay. But now...Now he realized that he had been the one on a leash this entire time. And it hurt him to admit that to himself, but it hurt even more to know that he had been so wrong. The memory of her lying to his face about returning, the deception still stung Hux, and he clenched his fists in frustration. He had been the fool, trusting her word, and yet she had betrayed him. The pain of betrayal was bitter, and he vowed never to make the same mistake again.

How could he have been so blind ?

Was he that naive to think that he could control her?

Was he that naive to think that she would actually want to stay with him?

What had he been thinking ?

Once he was back to his usual composed self, he called for Captain Phasma whose first question was:

"Sir...What is our next move ?"

He didn’t know, but something was for certain…JR-6025 would return to him.

"...Find JR-6025 and bring her back home."

Captain Phasma nodded in agreement.

"As you wish, sir." She said, ready to begin the search. General Hux thought about the hunt…He wondered where she could be.

She could be anywhere.

But that didn’t matter. He would find her.

She had no chance of eluding his grasp.

Hux watched as the stormtroopers dispersed, his fists still clenched tight with a mixture of anger and determination. He would bring her back, no matter the cost.

He would bring her back.

That was the one thing he was sure of.

She would pay for her betrayal.

And when she did come back…She would see how much power he held over her. He would see her beg for mercy, for forgiveness.

And he would give her none.

Meanwhile with Kylo Ren

Kylo Ren’s anger was still simmering just beneath the surface. He wanted to lash out, to hurt something, but he controlled himself. Instead, he stalked through the hallways of the base, his fists clenched tight.

He didn’t really care if she was a traitor. But, she had left HIM. And it made him think of all the times they had shared things he had never been able to…How had he been so stupid as to confide himself in her ? She had made him talk about his old life, who he really was inside…and now, he couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

He had tried to warn his mother about Han Solo.

He had tried to warn Rey about Luke Skywalker.

And then, he had tried to warn JR-6025 about Armitage Hux.

How was it that every time he tried to warn any woman in his life about the dangers they were facing ? The treachery surrounding them ? He would always FAIL !

He suddenly punched the wall of the elevator and let out a powerful scream of frustration.

Kylo Ren screamed in frustration, his power starting to slip through the cracks.

He was always failing…Always…

No matter how hard he tried, he always ended up losing.

Whether it was to Armitage Hux, to the Resistance or to JR-6025.

He had failed to convince his mother about the dangers of Han Solo.

He had failed to convince Rey about the dangers of Luke Skywalker.

And he had failed to warn JR-6025 about the treachery surrounding her.

And now…He had failed to keep her by his side.

She had left him.

He failed to keep her…To make her love him…To make her loyal to him.

And his failure was eating at him from the inside, making him more furious than ever.

He had done everything he could to win her confidence…To keep her loyal to him. He had given her advice, told her his deepest secrets and fears, opened his heart to her…And yet she had left him anyway. She had let go of him…

He hadn’t seen it coming.

He was sure that she was on his side.

And now…She was gone.

Gone because of Hux.

Because of the First Order.

Because of the Skywalker.

Because of the Jedi.

Because of everybody.

They had all pushed her away from him.

"Damn the Rebellion. Damn the First Order. Damn Hux. And damn this entire galaxy !" He shouted, his hands clenched into fists. His heart was filled with nothing but pain and anger. But no matter how hard he yelled…The reality would remain. She was gone. She was gone and there was nothing he could do about it.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #kylo ren x reader #general hux x reader

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 17

JR gasped for breath and fell on the ground. Luke quickly came to her and cradled her in his arms as she started sobbing against his tunic. JR slowly began to regain her breath, while still sobbing. It took her a minute or two, but she finally managed to catch her breath. She felt Luke's arms around her, his hand reassuringly rubbing her back.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with tears.

"Please…Please teach me. I don’t want to see him or have him in my head anymore. Please." She begged him.

He remained there as she sobbed against his tunic, his hand still rubbing her back, and his other arm holding her in place as he cradled her in his arms. He did not say a word, as he simply remained there, simply holding her and being there for her, as she struggled to catch her breath and recover from her emotional and physical shock.

JR closed her eyes and passed out.

As soon as she had lost consciousness, Luke continued to keep her cradled in his arms. He remained there, sitting on the floor of her hut, cradling her body as he stroked her hair soothingly with his free hand.

"I am sorry…So sorry." He whispered as he kept holding her. Rey arrived a few minutes later and gasped as she saw the marks around JR’s throat.

"JR ! What happened ?" He quickly looked up as Rey entered the hut, his hands still holding Jr. against his chest.

"He..." he began, before stopping for a moment, unable to actually find the words to adequately describe what had happened. "He...was here."

"He ?" Rey frowned before realising and she shook her head. "No. You mean…Ben Solo did th—?"

"KYLO REN !" Luke interrupted her harshly and his eyes hardened. That wasn’t Ben. "…Kylo Ren did that."

Rey's eyes immediately widened as Luke said the name. Luke closed his eyes and sighed.

"I was so scared about training a stormtrooper…I…I didn’t think…" He held JR’s body closer to his as he gritted his teeth in frustration. "I shouldn’t have been so harsh. I just…"

"...Do not blame yourself, Master," Rey said, as she slowly kneeled down next to Luke. "There is only so much one can do..."

Her eyes widened again, as she suddenly glanced down at JR's throat and noticed the bruises around her neck…

"Is...is that...?"

"Kylo Ren…" Luke seethed through gritted teeth. Rey knew he was dangerous and murderous…But even she never would have thought he would go so far as to try to kill JR.

"...Is she gonna be alright...? Is she alive...?" She asked—concerned to lose her friend. Luke's grip tightened around her body.

"...Alive, yes..." He muttered angrily. "...But barely."

Rey could feel the swings of anger and regret in her master and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You couldn’t have known…"

He shook his head and sighed.

"I should've..." Luke snapped at her suddenly. "...I should've expected something like this."

Luke laid JR on her bed before looking back at Rey and his eyes held determination in them.

"I won’t allow Kylo Ren to destroy another life."

Rey nodded slowly, with a look of fierce determination on her face as well. She then looked back at JR.

"How long will it take for her to fully recover...?"

Luke sighed before looking back at JR.

"I do not know."

Rey's smile faded, but her determination remained.

"...We will get her back to full health as quickly as possible. And if that means that it takes weeks, even months..." Rey spoke fiercely. "...I will be by her side throughout the whole thing."

Luke nodded before looking back at JR.

"Watch over her. I need to go somewhere to retrieve important pieces for your training."

"Yes, Master." Rey agreed. She remained there, carefully looking over JR as her master left the hut. He nodded back before leaving and taking the millennium falcon to the planet Ilum. Rey stayed there, carefully watching over JR as she slumbered, her hand resting gently on her shoulder.

"…Wake up, JR."

A few days later:

JR slowly woke up and straightened up. She sighed and raised her hand to her neck where she knew the marks of Kylo Ren’s fingers remained. When Rey entered her hut, JR instinctively reached for her blaster and pointed it at her. She was scared and once she realised that it was Rey, she slowly lowered her blaster.

"I…I’m…"

Rey held her hand up in a placating manner.

"It's okay, JR. You do not need to explain."

She quickly got closer to her, and then kneeled down next to her.

"How are you feeling...?"

JR sighed and shook her head.

"I don’t know…I don’t know."

JR held her head in her hands.

"I just…"

She had trouble getting words out of her mouth and felt tears come to her eyes.

"…He wanted me…to come back. To…To return to the First Order. No. To return to HIM. I just…"

Rey immediately wrapped her arms around and gently pulled JR into a comforting hug.

"I just…" JR sighed and pressed her forehead against Rey’s shoulder. "…I am scared, Rey. I am TRYING to escape the First Order. But it seems that no matter what I do, I will always remain a stormtrooper."

"No..." Rey replied quietly. "You may have been a stormtrooper once...." She paused. "...But the person you are now...and the person you are becoming…Those are your choices...and neither Kylo Ren, nor the First Order have any right over those..."

JR returned her hug.

"He is in my HEAD, Rey. I cannot escape. I am not like you. I cannot fight him."

"But I can teach you." She softly replied. "I can teach you to fight him. How to keep him out of your head..."

"How ? I just…" JR gritted her teeth. "I am not a Force user. Or a Jedi. I am just…"

"But that does not change anything," Rey said soothingly.

"I can still teach you. How to build blocks..." She paused. "Walls. Walls to protect your mind. And to build them strong...so strong that not even Kylo Ren can break through them...or even the First Order..."

JR sighed and nodded with a smile.

"Okay…"

Rey smiled back before standing up.

"Wait here. I’ll go search for something for you to eat."

Rey left the hut, leaving JR alone. She slowly sat up, slowly rubbing her head as some of her memories of Kylo Ren re-surfaced. She quickly covered her arms with her hands, as she began to feel some of the old panic and terror return.

She suddenly stormed off and stopped near the shore. She sank her arm in the ocean and smiled as she saw small fishes come dance around her fingers—unafraid. They were maybe the first creatures to not cower in fear before her. She stared at them and smiled at how their silver scales seemed to shine with the sun’s light.

She then started weeping.

She didn’t know why she started crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop. She proceeded to take off her gloves and throw them in the sea. She then looked at the blaster in her hands.

…As long as she was a stormtrooper, the world would only see her as a threat. The First Order had made sure of it…She gritted her teeth and her tears pooled at the bottom of it, mixed with the salty water of the sea. She then let out a loud painful scream of frustration before raising the blaster—ready to throw it and let it sink at the bottom of the sea. But, she still hesitated. Her hand was shaking and she closed her eyes shut. She had been conditioned to love and live for the First Order. That was all she had ever known.

Finn had followed by fear, she had followed because she genuinely believed. So, of course it would be easier for him to let go of the helmet. But, she was stuck.

JR sighed, opening her eyes once more...She looked at the blaster she was still holding, tears flowing down her face. She was ready to throw it away...Yet, she froze again. The blaster was a sign...A symbol of her entire life...

All the horrors she had seen...

All the death she had survived...

All the pain she had felt...

It was all part of her history...And she was still holding on.

JR kept staring at the blaster in her hands...and at the helmet of her beloved stormtrooper armor. The tears kept flowing down her face, as her old fears and habits slowly came back to her. She had thought that she was getting better...that she had finally began to heal...

But the truth was...that she had only managed to bury her past and fear just for a little while.

"Well well well…Seems like you woke up. Finally." She heard his voice in her head and she turned around to find Kylo Ren standing in front of her. Her eyes watered.

"Why won’t you leave me alone ?"

Kylo Ren's smile appeared in her head the moment JR glanced his way.

"Come on, JR-6025..." He said, his voice mocking and taunting. "You know you can't actually escape me. We both know that..."

The blaster bolts just phased right through him, not hitting him at all. He merely laughed at her feeble attempt.

"That's not going to work on me, JR..." He said in a mocking, taunting tone. "Don't you see it just yet...? Or do you really think that your little blaster can do any harm to me...? I can destroy an entire squadron of rebel ships...You think this puny weapon could hurt me...?"

She sighed and looked back at the sea before she slowly stepped back towards it.

"I know a place…you won’t follow me to."

Kylo Ren laughed even more as he realized what she was planning.

"And where is that, little stormtrooper ?" He asked, mockingly. "Do you think some filthy little ocean will keep me away ?

She started running towards the sea to jump in the water. She hoped he wouldn’t be able to follow her there. Kylo Ren's smile disappeared at the sudden motion. A few moments later, JR was already in the water. Yet, she didn't try to swim away...she was just letting herself get sucked in deeper.

Immediately, he appeared in her head again.

"Do NOT do this." Kylo Ren said in an urgent, angry tone.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD !

"You still don't get it, do you, JR..." He said, his face now contorting into pure rage as he continued to speak. "No matter how hard you try...I will always be with you..."

He paused and looked at the sea with a grim and sinister glare.

"Everywhere you are. Every move you make."

She kept sinking and tried to get up to the surface, but she was too weak to do so. She suddenly realised how stupid an idea it was and kept trying hard to get the strength to swim to the surface. Finally, she felt as if her body was being controlled by someone else and she suddenly had the power to swim back up.

Once she was out of the water, she started coughing and spitting out water. She then heard Kylo Ren’s voice next to her.

"Foolish trooper…"

JR collapsed on her back, her breaths coming out in short, sharp gasps...tears flowing down her face again. She felt absolutely powerless...she was still trapped in the grips of Kylo Ren's power over her...and she realized that he would never leave her...

"Don't ever try that again..." The voice in her head said, his tone cold, unmerciful. "Or the next time, I won't save you..."

She closed her eyes and started crying frantically.

JR's whole body trembled. Fear...despair...terror...sadness...these were all emotions that tore through her as they started to overwhelm her.

Finally, she spoke, her voice now trembling.

"I..." She paused, gasping for breath as her sobs grew stronger. "...I just want to be free..." She said in a whisper.

"Free...?" The voice said in her head, his tone now sounding more mocking. "But, you have no idea what true freedom is, do you...?"

She closed her eyes and retorted.

"…Do you ?"

There was a long, menacing pause.

"Freedom," Kylo Ren said slowly. "To make your own decisions without anyone stopping you. Without anyone...and I mean, no one, telling you what to do..."

His voice turned more sinister and mocking.

"But you..." The voice paused again. "You...with your weakness, your...helplessness...you are nothing more than a puppet. Who do you really think you are, little stormtrooper...?"

She suddenly snapped her eyes open to look at him and she hissed.

"I am JR. I am not a pet. I am not a puppet. And I AM NOT SCARED OF YOU !"

He smirked in spite of her bold and confident reply.

"Oh, but you should be," The voice said in a condescending tone. "Because...you have no idea just how many things I could do to you..."

She grinned before walking forward towards him.

"Funny. If I am only a helpless little stormtrooper, then why do you seem so concerned about my future ? Or me joining you ?" She smirked. "You know what I think ? You are AFRAID. Afraid of being alone. Because you know that at the end, you will be."

The voice paused. A look of pure rage appeared on the apparition's face for just a brief moment...before he regained his composure. He then slowly stepped forward as well, until they were just a few inches apart.

"Afraid...? Me ?" He laughed mockingly. "Afraid of being alone ?"

He smirked again.

"Is that really what you think, stormtrooper ?"

His smirk grew even wider.

"No...I am not afraid of being alone, JR-6025. For I have ALWAYS been alone." He laughed. "It is you who should be afraid..."

JR gritted her teeth in frustration and took a step closer.

"You know that Rey will never join you ! You know that General Hux hates you ! You know that your father is gone and that your mother has lost faith in you !" She was face to face with him when she spat. "The only person left is ME. The poor little stormtrooper who was stupid enough to care about you and listen to you. You have NO ONE else."

Kylo Ren went silent for a few moments...before he smirked again.

"You...are right..." He replied. "All of the people you just mentioned have either betrayed me...or...will do it sooner or later."

His voice grew colder.

"And the truth is..." He grinned sinisterly. "...I do not need anyone else...because I have you, my poor little stormtrooper."

She laughed humourlessly.

"Have me ? No…Never. You can call me yours. Or treat me like I am nothing. Make me feel like I am just a pet…but you are no master of mine. Because here is the painful truth. You need me more than I need you."

Kylo Ren’s eyes narrowed into a grim, terrifying glare.

"Need you ?" He repeated the words, not believing what he was hearing.

"Need you ?" He laughed in an almost crazed manner. "...You really think I need you, don't you ? You think you have any power over me...any influence...?"

He took a few more steps closer to her and began to laugh even more...a more menacing laugh this time.

"You are so wrong, JR-6025..."

"Am I ?" She challenged before kicking his leg and Kylo Ren instinctively dropped to his knees on the rocks. "There was a time where I was alone too. When I was within the First Order. When I had NO ONE. But now ? I have friends. I have people who CARE about me. And it is scaring you, isn’t it ?"

She then gripped his throat from behind.

"You were talking about a leash, right ?"

Kylo Ren’s eyes widened at the sudden attack. He tried to grab her hand to get her to let go of his throat...but he was surprised by the power of her grip. He looked back up at her...and saw pure rage in her eyes.

"You...think..." he coughed as her grip tightened around his throat. "you think...that you...have control over me ?"

"Do I ?" She squeezed and suddenly grabbed his chin to make him look at her. "This is MY head, Lord Ren. And even though you are a powerful Force user, I know that you also have no idea what freedom means."

She grinned.

"You were raised in a palace. You then went on to be Skywalker’s apprentice, then Snoke’s. Finally, you just became another cog in the great First Order machine…You speak of freedom as if you know what it means. But you never even had it."

Kylo Ren went silent for a moment, staring straight back at her. For a brief moment, JR felt as if his grip was starting to loosen...

"So what if I never knew freedom...?" He said finally, in an angry tone. "So what if I never learnt what it meant..." He smirked, his grip on her wrist loosening even more. "Because you know what I know...?"

He paused again as he felt JR tighten her grip around his throat even further.

"I know how...to take it."

Her eyes widened and she suddenly let go of his throat. She sighed before dropping to her knees right in front of him.

"…Everyone knows how to take freedom, Lord Ren. It is harder to have it. Because some people have it and do not even know they have it, while some do not and do not even care if they have it or not…"

Now it was his turn to be silent for a few moments. JR had a point...

"But...it matters not..." He finally protested in a grim tone. "Because once I take control of you...over your mind...and your life..."

He paused.

"Then I shall have it...and you will have nothing."

"…And what will you have exactly, Lord Ren ?" She sighed. "What will your ownership of my freedom give you ? You will only have an empty shell to rule over…"

He sighed. She also had a point there as well.

"But..." He said, his voice gaining a menacing tone. "At least I would not be alone."

Her eyes widened at his words before she slowly released his throat. She sighed and just laid down on the rocks. "…I am tired."

Kylo Ren's expression softened as he saw her laying down.

"I am tired as well..."

She sighed again and patted the space next to her. For a moment...Kylo Ren seemed about to decline...But then he sat down beside her. He then sighed and rested his head against her shoulder.

She let him. He closed his eyes.

"I am...so tired..." He repeated, still resting his head on her shoulder. JR hesitated before speaking.

"I know I should hate you. It is in my right. It would make sense…But I have learnt to see you through the anger. Through your mother’s eyes. Through our many conversations. And learnt to see the world through your eyes and what I saw terrified me far more than what you have become because of it."

She pressed her forehead against his.

"You must have been so lonely."

The words caused his heart to skip a beat and he froze. He had been alone for so long...And she had managed to see that. She could see past his anger...His rage...His hatred. She could see past all of that and see what lay underneath...

"I was..." He admitted. He then remained silent as he thought about her words...His chest...It hurt...He didn’t understand. She was speaking and acting with such empathy. She seemed so different from the other stormtroopers. She had succeeded in developing a soul in such a world.

Kylo Ren remained silent for a few moments, digesting her words.

"You have no idea..." He paused, closing his eyes again and taking another deep breath. "For so many years...I have felt so alone....so...so empty..."

He then grew silent again...

"You know, when I first heard about you, the General's "pet"... I thought you would be just another soulless, obedient trooper."

She chuckled bitterly.

"And ? Disappointed ?"

He still remained silent...Then he took a deep breath and said, in a softer, less sinister tone:

"Not disappointed. Surprised. You...have a soul. A real soul. No one that I ever met in my entire life, in the First Order had one...you were the first..."

A quiet sadness settled over the two of them as Kylo thought about all the hurt he had felt so alone in carrying. And she was right…he had been so alone. He had the First Order, but they had only ever viewed him as a power piece, something to wield against the Resistance. They didn’t understand him. They didn’t know the real him.

She was different. She understood him in a way they never could. She saw him for who he really was, and that was the scariest part of all.

The two remained silent as they thought about this...Kylo's eyes were closed, and he continued leaning his head against her shoulder.

"They never understood..." He finally said in a quiet, somber tone. "Not really...no one did..."

He paused again.

"Except...you..."

He lifted his hand to her throat and wrapped his fingers around it—wondering if she would fear him…Kylo Ren then spoke up:

"So much compassion. So much kindness. So much...Love. How can a creature like you even exist ?"

She did not pull away when he wrapped his hand around her throat. She let him hold her life in his hands.

"I am simply...human." She smiled and cupped his face in her hands before whispering. "And so are you…"

His heart skipped a beat as he felt her hands against his cheek. This was too much...She was giving him something he didn’t deserve...He didn’t deserve kindness or warmth... He was a monster...How could she not see that ? Look past it ? And yet…And yet she did. She saw past it all…

"No. No, I am not." He shook his head.

His heart seemed to skip a beat as he felt her hand on his face. He shuddered slightly under her touch, feeling a wave of unexpected emotions.

"I am not human..." He whispered back, his voice sounding pained and frustrated. "You...don't understand. I cannot be...I have..."

His voice trailed off. He felt ashamed. He was too afraid...Too afraid to explain to her...Too afraid of what she would think after he told her...

"Yes. You are." She repeated with conviction and Kylo Ren restrained tears.

"I am not." He spoke firmly. "I have committed acts that I will never be forgiven for..."

Her words...The way she looked at him was dangerous to him...It made him want to believe that he could be something more...That he could leave all of this behind.

He looked away as he spoke again.

"I have been consumed by the darkness...I am beyond redemption..."

As Kylo said those words, JR's throat felt like it was closing in. She could feel the pain in his voice, and it broke her heart. She could see the way he turned away from her touch, avoiding her gaze. She could see how much he hated himself, how much he believed that he was beyond saving. She wanted to hug him, to hold him close and convince him that there was still hope for him. She wanted to make him see what she saw—that he was worthy of love and redemption.

"I...I am beyond saving..." He said slowly, his voice quiet and hopeless. "I..."

JR couldn't see the expression on his face...but...she felt a wave of despair and pain coming from him. His heart seemed to have shrunk inside of himself. But her warm and comforting tone had an obvious effect on him. His shoulders seemed to relax, and his expression grew less angry.

He continued, but his voice became less cold and more calm.

"Even if I was redeemed...I would not deserve it..."

"You are deserving ! You are not alone, Kylo Ren." She tightened her grip on him and forced him to look her in the eyes. "I shall not hate you. I will not ! I have killed. For the First Order. And I know that the war turned us into people we were never meant to be. And I want to fix it. Let me fix it. Please."

"You are not responsible for fixing anything..." He squeezed his eyes shut as his throat went tense. What he had done was irredeemable. And yet...Here she was—trying to convince him.

But, it was already too late for him...

"It is too late..." He insisted and she frowned.

"No !" She surprised him by raising her voice. "I do not believe that. I refuse to."

"Then you are a fool..." His voice raised as well...He hated the sound of it...The harsh, cold tones of a monster. He wanted to be gentle...To speak softly...To make her understand…But it didn't matter...He was lost.

"There is no saving me...Don't you get that ? I have gone too far...I have gone too far into the darkness."

She shook her head.

"Lord Ren. I shall rip you away from the shadows myself if I have to ! You call me a fool ? Well, maybe I am…but I am a stubborn one !"

He could not help but chuckle a bit as he felt his heart thump. He was starting to hate this feeling...He was starting to hate that she could make him feel so much...

"You are foolish..." He whispered in response and held back a heavy sigh. "A complete...fool."

He paused again, shaking his head.

"...you cannot save me..." He repeated in an almost angry tone. "You are simply wasting your energy...your life..."

His voice grew softer again.

"...you are wasting it on me."

"Then so be it…" She smiled through her tears. "Let me waste away then."

Her words made him want to cry. He had never been spoken to like this before. Someone refusing to hate him. Someone insisting he was worthy of redemption. Her stubborn determination to save him...It felt like a stab to the heart. He couldn’t let her do it. He needed to stop her before she went too far.

"Do not be so kind !" He said in the most angry tone he could muster. "Do not think you can change me ! I am beyond saving."

"I won’t give up. You cannot force me to give up." She claimed and refused to give in.

"You cannot rip me away from anything..." He forced down any trace of warmth in his expression. "...I belong to the shadows...To the Dark Side. I am a monster..."

She must not waste her life away...not on me...not on this useless attempt to redeem someone like me...

He wanted to hate her for trying to redeem him but he couldn't bring himself to feel that way.

It felt wrong...

"You can't save me..." He repeated, not quite sounding angry but more resigned to the fate he had chosen. "You are just making a fool of yourself..."

"Stop." She whispered and her eyes met his with a soft smile. "No one belongs to the shadows. Do you remember what you said ? You wish to create a new path with Rey. You have no right to let the darkness wipe away who you are or your goal, Lord Ren."

"...She rejected me." His words were but a weak whisper in the air. "Rejected...My words...My plans...My intentions..."

He closed his eyes as he felt his throat tighten again. He had tried to open the eyes of the scavenger girl and make her side with him, but she didn’t understand. She didn’t want to.

"Everything I told her...She rejected it all."

There was silence before JR’s fists tightened by her side.

"…Then what ? It’s over ? Is that it ? You wish to quit ? Let the Dark Side take over your mind, body and soul ?" She shook her head. "I won’t allow it."

"You really think you could stop me ?" He asked. The idea that someone as weak as her could stop him was almost laughable in his eyes. He refused to give in to hope or the weakness of the heart. He had felt that way about Rey, and she had rejected him. What made this any different ?

"No one can stop me from doing as I see fit..." He seethed and JR—far from feeling intimidated—grinned at him. She took his hand and squeezed it.

"Good. Take that strength and keep fighting, Lord Ren. Because I know that it is not over. And if not for Rey, then put your faith in me. Please." She looked at him. "I am no Force user, but I promise to become important. To become something that will help you. I will not let you or General Hux become overwhelmed by darkness or despair…"

Her words...The sheer hope she had within them...It was almost contagious...

Almost.

His heartbeat quickened and he remained silent and still as he listened to her words. He was running out of reasons to oppose her. The urge to simply agree was starting to take over.

She wasn't making it easy for him.

"...I..." He sighed and closed his eyes, suddenly feeling very tired.

"You will only get hurt." He whispered softly.

It was as much of a warning as a plea.

"I am...beyond...saving..."

"If not for Rey..." He added sadly as he continued speaking. "...Then no one..."

"For me." She uttered in a whisper and her face was so close to his that he could see the desperation in her eyes. She truly wanted to help him and it showed. "I know I am not worth it but, if not for Rey ? Let me try. Please."

Her words were so filled with unconditional kindness and hope...And he hated it.

He hated the idea of her "saving" him...

"Don’t." He whispered back. "It is more than you can handle..."

"…If no one will fight for you, then I will." She claimed out loud—determination in her voice.

She was a food...A dumb and dangerous one at that. At least in his eyes...But...He hated that he was starting to agree with her. He hated what she was doing to him...The feeling she was giving him.

But...

Maybe...

"And if you end up getting yourself killed...?" He challenged with a stern voice. She looked up at him with the same determination written all across her features.

"…I am prepared to die for what I believe in. For all the lives that deserve to live and find peace. I am fighting for them."

His voice quivered slightly as he held her gaze. She was a fool...A fool in the purest sense of the word...Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her. He could. He should. He felt his heart beat increase again as he kept his gaze on her.

"All of them ?"

She smiled at him and nodded.

"Yes. All of them."

He couldn't hide it. He could not hide the feeling of warmth that started to spread through his chest. Her words made him feel like she truly cared about people...About the galaxy...Like she wanted to see it change for the better.

"Even me ?" There was a slight hesitation as he asked.

"Even you." She answered with no hesitation whatsoever.

The words made his chest feel so tight. He wanted to say something...To oppose...But, he couldn't. Not this time.

"You are so foolish..." He tried to insist—but they both knew who was the victor of this verbal match.

She smiled.

"I know."

That smile...All she had to do was smile...And everything changed...

Kylo looked up and huffed a laugh.

"Do you even know how ridiculous you are ?"

She tilted her head and her grin didn’t falter.

"I know."

"And yet, you will still try anyway..." He concluded and his eyes met hers.

"Yes." She leant forward. "I may be foolish, crazy and even mad…but I will succeed, Lord Kylo Ren. I will stop this war."

"That is not reasonable..." He argued softly.

"I don't care." She replied shortly and Kylo Ren sighed in disbelief at her stubbornness.

"It will get you killed." He warned.

"I don’t care." She repeated.

"You cannot succeed." He tried to dissuade her one last time, but his will felt weakened by the hope-filled stormtrooper. Never in all his years had he ever encountered someone so stupidly stubborn. But, he couldn’t stay away.

"I can." She said confidently, and he found himself wanting to believe her.

"It is not possible." He argued, and she smiled again.

"Oh." She said, and everything about her manner expressed total belief in what she said next. "Then I shall MAKE it possible."

He was trying his best to argue...To fight against the growing warmth in his chest...

But she made it so hard.

How could she be so...so determined...so strong in her convictions...How could she have so much faith that she could save him...Him, of all people. He felt his willpower draining with every second...Every second she looked at him with that warm and hopeful gaze...

He felt something stir inside of him...Something that he had not felt in a long...long time...

"How can you stay so positive and hopeful despite everything ?" He asked and his voice betrayed disbelief and even admiration.

"I care too deeply and I will not stop fighting until I am dead." She replied with a smile.

"Care too deeply, huh ?" He had to admit...That sounded like her. She felt everything more...Intimately...Than anyone else. "It is...Very dangerous caring for others, especially when it comes to people like me..."

"Yes..." He whispered in response, keeping his eyes fixed on hers. He was starting to feel a lot of things all at once...But nothing made him feel as uneasy as the growing warmth in his chest...

"You are too idealistic." He whispered back. "Too...kind..."

He sounded almost angry for no clear reason. Maybe it was because he wanted to reject her kindness...To push her back into the darkness with him.

But...But he wanted to accept it as well...

"What if I stand in your way ?" He finally challenged her and JR didn’t cower in fear.

"…With all due respect, Lord Kylo Ren…" She smirked. "…I won’t let ANYONE stand in my way. I will bring peace to the galaxy if it is the last thing I do."

She seemed to have an answer for everything...

"And if I decide to fight you ?"

"I would fight back."

"You would lose." He warned.

"I don't think I would."

"Trust me...you would."

Another silence fell, but something in the way she spoke—her confidence and determination—made him feel like she was telling the truth.

"If you decided to fight me..." He said, and her smug look was all he could think about. "I would defeat you."

She was...challenging him...And he hated it. He hated it because she was so stubborn...So determined...So terribly hopeless.

"I am stronger than you." He said, feeling his anger grow. "And if we fought, you would lose. That is the truth."

"Maybe is it the truth for you. But I…" She pressed her forehead against his. "I believe…that there is another way. I believe in…you."

The mere idea of this girl believing in him made him want to push her away. It made him want to crush her hope underfoot. He could not stand that she looked at him that way and saw something worth saving.

"Do not believe in me." He almost hissed the words out through gritted teeth, and she simply smiled again.

"Or what ?"

He couldn't help but tense up under her touch as she pressed her forehead against his. Her words...They were starting to cut through his walls...

"Or what ?" He repeated her words, his tone growing angrier. "Or I will have to prove to you that I should not be trusted…that..."

But that's not what I want to do anymore...

"I am not a good person !" He finally hissed it out in frustration...With all the rage and self hatred he could muster.

"Or what, Lord Ren ?" She insisted with a grin.

"I will hurt you..." He warned her. "Do not think I can't...Do not think that I won't..."

This stupid girl and her stupid smile, her stupid optimism…he couldn’t stand it. It made him so angry, he couldn’t see straight, and he knew he should say something. But instead, he just stood there—hands clenching into fists—as he breathed rapidly in and out.

"I told you…" he said slowly, "to not believe in me."

She kept smiling and just closed her eyes as she kept her forehead pressed against his. She started humming.

She was...She was...so infuriating. She won't back down...She won't listen to reason...

He hated the way his heart was starting to race...the way his stomach churned...

How could one person be this infuriating...?

Her humming only made him more annoyed.

"You will stop, or..." He left his words hanging as he clenched his fists tighter and tighter.

"Or. What ?" She stood her ground and smiled softly at him.

He was being mocked, he knew it.

He was being made a fool.

"Or I shall—" His anger made him want to lash out. "Or I shall do something about it.”

"What ? Come on. Tell me. What will you do ?"

His rage was growing at her taunting.

"What will I do ?" He repeated her words in the most mocking tone he could muster.

But he was losing the fight.

And she was trying...so damn hard...to get under his skin...

"I..." He wanted to say something—anything...But nothing was coming out...

"I shall..." His fists clenched ever tighter in his palms. "I shall..."

He wanted to hurt her. He wanted to shout. He wished she would stop smiling.

But he didn't know what to say.

There was nothing he could do to her. This stupid, kind, fool of a girl...there was nothing she was afraid of. His rage was gone, replaced with hopelessness. He couldn't stand this anymore. She was so strong, so damn willing to believe in him...He hated it...Hated it because...Because it made him think he could be saved...And he couldn't handle hoping again...Not when he knew the hope would crush him in the end...

She smiled and hugged him tightly.

The girl was an idiot.

A stubborn, hopeless fool who didn't know when to quit, who thought she could change him. He let out a choked, involuntary grunt in surprise as she wrapped her arms around him.

But, he didn't push her away.

"Idiot..." He muttered, letting out another soft grunt as she hugged him. He still wanted to push her away...He wanted her to stop...He wanted her to leave...But he couldn't make himself do it...

He did not push her off of him.

She buried her face in his chest.

His anger slowly melted away, and the fight went out of him. She still held him and he couldn't understand why his body wouldn't respond in kind.

Push her away. Tear free.

But he didn't. He stood perfectly still, heart pounding, as she held him.

...Why can't I move ?

His initial anger slowly melted away as she held him. He was still in disbelief as his body's natural instincts failed him. As if he did not have the will to break free or push her away...He could feel her warmth against his skin as she kept her face buried against him...He didn't push her away...He stood still...So still that he was afraid of breathing.

"Let. Go." He finally managed to say.

"…Ok." She replied, but kept holding him nonetheless.

"Did you not hear me?" He hissed, trying to keep his tone harsh, but failing. "I said..."

...

But his heart was beating so fast he could barely talk.

"Let go...Let go of me." It sounded awfully like he was begging her this time.

I am not meant to feel this...I don't deserve it...

"Ok." She repeated, but didn’t move.

"I don't need your care." He continued. "I don't need your understanding. I don't need your love."

He couldn't stop himself. "I am not what you think I am. I am beyond saving. I am not like you. I am—"

A choked sob cut short the rest of what he intended to say, and he buried his face in her shoulder.

"Ok…" She repeated once more and held him tighter. She didn't push him away and he couldn't push her away. He knew he should...He knew that he didn't deserve her kindness...But...But...He took a deep breath and held her closer.

"I am...not worth your time..." He whispered. "I am not supposed to be saved."

His legs almost gave way. He was so close to losing control. He felt like a fool. Like...like...a child.

"No..." He muttered as tears welled in his eyes, his shame boiling over.

"Sshhh…It’s okay." She stroked the top of his head.

He broke. His chest heaved with the weight of his emotions. Tears streaked down his cheeks, and he clung to her like a frightened child.

Stop ! You're making this worse ! You're showing her your weakness, you pathetic fool !

He didn't care. For once, he didn't care what she thought of him.

It was liberating.

"I'm so…" he choked back his tears, "I'm terrified..."

Her eyes closed and her heart ached as he said that and she kept holding him.

"I know…It’s okay."

"...Don't let me go." The words left his mouth before he realized what he said. His mind screamed that he was being foolish. It screamed that he was showing his hand and now his enemy would exploit that weakness.

He knew it was true...but he couldn't care less.

All he wanted right now was her.

All he wanted...was to not be alone.

"I...I..." Even his grip was weak. He was so desperate to keep her there. He didn't want to let her go. "I..."

All he wanted was not to be alone. He just needed her. Just one person in this cruel and uncaring galaxy...Just one person who could provide a small source of light.

"Don't leave me..." His voice was broken as he whispered the words.

"I am here. I am not going anywhere…" She held him closer against her. "I am here."

The tears were still streaking down his cheeks, and he squeezed her tighter every time she spoke.

"Don't...Don't leave..." He begged. "Please...Don't leave..."

He felt so pathetic. He was crying like a child...like someone weak...All he needed was her...Just her...The light in his darkness...His chest heaved with every breath he took, and she could feel his heart beating like a drum in his chest.

She...she cared for him. He was sure of it now.

"I will. I am here." She smiled and her own tears rolled down her cheeks as she kept holding him…

"Good..." He mumbled in response, as he squeezed her even tighter. His fingers dug into the fabric of her clothing and his grip tightened even more as the tears continued to pour out of his eyes. He tried so hard...So goddamn hard to stay in control...But, not this time...This time...He was letting it all out...All of his fears...His sadness...His shame...All of his pain...He was sobbing like a child...Like someone weak...pathetic...little boy.

She smiled and hugged him tighter.

"It’s okay. It’s going to be okay."

"It...It's not okay...It..." He stuttered as he struggled to form the words, as his voice cracked and his body shook.

"It will never be okay. Not for me..." He managed to speak. Though his voice was broken.

"It will be." She buried her face in his shoulder and smiled as she pressed him closer. "It will be…"

"No..." He mumbled. "No...It..."

He was fighting so hard...So damn hard to remain strong...But...But...But he was failing...

She was right...

It would be okay...

It would get better...

She was there...

And with her...With her...Maybe...

Maybe he'd be alright.

JR was still holding him when she suddenly felt a Dark Force join them and she shuddered as she heard a voice.

"No !" Suddenly, she felt something or someone trying to wrench Kylo Ren out of her grasp. She held him tightly and refused to let go.

"No ! No ! Let him go ! Stop !" She cried out and used all of her strength to keep him with her—but the voice boomed once more.

"LET GO OF HIM, YOU WEAKLING !" The ominous voice screeched.

"I will not." Her words of determination were nearly shaken by the presence of the strange Force that had joined them. She would resist. She would not let it take him from her.

She felt it trying to take him. She felt its anger—its rage. But she would not budge.

"NO !" She screamed, and for a moment she felt her grip on him falter, but she kept him in her arms, even as the voice tried to wrench him away. Suddenly, there was chaos around them as a mysterious force tried to separate them. But she wasn't having it.

She tightened her grip on him and wouldn’t let him go no matter what.

She screamed out her determination as she refused to give in.

"NO !" She echoed in defiance, her grip on him never faltering as she managed to hold him closer.

"I will not let him go." She shouted once more as she felt the force trying to separate them. And she wouldn't...She held on to him while tears ran down her cheeks. Suddenly, she felt the Dark Force trying to separate them and she cried as she desperately tried to keep Kylo Ren with her.

"NO ! Kylo ! No ! Please !" She begged, but she wasn’t strong enough and finally, the Dark Force succeeded in cutting the connection and JR was brutally brought back to reality.

"BEN !" She screamed his name.

She gasped and looked up to find Skywalker above her—holding her.

He seemed breathless and panicked.

"Are you out of your mind ?! The Dark Force almost got you ! What happened ?!"

JR's eyes flew open as she was pulled back to the present. She was on the ground with Skywalker above her...He seemed shaken...Worried...She felt the tears welling up in her eyes again as she recalled what happened.

"Ben..." She breathed the name. "Ben Solo." JR took a few shaky breaths before she spoke again.

"Ben Solo is still alive. I...I saw him. We need to save him."

"That...Dark Force...what was..." He muttered, but his concern was quickly overpowered by his surprise.

Ben Solo was still alive. What ?

"Ben..." he repeated, suddenly forgetting about the strange presence that had just tried to take him away from her.

"He's really...alive ? You saw him ?"

"Yes..." She whispered, as if suddenly realizing the full extent of what had happened.

"Yes ! I...I saw him."

The tears were once more welling up in her eyes as she nodded.

"He's still...alive...We can still...We have to..."

She took another shaky breath as the realization set back in.

"...Save him."

She took Luke’s hands in hers.

"Teach me. Teach me the Force. Please. I am sure I can bring him back. Please."

Luke's breath caught in his throat as he stared down at her...She really believed it...She really thought she could save him. And she was asking him to teach her the Force...

"You...You really believe you can do this ?" He asked.

"I can learn ! I will learn ! Please…" Her eyes watered, but suddenly, Luke shook his head and looked away.

"I cannot. It was a mistake to let you stay."

"What ? No ! I can learn, I know I can." If she were allowed her place in the light and learned more about the Force, then maybe she would be able to help Ben.

"Please..." She pleaded. Luke couldn't refuse her. She deserved a chance. She was worthy. He believed in her, and she deserved the same.

"Let me stay. Let me learn. I can..." She sobbed. Luke sighed as he looked away.

Was it a mistake to let her stay...? She could learn, that much was true. Luke was tempted to say no...But her words...His heart ached as he saw the desperation for change in her eyes.

She deserved a chance. A second chance...A chance to do better.

"...All right." He finally breathed. "...But I'm not going to just hand you a lightsaber and say, 'Good luck.' You'll have to work for it."

She smiled and was about to hug him, but decided otherwise.

"Thank you ! Thank you !"

"Don't be too thankful just yet." Luke smirked. "I'm not going to be an easy teacher."

"I will learn everything I can ! I will be a sponge ! All you have to do is feed me knowledge !" She promised and smiled.

"Hm." He muttered. "Then I'll make sure to give you plenty."

He took a few moments to think.

"But there's still one problem."

She gulped.

"What we just...Experienced..." Luke hesitated to even put it into words. "There are still things I do not understand."

"I'd like to know..." He continued. "How you were able to...To reach out to Ben...? To get through to him...?"

She sighed.

"I don’t know. I just…I just saw that he was in pain and I wanted to help. I told him that he was worthy of redemption and that he needed to hold on. I just…wanted to give him a little hope."

"You..." Luke had to take a few moments to process her words. "You just...You just reached out...?"

She nodded and Luke hummed thoughtfully.

"Do you know how rare that is ? How powerful that is ?"

"What ?" She frowned in confusion.

"To be able to reach someone through the Force...To be able to show him that he's worthy..." He paused. "To give someone like Kylo Ren hope...Do you have any idea how rare of an ability that is ?"

"Through the Force ? Wait…" She deadpanned. "…Are you saying what I think you’re saying ?"

"I...I am." Luke replied calmly. "You're Force-savvy. Not quite Force-sensitive, not yet...But you're on the border. You have the potential. And I think...I think that's part of the reason that dark presence tried to take you."

JR was stunned.

"You have the potential to be Force-sensitive..." He repeated. "You showed that right now. The Dark Side is going to target you because of that...because you could join the Light. Because you do have potential...Because..."

Luke went silent once again as he mulled over his own words.

"…Hum…Luke ? Are you saying that I could become a Force user ?! Like…really ? Become a Jedi ? Like Rey ?" She was truly stunned and huffed a nervous laugh. "No…It can’t be. I am not…I can’t be. The First Order makes us pass tests when we are kids. They would have…I can’t be…It’s impossible."

"The First Order..." Luke muttered and sighed. "Of course, they would."

"JR..." Luke took her hands. "Did they ever tell you what happened to anyone...Who ended up Force-sensitive...Once they discovered it ?"

"What ? No. Never. I just…" She frowned. "I heard there were special stormtroopers Force user units. But I never actually saw them."

"...If someone who’s Force-sensitive is discovered..." He sighed. "The First Order...They don’t take kindly to it. They think that those individuals who are Force-sensitive are a weakness...Someone who might switch sides or...Or might be corrupted. They don’t take the chance."

Her eyes widened.

"You mean…"

"They're afraid." He continued. "Afraid that someone might join the enemy...That someone might betray them...That someone is a weak link."

He sighed once more.

"They do away with anyone...Anyone who might be suspected of being Force-sensitive."

She felt a chill run down her spine as she then said knowingly.

"…I am never going back to the First Order now, am I ?"

"...No." He shook his head. "...No, you aren’t."

He paused as an ominous feeling washed over him. "...There's only one problem."

"What now ?" She sighed.

"...There is no way that the First Order won't come looking for you." Luke said simply.

She sighed again in frustration.

"If you have to choose between training Rey or keeping me. Just keep Rey, okay ? She deserves it. And she’s maybe the only one who can put an end to this war."

"You do realize that if I choose to train you...That it wouldn't be at the expense of Rey..." He said calmly. "There's nothing...No reason why she couldn't remain my apprentice...And I could still train you..."

"Besides..." He hesitated. "...Rey doesn't need me...Rey has the books...And she's got the Resistance...She's got people to teach her...People to look out for her...She'll be fine. You..."

JR looked away.

"I know…"

Luke let go of her hands and looked up and away...And he was silent for a little while as he seemed to deliberate his next words...

"...I could train you. But there would need to be rules."

"Like ?"

"No...No going over to the Dark side." He said firmly. "No allowing your past...Or your anger to consume you...No embracing hatred."

He took another breath.

"If I'm going to train you...Then you need to be able to resist the First Order...To resist...Darkness."

JR sighed before nodding.

"I shall…cut ties. I promise. I shall stop all of my communication with the Dark Side or the First Order."

"...That's a good start." Luke smiled. "But there's another rule."

"Which is ?"

"No going after Ben Solo." He replied. "You’re not strong enough yet...Even if you were able to bring him back...You’re not strong enough to defend yourself should...Should the Dark Side try to rip him from you again..."

He sighed.

"...Nor will you be strong enough for a long time…If ever."

"Okay. I won’t. But…How do I keep him away ? He literally just appears in my mind whenever he wants to…"

"That..." Luke paused once again. "The Force has a way of drawing people together...It’s possible that as long as the connection remains..."

He paused.

"...He’ll always have a way of reaching you. And you a way of reaching him."

"But is there any way to block him out ?"

"Yes. I can teach you...But you’ll have to do that yourself." He paused. "You’ll have to learn to cut that connection yourself."

"How ?"

"You can’t learn that by being taught...You learn through practice." He sighed. "You have to learn to control the connection and sever it when necessary...But it takes time. And it takes focus."

"I am willing to listen and learn."

"And I will help you." He said it firmly. "But you'll also need to be patient...This isn't going to happen in a day. Or with one lesson."

She nodded before taking a big breath.

"To save Ben Solo ? I would spend a 100 lessons…"

"And that's what it will probably take." He nodded. "Like I said...I'll make sure you learn. We'll start with the basics...And then we'll build from there."

She nodded and closed her eyes.

…Hold on, Ben Solo…

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #kylo ren x reader #ben solo #general hux x reader

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 16

Warning: Long.

JR-6025 was in her hut when she looked down at the transmitter around her wrist. She sighed.

It was time…

She called General Hux.

She tried to mentally prepare herself, but it was impossible. The transmission came through quickly, and General Hux's face appeared on the screen.

"Trooper..." He said, his tone more authoritative and slightly harsher than usual. Her eyes widened. That was the face of a very angry and displeased man…What had she done again ?

"Sir." She greeted back.

"Where are you ?" He interrogated. "You haven't been responding to my communications for the past few days..."

"…I apologise. I have been busy." She replied—thinking about how she had had to spare with Rey every single day because she wanted a fighting partner and how Luke Skywalker had been breathing down her neck ever since she had set foot on his island…

"Busy doing what, may I ask ?" He responded sharply with a raised eyebrow. "Or could it be that you had other intentions ? Other communications ?"

He continued, the subtle accusations clear in his tone and not lost on her experienced ears.

"…Excuse me ?" She frowned in confusion.

The general’s expression hardened.

"Well, you have been rather late with your responses over the past few days..." He said and clicked his tongue. "And I do know that you have had difficulty dealing with your...doubts."

Her eyes widened and she tightened her grasp around the transmitter.

"…What would you know about MY doubts, general ?" She asked and there was underlying fear in her voice as she wondered what the General could have poss heard.

Hux leant forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. She could feel hid silent judgment—even if she was only facing his hologram.

"You thought I wouldn’t know about your feelings towards the Rebellion ? That I haven't had my suspicions about your loyalties ?" He asked and JR clenched her teeth.

"…I see." She took a deep breath. "I haven’t forgotten my mission, if that is what you are insinuating."

"Oh, I am well aware that you haven't forgotten..." General Hux responded in an emotionless voice. "But I am also well-aware that you let your doubts continue to exist and fester within you instead of simply suppressing them in favor of your loyalty to the First Order..."

She looked away. It was true she had had her doubts but…She had never thought of betraying the First Order.

"…Now, how would you know any of this, sir ?" She asked with suspicion in her gaze.

"That is of no importance." General Hux snarled in response to her question. "What matters is that I know exactly how you have been acting over the past few days, and this is not behavior that I will tolerate..."

"Pray tell. How have I been acting exactly ?" She replied with a frown.

"You have been hesitant, and you have been slow to respond to my calls..." He responded with an unimpressed expression. "You have simply not been as loyal as you were expected to be..."

"I have been trying to gain the Rebellion’s trust. Isn’t that what you wanted ?" She retorted with a hint of disbelief. What more was she expected to do ?! He frowned, clearly irritated by her answer.

"Yes, you have been attempting to gain the Resistance's trust..." He said slowly, carefully choosing his next words. "But there is no reason for you to show this kind of hesitance while doing so..."

"What hesitance ?" She challenged and he took a moment to remain silent, attempting to maintain as much patience as possible.

"You haven't been showing the same devotion to the mission as you have previously..." He uttered calmly yet sharply. "And I can't help but notice that you have been taking longer to respond to my communications..."

"I cannot be 24/7 communicating with you, General." She replied shortly and with a small twitch of the corner of her lips. "I am on an island with Rey and Luke Skywalker. I am trying to gain information and get as close as possible to the scavenger girl. And you still expect me to be at your beck and call ?"

His expression darkened visibly at her statement.

"Are you implying that I am interfering with your mission ?" He responded, his tone becoming slightly more threatening as an edge of anger laced his sentences.

"I am implying that I wish you would trust me more !" She finally burst out and he glared at her with a scowl.

"I would trust you more if your doubts and fears didn't hold so much sway over your actions..." He retorted.

"What doubts and fears ? I cannot be communicating all the time with you, general !" She protested.

General Hux gritted his teeth before replying: "But you have the time to communicate with Lord Kylo Ren ?"

Her eyes widened and General Hux huffed mockingly.

"Yes. I am aware that you have been communicating with Ren."

JR sighed. Of course. Now, she knew where he had gotten the idea from…

"He has been invading my mind with the Force, sir. I cannot exactly push him back…"

He remained silent for a few moments, his gaze narrowing...

"So, you've been letting him invade your thoughts..." He murmured. His voice then took on a mocking tone. "Is that the real reason why you haven't been responding to my messages ? Because your mind was busy with other things...such as him ?"

"What am I supposed to do ?!" She replied—exasperated by the general’s lack of understanding. He sighed, his voice filling with a hint of irritation.

"You could have attempted to find a way of resisting him..." He responded and JR’s eyes widened in disbelief at his words. "Did you even try to suppress his influence ? Or did you simply let him do as he pleased ? Or did you secretly like it...did you secretly enjoy his little mental invasions ?"

She was stunned. Was he accusing her of talking to Kylo Ren ?!

"What ? You know I have only been loyal to you. Only you. I cannot help it that Lord Ren has the Force and uses it to enter my mind now, can I ?!" She shook her head and sighed.

The First Order General's eyes narrowed even further as he listened to her. His voice became more hostile and more agitated.

"Just how often has Lord Ren's presence been invading your mind ?" He asked, his tone taking on a slightly more threatening edge.

"…Three times. Maybe four." She shrugged.

"And each time, you let him invade your thoughts unimpeded, as though you had no problem with his presence..." He uttered sharply, each word carrying an implicit accusation with it. JR took a deep breath to calm herself.

"General Hux ! He is a Sith Lord. He has been spending his life training with the Force ! I cannot exactly just shut the door of my mind in his face !" She was starting to get annoyed ans angry at Hux’s accusations. What did he expect her to do ?

His jaw tightened as she said that.

"Yet you made no attempt to do so..." He spoke slowly. "You just let him enter your mind without even trying to resist..."

"What would you have me do ?! How could I possibly stop a Force user from entering my mind ?!" She couldn’t believe the discussion they were having. The absurdity of it…

"There are ways of resisting the Force..." He gritted his teeth. "Ways of maintaining your mental fortitude. Yet you never sought out training for such a purpose...instead you allowed Lord Ren to invade your mind as he pleased, again and again..."

"And who would train me ?!" She finally asked and looked up at the ceiling—wondering if maybe if she stopped looking at general Hux, the situation would turn out more bearable…

"I have the best instructors available in the First Order at my disposal..." He replied coldly. "What stopped you from reaching out to me for training ? Why did you allow Lord Ren to do whatever he pleased ?"

"Last time I checked, he can get into YOUR head too ! I am a stormtrooper ! He is a Sith Lord ! I am on a mission ! To spy on Rey and Luke Skywalker ! And you would have me come back to the ship to get training on how to resist Lord Ren’s Force powers ?!"

He leaned forward in his seat.

"You are a stormtrooper, but you are supposed to be one of my soldiers..." He muttered. "And I would much rather have you learn how to resist a Force user's influence than allow you to continue being mentally invaded by one..."

"Sir. Are you seriously jealous ?" She finally asked and he blinked in disbelief as he heard what she said.

"Jealous...?" He echoed, his tone becoming even harsher. "Jealous ?! ME ?"

His play of the shocked or confused or offended didn’t work on her. She knew General Hux well enough to decipher his different moods and emotions. And right now ? There was no doubt in her mind…

"Is that it ? Really ? You are jealous that I have been talking to Lord Ren ?" She insisted and General Hux remained silent for a few moments, his jaw tightening once more.

"I am the General of the First Order..." He muttered tightly. "I am in command of the entire First Order military...Why would I be jealous of a mere stormtrooper such as you...just for having occasional communications with Lord Ren ?"

She arched an eyebrow at him, but didn’t dare say more on the matter.

"Then what is it ? Lord Ren is a member of the First Order ! We are all on the same side !"

"And yet he is invading your mind and having his way with you..." He uttered sharply. "Would you also let me enter your thoughts like he does, if given the opportunity ? Would your mind be open towards me in the same way it is towards him ?"

She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"General…What are you…?"

"Would you let me enter your thoughts ?" He repeated, his tone taking on a threatening edge once more.

"YOU ARE NOT A FORCE USER !" She finally said, but immediately regretted her words. "No wait…That’s not what I…"

His eyes narrowed, and the threatening undertone to his tone grew stronger.

"Are you implying that if I was a Force user, you would let me enter your thoughts ?" He asked, his tone a combination of threatening and accusing.

"I am not letting anyone enter my thoughts. Lord Ren just…invites himself in, sir." She replied and was starting to get tired of the conversation. Couldn’t he see that she couldn’t do anything ?

"And you have done nothing to stop it..." He muttered. "Nothing to push him out..."

"Which begs the question..." He continued slowly. "...Do you allow him to invade your mind so easily because you enjoy his presence there ? Do you enjoy having him in your mind, and the feel of him in your thoughts ?"

She huffed a laugh of disbelief.

"Are you listening to yourself ? Do you really think I enjoy any of this ? Do you think I enjoy being on the enemy’s side and having Lord Ren violate the privacy of my own mind ?"

"Then why haven't you found a way of keeping him out ?" He responded sharply. "It doesn't make sense. If this is truly something you are unhappy about, then why haven't you found a way of keeping him out of your head ?"

"I AM ON AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH A JEDI MASTER AND REY ! WHERE WOULD I FIND SOMEONE TO TEACH ME HOW TO KEEP LORD KYLO REN AT BAY ?!" She remained silent for a moment before she came to the sudden realisation. "Oooooh…"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh...?" He repeated with a slight frown of confusion and JR sighed before explaining.

"Hear me out."

He remained silent for a moment...

"Fine..." He replied, his tone filled with curiosity. "I am listening."

She licked her lips before thinking about it and saying.

"…Luke Skywalker is a Jedi Master, right ?"

He nodded once.

"Yes, he is..." He replied slowly—wondering what she was getting at.

"…What if…I asked him to teach me…how to push someone out of my mind ?"

His jaw tightened as he listened to her suggestion.

"You would ask Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master who is currently housing Rey, how to keep Lord Ren out of your mind ?" He uttered before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation and disbelief. Was it really possible to be that astoundingly stupid ? "And you see nothing wrong with that proposal ?"

"…Well, what else do you propose ? I am stuck here. Might as well try and see if I can make Luke Skywalker teach me a thing or two ?" She suggested. It seemed as if he was thinking about it before he shook his head. He remained silent for a few moments, his tone taking on a threatening edge once more.

"Have you lost your mind...?" He muttered. "You do not even have the slightest idea of how dangerous it would be if you openly revealed to Luke Skywalker that Lord Ren has the ability to enter your mind..."

She winced.

"I…agree. But I could hide it. Say that it is just for safety purposes. To help Rey. To keep enemies at bay ?"

He narrowed his eyes as he listened to her.

"You honestly believe that he would fall for that ?" He uttered. "Or do you honestly believe that Luke Skywalker will not notice your true reason for asking this of him ?"

"Alright then ! What is your brilliant idea then ? I am all ears, general !" She huffed in irritation. His tone immediately shifted to one of annoyance, as well.

"Keep Lord Ren at bay yourself !" He shouted. "It can't be that difficult...! Surely you just have to find a way of pushing him out...and keeping him out when he tries to return...like a defense mechanism of sorts...."

She blinked twice.

"…Are you serious ?"

He didn’t relent.

"Of course I am serious..." He responded harshly. "Am I supposed to believe that you cannot even find a way of pushing him out of your mind on your own ?!"

"I feel like I am repeating myself here…He is a damn SITH LORD !" She repeated and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation.

"And you are a member of the First Order, a loyal soldier !" He shouted before muttering under his breath. "One who is supposed to be my best..."

JR was stunned for a second before she smiled. He froze for a second, before he noticed that she was smiling and his eyes narrowed...

"What are you smiling about...?"

"~Nothing." She hummed with a small smile still playing on her lips.

"Speak." He commanded her. "Tell me what exactly is making you smile right now."

"…You just admitted that I am your best soldier."

There was a brief moment of silence as his gaze fixed upon her.

"And why, exactly, did that make you smile ?"

"…I didn’t know you held me in such high esteem. That’s all." She replied with a small shrug. He was silent for a few moments. His expression softened, though he remained silent...

She smiled again.

"…I am glad to know it now. But, even though you think I am a good soldier, I cannot force Kylo Ren to keep away without training, sir. And I think my best shot would be to ask Luke Skywalker to teach me. With…your permission. Of course."

He remained silent for a few moments, and then leaned back in his seat...

"Fine." He muttered. "You may ask him...I give you permission to do so..."

She smiled again.

"Thank you, sir. And…I’ll try to communicate with you more often. I promise."

His expression softened slightly, and he nodded once.

"Good..." He muttered. "Now, see to it that you do your job. And be careful...do not let Luke Skywalker become suspicious of you or of your intentions..."

She smiled and nodded.

"Well noted, general."

She then looked away.

"And…thank you."

His eyes narrowed once again.

"Thank me...?" He responded slowly. "For what, exactly ?"

"For…worrying about me."

His lips tightened.

"I merely gave you permission to talk to Luke Skywalker..." He responded. "I am merely asking you to see if you can use this as an opportunity to gather some of the information we need...that is all..."

He sighed.

"...Do not let such ideas of sentimentalism fill your head..."

"Right right. Never." She agreed, but was still smiling.

"Good." He replied, his voice once more becoming cold and emotionless. "And if Lord Ren does try to enter your mind again before you have spoken to Skywalker...you will immediately inform me...and not Luke Skywalker..."

"Yes, sir." She smiled before she was about to end communication. His eyes narrowed once again.

"One last thing..." He said.

"Yes ?" She looked at him.

"Before you go..." He paused for a second. "I wish to know...when was the first time Lord Ren invaded your mind ?"

"Oh ! Hum…It was…I think it was after I talked to his mother. General Organa. Why ?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You spoke to Lord Ren's mother ?" He echoed. "When ?"

She shrugged.

"A few days after I infiltrated the Resistance."

He remained silent for a few seconds.

"And...what did you speak to her about ?"

JR hesitated. She didn’t want to say anything personal about Lord Ren to General Hux. He became slightly irritated.

"Tell me."

"Sir…I don’t think it is of any importance. Really."

His face contorted into a grimace of annoyance.

"I will decide whether it is insignificant or not. Now tell me..."

She sighed.

"…We talked about…Ben Solo." She closed her eyes. His jaw clenched tightly.

"Ben Solo...you mean to tell me that you discussed Kylo Ren's past with his mother ?"

"…It was just…a conversation. Nothing more." She tried to justify herself.

"A conversation...about Kylo Ren's past." He repeated slowly. "With General Organa, who happens to be...his mother, yes ?"

"…What is your point, general ?" She said and he remained silent for a moment—thinking.

"What were the specifics of the conversation ?"

She shrugged.

"Memories. Childhood memories. Just…whatever you would expect a mother to talk about when talking about her son. She just wanted to know that her son was alright…"

"Yes, and what about you..." He hissed. "...Why were you interested in hearing about his childhood and his past ?"

"I was just trying to gain her trust." She said and looked away. She wouldn’t admit to General Hux that she had actually been interested to know more about Kylo Ren’s past…

"By asking her about her son's childhood...Memories from before he joined the First Order..." He sighed. "I see..."

"Yes." She nodded.

"And what did you learn about him ?" He muttered slowly. "What did she tell you about her son..."

JR thought about it. What could she say ?

"…That he was a happy child."

He leant forward in his seat for a moment.

"...Nothing else...? Nothing more..."

"No, sir."

"You expect me to believe that you and General Organa talked about Kylo Ren's past..." He hissed, his tone filled with suspicion. "...And the only thing she told you was that he was a happy child ?"

"I mean…What else could she have said ?" She protested.

"I do not know !" He shouted. "Were there no significant events in his childhood ?! Or something embarrassing ? Something…useful ?"

"Why would you want to know ?" She frowned slightly. "General…Are you…trying to find some kind of emotional leverage against Lord Ren ?"

He paused.

"What makes you think that ?" He murmured and slowly turned his head towards her and JR knew he was upset by the way she thought his eyes held fire in them. "What are you trying to insinuate ?"

She frowned. It was one thing to be ambitious and bold, it was another to try to gain the upper hand on a rival through emotional manipulation.

"…I believe it is best I end the communication now, sir. I need to…get back to the mission."

He remained silent for a few moments.

"...Fine..." He grunted. "Go do what you need to do..."

"Yes, sir. Goodbye."

He glared at the transmission for a few moments, before he cut the connection.

"...Goodbye..." He nodded once and immediately ended the transmission, sitting there in silence for a few moments...

As soon as the call was over, JR-6025 let out a sigh of relief and she looked up at the ceiling of her hut…That was tense. She then looked outside and saw Rey training. She was getting better day after day. JR then looked for Luke, but saw no sign of him…At that moment, the door to her hut suddenly opened, as Luke Skywalker stepped inside. Luke took a few steps towards her, the door slamming shut behind him as he approached...JR instinctively took a few steps back—her hand instinctively reaching for the blaster she had hidden underneath her bed.

"M-Master Luke. To what do I owe the pleasure ?" She forced a smile. He remained silent for a few moments, before responding slowly.

"I know who you have been communicating with..."

Her smile faltered slightly.

"I…I don’t…"

He took a few steps towards her.

"Don't try and deny it..."

She sighed. "It…isn’t my fault. Lord Ren has been entering my mind by force. I would like to be able to push him away. But I cannot…I need…I need your help."

He paused.

"...Lord Ren has been entering your mind...?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"When did this begin...?"

She sighed.

"A few days ago. But his appearances have been more frequent recently…"

"I see..." There was a moment of silence as Skywalker thought about it.

"And why did you not tell me about this...as soon as you noticed it...?"

She sighed.

"I was afraid you would…ask me to leave."

"So...you thought it better to keep a secret from me instead...of simply telling me about it...?" He clenched his jaw tightly.

"I am sorry. I know I was wrong. I just…Everyone already sees me as a traitor and I didn’t want Rey or you to have any more reasons to doubt me." She explained and he sighed.

"I see..." He remained silent for a few moments, his voice softened slightly. "I understand how you may have feared...but you should have told me..."

"…I know. I apologise. But, I need your help."

He raised an eyebrow.

"...And what exactly is this 'help' you are requesting of me...?"

She hesitated. "Could you…teach me ? Teach me how to keep him at bay ?"

She waited for his answer and Luke huffed before turning around to leave.

"No."

"What ?!" She exclaimed before following him. "What do you mean no ?!"

Luke paused for a brief moment as she followed him.

"...You want ME to teach you how to push away Lord Ren from your mind ? After all..." He looked back at her. "...You still communicate with the First Order..."

JR’s eyes widened.

"Wait a second…How do you know that ?"

He merely blinked once.

"I..." He paused for a moment.

"Were you…spying on me ?" She asked with a frown and crossed her arms over her chest.

Luke rolled his eyes before mimicking her.

"Ironic coming from a spy."

She remained silent for a moment, and then scoffed.

"Right, I was a spy, so what..." She shook her head. "...Anyway...back to what I was saying...what do you mean you cannot teach me how to push away Lord Ren...?"

He humphed.

"You have got a LOT of nerve."

She smirked as she sighed.

"You didn't answer my question..."

"Let me see…" He started counting on his fingers. "You are a spy. Lord Ren keeps entering your mind. You are a stormtrooper. You have infiltrated the Rebellion to spy on Rey and on me. I am currently THIS close to just throwing you over a cliff for the fish to feast." He showed a narrow gap between his finger and thumb to illustrate his words.

JR raised an eyebrow at him.

"Then why haven’t you ?"

Luke’s jaw twitched before be sighed.

"Because if you had told the First Order about where I am or what we are doing, then the First Order would already be here. But, you haven’t. And I see…something in you. For some reason. And my sister saw it too since she sent you to me."

There was a sudden silence. For a while, at least. JR was silent for a while. Then, she chuckled.

"So despite everything," She spoke slowly, as if processing her own words. "...You haven't thrown me over a cliff, simply because you see something in me...?"

Luke raised an eyebrow at her. She chuckled again.

"If you really do see something in me," she spoke slowly, a hint of a smirk on her face. "...What would you call it...? Is it something good ?"

"Haven’t figured it out yet." He replied truthfully and she remained silent for a few moments.

"So...you see something in me, but you don't know what, exactly...?"

Luke frowned.

"Be grateful that I have even allowed you to stay. Stormtroopers are normally unwelcome on my island. Actually, everyone but me is unwelcome. But, especially stormtroopers."

She scoffed.

"If you are still figuring out what this 'something' is..." She paused shortly. "...Why do you not simply teach me how to push away Lord Ren's intrusion ? What do you have to lose ?"

Luke huffed mockingly.

"And help a member of the First Order ? Great idea. Why don’t I teach you how to use the Force next, why don’t I ?"

"I don't want to learn the Force..." She muttered slowly, rolling her eyes. "But I do want to learn about ways to stop Lord Ren from invading my mind..."

She paused for a moment.

"You do have a solution, yes ?"

Luke hesitated.

"…Perhaps." He stood before her—looming over her. "But…I do not teach stormtroopers."

"Oh ?" She smirked, stepping up to face him in a mockery of his stance. "...Can't you make an exception ? For me, at least ?"

At this point, she was just playing confident. She was scared that Luke would actually send her away without helping her. But she thought that by being honest, he would at least consider it.

"And pray tell, why would I do that ?" He raised a quizzical eyebrow at her. She remained silent for a few moments, before grinning.

"Because I am special ?" She replied coyly.

Luke chocked on a laugh and waved her in a dismissive manner.

"Arrogant. So very arrogant…"

She shrugged.

"Well...what can I say...I am special..." She smirked.

"And since you still 'cannot figure out what this something is' that you see in me..." She took a step closer to him. "...Perhaps...you might consider teaching me..."

"Nice speech. But, as I have said before…I do not teach stormtroopers." He repeated stubbornly and she frowned, her fists clenching.

"But as you said..." She raised her hand to point at herself. "...I am special. So...Perhaps you might reconsider."

Luke rolled his eyes. She made him think of Han Solo…Stubborn prick that he was…Luke shook his head at the memory of his old friend.

"I am afraid I already have a student that I need to be FULLY committed to."

She remained silent for a few moments, frowning once again.

"...You mean Rey ?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Yes. Rey. And if I recall correctly, you begged me to train her." Luke said and looked into her eyes. "Would you really risk HER training to get yourself some lessons ?"

JR frowned and looked away. She hesitated. She remained silent for a while, thinking over what he said.

"...No." She muttered quickly, her tone a mix of guilt and resignation. "...I wouldn't..."

Luke’s expression softened as he realised that the stormtrooper genuinely cared about Rey. He sighed before looking away.

"I…do not teach stormtroopers." He repeated before walking past her, but he then stopped and looked back at her. "But…I am willing to try. If you are no longer one. If you cut all ties with the First Order. And if you abandon their ways. If you truly commit to Rey and the Rebellion. Then…Maybe…"

JR closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. She thought about General Hux and years of fighting for the First Order. She would have to abandon all that…She would have to say goodbye to them…Her face froze.

"...You mean...I would have to fully defect to the Rebellion...? You are really giving me an ultimatum ?"

Luke didn’t say anything. He only left her with her thoughts and JR closed her eyes. She had promised to stay loyal to General Hux. She had pledged to the stormtrooper creed. Her whole life had been linked to the First Order.

She couldn’t possibly…

She remained silent for a few moments, her mind racing.

The First Order...General Hux...Years spent as a loyal stormtrooper...

A part of her thought she couldn't do it. A part of her thought that there was no way that she could turn her back on everything that she had known up until now. But another part of her also thought of Rey...JR looked at the transmitter in her hand and her eyes started filling up with tears. She would have to say goodbye to her old life. She would have to say goodbye to General Hux and Kylo Ren and what she had always been…She held the transmitter close as tears silently streamed down her face.

She suddenly felt a pang of loneliness as she realised just how close she was to...well, just everything in her past life.

The First Order...General Hux...Kylo Ren…Everything...

She started walking back to her hut and sat down. She remained silent for a few moments, trying to keep her cool. As difficult and impossible as this mission was, her loyalty was still to the First Order. Or she tried to convince herself it was…

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

She didn’t even need to turn around to know that she wasn’t alone anymore…

"Lord Ren. What is it you want ?" She spoke slowly, trying to put on a stoic and emotionless demeanor, as was expected of a good and loyal stormtrooper.

"How far is Rey in her training ?" He asked and she restrained a heavy sigh.

She frowned.

"She is..." She thought for a moment. "She is making good progress, I would say..."

She turned around to face him and was surprised to find him wearing his mask again.

"Lord Ren. Is there a particular reason for your…presence now ?"

He scoffed.

"I simply wished to see how much 'progress' she had made..." He paused for a few moments. "...And because I wanted to speak with you."

She tensed up. "About ?"

He smiled.

"About your mission. And about the progress you have made with Rey."

JR sighed before asking.

"Couldn’t you use the transmitter to contact me ? The one General Hux is using ? Instead of coming and going in my head."

Kylo Ren chuckled—but the modified sound was echoing within her mind and made her quiver slightly.

"And why would I do that ? When I can have ALL the information I want right from the source ?"

JR’s jaw twitched at his words.

"Then view it as a request, Lord Ren. Would you…please…stop…entering me mind ?" She closed her eyes.

"And how do you intend to make me do that...?" He smirked. "If you want me to stop, then make me."

He chuckled.

"It is not as if I enjoy entering your mind without your consent...It is just the quickest and most effective way to communicate and ensure your safety."

Liar…He was having a blast. And she knew he couldn’t care less about her safety.

She thought to herself. She felt anger bubbling deep inside her.

"Stop."

He scoffed. "Just 'stop' ?" He smirked tauntingly. "Do you really expect me to simply stop because you tell me to...?"

"Please." She insisted and he shook his head.

"No," He replied bluntly. "I shall enter your mind...whenever I feel the need to."

"Lord Ren. Please. Just…Please. Leave." She tried again, but he simply glared at her, his temper starting to rise.

"And what makes you think that I am going to do as you ask ?" He snapped and she shuddered.

"Because I am asking you. Because I am asking you to let me take my own decisions and leave my mind at once."

He glowered at her.

"Your mind is not simply your mind. If it was, I would not be able to enter it. Therefore, I am well within my right to continue entering your mind, 'whenever I feel the need to'. That is my final answer."

She gritted her teeth and glared back at him.

"Nobody trusts me because they know you are in my mind ! General Hux is having doubts about me ! Luke Skywalker is having doubts about me ! All that because of YOU !"

"That is your issue," He snapped. "Not mine. So I shall continue to do what I want."

He folded his arms over his chest like a child and glared at JR. She sighed and shook her head. She now understood General Hux’s strife now more than ever.

"You cannot blame me for everyone distrusting you. You yourself gave the First Order reason not to..." He started and she saw red.

"I have been nothing but loyal all my life ! I have tried to be a good stormtrooper ! And you keep trying to get General Hux to see me as a traitor ! To make the whole world believe it so ! Why ?! Why, Lord Ren ?!" She shouted and immediately regretted when she saw the way Lord Ren was now so close to her. He was looming over her and she had never felt so much like a mosquito right now…

"...Did it ever occur to you that I want to keep you safe...?" He finally claimed and remained silent for a few moments, a hint of guilt suddenly appeared in his voice. "And for the record...I did not try to get General Hux to see you as a traitor. He is the one who thinks that and came to that conclusion on his own..."

She huffed a mocking laugh.

"Right…And how did he learn that you could enter my mind at will ? You told him. Of course you did…"

His expression suddenly hardened.

"I had to tell him..." He snapped. "Besides, that does not matter..."

"IT DOES MATTER !" She protested and Kylo’s breathing picked up.

"No it does not. Not in the slightest. You were suspicious from the beginning." He glared at her as he took a step closer to her. "And yet you are angry at me for informing your superior...."

"Of course I am ! Because I thought I could trust…" She admitted and sighed softly. "…because I thought I could trust you."

Kylo Ren was momentarily surprised before there was a small static noise that JR recognised as a mocking huff—a barely stifled laugh.

"And, tell me, JR..?" He paused as he took another step closer to her. "What made you think that you could ever trust me...?"

She gulped and took a few steps back.

"Right. I was obviously wrong…"

"Well...you are not entirely wrong..." he replied, a playful tone suddenly filling his voice. "I did tell him about our...special connection...but not much more."

She took a deep breath and turned her back on him.

"…There is no connection. You are just an intruder in my own mind. An intruder that I will find a way to get rid of somehow…"

"Do you truly believe that...?" He asked, moving closer to her. He suddenly reached out and held one of her shoulders.

"The bond between us is real...You cannot simply get rid of me..."

"I can. And I will." She refused to let him play with her mind. He smirked and chuckled.

"And just...how exactly do you intend to do that...?" He tapped her cheek with his glove finger tauntingly.

"…I will ask for help." She swiftly turned around to stare at him. "…from Skywalker."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"From..." He laughed. "...From Luke Skywalker...?" He scoffed. "Why would that old fool help you...?"

"…Because I told him I would defect." She gritted her teeth. "Because of you ! I have no choice…You got what you wanted. I cannot be free and even my own thoughts and feelings do not belong to me anymore since you obviously seem to find my mind amusing to haunt and ruin…"

He folded his arms over his chest as he smiled.

"So, basically..." He paused in between words. "...you are going from one leash to another ?"

She huffed.

"Better his than yours."

She glared at him.

"I was General Hux’s pet. Now, I am yours. And soon, I will be someone else’s. Congratulations. You have succeeded in making me realise that no matter where I am or with whom, I shall always be just a pet to all of you ! Yes. Congratulations, Lord Ren. Thank you for enlightening me…"

She felt tears fill her eyes and suddenly, Kylo Ren removed his mask to look at her properly. He remained silent for a few moments, his facial expression suddenly darkening. He took a step closer to her, and grabbed her arms tightly.

"You are not my pet. Do you understand ?!" He spoke forcefully. "I am not like General Hux. He may have treated you like a pet...but I..."

He paused, clenching his fists.

"You…WHAT ?!"

He remained silent for a few seconds before looking away. He took a deep breath.

"I..." He paused again. "I..." His voice suddenly grew quieter, the anger in his expression fading. "I would never treat you...like...like a pet..." He whispered. "I would respect you..."

"Respect me ? Respect me, Lord Ren ?" Tears ran down her cheeks. "You keep violating the privacy of my mind, you keep making me doubt about everything. You keep trying to manipulate me and making me believe that I can trust you…but I cannot, can I ? I cannot trust ANYONE."

He remained silent for a few moments. Then, he slowly looked back at her. He seemed to have regained his composure.

"You cannot trust anyone," He agreed. "But..." Again, a long pause followed. "You can trust me."

He moved a step closer to her.

"I told you, that I would never treat you like a pet...And I meant it..."

"Liar…" She pushed him away. "Liar."

He remained silent for a few moments.

"Say what you want about me," He said, remaining calm in the face of her hostility. "But I have never lied to you, JR-6025."

"LIAR !" She screamed and her breathing picked up. "I am done. I am done with you. And General Hux. And the First Order ! I want to be free ! And if defection is the price ? Then fine !"

"Is that your final answer...?" He mumbled quietly, a bitter edge to his voice. "If so..." He paused. His eyes suddenly flashed with anger. "Then defect. And see how long you last without me to protect you..."

She gritted her teeth and stood closer to him before seething.

"When did you EVER protect me ?"

"From..." He paused and seemed to stop himself before continuing. "...From General Hux. I have had to listen to his thoughts...for months...And during that time, he...did...not think kindly of you...He wanted to hurt you."

Her eyes widened slightly before she shook her head. No…She wouldn’t let him influence her again.

"Well, at least he was always honest about his feelings towards me ! General Hux never pretended to care about me ! He was always faithful to his beliefs ! To the First Order ! And I admire him for it ! But you ?! You are so confused and trying to be someone you obviously aren’t just to pretend belonging to the Dark Side ! And you wish me to join your side ?! But, what is your side, Kylo Ren ? You have no side !"

He remained silent for a few moments, looking away from her, his expression darkening again.

"Yes, I am confused," He whispered. "And yes, I may be trying to figure out who I want to be. But at least I have not simply obeyed and done as I was told all my life."

He slowly turned back to her, still holding on to her arms tightly. "I want to be better than the First Order ever was," He finally confessed. "And you..."

"…What about me ?"

He moved slightly closer to her.

"You..." his expression softened for a moment as he paused. "You want to be free...free from the bonds of the First Order...and from General Hux."

He took another step forward.

"I...can offer that." He then extended his hand forward—hoping she would take it.

She sighed and shook her head.

"You cannot. You are as much a pet as I am, Lord Ren." She huffed. "Same leash, different master."

"I am NOT a pet," He muttered, his voice starting to raise, his temper gradually rising again. He lowered his hand. "And at the end of the day, I am nothing like General Hux. I do not seek power for power's sake, I have motives other than self-serving."

"Yes ? Such as ?" She asked.

"Freedom," He whispered. "And the eradication of the past…the fall of the First Order. I seek to rebuild a new Empire…"

"A new Empire ?" Her eyes widened in horror. "A new Empire…That is your big plan ? To re-build a system built on terror and destruction ?"

He remained silent for a few moments, before speaking in a firm, low voice.

"And the Rebellion…?" He laughed. "What is their plan ? Re-building a system that did nothing but maintain a broken and dying Republic…? No. A new Empire would actually benefit the galaxy. And besides…" The anger returned again. "…it would give us new meaning..."

She remained silent and shook her head before turning her back to him once more. He paused for a moment in silence. He then stepped closer to her, and spoke in a softer, more desperate voice than he had been previous.

"...Please..."

She sighed.

"I genuinely thought…we could be friends. But, all you seek is power. Just like all of them…"

"I do not just seek power," He snapped. "I seek purpose. Freedom. And a better future. But I cannot have that..."

Again, he paused before speaking again.

"Not unless you help me."

"…I cannot help you, Lord Ren. I am sorry."

"And why not ?" His voice was louder again, almost filled with some form of rage. "I am offering you freedom ! Freedom from the constraints of the First Order, freedom to make your own choices..."

"No. What you are offering me is a brand new leash and a golden cage. And with you on top."

"...At least that leash would be of my own making," He said, his voice barely above a whisper now. "And..." He took a deep breath. "...In time, you would not feel as if it were a cage..."

"…But it would still be a cage—no matter how beautiful or luxurious you make it."

He remained silent for a few moments.

"Yes. It would be a golden cage, perhaps. In time, you would even grow to appreciate it. You would learn to enjoy the comfort of it. And would you not prefer that, instead of the leash of the First Order ?"

She shivered as she felt one of his arms wrap itself around her midsection from behind as his fingers wrapped around her throat.

He remained silent for a few moments.

He loosened his grip on her throat, but he did not remove his arm.

"Tell me..." He spoke quietly, barely above a whisper. "Would you rather this leash...or that of the First Order ?"

She closed her eyes and the dry trails of tears on her face felt like lava.

"Just…stop."

"Answer the question," He replied calmly, although the grip on her throat remained. "Do you choose...a leash of my making...or the leash of the First Order...? You...will have a leash no matter your choice...only this way you could have some degree of control over your situation..."

"I do not want a leash…" She uttered in a whisper.

"Yet you will get one, regardless," He replied. "That much you should already know. The leash of the First Order...Or...a leash of my making."

She gritted her teeth and tried to get out of his grip, but she couldn’t.

"Please. I don’t want one. I don’t…"

Kylo Ren tightened his grip on her.

"It could be an invisible leash. A sweet one. One you would learn to love to have." He whispered in her ear. "One you won’t want to live without…"

"I could be gentle," He spoke quietly. "Tender even. You would barely notice the leash, and you would not even want to remove it..."

JR felt her breathing pick up.

"…I don’t…"

"Or..." He spoke softly, gently pulling her closer to him and his fingers tightening around her neck. "…I could also tighten the leash."

He paused.

"Tighten the leash...so tight you would choke on it..."

She gritted her teeth and felt more tears coming out of her eyes.

"…What if I choose the First Order’s leash ?"

His grip tightened and his expression darkened.

"You think you could stand up to General Hux…? You think you could disobey his demands ?" He asked and JR shivered at the sensation of his breath hitting the back of her neck.

"Could I yours ?" She retorted.

He paused before smirking.

"Yes. You could. And do you know why...?" His grip only tightened further.

"Because I would let you," He grunted. "I would let you disobey me...defy me..."

A cruel smile appeared on his face.

"You would hate it...I could make you hate it like nothing else..."

She frowned.

"…What do you mean ?"

"I would make you beg for forgiveness..." He whispered. "Beg me to forgive you for your disobedience..."

He paused for a few seconds, still grinning cruelly.

"And I would just laugh in your face..." He chuckled cruelly. "I would leave you to suffer under General Hux's wrath...I would take pleasure in making you suffer..."

She shivered.

"Then why would I choose YOUR leash ?"

Kylo Ren chuckled darkly.

"...General Hux is...unpredictable," He replied in a lower, darker tone, his grip tightened again. "Unlike me, he would simply...kill you...without a second thought. He would not care...he would barely give it a second thought. You would simply disappear...and the First Order would continue on without you."

JR’s eyes watered as she felt her air supply running thin.

"So why don’t you make yourself a favour and choose my leash instead...?" He chuckled quietly. "Because at least with me," He paused and let out a bitter laugh, "You could have some hope of surviving...."

His grip tightened on her once again.

"Although..." He remained silent for a few moments. "Perhaps I could just deliver you to General Hux instead..."

She started feeling the air coming in short supply in her lungs and her eyes prickling with tears.

"L-Lord Ren…You are hurting me. Let go." She said and tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her.

"I am not letting go..." He muttered, his grip growing even tighter. "Not anymore..."

His smile turned sinister as it became filled with rage.

"I do not care what you want. I do not care what you need...All I care about..." His voice became a cruel whisper. "...is that you are mine..."

JR felt his cold lips against the back of her neck and hissed as it felt like he was burning her…

"I will make you beg for air, JR..." He whispered cruelly. "I will make you beg simply to speak...to breathe…to live."

His grip only tightened further.

"But you won't care...Not really...because..." Another grin then spread across his face. "Because you’ll want me, just as much as I want you..."

And with that, JR felt herself slowly losing consciousness. He tightened his grip even more, and pulled her even closer. His breath was growing harsh and heavy too, but his grip remained tight and he did not loosen it.

"Don't faint..." He muttered. "Because if you faint, I'm going to get even angrier...And you DO NOT want that..."

She tried to stay awake as long as she could, but she couldn’t utter a sound…She was trapped. She could only cry and gasp. He felt her body starting to go limp, but he made no attempt to loosen his hold on her.

"That's right..." He muttered, his voice becoming even crueler. "That's it..." He said in a low voice, leaning in closer and whispering into her ear. "You are mine to do with as I please...aren’t you ?"

Just as she was about to pass out, the door to her hut opened and Skywalker entered. His eyes widened at the scene and he shouted authoritatively.

"NOOO !" He lifted his hand and pushed Kylo Ren back into his own body. Kylo Ren jolted away in his room and screamed out in rage.

"DAMN YOU, SKYWALKER !"

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #general hux x reader #kylo ren x reader

[charliedawn]

I’m not sure if you do these, or even these slashers butttttt~ It never hurts to ask, if you don’t go ahead and ignore or even delete!

I’ll be trying my best not to spoil! I’m really trying so hard! But your pages and slashers I get SO excited! Plus your au’s and writings etc!!

I mainly wanna know your take on the Sawyer’s and the Hewitt’s, are they one big family? Bubba and Tommy brothers like some headcannon? Rivalry neighbors?? Are the newer/remakes (like 2020’ redos) also different versions? Or older them?? How would they be at the hospital? And with our lil’/us as the Nurse?

Texas Chain Saw Massacre ≈ Bubba & the Sawyer’s

Texas Chainsaw Massacre ≈ Tommy/Thomas & the Hewitt’s

Or even Headcannons of other slasher/horror movies?? Like;

My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009) ≈ Harry Warden and/or Tom Hanniger

Barbarian (2022) ≈ Keith, Tess, “Bonnie”, The Mother, Frank??

Maybe more female slasher headcannons? Or legit give me ANY Slasher movies! Old, new, known, not known, I’d love to hear your suggestions!

I’m so sorry this is long I got really excited!

≈🇨🇦~That one annoying long anom~💚𝒯𝒽ℯℴ💚≈

Author: "They used to be part of the same family but, things got tense between family members and they had to split. Some say Thomas and Bubba might be extended cousins or something of the sort, but nothing could be proven as the split happened a long time ago. But something is for sure, both families never met or spoke to each other ever since the conflict and they hunt in very different areas. St Louis has tried many times to catch them. But they are both really smart and are constantly protected by the family circle—very much like the Hannibals. Cannibals stick together."

[charliedawn]

Artie Artie! I made us both sweaters! *holds up the sweaters proudly for him to see* Lookie it got your initial!

Arthur: "Aww…Thank you, sweetie. It fits me like a glove…"

[charliedawn]

I saw a trailer for the second Joker movie today and I gotta say. I was worried about Arthur’s progress since he sensed to be doing at least a little better in Saint Louis… then I remembered that that only happened here on your blog and had to walk away from the computer. Your blog is so good it should be canon.

Author: "Thank you, dear."

Arthur: "A movie ? About me ? "

Author: "Yes. You are quite the famous guy in my world, Arthur. Very much so. Here’s a sneak peek on your lil’ movie. Enjoy."

Arthur *watching his own movie* : "Ah ah…It’s…It’s…my life. It’s my life. And people see me ? They actually want to see me ?"

Author: "…They sure do, bud. They sure do."

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD

PART 15:

Warning: Emotional support cat mentioned 🤣

JR was looking at Rey training and smiled to herself. She had advanced quite a lot and by what she could see, she was rapidly becoming stronger and talented with wielding the Force. As days passed, so did JR’s dilemma as she kept glancing down at the transmitter around her wrist. She hadn’t contacted General Hux in weeks. What was she meant to do now ?

She knew he would probably not understand.

She sighed and then thought about Lord Kylo Ren. She had promised him to keep an eye on Rey, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she would have to come back to the life she had left. She wasn’t meant to be here. She wasn’t meant to be free…

She sighed before her eyes and ears captured a conversation between Rey and Luke.

"Ren failed you, but I will be better. I promise." Rey told Luke whose eyes widened as he sighed and replied with a shake of his head.

"I see the same power in you. The Force is not easy to control. Anyone can be swayed by it and turn to the Dark Side by fear or anger…"

JR listened carefully and she frowned slightly before thinking about it. Ren used to be Luke Skywalker’s apprentice…When had things started to get out of hand ? Lord Kylo Ren had confided in her that he had felt as if his voice didn’t matter…that someone had betrayed him. Could that someone be Luke Skywalker ?

She shook her head.

No. He wouldn’t do that. Luke was a hero and surely trained him well, but then…why ?

Suddenly, Luke spotted her and sighed before walking towards her and crossed her arms over her chest.

"A stormtrooper shouldn’t be eavesdropping." He warned and JR gulped.

"B—But I am not a stormtrooper. Not anymore."

Luke frowned before grabbing her arm and whispering.

"Aren’t you ? Really ?"

JR’s is eyes widened at the clear doubt and suspicion in Luke Skywalker’s voice and she couldn’t say anything. Luke huffed a mock laugh before shaking his head and releasing her.

"…As long as you won’t know who you are, you will never be able to see the path the Force has chosen for you, JR-6025." Luke said and JR’s eyes widened at his words. She had never told him her stormtrooper tag name before…

She stayed there—stunned. She then reluctantly walked away. When Rey’s training was finished for the day, JR came to her and asked:

"I heard you talk about Lord Ren. Tell me. Do you know what happened ?"

Rey sighed and shrugged before looking up at her.

"Ren was getting out of control and Luke had no choice but to stop him. Lord Ren then massacred all the other students at the Jedi Temple and…left." Rey turned her gaze away. "Ben betrayed him and became Lord Kylo Ren. And now, Luke sees him in me…"

JR looked at Rey before smiling.

"Then, he is wrong. Your power may be as great as his, but your heart is nothing like his."

Rey smiled back at her friend’s confidence before looking up at the sky.

"The sun is falling. We should go and get some rest."

JR nodded in agreement.

"You’re right. Goodnight, Rey."

Rey nodded in acknowledgment.

"Goodnight, JR."

As soon as Rey walked away, JR sighed heavily. So, Kylo Ren had betrayed Luke Skywalker, huh? She would never have guessed such a thing could have occurred.

However, she couldn't help but wonder what else Luke had not told her. There must have been more to the story. Why did Ren betray Luke in the first place? It couldn't be simply because he felt his voice didn't matter.

As she walked back to her room, JR couldn't shake off her fears and unanswered questions. She would have to find the answers by herself.

A few hours later:

JR-6025 was sitting nearby the fire—staring at it. She thought of her dream...of leading the galaxy to a better future—to get the war to stop. Was it really possible ? She buried her face in her arms and even though she had the urge to look out and ask the stars for guidance—she stopped herself. She had only ever wished to help...but now, the universe seemed to tell her that the only way to do so was to betray the First Order ? How could she kill Rey ? How could she steal the galaxy’s last hope ?

"JR-6025..." She heard her name and slowly raised her head—not expecting Kylo Ren to be standing there.

She immediately stood up and looked around in a panic. She hoped Rey or Luke wouldn’t sense his presence.

"Lord Ren. You shouldn't be here. You are going to blow my cover !"

He nodded.

"I know. I will not stay for long." He looked back—as if checking that he was truly alone-before turning back towards JR. "How far is Rey in her training ?"

She frowned.

"How do you know that I am with her ?"

He chuckled—as if the answer was obvious.

"Because I know that Hux asked you to spy on her. I also know that he asked you to kill her, but I can see that you've kept your promise. I am...grateful for it."

JR nodded understandingly before she replied.

"She is very skilled. Skywalker is training her well."

Kylo Ren nodded in return before looking around.

"Good. Can you see my surroundings ? I cannot see yours." He asked and she sighed before making sure the door was locked before answering him.

"No. I cannot." She confirmed before thinking about a change of subject. She then asked hesitantly.

"How is...the general ?"

Kylo Ren looked uneasy as he confessed.

"Hux is worried. He doesn't want people to know, but I know he is worried. His mind is troubled. You have gone silent for over a month and he thinks you might be dead. I decided to come and check for myself. I am glad to see that he is wrong."

He smiled and JR smiled back before looking away. JR felt guilty for worrying General Hux, but she knew she had no choice.

"I cannot talk to him. Not now." He confessed and thought Kylo would ask her why, but his answer surprised her.

"Then talk to me." He suggested and JR looked back at him with a small frown of confusion.

"Something is troubling you." He insisted. "Let me know what and maybe will I be able to help."

JR hesitated about sharing her dilemma with him. She opened her mouth, but quickly closed it. She couldn’t tell him. He didn’t care about her. He only cared about Rey. She wasn’t about to let him confuse her and trust him when she pertinently knew the risks.

On one hand, she was terrified of telling him too much and regretting it later. But on the other hand, she found herself compelled by his words and desire to help.

She finally shook her head.

"Lord Kylo Ren. Please. Leave." JR was exhausted and the thought alone of the days to come was enough to make her wish she had never tried to join or spy on the Resistance in the first place. Kylo Ren didn’t leave however and wordlessly sat down next to JR-6025. He then looked down at her and asked.

"What is it ?", he asked and JR-6025 knew she shouldn't be talking to him—especially now. But, he was the only one who seemed to have ever been honest with her. She took a deep breath before answering. She didn't want to be a burden, but she knew she could talk to him.

"I am lost, Lord Kylo Ren." Her eyes glistened as she stared into the flames.

"I am trying to make sense of the future—of what will come." She paused and then, without preamble, she blurted it out. "But I am starting to doubt. Am I meant to be here ? Pretending to be helping Rey ? Spying for Hux ? My life was always dictated by those above me, with no regard for me, my desires, or the life I wanted."

As she spoke, she was thinking of how she was never truly free. She was always told what to do, forced to do this or that. All in the name of a good cause.

And at the end ? What had it all led to ?

"I do not have control and..." Her voice quivered as she finally realized what she had spent her life running away from. "I am scared."

He frowned.

"Is it because of something Luke Skywalker said ?"

She shook her head negatively.

"No...It has nothing to do with him...I just..." She paused and took a deep breath. "...I just don't want to suffer...or make anyone I care about suffer."

Kylo huffed.

"And you believe staying by HIS side would keep you safe ? Would keep us safe ? You genuinely think HE is the best option ?"

"I think..." She paused again as she searched for the words. "I am scared. My entire life has been filled with bad options. Death and torture seem to be the only thing the Force wants out of me..."

The thought made her heart race and she shook her head as if to ward off the idea.

Kylo Ren’s eyes hardened.

"And yet, you still believe that you should stay with the man who decided to make all the worst decisions. The man who tried to KILL me."

Kylo stared at her.

"He will misguide you." Kylo Ren scoffed and looked away. "You think Skywalker knows better ? He knows nothing. The man is a liar. He will disappoint you…like he has disappointed me."

Kylo Ren watched as JR struggled to keep her composure. Her fear of the future and the uncertainty of her life was palpable. With each statement, he felt his own anger boiling inside him. The anger he had felt all those years, with Luke's betrayal.

"He isn't the hero you think he is…He lies to hide his true intentions. He's only acting in his own self-interest."

JR smiled sadly at him before gently holding his wrist and replying.

"Rey told Luke that you had failed him. But, I do not believe it. I believe that you were both scared. I believed that he saw things that the Force showed him…things of his past. And then, he couldn’t bear to face them again. I do not think that either of you were fautive, just afraid."

Kylo looked away and sighed.

"Do you really trust him ?"

She hesitated.

"I trust him to train Rey." She said and Kylo shook his head before he sneered. He couldn’t believe that she would trust Skywalker…

"You really think he is so great ? Then ask him about the WHITE GRAVEYARD." He said and JR’s brow furrowed in confusion.

"White Graveyard ? What are you talking about ?"

Kylo Ren stood up straight and glared at her.

"Ask him. And you will see." And with that Kylo Ren was gone. His spiritual manifestation was gone and all that was left was JR and her questions. The question left JR utterly lost...She had no clue what the "White Graveyard" meant. Was it a place ? Was it a metaphor for something else ?

What could it mean ?

JR was left in a daze of confusion. Her mind raced that night as she tried to make sense of what Kylo had said. Was the White Graveyard something important ? Did it mean something that she didn't know about ?

In her scramble for answers, she felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She was sick of being kept in the dark. She was determined to find the truth about the White Graveyard, and she would start with Luke Skywalker.

The next day, she got up early to find him and found him meditating. She stood before him and Luke frowned at her interruption of his well-deserved solitude…He was about to speak when she cut him to it.

"What is the White Graveyard ?" She asked and Luke’s eyes snapped open before looking back at her with a shocked expression.

"How…How do you know about that place ?"

JR remained silent and Luke sighed.

"HE told you, didn’t he ?"

Luke didn’t even need to ask—he already knew the answer.

"Follow me." Luke said quietly, gesturing for her to follow him. She hesitated before finally following him. He seemed to be walking towards the edge of the small island...

When they arrived at the edge, her eyes widened at the thousands of stormtroopers’ helmets gathered there. She gasped and took a step back. She was taken aback and looked at Skywalker for an explanation.

"...The past..." Luke murmured, still looking at the helmets. "...It always finds its way back..."

At the edge of the island, there were thousands of helmets on the ground...All stacked on top of each other...It reminded JR of a graveyard for soldiers.

"These helmets used to belong to soldiers in the Empire...Those who refused to give up on their beliefs and devotion towards the Empire after the war." Luke eventually explained, his voice low and somber...

"W—What happened to them ?" She asked—afraid of the answer.

"They died..." Luke said, in a soft voice. "...I came here because I thought that by isolating myself...I would be able to escape the cycle..." he said, his voice still low and somber. He pointed at some of the most recent helmets. "But they still found me..."

There was a hint of defeat in his voice...

"…Y—You killed them all ?" JR came to the horrifying conclusion and looked shocked at the sheer number of them.

He didn't answer her directly...

"...I made a choice..." he replied after a while. "I made a choice. And the stormtroopers suffered the consequences..."

She felt anger in her heart.

"…How many ?"

Luke closed his eyes.

"...Hundreds...Thousands..." he counted vaguely—unable to give her a precise number.

"You…I thought you were a hero." Her eyes started watering. "…You killed them. For what ?"

"I had my reasons." Luke stated. "...I was trying to save the galaxy, to bring to it peace..."

JR couldn’t believe her ears.

She thought Luke was so righteous and good, and now she was hearing about the White Graveyard, and how he had slaughtered hundreds—if not thousands—of people. Or her people. People like her. The anger inside her boiled, and the tears in her eyes began falling, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything for a while.

She gritted her teeth.

"DOES THAT LOOK LIKE PEACE TO YOU ?!"

She raised her voice as she picked up a helmet and shoved it against Skywalker’s chest. Luke was momentarily stunned when she raised her voice at him before he raised his voice as well—tired and frustrated by her accusation.

"WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO ?!" he yelled back. Luke grabbed the helmet and threw it to the ground. "IT WAS THE ONLY WAY ! THE ONLY WAY !"

"LIAR !" She screamed. "YOU HAD THE CHOICE ! THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE ! THEY DIDN’T !" She pointed at the helmets and Luke’s gaze hardened.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE REPUBLIC FELL ?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT LED TO ?! THE EMPIRE ?! THE FIRST ORDER ?!" He yelled, his voice becoming angrier with each spoken word. "THE RESISTANCE ?! THE RESISTANCE WAS LOSING ! I DID THE ONLY THING I COULD DO !"

She shook her head.

"YOU KILLED THEM ! AND THEN YOU HID ! YOU DESTROYED INSTEAD OF SAVING ! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAVE THEM !" She started crying. "You were supposed to save us…"

Luke was momentarily taken aback when he saw her crying, but he shook his head and his voice cracked as he tried to defend himself.

"I...I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO !" he yelled back—his voice trembling. "I MADE THE HARDEST CHOICE. IT HAD TO BE DONE !"

He felt guilty and hopeless and sad and desperate.

"I COULDN'T SAVE THEM ALL ! I COULDN'T ! I COULDN'T...NOT AFTER WHAT THE EMPIRE HAD DONE !"

JR looked at the helmet on the ground and her heart sunk, tears beginning to stream down her face. She suddenly felt so much. Anger. Sadness. Sorrow. She could feel it all building up inside of her.

"H—How did it get to this point...?" She asked, her voice cracking slightly. "How did we get to a point where someone like you had to take such a cruel decision...?"

She hit his chest and sobbed.

"How could you ?!"

Luke didn't react to the hit. He only looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

"...I-I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I am not the hero you were expecting. " He whispered to her. He couldn't stand seeing her like this. It was hard enough seeing all the helmets. But when he saw her crying. It caused him almost as much pain...

His heart was breaking...

"…Kylo Ren told me you had tried to kill Ben Solo. Is it true ?" She continued and Luke closed his eyes. Another mistake.

"...Yes..." He said, still not looking at her. But he said it in a much more quiet and resigned voice now. His shoulders slumped, and he finally looked away from the sea...But not directly at HER...He could see countless mistakes spread out before him. All his. JR stopped crying and wiped away the remaining tears.

"...Why...?" She asked with tears in her eyes. She wanted to know why the man she thought was the hero she could trust had failed so spectacularly when it really mattered to her. "Why didn't you try to save Ben Solo...? Why didn't you..."

Tears streamed down her face and she could barely muster her next couple of words...

"...I couldn't take the risk..." He confessed. "I knew what he could become...I had seen it...The darkness was too strong in him...And he hadn't shown a hint of change..."

Luke was staring at the sea, still avoiding eye contact with her.

"...So I did it...I made the choice..." He concluded and JR gritted her teeth in frustration.

"…He had goodness in him. You know that he could have been swayed." Her jaw twitched.

"...I saw that...I saw the goodness...But..." He was silent...And he looked as if he was struggling for words. "...It wasn't enough...He was too far gone...So I tried...I tried to kill him...In his sleep...I-I..."

"…If only you had just listened to him. Why is it that the Force doesn’t tell you to listen ? Listen to the hearts of those you love and those you hate ? Listen to their pain and sorrows and try to understand instead of destroying ? The Force is not a bless…but a curse." She took a step back and looked down at the helmets once more. "So many lives lost because nobody listened…"

Luke was silent. She was right, but it was too late now. He couldn’t take it back. He had been too blind to see it...Or maybe he had been too blinded by fear...Too busy trying to prevent a hypothetical catastrophe...He had forgotten the simple fact that the most powerful weapon in the whole galaxy was compassion.

"I am…sorry." He finally uttered again and JR’s eyes softened. She could hear that it was genuine. She sighed. She knew she couldn’t blame him for saving his own life. No. But, there was another reason behind her anger. She had always followed the First Order and its rules. And she knew that it could have been her down there. Both sides didn’t care about stormtroopers. Stormtroopers were simple side casualties.

And it scared her.

Her lips trembled as she heard him...Her own anger had melted away and she could barely think...He was right...She wanted to say something...Some words of forgiveness...

Some words of reassurance...

Something...Anything.

"I..." She started, though her voice sounded so choked and choked up that she couldn't even continue. All she did was look down at the helmets once more, taking in the sheer size of the graveyard...

Luke watched JR, noticing the anger in her slowly melt away as the weight of his confession sunk in. He was finally being honest with someone, and he felt relieved, but also guilty, considering the fact that the stormtroopers that laid there used to be just like her.

He watched as she looked down at the graveyard, watching as she looked at the helmets one by one. He noticed her lips beginning to tremble. He was scared that she would lash out at him again. That was why he had been avoiding eye contact in the first place.

"…I think I need to be alone for a while." She simply said.

Luke said nothing. He had been trying to avoid looking her in the eyes, but now, he couldn’t avoid it. He saw the sorrow on her face, he saw the hurt in her eyes, he saw the pain in her expression.

He stayed silent as she stated that she needed to be alone, and he didn’t try to stop her.

"Alright…" He said calmly, "I understand…Take as much time as you need…"

And with that, he was gone…She took a deep breath as her her eyes landed on the many white helmets. She took one and slowly put it back on her head. She then sat down and stared far ahead…She however soon felt a presence beside her and she didn’t need to look next to her to know who it was.

"…When I was still a student of Skywalker, he used to have the same kind of White Graveyard near the temple. It was to remember. Once I became Kylo Ren, we sent many stormtroopers across the galaxy to retrieve Skywalker. None of them came back and when we found their bodies—their helmets were missing…"

A deep sense of horror washed through JR as she heard the story about the lost stormtroopers.

She was a stormtrooper herself, one of the countless faceless soldiers that served the First Order without question. The thought that her fellow stormtroopers could be killed and left to die—without any regard for their lives—was a horrifying reality.

She continued to stare at the helmets, this time trying to imagine the faces of the stormtroopers that once wore them. She felt a sense of sorrow and regret wash over her as she thought about their death.

"I wanted you to see this. For you to see that the Force makes victims on both sides. You cannot win a war without casualties." Kylo Ren said.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"You have lost hope. And I am trying to keep it alive. To believe that one day I could live in a world without war."

"I cannot afford to have false hope..." He replied harshly. "You dream of a world that cannot exist."

He paused as he leaned back against a rock.

"It is far from reality. Sometimes...some people have to die for others to live. Sometimes...there isn't any hope. I am only acknowledging that fact."

"…Maybe so…" She mused. "But, I want to try."

"And perhaps you are just being naive..." Another silence. "Perhaps it is better not to hope than to hope to save everyone and...end up saving no one..."

He looked away. He was trying to convince himself. She seemed so...optimistic about things. Perhaps, too optimistic. He felt anger bubble inside him. They were on two different worlds...Two worlds that would be on a collision course soon...She was destined to pick the wrong side, and he knew it.

"Do you not see it...?" Kylo's voice was harsh—almost taunting. "You care about everyone...too much. You care about the general, Rey, and even me..."

He let that last word hang in the air.

"If it came down to you and any of us...Who would you decide to save ?" He asked cryptically and JR hesitated.

"…I would find another way. There is another way. There will always be another way." She insisted and Kylo huffed and shook his head.

"You didn't answer the question..." There was no doubt in his voice or gaze. "Answer the question."

"…Lord Ren. I…" She was stuck and she finally sighed in defeat. "I couldn’t choose between two sides of me. You or them. You are asking me to choose something I cannot poss decide upon…I would never choose to value a life over another. I just wish to build myself a better future."

"And what of my better future ?" His voice had hardened. "You only see one path...But, you cannot save everyone. Someone will have to be sacrificed. And somehow, you still haven't figured out that it will be you..."

She stayed silent and looked away. She knew he was right…If she persisted on trying to save everyone or not hurt any of them, she would probably end up destroying herself.

"There it is. You see what I mean, don’t you ?" His voice was triumphant as he spoke. "If you cannot choose between two sides...Then you will always be torn apart." He paused as he looked at her intensely. "You wish to make a difference in this war. To change the future. To change ME...But, you don't have the strength nor the skill for it. You have no idea which path is the correct one. You are only delaying the inevitable..."

She forced herself to remain calm. She couldn’t give in to anger. She couldn’t give in to despair. No matter how true she knew his words to be.

"Luke Skywalker managed to bring peace momentarily. Why can’t I do the same ? And make it last ?" She asked defiantly and Kylo Ren laughed. He laughed mockingly and JR’s heart dropped at the terrible sound. She had never heard him laugh before and that laugh made her shiver. It was such an ugly laugh, the kind that made your eyes water and your heart turn to stone…

"But, you are not Luke Skywalker."

There was finality to his words that made JR look away again. She knew she wasn’t him. And she wasn’t Rey. She wasn’t powerful. But, she also knew that she couldn’t give up. Not now.

"Luke Skywalker is a fool who tried to fight off fate itself..." This time there was a hint of disdain in Kylo Ren’s voice. "He didn't see things for what they were. And you are no different...You believe there is hope. You think that you can make a difference..."

He shook his head slightly in disbelief before huffing a little humourless laugh.

"It is admirable to see you fight for a change. But, your efforts will be in vain. Because, in the end, you will have to make a choice...And that choice will break you."

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"…I won’t. I refuse. Why can’t you just let me believe ? Why does it matter to you if I hold on to hope ?" She retorted and looked up at him. She didn’t understand. Why did he have to be so cruel ? Try to bring her down ? Crash her dreams ?

That question seemed to take him aback for a moment.

Indeed. Why did it matter to him ? Why did it bother him so much that she held onto something as intangible as hope ? A stormtrooper ? One that didn’t matter ? One that little wishes would certainly never change the outcome of the war ?

"Because..." He sighed and clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Because I wish I could believe too."

He finally confessed and it took them both aback as the words left his lips. She stayed silent and then offered him her hand. He remained still for a moment as he stared at her extended hand. He wanted to refuse it...To keep going down this path of logic and disdain he had created for himself.

But...He took her hand with a gentle grasp. She smiled and squeezed it.

"You are right. I am not Luke Skywalker…" She agreed. "…but that doesn’t mean I cannot help you. It doesn’t mean I cannot listen and understand."

Kylo closed his eyes and retrieved his hand.

"You are not going to save everyone..." His tone was still sharp and a little harsher than before. "No one can save everyone. Someone always ends up hurt in the end. And when it is all over. I fear that person will be you."

She smiled at his words.

"Then so be it. I am but a stormtrooper anyway. I was born to be disposable. Remember ?" She said half-jokingly.

"Yet you are so much more than that..." He trailed off as he found her hand once more and his grip tightened slightly. "Your life matters."

"…To you ?" She asked as she squeezed his hand. He looked away, avoiding her gaze. He said nothing as he continued to avoid her gaze. The silence was too loud now. Too deafening.

"Yes. To me." He finally confessed and she smiled before chuckling.

"…Do not worry, Lord Ren. I intend to stay alive."

"Good. Because if it ever came down to it..." He hesitated for a moment as if debating himself internally. "...I would never let someone take your life from me..."

She tilted her head quizzically at him.

"…Because I decided to protect Rey as you asked ?"

He shook his head.

"Not just that. Because the thought of someone else having your life in their hands...It..." He paused. "...It does not sit well with me."

There was a moment of silence between them until Kylo spoke again.

"You have to stay alive." His voice was a mix of a soft, friendly tone and the harsh, cold tone he usually used. He needed to make sure she understood that that was the most important thing at the end of the day.

She chuckled and nodded.

"I will. But you better stay alive as well. You and General Hux."

He couldn't help but chuckle as well. She had the ability to make him laugh...To make him feel. And it scared him more than anything.

"We will. I have to go now. But..." He paused. "I will be back."

She smiled.

"I will be waiting…"

He nodded before disappearing.

She stayed silent and closed her eyes…

What was she to do now ?

———————————————————————

"Lord Ren."

Kylo looked over to the entrance to his meditation chamber, to see General Hux standing in the doorway. His expression darkened, the tension quickly returning to his body.

"What do you want, Hux ?" He uttered through clenched teeth, his voice bitter and cold.

General Hux seemed uncertain and uncomfortable as he approached.

"I…was wondering if…you had any news on stormtrooper JR-6025 ?"

Just the fact that he was asking made Armitage himself embarrassed. He didn’t want to seem worried, but JR-6025 hadn’t answered any of his calls in weeks…

"JR-6025 ?" Kylo repeated, his eyes narrowing in disdain. "No, I do not have any news of that...stormtrooper."

He paused, then added in a low voice. "Why do you ask ?"

"…I thought that maybe with the Force you could…" General Hux felt humiliated just asking for it and he closed his eyes as he forced himself to continue. "It has been a few weeks that I haven’t received any transmission from trooper JR-6025 and I thought that maybe you could…use the Force to locate her."

His jaw clenched tightly as he heard Hux's request. He was not sure whether it was because of his mention of the Force, or the fact that Hux would presume to ask him for such favors, but one thing was certain. His anger and his contempt were starting to rise once again.

"And just why should I waste my time doing that ?" He growled. "One stormtrooper. One singular trooper means nothing—they're all the same anyways. They are completely replaceable."

"I know." General Hux forced the words through gritted his teeth—swallowing his pride for now. "But that particular stormtrooper happened to be on a spying mission for me. She was supposed to infiltrate the Rebellion and become an ally to your BELOVED scavenger girl Rey. And so far, I’ve lost signal of my stormtrooper."

"Is that so ?" He retorted, his tone laced with contempt. "Well, if so, isn't it obvious that she's either dead...or has defected to the other side ?"

General Hux shuddered at the thought and shook his head negatively.

"Impossible."

Kylo raised a skeptical eyebrow at the general’s reaction before he sighed.

"The question remains…why would I ever do anything to convenience you ?"

General Hux turned white and his hands clutched into fists by his side.

"For the love of…FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, REN ! COULD YOU JUST PLEASE DO AS YOU’RE TOLD ?!"

Kylo Ren was taken aback by Hux's sudden eruption. His rage was rarely ever this openly displayed. His eyes narrowed in anger, his grip tightening around his lightsaber. Finally, after several seconds, General Hux's anger seemed to die down somewhat, his tone more subdued than before.

"I…apologise. But, this particular stormtrooper is of value to me as a spy who managed to successfully infiltrate the Rebellion."

Kylo Ren seemed to calm down as well as he lowered his hand from his lightsaber.

"And what should I do ? Waste my time searching the entire galaxy for one lone stormtrooper ?"

General Hux let out a small undignified snort.

"We lost time looking for your scavenger girl." General Hux reminded him. "Surely you could spare 30 seconds just locating one stormtrooper, yes ?"

Kylo Ren’s jaw clenched tightly at General Hux’s reply and sneered.

"The search for my scavenger girl was different," he spoke in a cool and collected tone. "She wasn't just a single stormtrooper...she was important."

"JR-6025 is important too." General Hux said mindlessly and immediately regretted it. He knew that Kylo Ren would take any opportunity to bring him down. He quickly corrected himself. "I mean for our plans. She is important…for Supreme Leader Snoke’s plans."

Kylo smirked knowingly, though he didn't call out General Hux's mistake. However, he saw an opportunity to dig the General deeper into his grave.

"For Supreme Leader Snoke’s plans ? Really ?" He repeated with hint of sarcasm. "But Supreme Leader Snoke isn’t aware that a stormtrooper is currently on a mission to spy on Rey...is he ?"

General Hux looked away and sighed. This had all been just a waste of time. Lord Ren would just keep ignoring him or playing with him…He knew asking him for his help was just going to be another one of his regrets…but he had to try.

"Just…could you tell me if she is alive, Ren ? Please." That last word tasted sour on General Hux’s tongue. But, he had lost all signal and even the transmitter seemed untraceable. Kylo paused for a long moment. He hadn’t expected General Hux to go to such lengths. The temptation to deny General Hux his request was strong.

Yet, despite his better senses urging him to refuse, something within him refused to allow it. General Hux seemed genuinely desperate and even though he seemed normal on the outside, something was truly different inside. There was something that seemed to be…missing. Or maybe troubled.

Kylo sighed.

"She's...alive," he finally responded. General Hux ticked at the news and he clenched his teeth.

"You already knew…didn’t you ?" General Hux glared up at him and Kylo Ren didn’t look him in the eyes.

"Where is she, Ren ?"

Kylo’s expression darkened slightly as he saw General Hux's irritation. He knew full well that this conversation was going to turn sour really quickly if he didn’t answer General Hux on her whereabouts, yet he remained silent.

"I am not obligated to tell you where the stormtrooper is." He responded, his tone remaining stoic and calm. General Hux took a few steps forward and narrowed his eyes at him.

"How long have you been communicating with her without my knowledge ?"

Kylo remained silent as he avoided General Hux's piercing blue eyes.

"Communication was not what I was doing with trooper JR-6025." He responded in a low voice, his tone growing slightly colder. "I was..."

He paused, trying to find the words.

"Helping her..." He murmured in a low whisper.

"…Helping her ?" Hux’s hands crossed behind his back. "How ?"

"She was having doubts, General. Doubts about her role within the First Order, about our methods..." A slight smile crossed his lips, though it was subtle. "So I decided to help her escape her doubts, help her see the larger purpose of our mission...You’re welcome."

General Hux rolled his eyes as he took a sharp breath.

"Ren. Tell me. Right now. Where is MY stormtrooper ?"

Kylo Ren sighed and shook his head.

"Trooper JR-6025 is thinking of defecting. To the other side." He responded in a low voice, his smile disappearing. "She is having doubts about the First Order. I am trying to remind her of her role and purpose."

General Hux’s eyes bulged out at the provocative words and it took extraordinary effort not to slap Kylo Ren right there and then.

"NO ! You are lying ! JR-6025 would never…!"

How dared he ?! Suggest that trooper JR-6025 would be thinking of defecting ?! Of betraying him ?!

"Am I now ?" Kylo Ren responded with a small smirk—finding amusement in General Hux’s disbelief. "I am sorry to disappoint you, General. But...she IS on the brink of defecting. She no longer believes in our mission. She no longer believes in the First Order."

He paused for effect, adding with an insufferable little mocking grin, "...or in you."

General Hux had had more than enough from the young Sith’s taunting and took Ren by the collar as he seethed.

"Careful about your words, Ren. JR-6025 has always been incredibly loyal to me. Why would she betray me now ?"

Kylo remained silent for a long moment, surprised by the sudden action and enjoying the look on General Hux's face as the latter tried to wrestle control of the situation back into his hands.

Finally, he smiled even wider than before.

"Loyalty isn't what's driving her away. It's doubt. Doubts about you and your mission. Doubts that I have encouraged her to embrace..."

"…She is MINE, Ren ! Or did you forget ?" General Hux tightened his hold on the Sith Lord as they were now face to face. "Supreme Leader Snoke gave her to ME."

"I am very aware of that fact." Kylo Ren responded coolly, his expression growing colder once more before continuing. "In fact, that is the very thing that has motivated me to help her escape from your grasp."

He paused for a moment, a slight smirk on his lips. "Trooper JR-6025 is not a toy that you can simply possess. She has her own mind, her own agency..."

"NO ! SHE IS A STORMTROOPER ! A STORMTROOPER ! SHE HAS NO MIND ! NO AGENCY ! SHE LIVES AND DIES FOR ME AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME !" General Hux finally burst out and his grip on Ren turned almost desperate as he desired the Sith Lord to be wrong and believed that JR-6025 would never betray him. She had told him time and time again how much she believed in him. He wouldn’t let Kylo Ren doubt his trooper.

His lips curled in a predatory smile as he observed General Hux's explosion.

"I would argue otherwise." He muttered. "Trooper JR-6025 is...unique. She is not like the others. And she is certainly not the plaything you believe her to be."

He paused, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Would you like to know something interesting ?"

General Hux remained silent and Kylo Ren smirked at his silence.

"Trooper JR-6025 is more than capable of independent thought. In the few conversations that I've had with her, she has displayed emotions, feelings and opinions that...that are not typical of your typical stormtrooper. However, the most striking thing about her..." He paused for effect, smiling slightly. "...is her ability to care."

General Hux remained silent.

"She cares, General." He continued, a hint of amusement in his voice. "She cares deeply about her comrades and friends. She cares about her mission. And most importantly..."

He paused for effect, his smile growing slightly brighter still.

"...she cares about you."

"…Shut up." General Hux closed his eyes. "Shut up, Ren."

Kylo Ren ignored his words and chuckled darkly as he added:

"Can you believe that she asked me to protect you ? You ? Out of all people ? She asked me to protect you."

He found himself unable to resist an even broader smile as he watched General Hux wrestle with his emotions.

"Is that so ?" He whispered, suppressing a mocking chuckle. He paused for a long breath before continuing. "Preposterous."

Kylo Ren ignored his disbelief and looked up at General Hux…A weasel. A parasite. And yet...

"To think...this stormtrooper cares for you. For little old you...how charming."

General Hux restrained from lashing out as he released Ren and took a few staggering steps back.

"And what did you tell her ?"

He continued to smile, allowing his amusement to overtake his composure as he noticed General Hux's increasingly agitated state of mind.

"I told her," he uttered with a faint smirk. "That I would do what I could to keep you...safe..."

General Hux rolled his eyes. That little—!

"Tell me where she is…Tell me." General Hux said and Lord Ren huffed a mocking laugh.

"Oh my, General," he uttered teasingly, though a slight note of surprise entered into his tone as he noticed the sudden burst of rage. "If you claim to be such a fan of the stormtrooper's loyalty and devotion, then why don't you trust their commitment toward their own mission ?"

He remained silent for long moment as he watched General Hux's face, the latter's eyes narrowing sharply as the emotions within him continued to swirl. But Ren was not finished yet. This was still a game for him, a way to torment the General and make him suffer.

"Or perhaps...the stormtrooper you trust so much is not so loyal after all ?" He continued, his tone growing slightly sharper.

General Hux’s fists tightened by his side as he replied:

"…If she is indeed a traitor, then she will be punished accordingly."

"And just how will she be punished ?" Kylo responded, his tone becoming more taunting as he continued. "Surely you don't mean to kill such a prized stormtrooper for betraying you ? Surely you would not punish the stormtrooper you so greatly value ?"

General Hux looked away.

"…You and I both know what is the fate of traitors and deserters, Lord Ren." General Hux regained his composure before adding. "So, I do hope that you are wrong. For her sake and the sake of the First Order."

His smile vanished as he saw General Hux's shift in composure. General Hux closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Who else have you told ?"

General Hux's question surprised him.

"No one," He responded calmly.

"…Good. Don’t. Let me handle the situation. It would be better if…Supreme Leader Snoke wasn’t warned yet about her defection. It would only fall back on us…"

He remained silent for a long moment as he considered General Hux's words.

The latter had a point. If Supreme Leader Snoke was warned of the stormtrooper's defection, it could undoubtedly result in both of their demotion or even outright punishment.

"I won't speak of this to anyone." He offered after a moment, "but under one condition..."

"…Which one ?" General Hux tensed up.

He paused for a moment as he looked General Hux directly in the eyes.

"A simple favor." He responded calmly, smiling slightly as he did so. "A small request for this favor, if you will..."

"Out with it." Hux replied shortly—wishing to leave Kylo Ren’s presence at once.

"Since Supreme Leader Snoke does not need to know about this unfortunate development, I ask that I be allowed to keep contact with trooper JR-6025...that you do not warn him for now."

"…Fine." General Hux indulged. "But, her punishment is not of your choice. She is a stormtrooper. If she is a traitor , then she will be judged according to the First Order."

A faint smile crossed his lips as he nodded in agreement.

"So long as I am allowed to keep contact with her..." He murmured. "As for the punishment...I wouldn't dream of interjecting. She will receive whatever the First Order deems necessary."

"…And Ren ?"

He raised a brow, his tone becoming more inquisitive.

"Yes ?" He murmured.

"…Do you truly think that she…cares ? About us ?"

He remained silent for a moment as he thought about the question.

"I do," he replied after a few seconds. "There were moments when we spoke, where I could sense her...care for me and for the First Order. A devotion that superseded her programming."

"I see…" General Hux nodded curtly before walking away.

Ren nodded as General Hux walked away.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as he observed General Hux's departure. He had not intended to be so cruel to the General.

But he had also not expected a stormtrooper to be so capable of caring.

He knew that he had made the right decision in choosing to help JR-6025 escape the First Order. And he was confident that, with some time and effort, he could show her that her loyalty was best placed in him instead...

Lord Ren looked up at the stars and then started wondering if JR-6025 would join him ? Would she be willing to leave her convictions behind and take the opportunity Rey had rejected over and over ?

His thoughts turned to JR-6025 as he considered the possibility that she would indeed join him. And he would welcome her with open arms, knowing that she would be a powerful asset at his side.

And if she was also willing and able to cast aside her devotion to General Hux and the First Order...

Well, then...this could be most promising.

He walked away with a smile on his lips.

Meanwhile with General Hux

General Hux entered his private quarters and once he was inside—he stopped. His gloved hand clenching and unclenching as he thought about JR-6025 betraying him…

He closed his eyes and took a long breath.

It was not an easy thing to accept, losing someone to the Resistance, someone who had shown such dedication to him and the First Order. But, if she did truly have doubts, then there was very little he could do to keep her in the First Order.

General Hux was determined to not let this get to him. After all, a stormtrooper was simply a tool. One that could be easily replaced...

He suddenly balled his hand into a fist and let out a scream of rage as his table went flying.

The First Order was supposed to be perfect. Its stormtroopers were supposed to be obedient, loyal, and free of doubt.

Yet, here he found himself...losing control.

And what for ? A simple stormtrooper.

General Hux paused for a moment before taking another few breaths to calm himself. He would be able to replace her. He had other stormtroopers at his disposal.

After all, all he needed to do was put in a simple order request...

Suddenly, he felt short-of-breath and started panting as something seemed to be bubbling inside of himself—an emotion that caught his throat and made him want to throw up.

He was losing his composure. He could no longer keep himself at bay. His emotions were running wild, a myriad of them clashing with one another.

Anger, fear, frustration...

He gritted his teeth, trying to force himself to regain control. But it was no use...General Hux had never felt so much raw, untamed emotion before. And the fact that a mere stormtrooper was capable of making him feel this way...He clutched his hands even tighter as his chest rose and fell rapidly. He closed his eyes, trying once more to regain control.

His eyes suddenly caught glimpse of an orange blur beside him and before he knew it, his cat Millicent was at his feet—staring at him. She let out a soft meow as her paw landed on the tip of his boot. General Hux paused for a moment as he noticed Millicent's presence.

The sight of the orange feline immediately managed to quell some of his raging emotions, making them slightly easier to handle. He chuckled slightly as the cat landed her paw on the tip of his boot.

"Millicent," he muttered softly as he crouched down to pet her.

General Hux sighed as he embraced the feline.

The cat's purrs and soft fur were immensely soothing. He had spent countless hours with her in his quarters, having gotten quite attached to her over time.

With her in his grasp, his racing heart slowly started to ease. He gently petted the cat with one hand as he simply remained kneeling and cradling her in his arms. He continued to cuddle the cat, its purrs helping to pacify the emotions that still raged inside of him.

His mind continued to swirl with thoughts, with doubts, with fears...

But every time his thoughts became too overwhelming, he would simply shift his focus back onto the feline. It was his anchor for the time being, allowing him to remain centered despite the turmoil that still simmered within him.

"My loyal pet…" He uttered in a whisper. "My most loyal friend. You are right. I shouldn’t let emotions dictate my decisions…"

He chuckled softly as he ran his hand through Millicent's fur. A cat could never betray him like that stormtrooper did. Cats had no need for deception, no need for loyalties, no need for anything other than food and affection.

They were truly loyal. More so than any other creature in the entire galaxy.

"You will never have to face such a problem, will you ?" He murmured, his voice taking on a teasing tone as he scratched the feline behind the ears.

Millicent happily purred in response to the gesture, making General Hux smile to himself.

The cat was indeed loyal. Unlike certain stormtroopers who were so easily swayed by their own emotions and doubts...If only more stormtroopers were like Millicent...then everything would be so much simpler.

"Do not worry, Millicent. Your master is going to find that…traitor. And he will make sure she understands what happens to disloyal pets…" He kept petting the cat. "You will see, Millicent. You will see…"

He looked far ahead and smirked ominously.

General Hux continued to stroke the feline as he nodded in agreement with his own words. Yes, he would find the traitor and make sure she was swiftly punished. That way, other stormtroopers would be deterred from experiencing the same doubts that JR-6025 had felt. And the First Order would once more be seen as powerful and unbeatable. As it should be.

She would see what happened to disloyal pets.

You will see, JR-6025…

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #general hux x reader #kylo ren x reader

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 14

The next day, JR was woken up by the smell of food and opened her eyes to see Finn standing there with a plate. He smiled down at her before waving shyly.

"Hey. Hum…I just wanted to come and see how you were doing. Cause I know how strange it could be for a stormtrooper to come here and…Anyway." Finn rambled before putting the plate down next to her. "Breakfast."

JR stirred slightly, and opened her eyes.

"Morning..." She mumbled, smiling softly at Finn as she saw him. She sighed quietly, sitting up and stretching lightly.

"Thank you..." she murmured, picking up the plate and starting to eat...

Finn smiled.

"Yeah. No problem. Am just happy to have another…you know…'traitor' around." The way he emphasised on the word made JR frowned slightly.

"Traitor..." She muttered under her breath with a frown, taking a small bite of her food. It tasted bitter. "I thought the term was 'deserter'..."

Finn chuckled before patting her back.

"Yeah. Well…Not when Captain Phasma or General Hux say it." Finn grinned. "Are they still pissed about the whole 'taking an X-fighter and flying away' thing ?"

"...I should imagine so..." JR said with a small smile, taking a small sip of juice before continuing. "And what's your story anyway ? How did you manage to escape the First Order in the first place ? They didn’t exactly tell us how you did it. Just…that you did. And that you were a deserter."

Finn’s eyes widened slightly before chuckling awkwardly while massaging the back of his neck.

"Oh. Me ? Yeah. So hum…I kinda offered to help Poe escape if he also helped me and one thing led to another and here I am."

She blinked twice in front of his explanation, before chuckling.

"And that’s the story ? Just ‘one thing led to another’ ?"

Finn laughed and shrugged.

"Pretty much. Yeah. Listen. I am just glad to be alive."

JR smiled, taking another bite of her food before nodding in agreement.

"I can understand that..." she murmured, before taking another sip of her juice. Finn then looked around her tent.

"You got lucky. When I escaped the First Order, I ended up in quicksand on Jakku. You at least got a tent. By the way, how did you find out that the Resistance was on this planet ?"

"Oh..." She said, her tone softening as she heard this part. "That sounds rough..."

There was a slight pause, before she continued.

"Well...I was in a blizzard a couple of days ago...And I bumped into a Resistance soldier, who gave me directions to this base. Then...Well..." she took another sip of her juice. "Here I am..."

"A blizzard ?" Finn frowned. "On what planet ?"

"...The planet Coontra..." She stayed silent for a moment, realizing that she hadn’t really paid attention to the name of the planet Hux had given her and hoped she hadn’t mistaken. She shrugged dismissively. "But…Doesn't matter. What matters is that I survived..."

"Funny. Never heard about the planet Coontra…" Finn narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her and before JR could answer, Poe came in the tent with a smile. "Rey is back ! Come on."

They both looked at his excited face and JR nodded before returning her attention on Finn.

"Hey...Thanks for the food...We’ll talk later." she murmured, getting up from her place and walking over to meet Poe. Finn nodded. The three of them went outside to see people surrounding Rey’s ship getting back down. When she got off, she immediately smiled and went to hug Finn and Poe.

"I got it ! I know where Skywalker is ! And…" Rey stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed JR. "…Who’s that ?"

JR stayed silent for a moment, watching the small reunion, when Rey noticed her...Her entire being tensed up, and she stayed completely still. It wasn’t like she could hide from Rey. She could use the Force...So just remaining still and staying silent was her best bet. Poe grinned and wrapped an arm around JR.

"This is JR ! She’s the stormtrooper who helped us escape Starkiller Base, remember ?! Seems like she finally decided to come on our side ! Isn’t that good news ?"

JR stayed silent for a moment. She knew Poe was only trying to help. But she also knew full well that this was unlikely to go well...Rey couldn’t just be friendly to her, after all. She was a stormtrooper ! It didn’t matter to Rey that she was now a “deserter” or something...Rey was always going to view her with suspicious eyes. And this situation was only going to heighten that suspicion.

"...Right." Rey said after a few moments, her own expression shifting to one that was much more guarded. "I see...I remember you. You are the stormtrooper who talked to me when I was captured."

Poe took a step backwards, realizing that his attempt hadn't worked.

"...So ah...Yeah. It's good to have you back, Rey..." He muttered awkwardly, not knowing how to salvage the situation...JR tried to put on a smile on her face before extending her hand towards Rey.

"It’s nice to see you again, Rey."

Rey stared at her for a few moments, before slowly taking JR’s hand in her own...

"...You too..." She said with a soft voice...Not exactly the warmest response in the world, but it was still a positive one...Rey knew her from the day she had been captured. There was a silent understanding between them. Rey knew JR had tried to salvage the situation and end the war the only way she had known how…

JR nodded understandingly. Rey slowly let go of JR's hand and the trooper stayed completely still, her body still tensed. But...Rey wasn't outright suspicious of her. She was definitely cautious but, she was also giving JR a chance...That was something, at least. She felt grateful for it.

General Organa arrived just at that moment and smiled as she saw Rey.

"Ah. Rey. You are back. Good. I do hope you bring good news."

Rey turned towards General Organa, quickly returning the smile.

"Don't worry, I do. I have confirmation of the location of Luke Skywalker."

General Organa smiled.

"Ah ! Excellent. Let’s go talk in privacy…"

"Yes." Rey said with a nod. She took one last look at JR, before following after General Organa, with some people following along, including Finn. They left and JR hesitated before returning to her tent and pacing around. This could be big…Was she to warn the First Order ? Part of her wanted to stay loyal to the First Order, to tell them where Skywalker was, to tell them everything she new...But the other half of her...The one who remembered what it was like to be a stormtrooper...The one who felt guilty for all the things she had done while under the First Order. That half of her wanted to help the Resistance. For this nightmare to end. JR finally sighed in defeat before turning on her transmitter.

"General Hux ? Can you hear me ?"

A few moments passed, and then General Hux’s voice finally came through.

"Yes. I can hear you. What is it, JR-6025 ?"

She looked down. It had been a long time since she had heard his voice…It made her momentarily nervous.

"I…have news. It seems the scavenger girl got her hands on the final piece of the map to Skywalker."

"...The final piece...?" Hux muttered, slowly turning to look around, making sure he was in a private place before adding: "...How did she come across this piece ?"

"…I do not know, sir. I wasn’t authorised to participate in the meeting." JR told him and general Hux sighed. She knew he was disappointed…

"Understood." He then stayed silent for a few moments.

"Where is she now...?"

JR looked at the tent where they had disappeared in and replied promptly.

"Rey and General Organa as well as a couple of Resistance fighters are holding a meeting in the command centre right now."

"...A resistance meeting..." General Hux muttered and frowned at the news. That certainly didn’t sound good. "So ah...She is close to finding him."

He stayed silent, his fingers clenching and unclenching for a few moments.

"...When does the meeting end...?"

JR shook her head.

"I do not know, sir." She then waited a moment before asking. "Your directives if indeed the girl is planning on going to see Skywalker ?"

There was a moment of silence before general Hux spoke again.

"...The orders stay the same. She cannot reach Skywalker..." He stayed silent for a handful of moments as he thought about his next move. The scavenger girl could—under no circumstances—reach Skywalker and become more powerful than she already was. "...And...If she does ? She must not return from that place alive..."

"…Sir ?" JR was stunned. "…Do you mean…?"

General Hux closed his eyes and his jaw twitched. He knew that the mission would be hard for JR-6025, but he also knew of her undying loyalty to him.

"...If Rey manages to reach Skywalker..." His tone was flat. The words cold as he finally condemned out loud. "...She must not return...Understood, trooper ?"

JR’s heart hammered in her chest at his death sentence and she gulped. No…She couldn’t…kill her. She had made a promise to Kylo Ren. But at the same time, Rey was the last hope of the galaxy. She was the only wall standing between the First Order and total domination.

But, JR was still a stormtrooper.

"Sir. I…" She closed her eyes. "…Yes, sir. Understood."

There was a moment of silence, before he finally said: "...Good. Keep me informed...And get ready..."

There was another long moment of silence, before he finally added:

"...That is all for now..."

She remained with her eyes closed and replied.

"Yes, sir."

She ended the transmission and sighed before looking up at the ceiling…What was she supposed to do now ? She had to do something. She couldn’t possibly break her promise to Lord Kylo Ren. But, JR also could not stand by while Rey left to meet with Skywalker. It would crush the First Order and general Hux’s slim trust in her. Her inner conflict was becoming stronger...Part of her told herself: The First Order will be fine...The galaxy will be fine with them in charge... But the other part, the part born out of guilt and shame, told her: No...The galaxy will not...We have only brought destruction and pain, while the Resistance is fighting for peace...

She was starting to wonder what to do when she heard that the meeting had ended. She quickly got out and saw Rey enter a spaceship to leave.

Her eyes widened.

She was leaving—surely to meet with Skywalker.

She couldn’t let her go alone.

She was still struggling with these competing voices within her head...The First Order...The Resistance...Her promise to Lord Ren.

Who was she loyal to...?

She knew that if she revealed Skywalker’s location, the First Order would reach him first which would ultimately lead to Rey’s death which was what Hux wanted...and what Lord Ren dreaded. JR hesitated before suddenly racing towards the spaceship to get inside just as it was about to leave. JR raced aboard the spaceship—just as the door was closing.

JR took a few minutes to process all that was happening, taking deep breaths to try and calm herself down...She stayed hidden until the spaceship had landed. She didn’t know where they were, but she knew that it must be on the planet where Luke Skywalker was…

The spaceship landed, and the doors started to open. Rey got out. JR was still hidden in the spaceship, and she could hear Rey stepping off in the distance...She waited a few minutes before finally getting out herself. She found herself on an island surrounded by waves. She took a deep breath. She had never seen an ocean before…

JR looked around her, taking in the scenery...

An ocean...The gentle waves...She breathed in the air...It made her think of Azterri—but so much wilder. There was a wild beauty to the island. She couldn't believe she had never seen something like this before and as much as she was torn between sides, as scared as her inner conflict made her...She couldn’t deny it.

This was beautiful.

She took a deep breath of the fresh seaside air and momentarily forgot where she was until she heard a voice coming from one of the caves. She frowned before following the voice and found an old man talking to himself.

"No. Not again. Never again am I going to train jedis. It's over." Luke Skywalker said and shook his head—memories of Kylo Ren haunting him. The ghost of Yoda shook his head next to Luke.

"Train them You must. The future They are."

Skywalker scoffed mockingly at his old master’s words before replying.

​​​​​​"Yeah well…You train them then !"

Yoda frowned before answering in a serious voice—hinted with disapproval.

​​​​​​"Skywalker's job It is. Let the galaxy down You must not…"

Luke frowned before sighing. He knew that the galaxy’s fate held in the balance and soon enough, there would be no place to hide.

​​​​​​"The galaxy never did me any good. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to train them. And that's my final answer." He said with finality in his tone and Yoda’s gaze softened as he saw the pain and sorrow in Luke’s eyes.

"Yoda’s role it is not To convince you. If you are to turn your back from the truth Then lost we will all be…" Yoda said with finality before slowly disappearing. JR’s eyes widened as the ghost’s eyes met hers. She held her breath. But, the ghost only smiled at her before disappearing completely—leaving Skywalker alone in the cave. Skywalker seemed adamant in his refusal to train Rey—noy that that it surprised her...But the ghost's words...about his “duty” to train the Jedi...something seemed to urge her to stay and convince Skywalker. If the ghost was right, then the balance would be broken…

She was about to step closer to hear more of the conversation when she slipped and suddenly tumbled inside the cave.

"….Ouch."

JR immediately froze...Her presence was no longer unknown to the person inside. JR stayed completely still and quiet, hoping that Luke hadn’t heard her. Wishful thinking. Suddenly, she saw a pair of shoes in front of her and slowly looked up to see Skywalker looking down at her—he didn’t seem pleased.

"Who are you and what are you doing on my island ?" He asked authoritatively and JR's mind was all over the place as she tried to think of an excuse...She shouldn't have been here, she shouldn't have gotten on the spaceship...But there was nothing she could do now...She quickly managed to calm herself down a little and she then replied with a soft voice:

"I'm...I'm a stormtrooper, sir."

Luke frowned and looked her up and down.

"Oh really ? Stormtroopers aren’t welcome on my island…" He raised his hand towards her and fear struck JR. She thought about trying to flee from the cave...But then another thought crossed her mind...Why not simply say the truth...

"I'm a deserter...I wasn’t sent by the First Order, sir. I come in peace." She hoped it would help her case, but Luke didn’t seem impressed at all.

"Oh yeah ? And I don’t care. Get off my island before I…"

"JR !" Rey arrived in the cave and frowned before helping her up. "What are you doing here ?!"

JR flinched as Rey spoke. She was still tense and anxious and she couldn't help but remain still as Rey helped her up...It looked like Rey was about to yell at her at any second, but she restrained herself.

"...I just came here because I wanted to help you." JR whispered.

"Wait…Did you sneak onto my ship ?" Rey didn’t seem pleased at all and she sighed and shook her head in disbelief. "I do not need your help. I need you to go."

JR stayed silent for a moment. She felt so ashamed of herself...Of what she had done...A stormtrooper, a deserter, sneaking into a Resistance ship...She knew it wasn't good...

"I am sorry. I…" She started, but was interrupted by Luke.

"Here’s an idea. How about you both get off my island ?!" Skywalker raised his arms in disbelief before JR turned towards him and replied.

"Alright. I will leave. But, please…Train Rey. She made it all this way for you to train her. She searched for you. For this place…" JR continued and tried to plead, but Skywalker interrupted her.

"I know." Skywalker muttered, sounding annoyed.

"Then, will you train her ? Please." JR insisted. "I know there must be a reason that you have decided to stay hidden for so long, but Rey needs your guidance."

JR could see the old Jedi Master slowly lowering his gaze, and she knew what she was doing was having an effect...Luke sighed, raising his gaze once more. He looked at Rey and frowned.

"...She will not become a Jedi..." he said, sounding resigned and JR frowned in incomprehension.

"Why ? Why are you so afraid ?" She asked and Luke’s eyes hardened as he glared at her.

"You do not understand. None of you do." He muttered, shaking his head slightly. "You don't know what happened..."

"No…Maybe not." She conceded. "But, I know that this war needs to end. And that Rey can put an end to it. So, please…Train her. I beg of you."

"...I...I can't...I cannot...The past..." Skywalker mumbled and shook his head. Luke was suddenly shaking and clutching his chest. "...Will come back...It always does."

"The past doesn’t need to repeat itself…" JR spoke up and Luke closed his eyes—a pained expression on his face.

"...But it does..." Luke muttered, his voice low and shaky. "...We...We always think we can be different..."

He then turned away, looking towards the darkness within his cave. "...But the galaxy has a way of repeating history..."

She looked at the darkness as well.

"…But, we can learn from past mistakes." Rey advanced and Luke huffed a mocking laugh.

"...Oh, we do learn...." He muttered to himself. "...And we think that we can be better because we have..."

He let out a sigh...

"...But history always has a way of repeating itself...The light and the dark...They balance each other..." A short pause followed. "...But every time there's too much light...The darkness rises...And every time there's too much darkness..."

There was a longer pause.

"...The light rises...It's a cycle..."

"A cycle can be broken !" JR claimed and Luke glared at her once more.

"But it shouldn't be." Luke looked at her, and JR noticed the sadness in the Jedi Master's eyes. "...The Force is supposed to be balanced. Neither too much light. Neither too much darkness..."

"But the cycle is going to be broken. Look at the galaxy. Listen to the Force. You know that if we let it happen, the First Order will destroy this cycle…" She countered and Luke nodded.

"Yes. And a new light and a new dark shall rise...It's the way things go...It's the way things always go..." His voice was low and solemn...But there was a hint of sadness there too. There was a hint of resignation there as well...

"Nothing changes. Nothing. When a cycle ends, another is born."

He turned his back on her and Rey’s eyes lowered. JR felt an urge within her begging to be let out. She couldn’t let him go. She knew her duty and the fact that Skywalker himself was set on staying out of trouble could only be good for the First Order. She should be happy. Rey wouldn’t be trained and her mission would be finished. She wouldn’t have to betray anyone or kill anyone.

But…

"Please !" JR surged forward and grabbed his arm. Luke hissed and turned towards JR with widened eyes. He groaned loudly in annoyance.

"What do you want from me ?!"

"I want you to train Rey !" JR pleaded and her eyes filled with tears. She hadn’t come so far and seen so much just to give up now. "Han Solo is dead…And who knows how many innocents will die before the end of the war ?!"

JR could see the sorrow in Luke's eyes at the mention of the death of his old friend, but he quickly shook his head.

"This war is endless. I already tried to end it years ago, but it didn't work. I'm sorry."

He didn’t look JR in the eyes, he couldn’t. But, she didn’t give up and took his hand in hers to force him to look at her, which he eventually did.

"Please..We need your help, master Luke. Help us." He opened his mouth, prepared to shut her down one last time, but she looked at him with such pleading eyes that he finally sighed in defeat and nodded.

"Fine. If you want to learn about the Force and be killed because of it, who am I to disagree ?! But, know that after that, there is no turning back to what you were. People will hunt you down for your knowledge, or just because you are different from them, are you ready to face the consequences ?" He turned towards Rey and he had a stern expression on his face. "Are you ?!"

Rey gulped, but nodded nonetheless.

​​​​​​"I am ready to do what must be done."

Luke looked into Rey’s eyes. She sounded resolute...Determined...She made him think of Han. The same stubbornness in their gaze. If Rey was to save the galaxy, he knew he had no choice but to train her.

"...Fine...Fine..." He muttered, and the sadness in his eyes grew even stronger...He would do as he was asked...But, there was alwa a price to pay for such knowledge. Both women smiled at each other and Rey took a step forward to give Luke his lightsaber back.

"Thank you, Master Luke."

Luke remained silent as he looked at the lightsaber in Rey’s hand and then he realized that the time had come...He couldn't refuse her. He slowly reached out to take the lightsaber from her.

"Do not thank me…Training will start tomorrow morning at the first rays of sunlight. Be ready."

Rey smiled and nodded in agreement. JR smiled weakly as she knew that Rey would be trained now and hope flared within her. Her mission was done. JR turned around, walking away. JR had managed to sway Skywalker—just in time. The next step was making sure that he trained Rey and that she fulfilled her goal...Whatever the price might be...

She looked down at the transmitter around her wrist and her smile dropped. She started thinking about General Hux. Her thumb rubbed around the wrist band. She was torn. If she was to communicate their location, then the First Order would win. They would come and kill Rey and Luke. It would be over. Finally. But…She couldn’t find the will to do so. Poe and Leia’s hope had succeeded in making her believe in something else than the First Order—something greater.

Everything will be alright. I will put an end to this war. And he will understand—eventually.

She took a deep breath before walking away. She returned to the ship where she knew Chewbacca was waiting. He would certainly bring her back to the Resistance and she could always invent an excuse to General Hux about not being able to know the location of Skywalker.

JR took a deep breath and was about to get on board when she heard a voice behind her.

"And where do you think you’re going ?"

JR turned around and saw that Skywalker was behind her. Her first instinct was to just keep walking, but she decided to turn and face the old Jedi Master...

"I'm going back to the Resistance camp..."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You would leave your friend alone ?"

JR frowned in confusion before she realised he was talking about Rey and she sighed.

"She isn’t my friend. Or I cannot be hers. She would never trust a stormtrooper."

Luke hummed.

"I see…But, you still begged me to train her."

JR smiled to herself.

"Hope is contagious…Some people infected me with it."

Luke chuckled before walking forward to stand next to her.

"I see…Leia is still as convincing as she used to be. This is why she sent you both to me."

JR frowned and let out an awkward laugh.

"She only sent Rey. I simply sneaked myself in."

Luke raised both of his eyebrows at her and restrained a mocking huff.

"Oh really ? You—a stormtrooper—managed to sneak yourself aboard a Resistance ship, in the middle of a Resistance camp and without anyone seeing you or trying to stop you ? Impressive. Please. Teach me your ways." She could hear his sarcasm and her eyes widened at the realisation.

"…She knew." JR whispered and Luke smiled.

"Of course she knew. The woman has eyes behind her head. Nothing flies past her." He then looked at JR with a little mirth in his gaze. "You are exactly where you are meant to be. Your friend needs you—Rey needs you. Or, she will. Now, the only question that remains is…Will you stay and help or leave and flee from your own fears ?"

He extended a hand towards her and JR blinked twice in astonishment at the offer before hesitating. Was he right ? Would Rey need her ? And most importantly, would JR want to engage into something that would make her a true traitor of the First Order ?

She bit her lower lip—doubt plaguing her mind.

She finally closed her eyes and looked away.

"I…do not think Rey needs me. She has you. I would not help her by staying."

Luke humphed before replying.

"I do not know what conflict you seem to be having or why you wish to leave…but what I do know is that Leia is never wrong. And that if she let you come to me ? It is that you will have a role to play. And if I am to play the role of a teacher, then I will expect you to also take on the role that the Force has bestowed upon you."

He then started walking away.

"First lesson tomorrow. Do NOT be late."

And with that, he was gone.

JR sighed before looking at the spaceship before her. She knew she should go, but Luke’s words had left an impact on her. Was he right ? Did she really have a role to play in this future to be built ?

And if she had…

Which role would it be ?

She looked down at the transmitter around her wrist.

Was she to be a traitor ?

She looked back in the direction that Luke had taken.

Or was she to be a hero ?

She waited for a few minutes before taking her decision. She followed in Luke Skywalker’s footsteps and her eyes looked up at the sky where night was slowly falling.

…Maybe could she try to be someone else ? Just this once.

#star wars #general hux x reader #fandoms #imagine #fanfic #kylo ren x reader #luke skywalker #rey

[charliedawn]

The first one is the one I did for the project, and the second is an old drawing I send you around a year ago on a alt account :3

Author: "Ah yes ! I remember you ! I loved your first drawing and the evolution is amazing. Great job !"

[charliedawn]

doctor strange I will appreciate brutal honesty how can one learn to better something if they don't know what to improve on

different view points are helpful and I aim to make quality not junk so yes bring the constructive criticism

and I often take a while to make something because I'm a bit of a perfectionist as well

Doctor Strange : "Fine. We shall see then. Do your best."

[charliedawn]

Would you like to see a pennywise drawing I did for an art project?

Author: "Of course. I would love to see it."