Fandom Fight for Control [closed]

[cleopat]

Spira. Kylo couldn’t think about researching potential allies on Spira right then. He needed to rescue Thenn first, if she even survived. No, she did. She has to.

If she didn’t, then Kylo would show no mercy on them.

“Of course. I will look into those at Spira.” After he completed his side mission to the Exigency. But how to get on the ship.

Something he needed to think through very soon.

Despite his plans, Kylo still asked, “Will you let me know of any updates to the situation?”

~~

Valo remained at a safe distance from the Nightbrothers as the bracelet helped protect him from their blasts. As soon as the first fell, the others followed like dominos. Blaster still firmly in his grasp, Valo steadily walked towards Matja and Reveille.

He remained alert for anyone else who would try and attack them.



Rey was quick to return to her feet as she watched the togruta stumble to the ground from a severe loss in balance. She hadn’t expected that her attack would succeed, that she would sever off the leg of the Nightsister, but she did. The togruta hadn’t been able to evade her attack.

She jumped back as a shield made of fire erupted around the fallen togruta. Rey stared, with wide eyes, at the unusual display of the Force. She knew it was at least that, that she could feel. But how?

The blaze caught Valo’s immediate attention, and his head snapped over to the togruta now surrounded by flame. “Did we know they could do that?”

~~

Three extra in addition to me Lavinia wanted to mumble at Armitage’s pedantic nature. Resisting the urge to huff at his comment, she kept up with his pace. This may as well be her last chance to talk to him, if she couldn’t convince him to let them help. To let her help.

And she worried that he would deny her that chance. He didn’t though. Lavinia bit back the smile that threatened, and she nodded her head at his inquiry. “Pretty damn good.” Codebreaking came easy enough to her; learning about droids was a part of the same family, as far as she was concerned.

Not to mention extremely useful on past assignments.

“Modding mouse droids,” she confirmed. “Easy enough.” No one paid attention to mouse droids. They would easily go anywhere they needed them to.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Good.’ Though Nyx was certain Kylo would remain distracted for a while, he would at least work on channeling his focus to something productive. He would research those on Spira, and come back with some names.

“Yes,” that much, Nyx could agree with, although she already suspected she knew. Kylo may not have felt it, not so close to the other nightsisters, but she already felt the pull of one life gone. “I will inform you of any developments.” Soon the others would follow, but she would wait until she had something beyond a feeling.

Telling Kylo of Thenn’s death would break the boy, and so she wouldn’t do it without absolute certainty lest he try something foolish. Though, he was likely to feel that in the Force, just as he would have felt Reveille.

They should have anticipated her doing something foolish.

Now they knew she was alive, and active, for certain.

“You may begin that research now,” Nyx dismissed.

~***~

“Yes.” Reveille answered.

“No.” Matja had said at the same time. The pair exchanged a look, and Reveille shrugged. She knew a little more in this department. Matja stepped ahead as Rey was blocked out by the fire from getting to the torgruta.

Of course, that didn’t last when Matja approached. The Force died around her. “Please, please….,” the pleas that left her lips were silenced with one quick slash that cut her head from her body.

That left the girl – crying and screaming in Jinnah’s arms as the miraluka held onto her. Matja started in that direction, “Try it and I’ll have you shot dead.” Reveille threatened.

“She’s one of them,” he gestured with the lightsaber in her direction, “For all we know, she can use the Force to tell them where we are, or what’s happened.” He reminded.

Reveille knew he had the potential to be right. “I don’t care. She lives.”

“Tch.” Matja let the lightsaber blade vanish, but he tucked it into a pocket. Clearly, he planned to keep it, and he reached for the second one, as well. “Fine. I’m leaving before anything happens. Valo, Rey, you’re welcome to join me.”

Reveille, apparently, was no longer welcome.

~***~

“Good.” Armitage stated, “Karn Kellar has been working on them in warehouse B. Go and assist. He can brief you on where we need them sent and what jobs they need to do.” Karn wasn’t, perhaps, the best at it, but he was better than anyone they had around here. The people weren’t all that familiar with modifying droids.

Not their programming, nor their hardware.

Hardware was easy enough with instructions. Programming was a bit more delicate.

He knew already what skill Lavinia had in codes and slicing; with those skills, she would be able to assist with the droids and make sure they received the necessary information, back at home base.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo would begin research, but he wouldn’t begin the research on what Nyx wanted. Spira would be left ignored for now, and he carefully assessed how to get on the Exigency. With Reveille now in charge of her star destroyer, outside First Order ships would not be welcomed onboard.

And he didn’t exactly blend in with everyone.

But it was astonishing, nearly hilariously so, how people will ignore someone like him when he donned a blonde wig, giant, thin-rimmed glasses, and a radar technician suit. Hardly anyone on the Exigency glanced at him as he strolled down the corridors.

It hadn’t been easy to get onboard, and he knew once he returned, Nyx would be beyond furious with him. But he couldn’t idly stand by while he awaited to hear what became of Thenn. And the others.

The wig was uncomfortable, and the uniform felt weird. Kriff, he didn’t want anyone to recognize him.

Reveille. Like her, who was on the ship somewhere. He could feel her, just as he could feel Thenn. And the Scavenger.

Maybe I should have brought some backup.

~~

Valo watched the execution of the togruta with little emotion evident on his face. They were working with Kylo Ren, so they had to be evil, right? Rey was questioning the same thing, as she tried to ignore the wails of the child now held by a miraluka.

A movement in the corner of her eye, Rey looked up and observed Tarkin moving in the child’s direction. She immediately reached for her saber, prepared to stop him. She was a child. Not old enough to understand what was right or wrong or decide that for herself.

Both she and Valo relaxed at Reveille’s threat towards Tarkin. Valo knew she meant it. Rey was happy she didn’t have to attack someone she had just been working with.

After Matja offered for them to join him, they looked towards one another in an unspoken conversation. Rey would stay near Valo, no matter where he decided to go, due to camaraderie, and Valo would follow Rey, as he was safer near her abilities. And while neither particularly wanted to stay on the Exigency, they also didn’t wish to follow Matja. Not after he attempted to kill a child.

Valo looked back to Tarkin. “We’ll stay.”

~~

The name didn’t register with Lavinia, but it shouldn’t be too hard to track down someone working on droids in a specific warehouse. She nodded, eager to help Taris, and also to disprove any thoughts Armitage now thought about her.

She didn’t immediately head to the warehouse. Her steps kept up with his. “Thank you, for this opportunity.” She expected a dismissal wave, a demand to get going, or even to be ignored, but she wouldn’t leave without another word.

He should quickly realize that in many aspects, Lavinia is Althea. Just as mouthy and brave (or foolish) enough to not hold back what was on her mind.

 

[Lucyfer]

Tarkin would demand his devices back before he left, and Reveille returned hers, much as she wanted to keep it. After that, there was the need to move the ship, to turn off all its trackers, and clean house – more or less – as well as deal with Thenn, as Rani offered her name and tried to explain that she really wasn’t bad. She’d try to comfort Thenn.

Reveille had a lot of explaining to do in the meantime, to a lot of people.

The ship left Lothal space to head towards Ilum. It was, perhaps, an odd choice, but no one went that way any longer. It was a dried up, frozen husk of a planet, and she needed time to get things in order.

Valo and Rey would be shown rooms, and given permission and access to reach out to General Organa to explain the situation and their success. Reveille would also make sure they had access to a ship for when they wanted to leave.

“Long story short, we’re with the Resistance now,” that was the conclusion of her long explanation of events and what was going on to the room of her new High Command – sans Rani, who was taking her time calming Thenn.

Rani, who apparently was at fault for Kylo’s return in the first place. Garmuth was less than pleased with the twi’lek, but they wouldn’t be letting her go for that. There had been…a lot of mistakes. Garmuth wasn’t pleased to be working with Leia, but it was better than the alternatives.

When the meeting had concluded, Reveille did make a point to call General Organa herself to explain that it would be a couple of days before she brought the Exigency to her. She had to make sure to eliminate any threats within the ship still, for she doubted everyone was loyal.

She went to find Rani after that, figuring she could brief Valo and Rey afterwards.

Rani was in Kos’tel’lanni’s old room. She’d brought much of the plants back in, and Thenn was on the couch, knees to her chest, almost covered in ivy. Reveille paused at the sight, as the twi’lek held a warm glass of tea in one hand, and stroked the girl’s head. There was tea for the child, as well, a flower blooming at the top of it.

Thenn tensed at the sight of Reveille, the ivy fluttering, and Reveille held up her hands. She had a blaster back on her person, as well as a vibroblade. She didn’t want her hands anywhere near them.

“I’ve told her about things,” Rani said, “but they were still like family to her.”

“I’m right here!” Thenn said immediately, and Rani looked down, momentarily crestfallen to have spoken first. “You’re Revy?”

Reveille decided to give her a pass on shortening her name. “I am.”

“Rani mentioned you before. She said you were the reason she didn’t like Kylo Ren. That he hurt you, and a friend.”

‘Lavinia wasn’t really a friend, but sure.’ “He hurt a lot of people. I’m not here to talk about him.” She really didn’t want to focus on that. She suspected talking to Rani about the meeting was off the table. “Can I come closer?”

Thenn glanced to Rani, who made no gesture, then looked back to Reveille. She nodded, and Reveille stepped forward and crouched nearby. Not on the couch. That was too close. “We hurt you. We hurt people close to you. I know Rani has explained it to you. Do you understand why?”

“No.” She said. “She’s said why you did it, but I don’t understand. Not at all. I don’t understand why you and Matja don’t like the Force and I don’t understand why all of this had to come to violence. I don’t!”

~***~

Armitage sighed as Lavinia didn’t just head off. She’d been given her orders. Then again, what did he expected? She was atrocious with taking them without commentary. He gave a dismissive wave. He didn’t want to hear more words or see her. If she wanted to help, then she should go and get started.

There was nothing to be thanking him for.

“Go on then. I have my own business with overseeing guard posts to look into.” They were still getting the hang of this, which meant a lot of oversight was required. It was required in almost everything, and there were too few of them to do it. Of course, Taris had its rebel leaders, and Armitage made sure to use them, but the run-of-the-mill rebels were still just hopeless.

At least when it came to discipline, and that was what they needed if they wanted to make a difference on Taris. Discipline and consistency. They would chip away at the problem bit by bit, and gain inches before they gained the needed miles against their foes.

 

[cleopat]

Some time later, Kylo felt a familiar pull of the Force. Thenn. She grew nearer. He yearned to call out for her, but that would only attract attention to himself, and they would soon discover who Matt really was.

He followed the pull until a door to someone’s quarters came up. It was there he felt something else. Something familiar. Someone familiar. Reveille Hux. She was also there, with Thenn. He wanted to believe that she wouldn’t hurt the child, but would she?

Or maybe she already did. He recalled the emotional pain that ripped through him earlier, but with no reason for it, except for whatever cry of anguish Thenn may have emitted. And if it was because someone laid a hand on her, then Kylo would offer no mercy.

He paused outside the door and raised a hand to buzz the intercom. Hi, I'm Matt. I'm a radar technician here to check on some cables.

Stars, how would they not know it was him?

~~

Lavinia had heard the sigh before she was correct in assuming that Armitage would give a dismissive wave. Her footsteps slowed behind him, and then he had verbally dismissed her. She had wanted to talk longer, for her own selfish reasons, but she knew she was lucky that he even offered her something to help with.

“Of course, s-,” she stopped herself before she could utter out sir. Old habits. He was no longer a general or the Supreme Leader, but he was still a leader of sorts, helping build the insurgents on Taris.

Her steps slowed to a halt, before turning back to the way she came in order to find Warehouse B. Fortunately, she still knew how to get there, and once she walked inside the warehouse, she called out for Karn Kellar. “I was sent by Hux to help with the mouse droids?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Before Reveille could proceed with speaking with Thenn, there was a buzz. Rani frowned, but got up and walked to the door, opening it and staring at the stranger in the doorway, “Who are you?”

His attire suggested he was a technician of some sort, but no one that Rani knew off-hand, “I didn’t call for anyone.” Nothing needed repairs in here, so far as she knew.

Reveille glanced out briefly, but didn’t recognize who was in the doorway. Thenn also tried to look, but the angle was bad from where she was sitting. She couldn’t see. She didn’t sense anything right then, either – of course, on a ship, most of her connection with the Force was dead. Being in this room helped, and that was why Rani had brought her there, but her powers didn’t stretch far.

She was, supposedly, going to be learning how to work through that.

Now her teachers were dead….

~***~

Karn Kellar heard the steps long before they entered the warehouse. A glance through security cameras showed him who it was – Lavinia Aburius, the traitor of the First Order who sunk both Huxes, in a way. Someone who really should just have a bolt through their skull for getting all of them torn out of the Order, really.

But, Karn had been aware of her arrival earlier, and aware that she was under the protection of the Taris citizens because of two companions who were beloved.

‘Gotta keep the people happy, huh?’

Not really his way. Nonetheless, he had to play along, for now.

Still, with the stupid and bold way she entered?

It’d serve her well if one of the droids shot her, as many immediately primed themselves to do thanks to the unanticipated interruption. “Down boys, girls, its,” he said sardonically to the droids. “C’mere, Stabbity.”

One droid, the crudest model, with burn marks on either side like racing stripes and a monomolecular blade glued to the top of it, came over to him. “Welcome to the warehouse, traitor,” he greeted, “What exactly are you supposed to do here?”

He knew.

Hux had already sent him a message.

She didn’t need to know that. “Could use some help with their target practice.”

 

[cleopat]

Rani was the one who came to the door, and she didn’t recognize him. Neither did Reveille, who was the one who shocked him the most. Not only because she didn’t recognize him, but because her hair was decidedly not red.

It was pink. A sort of light, pastel pink. Kylo had to bite his tongue to prevent smiling at the sight.

He could sense that Thenn was next to her, but he couldn’t immediately see her due to their position.

“Um, I’m Matt, a radar technician. We’ve been having wave frequency issues with one of the radars, and we believe we’ve pinpointed the issue coming from a frayed cable that runs along inside the walls of this room.” He altered his voice to make it appear lighter. They may not recognize him, but there was the chance that they would recognize his voice.

~~

Once Lavinia stepped inside, she was greeted with an array of shoddy droids aimed to attack her. She frowned, but didn’t flinch. From what she could see, they weren’t exactly the latest models, and certainly wouldn’t stand up to whatever the elite had to offer.

Her gaze flickered to the one that was called back. Seriously, a blade glued on? She now knew why she was sent here.

She had almost even ignored the nickname Karn gave her.

“By the looks of them, I’d say they won’t hit their target.” Lavinia glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. “I think you already know why I’m here, but I guess I’ll explain it anyways. I was told you’re trying to get some mouse droids to spy on the elite. I can help edit their programming and whatever else is needed.”

She looked between the droids again. “Which, by the looks of things, is a lot.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Rani hadn’t heard of any wave frequency issues, but she also didn’t hear much about general maintenance. Nor did she know enough. Still, she frowned, considered, then sighed and gestured him in, “All right, you can check it out.”

Rani would move away from the door, and go back towards the couch. She could tell little more conversation was going to be done while they had an intruder, so she offered, “Do you want some tea, Reveille?”

Reveille shook her head, “Caf, if you have it.”

Rani nodded, and moved on from the couch. She wouldn’t suggest leaving the room. Thenn wouldn’t be comfortable with that, and she was looking curiously at the blonde stranger who stepped in, while Reveille’s back was mostly to them now, her interest in them lost. Now they were just a nuisance.

But Thenn swore there was something familiar about them, and so she asked, “How could a cable get frayed in the walls?” as if asking a question such as that would help her figure out why he seemed so familiar.

She was also curious.

Reveille offered a bit of an answer, “The ship moves. It puts strain on the entire structure,” she’d been irritated with it before, wires that were hidden from the elements still impacted by the way the ship itself twisted and settled.

~***~

Karn scoffed at Lavinia’s deductions, “They might not be the classiest droids, but they’ve got it where it matters,” at least Stabbity did. Though the others had weapons and could hit targets, he’d made sure of that. Not exactly what Hux wanted, but Hux wasn’t expressly against it, either. So long as the weapons could be hidden.

Stabbity’s weapon would never be hidden and woe to anyone who got in his way.

“Maybe not so good at the spy thing yet.” Recording devices and the like eluded his understanding. “But they’re decent guard and attack droids,” which was also not what Hux wanted. “I guess if you can make them stealthier or sneakier, that’d help out their case of attacking others, too.”

He shrugged, “It is what you know best, isn’t it?”

No one in the Order, or formerly in the Order, was going to let that go for quite a while.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo was prepared to manipulate Rani with the Force mind trick in order to get inside the room, but she seemed to believe him enough. Didn’t understand it, but still allowed him through.

He could see Reveille better now, who had lost interest in their intruder, and he could also see her pink hair better. It still made him want to laugh, just at the unexpectedness and absurdity of it. Why had she done that? To go undercover after she apparently faked her death?

And why had she done that to begin with?

Thenn asked him a question, and the desire to just grab her and run out of there welled within him. Reveille answered her, before he could formulate a response, which he was silently thankful for. “She’s right. There are other reasons though, but that’s typically the most common. Others come from particularly malevolence or accidents.”

As he spoke, he made his way to the back wall, where he knew those cables would run through. He had to at least look busy.

And he still needed to think of a way to get Thenn out of there without arousing suspicion too early.

Playing up his role as a radar technician, Kylo lightly hummed, opening one of the wall panels to begin his ‘inspection.’

~~

Lavinia merely glanced between the droids with one eyebrow lifted, decidedly unamused. “But apparently not everywhere where it matters, or else Hux wouldn’t think you needed help.”

Stars, was that one droid’s monomolecular blade glued on? “Stars, if you’re going to put a weapon on a droid like that,” she said, motioning towards Stabbity, “at least solder it on.”

She sighed, but ignored the insult hurled her way. It may have been painful when Armitage did it, but it was just a nuisance coming from someone she didn’t know. “First, we need to change their appearance to match the mouse droids that are frequently seen within the Uppercity.”

Lavinia took a few more steps towards the droids, her eyes scanning their appearance. “Clean them up a bit, make them look like they’re simple, harmless mouse droids. Then we can focus on programming them to sneak and collect information.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille did glance over her shoulder at the stranger working in the room as he went to the wall, humming some ludicrous tune. Rani came back with the caf before she could consider leaving this for another time, and she accepted it, took a drink, and tried to settle again.

She had wanted to speak with Thenn to help her adjust, and convince her to go see Leia. She needed to focus on that, she supposed, though she’d forgotten where she left off.

Rather than snap at the technician for his humming, she opted to ignore it. Best not to snap or show too much anger in front of the child, no matter how irritating. “Thenn, I know you mistrust us, and I don’t blame you for it. However, I want you to go with Rey in a day or two, to meet Leia.”

Leia. That was a name Thenn had heard, and her brows knit together. “Who’s Leia?”

“You know Kylo Ren?”

“Yeah!” She sounded excited about that.

“Leia is his mother, but she’s not like him.”

A pout crossed her face at that, “But I like him…,” apparently, she hoped that Leia would be a bit like him. She saw how Rani wrinkled her nose, and the look on Reveille’s face, as well. “No one here likes him….”

‘He’s a monster.’ Reveille wanted to say, but said instead, “He wasn’t nice when he was here.” She didn’t know why Thenn liked Kylo, but arguing with her would get them nowhere. “Will you consider it?”

“Can’t I just go back to Nyx?”

~***~

Karn’s eyes narrowed on Lavinia as she suggested he solder the knife on, “No. Stabbity doesn’t like to be burned or melted. They’ve suffered enough,” a gesture was made to the droid, the scarring burn marks across its side evident of some history with fire and melting.

Cleaning up the others wouldn’t be a problem, and he shrugged at that suggestion, “Cleaning droids is easy,” he figured that was the last concern, honestly. “But I guess if that’s where you want to start, you can go get some rags and we can get started on it.”

Of course, the scorch marks on Stabbity wouldn’t be just washed off, but Stabbity would remain an exception to all rules. Karn would insist on it, even if that meant Stabbity couldn’t be a spy droid. They didn’t need all of them to go sneaking around in the Uppercity, anyways. “What do you know about droids up there, anyways?”

 

[cleopat]

Kylo nearly jerked and banged his head on the panel when Leia’s name was mentioned. They wanted to take Thenn to her? They obviously wanted to turn her against him, then. And he couldn’t have that.

Hopefully they’ll both be long gone before that Scavenger left with Thenn. And before she could feel that he was near, if she hadn’t already.

A smile almost spread across his face when Thenn announced she liked him. And I like you too, little one. It came of no surprise that no one there liked him. He was branded as a monster, and he knew Reveille wanted to call him that, but decided to downplay his actions for the child for some reason.

His humming faded as he ‘focused’ more on his work. Rather, he was attempting to think of how he could send a message to Thenn without alerting Reveille or Rani.

So he tried the only way he knew how: by communicating through the Force. Thenn, he urged the mind connection, it’s Kylo. Are you able to hear me?

~~

Lavinia raised her hands in defense. “Alright, duly noted. I won’t touch Stabby.” They had plenty of other droids, anyways. Karn’s weird attachment to his droid wasn’t worth the struggle.

She scoffed. Already she could tell that their time working together would be just great. “But you know where everything is. Why don’t you fetch them?” she dared to ask, as she kneeled on the floor to take a closer look at one of the mouse droids.

But prepared for it to actually attack her at any moment.

“Well, the people up there are like the elite of the Core, but in some ways, far worse. Snobby, must have the absolute best, love to show off their riches, those kinds of people. So the droids they use are often of the absolute newest model, and right now, it’s very clear that these will not fit in with other mouse droids up there.” Lavinia was certain that one look at some of these droids in their current state would have them immediately disposed of.

 

[Lucyfer]

The humming faded, thankfully, but Thenn jolted as if by a sudden sound, “Kylo?” She spoke aloud, startled.

Reveille tensed, as excitement grew on Thenn’s expression. “Yes, I can—oh, oops,” her brows knit together, “I’m not so good at thought projection,” her lips pursed together, “but I heard him. I heard Kylo.”

‘That’s not—’ Reveille stopped herself short of finishing that thought. It was possible, and it meant Kylo was close. Likely on the ship. How that was possible, she didn’t know, but she wasn’t going to question it. “Is he?” Her tone was calm, even if she didn’t feel calm. Not at all.

She and Valo were sans Void bracelets.

Rey, though. Rey could help. “Well, we should go find Rey, then.” Reveille said. Kylo was apparently looking for Thenn, for some reason, and he would go to her. Wherever she was. Which meant Rey. Rey could handle Kylo far better than she could. Rey might not kill him, but…accidents happened.

“Why?” Thenn asked, as Rani rose, as well as Reveille. Rani was the one to reach for her hand, and she didn’t hesitate with the twi’lek.

“Rey wants to help Kylo. Bring him back to his mother.”

“Oh!” Thenn didn’t know enough to see that as bad, “Okay!”

~***~

“Stabbity,” Karn corrected, as the droid beeped its own indignant response at the mispronunciation. Apparently, it had already grown attached to the nickname – but it beeped out the full name. Stabbity O’Stabbers.

“And yeah – I know where things are. You need to learn.” He said, and went back to leaning against his stacked boxes. They could get something done, or they could get nothing done, it was much the same to him. “I can certainly tell you where they’re at, though,” and he gestured lazily backwards.

The cleaning supplies were all in the same building, she wouldn’t have to go far for them.

He did consider the droids, though, “You realize we don’t have the kind of funding to get a whole bunch of new and shiny droids though, right? We can clean’em up, but nothing is going to make them look like the top of the line ones.”

These had been stolen, more or less, from stores and storage spaces. Droids not yet sold, or barely still in use. The rejects, likely meant to be parted out or sold at some point in time, or kept in the hopes they’d become priceless antiques of ‘better days’.

Mouse Droid designs didn’t change much, but discerning eyes like Lavinia spoke of would know the difference.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo tensed, mentally cursing himself as Thenn naturally spoke out loud to answer him. She was a child with no filter

He wasn’t even sure if she knew how to do mental connections yet.

Shit. No. Don’t find Rey. Don’t you dare take her to Leia, Kylo wanted to scream at Reveille.

Face still in the cables, he scowled. He needed to think of a way to separate Thenn from them, and soon, so they could return to the Finalizer.

Could she crawl through the vents? No, that may be too dangerous for her.

He reached out for her again. Thenn, don’t mention to them that I’m communicating with you. Please don’t give them any hint that I’m talking to you. Finding Rey and returning to my mother is a very bad thing. They don’t want to help us. I need you to try and separate from them without their noticing. I will find you once you do.

Would she be able to listen? Would she head his warning to stay away from Rey?

~~

Lavinia rolled her eyes. “Stabbity O’Stabbers. Of course it is.” But it was almost charming. It gave the droid a bit of personality, especially since it seemed to have taken to its odd nickname. She still would remain cautious of that blade attached to it, though.

She sighed, stretching her legs to stand up from studying the outside of one of the droids. Karn wasn’t going to fetch the cleaning supplies. And she didn’t wish to engage in an argument over something so small.

“Yes, I do know this. I am quite aware. They may not be able to look top of the line, but cleaning them, polishing them, and maybe a fresh coat of paint would help them look at least like they’re coming from the Middlecity, or even an official from the Lowercity. They won’t stand out as much.”

Lavinia recalled how Karn gestured behind him, so she figured the cleaning supplies were somewhere in that area. She made her way in that direction. “But if we can’t do the paint, then shining them enough may do the trick.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Thenn couldn’t quite be subtle about receiving messages as they walked to the door, not concerned about leaving the technician in there. She paused as the words came into her head, aware that Kylo had heard the conversations here. Did that mean…?

Her gaze went back to the technician as the door opened.

Maybe he just heard her thoughts and knew what was going on? But her suspicion lingered. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine,” Rani said as she saw Thenn glance back, “I don’t think Kylo wants anything to do with him.”

“Um…,” Thenn knew she shouldn’t say anything, but she wasn’t sure how she was going to get away with Rani holding her hand. Not without causing a scene, anyways. “Okay.” She sounded a bit dejected and she was led out by Rani, as Reveille started to send a message to Garmuth on her datapad.

Ship’s compromised. Kylo. Where’s Rey?​

She didn’t have Rey or Valo’s information, of course. Damn the luck.

~***~

Karn cocked a smirk as Lavinia repeated the name. He knew it exasperated plenty, his fellow cadets more than most, but he liked it. The droid liked it. That was what mattered. And Stabbity liked his knife.

He rolled his eyes at her statement of them appearing from Middlecity. ‘I guess we’ll see how useful that can be.’ But that was what Lavinia was there for, after all. “I think we got some paint. We can put racing stripes on them, at least,” he didn’t think they had much in the area of silver or chrome or gray. Black, probably.

Black might help.

“Paint’s at least easier to work into the budget. Probably. You’ll have to bring it up with the Ex-Supreme Leader.” He liked to call Hux that. It was clear it infuriated Hux, but he didn’t lash out. He was saving his hatred for later, no doubt. For now, he endured it almost passively.

He wanted to take a bet with Minka about how long until he snapped.

Stabbity beeped something about no racing stripes, “Not for you. You have stripes already. Kinda.” Indignant beeping. “No, humans get scars, you get…whatever the fuck that is. A mess?” More indignant beeping and Karn just laughed.

 

[cleopat]

Shit. They were leaving with her. Thenn wouldn’t be able to get away, not with the way Rani held her hand.

Thenn, no matter what happens, trust me.

He would have to expose himself in front of Rani and Reveille, potentially leading to some issues getting off the ship. He glanced behind him, to look at the trio as they left the room. Reveille had a datapad in her hand, undoubtedly alerting security of his presence.

Maybe even trying to get Rey involved.

Okay, definitely time to hurry.

He jumped to his feet and hurried to the door in a few large strides. Once the door opened, Kylo was sure the first thing he did was pull the datapad from Reveille’s hand with the Force. From that moment, he knew he would have to act quickly.

So he pulled over Reveille as well, and ensured he had a grip on her. “Hand over the girl.” All still in his radar technician disguise, but there should be no confusion over who he was anymore.

~~

Lavinia let out a deep sigh. Racing stripes? Really? “Sure, racing stripes may be a good idea if you intend on entering them into those droid arenas to make a few credits.” But the elites? They would not be amused. Their droids did not have racing stripes.

“Do you seriously call him Ex-Supreme Leader in his face?” Five minutes with Karn, and she could without doubt imagine him calling Armitage that. He either must be incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid.

She had found the box of cleaning supplies. She searched it for what she would need for the droids, as Karn and...Stabbity engaged in their little quip. Lavinia snorted. At least they’re amusing, if nothing else.

“They can be stripes if Stabbity wants them to be.” She came back into the area with a few of the cleaning supplies and some old rags.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille stilled as the datapad was ripped from her hands. She expected to hear it crash against a wall, but before she could even contemplate why, or where, she was pulled back. Not stilled, just pulled back from where she’d been.

Rani stifled a small shriek as she turned around, moving Thenn behind her in a protective fashion, even as it became clear who was there, and what they wanted.

Thenn. Of course.

Thenn who looked frightened behind Rani’s leg, by Kylo’s action, by Rani’s startled sound, and by the sheer panic that had erupted from Reveille, in spite of the expression on her face. It was almost as bad as when they first arrived on the Exigency, when Rani had burst into tears. She’d been so afraid then…and she was afraid now.

“No!” Rani snapped at him, even if it was pointless. Her grip on Thenn’s hand was almost painful to the girl, who squirmed a bit.

“He won’t hurt me,” Thenn said, “He won’t hurt her, either.”

It wasn’t Rani who laughed, but Reveille, disbelief apparent at that, but she stilled her tongue against the question of what lies he’d told the girl. Of who he was trying to be, and why. He was ridiculous with the glasses on, but no more ridiculous than her own pink hair. The laughter was all she could manage to do to keep from freezing up completely, or doing something even stupider, even as the seconds ticked by and caused her panic to mount.

“Right?” Thenn spoke over the laughter anyways, “Right, Kylo? You won’t?”

~***~

“Yes, I do,” Karn answered Lavinia’s question, and then sighed. The markings weren’t stripes and he was trying not to humor the droid’s delusionals. “I’ve told you, stripes on droids are intentional.”

The droid immediately went through a list of animals with stripes, “Yeah – yeah I know – but you’re not biological, are you?”

Stabbity saw nothing in the definition that meant it couldn’t be stripes, and Karn threw up his hands, and then noted Lavinia’s return with the cleaning supplies. He would move, rather slowly, but it was done intentionally, to take a rag and a can of the cleaning spray solution. He could start with Stabbity and then move onto the other droids.

“Really though, what kind of paint job would work to mask these guys?” He asked, as he went over to Stabbity to help the droid get cleaned up. “I don’t know how Uptown droids look,” that wasn’t the proper name for the area, but he didn’t exactly care.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo settled a firm hand on Reveille’s shoulder, silently daring her to move. His eyes narrowed at Rani as the twi’lek pushed Thenn behind her. As if protecting her from him. Funny.

His jaw clenched at the laugh that erupted from the woman beside him. Kylo wanted to snap at her for laughing, but he didn’t want to give Thenn any reason to doubt him. He wanted her to trust him.

“But they’ll hurt you. Think of what they did to your family.” They killed the Nightsisters who had been on the ship. He couldn’t feel their presence, and Thenn wasn’t with them. She was with Reveille and Rani. “I won’t hurt her if she doesn’t give me reason to.”

A threat. Don’t try anything on me or Thenn.

Since it appeared that Rani wouldn’t let the child go, Kylo had to approach in a different way. One that wouldn’t scare Thenn. He stared straight into Rani’s eyes. “You will let Thenn go.” He willed upon the Force to convince her mind to let go of Thenn.

~~

Lavinia’s smirk evolved into an actual smile at the continued exchange between Karn and his droid. It was almost endearing, in an odd way.

She knelt down beside the droid she had looked at earlier. Fortunately, it didn’t give back as much sass as Stabbity did, and it allowed Lavinia to start cleaning it.

“And that’s why you need me.” She didn’t look up at Karn as she spoke, instead concentrated on a particular rough spot on the droid’s shell. “Chrome or silver paint would work the best, but I know those tend to be the most expensive. Black paint will also work, and may help cover any particular rough spots better, but they’ll know the droids aren’t from the Uppercity. Fortunately, they can still easily be disguised as ones from the Middlecity.”

Some of the dirt and grime were easily wiped away, and already the droid she worked on looked better. “Once we determine how much we can change up their looks, I can better determine what kind of programing they’ll need, in case someone decides to snoop into their files.”

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Bullshit.’ Reveille could only keep laughing at Kylo’s declaration that he wouldn’t hurt her, under Thenn’s fierce little gaze. The child probably believed him, too. Reveille knew better than that, and she did gather herself a bit. Enough to stop laughing, before Kylo used that damned mind trick on Rani.

“I will let Thenn go,” and that was all Rani did, releasing her grip on Thenn’s hand. Thenn immediately ran over to where Kylo was and got behind him, as clarity started to return to Rani.

“Fantastic,” Reveille said sarcastically, “You can let me go now.” Reveille knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Just as she knew Kylo was lying about not hurting her. She hadn’t forgotten his message, and she was certain he wished death upon her, just as soon as he could manage it.

“Hey—wait give her—”

“Just run!” Reveille all but shouted at Rani, who took the hint.

After looking at Thenn, “Sorry,” her apology was to Thenn, for letting her fall in the hands of a monster, before turned to run. She’d at least alert people to what the hell was going on, and where, and what to look for.

~***~

Stabbity had plenty of rough spots that wouldn’t ever come out with a cleaning, but still, Karn made the droid shinier, before he would whistle for another droid to come forward so he could clean the droid off, as well.

The droids began to make a line over to the two humans to get shiny.

“Uh huh. And how are droids from Middlecity gonna be useful? Don’t we need them to like, get in the houses of the rich people, or something?” Karn asked, and briefly missed Reveille. The cadets all had their niches – they had to stay relevant. Schaeffer had been one hell of an assassin, Reveille had been one hell of a spy.

Hux, well, Hux was good at organizing.

Karn had his talents. Droids weren’t among them, but he was better at it than anyone else here. Perhaps not Lavinia, but that was to be seen. “At least that’s what I understood from Hux. We needed to use them to get information on the rich folk so we could take them down.”

 

[cleopat]

Thenn ran behind him, and Kylo placed a comforting hand on the top of her head, briefly stroking her hair before pulling it away. He scowled as he watched Rani run. With his free hand, he threw the wig and glasses to the ground.

No more use for the disguise.

“You’re coming with us for now,” he growled, shifting his grip to Reveille’s upper arm. With Rani gone and alerting everyone of his presence, keeping Reveille near him would eliminate at least one threat. “We just want to get off the ship.”

As he began in the direction of the nearest hangar, he looked back down at Thenn. “Stay close to me.” It probably needn’t to be said, but Thenn was a scared child.

He needed to help her.

~~

Lavinia finished up one droid and another one took its place in no time. She smiled at the line they had formed, as if they were actually excited by the prospect of a clean and shine. As if they each had their own personality.

Maybe they did.

She sighed with Karn’s questions. Of course he would doubt her, he didn’t know her aside from being a Resistance spy. “Because these elite will still associate with those of the Middlecity. Or, rather, tolerate them. Enough that there are many business dealings between the two areas.” People who lived in the Middlecity were still wealthy. They didn’t touch the ground. Therefore, they were deemed acceptable to associate with.

“Yes, that’s the basic of what we need them to do. Get them into where the absolute rich are.” But, the Uppercity was a large place. “Do you know if he has a specific area he was looking at getting them into?” If not, Lavinia could send him ideas. She knew many of the areas. Sometimes her family name, both her mother’s and father’s side of the family, came in handy with people like these.

 

[Lucyfer]

Thenn’s smile was nervous as Kylo reached down to touch her head, part because of what Rani had said, and more because of Reveille, who wasn’t being let go right then. Thenn bit her bottom lip, wondering if she should try and suggest it – but she didn’t.

Kylo told her to trust him. And so she would.

Reveille forced herself to take a deep breath. She didn’t want to move when he did, and there was an initial resistance to it that she couldn’t quite control; because she wanted control of the situation, but it was useless. She was pulled along, and then fell in step.

“Mmm.” Thenn nodded, agreeing with Kylo’s sentiment to stay near. She knew what could happen. They had killed others; they’d probably try to kill Kylo. That’s when it dawned on her, why Reveille was still with them. Why she was walking in front of Kylo.

That didn’t make Thenn more comfortable about the situation. The Tarkin would have still cut through Reveille to get to Kylo.

And she winced when she saw Reveille attempt to step on Kylo’s foot in walking forward. A petty, pointless act, but all the same…it was something. Something that might get her hurt.

~***~

Rani hadn’t quite known where to go, but she recalled where she left Valo and Rey – at their rooms. Temporary quarters, she supposed. She didn’t know if they would still be there, but she skid into the hallway all the same, and went to the first room, and pressed down on the comm besides it. “Rey! Valo! Kylo’s on the ship! He has Reveille!” Though she wouldn’t wait for a response.

She intended to dart to the next room, and repeat that same message, just in case.

And then wait only a few seconds before rushing off elsewhere. A mess hall. Training grounds.

Anything.

She remembered the last time. They had tried to stop Kylo with Stormtroopers and it failed. They’d probably try again, but Reveille might not be so lucky as to avoid being shot this time.

~***~

Business dealings didn’t sound like getting into the houses of the elites, but Karn didn’t, in truth, know if that was what Hux hoped for. Hux had only just started on these projects, and Karn didn’t think Hux knew exactly what was to be done with the droids, only that they could be useful.

Which, they could.

If used well.

“I don’t think Hux knows what to do with them yet,” Karn said, “He just knows spy droids are useful, and mouse droids can get most places while going ignored.” His logic was sound, the problem was that these mouse droids might go noticed because they wouldn’t look high-class enough.

Something Hux likely hadn’t fully considered just yet. “He doesn’t exactly understand class systems beyond his desire to, you know, destroy them.” So he was probably overlooking that issue, or else he was currently unaware of them.

They hadn’t been there that long, and mostly they’d attacked a few places to gain supplies and resources, not yet gain entry into the upper levels or learn about them.

 

[cleopat]

The attempt to step on Kylo’s foot proved to be amusing to him. With his boots, all he could feel was the slightest of pressures from her foot. His grip on her arm tightened ever so slightly, as he pushed her along.

“And here I thought you would’ve gotten smarter in our time apart. I guess the new hair color should’ve clued me in.” The red had suited her better, and it had matched her stubborn and fierce personality.

Along the way, Nyx had entered his thoughts. Of how the last time he disappointed her, he was left with a fiery reminder of how much more powerful she was.

And now, Kylo had disobeyed her orders. Flew to the Exigency to rescue Thenn and potentially other Nightsisters, who were dead. His neck burned with phantom pain of what could potentially happened when he returned.

His gaze shifted to the woman in his grasp. One of the main players of their current situation. Someone who was now working for the damned Resistance. If he brought her back to Nyx…

Thenn wouldn’t be happy with him. But Nyx may.

So far, they hadn’t run into any trouble, but his other hand lingered near his lightsaber. Kylo knew that would change soon. Very soon. “You’re going to help us get on a ship without any trouble, alright?”

~~

Rey and Valo had been in her guest quarters, discussing what would happen next for them and the Resistance. To think, that they were working with part of the First Order? And it didn’t escape their mind of what may happen after the Kylo incident was done.

Would the First Order and the Resistance return to their antagonistic dynamic? The First Order go back to their fascist ideals?

They were both startled out of their conversation by Rani’s frantic message. Kylo’s on the ship. He has Reveille.

They both hesitated a second, staring at each other wide-eyed, before the situation finally sunk in. They sprung to their feet, and after ensuring that all of their weapons were on them, Rey and Valo hurried out of the quarters.

~~

“It sounds like he needs some advice on how to use these droids for spying,” Lavinia murmured as she focused on a particularly difficult spot for a second. Finally satisfied, the droid beeped and rolled away, replaced with another.

She scoffed. Naturally, Hux didn’t exactly understand class systems. He just understood that they were bad and should be eliminated. “I understand these class systems quite well. I was born into the top and learned how to navigate the elite world.”

Even if that meant one particular embarrassing incident involving vomiting on a senator.

“Now if only he could stand my presence for more than five seconds,” she trailed off.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille was rather tempted to kick his knee just for the comment, but opted for words instead. She was always good at pissing him off with words. “At least I had no such expectations of you getting any better in our time apart,” Reveille answered dryly.

She didn’t want to help him.

As before, she would have been fine getting shot if it killed Kylo, as well. However, Thenn entered her thoughts. Perhaps she didn’t know her long, and had no reason to sacrifice for her, but she still didn’t enjoy the idea of a child being killed for no reason. She’d threatened Matja for it, and would have had Matja killed for it.

She couldn’t condemn Thenn. “Not for you,” was how Reveille answered Kylo’s statement, as they came to a hangar.

A hangar on full alert. Garmuth had at least seen to it that every hangar would be put on alert, and so multiple blasters were aimed at them immediately.

Thenn ducked behind Kylo. “Hold your fire!” Reveille hated the tremble in her voice, recalling a similar situation. One where she’d been taken onto a ship and dragged far from the Order. She’d nearly died there.

There was no help this time.

And there was hesitation from her soldiers. “He’s getting on a ship, and he’s leaving.” That should be it. Letting him leave was enough.

The weapons lowered, slightly.

“Thank you,” Thenn murmured quietly.

~***~

It wasn’t a surprise to Karn that Lavinia understood them. She had, after all, helped the General navigate them beforehand. Well, former-General. Ex-Supreme Leader. She could have probably helped him here, but, “Alas,” Karn spoke in a sing-song, breathy way, like a lover sighing, “You had to go and break his trust, so now he has you dirtying your hands with cleaning droids.”

Stabbity protested at his side, as he patted one droid and off it went, “You’re all dirty, seriously, that wasn’t an insult. That was meant literally. If it wouldn’t short-circuit you, I’d just dump you all in a large tub of bubbles.”

Stabbity reacted with alarm. “I know it would, that’s why I’m not doing it. Listen better.”

Still, Karn went on to add, “Look, he’s pragmatic. Eventually he’ll realize he can use you in his schemes, and he will, like he uses everyone. It’s what he’s good at.” Using people. “That’s why he got higher than the rest of us Cadets. At least, for a bit. So keep scrubbing and programming droids, and he'll realize you're being wasted. Once he's satisfied that you're, you know, trying to help. Maybe."

He shrugged.

"You did fuck us over with your help." That wasn't expressly true, but the revelation of what she was, had fucked things over. Mostly because 'Tel had been in on it. And then Reveille went off the deep end.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo scoffed. That was the best Reveille could come up with? Pathetic. “That’s your own fault.” He got better in certain ways. Some more training. Learning patience and diplomacy. His temper was still there, but he could control it better. Somewhat.

Not for you. Then for little Thenn. Good. At least she didn’t have a desire to kill Thenn.

Reveille had a compassionate side she didn’t like to show others. Like how she helped him calm down that one night after a particularly violent nightmare, softly stroking his hair until he fell back asleep…

But she wouldn’t do that again for him. He could feel her burning hatred. The Force had been cruel to show him that night again.

His hand clasped onto his lightsaber, but didn’t ignite it just yet. No one in the hangar attacked yet, due to Reveille’s shaky command. The weapons lowered, and Kylo led them over to the nearest ship, a shuttle that would be decent enough to transport them back to the Finalizer.

Rey grew closer. She was running. But she wouldn’t arrive in time. Not as Kylo led them, pulled Reveille, onto a ship, ensuring the ramp closed behind them.

~~

Lavinia frowned and lowered her head with the appearance of concentrating on the droid, while hiding the hurt that crossed her face. Not directed at Karn, but at the truth he spoke. She did violate his trust, after somehow building it up in the first place. If it could even be done, she had a lot to do to repair that trust.

Karn and Stabbity bantered, which brought an actual smile to her face. Even a light laugh. She wondered about the two. How long hav they been paired together? What happened to Stabbity to get those marks? And a fucking glued-on knife?

Then Karn began talking to her again. It’s what he’s good at. Using people. The connotations didn’t sit well with her, but she knew this about Armitage after working closely with him for over a month. He was practical and did what he had to to achieve his goals. Like now.

“And I want to try and fix things, but I know that may be impossible.” Nothing could fix what her reveal did. It couldn’t put Armitage back in charge of the First Order. It couldn’t negate the fact that Kylo Ren was back to leading. It couldn’t fix the friendship between Reveille and Kos’tel’lanni.

 

[Lucyfer]

There was a shuttle. It should have been easy enough to let him onto it, and leave – she wouldn’t shoot down the ship with Thenn in it. But of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy, stars no. She was pulled back, the door shutting and the ramp lifting before she could even pull back.

But she did.

Reveille immediately tried to pull forward, and to kick back with one foot at Kylo’s knee, this time to truly attempt to harm him.

“Kylo!” Thenn’s own voice held accusation in its tone. This wasn’t what she thought was going to happen, either. Perhaps they’d never said they would let Reveille go…but it had seemed a given. If they took her back, she was going to be hurt.

Reveille was at least able to get her hand on her vibroblade.

Thenn or not, she would cut Kylo to shreds if she could.

~***~

“It is,” Karn stated it as if it were fact. He could add that her desire to fix things may very well be the problem, but he wouldn’t. Armitage Hux was never one for personal relationship. Lavinia and Reveille had been two of his exceptions, if Lavinia could be called an exception.

Karn didn’t know. He just heard rumors.

But he knew Reveille had been, though the two of them had wanted the same things. Perhaps it wasn’t any exception – both of them had been similarly driven. There hadn’t needed to be a distinction between personal and business.

Perhaps now, though…now that would be tested, too. He heard the rumor that Reveille lived. Armitage didn’t seem to be interested in pursuing it. “But at least you’re doing something to better the galaxy, right? That’s what you rebels are all about, isn’t it?”

He didn’t care so much about that part.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo was aware of what Thenn may potentially think as he didn’t let Reveille go. He didn’t want to think about how upset she may be, but he couldn’t stop.

He would have to find a way to convince her that this would benefit both of them. Somehow convince her that Reveille will eventually leave, unharmed.

Even if he didn’t believe it.

Reveille’s attack was expected, and Kylo easily dodged her kick. “And here I expected more.” He did let her go, shooting her a look before he made his way to the cock pit.

He wouldn’t let his guard down with her so angry. Or, with her in the general area, and with Thenn in the same space. Kylo had the feeling that Reveille wouldn’t harm Thenn, but that wasn’t to be assumed.

As he thought about that, he glanced back at Thenn after starting the ship, and motioned her towards him. He wanted her near him.

~~

Lavinia hummed. “I’m trying.” That’s what they all wanted to do in the end, to save the galaxy, right? “My time in the First Order made me come to the conclusion that we’re all just trying to help the galaxy, because we want what’s best for it.”

But they had different ideas of how to achieve that.

She finished cleaning the last mouse droid, and looking up at their little group, all looked far better than when she had first stepped inside the warehouse. With a paint job, they would work well as little spy droids.

“Okay, who wants to be my test droid for new programming?” She didn’t actually expect any answers, or at least any differing answers between the droids. Maybe Karn was already getting to her.