Fandom Fight for Control [closed]

[Lucyfer]

Relief flooded Reveille as soon as the connection was broken, that painful strain of having thoughts pulled out of her head ending, even if the pain would linger a while yet. The headache never evaporated that quickly. She looked down at him as he all but collapsed.

He didn’t.

He shook, and he apologized, as tears fell to the floor. He seemed barely able to hold himself up, and Reveille wouldn’t deny the dark twist of satisfaction at seeing him this way. The truth broke him. ‘I want my whiskey.’ Because that bitter satisfaction wouldn’t hold long enough, and then she’d be back to facing the reality that she was destined to die here on this ship, because Kylo was serving Nyx.

Whiskey might at least let her find her anger again, and hold that to the end.

“Sorry doesn’t really help, does it?”

It wasn’t entirely meaningless. No, Reveille understood Kylo meant it, and she hated herself for feeling any ache. She wanted to hold to that satisfaction instead, but his apology was sincere. It killed some of that satisfaction. Not all, but…some. “Whiskey and pain pills will help, before I’m executed by Nyx now that you have your answers to your vision.”

She didn’t ask what it was, but somehow – she knew.

She had been important – and now that role was played.

~***~

“I can absolutely get some balloons, and some sparkling grape juice to make this a real party.” Karn offered, and Armitage stared at him. “What? Sparkling grape juice is legit, and I’m sorry you don’t know how to party sober, ‘Tage.”

Armitage just let out a long-suffering sigh. He didn’t know how to party anyways, but that was besides the point. He couldn’t imagine any party being enjoyable sober, let alone drunk. “Anyways,” he said, Millicent moving from behind him and going over to the droid, curiously.

They didn’t often come all the way out here.

So, of course, she had to sniff it.

“Debrief,” he directed, “What have we learned from the droid, and what was accomplished?”

 

[cleopat]

Kylo wouldn’t respond to Reveille’s bitter words for a few moments. His head pounded as his thoughts screamed at each other. His heart pounded with the adrenaline spike. His hands slowly stopped shaking, and only a few tears fell before he blinked back any more that threatened to spill.

“I know it won’t help.” Apologies could only help in certain situations. What he had done? He would need more than words. In a moment of unexpected desire, he yearned to bury his face on her lap and repeat the apology, over and over.

Kylo knew he was in the cell because Nyx desired for him to see how he could turn Reveille to their side. But did she ever expect the opposite to happen? That Reveille would be the one to change his mind?

Was this what the Force wanted him to see?

Look in your heart, Ben. You know what is true.

Ben. The voice called him Ben. And he didn’t lash out in anger.

He picked himself up from leaning on the floor. Still kneeling, he looked back at Reveille. Many emotions flickered across his face.

Confusion. Regret. Lost. Anger.

But not at Reveille. Anger at himself. Anger at Nyx.

“You won’t be executed by Nyx or anyone else. I’ll be sure of that.”

~~

Lavinia bit back a snort of amusement. It was neither the time nor the place, but Karn’s antics were entertaining for her. Armitage’s stare told a different story.

“I will need to first extract the information,” she crouched next to the droid with her datapad out. Millicent looked over at the human who joined them, and a low growl emitted from her throat at the familiar woman.

Lavinia stilled. “I don’t understand what I did to you,” she mumbled, going for the latch in the droid again. She remembered what she did to Millicent. She remembered that drunk night. She remembered the reaction that dress pulled.

The information projected into her datapad. She didn’t bother with the audio recordings, but instead went directly to their transcripts and the keywords the mouse droid picked up on. Her eyes scanned over the words with rapid speed.

“Well, it seems there’s some kind a rift between two of the more powerful families. You know, the ones that control the banks and trades.” She scanned the words a few more seconds, before her expression fell.

Of all the kriffing families…

She didn’t hear of how Karn got the droid into the Uppercity, but she did know of the families involved. “Of course it’s the fucking Madine family,” she mumbled.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo remained on his knees longer. He knew no apology would work, and emotions warred across his face. Reveille held that gaze, and tried to figure out where he’d fall. She expected anger. She always expected anger, though. He was going to deny her the whiskey. He was going to deny her everything and storm out.

Nyx would console him.

And—

‘What.’

Reveille arched a brow at his statement. “I’m not joining you, Kylo.” A statement of fact. Something that should have been obvious. “So I’m not sure what you have planned to keep me alive, unless Nyx enjoys having a long-term captive.” He was afraid of Nyx, too. So afraid he’d dragged Reveille here, and she would have to enjoy the fact that he’d live with her death haunting him.

She didn’t consider the alternative. She didn’t think her truth overrode all that Nyx offered. She hadn’t convinced him Nyx was evil, after all. He had wanted to deny that this entire time.

~***~

“Come here, Milli,” Karn said as he heard the cat hiss, and Millicent decided to leave off her investigation of the droid to go to Karn, who picked her up immediately, under the glare of Armitage. He had been working at bribing Millicent with treats to make her like him. It might be useful one day. It might not.

He knew it annoyed Hux, though, and that was enough.

Karn gave a small shrug at the mention of rifts. “That’s normal.” And he’d played on that normality. It was the addition that almost made him laugh. Obviously, he hadn’t mentioned much of anything to anyone, but the fact that Lavinia knew the name? Now, that was interesting.

“Who are the Madine?” Armitage asked. He looked briefly to Karn.

“Hey, I don’t know who they are, I just know they have a shiny thing they didn’t want to lose, and now they lost it. Whoops.”

Armitage sighed, and looked back down to Lavinia, expecting she could help a bit more with the ‘who’ in question.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo slowly shook his head, strands of his hair falling in front of his eyes. “I never said that.” No, he knew Reveille would never join with Nyx involved. And as the cloud lifted of who Nyx was, he wasn’t so sure if this was what he wanted either.

Still, his mind was conflicted.

“You won’t be a long-term captive, because you’ll be off this ship.” He would get her out, somehow. While he doubted any of the previous First Order-officers would alert Nyx of his escorting Reveille to the hangar, any Nightsister who saw or caught wind would, if Nyx didn’t figure it out first.

With the recent revelations of the truth she offered, he thought what she said about Nyx, and how it compared to what he desperately wanted to deny. But the incident in her quarters replayed in his mind.

Used. Manipulated. Just like Snoke, but with a different strategy.

~~

Lavinia became momentarily distracted when Millicent strolled off as Karn called for her. She briefly considered asking him for tips later on on how to get the cat to like her again. Even if it did annoy Armitage, as she surmised by the glare he sent Karn.

Attention back on the droid, she continued to skim the transcript while answering questions. “They are a very powerful family on Taris. Maybe the most powerful family, a title they fight over with the Solmans.”

Expecting a question on how she knew them, Lavinia added with a sigh, “I knew the youngest son of the Madines quite well.” She didn’t have to had in the fact that they were once in a very physical relationship.

She went silent for a few seconds, still reading, before she froze. Her eyes snapped over to Karn. “Do you know exactly what shiny thing was taken from them?”

Rich people loved their shiny things. They especially loved their shiny things that were priceless family heirlooms.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo intended to see her off the ship. Reveille held back the urge to laugh, and instead deadpanned, “Nyx will not be happy with this decision.” Nyx would probably hurt Kylo for the decision, if she let him live, “I’m not Leia Organa, but I did just orchestrate the loss of an entire ship to the Order, and likely ensure many Officers will be leaving her side. I do not imagine I’m a target she wants to lose anytime soon.”

Not to mention Nightsisters and Nightbrothers died at her hands; she proved competent to handle them when she had the Void on her. She wasn’t able to handle them without it, but released, she’d be a threat once again, and a dangerous one for knowing how the Order worked. How their ships worked. For the command she used to hold.

“You’re not that self-sacrificing, Ren.” A denial of what he wanted to do, a denial of what he would do. No matter how apologetic he was, he knew the consequences of releasing her would be severe. “And you should know by now how many cameras are around these ships.” There was one in that room, recording everything.

If Nyx wasn’t already alerted to the situation, she would be, very soon. Kylo would need to think of a cover story, fairly quickly.

~***~

Solmans and Madine. Armitage nodded, taking note of the important names. He’d heard Solman tossed around a couple of times. Madine was the one that Lavinia seemed more familiar with; apparently she’d been fucking the son. Armitage really didn’t need clarification on that point, though he wondered if it had been a sincere relationship or a lie of one. Given her current position in regards to Taris, he assumed a lie.

He really didn’t need to know, though.

Karn shrugged his shoulders at the question thrown his way, “Just some family heirloom of nearly impossible to find stone that would be missed terribly if it were lost which some heir left on a nightstand after showing off at a gala,” he said it all so casually, “Why, what’s up?” He sounded ridiculous.

Armitage managed not to smile. It was a bit of a difficult task. Karn’s ability to find precious things and move them were still good, it seemed. Armitage suspected Karn of seeing multiple officers dead for owning illegal contraband or spice in the Order, or moving other things about, but as always, he’d never been able to prove it.

He still knew exactly which Cadet Karn had seen to his death, though.

 

[cleopat]

No, Nyx will not be happy. Kylo frowned as he considered the potential. It would be of a great risk for him, but he didn’t see immediate death for him should Nyx catch him. He saw torture at her hands in hopes that she could “fix” him.

And he saw prolonged torture followed by a painful death for Reveille, if Nyx didn’t get her way.

Kylo’s gazed traveled to the camera in the room which recorded their every movement and utterance of betrayal. Even if it was hidden, the Force guided him to its location, and he considered what should be done next. “Yes, many cameras,” he mused.

He stood to his full height and looked back down at Reveille. “Then I suppose we’ll need to hurry then, won’t we? I know you don’t want to stay in here forever, until Nyx has further use for you.”

~~

Lavinia sighed. She fought the urge to facepalm, as well as the thought to hit Karn upside his head. “I didn’t quite think that is what we would be doing to get our little spy droid up there.”

The droid in question beeped. “Yes, that is you. And you’ve done a great job.” She patted its new chromium casing, and it whirled in pleasure.

Which some heir left on a nightstand. That sounded exactly like something the eldest son would’ve done, in Lavinia’s mind. The entire family was narcissistic, selfish, and played into the stereotype of elite families quite well. But the amount of power they held made them dangerous.

“But I expect a bit of a civil war to break out between those two families as a result of this incident.” She focused back on the information the droid collected. “It’s just a matter of who they decide to drag into their mess with them. They’re not exactly the most subtle of families.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo Ren understood what Reveille was getting at, only too well. He didn’t reach out to destroy the camera. That would make things obvious, if it wasn’t already. He didn’t seem terribly concerned about his own fate right then, either.

Her mistrust remained at the forefront, though. In spite of how he broke, she didn’t trust that he wanted what was best for her. Not in the least. ‘Any ship I take will be tracked, and I have nowhere to run.’ The Resistance would be gone from Bespin.

She could perhaps go to Takodana, but she imagined Nyx would dare to pursue there, and then that world would be lost. Not that she’d take a First Order ship to Takodana, but…, ‘Terex. You can still find Terex. Somehow.’ She had some information memorized. Terex could find the Resistance, or get her to Takodana, where Maz could.

Hesitantly, she rose to her feet. No matter the lack of trust, she had to take the opportunity, didn’t she? Even if there was a nagging fear that he was only leading her out to betray her, only to show her how pointless it was to even think of hoping – she still, stupidly, hoped. She didn’t speak. She just gave a nod.

She’d follow him out. Follow him to where he led, and…hope.

~***~

Karn was more than pleased with this, even if Lavinia didn’t seem happy. Armitage, at least, had known to expect it. “In-fighting seems like it can only serve our purposes if it remains in the upper echelons,” Armitage said.

Karn nodded. That had, of course, been his plan. Weaken them through in-fighting, dry up their resources in attempts to figure out how it was done. “I can work on making them think plenty of other families are out to get them, with some guidance of your understanding of the families, Lavinia,” Karn noted, “Or we can take this another route,” he offered with a mild shrug. “I can get just about anywhere.”

A small reveal.

There was little need to reveal more. He couldn’t act as an elite, but he could blend in among servants and the like fairly well to get where he was needed. He’d done well in taking up guises in the Order because Stormtroopers were easy to impersonate, and everywhere, but it wasn’t so hard to impersonate other staff, either. Just officers, really.

Armitage considered debating Karn’s deference, but opted not to. They were here to topple the elite system. “What do you think would be a good way to move to work the Uppercity and its oh-so noble families into their demise?” He hardly cared for making allies among any of the families. He’d start multiple civil wars in their ranks if all it took was stealing the right little trinket and misplacing it.

That was easy.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo could’ve sighed in relief when Reveille agreed to follow him without any more fuss. He did breathe out, “Thank you,” and ignored that he ever said that.

The blaster door slid open before him, and before he could step out, he maneuvered Reveille to step in front of him. Almost immediately, a pair of stormtroopers patrolling the hallways came from around the corner, gave him a subtle nod, and continued on their route.

Releasing a sigh, Kylo nodded his head. “Okay, this way.” He only hoped his brief escape plan would work, and that Nyx didn’t notice anything until it was too late for her.

He sought out a different hangar to depart the ship in. All he needed was to get inside a ship. The rest, leaving the star destroyer, evading any attacks, would be easy for him. And he needed one more person to join them, yet he knew he didn’t have much time to go look for her. So Kylo reached out in the only way he knew how in the moment.

Thenn, please try and come to Hangar B-3. Don’t tell anyone. If you don’t know how to get there, just feel for me. Reach for me. I know you can do it.

A small rescue plan to find Thenn wasn’t ideal, but he would do it if he had to.

~~

“If, if it remains in the upper echelons,” Lavinia couldn’t help but to emphasize under her breath. She had little hopes that they wouldn’t try and drag everyone into their ‘little’ squabble. Egos were certainly big enough.

But apparently most of that had been the idea to begin with.

“We can create a bit of turmoil between them all, but we would need to prepare for the absolute worst if they decide to take this fighting outside of their little elite sphere.” She had looked up from scrolling through the information, her attention now fully diverted.

Lavinia shrugged. “Really, a lot of seemingly shallow moves should plant the seeds. Misplaced invitations, rumors of an heir or heiress sleeping with a servant is always a fun one, continued thievery of valuable items.” The elite lived in a world of their own, and it was the similar actions of the Core worlds that Lavinia grew up to despise.

She considered a moment, before scrolling through the datapad for something in particular. “I remember scanning over something that mentioned a party being thrown later this week. Someone’s birthday, but that’s not important. Having eyes inside that party may be beneficial, so we can see what the gossip relating to their heirloom is.”

 

[Lucyfer]

At the sight of the Stormtroopers, Reveille was certain everything was over. They’d call out and inform Nyx that she was out of her cell, and that’d be the end of it. However, instead of that, she caught a nod. She tried not to puzzle over that, whether it was their general acceptance of whatever the Force sensitives did, or some sign of approval, some recognition of Kylo’s act against Nyx.

Either way, they continued on, and Reveille asked no questions. She just followed all the way to the hangar – different from the one they came in on, but still a familiar sight. There were enough ships, and her eyes moved to the TIEs. She could maneuver one of those easily enough, and she remained blissfully unaware of Kylo’s plan to leave, as well.

She expected him to stay with his new Snoke and face the consequences for this, why, she didn’t know.

That thought was shattered by the sound of rushing feet, and Thenn’s appearance – and on her trail, Zeme’lodi’csapla…and then Nyx, although Nyx was walking, apparently not quite part of that duo. “Thenn where are y—” Zeme’lodi’csapla fell silent as she realized where she was, and who else was there.

Her lightsaber flew into her hand, but she didn’t ignite it, as Nyx continued to walk forward until she was at Discord’s side – and Thenn had reached Kylo, blissfully unaware of the situation as always, but sensing the tension. She paused in front of him, “What’s going on?”

“I would like to know that myself,” Nyx answered calmly, briefly eying Reveille before letting her gaze move to Kylo Ren, “What are you doing?” She knew this wasn’t some misunderstanding – but she also knew Thenn was right in the middle of it, with the potential to pull Kylo one way or another.

~***~

Armitage didn’t seem terribly concerned about it spilling over, for he commented it, “We are already at war with them. Their petty affairs have already spilled over into the Middle and Lower cities. I anticipate that their death throes will be much the same, only that they will be unaware.” Those beneath them could indeed pick sides in their war, but it would only be to make sure the stronger of them was weakened.

And when there was one group left?

They’d be destroyed easier.

It was another reason he wasn’t terribly surprised to see that Karn’s actions had potential to stir something up that would be so violent. At the mention of a birthday party, he nodded. “We shall make sure that a few end up there to gather rumors of weak spots and rivalries among the elites,” he agreed. It seemed that this little droid had handled itself well. At a party, they would do better, “Karn, you’ll go in as staff. Lavinia, you can assist if you’d like by going, if you can find a role that will get you through the doors.” He wouldn’t suggest one in her case; she may be able to go in as a guest, rather than as staff, and he wouldn’t interfere with that with some petty suggestion.

Then again, her former relationship may also prevent her appearance.

 

[cleopat]

The sound of rushing feet drew Kylo’s attention to whoever was behind him. He froze and turned on his feet, and while he experienced initial relief to see Thenn running towards him, Discord and Nyx behind her were not welcomed sights.

Kylo lightly pushed Thenn behind him. He knew the manner in which he answered the question would be vital for what happens next, so he didn’t answer immediately. Silence lingered in the palpable tension. Without an additional word, Kylo grabbed his lightsaber, but didn’t ignite it. Instead, his hand lingered at his side, unmoving.

“I am doing what you told me to do,” he answered. “I am seeing what the Force has been trying to tell me.” And if that meant venturing far away from Nyx, while ensuring Thenn was in his safety, then so be it.

~~

Armitage had a point that Lavinia nodded to. He was right. There wasn’t much more they could lose, but still so much more for the elites to lose. And they would be too absorbed in their own self-interests to notice their own downfall.

A sheepish expression crossed her face when he suggest for her to assist Karn. Well, there was one way she could still get physically involved alongside Karn. “That would require going as myself. They know my face up there, but therein lies one more issues.”

If she were to go up there, she would need to look the part. “The clothes I’m wearing wouldn’t exactly fit in their society on a normal day, but a party?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “So unless you have access to an appropriate dress, I will have to stay down here.”

With the right equipment, Lavinia could probably steer Karn into the right direction, if he were to masquerade as a servant up there, but there laid enough potentially issues with that, should something go wrong.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Oh we are fucked.’ Reveille didn’t have a second thought, although as Thenn was moved behind Kylo, she reached for Thenn’s hand, and found it easily enough, the girl stepping back to join Reveille as Kylo pulled his lightsaber into his hand.

He didn’t ignite it.

He didn’t need to, in order to send his message. ‘Now we see what Nyx really is.’

Kylo was defying her in the open.

Nyx took a few steps forward, ahead of Discord, who ignited her saber, though Nyx’s remained unlit. Her gaze never wavered from Kylo. “I believe you will have to be more specific than that, Kylo Ren.” She lifted one hand, but the Force didn’t move against Kylo. It moved against Reveille, constricting her airflow in an instant, “And talk fast,” Nyx sounded almost amused as Reveille dropped Thenn’s hand, more concerned with squeezing it too hard before both of her hands went to her throat.

For however useless that gesture was.

“Nyx! Please – you can’t –”

“She remains our enemy, Thenn,” Nyx reminded calmly, “and she seems to have poisoned Kylo’s mind.”

Thenn looked between them, uncertain, unsure, and increasingly anxious as Reveille tried to keep her feet even under the pressure of the hold.

~***~

“I can probably steal a dress fancy enough,” Karn answered. He knew only too well that Armitage wouldn’t be willing to come off the money to pay for a dress that would fit in up in that society. “So many elites not wanting to re-wear a thing, I’m sure they won’t even notice,” he gave a smirk, “Just say the word, and let me know the measurements, and I can do it.”

It was then that Millicent apparently had enough of him, for she squirmed in his grip and he set Millicent down. She went back to Armitage, purring around his legs, but he ignored the cat entirely.

He would nod to Lavinia, “Would you prefer that, or would going as yourself still be too much trouble, overall?” He did not know for certain, and would assume, in this case. If it helped them, all the better. He already knew he couldn’t go up that way. His face was known there already, as was his stance, and he wasn’t going to be working in any disguises any time soon.

It wasn’t his role, or his skill.

Minka might have managed, but likely not. Her personality would clash too terribly, even as a servant.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo’s hardened gaze focused on Nyx, and eyes narrowed as she spoke. Her hand lifted, and Kylo expect pain to erupt on him somewhere, but it didn’t. For a split second, he wondered what it was she was doing, when in an instant, his mind flew to the woman behind him.

His head snapped over to look at Reveille, who grasped on her throat in some futile attempt for air. His jaw tensed, eyes ablaze with fury directed at Nyx.

“Will you accept any answer I give you?” His tone was bitter as he looked back over at Nyx. “I should have known that you are no different than Snoke,” he spat the name. “Manipulation tactics were all you were relying on to gain your following.”

The lightsaber was still unlit, though firmly clasped in his grip. The other hand reached out and aimed a violent push of air in her directions, in an attempt to distract her away from Reveille. In the next second, Kylo ignited his saber and took a step closer to Nyx.

~~

Lavinia nodded. Karn was right; many of them never dared to wear the same dress again. Wasteful. All of them, so wasteful. “Okay, yeah, I can send you my measurements.” Like hell I will say them out loud. “Color red or green, if possible,” she added as an after thought.

Ultimately, Lavinia knew to be happy with whatever they can get their hands on, but she slowly grew to understand Karn’s abilities. She had faith he could get exactly what she wanted, if he wanted to.

The cat caught her attention as she wriggled free of Karn’s grasp and strolled back over to her owner.

Lavinia shrugged. “It shouldn’t be too much trouble. I can easily find an excuse as to why they hadn’t seen me in some time.” Would they still gossip? Undoubtedly, but she believed she could still navigate their world with the knowledge she held and the names she was attached to.

There was also the matter of how much she could stand being near the youngest Madine son.

 

[Lucyfer]

Discord was the one to lift her hand and put a barrier between Kylo’s attempt to push Nyx and Nyx herself, saber seeming to flare with her use of the Force, the same way her red eyes did. Nyx merely looked disappointed, but with a twist of her wrist, Reveille was released.

Reveille dropped then, catching herself with one hand, while the other remained around her throat. Thenn went to her side, but as she reached out, Nyx spoke, “Touch her, and I will consider you with her, Thenn.”

Thenn hesitated, and Thenn stepped back. Reveille didn’t blame the confused child, and wouldn’t have wanted the touch, anyways. “She spared you because you were a child, Thenn. That is as far as her compassion goes. You can see already that she’s confused and poisoned Kylo Ren’s mind, turning him against us.”

“Not me,” Thenn murmured. He had called her there, but why?

“No, because your youth remains your strength and your weakness, Thenn.” Discord noted. She was malleable. Impressionable. “Come on – we need to leave,” Discord invited, but Nyx shook her head.

“No. She needs to see some reality.” Nyx said. “Kill Reveille.” Nyx ordered Discord, before fire would ignite from her fingertips, forming that familiar whip again rather than taking a lightsaber into her hand.

~***~

Karn considered telling Lavinia she’d get brown and she’d like it, but he wouldn’t. He knew she had to look good to fit in there, and red or green would do a better job of it. Green, probably. Red was a bit much, even among people like this. Red was a bit much everywhere. Probably why redheads were so extra.

As Lavinia added, Hux nodded. So, she wasn’t a known associate of Tanis or Borran then. That was useful. “Good. Then both of you will prepare for this birthday party. Karn, you’ll secure the necessary dress for Lavinia, and whatever you need,” he didn’t know if there would be a uniform, but Karn would find out.

“Solid. It’ll be done, then.” Karn said, then to Lavinia, “Anything else we should know?” from the droid, or what she knew about the Uppercity and those who were going to be destroyed en masse soon. “I mean, I know we don’t need to create some elaborate fake relationship here, but you know, just in general.”

“When was the last time you were here?” Armitage decided to interject that question; that could have an influence on how useful some of what Lavinia knew, was.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo didn’t waver his gaze from the Nightsisters in front of him, but his next words were directed towards Thenn. ‘”They’re the ones who have been poisoning you, poisoning us. Manipulating and using us for what we can do, for what our names are attached to.” His grandfather, Thenn’s own family history.

At the order, he scowled. “Like hell you will,” he muttered. While his lightsaber still lit, Kylo allowed the Force to guide him in his next move. His other hand remained extended, except this time he focused on Discord, although he wouldn’t completely divert his attention from Nyx. She still could have something else planned while he was distracted.

He moved the Force in the air in front of and surround Discord slower. He recalled Nyx’s recent teachings and sought to use them on her other apprentice, and even if he could fully utilize it, he hoped to cause some delay with Discord.

Hurt a hair on Thenn or Reveille, and you will get a taste of my full fury.

~~

Lavinia put her datapad away and lightly patted the droid in a silent thanks before stretching to her feet. The birthday party seemed to be their next target, and she could imagine the fun that they would have there. I will need to teach Karn a few things.

She scoffed. Elaborate fake relationship, sure. “You will need to be taught a few things of how servants should act and are treated up there, but I think the most important things is to not let what anyways says to you get to your head.” She looked at him, eyebrow raised in expectations of his manners.

Armitage’s voice drew her attention back to him. “It’s been a little over two years. Much could have happened, or nothing at all. I guess I will figure out more at the party.” A light shrug. There was always the chance they wouldn’t even accept her back in their circle, but if she could find the youngest Madine son, Lavinia was certain she could charm her way back.

He was always enticed by pretty words and a pretty face.

 

[Lucyfer]

Nyx’s gaze burned as Kylo spoke, poisoning Thenn against her, but her expression didn’t flicker to anger. That disappointment remained the core of it, and she was not at all surprised that Kylo went to slow Discord first. It would be a temporary setback, but it was action enough for Nyx to act against him.

He moved first, defending an enemy.

And Nyx would cast her empty hand across the air, intending to slow Kylo as well, before she would rush forward and flick the whip to entwine him in its burning grasp around the neck. To pull him down from his natural height to the proper place on his knees. She hadn’t yet determined if she’d kill him, or try to show him how he was wrong – but her intent wasn’t to kill just yet.

Certainly to mark him, though. The fire would not be so generous this time if it touched him.



Reveille didn’t turn to help Kylo. She understood the futility of that, and knew getting to her feet was miracle enough. Kylo had bought her time in…whatever he did to Discord, and she wouldn’t squander it. “Thenn, will you come with me?” She asked, urgency in her tone.

Thenn sensed that. She sensed the urgency all around, and though she didn’t know what to do, what was right, she nodded, and Reveille cast her eyes around the hangar. She caught sight of a ship she knew, the Avadora, belonging to an Agent. She sprinted for it, knowing she could override most of its commands easily enough, but not exactly having time.

She seemed to have time enough to scan her hand on the pad and open the door. Thenn ran in, as Discord finally got herself free of the slow by hastening the Force within herself.

Not how Nyx would have taught it, but it worked.

Seeing the door open, and not wanting to fail her own command, Discord hurled her lightsaber in an attempt to strike Reveille before she’d end up behind the door of the ship.

~***~

“I assume it’s terrible? It’s definitely treated terrible,” Karn wasn’t going to be bothered by that. He’d been treated like shit most of his life, after all. It wouldn’t phase him. Lavinia hardly needed to warn him. “But I guess I should know how they expect their asses to be kissed so I don’t mess that up and get kicked out early.”

He wasn’t anticipating anything more than that.

They didn’t know who he was, besides a potentially inept servant.

And Lavinia wouldn’t be involved in his side, so even if he messed it up royally, at least she’d still be involved, in spite of missing a couple of years. He was starting to think she really hadn’t been with the Resistance long at all. ‘And they threw her into the Order.’

Hux came upon the same conclusion, right or wrong, as Lavinia indicated it had only been a couple of years. She could have been with the Resistance at that time, he supposed, but he didn’t fully believe it. He nodded. “Understood. Just so long as you both come back with information relevant to the mission, and not useless gossip.”

“I’ll come back with useless gossip if I want,” Karn said, and at Hux’s look, he raised his hands, “Buuuuut I’ll go get a pretty dress first. Can I go?”

“Yes.” Armitage had no more use for Karn. His lessons with Lavinia would take place later, Armitage hardly needed to be present for those.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo caught the movement Nyx’s hand, and he felt the slow of the Force before she moved to lash out at him with the fire whip. The disability prevented him from protecting himself before the burn wrapped around his neck. His hissed from the pain, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about the two behind him.

The two who were in trouble.

He willed the Force around him, to bring it back under his manipulation. As he felt Discord move, he reached out for the first shipment container he could find by way of the Force. Instantly, he threw it in the path of the lightsaber to give Reveille and Thenn more time.

Thenn, listen to me. I may not be able to make it out with you two. Go with Reveille. You can trust her. She will take you to someone who will help you.

He dropped to his knees. Kylo wanted to leave with them, but he knew his odds against a more powerful Sith were slim. Gasping, he grasped onto the fire whip with one gloved hand, grimacing as the fire burned through the leather. He tried to will a break in the whip, to see if he could slow the Force creating the flames and extinguish them.

~~

“It’s definitely terrible.” That Lavinia couldn’t deny. “But please know that I may say some regrettable words to you, and it will only be part of the act for them. Nothing more.” She would explain in greater detail later, but even if she didn’t quite know Karn or what to make of him, she still wanted to emphasize that bit to him.

She didn’t want to insult or hurt him in any way, but she knew there was a certain image that she had to maintain while there.

Lavinia bit back a smile with Karn’s antics. Most of what they overhear would be idle gossip, but a lot of it could be translated to something useful. That’s how they worked. That’s how they spoke.

Eyes eyes followed Karn, and once he was out of sight, she looked back at Armitage. “Do you need me for anything else?” She still held the distinct impression that he didn’t want her in his presence any longer than was necessary, and so she imagined he would want her to leave soon.

 

[Lucyfer]

The lightsaber lodged into the crate, but Discord pulled it back easily enough, not halting her approach of the ship. Reveille was able to get on, and draw the door up.

But she wasn’t leaving without the idiot.

And she could tell Thenn wasn’t, either, as she rushed to the viewport at the front of the ship, “She’s hurting him.”

“I know,” Reveille glanced around, but saw nothing useful immediately. Except that Thenn had a lightsaber. “Can I see that a moment? Your lightsaber?”

“Huh? Oh…why?”

“To help Kylo.”

Thenn’s brows knit together. “Are you going to hurt them?”

“It’s better than people dying, isn’t it?” There was a hiss at the door, and Reveille knew that Discord was there, trying to just burn through it. Something Reveille couldn’t afford. Losing that door meant the ship would not be flyable.

Thenn hesitated, almost too long, before she took her smaller saber from her side and tossed it to Reveille. Reveille caught it, pressed the button on the side of the ship, and watched Discord stagger forward in surprise as the solid door vanished – and staggered into a red lightsaber as Reveille ignited it, impaling Discord on it.

Whether it was fatal or not, Reveille, admittedly, didn’t care. It was startling, it was wounding, and she was able to shove Discord off the ramp. “KYLO REN GET YOUR ASS ON THIS SHIP, NOW!”



Nyx’s flame wasn’t impacted by Kylo. The flame was to her as life itself, her most trusted ability, and Kylo’s attempt was not yet honed enough to make it so much as flicker. She meant to pull him down as he grasped the whip, but was caught by surprise by pain.

Not physical, but a cutting pain all the same. Her gaze left Kylo Ren as she saw over his shoulder that Discord had been impaled by a lightsaber, and fallen.

It was a moment – but perhaps moment enough – and the fires weakened as the pain registered that she was losing Discord if she didn’t act, and act quickly.

She could save her, or she could end Kylo Ren where he stood with the rage that was accompanying that pain – but first, she stalled.

~***~

Karn just waved off Lavinia’s warning as he left, not concerned with how she would or wouldn’t act. He was still certain he’d dealt with worse, and from sincere individuals. Though, he supposed, he may still carry a grudge with him after all was said and done. He’d see.

Armitage let him go without further word, and he was inclined to do the same with Lavinia even before she spoke.

“No, I have no further need of you presently,” Armitage noted, “You should begin to prepare whatever notes you need for Karn,” though Karn would behave appropriately, of that, Armitage was certain. He could handle most any situation – but there was a reason he wasn’t being tossed up into the higher ranks.

Karn had his limits.

He couldn’t play to those roles. He did subservient much better, even if it was as much a lie as anything else. He was just always better at picking up cues and running with them, when people underestimated him.

 

[cleopat]

If he thought about it later, Kylo would chastise Reveille for not leaving when she could have easily done so, but he couldn’t find it in himself to argue when she provided the perfect opportunity for his escape.

The Master had a connection with her true apprentice, and he saw his opening when Nyx felt the same pain Discord had in that moment. Then, an action that caused a huff of laughter from him, Reveille screamed for him. In subsequent motions, Kylo slashed at the fire whip with his ignited lightsaber and used the Force to shove Nyx away in her stalled state.

In the moment, Kylo rushed over to the ship, all while yelling out at Reveille, “CLOSE THE RAMP!” He would make it in time, but if they waited until he was on the ship, it may be too late.

Once he was close enough, Kylo would lengthen his strides before jumping into the ship and rolling on the floor, a light grunt of pain accompanying his actions. “Ow.”

~~

Lavinia nodded, a bit disappointed there wasn’t something else that would keep her around. “Of course,” she nodded, and turned to make her way back to the barracks so she could begin planning their next step.

Nibbling on her lower lip, she hesitated in her first step. Armitage’s body language didn’t scream total contempt towards her, in her opinion. Should I risk it…?

After reaching her own conclusion, Lavinia turned back around to face the red head, but she didn’t take any additional step towards him. Millicent regarded her suspiciously, but didn’t make any discontent growl in her direction.

“How are you doing, sir?” She’d let the old formality slip out from habit as a result of how the man simply acted in her eyes. Ever the Supreme Leader he was once.

That she had taken from him.

Lavinia could feel her mouth drying up a bit at her own nerves. She opted to expand on her broad question, but she would first see how Armitage responded.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo moved. He had opportunity to, and Reveille dropped the lightsaber into the ship as she turned and rushed for the cockpit, slamming the button besides the door before making her way up. Thenn stayed where she was, caught between watching the viewport and Kylo Ren – watching Nyx get knocked back, and the ship rise.

As soon as Kylo was in, however, her attention was fully on him as he rolled into the ship shortly before the ramp and the door were lost, his escape gone. “Kylo!” She moved to where he fell and threw her arms around his shoulders; his position on the ground afforded her the opportunity, before she began to cry.

She didn’t know what was going on.

But she was being taken away from someone who had acted as her mother, and from Discord. But they had hurt Kylo. And none of it made any sense to her – except that somehow Reveille Hux was involved, but that made less sense.

Reveille didn’t pass a look back at them, just heard the thud of Kylo on the ship and accepted that.

The coordinates were already in the ship, and it shot off into lightspeed, to go to Ando Prime, where they could ditch the ship and get another.

~***~

Armitage had been prepared to return to his office as soon as Lavinia turned away. He had started to himself, but paused as he saw she didn’t continue on. She stopped, and spoke to him instead.

‘Let’s see, I’m still not back in the Order, my sister faked her death, and I am dealing with an ill-equipped army against corruption with traitors and people who would slit my throat for a corn chip.’

“Fine.” That was the standard lie. “We’re making progress here. That’s all that matters,” he was reminded of Lavinia referring to him as a coward for such things, but he forced himself not to dwell on that, even if he braced for it. “I do appreciate your assistance, Lavinia. Yours, and the others. I understand it is not on ideal circumstances, but nonetheless, it is appreciated.”

Even if he’d rather see Kos’tel’lanni far from here.

Once they were able to ‘liberate’ a ship, they could be on their way.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo grunted when he felt a small body launch into his, but he didn’t have the heart to push her away. Not when pain radiated in his body from the fire whip. Not when he felt her tears begin to soak into his tunic.

Silently, he wrapped his arms around Thenn and slowly sat up, carefully readjusting the child so she could sit in his lap. He could only imagine how she felt in the moment, the confusion she felt between the only other woman she had known and the man she grew to trust.

He himself had many thoughts swirling around his mind. What was truth for him, and what was pure manipulation on the part of others? There was one thing he knew, and that Reveille had believed in him in the beginning.

Which hurt way worse than any damage a fire whip could inflict.

His hands still soothed the crying child. “Thank you,” he aimed towards Reveille, though his voice was hoarse. There was a scar around his neck from where Nyx’s whip had touched.

~~

Lavinia bit back the initial retort her mind blurted out. You’re lying, like you do to everyone else, don’t you? That would get her nowhere. In fact, in may even get her a few steps backwards.

And they weren’t kind words. She had to do better.

“I know there’s more to it, but I also recognize that I am not in a position to pry any further.” She already treaded on thin enough ground. “I am not in a position to do anything, except what you need done.”

There was a soft mew next to Armitage. Millicent seemed to agree with her words.

Her hands moved in a self-embrace. In a flicker of a second, her thoughts moved to the night they had shared a hug in a moment of vulnerable comfort. “And I will do anything in my power to help you go where you want to do.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille heard Kylo’s words of gratitude, but she would not respond to them. This was, probably, one of the stupidest things she had done. What was she supposed to do with Kylo Ren at this point? Obviously, they’d all get off at Ando Prime, but then what? Taking him to Leia seemed…incorrect. At least not without a warning.

She didn’t even know how to find Leia.

She knew how to find Terex.

Rather than comment on his gratitude, she said, “We’re going to Ando Prime. We can split ways there, if you like,” perhaps that would solve all of it. Kylo may not want to follow her any further; there was likely quite a bit for him to sort out. However, she didn’t make it a command.

Leia would be wroth with her if she commanded Kylo to stay away when there was hope she might see her son again.

Thenn didn’t really stop crying. It would likely be a while before then – or else she’d cry herself to sleep first. At least it had quieted a little, but she was still desperately clinging to Kylo and crying into him.

~***~

Armitage’s gaze narrowed as Lavinia began to presume knowledge she didn’t have. Incorrect, or not, it was dangerous territory and he was hardly in the mood to discuss anything deep with her. His look said enough. He wasn’t certain if it was the look, or if she had already determined to backtrack before it crossed his face.

Either way, he was still annoyed by her conclusion. ‘Then why don’t you leave?’

Rather than ask that, he stated, “No, you won’t,” he said it flatly. She may not be a rebel, but she also wasn’t First Order. “I’ll see you on your way soon enough, at the latest by the time Taris is relieved of its current regime. Then you will have a ship and you can continue doing whatever it is you prefer to be doing.”

He didn’t trust that either she, or Kos’tel’lanni, had any investment in his growth beyond desires to find redemption through his approval of it. Kos’tel’lanni had lain that bare early, and he intended to deny her. Kos’tel’lanni’s betrayal of Reveille was enough for him to remain bitter until the end of his days.

If only for Reveille’s sake.

Even if he didn’t know where they stood with each other, and didn’t want to find out, either.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo kept his arms around Thenn, one hand gently rubbing her back and the other softly stroking her hair. He didn’t know what else to do with a crying child. What words could he say that would provide any relief?

But he didn’t focus on that after Reveille had told him her plans. Ando Prime. They could part ways, which didn’t settle with Kylo right. “We’ll stick together for now,” he decided.

It may be a decision Reveille will disagree with, but she offered, and Kylo needed more time to think of what he would do next. He was without guidance and without the structure of the First Order.

Some part of him figured that he would end up with Leia. Can I go back? Can I bear the look of disappointment on her face? A weary sigh, and his grip slightly tightened around the distraught girl.

~~

His look said enough for her. Armitage held his stance on her, and she wondered if it would ever change, despite everything she did. Perhaps not.

Perhaps she was merely being foolish, as her mother’s words echoed in her mind.

A flash of hurt flickered across her face before she smoothed it over. “You would place a galaxy between us, wouldn’t you?” Lavinia knew she didn’t want to hear his answer. “Damn shame I won’t wish the same.”

She turned around with every intention of leaving his sight. “I’ll leave you alone now. We’ll talk more later when we need to debrief for the party.” And that would be the entirety of her future interactions with him, wouldn’t it? Strategies and tactic talks.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille Hux had two distraught Force-sensitive children on a stolen First Order vessel, and nothing to protect herself if one of them decided to snap. It wasn’t the best situation, but it could be worse. She could be dead. Though she knew Kylo was wounded just by the sound of his voice, she didn’t go look for first aid.

They’d reach Ando Prime soon, and Thenn didn’t need to be disturbed with that truth now. On the next ship, perhaps, they could figure out first aid for Kylo.

By the time they did reach Ando Prime, Thenn had indeed cried herself to sleep. The cold planet loomed ahead, and Reveille wasn’t thrilled with the thought of how that wind would feel on her face. Or the fact she still had pink hair and somehow had to navigate the planet and be taken seriously. ‘Without a coat, without anything.’ Kylo and Thenn would be fine. Kylo was wearing enough black to warm Hoth and Thenn would likely stay in his arms for the duration.

She hailed a hangar and was given directions to land. “We need a ship, or I need a datapad.” She told Kylo, “I don’t have credits, and I don’t have the Force, so you’re in charge of securing one or the other.” Without him, she probably would have found some way on her own, but since he was there, he may as well be useful.

~***~

Armitage recognized the flicker of hurt on Lavinia’s face. There was a part of him that was bothered by it. Not in the sense that it annoyed him, but in the sense he didn’t want to see the hurt. The sense of misjudging her. He ignored that. That was exactly how he got into this situation in the first place – trusting her, and trusting that she wanted the same things as he did.

Her romantic dreams of enemies were foolish ones, and he supposed it may take her a while to learn that reality didn’t play out like the theater of Coruscant.

Reality was far harsher. ‘I would put lifetimes between us.’ Armitage didn’t say that. He had no reason to be needlessly cruel. Lavinia was assisting. Right now, they shared a common goal. When it ended, she would know she did not wish to remain here, and go on to other tasks. Perhaps their goals would line up on some other worlds, but he’d hardly dare to consider it.

“Yes, we will speak later,” on that much he agreed. The rest was better left alone. Lavinia was hurt, and prone to lashing out, and he was unwilling to endure further swipes from her broken-heart. “I’ll see you before the party to go over it, and afterwards,” to see what information was gathered, and how it could be useful.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo didn’t move from his spot on the floor, but from his angle, he could make out a few distinct features of Ando Prime’s environment. He knew it was a cold planet, and while he could keep Thenn in his arms, completely covered in a warm, black fabric.

“I can get you a ship,” he confirmed. He had used the Force before to get a ship, as he recalled the beginning with Discord and their hunt for basic provisions. His mind hadn’t drifted to that vendor he stole from since that day, until now, though he hardly cared about what came of that vendor.

Kylo just needed to do that again.

Reveille wouldn’t be able to handle the elements of the planet. She had helped him when she didn’t have to, and felt almost obliged to offer, “If you need some warmer clothes, I can get some for you.”

~~

Lavinia made no motion that she heard anything of what Armitage said as she began to walk away. She didn’t want to hear anymore of his voice right then. Not as he continued to be so callous. But that’s just the new normal, isn’t it?

And while she wanted to stay on Taris and help the people, she wondered if she was meant to be there at all, or if there was something else out there for her. But what?

It was all a painful reminder of how she didn’t know where she should be.

Lavinia walked towards the warehouse. If Karn was there, she would begin informing him right away on everything he needed for the party. If not, she would find something to do.

She had to, for her own sanity.

And so once she arrived, Lavinia immediately sought for Karn and his murderbot.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille did need warmer clothes, but she shook her head, “I’ll survive our few ventures out in the open,” Reveille hardly intended to stay on the ship while Kylo wandered about. The First Order would track it soon enough, and be here.

They needed to be away from the ship by then.

Ideally, away from the planet.

She would stand up once she had parked the ship and she looked to Kylo. She wasn’t sure if he intended to wake Thenn before they headed out or not. She wouldn’t speak to any preference, but just wait for him to move.

He was in charge of getting the ship. Reveille would follow after him.

~***~

Lavinia would not find Karn in the warehouse. He had gone to tend to his mission, and he would message Lavinia later for the measurements he needed, before he went raiding for what was desired.

It would be that next morning that he’d send not a normal droid, but Stabbity, with the dress tucked away nicely in its body for her. Stabbity managed not to stab Lavinia awake, but it would chirp and chirp until she woke up, and then pop it’s top to show her the green gown, and indicate that Karn wanted to talk to her about the situation.

Karn would at least be back in the warehouse then.

Napping against a crate.

Barracks and beds were for losers.