Surrendered

Chapter 37 - Luke Skywalker

As I came to I was being rolled over by General Hux's foot, his hand on his blaster ready to use it on me. My eyes focused onto Kylo who had also stirred.

"You're alive then." He sounded disappointed. "What happened?"

"The girl killed Snoke." Kylo groaned as he got up. 

"She took Snokes escape craft." Hux spat, glaring at Kylo as he stroked his blaster I could see in his mind he was considering using it.

"Don't" I warned, Hux looked over to me taking his hand off his blaster.

"Get all of our resources down to that resistance base, lets finish this." Kylo ordered.

Hux turned a shade of purple. "Who do you think you are talking to? It's my army. OUR SUPREME LEADER IS DEAD WE HAVE NO RULER." 

Suddenly he started grasping at his throat as he struggled for air

"The Supreme Leader is DEAD." Kylo shook with rage.

Hux fell to his knees still grasping at his neck. "Long live the Supreme Leader."

"Let him go Kylo." I got up and pulled his arm. "We don't need anymore First Order members dead tonight."

Kylo let him go, Hux sunk to the floor.

"Cardo, Ap'Lek help Hux to the control room." I ordered the knights who had also started to rise. "Come on." I lead Kylo away, pretty sure I'd just heard a whimper as the knights cracked one of Hux's ribs.

--

Kylo took a seperate shuttle to lead the battle on the resistance base, I went back to Lyra holding her close as the adrenaline left my veins I started to feel the burn on my arm. Ushar had followed me back to the quarters carefully took Lyra from me placing her into her crib.

"Let me help with that" He gestured to my arm.

"I'll wait for medbay."

"They'll be busy with the battle, sit I'll get the med kit."

I rolled my eyes knowing he wasn't about to give up, I took a seat in the living room pulling off my cloak. I hissed as I tried to pull the sleeve up away from my burnt skin.

"Let me." Ushar had removed his helmet, his eyes filled with worry. 

For such a large brute he was very gentle, he made quick work of tearing my sleeve away from my damaged skin. He applied a gel to my skin, which instantly cooled it and took the pain away.

"Thank you Ushar, I don't know what I'd do without you."

He smiled, embarrassed.

I reached for his arm with my good hand.

"Honestly, for a murderous knight you do take care of me."

He laughed. "Well someone has to, when Ren is preoccupied who else is going to find his lost wife, keep her company whilst she has his child and tend to her wounds whilst he's off fighting."

"War does strange things doesn't it?" I sighed. "What do you think will happen now?"

"Ren becomes supreme leader." He said simply. "You do know he had to kill Snoke right? If he didn't it would put you and Lyra in danger."

I nodded in agreement, though the weight of Kylo's actions weighed heavily on my mind. "I just hope he knows what he's doing," I admitted.

"Whatever happens the knights will always look out for you, we may be loyal to Kylo but we all care about you and Lyra."

"You don't think Kylo can be trusted?" I asked.

"It's hard to say, but one thing's for certain, Snoke's hold over him is broken now. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen."

I nodded. "What do you think Kylo will do now?" 

Ushar shrugged. "End the resistance I suspect."

"And you?" I asked.

"Follow Kylos orders, but I mean it Aurora we will take care of you and Lyra no matter what happens."

"Thank you." I smiled weakly pulling Ushar into a hug. 

--

The silence of my quarters was broken by the feeling of rage and frustration, the air rattled with angst as Kylo ordered Ushar to leave.

"What happened?" Part of me didn't even want to know

He turned to me, his eyes ablaze with a fire that sent a shiver down my spine. "Luke Skywalker," he spat out the name like a curse, his fists clenched at his sides. "He tricked me. He wasn't even there."

My heart sank at his words, a sense of dread settling over me like a heavy weight, his first act as Supreme Leader of the First Order had left him humiliated.

"I sensed his presence, I felt his power," Kylo continued, his voice raw with emotion. "But it was all a trick. A diversion to buy time for the Resistance to escape."

I reached out to him, my hand hovering in the air as if unsure whether to offer comfort or keep my distance. "I'm sorry, Kylo," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But we can't let this setback consume us. We have to stay focused on our mission."

Kylo's jaw tightened, his gaze flickering with a mixture of frustration and determination. "You're right," he admitted grudgingly, his tone begrudgingly. "We can't let Skywalker's games distract us. There's still work to be done."

As he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the room, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Despite his bravado and his power, Kylo was still haunted by the ghosts of his past, his anger a mask for the pain that lurked beneath.

"Where are you going?" I asked. 

"Out."