Hunger of the Pine ➢ Kylux

Pawns on a Chessboard

"Why didn't you inform me that you were coming?" Kylo demanded through gritted teeth.

Alema rolled her eyes as she smirked. "You know how I love surprises, Ren."

"You could've gotten us all killed!" He yelled, halting and stepping in front of Alema to block her path.

In response, Alema's arm shot up to push the man aside, possessing much more strength than she looked to have. "Do you honestly think those weaklings had any chance against us?" She shrugged, "Besides, it's always good to test you. What if that hadn't been me? The Resistance could've easily come walking straight through your doors, no questions asked." Kylo frowned beneath his mask and let her continue walking, unhappy but aware of the validity of her point.

"Ms. Rar, if I may ask, what were you doing posing as a slave?" Hux asked, interrupting the silence that had fallen over the trio.

Alema smiled,"Ah!" Her golden eyes lit up like embers over a fire. "Finally, someone is asking the good questions!" Kylo snorted, yet when he turned his attention towards Alema, her face had sombered. "While you were all sitting on your asses doing nothing on Starkiller, I was out gathering intel. Slowly, I have been building my allegiance with the leaders of a few neutral planets in the Outer Rim.They're idiots, trust me. Their subjects had to have been quite dim if they were allowing them in office." They turned a corner, catching the eyes of nearly everyone in the room, though Alema paid them no attention. "Ayhano, however was a bit harder to convince. So I had to do some dirty work. With him out of the way now, Khubeaie should fall to me." She then snickered, holding out her hand to show off a glimmering silver band snaking its way around her finger. "The pig was convinced I was going to marry him."

Silence again. They had already arrived at Snoke's makeshift chamber, Kylo at the head with Alema by his side. The doors opened with a thunderous clap, booming over the arched ceilings above. "Lady Rar," Greeted Snoke upon their arrival. "I was beginning to think you were not coming. And I do believe we both know what would happened then." he added gravely.

Alema regarded him with nothing less than indifference. "Of course, Supreme Leader. Though, I would never question your authority, sir. I am, as always, at your will," she said flatly.

"Excellent. Now, is the rest of your company with you? I do not sense their presence." Snoke looked into the blank air above them, as if searching for something unseen.

She shook her head, "They did not arrive alongside myself, however the remaining Knights should already be on their way." Snoke gave Alema a questioning glare as if challenging her to admit she was at fault. Alema refused and met his stare with the same unwavering ferocity, making Snoke sit back in his throne, clearly amused at her daring behaviour.

"Go on then." he said with a wave of his tattered, gray hand. "I'm sure you will need to look back over your training and prepare for our upcoming battle. We wouldn't want our enemies to gain the upper hand over us, now would we?" Alema clenched her jaw, but bowed none the less. She whipped around, sending her robe gracefully swaying behind her. The careful eyes of Hux met with the blank stare of Kylo Ren's mask for a brief moment, unsure of what to do next. Almost as if the Knight himself had sent a message through the General's head, the two bowed for themselves and turned to leave, unaware of the close study laid upon them by Snoke.

Outside the chamber, Hux and Kylo sped their pace to catch up with the fleeing woman. "I don't see how the Supreme Leader hasn't killed you yet," muttered Hux, eyes wide in shock after witnessing the mild confrontation.

"He needs me, simple as that." She responded, not even sparing the General a glance.

Kylo shook his head, "You're wrong. Snoke doesn't need any of us."

At this, Alema stopped dead in her tracks. With a pivot, she seemed to look beyond Ren's concealing mask. "And how would you know that?"

"Because I am not as mindless as you are!" Kylo roared, taking a step closer to the Twi'Lek. "Can't you see what I see?"

Alema's fingers itched to grab her saber from her belt, but she contained the need, trying her best to keep her composure steady. "Just because I am not Snoke's prized attack dog, that doesn't mean I am worth any less than you!" She paused quickly to regain her breath, "Take off that mask, you coward and face me yourself."

With her threat, off came Kylo's headpiece. After doing so, Alema eyed his newly formed scar curiously, but said nothing in regard to it. "Oh I'm sorry. Did I hurt the princesses' feelings? Just come to terms with it, Rar. Your only purpose here is to serve as a pretty face, nothing more." Kylo dared, his tone alarmingly different without the voice modifier, yet still icier than the depths of Hoth. Unfortunately, that was the last straw for Alema and out from its sheath came her lightsaber and its smoldering red glow that bathed them all in a fiery light. She then immediately went for a swing at Kylo's already heavily damaged face. Reaching close to contact, Alema was halted when a burning pain erupted across her hands, making her saber clatter to the ground in defeat and retreat back into its casing.

"Stop!" Hux roared with a smoking blaster in hand. Stunned at the General's unusually harsh tone, Alema tore her eyes away from Kylo and gripped at her injured fist in more annoyance than pain."You're behaving like children, both of you!" he lectured as his eyes traveled across the faces of the two Knights. "There's no use debating what Snoke's intentions are. He is our leader and we do what he says without question. It was foolish of me to bring up the topic, but for some odd reason, I actually thought we could be adults about it. I suppose I was wrong."

Kylo frowned in response, not offering a word, face still burning from being lightly singed by Alema's attack. He would've stopped the blow sooner, had he not wanted to test the girl's willpower. Coming as a shock to him, Alema did have it in her. Kylo could feel her rage burning within like a bomb waiting to detonate and take everyone along with it. Unaware of his thoughts however, Alema released a deep exhale and retrieved her fallen saber with a simple flick of the wrist, then she bounded off along the corridor steadily, leaving the two alone in silence.

"Can you not go a single day without starting a fight, Ren? Snoke aside, the Order needs her. We need her." Hux scolded, unafraid of the threatening, obsidian creature looming in front of him.

Fawn eyes dusted with flecks of gold met Hux's gaze. "You know I'm right Hux," Kylo whispered uncharacteristically soft after coming closer to the General.

Hux shivered at the use of his actual name, but shook his head. "It doesn't matter who's right. We have to respect the Supreme Leader's wishes, one of which being that you don't kill our allies." Kylo swallowed and ran a hand through his already tousled hair as if granting Hux a silent agreement. He nodded, then pushed Kylo aside in order to break through into the corridor. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to-"

"Wait," commanded Kylo, hastily making a grab for the General's arm, causing Hux to widen his eyes in shock. "Unless you want another broken control room, I suggest you come with me back to my quarters."