A Star Wars TFA Prequel: "Why Aren't You Scared of Me?"

Betrayed

"I made the rules very clear," Snoke says, looking down at us from his seat high above. We're back at the gathering space and he's behind the glass viewing window, his voice coming through a speaker. No says anything and my pulse pounds in my ears as we wait for our punishment. If we get disqualified I'll kill Caleb, right here and now, in this very room.

"There are twenty-four players left," Caleb says. "So technically, we won."

We all turn to him, this is news to us.

Snoke reaches his hand out and Caleb makes a choking sound. "Quiet," Snoke says. "I've changed the rules." He lowers his hand and Caleb starts breathing again. "I don't know you well, boy."

"My name's Caleb, not boy... Sir."

Snoke narrows his eyes at him. "Is it? Then Caleb, I've decided not to disqualify all of you, just one of you. Tell me, who do you think I should disqualify?" Snoke asks.

"Ren," Caleb replies immediately. Phasma gives him a glare and Hux remains unmoved.

"And you, Ren?" Snoke turns his eyes to me. "Who do you think we should disqualify?"

"Caleb," I say.

Snoke nods slowly then sits back in his seat. "Phasma, what about you? Tell me who I should disqualify."

Phasma hesitates. Does she really have to think about that answer, even for a second?

"Hux," Phasma says.

Hux and I gasp. Phasma has an angry expression on her face and she keeps her eyes on Snoke, ignoring us.

"And you, Armitage? Who do you say I should disqualify?"

"Any of these three but me, Your Supreme Leadership," Hux says.

Snoke clasps his hands together, watching us. "Very well," he finally says. "Go and finish the Game. I've decided only fifteen will win. If there are more than fifteen left before the end of the night, then the count goes down to five, and only five can be left for the Game to end."

Nobody moves, as though we're all trying to make sense of this new change in the rules.

"Go on," Snoke says, waving his hand at us like we're pets.

Hux bows, before leaving. "Yes, Your Supreme Leadership," he says, then marches out of the room.

Phasma bows so low that I know she's being sarcastic. She then turns and runs out after Hux, not addressing Snoke in any way.

Caleb and I bow at the same time.

"Thank you, Your Supreme Lead-" I start to say.

"You are ever wise, Grand Master," Caleb interrupts. I turn and go after Hux and Phasma.

* * *

"Hux, would you just wait!" Phasma calls down the hallway. I run to catch up to them but Hux is already in the elevator at the end of the hall. The doors close before Phasma can reach them. I grab hold of the elevator doors using the Force and open them again.

Hux crosses his arms and does not look pleased.

"Leave me alone, Ren," he says to me. Is he mad at me too?

"Snoke was playing games with us," Phasma says, stepping into the elevator with Hux. Caleb arrives and I get into the elevator, then quickly close the doors before he can get in.

"Hey!" I hear Caleb call from the other side. I hold the doors shut.

"Phasma, what were you doing?" I say. "Turning against us? Why didn't you vote out Caleb?"