The Independency: A Star Wars Story

The Incident

      Each day that Kylo was gone was the same, nothing changed. Lin would go to see Hux, fail at hacking systems, eat at the cafeteria around one in the afternoon, visit the gardens, return to Kylo's room, lounge on the bed and read, feed Theo then play with him, eat again, go to bed. Yes, indeed, every day was just as monotonous as the one before(except when she was playing with Theo, she was never bored while playing with him).

     The second day,  Armitage and Lin went to Armitage's room to try and rewire some systems. Was it awkward to go to his room, knowing they both still had feelings for each other? Yes. Did they care? No. During the system rewire, Lin and Armitage somehow got very close when working on the same part. Without hesitation, Armitage leaned in and kissed Lin.

     And she kissed him back. How could she resist? She still loved him. They had deserted their work for the day, and Armitage carried Lin over to a chair. She sat on his lap, and they kissed and murmured sweet nothings to each other for hours. By the time she had to leave, Lin's lips were slightly swollen from kissing so much, as were Armitage's.

      It was the fourth day that something really changed, though.

      Once again, there was an incident in the cafeteria. Not a violent one, though. At least, it wasn't violent in the beginning. Lin had just finished failing at hacking for the day, and had gone to get some food(which was a substance that troopers ate, literally just protein packs, but at least she got salt capsules). Some haughty stormtroopers who had a thing for the rebellious leader sauntered up to her, plopping down at her table. There were three, to be exact. Only one of them spoke, he was the only one with his helmet off. The other two just watched silently.

      Lin raised a brow at him. "Can I help you with something?" She asked the trooper, and he smirked a bit. Oh, she could help him, indeed. He barely interacted with the woman aboard this ship, because none of them were desirable in any way. But, Lin...she was a beauty. Even with the cold glare she was giving him. The trooper moved closer, sliding a hand in between her thighs. "Yes, there IS something you can help me with."

      Lin shifted around, but she was determined not to look uncomfortable. She was a strong leader. "You certainly move fast." She commented, and he replied(with a wink), "Fast and rough."

      Lin stood up, starting to walk away from him. "Sorry, I only don't do virgins. I prefer someone with experience." The trooper hurriedly followed her, stopping her once she was in the hall. "Luckily for you, I'm not a virgin."

      Lin gave a grin. "Ah, see, I was just saying that to see your reaction. Now, I can turn you in for violating protocol, we all know that troopers aren't permitted to get it on with the female officers. Or, you're just lying to get me to sleep with you." Lin smirked brushed past the trooper. "Nice try!" She called back at him while on the way back to her room...er, Ben's room.

      The trooper was enraged. The two others ones that he was with were laughing at him, which only added to his irritation. He was going to make that little slut pay for humiliating him.

      At that very minute, Kylo had returned from the mission, and had taken the force band back from Armitage(Kylo had given it to Armitage when he left). Kylo stepped out of the launch bay and went off towards his room, which Lin was just exiting...and the trooper from earlier was waiting for her there, along with the other two troopers he had been with, the ones who had laughed at him. Lin didn't even have time to defend herself, the troopers were too fast. She had time to give a cry of surprise, and that was it.

      The two sidekick troopers grabbed her arms, and the lead trooper covered her mouth. They dragged her a few feet into a nearby room only used for supplies(the equivalent of a janitor's closet, just fancier). They removed their helmets and tore at her clothes, all three of them holding her down. The lead trooper still had her mouth covered. Lin screamed and cried, but no one heard her. She thrashed around like a wild animal, begging them to stop, pleading for them to let her go, but they did not listen to her. Soon, her clothes were torn and they were trying to get into her panties. In the back of her mind, Lin suddenly recalled a feature of the force band that Kylo had explained to her: a panic button. She was able to touch it. It would allow Kylo to know that she was in trouble, but Lin was not yet aware that Kylo was back. She was hoping Armitage would come to her rescue.

      Kylo got the alarm as soon as she pressed the button. Dear god...what could've happened to her? He knew Lin fairly well, and he knew that she was a strong person who would never ask for help unless her life was at risk. He used the force band to pinpoint her location and came running. He opened the door to the room(well, he actually slashed through it with his lightsaber). With three quick swipes at the troopers holding Lin down, they were all dead. No effort needed. Lin laid in a crumpled heap on the ground, her eyes red from sobbing. Over and over she thanked Kylo. She was still shaking with fright, which wasn't a surprise. Kylo helped her to her feet and aided her in walking to his room. Once they were in, Kylo got out some new clothes for her. It was astonishing about how calm Kylo seemed about this. Of course, he wasn't, he was seething with fury. Those troopers deserved a fate worse than death.

      Lin could barely move to the bathroom to change, but she managed after a while. Once she was changed, she collapsed on Kylo's bed. She wasn't crying anymore, and her face was expressionless. Her open eyes were blank, she was in a state of shock. Once Kylo sat back down on the bed with her, she crawled onto his lap and buried her face in his shoulder.

      And now, a conversation between Lin and Kylo.

L: Thank you.

K: For what?

L: Saving me.

K: I wasn't going to let them do that to you.

L: I...I've never felt so violated...

     There was a pause.

K: I'm sorry.

L: For what?

K: For hurting you all those times.

L: ...it's okay.

K: Is it?

L: It is now.

      Lin snuggled closer to him, and Kylo gently rubbed her lower back. Lin felt safe in his arms, and after a little while, they laid down together and cuddled. In that moment, Kylo knew something he never would admit to her.

      He cared for her.

      Lin, while falling asleep, realized something that she could never tell him...he wouldn't understand...would he? No, no...he wouldn't. She would never tell him, she would keep it to herself.

      She cared for him.