𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐌 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐓 ▹ KYLO REN [1]

𝘹𝘷. 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦

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CASSUS FOUGHT TO KEEP HER FACE PASSIVE. This could not be happening. She could not afford this. The landing in Tatooine was happening in less than twenty-four hours no matter what. If she was not in a position to escape, the window of opportunity would close without her.

"And what would give you that idea?"

Sol laughed. "Oh please. Don't play dumb with me." He took a slow sip of his drink. "Without that mask, you're a horrible liar. I can practically see everything on your face."

Yet another reason why she missed the helmet.

"Did Borga tell you?"

"The Hutt and I have a longstanding agreement...and she does not tolerate people disrespecting her."

"I didn't--"

"That doesn't matter," Sol dismissed before propping his arms on his desk, "Who else is involved?"

Cassus's survival instincts screamed at her to name the others. With more people involved to trouble Sol, it would be easier to slip away at the next chance. She had to look after herself first...right?

She crossed her arms over her chest. "No one else. Just me."

"Really?" Sol scrutinized her, "No one else? Not Kylo Ren? Not your new friends?"

She shook her head. "No one."

"You were going to just leave them?"

"They would've complicated my plan," she said, "I couldn't afford that."

Sol hummed and leaned back, mulling over her answer. A slow chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Wow, you're cold."

Cassus tapped her foot incessantly. "So what happens now?" she asked, keeping the bubbling panic out of her voice.

The blue man regarded her for a moment before scooping up a small stack of papers on his desk. "I'm not satisfied; I think you're hiding something. My men," he said, nodding to the guards, "will take you to an interrogation room until I have the time to question you further."

Cassus opened her mouth to speak as two hands grabbed her by the arms and dragged her out of her seat, but she said nothing. She knew that it was pointless.

"Ren," she said lowly, "I've been made. Sol knows."

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KYLO REN SAT PERFECTLY STILL on the cold floor of his cell.

Sol has Cassus, he thought slowly, mulling over the words, He won't be able to make the escape?

"Kylo?" Cassus called, "Can you hear me?"

Ren's fists clenched and a violent shudder shook through the toilet in the corner of the cell, promptly followed by a beep. A shock shot from the cuffs around his wrists and coursed through his body, making him go rigid.

A sharp grunt escaped his lips as he hunched over, and for once, he was grateful that he was alone.

He sat back up slowly. "Where have they taken you?" he asked as he attempted to release a deep, calming breath.

"I'm in an interrogation room until Sol comes back to ask questions. I'm guessing he'll wait as long as possible so he can keep me in here."

"What does he know?"

"Just that I'm planning an escape. He doesn't know that any of you are involved."

Ren knew that he should feel somewhat relieved, but the tightness did not leave his chest.

"Cassus, the delivery is tomorrow morning. If you can't get out in time--"

"Don't worry about me," Cassus interrupted, "I'll take care of it. Just go and get out as planned. I'll figure something out."

But Kylo Ren could feel the bounty hunter's doubt, his fear. It practically choked his words.

"But what if you can't," Ren insisted even though he knew Cassus's answer. 

"Then you go on without me."

"No," the Force-wielder said firmly.

"Once you get back to the First Order, you can come back and get me," Fett went on.

"Yeah, and by then, Sol will already have delivered you to whoever hired him to capture you," Ren shot back.

This shut Cassus up. A heavy silence fell and the air between them thickened.

"When it's time, just follow the plan," Fett said finally, "If I can meet you, I will, and if I can't...then I need you to find Meri and Greer and leave."

"And you think they'll be able to make it?"

"They're smart. They'll make it to the loading dock," The bounty hunter hesitated. "Will you?"

Ren scoffed.

"I'm serious, Ren," Cassus said, "You said that you can get yourself out once the system goes down, but can you?"

"What, do you think I was lying?"

"No, I think you're being arrogant," Cassus quipped.

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll get out and come get you."

"No," Cassus said firmly, "You are going to get out and follow. The. Plan."

Ren sighed. He knew Cassus was trying to stay calm, but he could feel the panic rolling off of the bounty hunter's words. Or maybe it was his own.

"Fine," he relented begrudgingly.

"Good."

Suddenly, the air seemed to shift as Ren felt a heavy uneasiness wash over himself. But it was not his own. It was Cassus.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'm being moved to the lower--" His words cut off abruptly.

"Cassus?" Kylo Ren jumped to his feet.

There was no answer.

A shudder shook the cell and nearly sent Ren to the floor. His heart stopped.

The ship had stopped. They were on Tatooine. The clock was running. And Cassus was locked away.

With a harsh yell, whatever restraints that held Ren's panic at bay failed and his fury broke out.