STRONGER - KYLO REN

i . jakku

"REPORTS SAY THAT someone on this dust bowl has the map leading to luke skywalker. it is our mission to track them and the map down, then do as commander ren orders." captain phasma says, monotone through her mask.

her squadron nods, including four friends, AT-1137, AN-2332, EA-2348, and ON-2299. they hold their blasters in their arms and begin to walk aboard a transport.

AT-1137 is captain phasma's star trooper, though aggressive and sarcastic, she's skilled and well respected.

the lights inside the ship turn off as troopers depart from star killer base. the troopers all stand silently, and AT-1137 is thinking about their goals. she knows she will definitely have to kill, though she hates it, she always does what she is told.

they never erased her memory, but the name astrid has always stuck with her. she calls herself that, even to captain phasma, who has learned to deal with her outbursts and delusions. phasma could kill her too, if she wasn't one of the best troopers she's ever had.

the trooper in front of astrid is shaking, probably their first battle they have ever been in. astrid puts her gloved hand on their shoulder.

"you'll be alright. just do what you're told." she says, voice altered slightly through the mask. they nod and their body slowly stops shaking, though she does not remove her hand for the whole flight.

everyone jolts foreword as the transport lands on the ground. the door latches open and drops to the ground. all troopers charge out with blasters in hand and being shooting at citizens. astrid stays behind to speak to phasma.

"where are we?" she asks her captain.

"jakku. now, can you do your job?" phasma demands.

astrid nods and runs off into in the small village. she aims her blaster at someone and strikes them in the chest. running off, she sees an x-wing and a man running away from it.

"resistance fighter..." she whispers

"i found an x-wing, let's blow this up so they can't leave." she repeats to other troopers.

they nod and begin blasting. astrid follows the man and sees him holding a blaster, shooting. she sneaks down for cover and aims at him, but is taken aback by kylo ren's cruiser touching down. he steps out and walks toward an older man. astrid sees the younger man turn his blaster toward her commander and she acts. she jumps over her cover and toward the man, but he fires. she drops her blaster and reaches her hand out, as if that would do anything, and closes her eyes.

after a few seconds, she opens her eyes to see kylo ren staring at her, his hand also outstretched. the blaster bullet has been stopped midair. you see him say something to the elder man, as other troopers then shoot him. you both drop your hands and the blaster bullet shoots off into the distance. astrid turns and sees the younger man who shot at ren being captured.

kylo is still walking towards her and her heart is in her throat. "captain!" he yells.

astrid jumps slightly, never hearing him speak before, and being surprised what came out of the mask. captain phasma approaches him, blaster tight to her chest.

astrid watches the two speak. the captain approaches astrid and takes her blaster. astrid gasps as the captain also grabs her arm.

"what's going on?!" astrid asks, fearful.

"commander ren wants to speak to you. i'm taking you to an interrogation room aboard his ship." phasma says, leading astrid up the ramp of the spacecraft.

astrid has a million questions running through her mind. what happened? what did she do? is kylo ren going to kill her? is he happy with her? is he going to take his mask off? is he going to yell? is—

phasma opens a door and pushes astrid in, and closes it behind her. the room is small, there's a menacing interrogation chair, a chrome bench, and a small table. astrid sits on the bench and takes off her helmet, tugging her hair out of its low bun and running her fingers through it.

the cruiser takes off as the fleet retreats from jakku. kylo ren walks down the hall, to meet captain phasma and general hux outside of astrid's interrogation room.

"captain. you've worked with that trooper for a few years. what do i need to know?" kylo ren asks.

"her name is AT-1137, but she feels the need to give herself a name. she calls herself astrid, says it resonates with her. she was very young when we took her from her family. they didn't erase her memories, so i imagine she knows some information about her life. she's loyal, determined, honest, aggressive, brave, skilled..." the captain is cut off.

"there's a but isn't there?" general hux interrupts.

"she's sarcastic, a nuisance sometimes. she wants her way. she can be too gentle. she has made friends with almost all of the squadron, and mourns all their deaths."

"thank you captain. general. i'd like to speak with her alone." ren says, as the two walk off.

astrid looks up as the door slides open. she feels her heart rate excel as the man in black walks toward her. he forces her to her feet and holds her head in place so she cannot avert his eyes.

"who gave you permission to remove that helmet." kylo snaps.

astrid rolls her eyes. "i wanted to watch you kill me."

kylo drops her and she falls back onto the bench. he reaches up to his face and astrid watches with curious eyes, not sure what to expect.

her commander unhooks his mask, the front goes up for easier access and it hisses. he takes it off and sets it on the table. he shakes his head to free his raven hair from being trapped inside the mask.

astrid doesn't take her eyes away from him as he grabs a chair and sits across from her. kylo can hear her thoughts, the fear running through them, and the shock of his appearance.

kylo was taken aback by astrid's appearance as well. she's almost as tall as him, with strong facial features like himself. her long black hair is in ringlets around her white uniform. he has never seen someone so appealing since he was young.

he reaches his hand out. "AT-1137 —"

"my name is astrid." she says, glaring at kylo and his outstretched hand.

"i'll call you whatever i want. now shut up before i change my mind." he sighs and closes his eyes, pausing to regain his train of thought.

"you are strong with the force. i wish i had known of you years ago. we could have ruled the galaxy by now." astrid's eyes race over his features, trying to hold her tongue and see what the man before her wants.

"i want you to join me. be my apprentice. you will learn the ways of the force. i'll train you to be a fighter. you already have so much potential. you stopped that bullet from harming me. i sensed it coming but you were able to harness your energy into stopping it. without training. i can't begin to imagine you with my help." kylo continues, a small smirk appearing on his face.

"what about all of my stormtrooper training? captain phasma said—" she begins, only to be cut off.

"screw that!" he yells, standing up and walking around the room, boots clanking on the floor.

"you can be so much with me. you'll have your own quarters, you'll get a lightsaber —" kylo senses astrid next to him, almost at his eye level.

"can i keep my blaster?" she asks, her voice quiet.

"okay." is all he says, holding out his hand to her once again. and this time astrid takes his gloved hand.