Chain Reaction

Chapter 16 - Return

Kylo

"Have you any news on general Hux's progress in his mission?"

Snoke asked. Kylo Ren stood before him finally in the flesh, in his throne room. The knight was standing in attention in the middle of the room.

"The girl has reached out to me regarding her location, and I relayed the information to the general. He should be arriving any time soon."

"Excellent work, my apprentice. Where has she been lurking all this time?"

"From what I saw, she was on an uncharted planet in the Unknown Regions. If she had not reached out to me, I daresay the general would never have found her."

Kylo smirked internally at the last comment he made.

"We are fortunate that our project has formed a bond with you for her to have called on you."

The corners of Kylo's lips twitched, threatening to smile. Yes, they did form a bond. With or without her memories, they had a bond. The thought lifted his spirits, it comforted him to think that no matter how she was, they had something.

"Once Hux returns with the girl, you are to bring her to me."

His head snapped up, he was curious as to what Snoke might need with her, maybe he was hoping she could have received any intel regarding the Resistance.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, supreme leader."

"Good. You are dismissed. I sense they are near."

Kylo nodded, it was true, he could feel her presence now, getting closer. They weren't far now, close enough to finally get to the hangar bay.

"Bring the girl to me."

Kylo turned around and marched out of the throne room. He then made his way towards the hangar bay, wanting to be there when Paige got back. He stood his ground as he finally watched the sight of the general's ship landing. He walked towards the two figures exiting the ship, and his breathing hitched when he saw her again. As he walked closer, he noticed the unmistakable awkward air between Paige and Hux, and he did not know what to make of it. He saw her hand back Hux's jacket to him, and the latter took it.

When Paige finally saw him, he thanked his helmet, he would not allow himself to show emotion in the presence of Hux. Paige had stopped in her tracks, and for a moment, it was just them. He noticed her attire had changed, she was now wearing a white shirt, and he'd be lying if he said he believed she did not look good in the color. They stared at each other, and suddenly Kylo felt self-conscious, and he wondered how this girl could affect him so much. However, something else about her was different somehow, but he couldn't put his finger on it, Paige looked at him like she had something to say, but she stayed silent.

"Are you hurt?"

Kylo hoped it was a good thing to say after a long time of being apart, he did not know what she would expect from him and it almost scared him. Paige silently shook her head in response, and he internally sighed in relief.

"Come with me, Snoke wishes to see you."

Paige nodded as if she was expecting that and walked towards him.

"Let's go."

The pair of them walked together heading for Snoke's throne room, Paige took a tentative look back at Hux and the general nodded at her in assurance. When they entered the elevator, Kylo took off his helmet and faced Paige, for a moment, they just stared at each other, Kylo opened his mouth to say something only to close it again, he repeated the action twice. He wanted so badly to tell her that he could extract the crystal from her, he could make all her headaches and vomiting go away, but he had promised her before that he would return her memories, he did not want her to think he did not prioritize what she first asked from him.