A Song Of Light and Darkness - Book One: Dawn Of New Force

Chapter 24: Aboard The Supremacy

A/N: Enough with the enmity between Ben and the resistance, now let's get a closer look to the real villains!

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   The heavy iron doors flung open. Yet general Pryde did not turn his head in the direction of the sound, but continued to gaze at the fleet down in the hangar.

   His face was void of emotion, his hands clenched at his back, when he finally turned to greet the young acolyte.

   The boy ran toward him, his hair messed from the iron helmet he had been wearing and that was now tucked under his arm.
   And there was mud caked on his boots, and he brought with him a smell that was strange on the Supremacy.

   A twig that seemed to have been locked in the armor at the crook of his elbow fell on the ground, and General Pryde shot him a disgusted look.

   Droping to one knee and heaving a breath, the young man waited a few moments before he rose his head up, and looked his master in the eye.
   General Pryde could see the gleam in them, hidden beneath tiredness and resignation. Judging by that, the boy was bringing great news.

   "We've found them, General." the boy said, earnestly. "We have the location of the Resistance."

   But the pride on his face died with the elder's smirk. General Pryde's smile was a bitter one, it cast a sinister expression on his face and the boy finally dropped his eyes to the ground in confusion.

   The General nodded, and turned around to step back, putting distance between himself and his subject.
   The young spy looked in his wake with bewildered eyes. He seemed to have forgotten to be guarded around the sour general. And he regretted it now.

   "Good." General Pryde said after moments of painful suspense. "But it's not the Resistance our main target for now." his voice was plain, even stern, his back at the man. "Did you forget what I told you to find? Did you forget that easily what happened the last time we grabbed a hold on them?"

   "She was there, Ren's girl. And she had an apprentice." the spy said eagerly, his voice full of satisfaction.

   "Do not say his name in my presence!" General Pryde turned on his heels and lashed at the spy, his hand outstretched to him.
  
   The boy squeezed his eyes tight and flinched, as if the words were a slap that was going to land across his face.       
   He seemed to be cringing in fear in front of his general, the way one does in front of death.

   And he was, after all, but a child. General Pryde remembered the day his soldiers had caught him and brought him to their Supreme Leader, Snoke. “He is no better than a member of the cleaning patrol.” The leader had said back then. But the boy had proved to be quite useful after Kylo Ren had made him his personal spy.

   Just the thought of it made Pryde want to send the boy away. He had been loyal to Ren, to his rival. But it would be as foolish to do so. He already knew way too many secrets that the Final Order held, thanks to Ren. And he was a good spy after all, one you could hardly find. And for his knowledge of Ren, he was good to keep close.

   Pryde's cold, icy-blue eyes flashed back to the armored lad that was trembling before him.

   “I wish to be left alone.” his voice was low, steady, yet it bore an unflinching command on its edges.

   “Yes, General.” The young man gathered clumsily his helmet from the dark marble floor that shimmered in the faint red light, and scrambled to his feet. He was pretending, still pretending not to be afraid. But the general could feel it even in his voice, let alone the way he reacted.