HI!! ;-)

Stepping off the ship into the darkness, Kylo’s eyes scanned the tree line, searching for any movement. Troopers exited off the ship behind him, surveying the grounds. They had landed in the area Lyra had given up but not too close to the city nearby. The ruins provided the perfect landing strip and the night provided cover. He doubted the ruins would be where the resistance would be, but they would be foolish to not be near a city for supplies. Since they had deployed troopers on the planet already, seeing them would not strike anyone as out of the ordinary. But if he showed his face though in town, it would raise alarms immediately. And if word got back to the resistance fighters before Kylo was able to locate Y/N… well, he could not have that.

A handful of troopers based on the planet approached, having been summoned by him. One stepped forward, higher ranking the others.

“Sir,” the trooper, LE-4156, greeted him.

Without wasting time, Kylo held up the hologram and asked the trooper, “Have you seen this woman in the city?”

It was farfetched. Y/N was not stupid and would not put herself directly in the sights of any trooper for fear she would be recognized if they had been on the ship with her. Still, he had to ask.

LE-4156 examined the hologram for a few moments and stepped back away, shaking their head. They gestured at the others to also look, stepping out of the way, and Kylo was met with the same response. He turned the hologram off and asked, “Have there been any whispers of resistance fighters coming into the city? Any suspicions for people looking for supplies?”

“We don’t know of any resistance base nearby, sir,” LE-4156 told him.

“I certainly hope not,” Kylo said irritated. “Allowing it to remain standing would be against your duties and immediate grounds for punishment.”. He paused before asking, “When was the last time you searched the surrounding area? In a large sweep?”

The group exchanged looks and looked to LE-4156 to answer, who faced Kylo and shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly, sir. We stay in the city.”

Annoyance licked at Kylo hearing that answer. “Allowing the area around the city to remain open?”

“We have not been asked to look, sir—” LE-4156 started to say but Kylo cut them off.

“It should be common sense. I’ve received direct information that there is a camp here and very close by. That you’ve allowed to grow beneath your very noses.” He stepped closer and questioned, “Now… do you see why remaining only in the city was an imbecilic choice?” He could feel the trooper’s unease, and he was satisfied he was putting fear in them for their imprudence.

“Yes, sir,” LE-4156 answered him.

“You are going to do a sweep. Now. All of you,” Kylo ordered the troopers before and behind him. His attention was drawn up to the mountainous ridge nearby and he narrowed his eyes. That would give the base a good view of the surrounding area, allowing them to see an enemy more easily if they were approaching. He pointed upwards, “That is where you are starting. And that woman I showed you… that is who I am looking for. She’s pregnant now. And she will have a child. I want them both brought to me alive.”

<><><>

In the early twilight, you walked down the path, cradling your folded towel and your soap. The path veered, and you shot a look down the other fork, a pang of longing hitting you. The hot springs were not for you, not right now. Once you had given birth and healed, you would find solace in them again. But for now, the spring pool on the fork you had chosen hidden amongst the trees was where you bathed. Thorne had concerns about you walking here so close to your due date, especially alone and before the sun actually rose, but he knew better than to try to deter you by now. And it was only roughly a fourth of a mile away from base.

As usual, no one else was up yet and you had the pool to yourself. You smiled softly, placing your towel and soap down, and began to undress. Watching the sunrise in the circle of sky you could clearly see in the pool was a small joy. Slipping into the cool water, you exhaled shakily. It would not stay chilly for long, but the initial dip always got you.

<><><>

The lookouts had been choked out before they realized they were being encroached upon. The base was relatively small, only two ships nearby that some of the troopers stationed themselves by to prevent anyone from escaping.

There was no need to be quiet now. Yet, Kylo strolled almost silently into the garrison, some troopers at his back following his noiseless entry. At the first room, he pushed it open, finding three separate beds, all occupied. He gestured for one of the troopers to stay there, moving down the hallway. The next room, another three beds, but only one occupied there.

A door creaked behind him and he whipped around, seeing one of the troopers had accidentally pushed the door too far in. He only had a moment before the trooper ordered someone to halt. And the first blaster going off hit a second after.

So much for covertness.

Kylo’s saber was lit and he moved with purpose now, to the next room as the troopers handled the rooms behind him. Shouts and scrambling filled the space, resistance fighters being slaughtered in their beds.

The next room, there was a bunk bed where two fighters were grabbing at their guns. Kylo’s saber cut through them easily. In the hallway, he deflected a blaster shot and advanced on the person, slashing his saber down their body, kicking them to the side.

A shrill wail down the hall caught his attention as a man burst into the hallway. He was carrying an infant and Kylo recognized him immediately as the man in that resistance fighter’s head. And that child he was enfolding to his chest… Kylo squeezed his fist, shaking with his rage. The man faltered only for a moment seeing Kylo menacingly looming down the hall before turning on his heel and heading down the opposite way of the barracks.

Rushing to the room the man had left from, Kylo kicked the door open further, frantically looking around the room.

It was empty. She was not there. He was wasting precious seconds.

Tearing himself away from the doorway, Kylo only had sights for this man now, picking up his pace and barely paying mind to others leaving their rooms, shots flying around him. Rounding a corner, he saw the man leaving the building through a back door. He bolted with a rush of new speed; he would not let them escape.

Kylo tossed the door open, it banging off the side of the building. He caught sight of the man heading towards the forest, a path before him. Throwing his hand up, Kylo hurled the Force at the man’s back. The man froze immediately, allowing Kylo to slow his pace.

Chest heaving, Kylo approached the man from behind, feeling him struggle futilely against the Force holding him in place. Rounding him, Kylo came face to face with the man. He took in the healing cuts still on the man’s face, the loathing swimming in his eyes upon seeing Kylo standing before him.

The Force was holding the man in place but the child was still crying, tears pouring down its face. Raising a hand slowly, Kylo gently ran it over the child’s head. Yes… this was his child. He could sense the Force already humming beneath his skin. He pressed gently, soothing the child ever so, their wails melting away to whimpers.

He could see the man grimacing, detesting that Kylo was touching the baby. The man had been trying to escape. Where was Y/N?

“Where are you running to?” Kylo directed to the man, his lip curled behind his mask.

<><><>

You paused washing yourself, a frown appearing. You tossed a look over your shoulder. You could have sworn you heard what sounded like a shout coming from the direction of base. Suspended, you sat still, waiting to see if you could hear anything else.

All that you were met with though was chirping of birds and the wind.

Pushing away the disquiet, you went back to scrubbing at your hair. You had probably been hearing things.

Surfacing after rinsing out your hair, you wiped at your eyes. You loved the smell of this soap now emanating from your hair. Thorne had picked it up for you as a gift and you smiled softly, relishing in the scent. You leaned back against the edge of the pool, looking up at the sky.

Footsteps neared from behind you on the path.

“You’re early, my love,” you announced. “I hope you at least brought me something to eat.”

The footsteps came to a stop by your head, without a word. Frowning because Thorne usually would quip something back, you sat forward and turned around. Instead of Thorne, you stared up at the chrome mask that haunted your dreams. Your mouth fell open in fright and you shoved yourself away from the side of the pool away from him.

“I never would have pegged you as one for terms of endearment,” Kylo drawled, head turned down still watching you. “But I could get used to it.”