'You're super quiet for someone losing so badly,' Trudgen commented, placing his hands on his thighs. He stared at Kylo, sweat dripping down his face.

'And you're very cocky for someone who is only winning by one point,' Kylo pointed out, swinging the practice saber around and moving to swipe at Trudgen's head.

The Knight laughed, easily meeting Kylo's parry with a defensive move. 'One point is more than I'm used to. You're definitely off your game. And I bet I know who's causing it.'

Kylo didn't answer but continued to strike at the Knight, their weapons hitting each other being the only noise in the room.

Kylo knew his sparring partner was right; he was off his game. Usually he could score point after point, and not break a sweat. But at the moment, his mind wasn't in it. All he could feel was the soft skin of Rey's face under his touch. It was taunting him.

'It's Rey isn't it? I'll admit, she's interesting, but man to man, do you think she's ready for the trials? Vicrul doesn't believe it, but he hasn't spent much time around her,' Trudgen continued.

'If you're trying to distract me by talking about the trials, it's not going to work,' Kylo answered, swiping at Trudgen's thigh.

The Knight let out a short laugh, parrying Kylo's attack with a counter strike. They continued to spar in silence for a few minutes longer, but Kylo couldn't help but ask the question that was niggling in his mind.

'My opinion doesn't matter in this, and neither does Vicrul's. You're the master of the first trial, but you've piqued my curiosity. Will you let Vicrul's opinion of Rey sway your decision?' he asked.

'No! I'm a professional, thank you,' Trudgen chuckled. 'I think she's got a lot more power than she's letting on, but I'm just curious what you think, that's all. It takes a lot for the big bad Kylo Ren to be distracted enough to get knocked on his back during a training session,' Trudgen said.

Kylo frowned, opening his mouth to reply when his legs were swept out from under him. He hit the ground in a heap, his practice lightsaber hitting the ground and bouncing away.

He looked up, a smile tugging on his mouth as he caught sight of Trudgen's laughing face.

'Nice play. I don't think you've knocked me down in… years?' Kylo responded, grabbing hold of the proffered hand that Trudgen was holding out

'Not since Skywalker's Academy, I think.' Trudgen mused. 'And that must be coming up to nearly 15 years ago. So, I was right, that scavenger has addled your brain.'

Kylo raised an eyebrow. Had it really been 15 years since he had last seen his uncle? That had passed quickly. And so much had happened.

He looked at his sparring partner with interest, frowning as he took in the lines around the Knight's mouth and eyes, and the silver strands that were radiating from his temples. In his mind's eye, he always saw Trudgen as the gangly teen that he had first met at his uncle's training school, but now, a man was standing before him. When had that happened? When had they grown up?

'Ready for round two?' Trudgen asked. 'Real weapons this time, just to keep it interesting?'

'Don't blame me if you lose a leg,' Kylo countered back. In a synchronised movement, Kylo and Trudgen raised their hands, their real weapons flying into their fingers. Kylo ignited his lightsaber, watching as Trudgen shifted his vibrocleaver to his more dominant hand. Kylo knew how heavy and unwieldy that blade was to untrained hands, but to Trudgen it was almost a natural extension of his arm.

'You didn't answer my question though. Do you think Rey's powerful enough to get through the trials? It's been a long time since we swore in a new Knight, and she joined us in… unusual circumstances, to say the least,' Trudgen asked.

The two men began to circle each other, their eyes never leaving each other as they held their weapons close. To Trudgen and Kylo, this was a familiar place to be. They had trained for so many years together, that their movements flowed gracefully as they danced around each other.

'Just between us... from what I've seen, she has limitless power. But she's scared to properly use it. But the moment she realises she doesn't have to be worried of that strength, she's going to be… mesmerising,' Kylo said, a smile tugging at his face as he clenched his hands around his lightsaber, the memory of Rey's soft skin on his fingertips lingering.

'Mesmerising, hm? Well, you've got to be careful there. Because when girls get mesmerising, that's when they're at the most dangerous. And you, above all people, can't afford to get distracted,' Trudgen remarked.

Kylo gasped as a gash of pain sliced across his leg, his lightsaber meeting Trudgen's cleaver from where it cut a line across his leg.

'See? Distracted,' Trudgen laughed, leaning back as Kylo brought his saber around. 'I'll admit, Rey's the only woman I've seen to knock Vicrul down and live to tell the tale. Add that toughness against being hot, you've got a winning combination,' Trudgen mused.

Kylo frowned as he took in Trudgen's words. Hot. Was Rey hot? Kylo had plenty of words to describe the scavenger, but to call her simply 'hot' almost felt like an insult.

To him, Rey was brilliant, stubborn, infuriating. As luminescent as the brightest constellations of stars, or as magnificent as a supernova. Her attractiveness was such a small part of her appeal to him, but one that couldn't go unnoticed.

The feeling of her skin under his fingertips haunted him. He had never felt this drawn to another human being before. And for Trudgen to simply label her as 'hot' made him snort.

'What? She is hot! I bet she's left a trail of heartbreak behind her on that desert planet she was found on,' Trudgen retorted.

'That's… not plausible. I don't think Jakku had much of a human population, and she's never mentioned anyone special,' Kylo paused, letting his guard down as he felt a pang of jealousy twist his stomach.

There it was again. That confusing sensation whenever he pictured Rey romantically involved with another person. Why did he feel so conflicted?

He knew his relationship with Rey was different, and they were so connected in a multitude of ways, but did his jealousy mean that he wished for more? Was it romance, or attraction, desire, or even love? And if it was, what did that mean?

Deep in his gut, Kylo knew that from the moment he had first locked eyes with Rey, he had been losing a predetermined battle, but to admit what he wished for…

He couldn't do that just yet.

Another sharp slice across his arm made him wince and jolt back into reality. He looked at his Knight, Trudgen's expression gloating as he circled around Kylo.

'Enough playing,' Kylo spat. His confusion with Rey made him feel too exposed, and he had the sudden need to be alone. Trudgen stepped back, fear replacing his pleasure as he sensed a shift in Kylo's mood.

With a few sharp turns and maneuvers that Kylo knew Trudgen had no counter-attack over, Kylo touched his lightsaber against the Knight's skin numerous times, opening up long wounds that instantly cauterised as they were exposed to the air.

His brutality finished with Kylo forcing Trudgen on his back, his lightsaber held over his face, causing the Knight to sweat and turn his head to get away from the deadly blade.

'That's not fair, you were holding out on me!' Trudgen groaned from the floor.

'Or you're getting weaker and sloppy. I've got a meeting to attend to. You know your way off The Silencer, yes?' Kylo muttered, leaving the Knight on the floor as he swept out of the training room.

'Supreme Leader. Plans for the attack on Crait, for your approval,' Allegiant General Pryde said. The door to the meeting room swished closed, and the General was closely followed by Hux, the latter staring down at Kylo with ill-disguised dislike.

'I think you'll be very pleased with what we've accomplished in such a short time,' Pryde added, his fingertips bringing the plans up on the holoscreens that covered the wall.

'We'll be ready for battle within the week. We've checked the forecast and the weather system above Crait looks favourable for a ground level attack. We'll be able to flush the Resistance scum out in a few hours,' Hux said.

Kylo's eyes scanned the formations of TIE fighters, walkers, and siege cannons that were projected above him. A week, he mused. Why did that date sound so familiar?

The trials…

Kylo cursed himself inwardly. How could he be so careless? He could fully concentrate on Crait with the start of the trials being so close. If he didn't focus on Rey, he knew Vicrul would take any or every opportunity to break her before she was sworn in. Trudgen was right, the scavenger had thrown his usually analytical mind into chaos.

He was going to have to tread carefully.

But as he scanned the screens once more, he needn't have to worry about the two events lapping over. A glaringly obvious flaw stuck out from the plan. For the first time in a few weeks, he was wearing his helmet again, and he was glad that his soldiers couldn't read his expression as he gestured towards the screen.

'How many TIE fighters will be ready by then? Because it looks like we've got ten here, but clearly that's not enough. So I'm guessing the plans are mistaken?' Kylo asked, keeping his voice calm as he questioned his generals.

'I know we usually have fifty to sixty in rotation. So I guess I'm wrong when I say that launching an attack against a heavily fortified base with ten would be both stupid and suicidal,' Kylo continued. He watched as the two generals exchanged fleeting glances, and with a quick nudge inside Pryde's mind, he could feel the worry and hesitation that Pryde was experiencing as he was deliberating his next sentence.

'No, my lord, your analysis, as usual, is correct... We'll only have ten ready,' Pryde answered.

'So. If this report is true, we'll also have twelve Walkers and just the one siege cannon? Please tell me I'm reading that wrong?' Kylo retorted, the anger slipping through his facade.

Their thoughtlessness in planning this attack was ridiculous, any moron could see that. So why were they showing him this? Did they want to annoy him?

'You gave us a few days to prepare, Supreme Leader! We have engineers working all hours. I believe ten would be more than sufficient, if I'm honest. From our scouts, it looks like the Resistance are simply stocking up on food, and not weaponry,' Hux cut in.

'Excuses are weak, and falsities will not be tolerated. I will not launch an attack on Crait unless we've got time to prepare,' Kylo said. 'I also have other matters to attend to, and do not want anything to distract me from that.'

Hux snorted. 'And what 'matters' are they, my lord? Cosying up to that scavenger that you've brought abroad The Silencer?'

Kylo turned to face the general, tilting his head to the side as he considered the man before him.

'It seems to me that you continue to forget to whom you're speaking to, Hux. So, to make the matter 'stick', I'll ask Vicrul to pay you a visit later. He's very good at helping people to improve their memories.'

Beneath his mask, Kylo smiled as he watched all the blood drain from Hux's face. Threatening any of his men with an hour with Vicrul was something that he didn't enjoy doing, but sometimes, men like Hux needed that boost to keep them in line.

'Pryde,' Kylo turned to the fellow officer. 'You're an exemplary officer, with a long and distinguished career behind you. So, this time, I will ignore this transgression. In a week, my Knights Ushar and Ap'lek and I will review this again, as their expertise in battle is matchless.'

'Very good sir,' Pryde muttered, hastily pulling down the plans. Kylo nodded. 'Any other order of business, my lord?' The general asked.

'Yes,' Kylo said. Nerves stirred in his stomach as he considered the next few words. His plans, which had always been hinted at, and even voiced by the Knights and Rey, had never been formally discussed. But he knew it was time to admit who he was, and who he was going to become.

'For my reign as Supreme Leader, it's worth noting there will be a few changes. After the last dregs of Resistance are wiped out, I plan to announcement my takeover as Emperor of the Galaxy, and my creation of the new Empire.'

'A worthy endeavour, my lord. And one I give my full support on,' Pryde nodded his head. Beside him, Hux just sneered in response.

'And through this, I'm going to announce Rey's ascension to be my Empress,' Kylo said, the nerves ramping up as he stared at his two men.

'The girl from Jakku, my lord? I don't mean to stir, but… is that the best idea? She was on the side of the Resistance not too long ago.' Pryde frowned as he asked the question.

'She has proven herself to be a worthwhile and loyal companion, and one who will not only help shape the Empire, but direct it,' Kylo said firmly.

'And have you asked our Jakku visitor if she's happy to join you and become your… I guess your 'Empress consort'?' Hux questioned.

Not properly yet, no. Kylo thought. The word 'consort' buzzed through his mind as he once again felt Rey's soft skin under his hands.

Author's Note: Of course, another chapter dedicated to my editor 'Across The Stars' - don't worry, I'm never angry at you.

I hope everyone's enjoying the story. Please send me some feedback - is it moving at a good pace (as a reader?) What else would you like to see?