Skurn walked through the modern halls of the lower levels with Kylo by her side. She knew he hadn't gone to the training room today for their session because she was distracted but so far the two had wasted their valuable training time in silence. With a glance at the clock, her body froze slightly as she saw the time... she'd have to go train her own apprentice soon. Worry and confusion filled her more than ever. Lucifi wasn't whom he said, Snoke could've brought him in not knowing he was a spy, or perhaps this was a test to see if she gave away First Order secrets... What was she going to do? She didn't want to train the enemy if that's what he was.

"I won't be patient forever." Kylo cut through the silence, probably sensing her anxiety and seeing the time trickling away.

"Kylo I..." She stared at him, not sure how to explain especially with so many others to over hear. "It's Lucifi."

"Having problems with training him?" His voice was full of humor. "I could try finding someone else to train him."

"No, that's not the problem. He is actually quite good with a lightsaber, though his Force skills are lacking without his blind anger." She turned down a more secluded and darker tunnel that would lead to the cave system above. "It's who he is."

"What about him is bothering you so much? You seem so distracted today, why does it bother you so much now?" He questioned, seeming to stare into her soul with his dark eyes.

She stared at him nervously, his scar seemed to create a darker and sinister look to his face but she shook the thought off. He wouldn't attack her for a theory... right? "Lucifi is, or was, a Jedi. You said you killed them all except Skywalker and your brother, but he's dead right?"

"What are you getting at?" Kylo pressed. "One could have escaped but I may not have been the only to leave for the Dark side back then."

"Last night I found Lucifi-"

"Why were you with him last night?" He interrupted.

"Not sleeping because of the screaming he was making." She growled back slightly. "He was in the hall sleeping again, having nightmares by the sound of it. When I found him he was awake, a bit confused about where he was... like he knew me but was scared."

"I would be too if I woke you up in the middle of the night." He glanced at his lightsaber. "Well, maybe not as much as your apprentice. You'll never be as scary as me."

"Any way..." She continued, ignoring his attempted joke. " He started actually talking with me, so he isn't a mute, but the most interesting part wasn't that or what he said. I pulled his helmet off because he was nearly thrashing on the ground, I didn't want to take care of his body, what I saw... Kylo, promise me you won't act irrationally."

His eyes narrowed. "Who do you think he is?"

"Alder." She winced as he rounded on her and pinned her to the wall, rage was now radiating from his body.

"My brother is dead. I left his body in the snow." Kylo snarled, pressing her harder against the wall.

"Then why did he look just like you?" She challenged, feeling his hand on her throat ready to press down and crush her windpipe.

She winced as he went into her mind before staring down at her. "I should have sensed it... Something is off with him though, Snoke must be behind it."

"What are we going to do about it? He isn't on our side, no matter what Snoke says I'll never believe he is with us."

"Nothing for now. We cannot kill him against my master's orders, my brother stays alive for now." Skurn saw his eyes narrow in concern as he stared at her neck. "Who did that to you?"

"Did what?" She slid away from his hand, concerned that half her neck had been numb to his touch.

"Don't lie." Kylo's eyes continued flickering with anger as he held her still with one hand and activated his lightsaber to give him better lighting. "Which of them did this to you?"

"The dead one." She slipped free of his grip and continued down the hall. "I have to get Lucifi for training so unless you wish to see him I suggest you go back to your plans... see if Hux is ready on his end you know?"

Footsteps followed her but she didn't turn around to face Kylo as she took the twists and turns that would take her to her apprentice's room. To her displeasure she found Lucifi outside waiting with his helmet under his arm, though his hood was up to shadow his face.

"What did I tell you?" Skurn hissed, causing him to jump.

Lucifi gave her a small bow. "I apologize Master Zein. I was a bit... restless."

"Put your helmet on and follow me."

"I can't." He stepped back with a glance between her and Kylo as he clutched his head. "I don't... belong... I- Master Zein... it hurts..."

Kylo stepped up to her side, his eyes never leaving his brother. "He was doing this last night?"

"Something similar, yes." Skurn held onto her dark saber but didn't activate it quite yet. "Do you know why he's doing this?"

"He was bitten by a Hssiss." Kylo stated as he continued to watch his brother struggle with interest. "The Dark side poison is slowly taking over his mind but that doesn't mean his old self won't try fighting it... We need to take care of him before someone helps cure him."

"No one knows where he is to help him." Skurn reasoned. "But I agree. We need to dispose of him."

She watched as Alder slid to the ground, his body trembling. "Rey... please..."

"Kill him." Kylo ordered her. "I believe it's your turn."

Was that a flicker of reluctance coming off him? She glanced at Kylo; did he not want to be forced to kill his own brother a second time? Skurn activated her dark saber and took a step forward. Alder paused to stare up at her, his eyes widening with fear and confusion as he fought between his real self and what the poison was warping him to be... she was doing him a favor. She allowed her blade to hover just over the back of his neck, ready to swing it through his body.

"M-master Zein?" Lucifi's eyes flickered from the blade to her face as she stared at him emotionlessly.

"You failed." Skurn responded before drawing her weapon back and bringing it down at his head.

A red blade met hers and she glanced at Kylo who gave her a nod. "Very good. You would have done it, just as I knew you would."

"What?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

She felt his mind brush against hers, begging her to read his thoughts, so that's what she did. Still confused about his intentions.

"She is a child of the Dark side, created by darkness and born to serve darkness. You are a focal point, powerful, quick to learn, but she is strong too. Stronger than you in some respects... like your grandfather was."

"What are you saying?" Kylo's voice was a growl and Skurn could feel anger and uncertainty coming from him.

"Zein Ren will fight for us... and die when she is no longer needed." She shuddered at the emotionless tone. "I can't have her as a threat once the Resistance is out of the way."

"She is not a threat." Kylo defended her and she felt a strange emotion coming from him. "I trained her to be loyal to us."

"A bounty hunter will never be loyal." Snoke's amused tone deepened her concern. "My naive apprentice, she is only here so she will not be killed... That was your deal with her correct?"

Snoke left the memory as Kylo stared at the ground. "Yes."

"Then she is not truly loyal."

Skurn wanted to see more but felt Kylo push her from his mind roughly as he walked away, pausing once to stare back at Lucifi. "Remember, no matter what the order, always obey your master's command."

Lucifi looked terrified as he nodded at him, his face paler than the snow he should've died in. "O-of course."

He gave her one last lingering gaze before walking back the way they'd came,leaving her alone with his brother. Skurn looked from Lucifi to Kylo's disappearing form as he placed his helmet on his head... Did Snoke really plan on killing her? The cold feeling of fear pricked inside her as she dragged Lucifi to his feet and led the way to the training room. Kylo wouldn't kill her right?Why would he show her that if he didn't trust her? But his words to his brother echoed in her mind, would he obey if Snoke ordered him to kill her?