Star Wars: Duel of the Fates - Valertius (2024)

Chapter 1: A Message from the Author

Chapter Text

A Message from the Author:

Welcome! To those of you who have not read my rewrite of The Last Jedi, I strongly recommend that you go and read it, otherwise you will be completely lost about where characters are, what their motivations are and what sides they’ve chosen. And if you enjoy that, I invite you to return here to see how my story ends in this sequel. Despite what the title suggests, this is not a retelling the 2016 script of Star Wars: Duel of the Fates by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly. I chose the name in honor of it and because it did serve as a source of inspiration within the Star Wars media. My rewrite of The Last Jedi was therapeutic, but this one was done out of sheer fun. As before, I am a one man show, so any errors or mistakes are mine and mine alone. That said, I hope you enjoy, and may the Force be with you!

Chapter 2: Chapter 1

Chapter Text

General Griss couldn’t help but feel nervous as he sat in his chair aboard his Star Destroyer, the Revenge, sweeping the Tanani Sector for a ghost. The New Empire’s invasion into Republic space had not gone quite as swimmingly as expected. It began auspiciously enough with the capture of Fondor and its vital orbital shipyards, followed by the news that half a dozen star systems had bucked off Republic control and pledged their support to the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. However, everything since then had been a logistical nightmare. What was supposed to be a two-month building phase to expand the New Imperial Fleet had turned into a six-month slog, with random acts of sabotage, and Republic strikes slowing their building operations to a crawl. In response, Allegiant-General Pryde ordered increased patrols in the surrounding systems, sweeping for any sign of Republic activity, leading to several small but violent skirmishes with the Republic Fleet who refused to commit to a pitched battle, but more than willing to engage patrol ships.

The past few weeks had gone from bad to worse for Imperial High Command with the sudden death of General Parnadee. Three days later, General Engell and her Star Destroyer, the Nova, had gone missing after failing to report back from its patrol in the Tapani Sector. Recently, it didn’t seem so safe to be a member of Imperial High Command. Some in the lower ranks even began to whisper that the generals of Imperial High Command were cursed, haunted for betraying the late Supreme Leader Snoke. General Griss was not a superstitious man, but this string of bad luck was beginning to eat away at him.

“Anything on scanners?” he asked the bridge officer.

“Not entirely sure, sir,” replied the officer, examining the monitor, “We’re detecting faint pings coming from the asteroid ring of the planet Mrlsset. Could be a distress beacon, but the signal’s too distorted to make out.”

“It could be that Mrlsset’s asteroid rings are distorting the signal,” postulated Lieutenant Saevius, Griss’s second-in-command, “perhaps it’s worth investigating, General.”

“Very well, helmsman, take us into Mrlsset’s rings, steer us clear from the larger rocks. Gunners, keep an eye open for any smaller incoming asteroids. Any one of them drifts within ten kilometers from us, blast it to bits, everyone else keep sweeping the area for the Nova. Use whatever scans we have, and keep the coms opened for distress signals.”

The general tightened his grip on the armrest of his chair as the Revenge made its way towards Mrlsset’s asteroid rings, proceeding into the field with extreme caution. The Rings of Mrlsset were comprised of millions of red and brown rocks of various shapes and sizes, some as small as a single-manned fighter, others more than three times the size of the Destroyer, all of them flowing in a constant clockwise motion due to the planet’s gravitational pull. The sheer density of the field made navigation difficult, as the bridge crew tensed from the sound of sprinkling meteorites pelting the ship’s hull. The ship’s turbo lasers started firing on any nearby drifting rocks, blasting them to pieces, the peppering sound of meteorites intensifying as they made their way further into the field.

“Anything on scanners?” asked General Griss.

“The sound is still distorted, but it’s growing louder.”

Saevius looked out the bridge window, seeing the massive rocks floating by, “If it is them, it’ll be a miracle if the ship wasn’t grounded into dust.”

“General, we found her.” spoke the bridge officer, as the ship moved past a city-sized asteroid, and saw what was drifting behind it.

“Full stop…” ordered Griss, as he began to question the validity of his officer’s statement, “…more like what’s left of her.”

The Star Destroyer Nova, has finally been found, a mangled and almost unrecognizable wreckage that appeared to have slammed into a large rock face. The ship had been split in half, broken midship, the bow grinded to nothing but chunks of floating debris, the stern barely holding together, devoid of power and littered with gaping hull breaches.

“Was this the Republic’s doing?” asked an officer, “They’ve never come out this far before.”

“Maybe it was an accident,” suggested another. “Maybe they were hit by an asteroid, and crashed against that large rock face.”

“Why would they get so close to the asteroid field to begin with?” asked Saevius, “Unless they found something. They probably entered the asteroid belt in pursuit of something.”

“Or to run away from something...” retorted Griss. “Scan for life forms. See if there are any survivors.”

“General, we are receiving a faint transmission. It’s General Engell’s personal shuttle, the Abarath.”

Griss looked back to the wreckage and saw a bright light blasting away from the bulk of the wreckage. After magnifying the image on the holo-table, Griss recognized the make, an Imperial shuttle for sure.

“They’re hailing us.”

“Put it on speaker. And I want our guns trained on that ship ready to fire on my command.”

“But General-”

“Do as the General commands, Sergeant,” ordered the Lieutenant sternly, “And put them on speaker.”

“This is Shuttle Abarath, requesting permission to dock on your ship immediately. We have about a dozen wounded onboard, including General Engell herself. We need immediate medical attention.”

“Shuttle Abarath, verify your identity by transmitting General Engell’s personal clearance code, and standby until further orders.”

“Transmitting.”

A few moments later, the coms officer spoke, “The clearance code is authentic, General.”

“Order the gun crews to stand down,” ordered General Griss, before readdressing the shuttle pilot, “Shuttle Abarath, you have permission to dock with us. Proceed to the Hangar Bay 6.” He turned to his lieutenant, “Send a medical team down to the dock immediately. Mind the bridge until I return, lieutenant.”

“Return? Where will you be, sir?” asked a confused Lieutenant Saevius.

“Down to Hangar Bay 6. I want to see General Engell and find out what the hell is going on here.”

“But sir-”

“That’s an order Lieutenant,” barked General Griss as he and his armed escort exited the bridge and headed down the elevator to the docking bay.

By the time he reached the hangar bay, General Griss found the shuttle had already landed, with teams of technicians and medical staff congregating around it.

“What is going on, here?” asked Griss impatiently, “Why haven’t you gotten them out yet?”

A technician spoke up, “Sir we’re having trouble opening the doors, seems there is a mechanical failure, and nobody inside is responding.”

“Then force it open! They may not be responding because they could very well be injured or incapacitated. Are you moronic enough not to consider that?! Get it open now!”

“Right away sir.” The technicians stepped forward and began welding at the door.

“Hurry it up, this isn’t happening fast enough!” Griss shouted anxiously, pacing back and forth, worried over the condition of his fellow general and friend.

After finally cutting through, the technicians pried down the door, dislodging it and letting it slam on the floor with a reverberating thud. As the smoke cleared, the inside of the shuttle was shrouded in total darkness, with not even the emergency lights working, and not a sound could be heard from inside it. There was a change in the air, a sudden chill that seemed to envelop the entire hangar, as a collective uneasiness began to settle over the group. Even General Griss could feel it, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. Something was wrong.

“General Engell?” called out General Griss. “Is anyone in there?”

A pair of Stormtroopers slowly moved forward, priming and holding up their blasters.

In the blink of an eye, an ominous red light jolted to life, a terrifying glow of a lightsaber. General Griss and the commanders tensed, knowing all too well the ominous sign of the cross-saber and who the weapon belonged to.

“That’s impossible,” muttered Griss, before shouting to his escort, “All troops to me!”

Every Stormtrooper present in the hangar lined up, getting between their General and the shuttle, their weapons trained at the singular plasma glow.

“Kylo…” muttered General Griss fearfully.

The dark interior of the shuttle receded further as more glowing blades sprang to life, their collective hue providing just enough illumination for the onlookers to make out the silhouettes of crude black armor, the armor belonging to the Knights of Ren.

“Shoot! Shoot!” cried a desperate Griss, as the troopers opened fire.

The blaster fire was blocked effortlessly by the lead assailant, twirling his lightsaber around, deflecting blaster fire back at the hapless Stormtroopers, as the group slowly advanced and stepped out of the shadows. The masked Kylo Ren led the charge, rushing into the crowd of Stormtroopers swinging violently and decapitating the nearest soldier. His brethren came up behind him, deflecting blaster fire and darting around the Stormtroopers, slicing away at blinding speeds.

Griss and his escort fled to the nearest exit as the alarms sounded and more Stormtroopers piled into the hangar bay, trying but utterly failing to stop the Knights of Ren. The seven Knights carved their way through any resistance, severing soldiers’ limbs in a brutal showing, using modified plasma tipped scythes, axes and daggers. The largest of them had no plasma blade, content to use an oversized vibro-cleaver, charging halfco*cked and allowing his heavy armor to absorb the blaster fire as he carved into several screaming Stormtroopers in a harrowing and bloody display. Another lighter-armored knight showed remarkable skill and almost inhuman reflexes, deflecting blaster fire with a lightdagger in his left hand, and shooting a repeater blaster pistol with his right hand, mowing down troopers with pinpoint precision.

As Griss and his escort reached the elevator doors, and closed them behind him, he gasped, allowing himself to finally breathe as the elevator made its ascent.

“This isn’t possible!” he shouted to his aide, now knowing who was behind, “How is Kylo Ren still alive?! I thought Darth Ira killed him alongside Snoke! And how the hell did they manage to acquire General Engell’s personal clearance code?!”

“I don’t know, sir!” replied the aide nervously, “What do you want to do?”

“Head back to the bridge, and send out a distress call.”

His captain began to speak, “But General, our soldiers should-”

“Your soldiers have no chance at winning, captain! They’ll be lucky to even slow them down! We need to get back to the bridge and close all the blast doors. Pray that will delay them long enough for help to arrive.”

Without warning, the elevator abruptly halted, causing all its occupants to stumble to the floor. As they recovered from the sudden stoppage, the occupants looked around, wondering what could have caused the disruption. One of Griss’s officers hit the emergency switch, only to find that it wasn’t working. The lights started flickering on and off, before cutting out completely. Suddenly an unnatural sound of twisted metal filled the elevator as the walls began bending inwards in on themselves, as if being crushed by some malevolent unseen force. Like a can being squeezed, the elevator lift compressed, and the only thing that General Griss and his entourage could do was die screaming.

***

“You certainly know how to throw a surprise party…” remarked Trudgen, planting his foot on the back of a dead Stormtrooper and wrenching out his vibro-cleaver from the dead soldier’s spine with a sickening crunch. He nodded contentedly upon hearing the noise, “I’m not gonna lie, these weapon upgrades you issued us are effective, but nothing beats the crunching sound when you hit with a vibro-blade.”

“You need serious help, Trudgen,” spoke Ushar, scanning the hangar, and the dead bodies littering the ground, “A good start. We must have taken out at least two full platoons already.”

“They’ll send an entire regiment down on us any minute. We shouldn’t delay. We need to head to the bridge and secure the ship as quickly as possible,” insisted Vicrul, putting away his lightsaber, and holstering his repeater pistol.

“Don’t worry,” informed Kylo. “The situation is under control.”

The six Knights all turned to him in surprise.

Kuruk spoke out, “Something you aren’t telling us, Ren?”

Kylo didn’t bother to look back, instead walked forward towards the elevators, “Just follow my lead.”

Kylo walked down the corridor flanked on either side by his knights. The lot of them had slaughtered a fair number of New Imperial squads, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake, as they made their way to towards the bridge. It was little trouble to crush General Griss in the elevator lift in his vain attempt to escape. His mission of revenge had been months in the making, but had been going swimmingly thus far, with one more name to scratch off the list of the treacherous Imperial High Command. First Parnadee, then Engell, and now Griss, all of them dying excruciating deaths for turning their backs on Snoke, and more egregiously, on him.

As Kylo and his Knights made their way up towards the bridge, they noticed a lack of serious resistance. Nobody had engaged them since their arrival in the hangar, and it left the Knights bewildered as to why. As they finally reached the blast door to the ship’s bridge, they were met by three squads of Stormtroopers lining up in front of the door, two heavy blaster emplacements set up and manned, taking aim at the intruders.

Kylo’s Knights stepped forward, brandished their weapons, and squaring off against them, but Kylo refused to activate his own lightsaber, instead staying perfectly still.

Before any action could be taken, the ship’s intercom sprung to life, “This is Lieutenant Saevius, acting commander of the Revenge. All personnel are hereby ordered to stand down. Do not engage. I repeat, do not engage.”

The Stormtroopers stared at one another in confusion before lowering their weapons, allowing Ren and his men to pass through. The heavy blast doors opened and Kylo was greeted by Lieutenant Saevius, offering a bow of respect.

“Welcome my Lord,” he greeted, “The Revenge is yours.”

“Lieutenant Saevius,” spoke Kylo, his voice muffled by his voice modulator, “It would seem the intelligence you provided us on the patrol root of the Nova was true after all, as was General Engell’s personal security code.”

“I trust that I have sufficiently proven my loyalty to you and the First Order, my Lord. As ever, I remain faithful to our late Supreme Leader.”

“Loyalty is a rare thing these days, Lieutenant. Do not think you can buy mine so easily. You and every officer in this room abandoned the First Order when Palpatine declared himself Emperor.”

Lieutenant Saevius swallowed nervously, “My Lord, our commanders betrayed you, not us. We had no say in that decision-”

Kylo reached out with a wave of his hand, slamming the hapless Saevius hard against a control console, before focusing his Force powers around his neck. Kylo squeezed, causing the Lieutenant to gasp for air, grabbing at his own throat in a useless attempt to relieve the pressure as he thrashed his feet rather pathetically.

“But you made no attempt to stop them. No act of mutiny, no organized resistance, not even a word of protest. You allowed yourselves to be pressed into a new regime that toppled the very leader you now claim to extol. So I ask you, why did you fail to do anything to stop them when the time came?”

The lieutenant could give no answer, still choking as Kylo tightened his grip. Kylo sensed the terror in him, in every officer on the bridge, in every crewmember on that ship. They were all terrified of him.

“Believe it or not, you’ve given me my answer,” noted Kylo, releasing his hold on the lieutenant, “Fear. Fear was the reason you failed to stand up to your commanding officers, why you bowed before Palpatine. And fear is also the reason why you agreed to act as my informant. Because fear is an effective teacher, and it taught you a valuable lesson, that you should be more afraid of me than you are of Palpatine. Remember that lesson, because now you know firsthand the kind of fate that is in store for the people who’ve betrayed me. See to it that you never forget this…Captain.”

“Ye-yes sir,” said the former Lieutenant, “And thank you for the promotion, sir.”

“Welcome back to the First Order, Captain Saevius. We have a lot of work to do.”

“What is your command, my Lord?”

“Clear the asteroid field, and proceed to the Y'Toub system. We will rendezvous with Allegiant-General Hux.”

“Yes sir, right away, sir,” answered Captain Saevius nervously, before instructing the helmsman, “Bring us about, and get us out of this asteroid field.”

“One last thing, Captain,” added Kylo, “I want to send a message.”

“To whom, sir?”

“To Allegiant-General Pryde. It’s time I teach him a lesson in fear.”

***

Allegiant-General Enric Pryde was normally a very composed man. His sense of calm and his ability to look at situations dispassionately were two of his greatest qualities. They allowed him to excel as a soldier, a fleet officer, and now as Allegiant-General, the third most powerful person in the whole of the New Empire. However, in recent weeks, Enric Pryde found his extraordinary sense of composure beginning to wither, not only from the constant delays and acts of sabotage by Republic insurgents, but now, more disturbingly from the assassinations of his inner circle. The three highest ranking members of Imperial High Command had died off one by one in a span of a few weeks. Every member of the original brass who had sworn allegiance to the resurrected Emperor Palpatine at the Battle of Crait, had all died horribly, save for himself. He was the last one alive, and this latest transmission had admittedly gotten under his skin. Until that transmission, he had assumed the assassinations were the Republic’s doing, but the truth was far worse.

Pryde flopped down into his chair unceremoniously at the head of the massive holo-table in the empty council chamber. He had spent too many hours sitting in that chair, attending too many meetings with the rest of the New Imperial High Command, and had too much difficulty finding suitable replacements to fill the ever-growing vacancies on the Supreme Council. Pryde looked out the nearby windows to see massive orbiting Fondorian Shipyards and the idle New Imperial Fleet he had been tasked with amassing. The process was slow going and wrought with delays. By now he had hoped for at least a hundred capital ships, and at least three times as many support ships, but the shipyards had only managed to build about fifty capital ships, and only about two hundred support ships. Though a force of that size would be large enough to launch a blitz attack on the Core Worlds, it wouldn’t be enough to capture and hold Coruscant, the Jewel of the Republic, and the de facto Republic capital. His latest intelligence reports had indicated that the Republic were rebuilding their own fleets in Corellia and Kuat. He had yet to obtain a proper estimate on how many ships they had already made, but he knew they needed to act fast before the Republic could fully recover its strength.

“Emperor Palpatine expected you to be half way to Coruscant by now…” said a feminine voice coming from the shadowy corner of the room.

Pryde recognized the voice, and immediately stood at attention, “Lady Ira.”

The young woman walked out of the shadows right over to him, dressed all in black, her black hair tucked into a simple low bun, the hilt of her lightsaber staff buckled onto her waist belt. Her eyes exuded strength, and even a hint of sadness, but they surprisingly lacked the malice of her master. Truthfully, Pryde and everyone else in the Fleet felt a lot easier when conversing with her as opposed to the Emperor.

“I received your message about wanting to meet with me in private,” she spoke, “It sounded urgent.”

“It is,” he assured, “Forgive the secrecy, but I did not want to risk this leaking out. Over the past few months, we’ve had a number of desertions from our ranks. After inquiring as to the reason, our intelligence units began to hear talk about a splinter faction of First Order Loyalists, fanatics loyal to the late Supreme Leader Snoke, hiding somewhere in Hutt Space.”

“I’ve heard the rumors, Allegiant-General, but if I remember correctly, your agents found no proof that they actually exist.”

“At the time yes, but that was before this string of assassinations began. Since then, the rumors have spread wildly. Some are even saying that the New Empire’s leadership is cursed, and that Snoke’s spirit has come from beyond the grave to punish his betrayers. These rumors have driven many of our men to abandon their posts, so much so that we’ve had to extensively recondition our soldiers. And just today, I received this. This was sent to my personal com less than an hour ago.”

He clicked on a button on the table and activated the holographic projector. The hologram depicted an image of Kylo Ren, donning his black robes and battle armor, and carrying a mask quite similar to his old one in the crook of his arm.

“Ben…” whispered Ira, in a state of genuine surprise.

“This message is for Allegiant-General Pryde, the last of the traitors,” the hologram of Kylo spoke, “General Griss is dead. I want you to know that he died a very painful death at my hand. His ship now belongs to the First Order, the rightful rulers of the Galaxy. I have made it my mission to avenge our fallen Supreme Leader, and kill all the traitors who turned their backs on him. You betrayed your Leader to save your own skins at Crait. You sought to be rewarded by the ones who’ve deposed him, but all you’ve earned was a slow and painful death, the only reward suitable for a traitor. The others have already been given their rewards, and now it’s your turn, Pryde. Run, hide, bolster your defenses, crawl to your Emperor - do whatever you feel you have to, but it won’t matter in the end, because I’m coming for you, and you will beg me to kill you by the time I’m through. As for Palpatine and his scavenger apprentice…” Kylo put on his helmet, and resumed speaking, his voice modulator deepening the pitch of his voice, “…tell them their time is coming soon.” The message abruptly terminated.

“It would seem these rumors about a First Order splinter group are true.” Pryde deactivated the holo-table, “You understand my concern, Lady Ira. We’ve already lost three original members of Imperial High Command.”

“He’s alive…” she said quietly, almost as if in a state of shock.

Pryde tilted his head, “Lady Ira? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing,” she dismissed, “Go on.”

“Snoke may not have come back from the dead, but it seems his apprentice has, and he’s seeking vengeance on his master’s behalf. This reign of terror is eroding our morale and numbers, and poses a constant threat to our plans. Kylo and his First Order Loyalists have already acquired at least two Star Destroyers, and more than likely destroyed a third, as well as gutted our leadership. We cannot allow them to continually weaken our position with impunity. We are already being squeezed by the Republic to the point where we’ve had to alter our plans. We must now attack Corellia to keep its shipyards out of Republic hands, and increase our own fleet production, but I cannot risk committing to an attack with this threat waiting in the wings. Kylo is too powerful for any of my men, but he’s not more powerful than you. I beseech you to find and kill this menace before he foils our plans.”

Darth Ira looked legitimately astonished, as if she refused to believe her own eyes.

“Something wrong, Lady Ira?”

Her face suddenly turned stoic, as if she put on a mask. “I will take command of three Star Destroyers and a half dozen support ships. I’ll head to Hutt space, ferret out these First Order Loyalists and deal with Kylo Ren myself. Carry on with your plan to attack Corellia.”

“Emperor Palpatine should be informed of this…” Pryde noticed the furrowed look on her face as he said her master’s name, “…I can brief him if you wish.”

She closed her eyes, not answering his question.

“Lady Ira? Would you like me to tell him?” he offered again.

She opened her eyes, and answered matter-of-factly, “I already have. Proceed with your attack, Allegiant-General. The Emperor wants no further delays.”

Chapter 3: Chapter 2

Chapter Text

Poe remembered the look Leia gave them after they told her about their plan. He distinctly remembered her palming her face as if she was fighting back a migraine.

“So lemme get this straight…” she said to them, “you wanna piggyback on a freighter, slip past the Fondorian deflector grid, drop out of the freighter and fly your way to the nearest shield station using an untested cloaking device, sneak on board, slice your way into the power generator with the help of a slicer we don’t know and can’t trust, then head back to the Falcon and hope to fly away before the attack commences? Am I missing anything from this crazy plan of yours?”

Poe remembered looking nervously at Finn, who looked at Rose, who looked at Chewie, who looked at Poe, before all of them turned back to Leia. “Well, when you put it that way…” quipped Poe in a clumsy attempt at levity, trying hard to come up with a punchline.

Finding a freighter captain brave or stupid enough to slip them past the Fondorian Shipyard’s deflector shield network was the easy part. Many of the native Fondorians weren’t happy with the Empire for invading their planet and taking control of their shipyards. One captain by the name of Keldoran was recommended by their contacts in the Fondorian resistance movement. His freighter was the perfect size to carry the Millennium Falcon inside its cargo hold and he regularly made supply runs to and from the restricted zone. Less easy was finding a slicer willing to hack them through the shield station’s security systems. Maz Kanata recommended several different slicers, but they all turned them down, saying it was simply too dangerous no matter how many credits they offered. In the end, they were forced to resort to a rather frowzy looking slicer who went by the name DJ, who had a terrible stutter, wreaked of spotchka and always looked like he had just woken up from an alcohol-induced coma. Most alarming was the installation of the cloak field generator on the Falcon. Cloaking generators weren’t meant for smaller ships with smaller energy outputs. So much energy was required to sustain the cloaking field that everyone, including Chewie, was sure it would short circuit the Falcon’s already tenuous power system, but Rose was sure it could work after some serious rewiring. Chewie and Rose argued for hours over the monumental task of rerouting the Falcon’s archaic power system so it would withstand the added energy output without blowing up the ship. To their credit, they eventually managed to get it working, but while preliminary stress testing proved successful, doubt remained as to whether or not it would work on a real mission, especially one as vital as this one.

So much was riding on this mission, and so many things could easily go wrong that Poe thought it best not to think about it, instead deciding to play what he hoped was a friendly game of Dejarik with Chewie as they all waited aboard the Falcon, being carried to their destination about Keldoran’s freighter. What Poe had gotten instead was an exercise in aggravation, with Chewie taking so long to consider his moves that Poe feared the war would come to an end before the game would.

“So you gonna make a move any time this revolution?”

Chewie groaned.

“Hey, I’m not the one who’s taking forever to make a move here!”

Chewie growled, growing agitated, as he finally took his turn, moving his holographic Dejarik piece, taking down one of Poe’s few remaining pieces.

Chewie hooted triumphantly, as Poe rubbed his eyebrows, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Wha-wait. How did you do that? That can’t be a legal move,” remarked Poe, looking down at the holo-table, trying to figure out what just happened.

Chewie barked out a snide response, but was cut off as the com channel sprung to life.

“Keldoran to the Millennium Falcon, we’re almost at the shipyards. Get your people ready. Standby to get dropped the minute we get through the deflector shield.”

Poe clicked on the intercom, “Roger that, Keldoran.” Poe then switch to a local com, “Finn, Rose, DJ, you heard the man. Get yourselves ready.”

Chewie grunted at Poe, as he turned off the holo-table.

“No, I’m not conceding. We’re gonna finish this game later.”

BB-8 decided to chime in with a series of uncertain beeps.

“Would you stop worrying about the mission, it’s going to be fine.”

BB-8 retorted with a sarcastic bleep.

“Why do you keep bringing up Kijimi? Besides, this situation is completely different.”

“Okay,” spoke Finn, walking into the main hold dressed in a full Imperial Officer’s uniform. “How do I look?”

Chewie and Poe stifled a laugh.

“You look snappy,” teased Poe, “At least we know the uniform fits.”

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this,” muttered Finn, putting on his officer’s cap. “Is this even gonna fool anyone?”

“Forget about the uniforms,” said Rose, walking into view, also dressed in an identical Imperial uniform. “I’m more worried about our new slicer friend and if he can even get us through the shield station’s security. Are you sure he’s capable of doing this?”

“Listen, he’s the only one who was willing to take the job. And you saw how easily he got himself out of that jail cell on Canto Bight.”

“Yeah, after he was arrested for petty theft and drunken disorderly conduct. Not exactly the master codebreaker we were hoping for.”

Finn looked around, “Speaking of, where is DJ?”

Everyone looked around, when they heard a tumble in the back, as DJ stumbled his way into the hold tripping over some empty supply crates. His uniform was disheveled, his chin gruff and unshaved, and as usual his eyes were barely opened.

“Someone call me?” he moaned, after a prolonged yawn.

“Are you sure you’re able to do this?” asked an agitated Rose.

“Yeah, about that…”

The whole group stared at him intently.

DJ nodded, “Guys…I can do it. Like I said, for the right price, I can get you in anywhere. But we need to renegotiate said price.”

Poe groaned, “We already agreed to your price, DJ. Fifty thousand credits, half up front, have when we get back.”

“Yeah, but you d-d-d-d-didn’t tell me it was gonna be this risky. Sneaking past a shield grid is one thing, but now you wanna fly over to the shield station in this t-t-t-tin can using an untested cloaking device? If we’re lucky the whole ship will short out when you turn it on, and we’ll be sitting ducks for the Imperials. If we’re unlucky, then this museum piece is g-g-g-gonna go boom when you flip that switch.”

“We’ve tested in a controlled environment a dozen times,” insisted Rose, sounding almost offended, “The ship can handle the added power.”

Chewie groaned, sounding a little uncertain.

Rose turned to Poe, “Wait, what he say?”

Poe shook his head, “Don’t ask.”

DJ intentionally cleared his throat, “Given these odds, I want at least d-d-d-double the money.”

“That’s not what we discussed, DJ-” Poe was interrupted by the com.

“Keldoran here, we’re through the shield barrier. Stand by to get dropped out the Bombay doors. Good luck, Poe.”

“Alright, it’s do or die time, Chewie.” said Poe, leading the group to the co*ckpit. Poe motioned to the main pilot’s chair, but was met with a hostile shriek from Chewie.

“Alright, alright!” Poe conceded taking the co-pilot’s seat instead, as Chewie took the pilot’s seat, and the rest of the group hovered around them. The Bombay doors opened and the Falcon dropped from the cargo hold into space.

“Alright Rose, it’s the moment of truth. Tell me this cloaking field is gonna work.”

“It’ll work, I’m telling you,” insisted Rose.

“Here we go. Everyone, hold your breath.”

Everyone held their breath, except for DJ, who thought it more appropriate to plug his ears.

Poe activated the cloaking field, and instantly the ship’s power surged, before failing completely, knocking out everything but the emergency power systems. The co*ckpit was flooded in red light, as the ship sputtered and drifted in space. Poe rolled his eyes, before turning to Rose with an accusatory look. He wasn’t the only one.

Rose swallowed nervously, “I…I don’t understand. It should work!”

“T-t-t-t-told ya.”

“At least we didn’t blow up,” suggested Finn, trying to put some kind of positive spin on things.

“We will if any Imperial patrols pick us up on their scanners,” noted Poe, frantically clicking on anything within reach, “Chewie, anything you can do?”

Chewie growled, smashing his massive fist into the overhead console. As if by magic, the ship’s power returned. The Falcon had sprung back to life, and the cloak started working. The Falcon was briefly enveloped with a sheen of bright purple light, before vanishing, leaving only a hint of an energy field around its hull, appearing invisible from the outside.

Everyone took a deep breath in relief, Rose taking the deepest.

“Alright, time to do a little reconnaissance,” declared Poe.

Under cover of the cloaking field, the Millennium Falcon traveled toward its destination, passing a number of Imperial fighters, cruisers, and Star Destroyers who were completely oblivious to the Falcon’s presence. As they passed by a massive circular construction facility, the crew began to truly take in the sheer scale of the Empire’s power, dozens of Resurgent-Class Star Destroyers in anchor, either fully completed or in their final stages of assembly.

“It’s worse than we thought,” noted Rose. “They have at least twice as many ships as we estimated they would.”

Finn shook his head in disgust, “Yeah well, I guess forcing the Fondorians to work at gunpoint has a way of speeding up their productivity.”

“Look at that,” pointed Poe, directly ahead.

Another even larger construction facility came into view directly ahead of them, and docked against the elongated berthing wharf, was the arrowhead shaped profile of an unfinished Executor-class Super Star Destroyer. The massive vessel was swarmed by construction vessels assembling and welding together alusteel plates on the underside of its massive hull, as more worked on the trapezoidal command tower, installing the shield generators, and massive turbo laser batteries. By the look of it, it was nearly complete.

“There she is. So that intelligence leak was correct,” said Rose, “They’re building another Super Star Destroyer. If they get that thing operational, the Republic won’t stand a chance.”

“Well, that’s why we’re here,” said Poe, “Chewie, let’s head to the nearest shield station. The sooner we deactivate it, the sooner the Republic Fleet can swoop in and take out that Super Star Destroyer.”

The Falcon flew away from the construction site and headed towards the nearest shield station, a massive hexagonal structure coated in reinforced durasteel that shot out a continuous stream of energy that powered the blanketing shield across the shipyard complex. The station was one of eighteen identical stations that comprised the Fondorian shield array, each of them strategically positioned in a grid-like arrangement to blanket the shipyards in a practically impenetrable and opaque deflector shield that was almost impossible to break with brute force from the outside. The shield was also immune to scanning, making it the perfect tool not only to protect but also to hide what was being built inside it. However, the grid had one very exploitable weakness. Given the massive amount of energy required to maintain the shield, all eighteen were needed to maintain its integrity. If only one was to be disabled, the whole network would fail. But to disable the station meant boarding and deactivating the power generator inside it, and to even board the station, they needed to first disable the facility’s own localized deflector shield, and right now all their hopes rested on DJ.

“Alright DJ, this is where you’re supposed to come in. We need you to take down their localized shield and let us attach onto the hull.”

“Alright, alright…” muttered DJ, sitting down in front of a terminal, pulling out a portable slicing computer from his pocket and hooking it up to the Falcon’s computer. “Uh oh…”

“Uh oh?” repeated Finn, “What do you mean uh oh?”

“I mean I’m missing something, Big F. Something I need in order to hack my way through.”

“What?”

“An extra fifty thousand credits.”

“Are you kidding me?!” shouted Finn in frustration.

“We had a deal!” shouted Rose at DJ.

“We’re approaching the station,” reminded Poe.

DJ put rubbed two fingers on his temples, pretending to think hard, “I can’t seem to remember how to d-d-d-do it-”

“Fine! Just get it done! We’ll pay you the extra fifty thousand when we get back.”

“Now I remember,” smirked DJ, clicking away at his slicing computer at blazingly fast speed as the Falcon now hovered just beyond the shield range.

“Me and First Order codeage go way back. New Empire’s just as bad. All it takes is a few clicks, we slice a slip in their shields, blip, blappity, bloop…and slip right through.”

The Falcon’s scanners identified a temporary distortion in the shields. Chewie cautiously flew them in, and sure enough, slipped right on through their shields without any alarms raised.

“Ha-tuk-ga,” uttered DJ triumphantly.

“Nicely done,” complimented Poe, giving credit where credit was due. “See. I knew there was nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah right!” doubted Finn.

Chewie brought the Falcon right up against the underside of the station’s hull, finding an emergency hatch that suited them. Chewie clamped the Falcon down, and attached it to the hull.

“Touchdown…” said Poe, letting out a sigh of relief. “Listen, the most dangerous parts of the plan are behind us. From here on out it’ll be nice and easy…”

***

Nice and easy, huh? Finn shook his head as he, Rose and DJ all stood in an elevator surrounded by a half dozen Imperial officers. They may have successfully latched themselves to the station’s hull and snuck aboard, but they still needed to reach the generator room, and that meant walking through a station full of Imperial soldiers. They could only hope the uniforms would fool them.

“There’s some new faces. You three new here?” asked an officer standing to Finn’s left.

“Uh, yeah, we just got transferred here from planet side,” lied Finn, trying his best to put on a friendly face.

“Planet side huh? We’ve heard it’s getting pretty rough down there, with the Fondorian Resistance and those blasted Republic insurgents crawling around. Things are starting to get crazy up here too. Apparently there’s a new operation that’s just getting underway.”

“New operation?” asked Finn.

“Yeah, they’re recalling ships from the nearby sectors. Seems like they’re readying for some big offensive in Republic space.”

“You don’t say…” uttered Finn. “You have any idea what’s the target?”

“Hey, your guess is as good as mine, pal. You think the top brass tells us anything? With all these desertions, and this new First Order remnant purportedly hiding out in Hutt Space, they’re keeping all their pazaak cards close to the chest.”

“No kidding…” said Finn, waiting anxiously for the elevator to reach their destination.

The elevator doors opened, and the three promptly walked out. Finn and Rose exchanged worried looks.

“We need to hurry,” said Finn, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”

The trio made their way down the corridors, unassumingly passing several squads of patrolling Stormtroopers as they headed towards the reactor room. Finn made a point to memorize the layout after obtaining a copy of the station blueprints, a gift from the Fondorian Resistance. Before long the three of them reached the door, and began checking the walls, taking notice of a pair of security cameras on either ends of the corridor.

“The cameras…” whispered Rose.

“I got them,” assured Finn, taking a quick moment to reach out with the Force, turning the cameras gently to the side so they were out of view.

“Alright DJ, you’re up again.”

DJ stepped to the door, pulling out his slicing computer once again, and wiring it to the console.

“Finn, talk to me, buddy. Where are you guys?” asked Poe over the portable communicator.

“We just reached the generator room. DJ’s working on the door.”

“You need to hurry, pal. We’re seeing a lot of movement up here.”

“Yeah, we heard from a chatty imperial officer that the Empire’s mobilizing for some kind of offensive. Don’t know the target, but apparently the head honchos are already starting to recall ships from the surrounding systems. They’re getting ready to hit something real hard.”

“That doesn’t leave us with a lot of time. If they just sent out the order, more ships will be coming back here by the hour, and the longer we wait, the harder it’ll be for the Republic to take out that Super Star Destroyer.”

Finn turned to DJ, “How you doing?”

“Almost there, Big F,” replied DJ, hotwiring the console.

“Tell DJ to hurry, our attack window is closing by the min- uuhhh…Finn, Rose. We’ve got some bad news. We just lost the cloaking field. The Falcon’s energy output redlined, and then shut down completely. Chewie managed to get the power back up, but the cloaking generator is shot. We’re exposed. Any passing fighter patrol is sure as hell to spot us.”

“We’re outta time.” Finn looked back to DJ, “Now or never, DJ.”

“Now.” DJ uttered, as the doors opened, granting them access to the massive generator room.

“You’re up Rose. Hurry.”

Rose walked in and headed right for the generator console in front of the massive pulsating power core, glowing with blue energy. Taking a deep breath, Rose accesses the system and began typing away as fast as she could manage. Finn briefly looked down both ends of the corridor to make sure the coast was clear, before shoving DJ into the room and closing the door behind them both, keeping an eye out the door window.

“How’s it looking, Rose?”

“Another thirty seconds and I’ve got it,” she said confidently. She clicked away, before raising her eyebrows in surprise, “better make it forty-five.”

“Come on Rose.” said Finn anxiously, looking through the door window, praying the coast was still clear.

“Got it!” she exclaimed, as the power core began shutting down. “I’ve set the generator on an emergency cooldown cycle. They won’t be able to reactivate it until the attack is already well underway.”

The shield core’s glowing blue light dimmed until it was completely gone, and all the lights on the station shut down.

Moments later, the station alarm blared, and the emergency lights switched on, coating the interior in red light.

“You did it!” shouted Poe over the com link. “Now get your asses back here! We need to get the hell outta here!”

“We’re on our way, stand by.”

“Just don’t take the scenic route.”

Finn, Rose and DJ raced out of the room and out of the corridor as Imperial officers and engineer teams hurried past them, frantically racing for the generator room, only to find themselves unable to open the door. DJ quickly managed to relock the doors and reset the security codes in exchange for a free case of hooch.

The three of them retraced their steps, this time climbing up the service ladder to the upper floors in lieu of working elevators, eventually reaching the hatch where the Falcon was waiting.

“Freeze!” shouted a pair of Storm Troopers, catching them just as they opened the hatch.

“Damn it…” whispered Finn, turning around to look at the Stormtroopers, remembering his old life. Had things gone differently, he very easily could have been standing in their shoes.

“Hands up!” ordered one of them, both taking aim with their blasters.

Finn slowly motioned his hand to his lightsaber, tucked in the waistband of his pants.

“I said hands up!” repeated the trooper.

“Yeah man!” said DJ, raising his hands in compliance.

“You don’t want to do this…” warned Finn, trying to reach into their minds, trying to get them to turn around and make them forget, as he grabbed his lightsaber hilt.

“No, I really think we do!” shouted back the other Stormtrooper, “Last warning…put your hands up!”

Finn drew the lightsaber and ignited the plasma blade, just as the Stormtroopers opened fire. Finn saw the laser blasts coming towards him like they were moving in slow motion, his heightened senses immediately kicking in. He deflected the blasts with such grace that it surprised even himself, twirling the lightsaber with such control that he was able to harmlessly deflect every bolt that came his way, making a point to keep Rose and DJ protected. Finn raised his hand, his focus turning to the blasters, using the Force to pull them out from the Stormtroopers’ grasps, and tossing them to the floor. The disarmed Stormtroopers backed away in a panic, but they did not run. Finn lifted the pair of them and slammed them into the nearby walls, knocking them both out.

“I warned you…” Finn deactivated his lightsaber and turning around, only to be met by Rose and DJ with slack-jawed expressions on their faces. Confused, Finn looked over his shoulder, until he realized they were looking at him. Finn couldn’t help but shrug and ask, “What?”

***

Grand Admiral Leia Organa sat in her chair aboard her brand new command ship, the Ackbar, a Viscount-class StarDefender fresh out of the Corellian shipyards. The 10 mile long New Republic heavy dreadnaught was the first of its kind, a massive teardrop shaped vessel of Mon Calamari design, envisioned to be every bit the equal to the Imperial Super Star Destroyer line. Though not quite as long, the ship was more compact, and densely armored, with a multitude of redundant shield generators that made for quick and effective regeneration, and armed to the teeth with more than five thousand weapons systems with thousands of heavy turbo lasers, ion cannons and concussive missile launcher ports, giving it enough firepower to conceivably stand toe to toe with even the largest ships at the Empire’s disposal. The original proposal for the ship dated back years before, towards the end of the Galactic Civil War by Admiral Ackbar himself, who envisioned the Viscount as the flagships of a new and completely modernized New Republic Navy to fill the void left behind by the crumbling Imperial Fleet. However, the New Republic under Mon Mothma ultimately decided against its construction, deeming it too abrasive for a war weary populace, instead focusing on galactic disarmament to promote the fragile peace won at the ratification of the Galactic Concordance. In hindsight, it had been the first in a long number of bad decisions that the Republic would make. Still, Leia found some small measure of satisfaction knowing that the brainchild flagship first proposed by her close friend now bore his name.

What she was not satisfied at all with was this crazy plan that her apprentice and his friends had come to her with. The intelligence leak could very easily have been some kind of trap, perhaps to lure them into an ambush, but the chance to take down a Super Star Destroyer while it was still in production was a proposition that Republic High Command found too mouthwatering to pass up. Against her better judgment, Leia signed off on the mission. Now she was waiting along with every ship under her immediate command, a sizable battle group of nine Starhawks, and fifteen Mon Calamari cruisers just outside the border of the Tapani Sector, anxiously waiting for any word from the Falcon.

Come on Poe, Chewie, somebody, she thought, tapping her foot restlessly on the floor.

“Grand Admiral Organa,” spoke Poe over the coms, “The deflector shield is down, and there’s a big juicy Super Star Destroyer waiting for us to dig right into it. That intelligence leak was right on the money. You’re cleared to make your attack vector, but be advised there are at least thirty Star Destroyers in the area, and more coming in from the surrounding sectors as we speak. If you wanna hit this thing, you better do it quick before they can mount an effective counter attack.”

“Any sign of the Eclipse?” asked Leia.

“No Grand Admiral, we haven’t seen any sign of it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t around here cloaked.”

“Blast,” muttered Leia under her breath. As formidable as the New Imperial Navy was, the Eclipse was the true boogeyman that everyone in the Republic Navy feared. Despite unending deep scan reconnaissance, inquiries made by the Fondorian Resistance, and continuous interceptions of Imperial transmissions by Republic intelligence, no one seemed to know the whereabouts of the most powerful ship in the galaxy, and with its perfected cloaking technology, it could literally be anywhere, perhaps lying in wait in orbit above Fondor for all they knew. And as strong as the yet untested Ackbar was expected to be, Leia had no desire to commit it to a pitched battle against the Eclipse and its axial superlaser.

“Alright Poe, get outta there as fast as you can. We’re on our way.” She switched the com channel and addressed her fleet, “All ships prepare to jump on my mark. It’ll be dicey on the other side. To the count of five, four, three, two, one, mark.”

The fleet jumped into hyperspace, and minutes later, reemerged just in front of the Fondorian shipyards. Directly ahead was the unfinished Super Star Destroyer, right where the intelligence leak said it would be, completely vulnerable to attack.

“Bring us right alongside her, we’re gonna bring our guns to bear on the Destroyer and throw everything we have at it. That’s our main priority. If we can damage the facilities, all the better, but we need to take out that Destroyer.”

“Grand Admiral, we have thirty-three Star Destroyers converging on our locations from Sectors 2, 5 and 12,” reported Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix.

Leia looked at the holo-map, and the massive groupings of Star Destroyers approaching them. More were frantically being launched from the shipyards, in an effort to stop their advance, or at least slow them until more reinforcements arrived.

“Cruisers and Starhawks, engage those Destroyers and keep them busy for as long as possible. We only need a few minutes, and then we’re outta here.”

“Their launching fighters, Grand Admiral,” observed Connix.

“Dispatch all fighter squadrons, keep our ships clear of enemy bombers. Everyone, prepare to engage.”

The battle commenced, the first since Crait, as the two fleets began exchanging fire. As the capital ships pelted each other blow for blow, fighter squadrons on both sides began swarming one another just over the construction facilities, relatively evenly matched. The Ackbar made its way deeper and deeper into the shipyards, committing to a massive strafing run and shooting at every facility in targeting range, doing as much damage as possible while still moving at full speed towards their main objective. Three Star Destroyers attempted to intercept, but their collective barrages did no damage, their turbo laser fire absorbed by the Ackbar’s advanced deflector shields.

“Shields holding strong,” reported Connix proudly.

“Return fire on all three ships, show them what the Ackbar can really do.”

The Ackbar’s multiple rows of turbo laser batteries and ion cannons took aim at each of the three Star Destroyers, and in a blinding flash of light, unloaded a barrage of laser fire on all three ships simultaneously. The overwhelming firepower ripped right through the Star Destroyers’ shields, and in half a minute, all three Destroyers erupted in massive explosions.

“Now get us over to the Super Star Destroyer.”

Per her instructions, the Ackbar got right alongside her.

“Launch all missiles,” ordered Leia with finality.

In a grand spectacle of precision, the missiles were launched from the Ackbar’s missile ports, three waves of five hundred each fired directly upwards. Fifteen hundred missiles flew up into space, before arcing downward and reigning down on the unfinished Executor Star Destroyer. The battlefield ignited in a mass of continuous explosions as the missiles hit their mark, striking both the ship and the shipyard it was docked against. The hull of the Executor shook from the ceaseless explosions, the concussive missiles ripping through its unfinished armor plating, destroying the insides of the ship. In one massive burst, the hull erupted, followed by the shipyard, as heaps of molten debris spewed all over the battlefield.

“Woo! That’s one hell of a ship, Grand Admiral!” hooted Poe, as the Falcon came into view.

“Good to have you with us again, Commander,” chuckled Leia, “Mission accomplished. All ships retreat to fall back positions. We’ve left them with something to worry about for a change.” Still, even as her fleet began to withdraw, even as the smoldering wreckage of the Super Star Destroyer littered the shipyards, Leia couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. This is too easy. I have a bad feeling about this…

Chapter 4: Chapter 3

Chapter Text

Allegiant-General Pryde sat in his command chair, going over the latest damage report from Fondor. Only a few hours ago, Grand Admiral Organa launched an attack on Fondor’s orbital shipyards with a sizable Republic fleet, spearheaded by a brand-new prototype dreadnaught. It wasn’t a complete surprise. Imperial intelligence had heard rumors about a prototype in development at Corellia for the past several months, though exactly what it was and how big of a threat it posed hadn’t been known until now. It was a risky venture to draw out the Republic Fleet with a deliberate intelligence leak, and the gamble wasn’t without cost. Three Star Destroyers, the unfinished Executor and the largest construction bay in the Fondorian Shipyards weren’t easy write-offs to the war effort. Regardless, it was a price worth paying for the strategic opportunity it presented. War was all about sacrifice, about leveraging one’s assets to maximize the chance of victory. He had learned that back when he was a fledgling naval officer at the Battle of Endor, and he knew it better than most. The Republic was all too eager to show its hand when it attacked Fondor, too eager to show off its latest weapon and broadcast the true strength of Leia Organa’s Fleet. He admitted that it was a calculated risk allowing Fondor to come under attack, but Pryde was confident he had amassed enough ships over the planet to ensure the Republic couldn’t outright retake it, and as costly as the attack was, it was nothing that couldn’t be offset. Damaged facilities could always be repaired, more ships could always be built, and more personnel could always be recruited. The important thing was that the misdirection had worked. The Republic was so heavily focused on attacking Fondor, they had left Corellia lightly defended, and ripe for the taking.

A ping on his armrest control console caught Pryde’s attention. He hit the button, and activated the hologram. A projection of Captain Allena Kafaldi appeared, the youngest captain in the New Imperial Fleet, and Pryde’s protégé. Ambitious, calculating and cold, she was handpicked for this covert mission for her talent at commanding a ship. Pryde hadn’t bothered to go through the usual channels, not even briefing his fellow members of Imperial High Command for fear that a First Order informant or an embedded Republic spy would hear of it. Only Captain Kafaldi was made aware.

“Allegiant-General Pryde,” spoke Captain Kafaldi in a clear, stoic voice, “We’ve just dropped out of hyperspace outside the Corellia System just as you ordered.”

“Very good Captain. Engage the cloaking field and proceed towards the planet. Begin charging up the axial superlaser. Approach from the far side as we discussed. And no further communications from here on out. You’ll know when to start shooting.”

“Yes sir,” saluted the Captain, before the hologram deactivated.

Pryde promptly left his quarters, and headed down the corridor to the bridge. After entering, he was greeted by his staff, and immediately took the captain’s chair. Staring out the bridge window, he saw the greenish blue planet Corellia directly ahead of them.

A bridge lieutenant approached, “The cloaking field is fully operational sir. The ship is currently at yellow alert. The axial cannon is primed and gun crews are standing by.”

“What are we picking up on com-scan?” asked Pryde.

“As anticipated, the planet is lightly defended by a small fleet. Four Starhawk Battleships and a half dozen MC95 Star Cruisers.”

“It seems our enemy overextended itself with their ill-advised surprise attack. They didn’t expect us to be planning our own surprise for their shipyards this soon. Any other defenses?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Three Rendili FireStar orbital defense stations are hovering in geosynchronous orbit above the planet. We’ve assessed their firepower, and they’re quite formidable. 160 long-range NightFang laser turrets and sixty concussion missile launchers litter the platforms and towers of those stations. That kind of combined fire can overwhelm just about anything.”

“Impressive…that would explain why the Republic felt secure enough to move their fleet away from Corellia to attack Fondor.”

“Strange that Imperial Intelligence failed to discover this. I thought we had agents imbedded on Corellia.”

“We do…” Pryde considered this glaring omission, and he could think of one person most likely responsible, Hux. That overbearing fool had been tampering with Imperial intelligence gathering long enough. He would have to deal with him sooner rather than later, but now he had other pressing concerns. “Normally this kind of defense would be a nightmare for a conventional fleet to break through.”

“Well, then it’s a good thing we’re not relying on a conventional Fleet, Allegiant-General.”

“Indeed Lieutenant. After all, they’ can’t hit what they can’t see.”

***

Admiral Wedge Antilles looked out the window from his quarters aboard the Resilient, taking a good look at his home planet of Corellia. The terrestrial blue planet looked quite peaceful from up in space, and for a moment, Wedge could forget the war and the precarious state of the galaxy. The planet was old, one of the first of the Core Worlds to adopt space travel, and it had been a world synonymous with shipbuilding, exploration and trade ever since. Corellians had a reputation for being restless, to reach out for the stars and to go where others had never gone. They were among the first explorers to plot the hyperspace routes that made galactic travel possible. Corellians, they used to say, had a phobia of standing still. Wedge empathized with that sentiment, as he desperately waited.

The planet before him was a far cry from the gleaming jewel it had once been under the Old Republic. Its once romanticized reputation as a spacefaring mecca had now become synonymous for pollution, poverty and organized crime. The planet and its people had suffered greatly under the heel of the Galactic Empire, being forced to become an industrial hub for the Imperial war machine, building its warships and contributing to its ever-increasing power. That was the world Wedge had been born into, as he too felt the crushing weight of Imperial rule in his youth, which was why he chose to leave it, to fight back against the Empire by joining the Rebellion. Thirty years later, Wedge was once again before the planet of his birth, wondering how things could have gone so wrong. As bad as Corellia suffered under the Empire, if he was being honest with himself, he knew Corellia had fared even worse under the New Republic’s stewardship. The demilitarization effort had obliterated the planet’s economy, with many of its industries left in shambles and many of its inhabitants without jobs. Just one more thing that the New Republic under the leadership of Mon Mothma had unwittingly bungled. Ironically, this new war against the Second Galactic Empire had breathed new life into the planet’s industry, as it once again took center stage as the Republic’s preeminent manufacturer of warships, with the Ackbar being its latest magnum opus, a marriage of Mon Calamari design and Corellian manufacturing. It was only fitting that Grand Admiral Leia take it as her command ship, and now the Republic waited with bated breath for news of its inaugural mission.

“Am I interrupting, Admiral?” asked Commander Aftab Ackbar, walking up to join him in front of the viewport, snapping Wedge out of his ponderous haze.

“No Commander…just thinking.” said Wedge, clearing his throat, “Any word from the fleet?”

“Not yet I’m afraid,” replied Aftab, “Last we heard, Grand Admiral Leia was about to launch the attack.”

“Well, we couldn’t have asked for a more high-stakes debut for the Viscount,” noted Wedge.

“True,” said the Mon Calamari, twiddling his flipper nervously.

“Something wrong, Commander? “

“I must confess, I have some reservations about this mission. My people and yours worked ceaselessly on the Viscount to make it space-worthy in such a short time, but as soon as it leaves the dockyards, the Republic throws it and Grand Admiral Organa into such a dangerous mission, completely untested.”

“Desperate times, Commander Ackbar. When Republic Intelligence discovered the Empire was building a new Executor, they had no choice but to act.”

“But how did Republic Intelligence even find out about it? Seems awfully suspicious we just happened to stumble upon that intelligence leak. And without knowing the location of the Eclipse, it is a huge risk to commit to an attack.”

Wedge nodded his head, “I agree, but Leia’s people confirmed the intel. We had no real option but to attack while it was still under construction. Besides, Leia and her people are up to the task.”

“I know…” resigned Aftab, “It isn’t her I doubt. It’s the Galactic Senate. Bad enough they ignored a clear and present threat until it was too late, now they’re meddling in our battle plans instead of leaving it to their Admirals?”

“Comes with the territory, Commander. Politicians love to stick their noses in places where they don’t belong.”

“If I may speak freely, Admiral, I have little faith in the Republic to conduct this war. They’ve already interfered with Leia’s plans by insisting on this mission, and you already know the tenuous relationship they had with my father.”

“I understand your frustration, Aftab. The Senate’s made many mistakes over the years, and dismissing your father was one of their worst. As far as interfering with the war plans, the Senate is growing impatient with this ongoing stalemate. They’re desperate for a decisive victory of some kind, and they’re hoping this will be it.”

“If I may, Admiral Antilles, how do you do it? How do you deal with those fools on the Senate? It must be such a maddening endeavor.”

Wedge smirked, and leaned in, putting a hand on the Commander’s shoulder, “Just between us, Aftab. It certainly can be. But the way I deal with it is by reminding myself that sometimes you need to put things into perspective, and realize what you’re really fighting for.” Wedge looked back to his home planet, “Sometimes, you need to believe that things will end up getting better, even when things are at their worst. So even though the Republic can be so inept, so completely broken at times, what it represents, and who it represents is always worth fighting for. I can do my duty because I believe that the Republic can be better, and right now my duty is to keep it alive, so it’ll have the chance to become better, because we’ve seen the alternative, and it isn’t pretty.”

“Well said, Admiral,” replied Commander Aftab, “At least if this mission is successful, it will have validated my father’s vision for the StarDefender. We’ve already begun construction on the Ackbar’s sister ship on Kuat. If we’re lucky, we can get is space worthy in a few weeks. I doubt even the Eclipse can handle two Viscount StarDefenders at the same-”

Aftab’s words were interrupted as a massive explosion lit up before them. One of the orbital defense platforms evaporated in a ball of blinding light, hit by a single powerful green beam.

“We’re under attack!” shouted Antilles, just as the general alarm blared throughout the ship, “Commander, get to your shuttle immediately and return to the Mon Calamari Fleet.”

“Yes sir,” saluted Aftab, before the two of them promptly parted ways.

Admiral Antilles walked into the main bridge which was already frantic with commotion as he sat in his captain’s chair and addressed his second-in-command. “What are we up against, Lieutenant?”

“The Gerarra Defense platform has been completely obliterated, Admiral. Given the type of beam that hit it, it can only be one thing: the Eclipse.”

“She was waiting for us, waited until the bulk of our fleet left the system, and now they’ve caught us with our pants down. Alright people, to your stations, red alert, we’ve prepared for this possibility. Lieutenant, calculate the trajectory of the last beam and get me a general estimation of the ship’s last known firing location. Order the two remaining platforms to start firing in that vicinity. We have about seven more minutes before the Eclipse recharges its axial cannons so let’s make it count, people.”

“Admiral!” shouted a panicked coms officer, “We have another energy signature in sector 53!”

Wedge looked out the bridge window, as a second beam shot into view, heading directly for the Erso Defense Platform. The beam hit its mark, hitting at its lower base of the platform, melting clear through the superstructure before obliterating it a vibrant green explosion moments later. The beam this time came from the complete opposite direction, from the far side of the planet.

“That’s impossible,” muttered Wedge, trying to process what his eyes were seeing. “No way the Eclipse can reposition that fast and recharge its main cannon that quickly.”

Wedge’s lieutenant chimed in, “Admiral we’re receiving transmissions from the other three Starhawks. They have a lock on the Eclipse’s latest firing position, and they’re requesting permission to engage.”

“Permission granted. We’ll join them in the attack. Tell the captains to dispatch fighters and power up their tractor beams. Make sure we do the same with ours. If even one Starhawk can trap it in its tractor beam, we can anchor it in place long enough for the rest of our ships to blast it out of the sky. Order the last remaining platform to lay down suppressing fire the general vicinity of the Eclipse’s last known position. Let’s flush it out.”

The Starhawk battleships advanced at full speed under covering fire from the remaining defense platform. The Tano unleashed a full barrage of red laser fire from its NightFang turrets, showering the marked sector in red particle beams, as a few wayward shots struck an invisible barrier, letting out a burst of purple energy that rippled across a wide expanse before cutting out. The cloaking field slowly disappeared, revealing the massive black triangular hull of the Eclipse in all its infamy.

“There she is,” muttered Wedge, before turning to his lieutenant, “Order the Tano to continue its barrage, and launch concussion missiles. Give our ships plenty of cover to make our approach. Get all of our Y-Wings prepped for a bombing ru-”

A coms officer suddenly shouted in abject terror, “Admiral, we have another energy spike in Sector 19! It’s another axial cannon…it’s firing!”

The beam hit the Tano, destroying the station instantly, much to the shock of everyone looking on. Wedge himself rose from his chair, completely dumbfounded by the sight that played out before him.

“There’s two of them!” shouted a bridge officer maniacally, “There’s two! We’re all gonna die!”

“Pull yourself together, man,” chastised the Lieutenant, before speaking to Wedge, “Admiral, what are your orders?”

Wedge froze, as he kept his eyes glued on the holo-map, watching it as an identical Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer materialized on the scanner. He watched helplessly as scores of enemy Tie-Fighter squadrons deployed from both Eclipses, quickly converging on their exact location, trapping them in a vice. Without the defense platforms, their fleet didn’t stand a chance. Wedge looked back to the planet Corellia, his home, seeing it like he was seeing it for the first time from space. The once blue world now had a mix of murky grey from pollution and industrial wastes, its people marked by old wounds suffered by the Empire’s tyranny and new wounds suffered by the New Republic’s neglect. Even so, despite its scars, it was still worth fighting for. But this wasn’t the time or the place to make that fight. One thing Wedge was sure of was that Corellia was strong. Its people were strong. They would weather this storm like they did all the others.

“Admiral, what are your orders?!” repeated the lieutenant, desperation lining his voice.

Wedge shook himself out of his momentary stupor, “Recall the fighter squadrons to their ships. Order the fleet to retreat. Fall back to Coruscant.”

“We’re abandoning the battle, Admiral?” asked the Lieutenant, his eyes sharp with disappointment.

“We have no choice. We can’t win this. Our best chance is for the fleet to retreat, regroup with Grand Admiral Organa and defend the remaining Core Worlds. Relay the order, Lieutenant.”

“Yes sir,” said his lieutenant, before doing what was instructed.

Moments after, Wedge received a communique from Commander Aftab.

“What’s going on, Admiral? Why are we abandoning this fight?” asked an angry Aftab.

“This fight is already over. We have lost any tactical advantage we may have had. The fleet will be torn apart by those Eclipses, and they have easily more than twice as many fighters than us.”

“But we can’t allow them to take control of this sector, give my fleet the order to attack. My Mon Calamari cruisers can engage one Eclipse while your Starhawks fight the other.”

“We’ll be wiped out in minutes Commander. There’s no way the fleet will survive, not against two Eclipses vising us in like this”

“But Admiral, with respect. We must defend Corellia-”

“Corellia is lost, Commander. Those Orbital defense stations were our best chance of keeping the planet out of enemy hands, and now they’re gone. If we continue this fight against this kind of threat, we’ll only be wasting more lives, and we need every ship and every soul brave enough to crew them to defend the remaining Core Worlds.”

“You can’t ask me to flee from this fight, Admiral. Not after what I’ve lost.”

“That is an order, Commander! You want to get revenge for your father? You won’t find it here! Finish that second StarDefender and fight them on your terms, not theirs. Today, your mission is to survive. Instruct your fleet to start making preparations to jump to hyperspace. I’ll buy you a little time.”

“A little time?” asked a bewildered Aftab. “You’re not leaving?!”

Wedge smirked, “Not yet.”

“Admiral!”

Wedge shut off the coms, before addressing his bridge crew. “Alright people, what I’m about to do is in complete breach of protocol and more than likely suicidal. Anybody smart enough to want out, be my guest and make a break for the escape pods. Anyone crazy enough to find out what I have in mind, stay at your posts.”

He saw the fear in his bridge officers’ eyes, but he also saw an unmistakable resolve in every one of them, even the ones who were most afraid. To the bridge crew’s credit, nobody left their posts.

“What do you have in mind Admiral?” asked his lieutenant resolutely.

“Sound the order for the rest of the ship’s crews to abandon ship. Get them to their escape pods and jettison them. Have them make a break for our other ships while there’s still time. As for us, we’re going to head straight for that Eclipse and ensnare it in our tractor beam, immobilize it long enough for our fleet to jump into hyperspace.”

“That’s-”

“Suicidal, yes it is. But it’s the best way we can give our boys a chance to escape. That Eclipse’s axial cannon should almost be fully charged by now and ready to fire on the fleet, and at this position, it’ll wipe them out. Our ships will never be able to make the jump to hyperspace in time. We’re not gonna let them take that shot. Plot an approach vector that’ll bring us along the ventral side of the ship, where they have fewer gun batteries. And charge up our tractor beam.”

“Yes sir.”

The evacuation order was given, the bulk of the crew were promptly jettisoned, and the star fighters emptied the hangers, as the Resilient rushed towards the ventral side of the Eclipse. A swarm of Tie Fighters attacked as it made its approached, but the reinforced shielding held. The Resilient’s engines were pushed to the max. As they got in range of the Super Star Destroyer’s turbo laser batteries, the behemoth’s ventral batteries opened fire, overwhelming their deflector shields. As the ship’s hull began to take damage, Wedge tightened his grip on the arm rest of his chair, as the Resilient began to shake from the bombardment, as isolated explosions and overloaded equipment began to rumble throughout the ship.

“Admiral, they’re in range of our tractor beam!”

“Activate the beam! Everyone hold on tight!” shouted Wedge.

The Starhawk’s forward mounted tractor beam array ignited in a vibrant blue hue, before shooting out a massive gravitational beam that struck the underside of Eclipse’s hull, slowly enveloping the Destroyer in an artificial gravity field. The damaged Resilient buckled and thrashed as it struggled to handle the massive disparity in size and tonnage, tethering itself to the gargantuan ship like a buoy tied to a rock amid a stormy sea, except this time it was the Starhawk who was at the mercy of the waves, while the Eclipse seemed to not to even budge, as if in staunch defiance of the gravitational forces at play.

“Admiral, we’re detecting an energy surge! The Eclipse’s axial cannon’s about to fire! It’s aiming for the fleet!”

Wedge shook his head, knowing his first plan had failed. He could not stop them from firing, but he could still move them out of position and cause them to miss. “Divert all power to the engines, everything we have left! Blast those thrusters with all the juice we have, I don’t care if we blow them. We need to push this thing!”

The Resilient’s engines roared from the rerouted power, pushing against the ensnared Eclipse, even as swarms of Tie Fighter’s began to pepper them with laser fire from above. True to the ship’s name, the Resilient pressed on, attempting to push back the giant Super Star Destroyer. The ship’s engines began to sputter out, but just as it did so, the Eclipse yielded, just ever so slightly against the gravitational force and the Starhawk’s unrelenting pressure. It was just enough to throw off the shot, as the Super Star Destroyer fired its axial cannon moments later, the green beam overshooting the retreating fleet, barely missing its mark.

“It missed!” shouted an on looking officer, prompting a brief but loud cheer from the bridge crew, even as the ship began to quake violently.

Wedge looked on as the Republic Fleet made their collective jump, fleeing the battle still intact. His crazy gambit had worked. He felt an odd satisfaction in spite of everything that had happened.

“Ladies and gentleman, it’s been an honor, but it looks like this is the end of the line…” he said, even as the ship slowly began to fall apart. The Eclipse’s cannons continued to fire down on it, and before long, the tractor beam array deactivated, allowing the ship to break free. Wedge looked out the cracked bridge window to see the second Eclipse positioning itself directly ahead of them, its axial cannon charging up with energy, focusing its quad superlaser beams into a single energy point, building up and expanding like an exploding green star, an omen of imminent doom. The energy blasted forward, coming right at them.

See you in a minute, Luke… thought Wedge, thinking of his fallen friend. He turned his head, deciding to look at his home world. Corellia looked oddly beautiful in his final moments, the sight of the plant filling him with a surprising sense of calm, even as the green light enveloped him.

***

Allegiant-General Armitage Hux tightened his grip on his data pad as he read over his latest intelligence report from Corellia. He was not happy with what it said. Over the last six months, Hux had meticulously cultivated a vast network of spies all over Republic and Imperial controlled space. It had not been an easy feat, but the chaotic mess of this war offered him ample opportunities to exploit. The destruction of Hosnian Prime had left the New Republic in disarray and their military undermanned, making them desperate to hastily recruit anyone willing to fight. Hux’s new Head of Intelligence, Amilyn Holdo, had done a masterful job imbedding spies in the New Republic Fleets, though Grand Admiral Organa had done well to compartmentalize them, briefing lower level ranking officers only on what they needed to know and always at the last possible minute, making it much harder for their spies to dredge up actionable intelligence. As for the Empire, it had been an ongoing tug of war of sorts between himself and his rival Enric Pryde, whom he had since come to begrudgingly respect. It was a far easier task to gather intelligence from the so-called Second Galactic Empire, which was far more fragile than it appeared when one looked beneath the surface. The untimely death of Supreme Leader Snoke had rocked the new regime to its foundation. Although virtually all of the top brass swore allegiance to the resurrected Emperor Palpatine at the onset of the coup, many of their underlings had their reservations, with many secretly loyal to Snoke. Some even went so far as to desert their post, and join Hux’s growing enterprise. At the same time, Kylo Ren and his Knights had done exceedingly well in terrorizing Imperial High Command, assassinating several key members, and it was getting harder and harder for Pryde to cover it up. Every death inflicted on Imperial High Command brought many unwanted questions, fanning the flames of desertion. The First Order Loyalists, as Pryde had come to dub them, was the New Empire’s worst kept secret, and they had been giving Imperial High Command many sleepless nights. Today, however, was different.

Hux had confidently thought that nothing Pryde could possibly do would surprise him, but even he was unprepared to hear what had transpired at Corellia. Not only did Pryde successfully bait out the Republic Fleet to attack Fondor and leave Corellia lightly defended, but he also managed to take over the entire planet using not one, but two Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyers. Hux had no idea about the second one, and none of his spies knew about it either. Pryde had undoubtedly went to great lengths to keep this information incredibly well hidden, even among his own men. In a single day, he had overrun Corellia, robbed the Republic of one of its most valuable industrial bases, and reasserted the Empire’s position as the dominant power in the Galaxy. Even Hux had to admit it was a job well done.

“Damn it!” he shouted.

“I take it you’ve read the report,” spoke Rear Admiral Holdo, walking into the room, dressed in an elaborate gown with a wine glass in hand. “The party is underway, and the guests are arriving. You really should attend, Allegiant-General.”

“How-how did the Empire manage to build a second Eclipse under all of our noses?” he asked her apprehensively, “I ask you, how is that even possible? We have spies everywhere, someone should have heard or seen something! Not even Pryde would be able to keep a secret this big for this long.”

“If I had to guess, this is Palpatine’s doing. He must have some kind of a hidden base, maybe in uncharted space, where he had it built and serviced. We have agents in every major port and shipyard large enough to house them. If they’d traveled to any of them, we would have heard about it. They can’t always be cloaked, not when they make port for service or repairs. A secret facility is the only thing that makes sense.”

“Palpatine…” hissed Hux at the name, “…that old wizard has given us nothing but heartache. Bad enough he already had the most dangerous ship in the galaxy, now he has two of them. The Republic only has one ship that might stand a chance. The second one is still under construction on Kuat, and will not likely be finished for weeks. After this latest blow, the Republic will be on the verge of total collapse, and if it falls, we will have no chance of defeating the Empire. If Pryde decides to attack Coruscant right now with everything he has at his disposal, he might even be able to take over the planet and crush the Republic outright.”

“Might.” She emphasized, “He’s too cautious for might. He won’t attack unless he has either a clear advantage or his back against the wall. Besides, you said it yourself, he’d never commit to a full-scale attack on the Republic capital while he has us to worry about.”

“That’s another thing that concerns me. Your last report from Fondor…it said that Five Star Destroyers were dispatched before the Republic attack, and that the scavenger witch is commanding them.”

“That’s what my informants said, yes.”

“Have you informed Kylo of this?”

“I did, but…he seemed to already know.”

Hux shook his head, “I’ll never understand this hokey religion or its magic tricks.”

“Right now, you should be attending this party. After all, you are the guest of honor.”

Hux rolled his eyes again, “Why did I agree to this foolishness?”

“You wanted this meeting, I arranged it. Now come on, General. Your host is waiting.”

Nar Shaddaa was as good a place as any to hide. The lawless ecumenopolis was nicknamed Smuggler’s Moon and for good reason, as it was home to one of the most notorious criminal underworlds in the entire galaxy, and the crown jewel of Hutt Space. The moon orbited Nal Hutta, the home world of the Hutts, and was completely covered in a messy patchwork of elaborate skyscrapers, casinos, spice dens, and slums. The moon was host to all manner of outlaws, bounty hunters, spicers, slavers, and in Hux’s case, military junta leaders looking to build up their power base. The air itself smelled rotten, and the only law that anyone respected was the Hutt Cartel, though they had waned in influence and wealth ever since Jabba the Hutt’s death. Nevertheless, they were still a force to reckon with in the Outer Rim, out of sight from the fledgling Empire, and out of reach of the crippled Republic.

Rotta the Hutt’s palace was an opulently decorated estate at the heart of Hutta town. Formerly owned by Grakkus the Hutt, who fled the moon unceremoniously after a dangerous brush with the Resistance and the First Order, Rotta had seized the power vacuum left behind and taken over his base of operation. He was the youngest and hungriest of the Hutt crime lords, the son of Jabba the Hutt himself, who was bent on reclaiming his father’s glory at any cost. As Hux made his way past the numerous bustling rooms, past open bars, the Bith musicians and the Twi’lek dancers, he stumbled upon a massive arena, packed with ravenous onlookers of all shapes and sizes, watching a display of carnage in the fight pit below. A pair of wild nexu squared off, clawing and biting as the crowd cheered on, many making bets on who’d survive. And above it, watching from his private viewing box, flanked by barely dressed Twi’lek and human slave girls, was Rotta the Hutt himself.

The massive greyish green colored sluglike Hutt took notice of Hux and waved him over. A pair of Gamorrean bodyguards ushered him inside, where he came face to face with the Hutt for the first time since he arrived on Nar Shaddaa. After several attempts, Hux had finally got the audience he had wanted.

Rotta spoke in a deep thunderous voice, which his protocol droid promptly translated, “The magnanimous Rotta the Hutt bids thee welcome, and hopes that you enjoy his legendary hospitality.”

“Hospitality? I have been requesting an audience with you for three months, and for three months, you have been avoiding me.”

Rotta squinted his bright orange eyes before making a reply.

“His illustrious Rotta begs to differ. Business affairs have kept him occupied. Taking over Grakkus’ criminal network has been a full time endeavor.”

“You only have this palace and your newfound power because the First Order drove out Grakkus in the first place. You owe us a great deal, Rotta, and I am here to collect on that.”

Hux could tell Rotta was getting angry, but the Hutt knew better than to lash out just yet.

“His eminence Rotta is in agreement, but says that he has already paid you in kind by allowing you and your organization to operate here on Nar Shaddaa. He has given you his protection and harbored you and your growing count of men at no cost to you. And he reminds you that he and the other Hutt families have long supplied the First Order with many young slaves for your armies.”

“I’m talking about something much bigger than that. I’m talking about aiding us in our fight against the New Empire and the Republic, supplying us with materials, ships, money, and mercenaries.”

Rotta hooted, as the droid translated its master’s words. “The First Order may have been a dangerous power, but now you are a shell of your former selves. Any hope you had of conquest died with your Supreme Leader. The Empire has supplanted you, forced you to the Outer Rim. What hope do you have to reclaim your lost power?”

“You more than anyone should know not to underestimate the resolve of someone who had everything taken away from them. Is that not what happened to the Hutt Cartel, what happened to your own clan after your father’s murder? Since his passing, the Hutts have fallen far and fast, have they not? You and the other Hutt families have been losing territory and businesses to the Black Suns, the Nikto and the Kijimi Spice Runners. You seek to reclaim what had been taken from you, you seek to restore your clan to the apex of power. I can offer you that in exchange for your help.”

“Rotta wishes to know why he should help you in such a seemingly impossible endeavor.”

“Because we know exactly how to defeat them both. The Republic is weak, has been weak for decades, and the Empire has yet to truly find its footing. Right now, they are biting and clawing away at one another just like those nexu down there. Regardless of who survives, the First Order will be the last one standing. We have already eliminated several key members of Imperial High Command, and our numbers grow by the day. You can attest to that. And we have Kylo Ren and his Knights. I’m sure even you have heard about the things they have done.”

Rotta spoke again, his tone more serious now as the droid translated, “Rotta sees sense in your argument. However, he wants to know what is in it for him if he helps you. He remembered when the Empire and the Hutts used to do business, which led to his family’s ruin. Why is this any different?”

“The Empire and the Hutts have done business before, that is true, but it was never an equitable relationship. At best they’d turn a blind eye to whatever scheme you’re running in exchange for a cut, and at worst they’d step on your tail just hard enough for you to know there was nothing you could do about it. What I’m offering you is different. I’m offering you a partnership. Access to real power, legitimate businesses. I’m offering you a seat at my table when the First Order takes control of this galaxy and rebuilds it as we wish it to be.”

Rotta laughed, but this time it didn’t sound sarcastic or demeaning.

“The mighty Rotta asks what it is you have in mind.”

“Contact your fellow Hutts, all the heads of the Five Hutt families and their allies. Tell them I have a business proposition that’ll elevate you all to the highest seats of power.”

Chapter 5: Chapter 4

Chapter Text

It was never easy, the constant struggle to keep the Force at bay, to keep it from overwhelming Rey’s troubled mind. It was a tireless endeavor, always needing to stay focused, stay busy, stay alert, and not allow herself to be idle with her thoughts. She couldn’t sleep most nights, and when she did, her powers would manifest, sometimes violently in her sleep. Any lapse in concentration, any instant she allowed her mind to wander, to lose focus, and she would be flooded by her connection to the Force, her hypersensitivity to it making it so easy for her to lose control, to drown in it, like she was walking a tight rope over an angry sea. Her master taught her to hold it at bay, to dam it up, but the amount of will power required to keep it back weighed heavily on her. The only time she could remotely rest was in her meditation chamber, equipped with its own neural dampeners. She would spend hours in that room, allowing the dampeners to slowly do their work, gradually dulling her mind to the point she was barely conscious, until she felt like she was in a dreamlike stake. It only lasted minutes, but for those precious few minutes, she could not hear or feel the Force. She treasured those few minutes of disconnect, of detachment from that ever-lingering parasite that clawed at her every waking moment. For that brief period of time, she could allow herself to forget about everything, most of all, she could forget who she was, and what she had done. But like everything else good in her life, it ended all too soon.

“Lady Ira,” spoke the voice of Captain Jagged Fel over her communicator. “Forgive the intrusion but we may have found something on com-scan.”

“I’ll be right there,” she replied, turning off the dampening field, and heading for the ship’s bridge.

The Star Destroyer Janus had served as Rey’s personal flagship and de facto home base after the fateful Battle of Crait. In the six months since, she had regularly taken it on reconnaissance missions into Republic space, attempting to find any leads on Leia Organa’s elusive Republic Navy. When she wasn’t hunting, she kept herself busy by scouring Palpatine’s personal data library for any possible cure for her condition, or, when the mood struck her, modifying her own personal Tie Silencer. The ship’s crew had learned to give her a wide berth, keeping their distance from her, except when their duties dictated otherwise. She sensed their apprehension towards her, but also a healthy dose of respect, even admiration. She had won over the loyalty of many men and women in the Imperial Fleet after foiling Luke Skywalker’s final gambit.

As she walked into the bridge, she was met by a very anxious Captain Fel. The young and relatively inexperienced officer served as her immediate subordinate and personal adjutant, a fair-faced and sharp-witted man who even after six months under her wing, still behaved nervously whenever she was in his presence.

“Lady Ira,” he greeted her, with a bow and a hitch in his voice.

“What have you found, captain?” Rey asked.

“We dispatched probe droids into the Mrlsset’s rings, as you instructed. One of them sent back this image.” They turned to the screen, and an image of the destroyed Nova came into view. “You were right, Lady Ira. She was exactly where you said she would be.”

As burdensome as Rey’s powers may had been, they had their uses. She had a talent for seeing and hearing things nobody else could, not even other Force wielders. The skill wasn’t unheard of, but her level of attunement allowed her to perceive moments in the Cosmic Force that even the most powerful Force users would be deafened to, echoes of death and extreme trauma that rippled outwardly in space. It was that attunement that led her to Mrlsset, the slaughter of the Nova’s crew, their final traumatic moments serving as a trail of breadcrumbs, or a snapshot of a crime scene, or in this case, a beacon of screams in the otherwise silent void. She had sensed the pain of the dead lingering amid the wreckage, could still hear them screaming in the dark, crying out for a deliverance that never came. But looming over all of it, she could feel the perpetrator, a specter of rage, of bloodlust, with an almost palpable desire for vengeance. It didn’t feel like the Ben Solo she knew before, the familiarity of their bond now tainted. The echoes before her felt far more malicious and deliberate, almost like it was an entirely different person.

“Any sign of the Revenge?” asked Rey.

“Nothing yet,” replied Fel, “Our probe droids haven’t completed their scans of the area just yet.”

“Don’t bother,” she said. “Contact the rest of our battlegroup, and tell them to meet with us just outside the Tapani System. Once the fleet’s regrouped, hold position until I say otherwise. I will return to my quarters and I do not want to be disturbed.”

“Yes, Lady Ira.”

Rey retuned, to her private chambers and sat down cross-legged on her matted floor. She had spent the time readying her mind, blocking out the ships and their crews, blocking out the planets. In the emptiness of space, it was easier to focus, to hone her senses to look for only what she wanted to see, and now she knew what she was looking for. She had reached out before, trying to reconnect the bond that she thought she had permanently severed. She reached out far and wide, her own power and consciousness rippling through the Force, until she felt that same malevolent presence once again, but this time it wasn’t an echo. And as she touched it with her mind, all she could feel was a wave of immense pain.

Rey grunted, her hands immediately clutching to her chest, feeling as if a lightsaber had just pierced through it.

“So, you finally found me,” said a muffled voice that sent shivers down her spine. Rey turned around, and standing there was Kylo Ren, masked and hooded. ““Hurts, doesn’t it? A gift from your master. I could have fully healed it, but I decided to leave it, as a memento…and as a lesson.”

Rey groaned, as she stood up, the pain in her chest still almost unbearable. Her bond with Kylo had reconnected, and in so doing, she felt what he felt.

“How can you stand it?” she asked, trying to keep it from distracting her.

“Pain is a good teacher. It reminds you of the mistakes you made…and tells you never to repeat them.”

Now on her guard, Rey could feel the scale of Kylo’s power. It was multitudes greater than before.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” she stated.

“And you’ve gotten weaker,” he replied with venom coating his modulated voice, “I sense tremendous conflict in you, even doubt. Did killing Skywalker do to you what killing Solo did to me?”

“Do not compare us,” she said sternly. “You killed your father out of spite, I killed L- Skywalker because he was an enemy.”

“And just like me, the act shattered your resolve. You’re at war with yourself over the decision you made. I know it better than anyone.”

“You don’t know anything about what I’ve been through,” she declared, getting angry.

“I know exactly what you’ve been through. Our bond was weakened, but never completely severed. You may not have sensed me, but I still sensed you, your thoughts, and your memories. I learned to shield my presence from you, but you would have noticed if you weren’t too distracted by your own self-pity. All the questions you yearned to ask before, when your memory was wiped, now you have all the answers, and you would do anything to forget them. See the irony?”

“How did you survive?” she deflected, trying to reign in her emotions.

“Depending on who you ask, it was either providence, or blind luck. In a way, you killed me that day on the Supremacy. You killed the part of me that was weak, the part of me that was Ben Solo. After that moment, I learned what it takes to give yourself to the Dark Side. I learned to give into my hatred and steel my resolve. It kept me alive. Not like you. You stymie yourself by clinging onto a mirage, a version of yourself that was never even real.”

“I do not-”

“What do you call yourself in your mind?” he interrupted her, “Do you still call yourself Rey? Or are you still fighting over which name to use?”

Rey failed to come up with a speedy reply.

“Your pain weakens you, but my pain drives me. While you’ve languished, I’ve grown stronger, and now I’ve finally become what I was always destined to be, what Snoke always envisioned me to be.”

“A tool?”

“A ruler,” he corrected, before taking off his mask, revealing his face. His eyes were harsher, his pupils now yellow, resonating with the Dark Side. “One strong enough in the Force to wipe the galaxy clean of the Jedi…and the Sith. I offered you my hand once, I gave you the chance to be part of it, to let the old things die, to cast aside these antiquated traditions and nonsensical rules, I offered you to stand alongside me as my equal, but you betrayed me. You chose to serve another master, someone far weaker than yourself.”

“Enough,” said Rey, her frustration building.

“Why do you even serve him? He is weaker than you. He knows it, and you know it. Even according to your own code, you should kill him. Yet you shy away at the very idea of it.”

“I said enough!” she exploded, brandishing her lightsaber, and taking a wide arching swing.

Kylo activated his cross-saber and blocked the blow at the last possible moment. The blades clashed, as if both of them where physically there, their bond warping time and space on a microscale, the strength of their connection now fully realized. They locked sabers as both of them stared into each other’s eyes.

Kylo continued, “Did he raise you like his own daughter? Or have you just deluded yourself into thinking that?”

“You’re a monster.”

“So are you. After all, you killed your mother and father. You’re one step ahead of me.”

“Shut your mouth!” she screamed, shoving him back before clutching him in her Force grip.

Kylo struggled to break free, but her grip was just strong enough to hold him in place, though only just. Rey concentrated, putting all her effort into keeping him still, surprised by just how much stronger he had become. Believing she had a firm enough grasp, Rey then reached into his mind and began searching for information.

Rey commanded, “You will reveal your hideout to me, show me where the First Order is based!”

Yet despite her command, Kylo did not answer. As the two continued to struggle, Rey was finding it harder and harder to hold him down. His butting power pushing back against hers seemed to only grow stronger as hers started to wane. The resonating pain she felt from him through their bond also weighed her down. That coupled with Rey’s mental exertions from simply focusing her powers and the added difficulty of extracting information from him were simply too much strain for her to sustain. She felt her hold over him weaken, and his hold over her growing stronger.

Kylo stared into her defiantly, his yellowish eyes appearing almost demonic, as he quickly turned the tables. Instead of getting into his head, Rey felt him clawing into hers.

“There it is…” he mumbled with relish in his voice, “That’s what I needed. The Emperor has been quite secretive these past few months. Understandable for a man like him to cower in the shadows. How thoughtful of you to show me where he is hiding.”

“No…” breathed Rey, just as her hold over him broke completely. Now free of her influence, Kylo stretched out his own hand and Force lifted her off her feet. She felt his ironclad grip tightening around her throat, constricting her breath. She grabbed her own throat instinctively, as her mind fought his hold on her.

Kylo stood statuesque, his hand steady and his gaze piercing as he held her a full three feet above the ground, his demeanor devoid of the usual bluster and juvenile rage. Even as she struggled to breathe, she examined him, realizing for the first time that this wasn’t the same man she saw back on the Supremacy. He had grown, and so had his powers.

“You defeated my master…” he spoke harshly, “…it’s time I return the favor.”

“NO!”

With a rage-filled scream, Rey broke free of his grasp, causing her to fall back on the ground. Landing on her feet, she looked back up to Kylo, but saw that he wasn’t there. She frantically looked around her quarters for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be seen, and she could no longer feel his presence. Once again, their connection had severed.

Rey struggled to get ahold of herself and quiet her mind, thrown off kilter by what she had just experienced. Kylo had baited her, and she had fallen for it. He now knew where the Emperor was hiding.

She violently pressed the command console and contacted the bridge, “Captain, prepare the fleet to make the jump to hyperspace to the following coordinates.”

“Ma’am, with respect, are we abandoning the search for Kylo Ren?” asked Captain Fel.

“We won’t have to look for him. He’s coming to us.”

As she turned off the com, she noticed the shape of a hooded figure out of the corner of her eye. Immediately, Rey backed away from the console, and drew her lightsaber, her gaze now fixed on the intruder. She momentarily believed that Kylo might have shown himself again, but she did not feel his presence. She did not feel any presence, yet the figure loomed before her, appearing otherworldly, shrouded in an aura of faint blue.

“Who are you?!” shouted Rey, suddenly feeling terrified. “Show yourself!”

The figure stepped forward, tilting his cloaked head up at her ever so slightly so that Rey could see his face.

“Luke…” she whispered in bewilderment.

The face unmistakably belonged to Luke Skywalker, the very man she had killed months ago. Upon looking into his eyes, Rey felt oddly calm, her overwhelming sense of dread suddenly and inexplicably dissipating. She felt at peace, even though she knew she shouldn’t have. Just as she finished uttering his name, the apparition vanished before her eyes.

***

The molten waves of Mustafar crashed violently against the base of the black fortress, as Kylo looked on from his perch high above. The towering obsidian stronghold stood defiantly at the edge of a huge cliff face that segmented the volcanic planet’s many lava oceans from the Gaheen Plains, and was built directly over an ancient cave that permeated Dark Side energy. Kylo felt the Force around him from the very moment he first set foot onto the stronghold, and he knew immediately why his grandfather had chosen such a site to build his lair. Under the brimstone and ash was a place of power: harsh, unforgiving and absolute. It was fitting that his grandson claimed it as his own.

It was a safer option from a tactical standpoint to split up their forces across two separate bases on opposite ends of the Galaxy. While Hux continued to spin his ever-growing web of alliances and informants on Nar Shaddaa, Kylo and his knights routinely struck against the New Imperial Fleet from Mustafar. He had already devastated their leadership to the point that they finally sent the dreaded Darth Ira to hunt him down. He knew it would happen sooner or later, and in fact he had counted on it.

Kylo looked down at his gloved hand, balling it into a fist. Reconnecting with Rey had been quite taxing, but his effort was well rewarded. Their bond, though long dormant these past months, appeared as strong as ever. He had tested his mettle against Rey, and had found himself equal to her. Six months ago she was the undisputed power in the galaxy, but in the time since then, her powers had stagnated while his had grown. Intensive training and meditation on the scorched world had done wonders to hone his skills and focus his anger, the pain in his chest no longer a hindrance to him, but a source of rage-fueled energy he could draw upon at will. It also served as an unexpected boon against Rey, serving as an added distraction to her already strained mind. Kylo was determined to put an end to her, but not before putting an end to her master. Palpatine’s whereabouts was the New Empire’s most well-guarded secret. Nobody, not even the members of Imperial High Command seemed to know his location. Despite all the efforts of Republic Intelligence and Hux’s network of spies, nobody had any idea. Yet Kylo was sure that if anyone would know, Rey would, and she had given him exactly what he wanted.

Turning around from the vista, he looked across his chambers to the podium that housed his grandfather’s mask. The charred relic still resonated with power, even after all these years. He walked over to the mask, placing his hand on the burnt relic, and closed his eyes. The visions of Vader’s past deeds filled into his mind, a history of violence, torment and rage, his grandfather’s bloodiest memories staining the mask like dried blood. Yet the thing he wanted most remained elusive.

“You won’t reach him…” spoke an all-too familiar voice, “…no matter how hard you concentrate.”

Kylo sneered, not bothering to turn around, “Even in death you can’t stop yourself, can you?”

“That mask holds nothing but bad memories. Your grandfather’s moved on from it.”

Kylo looked intently at the relic, the helmet of Darth Vader, the most feared man in the Galaxy, before asking, “Is it so easy for a man to move on from the things he’s done? Is it so easy for everyone else to look past them when they know the truth about who he really is?”

Kylo turned around to see the specter of his uncle, Luke Skywalker standing before him. His former master’s essence manifested before him in an incorporeal form, glowing blue as if he was made out of light. He looked younger than when Kylo last laid eyes upon him that day at the Temple on Yavin, a lifetime ago it seemed.

“You discovered the technique, I see,” noted Kylo.

“It’s easier than I thought it’d be,” replied Luke, “When the moment came, I had a choice, to become one with the Force, or to stay. I chose to stay. There are still some things I need to do.”

“If you plan to make a final desperate attempt to turn me, don’t waste your breath. I’ve heard this story before.”

“Then you know how it goes. How it went for your grandfather. This rage-filled path you’re on will destroy you, Ben.”

“Do not say that name! That name means nothing to me!” shouted Kylo forcefully, “Ben Solo died on the Supremacy.”

“That name still means something to me, and to your father…and your mother. Have you considered what you’re doing to her? The pain you’ve caused her?”

“My mother…” muttered Kylo, “...she dedicated her life to serve the Republic, sacrificed everything, her happiness, even her own family…and how did they repay her? The day word got out she was the daughter of Darth Vader, they casted her aside, forced her to the Outer Rim like a criminal. And while she was being ridiculed by the same people she fought so hard to save, what were you doing? Scouring the galaxy for answers about a dead religion, growing your legend as a savior in hope of washing clean the Skywalker name from the stain of your father’s sins. So, don’t you dare talk to me about pain, I’ve been around it since I was a boy.”

Luke listened stoically, but his demeanor showed a kink. Kylo’s words sank deep.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you need me, Ben-”

“Don’t call me that,” repeated Kylo, poignantly but calmly this time. “And save your remorse…it does neither of us any good. You think you can just show up now and plead with me to turn the other cheek, to pretend that everything that happened didn’t even matter?” Kylo turned back to the mask, “To pretend that your family’s legacy is more than just one of tyranny? You say I have a choice, but I’ve made my choice. Just like he made his.”

“Anakin Skywalker turned away from that path before the end. He found the strength to redeem himself.”

“Did he? Or did Vader merely lack the strength to accept what he really was, what he was destined to be? I am not as weak as he was. I know exactly what I am, and I will not make that same mistake. Now leave.”

Kylo turned his back and proceeded to walk out of the chamber.

“She’s dying, Ben.”

Kylo halted at the door, knowing better than to doubt the truth from his uncle, “How do you know?”

“She told me that day above Crait. She’s strong, but she doesn’t have much time. If you have any shred of decency left in you, then at least contact her. Let her know her son’s alive. She’s convinced you’re dead.”

“And I intend to keep it that way.”

“Ben,” pleaded Luke, sounding far less like a master and more like an uncle for the first time in years, “Don’t do that to your mother.”

Kylo felt surprisingly off kilter from the weight of the news. “If you’re so concerned for her, then why are you hounding me instead of going to see her?”

“It isn’t my place. I can only appear before the ones that need me most, and she doesn’t need me. She needs you. She needs her son. Whatever path you think you’re headed down, whatever you have planned, put it aside for one moment, and do at least this much, for her sake.”

Kylo didn’t have to look back to know that Luke’s spirit was gone. He had said what he needed to say, and had left Kylo with his thoughts. Kylo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling the need to sit down, when Vicrul walked into the chamber, looking around confused.

“I thought I heard a voice. Were you talking to somebody?”

“It was nothing,” dismissed Kylo, hiding his unease. “Tell the others to prepare to move out. We’re going hunting. But first, I need to contact Hux. I have a plan…”

***

Clear your mind. Finn could hear Leia’s instructions repeating in his head. It had been the same advice she had given all week, the latest lesson he had a hard time grasping. Finn’s mind was never clear, always swirling with worst-case-scenarios, with concerns over the ongoing war, concerns for his friends, for the state of the Republic, and increasing concerns about his master’s health. Leia may have been able to put on a strong front, but Finn could tell that something was wrong with her. Still, he didn’t know exactly what it was, much less how to approach her about it. More than likely she would just dismiss his concerns and tell him to get back to his training.

The past six months had been quite the ride for the ex-Stormtrooper. When he wasn’t out on some dangerous mission with Poe, Rose and Chewie, he was training to be a Jedi on Leia’s command ship. He was a slow learner, but he had picked up more than he imagined in a short amount of time. The physical training was the easiest: reaction time, coordination, anticipation, saber combat, all things at least somewhat familiar to the former soldier. The more mystical side of the Jedi arts, on the other hand were completely foreign to him, and he progressed at a shaak’s pace. His capacity to feel, and use the Force were slowly growing, but Finn was not a natural. Still, he was grateful for Leia’s tutelage and her being so patient with him, even after his numerous bungles early on.

Meditation was by far the worst for Finn. He’d never say it to Leia, but Finn thought it was a waste of time, sitting around idly instead of doing something, anything else more productive. And clearing his head of his worries were next to impossible, especially after hearing about the fall of Corellia, and the death of Admiral Antilles. Leia took his death hard, and on top of that, she had been in nonstop briefings with representatives from the Galactic Senate. Now, the Empire had two invisible superweapons, had taken control of another vital shipyard planet, and was within striking distance of Coruscant.

How the hell am I supposed to clear my mind of all this? Finn asked himself, a little annoyed.

Purging the mind was a must for a Jedi, a way to detach from the self and commune with the Force, to let it show what it needed to show, be it visions of the past, or visions of the future. Finn had no such luck. Sitting down in his private quarters, staring out his window into the stillness of space, he tried to forget everything that weighed him down. He closed his eyes and told himself to stop thinking.

Come on Finn, you can do this. Just listen to the Force, he said to himself.

But the Force it seemed, had nothing to say to him. After several minutes of trying with no results, Finn’s annoyance blossomed into frustration. Separating himself from his problems wasn’t going to happen today. Instead, he thought about something else, someone else.

“Rey,” he dared to whisper the name aloud.

Finn had not laid eyes on her since that fateful day on the wreckage of the Supremacy, but she was never far from his mind. Her Sith name had become something of a superstition among rank-in-file Republic soldiers, who were genuinely afraid to even say her name out loud, lest they invoke her wrath. Many thought her a traitor to the cause, a turncoat that had lured the great Luke Skywalker to his death. Many more thought her a demon of the Force itself, the very embodiment of Dark Side sorcery. Finn knew the truth was more complicated than that. What was absolutely true was she was the number two target on Republic Intelligence’s hit list, second only to Palpatine himself, and that there was a standing order from Republic High Command that she be killed on sight. They were rightfully terrified of her, but Finn didn’t feel that way. In spite of everything that happened, he knew what was really going on with her, and even now he couldn’t just turn away.

He looked out the window, to the blanket of stars, and sighed, “Where are you, Rey?”

Then something happened, something that Finn wasn’t prepared for. Suddenly he wasn’t on the Ackbar anymore. He wasn’t in his quarters sitting down on the floor but instead he found himself in a lush green forest, surrounded by the chirps of wildlife. Finn was taken aback as he stood up and looked around, trying to find out where he was and what was going on, whether what he was seeing was a vision or a delusion. He made his way into the foliage, feeling the dew on his hands as he pushed away the plants, until he stumbled upon a strange ruin, a bronze-colored pyramid covered in vines. He began to climb, grabbing onto the vines, struggling to pull himself up, desperate to reach the summit, and at the peak, was Rey, dressed in white Imperial garbs, with a double-bladed lightsaber in hand, practicing dueling forms. Her body moved at almost impossible speed, every step calculated, and deliberate. She dazzled him with her form, looking radiant against the backdrop of a setting sun. She exuded power and confidence, like she could crush the whole planet with a thought. It terrified him in a way, but he found he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

After finishing her movements, Rey ceased, putting away her lightsaber before looking at him. “Hello Finn.” she said, her gaze kind, even longing. “I’m glad you came.”

Finn didn’t say anything, unable to find words, just standing there slack jawed, transfixed like he had been caught in a spell.

She laughed at his dumbfounded state, a giddy laugh that he didn’t know how much he missed until he heard it again. She was genuinely happy to see him, and a part of him was very pleased at that, content to bask in her radiance. But just as suddenly as it began, the strange vision ended, and Finn opened his eyes, to find himself back in his room, staring at a cold and dark galaxy.

Finn didn’t know if what he saw was a vision or a daydream. Was it the Force showing him a glimpse of a possible future, or merely a fragment of a lost opportunity? Finn couldn’t quite say. All he could say was that he had enough meditation for one day. Standing up and putting on his jacket, Finn decided to check in on Leia.

Finn visited his master’s quarters, and was about to ring the door, when the door opened for him, and he was greeted by an anxious Poe.

“Come on in,” ushered Poe, “Leia is about to have an impromptu meeting with the Supreme Chancellor. She asked me to go get you. She wants the both of us to sit in.”

“Do you know what this meeting’s about?” Finn asked.

“Something to do with brewing dissention in the Senate.”

Finn scoffed, “What else is new?”

They walked into Leia’s quarters, and found Leia already conversing with a hologram of Supreme Chancellor Cal Omas, the acting leader of the New Republic. The middle age man looked every bit the part of a career politician, with disarming blue eyes that encouraged trust, immaculately dressed in pristine white senatorial garments, and sporting a head full of white hair deliberately styled to make him look statelier.

“With all due respect, Chancellor, I warned you something like this could happen,” spoke Leia, not bothering to sugarcoat her words, “I spoke out against this plan to attack Fondor, and now we’ve just lost Corellia, and Admiral Antilles in a single swoop.”

“What happened on Corellia was a massive blunder, I am not arguing that,” Omas conceded, “But consider my situation, Grand Admiral. The Senate had grown weary of this stalemate. The Centrist have been clamoring for a decisive victory for months. They demanded action, and I obliged.”

“You let the Senate bully you into a tactical blunder. How could you allow that? You assured me when I first took this position that you would allow me to fight this war the way I see fit.”

“Many Senators are having second thoughts with your appointment. Which is why I am contacting you now. The Centrists are making a move to take over the Senate majority. They are not happy with your efforts thus far, and if they manage to gather enough support in the Senate, they could force your removal.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time they booted me out. Are they planning on rolling out the red carpet for Palpatine while they’re at it?”

“Right now, the Populists are vying to retain control, but their influence is shrinking. Chancellor Villecham’s death on Hosnian Prime was a huge blow to their efforts. Many star systems are on the verge of breaking off, and right now I don’t have the authority to stop them. I hoped that landing a decisive victory would mend this growing rift, but clearly, I was wrong. Now the Senate is more divided than ever and Admiral Antilles’s death is on my conscience.”

“If things are really as bad as you say, then why haven’t you exercised emergency powers?” she asked.

“I can’t do that without a motion for a vote, and nobody, not even the Populists, are willing to grant me that kind of power.” He sighed, “Leia, you and I go way back. We were both orphaned that day when the Death Star destroyed Alderaan. We fought in the Rebellion together, so I won’t lie to you. Right now the Republic is on the brink of collapse. We’re getting fewer and fewer volunteers, our economic reserves are all but depleted, and worst of all, the galactic citizenry is losing faith in us. I know you already have a gargantuan task in front of you, but you must find a way to end this war, and end it quickly, or there won’t be a Republic left to defend.”

Leia took a deep, tired breath, before speaking, “I don’t have what I need to accomplish that. Is there any more support you can give me? What about the Viscount on Kuat?”

“I’ve been keeping tabs on its progress. Aftab and the Mon Calamarians are working as fast as they can, but it’ll take at least a week before it’s battle ready.”

“A week? By then the Empire will have the strength to attack the capital. You expect me to win this war with one Viscount? They have two Eclipses prowling out there in space with no way for us to track them. They could be hovering over Coruscant right now, and we’d have no way of knowing.”

“Republic Intelligence has been working on a detection method but right now it has proven ineffective. I wish I could give you better news, but this is the hand we’ve been dealt. For now, you’re going to have to make do.”

“With a hand this bad, don’t be surprised if they call my bluff.” She hung up without saying goodbye, before turning to Poe and Finn, “You two see what I’m dealing with?”

Poe let out a sympathetic sigh, “Is it always this bad?”

“Lately,” she replied, sitting down into her chair, “The Republic is falling apart. Seems like no matter what happens, it always finds a way to cave in on itself. I’m sure you’re both wondering why I asked you here.”

“That thought did cross our minds,” spoke Finn.

“Truth is that I’m planning on promote both of you. The loss of Admiral Antilles…” her voice hitched for a moment, before powering through, “…was a huge blow, and we’re in desperate need of experienced commanders. The 2^nd Fleet is leaderless and I want to make sure that it’s under the command of someone I can trust. Poe, I’ve had you shadow me in my meetings for a few weeks now because I’m promoting you to Admiral of the 2^nd Fleet.”

“Wha-” said a shocked Poe, “But the Senate, they’ll never accept this-”

“They haven’t kicked me out of my position just yet. And as leader of the Republic Military, I’m still well within my rights to promote whomever I see fit. I’ve had you shadow me in the briefings these past few weeks, and I’ve been training you long before that under the Resistance. I know you’ll make for a fine admiral.”

“Thank you, Ma’am,” replied a grateful Poe.

Finn extended his hand to shake, “Congratulations…Admiral Dameron.”

Poe made a slight chuckle, as he shook his hand. “Surreal hearing that.”

Leia continued, “Poe, I need you to head over to Kuat and rendezvous with the 2^nd Fleet immediately. Take Chewie and Rose with you and get them working on the Viscount. They know the blueprints of the Ackbar inside and out, maybe they can help speed up the timetable for its twin.”

“Yes Grand Admiral.”

Leia then turned to Finn, “Finn, I know I’ve been asking a lot from you these past few months, but you haven’t let me down once. Despite everything that’s been going on, you’ve made serious strides in your Jedi training and you’ve proven an invaluable operative in the field.”

“I’ve had a good teacher,” complimented Finn.

“For that I’m promoting you to the rank of General. You’ll take command of ground operations, and oversee planetary defenses.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea? An ex First Order Stormtrooper promoted to the rank of General? You’ll be giving the Centrists even more ammunition to use against you.”

“Maybe, but the look on their faces is half the reason I’m doing it. Besides you’re someone I can trust. And I know you’ll be up to the task.”

“Thank you, L- Grand Admiral Organa.”

“Don’t thank me, this is gonna mean a lot more on your plate in the coming days. We’re moving the 1^st Fleet to Coruscant. Now that Pryde has control of the Corellian hyperspace lanes, they could attack Coruscant any day. We’re going to relocate to the Capital, and bolster the planet’s defenses. You’ll be leading the ground teams and set up as many planetary defense cannons as we can. I’ll coordinate the Fleets in orbit, and see about getting some reinforcements from the surrounding systems. Admiral Calrissian and the 3^rd Fleet will be joining us in the coming days, but until then we’re the only thing standing between the New Empire and the Capital.”

“So do you think the Senate are gonna vote you out before or after the Empire’s assault?” quipped Poe.

“Knowing them, probably during,” said Leia, half serious.

Leia’s desk console beeped, catching their attention.

“They just won’t leave you alone, will they?” asked Poe shaking his head.

“Comes with the job, Poe. Get ready for it,” Leia walked over and looked at the console. “A private call.”

She clicked on the prompt, and a hologram sprang to life. To everyone’s surprise, it was a hologram of Amilyn Holdo.

“Hello Leia,” she spoke rather somberly, “Been a while.”

“Amilyn?” breathed Leia, “How did you get this channel?”

“You know me, I’ve always been quite resourceful. I’m here to deliver a message.”

“Whatever it is Amilyn, I have no interest in hearing it.”

“Oh, I have a feeling you will. It’s from your son…”

Chapter 6: Chapter 5

Chapter Text

Rey knew what drowning felt like, the abject fear of being swept away against one’s will, to vainly thrash against the current, to feel her lungs burning as she struggled for air. She felt it on Ahch-To when she fell into that cave, when she was pulled down into its murky waters by an unseen hand. Back in that cave, her power saved her from the water, but this time, it was her power that threatened to drown her.

Rey was feeling the full weight of the Force crashing down upon her as she bunched up in the corner of her chambers like a frightened girl. The confrontation with Kylo had shattered her control, and now her powers were running amok. She buried her face into her arms, hoping to shut out the sights and sounds, but she could still see even with her eyes closed and still hear even with her ears covered. The thundering of the Force roiled in her head like a typhoon. She tried to remember the lessons her master had taught her, to plant her feet, to wall off her mind, to insulate herself from the ongoing waves, but her training was of no help now. Her psychic defenses had been shattered, and the Force was flooding in without relent.

Make it stop…make it stop…she pleaded to no one in particular, a mess of sounds and visions bombarding her ceaselessly. She took short panicked breaths, as her mind raced with flashing images and incoherent garbles, and a flurry of sensations all bleeding together in a messy collage. The floor beneath her feet began to shake, and suddenly she realized the whole ship was trembling. She felt like a bird caught in a storm made by her own flapping, and it now threatened to tear her wings off.

“Breathe…” spoke a soothing voice that managed to cut through the noise, “…just breathe.”

Rey recognized the voice, “Luke?”

“Don’t fight it…” he instructed her. “…let go. Let it carry you.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can. You can do this, Rey,” he told her confidently.

Rey listened to his voice as best she could, focusing on elongating her breathing, trying to calm herself down. She was terrified of letting go, to let the currents of the Force take her where they may. Her whole life, she had been taught otherwise, to stand firm and fight against it. Now, she was being told to do the exact opposite, by someone who she had killed, no less. She was going crazy or desperate, but for some reason, she trusted him, even though she had no reason to. She ceased all resistance, and allowed her mind to be swept over. Rey allowed herself to go adrift, the images, sounds and sensations still overwhelming but less painful as she no longer fought against it.

“Now, reach out with your feelings,” instructed Luke in a calm voice, “Find a memory, a place, a person, something that makes you calm and grab hold of it.”

Rey concentrated, sifting through the disarray, and found a memory. She found Finn, that day at Maz Kanata’s cantina. She heard Finn speak.

“So I ran…right into you. You looked at me like no one ever had. I was ashamed of what I was, but I’m done with the First Order. I’m never going back. Rey, come with me.”

She relived the moment, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes, and hearing the yearning in his voice. She refused to see it then, but she saw it plainly now, and with the benefit of hindsight, she wished she had just said yes.

After a time, the overbearing surge abated. The reverberations on the ship had ceased, and Rey was once again able to reign in her powers. As she raised her head, she saw the ghost of Luke Skywalker, standing only six feet away from her.

“Well done, Rey,” he greeted, “I knew you could do it.”

Rey took a deep breath, still trying to calm herself, “Luke…h-how?”

“I did say I’d see you around,” he said with a smile.

“How is this even possible?” she asked perplexed, standing up and cautiously moving closer to him. “I saw you die. I ki…” her voice briefly faltered before she forced out the words, “…I killed you.”

“You did,” Luke acknowledged, “But did you really think death would keep me from teaching my apprentice?”

“I’m not your apprentice,” she spoke, turning her back to him, “I never was. It was all a ploy. You were my target, my mission, and I eliminated you, and that is all there is to it. Now I don’t know how you got here, or what game you’re playing, but I want no part of it. Leave.”

“I can’t leave yet, Rey. I’m here for a reason.”

“I don’t care what your reason is, Jedi,” she hissed, “whatever you have to say, I don’t need to hear it.”

Rey proceeded to walk away, turning her back on the apparition and heading towards the door.

“Do you still feel guilty over what you did?” he called back to her.

Rey abruptly stopped in her tracks. “About what I did to you? Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Not to me,” Luke corrected, “About what you did to your parents. Do you still have nightmares?”

Rey hissed, “Get out of my head.”

“I’ve already seen what’s inside your head, remember? I saw what you saw when we fought that day on the Supremacy. I felt the pain that you feel and I understand why you’re so afraid of it, so desperate to get rid of it.”

“You have no idea, Jedi,” she admonished.

“I have some idea. I know you sift through your master’s archives day and night, looking for some kind of solution, some forgotten technique, some long buried answer to make it stop. I know you’re even prepared to risk being lobotomized just for a chance to be free of it. But that isn’t the way - Rey, please look at me.”

Rey turned back to look at him, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“You’re hurting, Rey. You’re traumatized by a past you can’t face. You’ve tried to bury it, tried to forget about it, to wall off your thoughts, but no matter what you do, it creeps back in. That trauma is the reason your powers manifest so violently, and your unusually strong connection to the Force only worsens it.”

“You think I don’t know that, Jedi?” she snapped, “My memories are completely intact. I remember that day, and I don’t care to revisit it. I’m not concerned with the cause, I’m only concerned with a cure.”

“You may remember your past, but you’re still afraid to face it. You’ve closed your mind off from what happened that day, and your powers are acting out because of it. That’s why you’re suffering the way you are. You’ve been taught from the start to discredit what happened, to allow that wound to fester, to let your pain grow into hatred. You’ve allowed a tyrant to twist your mind, to warp your judgement, and deep down you hate yourself for it. Your mind and spirit are unbalanced, and the Force continues to bear down on you because you refuse to come to terms with the truth.”

“And what truth is that, Jedi?” she asked bitterly, “That I should allow myself to be tormented by a memory? That I should just surrender to the Force whenever it bids me to heel? Your vapid Jedi teachings have deluded you. You tout ideals like freedom and democracy, yet you willfully enslave yourself to the Force, the greatest tyrant of all. And make no mistake, it is a cruel master. It calls out to its victims and toys with those unfortunate enough to hear it: the headstrong, the adventurous, the restless…and the fearful. It tempts them with a grand destiny, with fulfillment, with importance, but in the end it leaves them broken and hollow. And I hear it loudest of all. I see its true face better than anyone. The Force is not something to be revered. It’s a foe that must be brought to heel.”

“Are those your beliefs or your master’s?” he challenged, “The Sith don’t understand the Force for what it is. They see what they want it to be: a power to be mastered, or an adversary to be vanquished. Your master sees your pain as a tool for you to wield, but whatever solution he’s promised you, you won’t find it down the path he’s put you on.”

“Then what would you prescribe, oh wise Jedi?” Rey asked sardonically.

“Choose a different path. The path I offered you on Ahch-To, do you remember? I offered to take you under my wing and help heal your troubled mind. That offer still stands. You cannot overcome this with sheer will alone. Your master cannot help you with that.”

“But you can?” she posed sharply, “Is that what this is? A second attempt to recruit me to the Jedi ways? You skirted death itself to offer your own killer a chance for redemption?”

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” he answered with genuine sincerity in his voice. “I helped you just now because you were in pain. If you’re willing to trust me, then I can help you find a way to end your suffering.”

Rey scoffed in disbelief. This crazy old man was babbling nonsense, but some small part of her actually believed him. The great enemy, the bane of the Sith, Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker was offering to help his own murderer. She had studied him as a young apprentice under her master’s tutelage, trained to be his assassin, volunteered to undergo the dangerous memory wipe and don her scavenger persona all just for a chance to get close enough to kill him. The plan went awry, and instead of killing him on sight, she ended up spending time with him. Her naive alter ego even grew to see him as a mentor, someone she could talk to and turn to for guidance. Now with her memories restored, she struggled with how she should feel about him. Her instincts told her to be wary. She knew he had no real reason to help her, but she believed his sincerity all the same. But there was still a question she needed to ask.

“Why? Why do you want to help me? You have a vested interest in seeing my master fall, seeing my order extinguished. You and I are sworn enemies. If the roles were reversed I would do anything in my power to see you fail. You could very easily be trying to trick me, to have me betray my master. Why should I trust you?”

“Because I know what you are,” he answered plainly, “I saw it in your eyes on Ahch-To, and I see it in your eyes now. You’re not what you pretend to be. You’re not a bad person. You don’t want to do these things, but you think you have no choice. I failed to save you when I was alive, but maybe I still can now.”

Rey wiped her face of her tears and shook her head, “What you’re asking of me is impossible.”

“It is possible, Rey. You’re simply not looking at it the right way. You can’t fight your way through this. You see the Force as a malignancy, as some kind of curse or punishment, but it isn’t. It’s a part of who you are. And it’s a part of your past that you can’t just cut out, no matter how badly you want to. You need to learn to make peace with it. You need to stop fighting and let those wounds heal.”

“A Sith can never stop fighting,” she declared, parroting the words she had been spoon fed since she was an acolyte.

“No…” agreed Luke, “…but a Jedi can.”

***

It was an oddity for Kylo Ren to feel a gentle breeze on his unmasked face, to feel his ungloved hand brush against the tall dewy grass, to hear the stream of water from the distant waterfalls in Lake Country. The planet Naboo was every bit the terrestrial paradise he had read about, so geologically different from a dead world like Mustafar. So many months in Vader’s Fortress had hardened Kylo to the fiery planet’s tumultuous atmosphere. The Black Fortress was not equipped with advanced atmospheric filters, which meant constantly breathing in scorched vapors and ceaselessly enduring the magmatic heat. Kylo had grown so accustomed to it after so many months in hiding that it was now almost unsettling to breathe in air that wasn’t laced with cinder. It was here, on this secluded spot, that Kylo found what he was looking for: the tomb of Padme Amidala.

The modest structure was a small but eloquent building of polished marble, with an archway framing a stone sculpture of Amidala herself, dressed in her queenly attire. As Kylo approached the entrance and the statue, he lingered for a moment at the likeness of his grandmother, the woman who had stolen Anakin Skywalker’s heart, who had driven him to take extreme measures out of fear of losing her, and the woman who had ultimately died in the wake of his anger for turning her back on him. Kylo knew the story, more or less, scouring the holocrons and data logs he had found in his grandfather’s fortress. He had also known that Vader had visited the tomb on several occasions, and evidently had been tormented by her death for the remainder of his life. As he stared into the stoic marble face of the statue, Kylo tried to imagine what kind of woman she was. What kind of a woman would hold such power over someone like Vader, and drive him so deeply into the Dark Side of the Force over the fear of losing her? Yet the cold statue yielded no answers and only raised more questions.

The tomb had once stood in the very center of planet’s capital, Theed, but was later relocated to this secluded grove. Upon further investigation, Kylo had learned that the move was ordered by Vader himself, though the reason why wasn’t entirely clear. The secluded locale of Lake Country, it seemed, had some personal meaning to them both. Was it an act of love? Kylo hesitating to draw that conclusion. The insipid word was a notion feared by both the Sith and the Jedi alike, a word Kylo had often heard, but held no stock in. From his experience, love was a weakness he could ill-afford.

Kylo entered the tomb with caution, taking in his surroundings. The interior was largely barren, with a quartet of cropped pillars, and ornate pots full of dead flowers, devoid of any modern technologies or artificial light sources. Despite that, the center of the tomb was reasonably well-lit from natural sunlight shining through a large stained-glass window that depicted the likeness of Amidala herself. In the center of it all, where the light shone brightest, was a polished stone coffin, its lid chiseled with a life-sized relief of Padme, her eyes closed, hands crossed at her waist, and draped in a flowing royal gown. Kylo lingered over the coffin, staring down at the lid for a moment before placing his hand on the sculpture’s head.

“Will you face me now?” called out Kylo, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. “Or do I have to tear down this tomb brick by brick?”

His threat was met with silence, broken only by a whistling wind blowing in from the opened door.

“I know you can hear me…” scolded Kylo, “…did it pain you to look at her coffin? To know that you killed the very woman you sold your soul to save? I wonder how many times you stood at this exact spot.”

With a quick surge of the Force, he pushed aside the lid, letting it fall to the ground with a thunderous crash.

“She was lucky…” continued Kylo, “to have not lived to see what you became. I’m sure she already felt enough guilt the moment she realized she played right into Palpatine’s hands. How horrible it must have been for her to see everything she believed in rotting away before her very eyes, her precious Republic descending into despotism. She gave up on life, on you, on her two children when they had just taken their first breaths. Did you ever ask yourself why? Why she died so suddenly for seemingly no reason?”

He reached his hand into the opened coffin, lifting up a pile of dust, his grandmother’s remains, letting her ashes spill through his fingers.

“It wasn’t a broken heart. It wasn’t the will of the Force. It was because she wanted to give up. It was her easy way out. She shied away from life because she was too weak, too scared. She wasn’t strong enough to take your hand, to see what kind of a world you could have made, not even for her own children. And here stands a monument to her embroidered memory…the Naboo queen and senator who so adored democracy that she could not bear to live in a galaxy without it, the saint who tried so desperately to save the Republic as if it was her own child, but was too scared and too selfish to live for her real children.” Kylo looked back to the stained-glass mirror. “Just one more lie to hide our uncomfortable family truth.”

He looked around the tomb, seeing and hearing nothing.

Kylo balled his fists, “Is silence all I get?! Or are you too much of a coward to face your own flesh and blood?!”

“Hello Ben…” said a voice from the shadowy corner.

Kylo turned around and waited silently, noticing the silhouette of a hooded figure lurking in the dark. As the figure stepped forward into the light, the figure slowly began to glow a vibrant blue. Now standing directly in front of him, the mysterious person pulled off his hood and stared directly into his eyes. Kylo had never met this person before, but he knew exactly who he was.

“Grandfather…” Kylo greeted irreverently, not bothering to hide his disappointment.

The apparition was older than the holo recordings he had seen of the young Anakin Skywalker, the General and Hero of the Republic, but his face was not burnt or damaged. He was completely whole, how he would have looked had he not been burned, his eyes ponderous but kind, not the eyes Kylo was expecting to see.

“You’re not what I imagined,” confessed Kylo with a contemptuous stare.

“And what did you imagine?” asked his grandfather.

“Something more…” replied Kylo, walking around Amidala’s coffin. “…I used to see you in my dreams when I was a boy. I would see your ghost rising out from the shadows in your black armor, tall, brimming with hate and power. You were the monster that made me afraid to go to sleep. It terrified me at first, but after a while, after I was told who you were, I grew to be comforted by your presence. To be descended from someone so formidable, so completely terrifying…was empowering in its own way.”

“That wasn’t my doing,” replied Anakin, “Palpatine afflicted you with dark visions, fed you lies meant to frighten and confuse you.”

“But were they really lies?” asked Kylo, “Or were they only showing me glimpses of the real you, the real you that everyone else tries so hard to forget?”

“This is the real me…” Anakin pressed, his eyes focused, “The person I was, the person you saw in those visions. That person is gone. Vader is gone. I became who I was meant to be at the end.”

“Luke used to say as much, how at the very last moment, you turned on the Emperor, and sacrificed yourself to save him. How after terrorizing the galaxy for almost twenty-five years as the infamous Darth Vader, you succumbed to a moment of weakness and cowered back to the light.”

Anakin’s eyes squinted, noticeably flustered, “You think it was cowardice? Do you honestly think it is cowardice for a father to save his son? I did what any father should have, just like your father tried to do.”

The stone lid floated up into the air, before violently slamming back down onto the coffin with a reverberating thud. Kylo pointed accusingly at his grandfather, “Do not bother with the comparison. My father was a fool. He was a fool for abandoning his family, and for confronting me the way he did. I did what I needed to do…just as you did.”

“And what do you mean by that?” asked Anakin, his stare now harsh.

“To Obi-Wan. To Palpatine. You excel at killing your fathers.”

Anakin looked down to the floor, before looking back up with a measured stare, “I’ve done a thousand terrible things, things that I would take back if I could. You’ve been trying to contact me for some time, even threatened to deface your own grandmother’s resting place. I’ve stayed away, but now I see that I may be the only one you might still listen to. I know about the Dark Side better than you can imagine. I know what it does for you, how it feels in the moment. It’s intoxicating, feeling stronger than you could ever hope to be in your wildest dreams. But I also know what it does to you, how it festers in your heart like a tumor, how it eats away at you, mind, body and soul. It ruins you, and everyone you touch. And before you even realize it, it turns you into someone else, something ugly…something evil.”

“What if all it does is show the real you? That horrible thing lurking behind your eyes, untainted by the self-righteousness of the Jedi and the narcissism of the Sith…something pure. Tell me you didn’t think the same way. They called you the Chosen One. They thought you’d bring balance to the Force, but they failed to understand the prophecy’s true meaning. The Force is a fickle thing. It only shows what it wants us to see. You weren’t meant to be a Jedi…or a Sith. You were meant to be their destroyers. Your destiny was to wipe them out for good, but you were corrupted by their teachings, shackled by their delusions, and blinded by love for a woman who - when the time came - never cared for you the way you cared for her.”

“Do not speak that way about her!” chastised Anakin. “You simmer in your rage because a girl slighted your advances, because she chose to stand against you rather than beside you.”

“And what did your precious Padme do?” argued Kylo, “She turned on you, just like everybody else did, after everything you did for her, everything you sacrificed. You would have burned the entire galaxy to keep her safe, but she betrayed you. She was the one who was wrong, not you. She abandoned you, and she abandoned her children-”

“You’re wrong about her, about what happened!” interrupted Anakin, “I was the one who was wrong, me, not her! I had everything I should have hoped for, but it wasn’t enough for me! I wanted more, and in the end, it cost me everything!”

Kylo smirked, “Now there’s a glimmer of the Vader I’ve heard so much about. It’s still there, isn’t it? The pain, the frustration, the ambition. Those feelings don’t evaporate, even in death. I’m sure of it. That’s what I saw when I saw you in my visions. That’s what I felt in my bones. That darkness was always in you, it was always there. Palpatine only brought it out of you. You can wear whatever mask you want, but in the end, this was the one that fit you best…” Kylo pulled out the charred remains of Vader’s mask from behind his back and chucked it to the ground at the apparition’s feet. “…the one that everyone remembers. Look into my eye and tell me I’m wrong.”

Anakin looked down at the relic, his eyes betraying dark thoughts. “You’re not…” he answered after a few moments. “…as much as I’d like to believe otherwise, you’re right. It was there from the beginning, and it’s still there now. But that isn’t all that’s still there. So is my regret. Regret for not doing things differently. Regret for allowing my wife to die, for not being able to hold my newborn children and watch them grow. Regret over the pain I subjected my son and my daughter to, regret that they spent their whole lives battling against my cursed legacy…regret that you’re following in my footsteps.” He looked up to his grandson, his eyes almost welling up, “Do not follow in those footsteps, Ben. Those visions you saw were lies, illusions of Palpatine meant to tempt you, to seduce you to the Dark Side. He tries to control you, and if he can’t control you, he’ll destroy you, or see to it that you destroy yourself.”

“He tried once already. Ben Solo is dead. My name is Kylo Ren. Like you, I was reborn as someone else, but unlike you, I will do what you couldn’t. I will end him, and then I will end her. And those lies…I’ve been dealing with lies all my life. About our family, about the Republic, about the Force. The lies we’re told…the lies we tell ourselves…I’m tired of them. The truth is I’m the grandson of a monster. Why shouldn’t I play the part?”

Anakin betrayed a look of anguish on his face, as he shook his head, “Because it’ll lead you nowhere. You’ll die broken and alone unless you turn away from this path. I know what you’re planning. I can see it in your eyes, and I beg you to reconsider. If you do this, you’ll never find yourself again.”

“I’ve already found myself,” declared Kylo, “For the first time, in my whole life, I know exactly who I am, and what I’m meant to do. My destiny is to finish what you started, finish the task that fate demanded of you. The Sith, the Jedi, the Republic, the Empire- they’ve been a blight on the galaxy long enough. It’s the same old story, told and retold over and over again, old things that refuse to die. One side wins, the other one loses, only to rise again, and on and on it goes. I’m going to end it, wipe the slate clean. I will strike a blow at the very heart of the Galaxy so deep that no one will ever again abide so much as a mention of the Jedi and Sith.” Kylo turned around to face the coffin, “I’m going to end it all, and when the dust finally settles, no one will even remember that story. This is your cursed legacy! This is our family’s destiny!”

Kylo turned back around, but he did not see his grandfather. He was alone in the tomb, with only the wind at his back.

“Coward…” sneered Kylo, looking down at his grandfather’s helm, “…I’ve outgrown you…” He marched out of the tomb, slamming the door shut behind him.

Kylo walked towards the hill, meeting up with three of his fellow knights, Vicrul, Trudgen and Ushar.

“Took you long enough…” sneered Trudgen as he continued cleaning his vibro-cleaver, “So did you find whatever it was you were looking for?”

“More or less,” replied Kylo stoically.

“Everything alright?” asked Vicrul.

“Fine,” Kylo waved off, “Have they arrived yet?”

Ushar answered, “We just received word from the Revenge. Scanners detected a proximity alert. Our guests should be arriving any second.”

As if right on cue, a Republic Starhawk jumped out of hyperspace, and stopped just above the planet’s orbit, squaring off against both the Revenge and the Finalizer.

“It’s her…” muttered Kylo, “…right on time.”

“Are you ready for this?” asked Vicrul, passing Kylo his helmet.

Kylo snatched the helmet from him and glared, “Of course I am…”

***

Finn couldn’t help but feel nervous about the situation that he and his master had found themselves in. It was an awful risk by any stretch of the imagination: the head of the New Republic Military meeting with a war criminal and terrorist leader who until a few days ago was listed as KIA. Officially speaking, Leia Organa was not here, and as far as Republic High Command knew, she was still aboard the Ackbar enroute to Coruscant. The message from Holdo had chilled Finn to the bone, and he hadn’t felt any better about this meeting during the entire trip to Naboo. Worse, he was afraid that Leia couldn’t see the danger right in front of her.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” asked Finn for the seventeenth time, “We can turn back now-”

“For the last time, Finn, I’m not turning back…” said Leia, the annoyance in her voice evident.

“I’m just saying, this is a very dangerous move. If Kylo tries something-”

“He won’t. Have a little trust in your master,” Leia insisted.

“It’s him I don’t trust,” replied Finn, “You haven’t seen him in years, you don’t know him the way I do. I’ve seen firsthand how cruel and dangerous he is when I was with the First Or-”

“I thought he was dead, Finn,” she interjected. “I thought my son was dead. You don’t know how painful that was to me. A mother losing her child…there are things left unsaid, things I needed to tell him. And this may be my one chance.”

“And this may be his one chance to cut down the Republic’s best hope for victory. We don’t know his intentions. You are too important to the Republic to risk your life like this.”

“Stop, I’ve heard it enough already from you and Poe. This might come as a surprise to the two of you, but I know what I’m doing.” She looked out the shuttle’s porthole to the planet below, “He won’t try anything, not here. This planet…there’s a reason he picked this planet to meet. This was my mother’s home, my biological mother’s home…” she trailed off, her eyes filling with sadness, “He’s the only family I have left, Finn. I need to see him. I need to at least talk to him.”

Her words were sobering, enough to keep Finn quiet for the rest of the shuttle ride to the planet’s surface. What she said bothered him, more than it should have. He resigned to stay silent, though he looked at his master more closely, noticing day by day how much frailer she was becoming. The instructions were explicit: meet in the hills just outside Padme Amidala’s tomb on Lake Country. Judging by her reaction to finding out the location, it was very important to the family.

As the shuttle made landfall and the main doors opened, Finn and a squad of heavy Republic Commandos filed out. The fully armored troopers fanned out, and began searching the grounds for any surprises.

Finn walked out of the shuttle and quickly observed the hillside, scouting for anything amiss. A few hundred meters away, standing on a hill, stood Kylo Ren, donning his customary cloak and helm, and he wasn’t alone. By his side were three of his Knights, the larger brawlers judging by the size of them.

“Stay close to me. The first sign of trouble, we’re leaving.”

But Leia just started walking towards Kylo, completely unconcerned by Finn’s warnings.

“Leia,” Finn called out, but she kept moving forward. “Dammit,” he cursed under his breath before waving over the commandos and proceeded to follow about ten feet behind his master. Kylo too began walking towards them, his Knights trailing just behind. They met at the summit of the hill, both groups keeping their distance, as Kylo and Leia stared across from one another.

“Mother…” greeted Kylo coldly, his voice obscured by the modulator. “It’s been a long time.”

“Yes it has,” said Leia, her voice clearly emotional, “I was so afraid you were dead, son. I felt you die that day above Crait.”

“Seems to be a Skywalker tradition, to come back from the brink of death. It certainly changes you.”

“It certainly has…” Leia noted, her eyes noticeably wary of him. “Take off the mask…I want to see my son.”

Kylo humored her request, taking off his mask, revealing his yellow eyes brimming with the taint of the Dark Side. The sight caught Leia off guard, as she took an involuntary step back. Finn took one step closer, his hand hovering above his lightsaber attached to his belt buckle. He understood why Leia recoiled. As new as he was to the ways of the Force, even he could sense the deep disturbance emanating from Kylo, a harsh and dark power, more potent than anything he had felt before. His eyes looked more sinister, more controlled, and it made Finn feel very uneasy.

“What happened to you, Ben?” asked Leia, her voice almost cracking.

“Ben Solo is dead,” he spoke with finality in his voice, “The last shred of him that was left died on the Supremacy. My name is Kylo Ren.”

Finn knew his master well enough to know when something bothered her. The expression she bore was very brief, but Finn caught it nonetheless. Her face betrayed a look of immense sadness, like some last ember of hope had been snuffed out deep within her. But true to herself, as quickly as it appeared, she banished that look and put on a brave face.

“Why did you call me here?” she asked matter-of-factly, now all business.

“Allegiant-General Pryde has started churning out warships on Corellia. He’s mustering a fleet and preparing a final push into the Core Systems. At the moment, he is being distracted by my First Order Loyalists, but sooner or later, he will be gunning for Coruscant.”

“Republic Intelligence is well aware of General Pryde’s activities,” assured Leia.

“But they don’t have the power to stop him. The Republic is as incompetent and defenseless as ever. It crumbles all around you, even as you so desperately try to hold it together. You are outgunned, outnumbered and out of time.”

“Did you call us here just to badmouth us?” snapped Finn. “Or is there actually a point to this meeting?”

“Finn…” Leia attempted to interject.

“FN-2187,” uttered Kylo, his attention now on Finn, his gaze condescending. “So you’re the latest stray that Leia’s taken in. She was always so quick to help the weak and the hapless.”

“That’s enough,” said Leia.

Kylo scoffed, “Are you so desperate to pass on the Jedi arts, that you would pass them on to a coward and a traitor like him?”

“Coming from a man who betrayed his own family…” replied Finn, in as brave a voice as he could muster, “…I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Kylo tilted his head, and took a few steps toward Finn. The Republic Commandos immediately took aim, prompting Kylo’s knights to close in with their weapons drawn.

“Hold,” ordered Finn, before walking towards Kylo, meeting him face-to-face for the first time since Star Killer Base, back when they were both very different men.

“If I didn’t know better,” taunted Kylo, “I would have almost mistaken you for a man with a spine. Does it still hurt? When I sliced open your back in the forest? Did the Resistance really waste a perfectly good artificial spine on a crippled weakling like you?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed as he listened to Kylo’s words. During his time under his command, Finn was deathly afraid of the enigmatic Kylo Ren, who always lurked in the shadows, the black mask obscuring his face, his intentions always unknowable. Now, during his time in service of the Republic, and under Leia’s tutelage, Finn had learned of the man behind the mask, and it no longer frightened him, even though it rightly should have. Finn wasn’t a match for his sheer power. He could feel the disparity, even as he faced him. But instead of feeling fear, he only felt irate.

“And what about you?” Finn derided, “Why don’t you take a good look at yourself? You accuse me of being a traitor, but you betrayed your family, and what did it get you? A wound to the chest? Being played and discarded like trash? The great and powerful Kylo Ren, beaten by an old man, and a girl…”

“Finn!” chastised Leia, getting in between them, “This isn’t helping anything!”

Kylo’s face betrayed a quiet rage, and Finn couldn’t help but feel smug about it. It was a stupid idea to prod the beast, but a small part of him felt satisfied for digging at the high and mighty Kylo Ren.

“You called this meeting because you said you have some information you wanted to share with us,” cut in Leia, remaining in between them. “What do you want to tell us?”

Kylo’s gaze lingered on Finn before finally turning to Leia. “I’m here to give you a chance to save your skins. Like it or not, your precious Republic is dying. You won’t be able to beat the Empire with the forces you have, not without doing something drastic, something they would never expect. Force General Pryde to abandon his invasion plans and move on the defensive.”

“And what do you propose?” asked Leia, her interest peaked.

“One combined preemptive attack…” Kylo pulled out a data chip from his belt, and handed it to Leia. “…on the Emperor’s secret base. What do you know about Exegol?”

Chapter 7: Chapter 6

Chapter Text

“Lady Ira, are you sure about this course of action?” asked a noticeably puzzled Allegiant-General Pryde over the holo-communicator.

“Yes, I am, Allegiant-General,” replied Rey sternly, “I’m ordering you to send one third of your ships and both the Eclipses to the Jen’ari Nebulae. I want them guarding the nearby sector until further notice.”

“But my Lady, we need those forces for the final push into the Core Worlds. Without them, we will have a much harder time taking Coruscant.”

“This issue takes precedent, Allegiant-General. I have strong reason to believe that the First Order has discovered the Emperor’s whereabouts, and is preparing an imminent attack. I want our most powerful ships and at least two dozen Destroyers to be on site and battle ready until further notice.”

Pryde tilted his head at the news, “How could they have discovered the Emperor’s location?”

“How is not important at this time, Allegiant-General. I’m relocating my fleet to the Unknown Regions. I expect you to send those reinforcements immediately.”

“Yes, Lady Ira,” replied Pryde with a bow, before Rey shut off the feed, letting out an exhausted breath.

The past two days had been a harrowing experience for the young Sith. Though her powers were back in check, her concern for her master’s safety had grown, as had her concern for Kylo Ren. At first, she thought it would be child’s play to track him down and end him, but she learned otherwise after she felt his burgeoning power during their last encounter. Their Force bond, so it seemed, had developed to the point where it not only linked together their minds, but also their thoughts, powers and as she had found, their pains. She had walked into his clutches blind, while he was prepared for her. Now she had to be more wary of guarding herself against those sensations and private thoughts, as any of it could be used against her. She cursed the day on Starkiller Base when he touched her mind in that interrogation room. To think I actually felt sorry for him, she thought, the feelings she had for him having soured since then.

“You’re afraid of him…” said Luke, cryptically, appearing behind her, “…of Kylo.”

If Kylo was the big concern, then the ghost of Luke Skywalker was the annoying pebble in her shoe. For two days he had lurked around the ship, appearing periodically and only to her, continually asking her to take him up on his offer for help.

“You again?” she asked wearily, “You’re quite tenacious, aren’t you, Jedi?”

“Skywalkers don’t give up easily.”

“I’ve gathered that,” she replied, turning around to look at him. “I’m not afraid of Kylo. I’m afraid for my master.”

“Your master, Palpatine…” uttered Luke, “I wish I could understand why you’re so devoted to him. He’s a fiend, a manipulator, a mass murderer.”

“Maybe…” she admitted, “…but he’s also the closest thing to a family I have left. He raised me since I was a girl, since the day I was left on Jakku. That means everything to me. As hard a life as you lived, you at least had a family. You don’t know what it feels to be completely alone, to be abandoned.”

“Tell me, then,” offered Luke, “how did you end up on Jakku?”

“This subject is not up for discussion,” she dismissed, “I have other more pressing matters to attend to, like preparing for Kylo. Now will you leave me alone? Don’t you have other places to haunt?”

“What if I make a deal with you then?” offered Luke. “Meditate with me, just this one time. I want you to concentrate on the day your parents died. I want you to confront the memory you’ve hidden away. Do this, and I will leave you alone for good.”

Rey breathed through her nose, and sneered, “Why do you keep pestering me about this?”

“I promised to help you, didn’t I? To do that, I need to get to the source of your pain.” Luke raised his hands, in an almost pleading gesture, “Indulge me this once, and you won’t ever have to see me again.”

Rey sneered, before relenting, “Fine… Let’s get this over with. The sooner it’s done, the sooner you can leave.”

Rey walked to the center of her chambers and lowered the overhead lights, assuming a lotus position, before looking back at Luke.

“Close your eyes,” instructed Luke.

Rey couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu, like she was back on the mountain temple of Ahch-To, her naive alter ego dumbstruck from just being in the presence of the Great Jedi Master Skywalker. In spite of her better judgment, she was warmed by the memory. She followed his instructions, closing her eyes.

“Look back into your memories,” he continued, “think back to that day.”

Rey concentrated, looking inward, into her consciousness. She found herself standing in front of a mirror, a mirror eerily similar to the one she had seen in her mind before. Rey let out a sharp breath, as she stepped towards it, reaching out with her hand to touch the glass. The opaque glass began to bleed away, revealing a dusty street covered in red sand, flanked by some small buildings and cracked hovels, market stands and makeshift shops. It was a very small mining village, a quaint place, a place she once knew but had chosen to forget.

“What do you see?” she heard his voice echoing as if he was standing behind her.

“Jandur…” she said in a pained voice, the mere utterance of the word feeling like she had torn open an old scab. “…my homeworld.”

As Rey walked through the streets, she could feel the sand pelting her face, the heat from the sun over her head.

“What do you hear?”

Rey closed her eyes, and listened. At first, she could only hear the howling of the wind, but in time, she picked up the sound of conversations, the whizzing of passing speeders, the clamping of machines, and the everyday commotion of village life.

“My village…” she replied gravely, opening her eyes, this time, seeing a mass of people moving about the street. “I used to walk these streets every day when I was a…”

Rey fell silent as a very young girl ran past her, no older than five years old, the very same girl she had seen in her mind’s reflection.

“…a girl,” she whispered, watching her younger self running through the crowded streets without a care in the world.

“Rey?” she faintly heard Luke’s voice call out, seeming more distant than before.

“Rey!” called out a female voice, a voice that gave her a jolt. Immediately, she turned to the owner, a young woman around thirty years old, her hair brown and tied back in the same bun style as her own, and her face bearing a striking family resemblance.

“Mother…” gasped Rey, looking directly at her. For so long, Rey had wondered what her mother looked like, and seemingly out of nowhere, there she was, standing right before her. The memories flooded back to her, as she watched it unfold right before her very eyes. It didn’t feel like a typical vision, a foggy window into a clouded past or vague future. It was clear, and it felt real.

“Rey!” her mother called out again, looking around the street.

Rey took a step back as she watched the young girl run back to her mother.

“Rey, I told you not to run off on your own,” her mother said.

“Sorry mommy,” said the girl mischievously, clearly not sorry at all.

“You need to be careful, sweetheart,” her mother replied, kneeling down so as to look at her eye to eye, “remember what we told you about going too far away from mommy and daddy?”

The girl nodded.

“Now come on, let’s go see daddy.”

Rey watched a few feet back as her memory played out before her. Holding her mother’s hand, the girl led the way through the crowded street, before reaching a small repair shop. Inside the narrow structure were shelves full of heavy-duty drills and mining equipment, as well as a handful of scurrying pit-droids going about their rounds, making routine repairs. And far into the corner, sitting down at a workbench was her father. He was tinkering over a damaged drill, soldering a new circuit board.

“Daddy!” squealed the young girl, rushing over to embrace her father, hugging his back.

“Hey, my little space monkey,” said her father, not taking his eyes off the drill. “Hand me the micro-lens hanging on the shelf over there, sweetie.”

The young girl stretched out her arm, and the lens floated off the shelf and into her hand, just as her father looked up in time to see it.

“This one?” she asked innocently, holding the device up to her father.

“Sweetie, what have we told you about doing that?” said her father in an apprehensive tone, looking into her eyes. “You can’t do those things, it isn’t…normal. If people see that you can do that, they might get scared. And right now is a very scary time. Understand, space monkey?”

“Yes…” she answered meekly.

“Good,” he said, smiling at her, “I’m almost done for the day. Why don’t you check on the droids? Make sure they’re not short circuiting again.”

“Ok,” she said, as she walked over to the pit droids.

As her younger self waddled away, Rey chose to stay near the visage of her father, getting a good look at him. She may have looked like her mother, but her eyes and her technical affinity, she definitely inherited from her father. Seeing her memory play out had awakened something inside her, a feeling she hadn’t felt since she was a child, a sense of belonging. The fog of forgotten memories abated, and now she remembered what her parents looked like, what they sounded like. The moment was quite overwhelming. She felt her legs beginning to tremble, suddenly finding it hard to stand, and after a few quick moments, she found she couldn’t stand any longer. She closed her eyes as her body collapsed to the ground.

Rey awoke with a violent jolt, finding herself on the matted floor of her personal quarters. As she sat up, she began to scour the room for Luke.

“Luke?” she whispered, alarmed at the thought of being alone again, desperate to find a familiar face, even Luke’s face.

“Still here,” he said, appearing before her, much to her surprise and relief. “Are you alright?”

“What happened?” she mumbled to herself, her head feeling like it had been split open.

“You fainted while meditating. You fell into a trance, one so deep that I couldn’t reach you.”

“I had a vision, a vision of my childhood. It felt…real,” she attempted to explain, placing her hand on the ground, “As real as this floor. The sounds, the wind, the smells, the dirt, everything.”

“That vision you experienced must have stemmed from deep within your subconscious. It took hold of you quick. A few minutes in, you collapsed onto the floor. What did you see?”

“I saw…I saw myself as a child, I saw my parents. I watched…a memory…play out in front of me, of my last day with them, and I remembered it vividly as it was happening. What is this? What’s happening to me?”

“The Force is trying to speak to you, it wants to show you something, something you need to see.”

“But what and why?” she asked perplexed, “Why does it insist on showing me my past, I know where I’ve been, the things I’ve done…why does it feel the need to show me a memory? This memory?”

Luke refrained from answering.

“What is it, Jedi?” Rey asked impatiently, “You know it, don’t you? If you do, then tell me what it is right now.”

Luke again refrained from answering her question.

She scoffed in annoyance, “Why am I even talking to you then? You claim you want to help me but you stay quiet about this?”

“I can’t give you the answers you want, Rey. I can only help you look for them.”

“Shouldn’t you be off haunting someone else, then? I thought we had a deal.”

“I will leave right now if you ask me to,” offered Luke, “but you won’t ask me, will you? You’re confused, you’re emotionally distressed and the last thing you want to be right now is be left alone, don’t you?”

Rey let out a defeated sigh, “You’re right…but I’m tired of these riddles. If the Force is trying to tell me something, like you say, I want to know what it is. I want answers.”

“You know where to find them, Rey,” insisted Luke, “You need to go home.”

***

The art of negotiations was not Kylo Ren’s strong suit, and being in the middle of it now left him as aggravated as ever. It was a meeting of two worlds in the truest sense, representatives of the Republic Military and the Galactic Senate on one side of the negotiating table, and the heads of the First Order, and galactic criminal underworld on the other. Both sides agreed to meet on neutral ground, above orbit of the luxurious world of Zeltros, a halfway point between the Galactic Core and Hutt Space, where a portion of the Republic Fleet squared off from the First Order’s own Star Destroyers. After much deliberation, the two parties agreed to meet aboard Kylo Ren’s personal flagship, the Finalizer. Leia had come in person, along with her apprentice, FN-2187, at her side. Other members of the Republic military were communicating through holo-projectors, which had been installed around the council chamber’s center table, including Admiral Calrissian, the newly appointed Admiral Poe Dameron, and most prestigious of all, Supreme Chancellor Cal Omas. Opposite them, was Kylo, Hux, and Holdo, all attending in person, and transmitting in from the Outer Rim were Rotta the Hutt, and a number of crime lords who had agreed to come into the First Order fold.

As much as he hated to admit it, Kylo had to give Hux his due. In the last few months, he had woven an unlikely but formidable patchwork of alliances with the Hutt Cartel, the Nova Crime Syndicate, the Wandering Star, and the Tenloss Syndicate, no small feat given their long standing history of in-fighting, but now banded together and unofficially dubbed the Syndicate Coalition. On top of that, Hux managed to secure deals with Sienar Fleet Systems and Incom Corporation to supply the Coalition with ships and heavy ordinances in exchange for black market money, strictly off the books. Now the First Order was face to face with their enemies, attempting to play nice, and doing a poor job of it.

“Let us make sure we understand each other perfectly, Chancellor Omas,” declared Hux in a blustering voice, “This meeting is not an act of surrender, or an attempt at reconciliation. Your precious Republic has plunged this galaxy in turmoil, just as you had at the onset of the Clone Wars. You cowered behind a declaration of neutrality while simultaneously enabling Resistance insurgents to attack our dominion. These affronts have not been forgotten, and they will be repaid.”

“And let me make it clear to you, Allegiant-General,” spoke the hologram of Chancellor Omas, “What the First Order did to the Hosnian System was a horrifying act of genocide. Your fringe regime willfully disregarded the agreements struck under the Galactic Concordance, you’ve kidnapped and indoctrinated children to serve in your armies, and you obliterated an entire system without any kind of formal warning or declaration. Even now you conspire with crime syndicates and engage in blatant acts of terrorism. As far as I’m concerned, you’re all war criminals, and believe me, there will be a reckoning for the crimes you have committed on the citizens of this Republic.”

“Do I have to remind everyone why we are here?” asked Leia, unsurprisingly the voice of reason, “We are all facing a clear and imminent threat from the New Empire. If we fail, everything is lost. So why don’t we cool our collective heads and come up with some kind of a plan?”

Omas and Hux both fell silent at Leia’s chastisem*nt, causing Kylo to stifle a laugh.

“Now, if we can all keep ourselves calm, can we get back to the task at hand, namely figuring out some kind of a plan to attack this…Exegol?”

Amelyn Holdo approached the table, and hit a button on the console, turning on the holo-projector. The projector displayed a hologram of a harsh blackened world, cloaked in angry dust clouds that continuously discharged lightning strikes, as if the planet itself was overflowing with rage.

“This is Exegol,” Holdo began, “Thanks to the information on this data chip, we’ve managed to pinpoint its exact coordinates. The planet is located deep in the Unknown Regions, and according to what few records that even mention it, has served as a stronghold of the Ancient Sith, possibly even predating Korriban. The main stronghold on the planet is the Sith Citadel, located beneath the surface. That is most likely where the Emperor is located.” Holdo hit a button, zooming out the image, to the surrounding sector, now showing the planet at the center of a massive spiraled nebula, “And this is the Jen’ari Nebulae, a massive cloud made up of ionized red gas, stardust, megafauna and who knows what else. The planet is tucked inside it, making it almost impossible to traverse, a perfect natural barrier against an invasion fleet. There is only one navigable route to the planet, highlighted here.”

“But it will be heavily guarded,” interjected Kylo. “Darth Ira is aware we discovered its location, and will have taken steps to secure the lone route into the Nebulae.”

“And how could you possibly know that?” asked Finn.

“Because I pried the information out of her head, if you have any doubts about my ability to do so, then ask your friend, Mr. Dameron. I’m sure he remembers.”

Poe begrudgingly affirmed, “I remember that all too well, Kylo.”

“So, what is our plan of attack?” asked Lando.

“A two-pronged assault,” answered Hux. “Ira expects an attack from us, but she doesn’t know we have enlisted you into this fight. Dispatch a fleet with your Viscount on point, right at the Nebulae’s entrance. Force Ira’s fleet to engage you, and while she’s occupied with your fleet, we will invade the planet’s surface and kill the Emperor. We kill the Emperor, and the Empire will crumble.”

“How many ships do you have?” asked Leia.

“Three Battlecruisers, six light cruisers, two dozen frigates and three assault carriers.”

“How many soldiers?”

“A hundred and fifty thousand troops,” replied Hux, “and another fifty thousand mercenaries, courtesy of the Syndicates. Our fleet will escort our carriers to the planet’s surface, and drop off our ground troops. Then, they will turn around and join you in engaging the Imperial Fleet.”

“You boys have been busy,” noted Leia. “Still, even if you successfully touch down on the planet, you’ll have to deal with the Emperor.”

“Leave him to me,” spoke Kylo, “I will kill the old man myself.”

“There’s no way you’ll be able to take Palpatine on your own,” remarked Finn.

“You more than most should know better than to underestimate my power.” warned Kylo. “I know I can beat that shriveled old man.”

“I hate to be the one who brings this up, but what are the odds that at least one if not both of the Eclipses will be patrolling the nebulae?” asked Poe. “We would have no way of knowing until they start blasting us out of the sky.”

“We’ll need the Viscount, both of them,” said Finn. “They’re the only ships capable of putting up a real fight.”

Leia turned to Poe, “Poe, what’s the status of the second Viscount?”

“I’ve pulled in a few favors, got a few old friends working on it alongside Chewie and Rose, but it’ll be at least three more days until it’s battle ready.”

“Too long,” Kylo shook his head, “It’ll take another three days just to reach Exegol. In six days, the Empire will have bolstered the nebulae’s defenses, or possibly launch their attack on the Core Worlds. We need to strike now while we still have the initiative, before they find their footing.”

“There’s another concern too,” chimed in Lando, “if we put together a task force to attack Exegol, we’ll have to do it at the expense of our defenses around the capital. Pryde is undoubtedly looking at Coruscant like a hawk. If he sees it’s become too lightly defended, he’ll attack Coruscant.”

“Two problems then,” noted Hux rubbing his temple in thought, “Two Eclipses guarding the Emperor, and Enric Pryde biting at our heels.” Hux took a moment longer to think before continuing, “Enric is a fine general, but he can be outmaneuvered if you’re creative enough. He struck a huge blow when he captured Corellia, and he would do anything not to give it back up. If he were to believe that the Republic was about to launch a massive counter attack to retake Corellia, he’d most assuredly stay put and recall at least one of his Eclipses back.”

Holdo understood where Hux was going, “I could leak out some false intelligence to Imperial Command, make it look like the Republic is mobilizing a counter attack to retake Corellia. We can say that the Viscount is leading the charge. That should keep Pryde busy, and leave you all free to attack Exegol with one less Eclipse on the prowl.”

“One on one, the Viscount just might win,” said Finn.

“Worth a shot,” Leia directed, “Poe, get the Viscount done as quick as you can, and the second it’s finished, I want you to move the 2^nd Fleet to Coruscant, rendezvous with Admiral Calrissian and the 3rd Fleet. Holdo will leak the news that we’re amassing for a counter attack. Meanwhile, I’ll take the 1^st Fleet and the Ackbar to Exegol to begin the assault.”

Kylo noticed the look of concern on the Republic commanders’ faces.

“Grand Admiral…” spoke Omas, “There is no need for you to command the battle personally.”

“Please Chancellor,” insisted Leia, “I need to see this through. If that Eclipse is lurking around the nebulae like we suspect, then the Viscount might be our best chance to beat it, and I know how to command that ship better than anyone.”

No further objections were voiced.

But then Finn asked the question that everyone was afraid to ask, “What about Rey? What are we going to do about her?”

Kylo spoke, “She is strong, but not invincible. My newfound powers are more than a match for her. If she is on the planet, I will deal with her just like I will deal with her master. If she’s on one of the command ships, our fleets will take care of her. Either way, after this battle, she won’t be a problem for anyone anymore.”

“So sure of yourself?” asked Finn with an angry glare, “How well did that turn out for you the last time you fought on Starkiller base?”

Kylo returned with a contemptuous stare, “How would you know? You were lying face down, with your back cut open.”

He enjoyed seeing the anger flare up in Finn’s eyes at the taunt. He could sense a respectable amount of power emanating from the turncoat, but it was still easy to get inside his head.

Leia put a hand on Finn, and Kylo could hear her whispering, calming down her apprentice.

“Darth Ira,” cut in Hux, “is the most dangerous obstacle along our path to victory. We all know what she’s capable of, but Kylo has assured me that he has found a way to mitigate her powers using the bond they share. If she is present on the battlefield, we will overwhelm her with everything we have while Kylo keeps her distracted. Any objections?”

None were raised.

Hux concluded, “Then we have a plan, we all know what’s expected of us. By our estimation, it will take just over three days for our forces to reach the Jen’ari Nebulae from the Outer Rim if they depart immediately. Be sure your Republic Fleet times its jump. We will exit hyperspace together, just outside the Jin’ari quadrant. From there you will engage the fleet and we will besiege the planet. The attack will commence in exactly 76 hours. Now, let’s consider this assembly adjourned.”

As the occupants filed out of the briefing room, Kylo was halted by Holdo. They walked to the corner of the briefing room, and Holdo whispered in his ear, “Just got word from an informant. You told me to keep tabs on your little scavenger girl. Well, my spies in Imperial High Command may have stumbled on something you’ll find interesting.”

“And that is?”

“They intercepted a private message she just sent to High Command, less than an hour ago. Seems she’s heading to a planet called Jandur, allegedly to follow up on a lead regarding your whereabouts.”

“Jandur?” asked Kylo, unable to hide his surprise, “Never even heard of it.”

“No surprise. Even I had to look it up. It’s a desolate planet at the edge of the Inner Rim, nothing special. Completely barren except for a few mining villages. Decades ago, it used to be part of a big mining project under the Trade Federation. Now it’s a forgotten world.”

“Why would she be traveling there?” Kylo wondered. “We don’t have any presence on Jandur.”

“Well, she’s either completely off your trail, or she’s there for another reason, a reason that she doesn’t want High Command to know about. Either way, this could be the chance you’ve been waiting for. Happy hunting.” Holdo walked off.

Pulling out his communicator, Kylo spoke, “We’ve got her, Kuruk. She’s heading for planet Jandur. I’m sending you the coordinates now. Take Cardo, and Ap’lex. Track her down and finish her.”

“Consider it done, Ren,” replied Kuruk over the line.

Kylo deactivated his communicator and headed out of the briefing room, only to find an unwelcomed face, the turncoat.

“Exactly the person I didn’t want to see,” muttered Kylo, his tone contemptuous as always.

“Yeah well too bad, because I want to talk to you,” the traitor replied, “You may have Leia fooled, but I know what you are, deep down. I’ve seen too much of the real you during my time here. I know you’re going to betray us the first chance you get.”

“Hypocritical of you to accuse me of betrayal,” snapped back Kylo. “How many brothers and sisters in arms have you killed since you deserted the First Order?”

“I never wanted to be part of the First Order. I chose to join the Republic, to stand against people like you. And before I leave, I wanted to tell you this, face to face while I still have the chance. If anything happens to Leia, if you try anything during this mission to jeopardize her or the Fleet, I’m going to kill you.”

Kylo couldn’t help but smile, “Not very Jedi-like of you…Finn.”

“In this one case…I’m sure I’ll find it in my heart to forgive myself,” answered Finn before turning around and walking away.

He was a different man than what Kylo remembered, the old cowardice shed away, leaving behind resolve and rage simmering inside him. Kylo couldn’t help but smirk, impressed by Finn’s growth and newfound confidence, and the easy weakness he could exploit when the time comes.

“She’s dying…” said Kylo matter-of-factly.

Finn paused and turned around; his face clearly confused. “What?”

“Leia is dying…” clarified Kylo, “…she has been for some time. Thought you’d might want to know. Make no mistake, Finn. The Jedi are my enemies, just like the Sith are my enemies. For a long time, I wondered what I would do when I saw her again…but fate has made it easy for me to deal with her. All I have to do is wait. I can see she means a lot to you, and you mean a lot to her. Out of respect for my mother, I will not move against either of you. But the minute she dies…you’re mine.”

***

Finn stayed alone in his quarters for most of the Hyperspace trip back to the Core Systems, mulling over Kylo’s words. The threat on his life didn’t bother him. Each time he confronted Kylo, Finn felt a little less fearful and a little angrier. He had seen the man behind the façade, and he wouldn’t allow himself to be afraid of Kylo Ren any longer. Kylo’s words about Leia, on the other hand, troubled him deeply. Although Finn knew better than to believe anything Kylo said, something about those words shook him to his core. Finn had been worried about Leia for the past few months, sensing something was wrong, but not knowing what. Now he knew, and the realization hit him hard. Finally building the resolve, Finn decided to leave his room and head to Leia’s cabin to discuss what Kylo had told him. He found the door to Leia’s cabin unlocked. He entered inside, about to call out, but he stopped as he heard a grouping of voices.

“Leia, we’ve known each other for a long time,” Finn heard Lando’s voice, as he looked over the corner to see Leia speaking to holograms of Lando, Poe and Chancellor Omas, “this mission is a huge tactical risk. There is no reason why you should be leading this attack, have Poe or me take the lead on this.”

“I agree with Admiral Calrissian,” said the Chancellor, “Leia, we need you at the Capital. The Empire is at our doorstep, and there is no telling what might happen during this battle. We can’t trust the First Order.”

“I am aware, Chancellor,” she conceded, “But as head of the Republic Military, I can appoint whomever I choose to oversee this battle. I have an obligation to see this through.”

“Leia,” voiced Poe, “We know you want a shot at Palpatine, we all do. But you can’t risk your life on this. You’re too important to the war effort. If something were to happen to you-”

“I’ve taken your concerns under consideration, and I respectfully disagree. Now Chancellor, unless you’re prepared to relieve me of command right here and right now, then I will see you after this is done.”

Poe, Lando and Omas all exchanged troubled glances at one another, but did not press further.

“Leia, be careful,” said Lando, “We’ll see you when you get back.”

Leia nodded, “I’m counting on all of you. Coruscant’s defenses are in your hands.”

The feed terminated. Finn chose to walk further into the room, but before he could say anything Leia spoke out, “You have something you want to say to me, Finn?”

“Just want to see how you’re holding up,” he lied.

“Come on, Finn, if I couldn’t sense your unease, I could see it on your face plain as day.”

Finn hesitated but then decided to just say it, “I spoke to Kylo…he told me you’re dying.”

“Did he now?” she asked, sounding unsurprised.

“Are you?” he persisted.

“Yes, Finn. I’m dying.” She said, sitting down on her chair.

Finn closed his eyes, still finding it hard to hear that answer, especially from her. He opened them and asked, trying to keep a level head, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I planned to, in fact I was planning to do it before I left for this mission.”

“Is there any treatment, any way of-”

“There’s nothing to treat, Finn…just that my time is coming. I can feel it.”

“But you have to fight this Leia…we all need you, the Republic needs you.”

“I have…” she uttered, looking down to the floor, her face melancholic, “I’ve been fighting my whole life, Finn. I fought in the Imperial Senate, then in the Rebellion. I lost the world I grew up on, saw my adopted family, everything and everyone I knew vanish in the blink of an eye. I saw Han, frozen in carbonite, hung up like an ornament piece in Jabba’s palace. I saw my brother lose a hand, and almost lose his mind, when he found out Vader’s true identity. Even when we finally stopped the Emperor and freed the galaxy, I couldn’t stop. I had a family…my brother, my husband, my son. I should have stopped then, but I fought on, in politics, in the Senate, then in the Resistance, trying to keep the fragile peace from falling apart. What did it leave me with? A broken home. And here I am, once again, fighting against the Emperor, attempting to free the galaxy again…I’m tired of this fight, Finn. It has to end, and I am going to end this war on Exegol.”

“Leia, you’re in no condition,” Finn tried to convince her, trying to keep his emotions in check, “you can’t do this.”

“I’m the only one who can. My family has suffered so much because of his actions. My parents, my husband, my brother…my son. Palpatine has haunted my family since before we were even born, he has corrupted the Skywalker name. I have to make sure this comes to an end, Finn, once and for all.”

Finn nodded, understanding her position. “And I’ll be there with you.”

“No you won’t, Finn,” she countered, “I’m placing you in command of Coruscanti Home Defense. I want you, Poe and Lando to coordinate with each other and finish preparing the planet’s defense. Regardless of how this turns out, General Pryde will attack the capital sooner or later.”

“You want me to sit this out?” Finn blinked in surprise, “Leia, you can’t ask me to do this. I need to be on this mission.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near this battle, Finn,” she spoke plainly.

“Why?” he asked irritably.

“Because you’re very confused right now. You’re an emotional wreck, barely holding it together. Believe me, I know why. You’re being pitted against the woman you love, and you’re being forced to cooperate with the man you hate, the man who maimed you. You’re swimming with conflicting emotions, and you are not focused, Finn.”

“I am focused,” said Finn, trying to convince himself as much as her, “and I need to be there to make sure that Kylo doesn’t stab us in the back.”

“He won’t.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I just know…”

“Why do you trust him?!” yelled Finn. “You think you know who your son is, but you don’t! You don’t know what he’s become. I’ve seen him slaughter defenseless civilians, I’ve seen him rip apart people on a whim, terrorize his own men on a daily basis. The man you think your son is…he’s gone.”

“No one’s ever really gone, Finn. If Luke taught me one thing, it’s to never give up on someone you love.”

“If that’s true, then you need to let me go on this mission. Rey will be there, Leia. She won’t stand down, she won’t surrender. She’ll fight until her last breath, and it’s going to take everything we have to stop her. This might be my last chance to reach her. If I’m there, maybe I can bring her back, get her to back down.”

“Or maybe she’ll try to use you to get to us,” countered Leia. “Have you considered that?”

“You’ve got to let me try. Rey is being manipulated. The First Order will make no attempt to take her alive, and even our own troops won’t hesitate to kill her if they get the chance. Let me try to save her.”

“It’s too dangerous, Finn. She’s too powerful for you. Now, I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to take her alive, but if it means saving her or saving the Republic, you know which one I’ll choose. Can you look me in the eye and say you can make the right choice?”

“Don’t ask me that,” said Finn.

“I’m not asking you to, and that’s why you’re staying on Coruscant. I know this doesn’t seem fair, but it’s what’s best.”

Finn paced back and forth, unable to hide his frustration, “Be honest with me, Leia. What are you more afraid of? That I’ll do something to your son, or that I’ll be a liability fighting Rey?”

“Both,” she said, “But do you know what else? I’m also afraid they’ll do something to you, and I will not be able to forgive myself if they do. As short of a time it’s been, you’ve been as good of an apprentice as I could have hoped, Finn. You’ve dedicated yourself to the teachings, learned a lot in six months, under very difficult conditions. You’ve gone above and beyond what I could have expected, and you’ve already proven your bravery many times over. But you aren’t ready for this. Trust me. Stay on Coruscant, and let me worry about them.”

Finn shook his head and without another word, left her quarters, trudging down the hall until he reached the nearest porthole. The ship had just jumped out of hyperspace, as the planet Coruscant came into view. He stared out at the sight, at the massive city, and the space traffic going to and from the planet. It was the first time Finn had ever seen the capital in his entire time under the Republic Military. It was every bit the crown jewel, the heart of the Republic, the sparkling center of Democracy, the cradle of humanity that he had heard about, but he wasn’t thinking about any of that. He thought about Rey, and he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen to her.

Chapter 8: Chapter 7

Chapter Text

“What were my instructions, Allegiant-General?!” shouted an irate Rey over her communicator, “I explicitly told you to send both Eclipses to guard the Jen’ari Nebulae.”

“And I did, Lady Ira, but I’m afraid that new developments had forced me to alter the plan. Imperial Intelligence has just discovered the Republic is mounting a sizable counterattack to retake Corellia. Their new Viscount StarDefender is purported to be leading the assault. I recalled one Eclipse because I will not risk losing this planet and allow its shipyards to fall back into Republic hands.”

“So you deliberately disobeyed my orders.” accused Rey.

“I did so only to secure our position, Lady Ira. If we lose Corellia, we lose our staging area to attack Coruscant, and subsequently any chance of winning this war. I cannot allow that, and neither would the Emperor. Besides, there is no way the First Order can have a force large enough to break through the blockade as it is.”

Rey frowned. Truthfully, he was right. Even according to Imperial Intelligence’s most generous estimates, the First Order Loyalist forces should not have been able to amass the numbers needed to threaten Exegol. Perhaps Rey’s response was excessive.

Rey conceded, “Very well. Contact Captain Kafaldi and tell her to assume command of the defense fleet until I return. I should not be long.”

“Yes, my Lady. How goes your search for Kylo Ren? Any new developments?”

“Ongoing…” Rey muttered, before hastily shutting off her coms, just as the nav computer sounded that she was approaching her destination. Flipping several switches, she disengaged the hyperdrive, returning her Tie Silencer to normal space. Looking out the co*ckpit, she saw her destination, a dusty beige planet without a morsel of vegetation. She hadn’t seen it in twenty years, and she wasn’t thrilled to see it again.

“So did you come all this way to stare at it, or are you gonna land?” teased Luke’s voice.

Rey sighed, taking the controls and flying down onto the planet. She knew where she had to go. As the spacecraft entered the atmosphere and headed toward the planet, she took notice of the abandoned factory complexes and domed mining villages scattered about the surface, abandoned and partly buried under the sand like metal skeletons baking in the sun. The planet was the embodiment of a dream gone wrong: a mostly inhospitable world with two too many suns that had been colonized and terraformed time and time again for its abundance of rare minerals, each time ending in dismal failure. Generations ago, it was going to be major site for the Trade Federation’s mining endeavors, but after the organization’s dissolution, it was later taken over by the Avance Coalition after the Clone Wars. Now, legally it fell under the jurisdiction of the Mining Guild, but any serious corporate endeavor to finish terraforming the planet ended long ago, when newer and more hospitable mineral-rich planets were discovered. Twenty-five years ago, however, the planet enjoyed a quiet boom, as prospectors flocked to the world in droves after the fall of the Empire, hoping to finish terraforming the planet themselves and establish it as an independent mining hub. They got further than anyone else, successfully transforming the planet’s once toxic atmosphere into a breathable one, allowing for the removal of the settlement domes. Despite the monumental achievement, their efforts were ultimately thwarted when the Mining Guild put a stop to their efforts: soliciting, fining, bullying, or flat-out threatening settlers that unlawfully remained while the New Republic turned a blind eye. The dream of an independent mining hub quickly fell through, as only the most stubborn prospectors remained, Rey’s mother and father among them, just two ordinary people trying desperately to carve out a life for themselves on a desolate world.

Prospector’s Bluff was one of several dozen small mining villages dotted around the planet. Overlooking a small cliff, the village was one of the last major settlements built on the planet before the Clone Wars, and one of the few still occupied. Rey landed her Tie Silencer behind a rock face, a kilometer away from town, far enough away to make sure nobody would easily spot it. She elected to change out of her Imperial tunic, donning a less conspicuous outfit, similar to what she wore as a scavenger. The clothes and wrappings felt comfortable and far less restraining than her Imperial garb, as she moved and stretched to get a feel for them. Satisfied, she grabbed a quarterstaff and headed out the spacecraft, only to be immediately met with a gust of wind as she opened the rampway. She tasted the earthy bitterness of sand on her lips, and found it oddly gratifying, a far cry from the sterile recycled air of a Destroyer. She felt like she could breathe properly again. As she reached the outskirts, Rey briefly paused to get a good look at the village where she was born, the village that for the first five years of her life was her entire universe.

“Well, we’re here,” she heard Luke say. “Do you know the way?”

“Yes,” she said, hesitantly, “I just never thought I’d come back to this place.”

Rey entered the village, covering her face with her hood, making a point to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. The streets were far less crowded than in her memories with only sparse crowds and half as many storefronts. Many of the hovels were either boarded up or in complete disrepair, reminiscent of a ghost town. The streets themselves were never the cleanest, but now they were rife with litter and broken equipment. Unquestionably the years had not been kind to Prospector’s Bluff.

Rey followed the road deeper into the center of town, and before long, she found the same street from her vision, and up ahead, her father’s workshop, or what’s left of it. The circular building was gutted, her father’s workstation and belongings now gone. Now the building was filled with crates, seemingly converted into a small warehouse. She felt saddened by the state of it, remembering that it was once a warm and safe place for her, when her father was still alive.

“Hey, what are you doing on my property?!” shouted an angry Toydarian in Huttese, flying into view with a data pad in hand.

“I just came into town,” replied Rey, “this used to be a workshop. What happened?”

“Hmmm…” the Toydarian scratched his snout, as if deep in thought, “I bought this place long time ago…maybe twenty years ago, me thinks. Use for storage.”

“Who did you buy it from? Do you know anything about what happened to the previous owners?”

“A human woman, she sold it to me, at a bargain.”

“A woman?” asked a perplexed Rey. “Do you know where she is?”

“Still somewhere in the edge of town, me thinks…forget where.”

Rey looked again inside the building, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look inside.”

The Toydarian began to object, this time in Huttese, “Hey, I have a business to run-”

But Rey silenced his objection when she pulled out a golden trugut from her pocket.

“Look all you want,” said the Toydarian, greedily snatching the coin from her hand and flying to the back to continue checking the inventory.

Rey stepped into the building, navigating past the stacked crates, until she reached where her father’s workbench used to be, the exact spot where she fainted in her vision.

“Are you ready?” asked Luke inside her head.

Rey took a deep breath before answering, “Yes.”

Rey knelt down, putting her hand on the sandy floor, as she closed her eyes and opened her mind. For the first time, she touched the Force without resistance, allowing her powers to sweep over her like a flowing stream instead of a crashing wave. She opened her eyes to see the shop, not in its current state, but the way it looked in her memory. She saw her father and mother sitting at his workbench, talking to each other.

“It’s getting worse, Jendan,” she heard her mother speak candidly, “this place is getting worse. I really think we need to consider taking the Mining Guild’s offer.”

“Pack up and run, sell out like everyone else, Skyla? Just allow those corporate slimes to buy out our hopes and dreams? This town needs us.”

“This town is dying, Jendan. People are already leaving, families. The Mining Guild will never leave us alone; you know that. They will never allow unaffiliated prospectors to successfully colonize the planet where they failed. It would be a huge embarrassment for them, and they won’t allow that to happen.”

Rey’s father shook his head, “Skyla, we’ve talked about this. We have a real chance of making something of ourselves here, away from the guilds and corporations. Something that’s ours. We just gotta wait it out. They’ll eventually give up, like they always do.”

Skyla gave him a grave look, “We can’t keep going like this. Before, when it was just you and me against the universe, sure, but now things have changed.” She turned to look at their young daughter, tinkering with a piece of scrap, carefree and completely oblivious to her parent’s serious conversation. “We’re parents now…and we need to do what’s best for Rey.”

“We are doing what’s best for her, Skyla.”

“Raising her on a barren planet in the middle of nowhere while her parents risk their lives mining chromium and repairing drill bits? This isn’t the kind of life a little girl should have.”

“We’re doing this so she will have a better life here. There’s a future here. It’s going to take a lot of work, but we can make one.”

Both parents looked over to their young daughter to make sure she wasn’t paying attention, before Skyla scooted closer to her husband, speaking a little lower, “I got a message from the school today. Apparently, there was an incident during class.”

Jendan sighed, “What happened this time?”

“Some of the desks started floating into the air during recess. The school staff can’t explain what it was. Some of the kids were freaked out.”

“Do they know it was her?” asked Jendan.

“Not for sure but-”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about?” repeated Skyla, dumbstruck at his response, “Jendan, a normal girl shouldn’t be able to move things without touching them, or read people’s minds. There’s nothing normal about that. And people are starting to notice strange things whenever she’s around. The other parents don’t want their children playing with her.”

“Listen, I already had a talk with Rey, told her not to do it anymore. She understands now, it’s fine.”

“It isn’t fine…we need to see someone about this. Take her to see someone, a doctor, a professional, maybe someone in the Core Worlds. We have heard the stories, about the warrior monks with strange powers…the Jedi. Maybe what she has is-”

“We’re not having this conversation, Skyla,” he interrupted, “Those wizards brought so much trouble to the galaxy. The last thing I’m going to allow is for my little girl to be even mentioned in the same sentence as them.”

“Jendan, we need to talk about this. Maybe somebody knows how to help her.”

“She doesn’t need help,” he insisted stubbornly, “she’s fine. It’s going to be fine.” The two ceased their conversation as their little girl walked over to him, with the scrap piece in hand. Jendan smiled at his daughter lovingly, “Hey there, space monkey, ready to go home?”

Rey awoke from her memory, once again finding herself in the present, inside her late father’s repurposed workshop. More and more, her mind was remembering, piecing together the sporadic details locked away in her subconscious. She knew where she needed to go, knew the way home.

“Yes, I’m ready…” she whispered.

***

Captain Allena Kafaldi looked out from her ship’s bridge to the Jen’ari Nebulae in the far distance. The angry cosmic storm was blood red, a swirl of dust and debris, coalescing in a system-spanning storm of highly charged stellar winds and massive static discharges, a truly evocative sight that very few within the New Empire were privy to. At the center of it lay the Emperor himself, on their hidden world of Exegol, the final stronghold of the true Empire. The location was such a well-guarded secret, that for the longest time, not even the top Imperial brass knew of it out of fear of betrayal, or a potential intelligence leak. In fact, until about two days ago, the only people in the whole of the Empire who knew about it were the crewmembers of the sister Eclipses, all of them handpicked by her and Allegiant-General Pryde. These were the best crop under the Imperial banner, the true believers, with unquestioned loyalty to the Emperor, and an unshaking belief in Imperial rule.

The situation had drastically changed in the last few days, with dozens of Star Destroyers flooding into the quadrant from Fondor and Corellia. Nearly a quarter of the New Imperial Fleet’s fighting force had already arrived, and more were still enroute. This latest intelligence leak was a disturbing and unexpected turn of events. The Empire’s best kept secret had gotten out. Exegol had been discovered. The Emperor was in danger, by assailants who were once counted among their ranks.

First Order Loyalists, they called themselves, thought Kafaldi, scoffing at the name, finding it insulting at the inference that the traitors were somehow in the right, while she and the other true loyalists were the turncoats. Even as a young cadet, Captain Kafaldi recognized the growing problems and hypocrisy within the First Order’s leadership. The junta had been created to serve as a direct successor state to the fallen Galactic Empire, but it had been absconded and regressed into something else, a grab for personal power by leaders like Hux, Kylo, and the detestable alien Snoke, leaders who only sought to use the First Order as a tool for their personal motivations of power and revenge. They had no respect for the past, no true reverence for the Imperial ideals, and by extension the ideals from which the First Order was established. It aggravated her and many like-minded commanders, particularly her mentor, General Pryde. The return of the Emperor brought about a welcomed and dramatic shakeup to the power scheme, one that the organization desperately needed. The unwanted chaff had been burned away, and a leaner more focused organization took its place. Yet evidently, the chaff refused to burn away completely.

“Captain, we’re receiving a transmission from Allegiant-General Pryde.”

“Patch it through,” she ordered.

The holographic projection of General Pryde activated before her. “Captain Kafaldi, I have a message to relay to you from Darth Ira. She has left in pursuit of Kylo Ren and has placed you in command of the defense fleet until she returns. It is imperative that you secure the entrance to the Jen’ari Nebulae at any cost. The First Order knows of Exegol’s location and is expected to attack any moment. Unfortunately I will not be able to join you. The Republic is preparing to retake Corellia and I need the second Eclipse here to help secure the planet. I have, however, dispatched another three battlegroups. They should be arriving by day’s end.”

“Understood, sir.”

“The First Order has been a nuisance to us for too long. Make sure they do not reach the planet. I’m counting on you. I know you will not disappoint me…Admiral. Congratulations on your promotion.”

Kafaldi smiled, “Thank you, Allegiant-General. I will not fail you.”

The transmission ended, and Kafaldi turned to her staff, “Send out a transmission to all the ships in the quadrant. I wish to address them.”

The aide obeyed, patching her through to the entire fleet.

“This is Admiral Kafaldi on the Eclipse II. Many of you are no doubt wondering why you have been called here. Allow me to answer your question. You are here to protect the Empire’s most critical and secretive base, the planet Exegol, where our Emperor resides. The First Order traitors are planning an imminent attack, and we have been tasked with foiling their plans. Our job is to secure the entrance to the Jen’ari Nebulae and wipe out the assailants once and for all. We do not know the size and strength of their forces, but we will be vigilant, we will be ready and we will crush them when they finally reveal themselves. Make no mistake, these traitors were once our brethren, fellow soldiers who fought and died alongside us, many of whom you may even know, but do not forget that they turned their backs on us. They betrayed us when they refused to follow our one true Emperor, and they have allowed themselves to be led astray by cowardly and f*ckless leaders who care about nothing but their own personal ambitions. They have attacked, and terrorized our ranks in a feeble attempt to shake our resolve, and they cling onto the memory of the alien usurper, Snoke, who brought us all to the brink of calamity. Now they plan to assassinate our Emperor, but we will not allow this to happen. Whatever comes our way, we will hold our ground and we will obliterate anyone foolish enough to tread in this quadrant. We will give no quarter. We will take no prisoners. The last remnant of the First Order dies here.”

***

Finn couldn’t get it out of his mind, this unyielding sense of unease. Even now as he looked down at his data pad, going over the latest requisitions, he couldn’t help but feel distracted. As Leia instructed, he assumed command of the Coruscant’s ground force, and now he had his hands full overseeing the planet’s defenses, instructing the specialists and engineers to set up planetary shield generators and surface-to-air guns across the planet-spanning city. To help with the technical work, he even managed to enlist Maz Kanata and some of her old pirate contacts to assist with the gun emplacements and shield generator installations.

“Hello, Finn, did you hear me?” asked Maz, walking over to him.

Surprised, Finn sharply turned to speak to her, “Uh, yeah, Maz, sorry, I was a bit distracted, how’re the installations going?”

“We’ve finished the gun installations in the Federal District, my men are moving to the Industrial District now to help with the shield generator.”

“Good, good…” trailed off Finn.

“Still worried about Leia?”

Finn stared down at his data pad, before tossing it onto a nearby stack of crates, “I should be there with her. I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

“Leia only means to keep you safe.”

“But who’ll keep her safe? Kylo? He can’t be trusted. Everyone knows that. Everyone but her.”

“Try to understand, Finn. Leia still believes in her son, still believes he can be saved, in spite of everything he’s done. A Skywalker doesn’t easily give up on the ones they love. It’s what makes that family so powerful.”

“And vulnerable,” added Finn, sitting down on the stack of crates, staring up into the sky, to the ships just above orbit, their hulls shining brightly from the dwindling sunset. “This isn’t right. None of this is right. I can’t get this horrible feeling out of my head, this feeling that I’m going to lose her. That I’m going to lose them both.”

“You mean Rey?” guessed Maz.

Finn nodded, trying to make sense of his emotions, “It’s a funny thing, you know. The things you do, the risks you take for the ones you love. Rey believed I was with the Resistance when we first met on Jakku. She didn’t know I was a First Order deserter, I…I fell in love with her from the first smile she gave me, and I’ve never stopped feeling that way, even now. I joined the Resistance because of her, for the chance of seeing her again, and by some sick twist of fate, we’ve found ourselves on opposite sides. I tried so hard to be the person she thought I was…and she’s not even the Rey I remember. I keep telling myself that deep down, there’s goodness in her, that there’s a chance she could turn back to the light, but nobody else sees that. Everyone else is terrified of her, and believe me, I get why, but I keep hoping that it’ll somehow work out, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she never was the girl I thought she was, maybe I was fooled. I don’ know- maybe I’m just fooling myself.”

Maz did not answer immediately, instead walking over to him, climbing up the stack of crates and putting a hand on his shoulder in support, “Or maybe she’s trying to do for you the exact same thing you did for her. Maybe she’s trying her hardest to be the Rey you remember, the Rey you want her to be, the Rey she wants to be. Maybe she’s trying to do that right now, even as we speak. Have you thought about that, Finn?”

“How could you know?”

Maz smirked, pulling up her goggles, and looking directly into Finn’s eyes, “I have been around this galaxy for a long, long time, Finn. The way you two looked at each other that day in my cantina. You may not have said the words, but your eyes told her everything. She knows you love her, and from what you told me, she loves you. That’s why she didn’t hurt you on the Supremacy. That’s why she never once sought you out. She’s afraid of losing you. For all their differences, the Jedi and Sith are both afraid of love, they’re afraid of what it can drive people to do, but love isn’t something that should be feared. Love makes people behave very strangely, but not always for the worst. Sometimes, it makes you weak, but it can also make you strong. Sometimes love brings out the best in us. Sometimes, it’s what saves us, when everything else is against you.”

Finn nodded, staring back up at the sky, the last vestige of sunlight shining past the horizon. “Maz…there’s somewhere else I need to be.”

“Yes, there is,” replied Maz with a smile, stepping off the crates. “But you’ll need a ship, and a pilot to get you there.”

“Maz, I can’t ask you to join me on this-”

“You don’t have to,” she said, clicking on her wrist pad, “Besides, I know how you feel. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for a certain Wookiee.”

Finn tilted his head, deciding it best not to pry further into the matter. He pulled out his communicator and called Admiral Calrissian. “Admiral, this is Finn. I’m going to need you to hold down the fort here, I’m stepping away for a little while-”

“To join Leia? Bout time,” replied Lando over the communicator. “I figured you’d have blasted out of here by midday. Go ahead kid, I’ll handle things here.”

Finn shut off the communicator as Maz’s personal starship flew in and made a remote landing right in front of them.

“There she is, the Stranger’s Fortune,” She declared proudly, “Made it from scratch during my pirating days. It’s not very big, but it’s one of the fastest ships you’ve ever seen.”

Finn kept his reservations to himself, the customized ship looking almost as old as Maz. The side door opened with a mechanical groan, voicing its age. Finn followed Maz inside. Maz took the pilot’s seat, and began punching in the coordinates. Finn took the co-pilot’s seat, and mostly just stayed out of her way. The ship’s outer doors closed, and the craft strained as it attempted to take off.

“Don’t worry about the noise,” assured Maz, “the Stranger’s Fortune may take a little time to get started, but when it gets going, it can outfly almost anything.”

“Great,” said Finn dubiously, trying his best not to think about the grinding noises he was hearing from the ship’s systems. He decided to take his mind off it by asking Maz a question, one that he was very curious about. “So I was meaning to ask you,” he started, detaching his lightsaber from his belt buckle and holding it up to Maz, “how did you find Luke’s lightsaber, anyway?”

“Oh that, yes,” laughed Maz, as she piloted the ship out of the planet’s orbit. “It’s actually a funny story…”

Chapter 9: Chapter 8

Chapter Text

The family house was smaller than Rey remembered, an unassuming spherical structure standing on the outskirts of the village, the house her family built with their own hands, the house where she was born. The surrounding neighborhood appeared to be largely abandoned, the other houses on the same block appearing dilapidated and forgotten, its occupants long gone, but the echoes of their lives lingering. She remembered it being full of people, a community of miners and their families. She used to play on the very streets she now walked, climbing up and down the same buildings that were now deserted.

“Is this it?” asked Luke.

“Yes…” she answered with a lump in her throat, feeling hesitation.

“You’ve come this far, Rey,” coached Luke, “Don’t stop now when you’re so close.”

Rey felt a sense of unease as she stepped closer toward her old house, an unwanted feeling of déjà vu overtaking her with every step she made towards the door. She could feel the lingering pain, an echo of a past trauma that rippled through time. Her powers flared up once more as she stood in front of the door, and once again, she allowed the Force to wash over her.

Rey opened her eyes to find her younger self standing right in front of her, standing at the foot of the door, her little face distressed, and her eyes teary. Rey didn’t need the Force to sense that her young counterpart was very upset. She knew all too well why. As Rey walked inside the house, she found her mother in a heated argument with another young woman, a woman whose face Rey recognized: her aunt Layla. The two sisters looked strikingly alike, though Layla was at least two years younger, and very pregnant by the looks of things.

“We can’t keep ignoring this, Skyla! Your daughter can do things that no normal girl should be able to do. She is dangerous!”

“She’s my daughter, Layla. And she’s your niece. What do you expect me to do?”

“Take her to the Core Worlds, find someone, anyone who might be able to explain this, treat her.”

“You don’t think I want to? I tried convincing Jendan, but he won’t agree to it.”

“Then you married an idiot. If he can’t see the kind of danger that girl is putting us all in, then he’s as blind as a Muraluka. You know how superstitious these prospectors are.” Layla took a deep breath, trying her best to collect herself, “I overheard some miners in the market place the other day. They were talking about Rey, saying she’s cursed, saying she’s the reason why this place is falling on hard times, why the Mining Guild started bothering us, why the mine shafts keep caving in.”

“That’s nonsense, Layla. None of that was her!”

“How do we know? There is clearly something strange going on here. Do you remember what happened the day she first started doing those things? That was the Day the Goaza Mining shafts completely caved in, the day I lost…” Layla’s words got caught in her throat, and she cried out the words, “…the day I lost Norrin.”

Rey looked on as her mother moved in to console her sister, embracing her in a hug, as Layla began to quietly sob.

Skyla tried to assure her, “Layla, none of that was her fault. This isn’t witchcraft. She isn’t some witch casting spells. We’ve all heard those old stories about the Jedi, about their unusual powers-”

“And look what they’ve done to the galaxy.” she replied, pulling away from her sister, “They nearly overthrew the Republic.”

“Those were lies fed to us by the Sith, Layla. The Jedi weren’t responsible for that.”

“Jedi, Sith - what’s the difference? Those sorcerers brought nothing but trouble. Besides, it’s one thing to hear about it in a story…it’s another thing to see it with your own two eyes. I walked into the kitchen just the other day, while you and Jensen were down at the mines, and I found her in here floating in the air, Skyla, right where you’re standing! All the dishes were floating and circling around her. Her eyes were closed, I didn’t know if she was awake or a sleep. I was never more scared in my entire life, I didn’t know whether I should touch her, wake her up, whether I should have run out to get you, or leave her alone…and then she suddenly just snapped out of whatever it was. She slowly landed back down to the ground and put the dishes in a pile on the table, then just ran off past me like nothing happened! How many times can you and your husband ignore it, Skyla?! Because the village sure as hell won’t!”

Rey briefly closed her eyes, remembering what happened next, remembering the vitriolic anger that boiled beneath her skin as she listened to her aunt’s ridicules. She was young, too young to rightly understand it, but she felt it for the first time: true rage. Rey opened her eyes, and looked directly at her younger self peering out from the partially opened door, watching as her mother and aunt continued their verbal spat. Rey did not fail to notice the look in the young girl’s teary eyes, the power emanating from them, the growing desire to break something, or someone.

“You stopped me…” Rey whispered, remembering what transpired next. Her younger self turned around, to see her father standing beside her, having just gotten home from the shop.

“Hey, little space-monkey…” Jendan greeted his daughter warmly, but his smile faded as he noticed the distressed look on her face. The little girl calmed down when she saw him, the anger stifling, but the shame and self-loathing remained. Rey remembered feeling so small, so completely unwanted, and her counterpart played out her emotions, desperately hugging her father. He hugged her back, but his attention was fixed on the angry conversation inside.

“What’s going on?” he demanded, before letting go of his daughter, walking inside to confront the situation. Unbeknownst to them both, it would be the last hug they ever shared.

“Who are you?” asked a voice, pulling Rey out of her memory, bringing her back to the present. Rey looked up to see a young woman, peering through the slightly opened door. She could not have been much older than twenty, her face still covered in soot. Rey took notice of her hand holding the corner of the door, calloused with scars and healed burns on her fingers and knuckles, the hands of a prospector.

Rey narrowed her gaze out of curiosity, “I’m looking for a woman who used to live here. I’m looking for Layla Bendash.”

The woman opened the door, and took a step closer, with a puzzled look of her own. Rey deduced she was holding a weapon, likely a blaster behind her back, “You with the Mining Guild? Still coming around trying to drive us out like you did the rest of this neighborhood?”

“No,” replied Rey.

“Then what do you want with my mother?” asked the young woman.

Mother? Rey thought, taking a closer look at this woman, doing the math in her head. She had last seen her pregnant aunt almost twenty-one years ago, and this young woman seemed to be about the right age. She clearly resembled Rey’s aunt.

“I’m her niece…” Rey answered, “…your cousin.”

The young woman blinked, taken aback, clearly confused by what she had just heard. She mouthed to say something but another voice called out from further inside the dwelling.

“Skyla?” said a voice, one that Rey was familiar with, “Who’s at the door?”

An older woman in her early fifties walked into view, and instantly Rey recognized her face. Her once brown hair had greyed, her face had wrinkled and worn prematurely from years of hard living, but Rey knew that face all the same, the face of her Aunt Layla. Layla immediately locked eyes with Rey, and Rey didn’t need the Force to see the shock, even fear in them.

“Hello, Aunt Layla,” spoke Rey, not sure whether she should be feeling contempt or elation, “surprised to see me again?”

***

Kylo Ren meditated in his private chamber aboard the Finalizer as it sped its way through hyperspace, every passing moment bringing him closer to his destiny. For the first time since going into hiding after the battle of Crait, the entire First Order was on the move, and was now on a collision course with the very man responsible for their fall from grace, the accursed Emperor Palpatine. If ever there was an old thing that needed to die, it was Palpatine. He had haunted the galaxy like a specter, forever in the shadows, biding his time, the unseen hand pulling on people’s strings, the galaxy’s greatest puppet master, the last of the Sith Lords whose death was long overdue. The Skywalker family had long been a victim of his manipulations, and Kylo was no exception: haunting his dreams with visions of the Dark Side, guiding him down a dark path, and landing what should have rightly been a killing blow. Yet, as always, the Emperor underestimated the true power of a Skywalker, and he had underestimated Kylo’s hate, hate that kept him alive, hate that amplified his power to newfound heights. The wound in his chest had not fully healed, and even now continued to painfully throb, a grim reminder of Kylo’s brush with death, and the reckoning that was owed.

Kylo had spent his time on Mustafar well, learning much about the enigmatic Emperor, scouring his grandfather’s trove of knowledge in the vaults beneath the fortress, his data-logs, and personal holocrons. He had learned of how his grandfather first turned against the Jedi, about his so-called fall to the Dark Side, and his brief taste of true power, before his untimely demise in his duel against Ben Kenobi. It was the Emperor who kept him alive, who placed him in the armor that would become infamous across the galaxy, the armor that became his prison, but ultimately kept him alive. Kylo had learned more than anyone about their tenuous relationship as master and apprentice, and found it rather insightful to learn of his grandfather’s machinations against his malefactor, his secret plans to overthrow him, plans that ultimately amounted to nothing. His grandfather was too weak, in both body and spirit, to do what was necessary. Kylo had no such qualms, intending to succeed where his grandfather failed. He would enjoy ending the old man permanently, and with him, the legacy of the Sith.

What about Rey? The traitor’s words from the summit still swirled in Kylo’s mind. The scavenger girl was another matter. Although the reasons were still unclear, her unexpected absence would be a blessing in the upcoming battle. Without her interference, it would be a far easier task to reach the Emperor. Still, Kylo could only wonder as to why she had left. She was harder to sense now, her mental defenses more alert since their last encounter, but he could still sense the faintest sliver of her mind, a chink in the armor, a loose thread waiting to be pulled. It would be enough, and all he needed to do was wait until the time was right.

“Kylo,” chimed a voice over his personal communicator.

“What is it, Kuruk?”

“We’ve landed on the planet and have begun our search. This overgrown sandpit is sparsely populated. It won’t take long to find her.”

“Listen to me very carefully, Kuruk. Track her down but do not engage her just yet. Contact me when you’ve found her, and wait for my order. Understood?”

“Yes sir. Kuruk out.”

Kylo promptly left his chambers, and made his way to the ship’s hangar bay, where he found Hux, Holdo and Captain Phasma, along with several of the First Order commanders and their mercenary allies.

“Good of you to join us, Ren,” acknowledged Hux, before redirecting his gaze to his subordinates, “I want all our ships battle ready within the hour. We will drop out of hyperspace a quarter parsec away from the Nebulae, and wait for the Republic Fleet to start their attack on the Imperial Defense Fleet. When both fleets are fully engaged, we will then micro-jump to the mouth of the Nebulae and assault the planet directly. If the Republic does their job, they’ll have made an opening in the Imperial defense large enough for us to slip through. General Quinn will take point with his Destroyers, and escort the carriers to the planet’s surface. Once our army’s been deployed, Kylo Ren will lead the attack on the Sith Citadel. The emperor will undoubtedly reside there.”

Kylo instructed, “I want our army to secure a perimeter around the Citadel, hold it at all costs, but do not try to breach it. My Knights and I will handle whatever is inside.”

“But sir, what about the Eclipse?” asked Captain Phasma, “We don’t have any way of tracking it, and it could be hiding anywhere in the sector.”

“We have a plan for that,” assured Holdo, “Let the Republic Viscount deal with it first, draw its fire. The Viscount’s shields are the most advanced in the galaxy. That’ll make it a prime target for the Eclipse’s axial super laser. When the Eclipse fires, we can determine its position. And that is where you come in, Captain Phasma. You and our support ships will lie in wait. When we’ve determined the Eclipse’s position, you will lead a detachment of our elite troops and board her. Fight your way to the bridge and secure the craft.”

“It is imperative that you succeed in capturing the bridge, Captain,” added Hux, “When you’ve done so, I will join you aboard, and assume command of the battle from there.”

“Yes sir,” replied Captain Phasma.

Kylo spoke up, “Once I’ve killed the Emperor, I want all our forces to immediately withdraw from the planet. Join the Republic Fleet and wipe out the rest of the Defense Fleet.”

“And what do we do about the Republic Fleet when the battle is over, Allegiant-General?” asked General Quinn. “Do we just leave? Do we honestly expect the Republic to allow us to whisk away with the Eclipse without a fight? Should we allow them to leave? Are they not still our enemies?”

Hux glanced over to Kylo, before turning back to address his commanders. “We have an opportunity here, a chance to strike a critical blow to both of our enemies. The Republic Fleet will suffer the brunt of the Imperial Fleet’s onslaught. Once the Imperial fleet’s been completely destroyed and Kylo has killed the Emperor, we will turn our sights to whatever’s left of the Republic Fleet. If the Viscount still remains, then we will destroy it ourselves, along with Admiral Organa.”

“No,” spoke Kylo sharply, drawing everyone’s attention. “That wasn’t what we discussed. Our primary goals should be to kill the Emperor and capture the Eclipse, not overstretch our forces by instigating another battle.”

“This is our chance, Ren, and it’s too good to ignore,” countered Hux, “We can snuff out the two most important leaders of both the Empire and the Republic with a single brilliant stroke.”

“Quite presumptuous of you, Hux. You think we will not only be able to fight a superior Imperial force, but also the Republic Fleet right after? We can’t know the full strength of our enemies, or our own strength for that matter by the time we complete our objectives. We should withdraw our fleet and regroup back in Hutt Space, rebuild our forces and strike the Republic from a position of strength.”

“This isn’t like you, Ren. You’ve never been one to err on the side of caution before.”

“I’ve learned some very painful lessons.”

“And were one of those lessons not to allow your personal feelings to get in the way of achieving our goals?” asked Hux with a glare. “Or is protecting your mother in some way part of some grand strategy? Because if it is, I’d love to be privy to it.”

Kylo glared back, “We should talk in private.”

Kylo and Hux promptly walked away from the crowd, to a corner storage room.

“Are you out of your mind?” snapped Kylo, “Are you so out of touch to think we can fight off both the Imperial and Republic Fleets?”

“Is it really such an outrageous ploy, Ren? We bide our time, let both sides rip and claw at each other like ravenous nexu, and when both sides are weakened, we swoop in for the kill.”

“We’ll be fighting too, our ground forces will be fighting for their lives, and the rest of our fleet will be fully engaged with the Eclipse. The chances for serious losses are very real, and don’t forget, we’re heavily outnumbered. If the Republic senses a double cross, they could turn their ships on us or leave the battlefield prematurely, and then where will be? After we’ve killed the Emperor and taken the Eclipse, we leave. Pull back to friendly space, then deal with the Republic. Do not let your arrogance get in the way of victory like it did for you at Crait.”

“And do not let your personal feelings get in the way of our ultimate victory, Ren. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it? With the scavenger girl? And now it’s happening again. That’s the reason for your sudden change of heart, isn’t it? You pretend to urge caution, but when the time is right, you don’t have it within you to strike down your mother. I am not unsympathetic to your plight, but this is a war, and our goal is to win, no matter the cost.”

“This has nothing to do with my mother being on the other side of that battlefield. We will not deviate from our original plan,” insisted Kylo, “and you need to be reminded of who holds the power here. Without me or my knights, the Empire would have hunted you down months ago. I was the one who put fear in them, who terrorized their leadership. I swelled your ranks with defectors and I brought us here to Exegol.”

“You are not Snoke. You do not have the authority to order me about, Ren. Without me, you would have no army to siege the planet with. Without me, the Syndicate Coalition would never have formed, and Sienar and Incom would likely be supplying our enemies instead of us. Without me, your ambitions for revenge would have been stillborn. Do not forget that. Like it or not, you need m-”

Hux’s words got caught in his throat, and his eyes bugged from a lack of air, as Kylo clenched his fist.

“It’s time I finally address this issue, and I’ll do it in a way that even you can understand. Do I need to remind you who holds the real power here? Do I need to remind you that while you sat comfortably behind a desk on Nar Shaddaa, I was risking my life, killing our enemies and uncovering their secrets? You were never going to succeed Snoke, you were never the one meant to lead the First Order. That position was always mine. I am not asking you, I’m telling you. You will refrain from attacking the Republic Fleet. We will do what we came here to do, and we will withdraw to fight another day. Is that understood, Allegiant-General?!”

Hux nodded, his eyes now almost bloodshot, and he grabbed his own collar. Kylo released Hux, who fell to one knee, coughing out a lung. After getting his breath back, Hux looked up to Kylo, his face betraying and expression of equal parts fear and hate.

“Understood…” replied a wheezing Hux, “…Supreme Leader.”

***

So many things left unsaid, so many things Leia wished she could have said: to Han, to Luke, to Ben. So many things left to do, as the galaxy passed by her eyes in a blue blur as the Republic Fleet sped its way through hyperspace further and further into the Uncharted Regions. She had very little time left, she knew that before she even left for this mission. Leia had tried so hard to stay strong, to be as strong as her subordinates believed her to be, to be the beacon of hope the Republic so desperately needed. Truthfully, she was surprised that she lasted as long as she had, surprised to find she had more strength than she first believed. Han’s death was a heavy blow, but Luke’s death steeled her resolve to fight this threat to the end. For six months she had been hiding, running, striking from the shadows, but now there was no more hiding. Now she would get her chance to face them head on, and end this threat once and for all. And Leia was damn sure she was gonna live to see it.

“ETA, Lieutenant Connix,” spoke Leia.

The young Lieutenant Connix checked a nearby monitor, and promptly replied, “Seven minutes, Grand Admiral.”

“Order the fleet to maximize shields, put all personnel on high alert and make ready every weapon we have. Make sure every fighter pilot is ready to launch the second we arrive. We’re entering the maw here, and we’re the tip of the spear. As soon as the Ackbar returns to normal space, I want us locking on to any ship within range. Alert all ships to keep scanning for unusual energy signatures. The Eclipse is out there somewhere. They don’t know we’re coming, so we’re gonna give them one hell of surprise.”

“Yes ma’am. ETA, five minutes.”

The minutes counted down slowly, as Leia sat in her captain’s chair, tightly grasping the arm rest. For all her Jedi training, she never fully understood their opinions of fear. To a Jedi, fear was a liability, an emotion of the Dark Side, something to be snuffed out, but Leia knew better. Fear had its uses, so long as it didn’t stop someone from doing what they had to do. She was an agent and a soldier long before she was a Jedi, and she had dealt with fear for much of her life. Without fear, one couldn’t be brave, and without the things you were afraid to lose, one would have no reason to be.

“Sixty seconds,” spoke Lieutenant Connix.

“Having second thoughts about volunteering for this mission, Lieutenant?” quipped Leia.

“None whatsoever, Admiral,” she replied, before looking back to the monitor, “Thirty seconds.”

Leia closed her eyes, and shut out the ambient sounds, giving herself a brief moment of complete silence. She took a deep breath, exhaling her fears, and slowly reopened her eyes, allowing her senses to return, hearing the last few digits of Connix’s countdown.

“…five, four, three, two, one.”

Right on time, the ship dropped out of hyperspace, and the Viscount came face to face with the Jen’ari Nebulae. The angry red storm looked like a wound in space, a swirling maelstrom with a massive opening, almost like the mouth of an enormous beast. Between them and the opening was a large Imperial Fleet, no less than thirty Resurgent-class Star Destroyers and several hundred support ships, all of them clustering around the nebulae’s mouth like an angry swarm.

“Launch all fighters, and prepare to engage.”

The fighters launched out of the Ackbar’s hangar bays, as the rest of the 1^st Fleet arrived in tow. Fifteen Starhawk battleships, twenty Mon Calamari cruisers and a hundred support ships made their advance, with the Ackbar on point.

“Line up the fleet. Order the Starhawks to open fire, draw the Imperials out from the Nebulae’s mouth.”

The Starhawks fired their opening salvo on the Imperial formations, taking full advantage of their longer range. Several Star Destroyers suffered direct hits, taking moderate damage, and forcing them to spread out and advance. Swarms of Tie fighters, bombers and interceptors soon flooded out of the ships, and careened towards the Republic ships. Republic fighters intercepted, both sides engaging in a jumble of banks, loops and laser fire. The two fleets began to converge, the Imperial armada fanning out from the nebulae’s mouth, looking to take advantage of their larger numbers and close in.

“They’re trying to surround us,” spoke Connix.

“We expected this. Alright, order Battlegroup A to split left, and Battlegroup B to split right, keep to the outside, don’t let them surround you. We need to split up the Imperials and create a gap in their formations for the First Order to fly through.”

“Admiral, two Star Destroyers flying into range.”

“Let’s make them regret that decision, shall we?”

The Ackbar’s turbolaser and ion batteries lined up their shots, and unloaded a sustained barrage on the two approaching Destroyers, tearing through their shields with ease. In a matter of seconds, the two Destroyers burst into flames, pieces of its hull scattering through space.

“Keep up the pressure, we need to bait the Eclipse.” Leia continued to look at the nearby holo-map.

“Admiral, we’re getting a heat signature in Sector 2-8! It’s the Eclipse! She’s powering up her axial cannon!”

Leia shouted out her orders, “Maximum power to shields, everyone hang onto something!”

A distant green light burst into view seemingly out of nowhere, like the fusion reaction of a small star. The light grew in size and brightness, before shooting a powerful stream of energy forward, directly at the Ackbar. The beam hit the vessel with relentless force, causing the entire ship to buckle and shake violently as its advanced shields struggled to withstand the beam. The bridge crews all grabbed hold of their stations, bracing themselves as the jolting continued, the entire bridge enveloping in an eerie green light. Leia held onto her chair, shielding her eyes from the intense brightness, as the beam continued to coat the ship, causing several control panels to short out and several monitors to shatter. The whole ship seemed near to bursting apart.

“Shields critical!” shouted Connix, desperately trying to be heard over the overwhelming sounds of the beam, vibrating heated metal, and short-circuiting electronics, “We can’t take much more of this!”

“Just hold on!” repeated Leia, hoping for the beam to die out before their shields did.

Alarms buzzed, indicating the deflector shields had reached their breaking point, but just before the shields gave out completely, the beam finally dissipated. Disheveled but otherwise alright, the bridge crews resumed their stations, doing their best to shrug off the near-death experience.

“Status report, Lieutenant.”

Connix assessed the damage on her terminal, “Shields are at critical levels. Minor damage in sections 8 through 15. Engineer crews are heading there now.”

“Recharge the shields, divert all the power we can spare, and make sure the shield generator isn’t damaged. We have seven minutes before they recharge their axial cannon. We need to get those shields back to full power before they fire a second shot. Send any available bomber squadrons into the firing area to flush out the Eclipse before it attempts to relocate.” Leia quickly glanced over to the hologram and the current state of the battle. The plan, so far at least, was working. The Imperial forces had split themselves up, and a clear gap in the enemy formation had been made, easily wide enough for a small fleet of ships to slip through and enter the mouth of the nebulae. The entrance to Exegol was wide opened, but the First Order was nowhere in sight.

Ben. Where are you?

Chapter 10: Chapter 9

Chapter Text

The family house seemed much smaller to Rey now that she was physically standing in it. She supposed everything looked so much bigger as a child. Her whole world used to be this house, the nearby streets, and the market square the extent of her universe. Things had certainly changed for her. Her old home had also changed, and not for the better. The walls were crustier, the furnishings more worn, and the kitchen especially in need of renovation. Time had left its mark, just as it had left its mark on all of them.

Rey took a seat on the kitchen table across from her aunt, who was staring at her as intensely as Rey was staring back. Time had not softened Layla’s opinion of her, and Rey could tell she was not happy to see her, even now after all these years. Rey’s newfound cousin, Skyla, on the other hand seemed absolutely giddy about their unexpected guest, making small talk, asking Rey all kinds of questions about her work, her life, and the places she’d traveled to. Rey answered her with a mix of vagaries, half-truths and the occasional outright lie, pretending to have worked as an explorer along the edge of the Trilon Sector. Layla remained quiet the whole time, not bothering to dispute any of Rey’s answers, the two of them silently agreeing that it was best to leave out the more reprehensible truths.

“It’s an amazing thing to find out I have a cousin,” said Skyla, in a tone of jovial disbelief, “You’re Aunt Skyla and Uncle Jendan’s daughter?”

“Yes,” replied Rey, taking a good look at Skyla.

“Must be quite exciting to have been able to explore the Trilon Sector. I could only imagine some of the things you must’ve seen. It’s a shame the Imperial occupation of the Outer Rim forced you to cut your exploration short. From what little news we get, the Imperials seemed to have pushed into the Core Worlds.”

“Yes, that’s true,” said Rey, trying to hide her reticence.

“It’s a scary time we’re living in,” remarked Skyla, heading over to the sink, turning on the faucet to refill a glass pitcher, only for the water flow to begin to sputter. “Damn vaporator’s on the fritz again.”

Skyla returned to the table with the half-filled pitcher, refilling Rey’s cup, before resuming her questions. Rey was amused by her innocent prodding. Here was a member of her family who was entirely ignorant of her past, of the things she had done, and the person she was. There was no animosity, no fear, no reservations or guardedness in her eyes, nor any hint of judgment laced in the tone of her voice. Very few civilians knew her true identity or what she looked like, her persona as Darth Ira masking her true identity to all but the best informed. In fact, Skyla seemed to look at her with a hint of awe, like she was seeing another version of herself, a version of herself who lived a life of adventure, who got to see new worlds and encounter different kinds of people. The sentiment was mutual, as Rey couldn’t help but envy her cousin’s ordinary life, the life she might have had were she not Force-sensitive, where she wasn’t embroiled in a war for the galaxy’s soul. She was happy to have found her, happy to have one more person to call family. But a part of Rey couldn’t unburden the fact that she was once again lying about who she really was.

“You’re named after my mother…” asked Rey, deciding to ask some questions this time.

“Yes,” she said, “I was born shortly after she and Uncle Jendan died in that mining accident while prospecting on Burnin Konn.”

“Mining accident?” asked Rey, glancing over to Layla. “Is that right?”

Layla winced, the brief silence between them almost searing.

“Ma never mentioned you…” Skyla added, oblivious to the tension, before turning to her mother, “Did Aunt Skyla ever say anything about Rey?”

“No,” lied Layla, “Your Aunt never told me about her, but then she and Jendan were always moving, so we didn’t always keep in touch.”

Rey glared at her aunt, but did not rebuke her claim.

Skyla counted her fingers and performed a bit of mental math, “You must have been five when they died.”

“Four,” Rey replied, the happiness draining from her face, “I saw them die…”

Skyla blinked in shock, “I can’t imagine what that feels like. I lost my father, but he died before I was born. I didn’t know him. But at least I had my mother, she built this house for just the two of us.”

“Did she?” asked Rey, doing her best not to show her anger.

“How did you manage to survive? Did you have someone to take care of you?”

“Someone,” Rey answered cryptically.

“Who?” asked Skyla.

“After my parents died, I was left in the care of someone close to my mother, someone I thought I could trust, someone I thought was family…she took me to a planet at the farthest end of the Western Reaches and left me there, sold me to a junk boss. I was alone, helpless, at the mercy of impressment gangs and slave traders that regularly raided the planet.”

“That’s awful,” said Skyla with a look of horror on her face.

“She taught me a valuable lesson about family,” said Rey, glancing over to her aunt, “A real family doesn’t abandon its own.”

“What happened to you? How did you manage to get through that?”

“An old man found me, bought my freedom. He took me in, taught me his trade, taught me be strong, to defend myself, to stop looking back and instead look forward.”

Skyla nodded with admiration, “It’s amazing you were able to come out of that in one piece.”

“Did you?” asked Layla, breaking her silence, “Come out in one piece?”

Before Rey could voice a reply, a nearby light blinked, warning about the water reserves.

“Damn vaporators…” muttered Skyla, heading back over to the faucet and turning it back on to no avail. “Looks like the intake coupling finally went. Gonna need a new one.”

Layla spoke out, “Skyla, will you please head over to the marketplace and find a replacement coupling? I need to speak to Rey alone for a while.”

A puzzled Skyla grabbed her pack, “Alright, I should be back in a few minutes.” Skyla then proceeded to walk out of the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone.

For half a minute there was complete silence, both Rey and her aunt staring daggers at one another. Rey hadn’t known what she was expecting to find or feel when she reached the threshold of her old home, but she knew one thing was certain. Time had not softened their opinions of each other.

It was Layla who broke the silence, “How long has it been Rey? Twenty years?”

“Twenty one years, and 117 days,” Rey corrected, “I’ve counted every day since the day you left me on Jakku.”

“And you picked today of all days to make an unannounced visit to my house?”

“Your house?” chided Rey, “You’re a liar. You lied to your daughter about my parents, this nonsense about dying off-world on some mining accident on Burnin Konn, Wherever that even is!”

“That’s where they first met.”

“It’s still a lie, no matter how you justify it, no matter how rosy you make it! Just like it was a lie to tell her you built this house! My parents built this house when this place wasn’t even a town yet! They were founding members of this community! They invited you to live with them after your husband was killed! You insult their memory and their ties to this place!”

Layla’s eyes narrowed, but she refrained from speaking, instead pulling out a bent tabac stick from her pocket. “Sometimes it’s just easier to lie, Rey, especially about the past. It’s less painful for the living, and the dead don’t care anymore.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to distort the truth just to make yourself look good. She should know the truth about them.”

“And what would I say to her, Rey? That my sister and brother-in-law took pity on me and brought me in because I couldn’t go on without Norrin? That I fell into a very dark place, and almost didn’t make it out while I was pregnant with her? That my sister and brother-in-law fought so hard to make this place matter, only for their dream to die along with them? Or should I have said that the place she was born in was the same place a monster was born in?”

“Don’t call me that!” shouted Rey.

“Even if it’s the truth?!” she countered forcefully.

Rey slunk into her chair, the fire in her stomach fizzling at her aunt’s rebuke.

“Let’s clear the air here, Rey. I want nothing more than to erase what happened that day from my mind. That day still haunts me, and the last thing I wanted was to tell my daughter the truth about this place, about our family…about you.” She lit the end of the stick with a match and breathed in deep, exhaling the smoke out of her nostrils, “And I’m not the only one who lies, now am I? Have you ever even been to the Trilon Sector?”

“Once or twice.”

Layla nodded, “They say that the Empire is being led by a woman with strange powers, someone called Darth Ira. Some call her a witch, others say she’s a Dark Jedi with supernatural abilities, abilities that can crush a person with a thought. Do you know anything about that?”

“No…” Rey replied, the lie feeling like it was burning her mouth. She changed the subject, “What about the rest of the villagers? Your neighbors? They’ve never revealed any unwanted secrets to her?”

“Take a look around, Rey? This is a ghost town. How many empty homes are there, how many people in the markets, how many children playing on the streets? Almost everyone left years ago.” She took another puff from her tabac stick, “My sister was right. This place was dying even then. Now it’s dead. A year after Skyla was born, there was another cave in, killed five prospectors. This place never recovered after that. Now there are only two kinds of people in Prospector’s Bluff: the ones that can’t get out, and the ones hiding from something.”

“Why did you stay?” asked Rey. “Why didn’t you leave?”

“Don’t you think I wanted to? I lost my husband, my sister and my brother-in-law. I had a baby girl to take care of, nowhere else to go, nobody else to turn to…so I stayed. I stayed while everyone else left. I would have taken Skyla and left years ago if I had a way to afford it, but I’m stuck here, and I’ll probably die here. I’ve lived a hard life, Rey, and at this point, I can’t imagine any other kind.”

“You have a lot of nerve to sit there and tell me how hard a life you’ve had.”

Layla considered her answer, taking another puff before snuffing out the stick, “Why are you here, Rey?”

“I’m here to get some answers from you…”

***

“What the hell is going on here?” mumbled Admiral Kafaldi to herself, as she studied the holo-map and the mess of a battle that was playing out.

What was supposed to be a skirmish with the First Order had turned into a full-scale battle with the New Republic, and it had taken them completely by surprise. Despite their inferior numbers, the Republic Fleet was still sizable and highly organized, and its leader was tactically sound, splitting into two separate battlegroups and flanking Kafaldi’s fleet on both sides. Consequently, Kafaldi’s forces were forced to split up, and with their backs to the Nebulae, the ships had no other choice but to charge forward into Republic crosshairs. Cleverly, the Republic refused to commit to a close-range fight, content to persistently fall back and keep its Starhawks outside of effective range of Imperial attack, taking advantage of their superior range, while Republic fighters and support ships served as a buffer to keep the Destroyers away.

“Admiral Organa…” she postulated, almost positive that it was her who was commanding the attack, and assuredly the one on the Viscount. “What is a Republic fleet doing here? How could they possibly have discovered this location? I thought they were on route to Corellia.”

“Ma’am we’ve lost another Star Destroyer and six more support ships, the Republic Forces are chipping away our numbers.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant, status on the axial cannon?”

“35 seconds to charge time.”

“Target the Viscount, let’s see if they can withstand another attack.”

The Eclipse’s bow lit up with energy, as the axial laser reached full charge.

“Full power, Admiral!” shouted the Lieutenant over the pinging of the control consoles.

“Fire,” commanded Kafaldi, watching as the energy beam shot out directly at the Viscount. The laser hit its mark, clashing against the enemy craft’s shield, lighting up the battlefield like a tiny green sun.

“Axial gun at half power and dropping,” reported her Lieutenant.

Kafaldi looked on anxiously, hoping that the Viscount’s shields would give out before Eclipse’s laser would expire. The shield was visibly weakening, its bright blue glow beginning to wane, but just before it managed to fizzle out completely, the axial laser died out, leaving Kafaldi noticeably puzzled. The Eclipse would have made easy work of the rest of the Republic Fleet, but the presence of the Viscount made matters considerably more difficult. Kafaldi was befuddled by the strength of the Viscount’s deflector shields. Imperial intelligence was way off the mark with its estimated strength, as it exhibited enough fortitude to rival even the most advanced planetary shields, holding on even after two direct hits from the Eclipse’s fully powered axial laser. Conversely, the Viscount could not properly engage on account of the Eclipse’s cloak and repositioning after each shot. The Republic made several attempts to flush out the invisible ship with bomber squadrons, but each time they were repelled by Tie interceptors. The two colossal vessels were at an impasse.

“Damn it,” she whispered under her breath.

“Admiral, the Viscount’s shields are still holding.”

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, “Thank you, Lieutenant. I can see that. How long before we can fire the axial cannon again?”

“Seven minutes, Admiral.”

Kafaldi brushed her hand on her chin, pondering on the situation. “We’re getting nowhere like this. The Viscount’s shields are recovering faster than our laser can.”

“Our scans indicate massive energy fluctuations across the Viscount between our shots. They’re likely redirecting power from other systems to speed up the shield’s recharge rate.”

Kafaldi nodded, “Let’s follow suit. Draw extra power to the axial laser. We need to beat their recharge time.”

“Ma’am, doing so will draw vital energy away from our cloaking generator. The cloak will disappear. We’ll be visible to the enemy.”

“Do it, Lieutenant, and send word to our nearby ships. Have them form a cluster around us. It’s time we put an end to this.”

“Redirecting power from the cloaking generators, new estimated time to fire: three minutes.”

Let’s see how Admiral Organa gets out of this one…thought Kafaldi confidently.

The Eclipse’s cloak faded away, revealing itself to the enemy. As expected, the Republic attempted to charge at it, with the Viscount at the lead, but their advance was stalled by the newly formed cluster of Destroyers and support ships. The Viscount struck at several ships with a massive barrage of concussive missiles, destroying several Destroyers and cruisers, but it could not reach the Eclipse in time.

“Axial gun at full charge, ma’am.”

Kafaldi nodded, “Fire.”

The Eclipse’s weapon once again charged and blasted forward, its laser striking the Viscount’s starboard bow. Again, the beam clashed with the Viscount’s shield, but this time, it was clear that it was not fully charged, flickering dangerously against the emerald beam in what by all rights looked to be a losing effort. After ten seconds of sustained fire, the shields gave out completely, the beam striking at the upper half of the Viscount’s hull, burning through its armored plating, and setting off a series of explosions as it obliterated a large swath of its turbo laser battery emplacements. The Eclipse’s beam died out thereafter, but not before it inflicted massive damage to the Viscount’s bow, causing the ship to stop dead in its tracks.

“Direct hit!” shouted the Lieutenant gleefully to a synchronized cheer from the bridge staff.

“Save your celebrations, that ship is damaged not destroyed, admonished Kafaldi. “Recharge the axial cannon and fire when ready.”

“Acknowledged, Admiral. Estimated time to recharge, three minutes.”

The battle waged on in the interim with ever increasing fervor, as the Imperial navy, clearly spurred on by the sight of the damaged Viscount, slowly began to swing the momentum to their favor, relying on their numbers and attacking in multiples, poised to overwhelm the Republic forces.

“Thirty seconds to full ch-” the Lieutenant’s words were interrupted by a bridge alarm, “Proximity alert! Sector 18!”

Kafaldi turned her head to the bridge’s port side window, and to her shock, she saw what the scanners picked up. All at once, a second fleet shot into view from hyperspace. Taking point were three Resurgent Star Destroyers, ships she knew very well, the ships who had gone missing and presumed deserted from Imperial ranks. She recognized the lead ship to be the Finalizer, the First Order’s flagship, Kylo Ren’s Flagship. Trailing just behind the trio of Star Destroyers were a half dozen Quasar light cruisers, each with Tie squadron escorts, along with nearly thirty Lancer-class frigates, heavily modified, looking more like syndicate ships. Lastly were three Y-85 Titans, hexahedron shaped dropships meant for quick deployment of heavy vehicles.

“It’s the First Order!” shouted her Lieutenant. “They’re racing toward the mouth of the Nebulae!”

Kafaldi glanced back to the holo-map, realizing to her horror what had just transpired. She had been duped. The Imperial Fleet was so preoccupied with engaging the Republic that she hadn’t noticed until now the glaring gap in her formation around the opening of the Nebulae, a gap large enough for an entire fleet to fly on through, straight for Exegol. She had not even considered the possibility that the First Order and New Republic were in collusion, but that was clearly the case.

“Order all nearby ships to intercept. Turn us around! We’ll hit them with the axial cannon before they reach the Mouth.”

“Another proximity alert, on our port, Sector 33!”

“Now what?!” hissed Kafaldi.

Shooting into real space were two massive ships, almost half the size of the Eclipse. She recognized the design. She had seen that ship design before, and she knew the sight of the ventral autocannons priming for an attack.

“It’s a pair of Mandator IV siege dreadnaughts! They’re locking on!”

A panicked Kafaldi shouted “All power to shields. Brace for impact!”

The twin Mandators each fired off a double salvo of energy blasts directly at the Eclipse’s port. The first pair of shots slammed against the deflector shield to little effect, but the second pair completely shorted out the Eclipse’s shields, rocking the entire ship out of position.

“Our shields are down, Admiral!”

“Reorient the ship!” ordered Kafaldi. Take aim at the Mandator and fire the axial cannon!”

The ship reared left, pointed its stern towards the siege dreadnaughts and fired. The beam struck the left dreadnaught, burning a molten line across the unshielded hull, before the vessel exploded. The remaining Mandator dreadnaught took evasive action, as even more ships came out from hyperspace, a sizable company of smaller support ships, pirate vessels, and cruisers. It seemed the entirety of the First Order had come bearing down on them, and they were closing in fast on the disabled Eclipse.

“They’re planning to board us…” she spoke to herself, before turning to her hapless Lieutenant, “I don’t care how you do it, get our shields back online. Prepare the axial cannon, and prioritize fire on the remaining Mandator. Order all gun crews to prepare the turbo laser batteries, and our troops ready to repel boarders.”

“Ma’am, we’re receiving an audio transmission from the planet…” spoke up her Lieutenant with a grave voice, “It’s the Emperor.”

Kafaldi swallowed nervously, taking a half a second to straighten out her uniform, momentarily forgetting it was an audio transmission. “Patch it through.”

“Admiral Kafaldi…” boomed a voice throughout the bridge. “I have received alarming news that your defenses have been breached, and that an attack force is headed towards Exegol as we speak.”

“Yes, your Imperial Majesty. It seems the Republic and First Order have conspired against us, and baited us out of position.”

“This is a most unexpected move,” said the Emperor, sounding more inquisitive than angry.

“Sire, I take full responsibility for this mistake, and I can assure you, I will correct it presently-”

“No need, Kafaldi. Continue your battle in space. Leave the ground invasion to me…”

***

Kylo looked on through the bridge window of the Finalizer, as the fleet made its way down the throat of the Nebulae, the swirling red dust clouds and electrical surges all around them. The entrance was not very wide, and appeared to be shrinking as they continued making their descent.

“Distance to the planet?” asked Kylo.

“Unclear sir,” spoke General Quinn, “long range com-scans are inconclusive. The static discharge of the Nebulae is interfering with our instruments.”

“We’ll see it very soon…” he remarked, feeling it in his bones, feeling the hairs standing up on his neck. This place was strong in the Dark Side of the Force, and even at this distance, he could sense it.

His portable communicator chimed on, grabbing Kylo’s attention.

Kylo raised it to his mouth and answered, “Kuruk?”

“Kylo, I- she’s a-” the static drowned out Kuruk’s words.

“Say again, Kuruk. I can barely make out what you just said.”

“Kylo, I’ve found her. She’s o- Jandur, ju - ou said.”

“Understood, is Cardo and Ap’lex with you.”

“No, we split u-” The static was growing.

“Listen to me. Regroup with Cardo, and Ap’lex, and keep an eye on her until they arrive. Then the three of you will engage her together. I’ll be ready.”

“Yes - uruk out.”

“Ready?” echoed a devious chilling voice, causing Kylo to almost jump in surprise, “Like how you were ready the last time you confronted her?”

Kylo frantically looked around the bridge, wondering where the voice was emanating from, but as he looked at the bridge crew’s confused faces, he quickly realized that he was the only one hearing it.

“As you were,” spat Kylo angrily to the bridge crew, before turning to General Quinn, “Notify me when we get a visual on Exegol.”

Kylo stormed off the bridge and retreated to his private quarters, locking the door behind him.

“Palpatine,” breathed Kylo, looking inward, looking inside his mind, feeling the Emperor’s presence through the Force. He was close, and getting closer with every passing second.

“I must admit, I did not expect you to survive. You are harder to kill than I thought. But perhaps I should not be surprised. You take after your grandfather. He also refused to die.”

“Your time is up, old man. You’ve haunted my dreams for far too long, you manipulated me to suit your own ends, and you thought you could cast me aside when I was of no further use to you. But you underestimated me. You didn’t count on the fact that I am stronger than you could imagine. And now you’ll pay for your deceit.”

“I can feel your anger, your resolve to see me dead. You’re welcome to try, my boy. But be warned, far better adversaries have tried and failed to kill me.”

“You’re just another dead thing, the last in a line of pathetic power-hungry fanatics deluded by the idea that the Galaxy belongs to you. You claim to be free to make your own destiny, but you shackle yourself to archaic self-defeating beliefs, and no matter how many times you rise from the grave, you keep repeating those same mistakes. I used to believe I wanted to follow in those footsteps, but now I see the futility in the ways of the Sith. Your conniving helped me in one way, you helped me see the Sith for what they really are: a dead end.”

“You dabbled in the Dark Side, but you fail to truly comprehend it. You are so quick to shut your eyes out to the power of the Sith, but now I invite you to see.”

At once, the backdrop of Kylo’s quarters faded away into nothingness, and he found himself instead in another place, a dark and cold place, a massive chamber carved out of jagged black rock. In the far distance he could see flashes of lightning and hear the clapping of thunder. At the center of the massive chamber was a stone chair, a throne, looking as old as the stars. He had seen this place before, in a vision.

“Yes...” continued Palpatine with his usual bravado, stepping out from behind the throne. “...you have seen this place before.”

“In a vision long ago.”

“Look upon this stone throne and tell me that a part of you does not wish to claim it for yourself. It would have been your birthright had your family seen what I’d seen.”

Kylo’s eyes lingered momentarily on the stone chair. As crudely angular as it was, there was something truly alluring about it, appearing to be as ancient as time itself.

“And what did you see?” humored Kylo, “What kinds of plans did you have for my family?”

Palpatine smirked, before raising up his hand, electricity sparking between his fingers. “Power, my boy. To most, it is just a word, an illusion, but to a Sith, it is a tangible thing. The Force has bestowed upon your family almost unlimited power, and I would have seen it fully realized.”

“Like you did with my grandfather?”

Palpatine’s smirk disappeared. “I had such high hopes for your grandfather, his potential as my true successor. I had groomed him from the very start. Even after his mutilation, he still showed such promise, such rage. That is why I moved heaven and earth to sustain him. But his hate could not snuff out his despair and his regrets over his wife and children. In the end he failed me, and the Sith Code. He betrayed me in my final moment of triumph.”

“Your greatest defeat, you mean,” snapped Kylo, “You failed to turn Luke, you lost your hold on Vader, and your precious empire collapsed beneath your feet.”

“A bitter defeat to be sure, but not a total one. Now, thanks to my apprentice I am closer than ever to reclaim what I’ve lost.”

“Your apprentice is living on borrowed time. I’ve planned a little surprise for her. She’ll be dead within the hour.”

“Do you honestly believe your petty knights could seriously contend with her?”

“Not by themselves, but with the bond she and I share, I can weaken her. She will die as surely as you will.”

“You still don’t fully understand what she is, do you? I have seen some powerful Force users in my day, but none with the raw talent she possesses. She has already surpassed me, and she will surpass every Sith that has ever come before her.”

“You put so much faith in your scavenger girl, but I’ve seen her mind, I know her true origins. Despite all her power, deep down she is nothing but a frightened girl. She is scared, she is confused and she lacks the will to truly give herself over to the Dark Side. She will never be what you hope she will be. Even now she drifts away from you and your Sith teachings.”

“You underestimate her, just as your master once underestimated me. Snoke once believed he alone was worthy of Plagueis’s teachings. He thought he was strong enough, worthy enough to follow in his footsteps. But in the end I exposed him for the fool he was, just as I did with you.”

“I’m stronger now than Snoke ever was, and I will make you pay for what you did to both of us. I’ve been hiding long enough, but I’m not hiding anymore. I’m coming for you, Sith. And when I’m done, you and your order will be nothing but a forgotten memory.”

Palpatine stared directly into his eyes, his face devoid of all emotion, but before long, a hint of a smile began to form in the corners of his mouth. The illusion then dissipated, and Kylo found himself back in his quarters, the emperor’s presence disappearing as quickly as it arrived. But Kylo could still hear his voice echoing in the far distance. “We will see, boy. We will see...”

“Supreme Leader,” called out General Quinn over the comm, “We have a visual on the planet.”

“Battle stations,” instructed Kylo, “Prepare for ground assault…”

Chapter 11: Chapter 10

Chapter Text

Somehow, somewhere, Rey knew she was meant to be here, to be in this room, sitting down at this table, across from this woman. She didn’t know exactly what brought her here, whether it was some strange design of the Force, the ghost of Luke Skywalker whispering into her ear, or something deep in her psyche that cried out for this confrontation, but she was here all the same. And with each minute in front of her, she found her fists white knuckling. She swallowed the urge to reach over and smash in her face, or worse. This woman in front of her was the last vestige of her past, the only other living being to witness what transpired. Rey needed to know, definitively, once and for all.

“I want to talk to you about the day my parents died.”

“Why do you want to dig up the past, Rey? Let it stay buried. Nothing good comes from it.”

“Because I have to know. I need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what happened that day.”

Layla’s eyes squinted, “You were there, Rey. You did it. Why do I need to tell you-”

“Because I can’t see it!” Rey snapped, “I…I’m aware of what I did. But my memory doesn’t let me see it! It’s like a missing piece in a puzzle, or some kind of mental block preventing me from seeing it.”

“See what?” asked Layla. “You still have visions? Those waking dreams you used to get?”

“Yes…” she admitted. “I see every second before it as clearly as I’m seeing you now. I even see what comes after, their bodies - their lifeless bodies against the wall, and me trying to nudge them awake with my blood-stained hands…but the moment of their deaths…the moment I lost control…it escapes me. It’s all a blank.”

“Maybe that’s for the best. Maybe you should be grateful that it doesn’t haunt you.”

“But it does. I can’t just leave it alone. That day ruined my life. It was the first time my powers slipped away from me, and it’s been haunting me ever since. I tried ignoring it, I tried forgetting it, but it keeps calling out to me, like an echo from the past. It keeps fighting me, gnawing at me. For whatever reason, it’s brought me back here…as if I’m meant to see something.”

“Nothing good comes from dredging up bad memories, Rey. Those powers of yours were what started this whole mess in the first place, and you actually want to relive that day?!” her aunt replied venomously, “I’ve tried so hard to forget about that horrible day…about you. That day I left you on Jakku, I hoped I’d never see you again. But here you are, sitting across from my kitchen table, staring at me like I owe you an apology. If that’s what you’re after, then you might as well stand up and walk on out of here right now.”

“I don’t expect to hear an apology from you, but I still need to understand-”

“I’m not going to be interrogated in my own house-”

“Will you shut up and listen to what I have to say?!” shouted Rey, before forcing herself to calm down, “Look. I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here, but I need to know some things, so the sooner you start answering my questions, the sooner I can walk out of your life forever.”

Layla frowned, shifting in her chair, before relenting, “What do you want to know?”

“How much did you sell me for?”

“Rey, what does that have to do with -”

“Just answer me, please!” shouted Rey.

“10 peggats,” answered a reluctant Layla.

Rey recoiled at her words, “And how much did you get for father’s workshop.”

“Twenty-five peggats,” she said, “It was just sitting there collecting dust. I was never a good mechanic so…I sold it.”

“And what did you do with that money?” asked Rey with a glare.

Layla glared back, “I spent it on my daughter. On food and clothing, repair work, a new vaporator.”

Rey’s glare eased, before asking a more sensitive question, “What made you want to sell your own flesh and blood into slavery?”

“You didn’t see yourself, Rey. You don’t remember how terrified your mother and father were at the end. How terrified I was. Even before that, I was already afraid of you, because I knew someday something would happen. I tried telling your mother, and she had a bad feeling too, but your father, your moronic father wouldn’t hear any of it! Heavens forbid anyone say anything bad about his perfect daughter.”

“Don’t talk about my father that way!” Rey shouted.

“Your father was the reason why all this happened! He couldn’t face fact that his daughter was a freak, a monster!”

The words cut deep, even though Rey should have expected to hear them. Her eyes started tearing, as she then asked, “And what kind of a monster sells their own family into slavery?”

Layla’s eyes narrowed, clearly put off by the insult.

Rey continued, “I was just a girl, your niece. I was born with this. I didn’t choose it. What happened that day was an accident.”

“You really don’t remember do you?” asked Layla, “You say your hands were clean, like it was entirely out of your control, but I know better. You tried to kill me, Rey. Little girl or not, I saw the look in your eyes when you grabbed me with your magic, when you lifted me off the ground, and started choking me. Your eyes were filled with pure rage, and you weren’t going to stop. Your parents tried to stop you, they tried to grab you, and that’s when you killed them.”

The revelation slammed into Rey like a meteorite, leaving her panicked and out of breath, “That…that can’t be right.”

“You threw them both back, and they smashed their heads against that wall right over there!” Layla pointed to the kitchen wall. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that, Rey! How could anyone forget that?!”

Rey turned around and looked to the far kitchen wall, feeling a dreaded sense of déjà vu. As she got up and walked over to the wall, she felt something drawing her in, something dark, something buried but desperate to resurface.

“Don’t fight it, Rey.” She could hear Luke’s voice whispering in her mind, “Let it show you what you need to see…”

Rey closed her eyes, and immediately she felt her powers flaring up. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself transported back to her memory, a memory she had long repressed. She watched herself as a little girl, her face flush with anger, looking on as her father and aunt shouted over one another.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, here he is,” mocked Layla “it’s high time someone finally tell you this.”

“Tell me what, Layla?!” shouted Jendan. “I come home after a long day, to hear you arguing with Skyla again, Rey standing out by the doorway upset! What the hell are you two bickering about now?”

“We’re bickering about your daughter, Jendan. About the fact that you’re taking a very serious risk leaving her here like this.”

“Not this same old conversation again, like a broken datacard on repeat.”

Layla persisted forcefully, “I’m not going to stop bringing it up until you start to take this seriously, Jendan.”

“Take what seriously?”

“That your daughter can do things nobody else should. That she can read people’s thoughts and move things with her mind. That she can levitate off the ground! Take your pick!”

“You’re acting like she’s some kind of a freak.”

“How else would you describe her?! What is it going to take for you to realize there is something seriously wrong with your daughter?!”

“Enough, Layla!” shouted Jendan, “If you still want to stay in this house, then you better watch your words very carefully! I’m not going to stand here and let you talk about Rey as if she’s some kind of monster. Now I made a promise to Norrin to take care of you if anything happened to him. He was my best friend, and I swore we’d do everything we could, but you’re making it impossible.”

“What’s impossible is this dream of yours, Jenden. This wild bantha chase of yours to establish an independent colony, and you’re too damn stubborn to know when to quit!”

Skyla tried to interrupt, “Layla, please.”

“No, Skyla. He needs to hear this…” Layla glanced back over to Jendan, and spoke with venom in her words, “You fooled my sister into believing in you, just like you fooled Norrin when you convinced him to come here. But I knew this dream of yours was a fantasy. I warned Norrin, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He trusted you, and he died for it!”

“You’re honestly going to stand here in my house, and blame me for your husband’s death?!” he shouted back angrily. “He was my best friend, and he died in a mining accident. That wasn’t my fault.”

“Your stubbornness got him killed. Just like your stubbornness about your daughter’s gonna get us all killed! Sooner or later, something will happen, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day, You’re daughter is going to do something horrible, and when it does, that’ll be on your hands too!”

“That’s it, first thing in the morning I want you out of this house!”

Layla tried her hardest not to look shocked. She failed miserably, her bluster deflating on the spot.

Skyla spoke up, “Jendan…”

“No Skyla-”

“Jendan! She’s pregnant. Where’s she going to go, what’s she going to do?!”

“That’s not our problem anymore,” insisted Jendan.”

“That’s my niece she’s carrying, Jendan! She’s still my family and family members don’t abandon their own!”

As her parents argued now amongst themselves, Rey walked over to the visage of her aunt, looking directly into her eyes, seeing the fear and anger in them, the hopelessness of her situation coming to bear. Rey could see her aunt instinctively cradling her swollen belly, completely at a loss. She didn’t notice this as a child, but as an adult she could see it clearly, and for the first time in her life, and against every inclination to feel otherwise, Rey felt pity for her aunt at this moment.

The room began to shake, silencing Jendan and Skyla, as the three of them struggled to keep their balance. As they turned to the doorway, they all saw young Rey, her face flush with anger, her eyes fixed on Aunt Layla, looking vicious, even murderous. Rey looked on, painfully watching from their vantage point at her young self, seeing the face that Layla described with her own eyes. The little girl didn’t say a word as she stretched out her right arm, lifting Layla off the ground by her throat, her muffled gasps as she tried in vain to free herself.

Rey looked on as Jendan and Skyla both screamed her name, telling her, begging her to put Layla down. Their words fell on deaf ears, as young Rey lifted her higher, choking her harder.

Let go, Rey thought, the final piece of her memory sliding into place. She knew what was about to happen. She watched helplessly as the memory played out, seeing Jendan and Skyla encircling their daughter, cautiously approaching behind her. Her younger self was so enraged with her aunt, she did not notice when they both attempted to grab her. But the girl was so awash with anger that she let out a wave of energy, throwing her parents back and slamming them hard into the kitchen wall with sickening thuds.

The collective thud snapped the young girl out of her red haze, and a look of dread formed on her face. She saw the bodies of her mother and father lying motionlessly against the wall, two splotches of blood marking where the back of their heads hit. Rey looked on solemnly as the expression on her younger self turned from rage to fear, the revelation of her actions slowly sinking in as she reached over to nudge her parents awake, her first and most bitter taste of death.

Rey looked on as the young girl screamed at her parents, desperately trying to wake them. What did you do? she asked herself, turning away from the girl and looking over across the room to see her aunt lying on the floor, her hand nursing her throat, as she slowly began to regain her breath, the look of abject horror on her face at what her niece had done.

Rey closed her eyes, and upon opening them, she found herself standing in front of a barren wall, the bloodstains and bodies of her parents gone. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she did not feel the nagging pull of the Force. Her powers were stilled, her mind and memories now whole. But in its place, she felt a newfound pain, in her heart she could feel only guilt over her actions.

“Rey?” called a confused Layla.

Rey failed to answer, instead only staring at that wall, staring at her horrible mistake.

“Now you know the truth, Rey…” said the voice of Skywalker. “…and now you have a choice to make. You can choose what happens next.”

Rey shook her head before whispering, “For what? To pretend I’m not a monster?”

You’re not a monster, Rey.

“Yes I am. I killed them…is that the secret, Jedi? Is that the truth that was supposed to set me free? That I killed my family in a murderous haze?! That I almost killed my pregnant aunt? Was this supposed to show the error of my ways? To heal me?!”

“Rey, who are you talking to?” asked a worried Layla.

“You failed, Skywalker! There is no redemption for me. All this detour proved was that I am exactly the thing that everyone said I was! I thought…I hoped that maybe things were different, that I was different, but I’m not. You said I was led astray, but the truth is that this was the path I was meant to take.”

“That’s not true, Rey.” Luke Skywalker’s ghost materialized before her now, his gaze stern, “That day, you took your first steps down a very dark path, a path that has given you nothing but pain. Your young mind blocked out your parents’ deaths to protect yourself, but your power lashes out for you to unearth it. Now you have, and that pain you’re feeling in your heart right now is all the proof I need to know that you still have a chance to turn away from the Dark Side.”

“Rey, what are you doing? Who are you talking to?” Layla demanded, completely blind to what was going on, nervously reaching underneath the kitchen table, as her niece continued to talk to the air.

Luke continued, “You can’t change the past, but you can change your own future. You can decide right now, what happens from this point forward. You can choose to remain on the path you’re on, drown in your own pain, and spread pain across the galaxy. Or you can turn away from it. Rise above your pain. Put your past behind you, walk away from the Sith, and come back to the light…where you belong.”

With those words, Skywalker’s ghost evaporated, leaving Rey alone with her aunt, who was now brandishing a blaster and pointing it shakily at her.

“There’s no need for that…” Rey spoke in a defeated tone, tears streaming down her eyes, “I’m not going to hurt you. Not ever again.”

“What did you see? Another one of your visions?”

“I saw what I needed to see…I just have one last question for you. Did you ever, at any point, wondered about me? About where I was, or what I was doing, or if I was even alive?”

Layla’s eyes softened after hearing her niece’s question. She lowered her blaster, “You know the day I brought you on that transport headed to Jakku, I was so desperate to get you out of my life forever, but when I stepped back into that transport, and heard you screaming out, calling me to come back…I had to fight every instinct not to go back and get you. When I got back, I kept myself busy trying to pick up the pieces, scraping for a living out here, and getting ready for the due date. But when my little Skyla was born, I couldn’t help but be reminded of you. You were the first baby I ever held. My sister and Jendan would be rolling in their graves if they knew what I did to you, and I am not proud of having done it. It hurt. But I wasn’t prepared to allow something like that to happen again, not with my daughter here. That’s why I never looked back, that’s why I lied about your existence.” Her face became guarded, “So if you’re going to do something, then you might as well do it now and get out before my daughter gets back…Lady Ira.”

Hearing her alias now, Rey couldn’t help but flinch. It sounded so foreign, so wrong, but then it never sounded right to her ears. It was the name given to her by Palpatine the day she completed her training, the day she became Sith.

“A lot of things may have been different if you had gone back,” Rey spoke, “that day, you said some terrible things about me. It made me angry, but that did not give me the right to do what I did to you, or your unborn daughter. I understand why you abandoned me on Jakku after what happened with my parents. I gave you every reason to be afraid for your life, and more importantly your daughter’s life. When I set foot back into this house, and saw you sitting there looking back at me like I was some kind of a monster, I hated you. I felt all those angry feelings bubble back up to the surface. But I’m tired of those feelings. I’m tired of all of them. I accused you of betraying your family, but I did something far worse, something I can’t ever expect you to forgive…” Rey took a deep solemn breath, “…but I owe it to myself, and the memory of my parents to ask…can you forgive me?”

Layla took a deep breath and began to speak “Rey-”

Suddenly, Rey felt a sharp pain in her chest, a phantom pain that inexplicably overwhelmed her. She grunted, clutching her chest as the pain intensified, as if some unseen force was squeezing her insides. Rey fought the pain, trying to focus, trying to guard herself, but it only grew stronger, causing Rey to shriek.

“Rey, what’s wrong?” asked a terrified Layla.

Rey turned around to see the culprit, the visage of Kylo standing right in front of her, his arm stretched out. Though weaker, their bond still remained, and he was using it to full effect.

“Kylo!” gasped Rey painfully, as he continued to hold out his hand, locking her in place with the Force. He had bided his time, waited until she was at her most psychically vulnerable, and he caught her completely by surprise.

“How precious,” mocked Kylo, as he peered into her mind, “abandoning your post for an impromptu family reunion. My uncle can be quite persuasive. He did me a big favor getting you away from your master…and bringing you right where I wanted you.”

Unable to move her body, Rey could only turn her head slightly enough to notice the strange figure creeping up towards her. The figure was cloaked with a personal stealth shield, the ambient light bending around them to make it almost invisible, it’s steps eerily silent as it quickly closed the distance. Rey’s heart raced, fear and adrenaline spiking her veins. She was trapped, and she could even see the deathblow coming. All at once, time began to slow, and Rey closed her eyes, deciding to look inward. She listened to the Force as it washed around her. She looked into her own fears, her own guilt, and instead of rigidly fighting them, she allowed herself to bend like a reed in a strong wind. She could feel Kylo’s grip on her was strong, far too strong for her to forcefully break out in time, but she might have been able to slip out.

Rey opened her eyes in time to see her cloaked assailant disengaging his stealth field, revealing himself to be one of Kylo’s Knights. She knew from Imperial intelligence it was Ap’lex, distinguishable by his skull-shaped mask. His body was covered head to toe in black painted armor. He wielded a two handed vibro-axe, the blade upgraded with a plasma tipped edge akin to the blade of a lightsaber. Rey concentrated, trying to wriggle herself free of Kylo’s influence as the attacking knight took a powerful swing at her head.

At the last possible moment, Rey managed to slip out, leaning herself forward, narrowly avoiding the blow as the plasma edge sliced through one of her ponytails. Immediately, she drew her lightsaber and activated both ends, driving the far end of the plasma blade into the attacker’s thigh. The plasma burned into the armor, causing the Knight to flinch, allowing Rey enough time to kick him back hard with the assistance of the Force, knocking him over the table. But Rey was caught off guard when the wall behind her exploded, the flying debris knocking her lightsaber out of her hand as she fell to the ground.

Hearing only a constant ringing in her ears, Rey tried her best to shake it off. As she looked back at the destroyed wall, she blurrily saw a second figure walking into view. Her eyesight focused, and she saw a second Knight walk through the gaping hole in the wall, dressed in similar black armor to the first, but more heavily armed. She recognized him as Cardo, the explosives aficionado of the group. Strapped across his chest and left arm were bandoliers, bristling with blaster pistols, and thermal detonators, giving him the appearance of a walking arsenal. Attached to his right arm, was a massive arm cannon, heavily modified by the looks of it, and he wasted no time raising it up and taking aim at her, firing three shots of thermal grenades in rapid succession. Rey instinctively reached out her hand and caught the grenades midflight with the Force, preparing to hurl them back at Cardo when Kylo unleashed another psychic attack. Rey jolted in pain once again, causing her to scatter the grenades around what was left of the kitchen. The detonations shook the foundation of the entire house, and to Rey’s horror, she watched as one of the thermal grenades exploded right at her aunt’s feet.

“No!” screamed Rey, attempting to reach her prone aunt, but Kylo stifled her advance, and attempted to choke her with the Force.

“You won’t get away this time!” he declared, his hold on her now ironclad. Reloading his cannon, Cardo walked forward and promptly took aim at her. Rey struggled to break free, to find some way out, but there wasn’t a way out this time.

Inexplicably, Kylo turned his head, and betrayed a frantic look on his face, before his visage disappeared, as did his grip on her throat. It couldn’t have been a moment too soon. Cardo fired again, but this time, Rey threw the grenades back, exploding them right in his face. Cardo flew back out of the shambled house and slamming into dirt outside, affording Rey a second to breathe and collect her bearings. She sensed Ap’lex, skulking behind her, sensed his attack coming, and with a flawless pirouette, she easily dodged his swing. Ap’lex lurched forward, almost losing his balance, allowing Rey an easy opportunity to shove him back with the Force. Ap’lex was hurled outside, smashing into the ground hard.

To Rey’s surprise, she saw that Cardo was back up to his feet, but noticeably wounded from the explosions. His arm cannon was malfunctioning, his chest plate seared and mangled, blood pouring out of a gaping hole, but he still remained standing, and clearly far from beaten. Cardo assisted Ap’lex back to his feet, and the two of them momentarily stared at Rey, before turning to one another, wordlessly conveying something. The two then assumed fighting stances, Ap’lex readying his axe, and Cardo dropping his cannon, drawing a lightsaber hilt from his bandolier and brandishing the red blade. Yet, Rey took notice that this time they did not advance, instead content to stay on the defensive. Even behind their expressionless masks, Rey recognized in their body language their hesitation and doubt, their wariness to engage without Kylo’s help. For whatever reason, her communion with Kylo had been fortuitously interrupted, and now she was mentally prepared should he try to surprise her again.

Rey reached out with the Force and pulled her own lightsaber out from underneath the rubble, catching the hilt with her hand. Detaching both halves of the hilt, she activated the blades and squared off against the Knights. She felt anger over being attacked, despair over what happened to her aunt, and the overriding desire to kill. She felt the Force coursing through her, the darker part of her mind egging her on. All this emotional upheaval had left her head spinning, but now it was very simple. Now there was only the fight before her, and the enemies that needed killing.

“You’ll pay for this with your lives…”

***

Kylo struggled to maintain his balance as the Star Destroyer began to violently lurch. The sudden shift had broken his concentration and interrupted his link to Rey, but right now he had no time to worry about her. He clicked on the nearest terminal and opened a com to the bridge.

“General Quinn, status report!” he demanded.

“Sire, we’ve been hit by some kind of long-ranged ion cannon from the planet’s surface, it’s shorted out our engines and shields.”

“Why the hell did we not detect it on com-scan?”

“The surface storms are making it difficult for our scans to detect-”

A second jolt hit the ship, as the power began to flicker, and the communications system shut down. The emergency lights and alarms immediately kicked in, blaring throughout the ship. Kylo grunted as he grabbed his helmet and walked out of his quarters towards the bridge, past the legions of officers and soldiers scurrying around like rodents. Finally reaching the bridge, he immediately demanded an update.

General Quinn obliged, “We’ve been hit a second time, sire. It’s shorted out most of our systems. Emergency power is still working, but little else. We’re struggling to get the engines operational before we fall into the planet’s gravity well.”

“What about our communications? The rest of our fleet isn’t far behind us, they must be warned to keep their distance.”

“Before the second volley knocked out our communications, we sent out a standing order to the rest of our fleet telling them to establish a perimeter no less than 100,000 kilometers away from the planet, which should be well outside of ion cannon’s optimal range. The fleet should be safe for now, but we won’t be if we can’t restore power to the main engines.”

Kylo stared out at the bridge window, seeing the planet. Never had he been so close, his quarry almost in reach, only to be stifled at the eleventh hour. He would not allow it. It was then he came up with a diabolical idea.

“Do we have an approximate location on the ion cannon’s position?”

General Quinn nodded, “We’ve made some calculations based on the trajectory of the blasts, but right now we’re in no position to do anything about it until our systems are operational. If we can’t restore our engines soon, we’ll fall into the planet’s atmosphere and crash onto the surface.”

“And into the ion cannon,” proposed Kylo, causing Quinn to do a double take.

“Sire, you can’t seriously be considering…”

“Let the ship descend into the planet’s gravity well, I’ll make sure it crashes into that ion cannon. I want everyone on this ship on a transport ready to clear out the moment we enter the atmosphere. If there are any other planetary guns, they’ll be focusing their fire on the Destroyer. Have the transports follow in the Destroyer’s wake, then break off before impact. Our fighters will focus on any gun turrets, while our transports will secure a landing zone. Do I make myself clear, General?”

Quinn couldn’t help but swallow nervously before replying, “Yes, Supreme Leader.” He motioned to his subordinates, “Alert all stations. We’re abandoning ship. Get everyone and everything we can onto every transport we have in the hangar bays. It’s going to be a turbulent landing.”

The Finalizer made its descent into Exegol’s upper atmosphere, the outer hull burning up as it continued to pick up speed, passing into the planet’s ionized storm clouds. Kylo closed his eyes, taking hold of the ship, feeling its weight, its speed, nudging its trajectory, making sure it stayed on course. The ship’s hangar bays were frantic with activity, as the crew rushed to their transports. The vehicles lifted off the ground, and jettisoned out of the hangar three at a time, one transport with two fighters. After leaving the ship, the squadrons fell back and follow directly behind the Star Destroyer. As the destroyer cleared the dense black clouds, the sight before them became a hellscape of jagged rocks, barren desert, cracked fissures, a sunless sky, and as they quickly discovered, heavily fortified. The Finalizer was greeted by a massive barrage of blaster fire, as turbo laser batteries popped out from the hidden doors underground, immediately opening fire.

Kylo sat in the passenger seat of his Tie Silencer, using the Force to guide the destroyer, while his fellow Knights, Vicrul, Trudgen and Ushar readied the fighter for takeoff.

“This is one hell of a plan you’ve cooked up, Kylo,” said Trudgen in a jovial tone.

“Shut up Trudgen!” chastised Vicrul, “let the man work!”

The ion cannon was now in sight, a massive weapon partly imbedded in a huge jutting rock face.

“I see it,” said Kylo, “Get ready.”

Ushar activated the Tie Silencer, and anxiously awaited Kylo’s order.

“Now!”

Ushar gunned it, the Silencer shooting out of the hangar like a bullet as the Destroyer made its way right towards it target. Despite hundreds of turbo laser blasts peppering the hull of the crumbling, burning Destroyer, there was simply too much mass, and too much speed for anything to stop it. Confident of the angle, Kylo let go of the ship, allowing physics to do the rest.

The Finalizer hit its mark, slamming flush into the mountain-sized ion cannon. The explosion sent a shockwave through the air, a massive plume of smoke rising high into the clouds. The ion cannon was completely destroyed along with the Star Destroyer.

“Bullseye,” laughed Trudgen, “Bet you a hundred credits that Palpatine knows we’re here now.”

As planned, the trailing Tie fighters blitzed the turbo laser emplacements, taking out as many as possible, but not without sustaining losses. While the fighters occupied the turbo lasers, the First Order dropships and transports made their landing on a flat desert plain. The dropships wasted no time deploying gorilla walkers and other heavy ordinances, as First Order Storm troopers and Syndicate Coalition mercenaries rushed out of transport vehicles in droves to secure the grounds. However, in the middle of their deployment, several hidden entrances opened up from the ground, and legions of red armored soldiers started pouring onto the surface, accompanied by entire divisions of AT-ATs, and combat assault tanks.

“Looks like Palpatine rolled out the welcome wagon,” noted Trudgen.

Vicrul leaned over to get a better look at the window. “This planet seems like it’s honeycombed with hidden bases with who knows how many troops. They’re going to do everything they can to halt our advance on the Citadel.”

“Take us down there, Ushar,” ordered Kylo, “and get your sword arms ready.”

***

Admiral Leia Organa felt like her head was spinning, the latest attack from the Eclipse doing its fair share of damage to the Ackbar. As she fought to regain her wits, she could hear the blaring of alarms and the frantic faces of her crew as they frantically checked on their instruments.

“Admiral, are you alright?” asked Lieutenant Connix.

“I’m fine,” she assured, “Status report, Lieutenant.”

“We’ve sustained heavy damage across our starboard bow. We’ve lost sections 6 through 20 and about half our turbo laser batteries. We still don’t have an exact count on how many we’ve lost.”

“What about our shield generators?”

“Fried, Admiral. Our engineers are saying they’ve completely stopped functioning and they won’t be able to fix it without a dry dock.”

“How ‘bout our engines?”

“Running at fifty percent capacity.”

“And what about the Eclipse?”

Connix walked away from her console and over to the holo-map, “The Eclipse overcharged their axial cannon when they realized we were doing the same to our shield generators, but it shorted out their cloaking field. At least now we can actually see it.”

Leia looked at the holo-map, and saw the vast number of new ships that had joined the battle. “Looks like General Hux wasn’t completely honest with us. The First Order fleet is much larger than he made us believe.”

“Well, at least they’re keeping the Eclipse fully occupied. Right after the Eclipse fired on us, a pair of Mandator IVs jump out of hyperspace and immediately started attacking. The Eclipse took two direct hits, and judging by our scanners, the attack knocked out its shields. The Eclipse did manage to return fire and destroyed one of them, but the second Mandator broke off its engagement.”

“Why would they do that?” asked one of the staff, “The Mandator’s autocannons recharge much faster than the Eclipse’s cannon. It could easily have gotten off another salvo by now. Without its shields, it could deal heavy damage, or even cripple the Eclipse if we’re lucky. Why would it disengage?”

“Cause they’re not interested in destroying it,” answered Leia, looking over the holo-map, looking at the First Order fleet, its battle formation, how it was encircling the Eclipse. “They’re trying to capture it.”

“Capture it?” asked Connix, “That’s impossible, there’s no way they’re that crazy or stupid to even try it.”

“They’re certainly trying. They’re releasing boarding pods, hundreds of them, and they’re using their support ships as a screening force.”

“That’s good,” said the aide, “If they can take the Eclipse, they can turn around and use it on the rest of the Imperial fleet.”

“Or turn around and use it on us,” countered Connix, before turning worriedly to Leia, “Can we really trust them not to do that?”

Leia considered her lieutenant’s words, and the situation at hand. This was most likely their plan all along, not just to invade Exegol, but also to capture one of the Empire’s most prized warships. It was an extreme risk to allow them to take that ship, but Leia was short on viable alternatives.

“We don’t have much choice,” replied Leia, “Our ship is badly damaged. Our shields are down. The Ackbar can’t contend with the Eclipse toe to toe now. Best we can do is help the First Order capture that ship, and keep the rest of the Imperial fleet off their backs.”

“And what if the situation changes, and they point that cannon at us?”

Ben won’t let them, Leia thought, certain of it. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Send word to the rest of the fleet, don’t let the Imperial Navy rejoin with the Eclipse. Are our weapons systems still functioning?”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“Then get us back into the fight. Shields or no shields, we’ll show them what the Ackbar is capable of.”

Chapter 12: Chapter 11

Chapter Text

They were fast and well trained, but they were one step behind. Rey could see their movements before they made them, see which direction they would feint before they committed. She knew when and where to block, to dodge, where to move so that they could not surround her. Ap’lex swung wide with his axe, narrowly missing her face, as Cardo lunged with his lightsaber, only for Rey to block, and respond with a quick kick to his knee cap. Undeterred, they pressed forward again, this time together, but Rey blocked both attacks with her twin sabers. She twirled to her right, flanking Cardo, swiping her twin blades at his arm. Cardo blocked one lightsaber with his gauntlet, but the second struck across his ribcage. The blow left a burning streak across his armor, not fully slicing through, but clearly wounding him. Instinctively Cardo fell back, pulling out a spare pistol, shooting at Rey as he fell back. Rey seamlessly deflected away the blaster bolts as Ap’lex attempted to bulrush, sweeping low with his axe, but Rey briskly jumped out of the way, flipping back high and landing on the rooftop of a nearby house. Now having the high ground, Rey took a moment to reattach her segmented blades, making sure to survey both Knights as they paced back and forth like wild beasts below her.

“Kylo warned us about you…” spoke Ap’lex in a muzzled voice, “He said you were an exceptional fighter. I must say, he wasn’t wrong.”

“Is your master so afraid of me that he sends his attack dogs to do his dirty work?” asked Rey contemptuously.

“He has his own business with your master,” replied Cardo in between breaths, “We all wondered why you left, why you came to this dusty forgotten planet, why we found you in some miner’s hovel. Was that old woman someone special to you? Pity she was blown to bits.”

Rey felt her anger surge, so much so that she failed to properly take in her surroundings, failed to see a figure perched above another rooftop a half kilometer away, looking down the sight of a blaster rifle. She sensed him the moment he pulled the trigger, the laser bolt traveling fast and far. Rey attempted to dodge, but this time she was one step behind, the bolt striking Rey in her right shoulder. Rey screamed in pain, as she dropped her weapon and lost her balance, falling off the rooftop and into an adjacent alleyway. She reached out with her uninjured left arm, and caught herself with the Force just before she hit the ground.

Kuruk, she guessed, another of Ren’s Knights, their cowardly sniper and pilot. She felt the pain in her shoulder, the fresh plasma burn searing into her flesh, perfectly mimicking the rage that was searing into her soul. Her anger was growing, her powers beginning to unfurl. Kylo’s ghouls may have been weaker than her, but they outnumbered and were outplaying her. Their surprise attack and the realization that her aunt was likely dead, inadvertently by her own doing, threatened to send Rey into a downward spiral of rage.

“They’re dragging you back into the dark, Rey,” she heard Skywalker in her mind, “Don’t let them, stay in the light.”

“This isn’t a training exercise, Skywalker,” she chided, “let me do what I do.”

Rey took a second to try and regain herself, to remember her master’s teachings, the Sith teachings. Rage was a powerful weapon, but uncontrolled rage was a hindrance. It led to misjudgments, errors, sloppy technique. And her opponents knew about rage very well. Kylo’s Knights were not to be underestimated, but she had been stupid and angry enough to make that very mistake. They had caught her off guard, shaken her, and they knew it. She bit down on her lip, fighting the pain, as she placed herself back on the ground, sensing Cardo and Ap’lex approaching fast. Ap’lex pounced first, coming out from behind the right corner, while Cardo came out from the left, cornering her. Rey attempted to leap out of harm’s way, but both of them stretched out their arms and grabbed her with the Force, lifting her up above the building, suspending her in the air. Rey fought to break free, but together, Cardo and Ap’lex were able to hold her. She looked ahead to see Kuruk jump across the rooftop a few hundred meters away, relocating for a clean shot, readying his blaster rifle and taking aim down the sight.

“You can’t fight them this way, Rey,” she heard Skywalker’s voice.

“I know what I’m doing, Jedi!” She answered back, just as Cardo fired a blaster bolt right for her head.

Rey wriggled her left hand free of their Force grip, holding it in front of her face. She concentrated her power in the palm of her free hand, and deflected the blaster bolt with a smack of her hand, sending the bolt careening towards Ap’lex. The heavy blaster bolt struck Ap’lex in his right thigh, piercing straight through his plastoid armor. Ap’lex screamed in pain and released his hold on her, providing Rey the opening she needed to break free. Ignoring the searing pain on her palm, Rey pulled herself down to the ground, and turned the tables on Cardo, grabbing him, her power completely enveloping him as she lifted him off the ground. Cardo grunted, attempting to break free, but to no avail, as Rey angrily began tightening her hold, feeling every piece of his armor, every bone, every organ of his body. With a closing of her fist, she crushed his body, the armor caving in around his chest like a squished can, breaking his bones and piercing his organs. Cardo squealed in deathly pain, as a wounded Ap’lex shouted out to his fallen comrade. Rey clenched her fist shut, crushing Cardo silent, before dropping his lifeless body to the ground in a bloody heap.

Ap’lex laboriously rose back to his feet, using the handle of his axe for assistance, before briefly glancing over to Cardo, knowing instinctively his comrade was dead. He held up his axe, reactivated the plasma blade, and dug his feet into the ground, bracing for an inevitable attack. She could tell by his movements that the blaster bolt had seriously injured him. His stance was wobbly. He could not fully support his weight on his legs, and he could not spring forward like before. Rey pulled her lightsaber off the roof, and caught it with both her hands, activating the blades.

Rey moved in closer, twirling her blade in taunting fashion, taking selfish glee in seeing her wounded prey taking one step back for each of her steps forward. She remembered the grenade falling at her aunt’s feet, the look of horror she made right before it exploded, she felt the darker side of her nature coming forth, the side that made her strong, the side she had known well for so long. She heard her master’s words in her mind, to be merciless towards her enemies, especially when they were at their weakest. And at this very moment she sensed her opponent’s pain, a weakness in his defense, the wounded leg begging to be exploited.

Rey raced forward towards her opponent with unnatural speed, as Ap’lex turned to wind up for a mighty swing. But before he could fully commit his weight, Rey clutched his leg with the Force, tightening it around the wound, causing Ap’lex to stumble, interfering with his swing. Rey slid in on her knees, and leaned back as she skidded on the dirt, narrowly avoiding Ap’lex’s axe. With an exacting swipe of her hand, she sliced through his thigh, cutting his leg clean off. A screaming Ap’lex fell to the ground, his weapon flung out of his hand as Rey bounced back to her feet, staring down at her helpless foe.

“You asked earlier if that old woman was special to me…” she began softly, “…you have no idea how special.” She clenched her teeth, Force lifting him up from the ground, keeping him suspended upright, facing her.

She slashed through his other leg, cutting it clean off and dropping to the ground, leaving only a molten stump, as Ap’lex screamed once again, his body still suspended helplessly in the air.

“No Rey! Don’t do this!” she heard Luke’s voice pleading in her head, but she had no intention of listening to him now. Not after what happened, not after what they had done. She wanted to make them pay.

“You haven’t the slightest idea of what you took from me!” she screamed, slicing Ap’lex’s right arm off, eliciting another scream that reverberated across the alleyway. “She was the only family I had left, and you killed her! And I’m going to show you how painful my wrath can be!” She looked around, checking the rooftops, “I know you’re out there, Kuruk! Come on out! Because if you don’t, I’m going to slice him up piece by piece!”

“He’s not coming out!” shouted Ap’lex. “We’re not playing your game, scavenger! You’re playing ours. Kylo is going to kill your master, and when he does, he’ll come for you, with the full wrath of the Dark Side at his command! You know it too, don’t you? You’re were so scared to face him that you abandoned your precious master! And before long, you’re going to see how painful his wrath will be!”

Rey sliced through his left hand next, causing Ap’lex to scream once again.

“You cowards!” she shouted to him, “Skulking in the dark, attacking me while your master tried to hold me down! You killed an innocent woman! She hand nothing to do with this!”

Despite the pain, the limbless Ap’lex did something she was not expecting. He laughed, a defiant, uncaring laugh, “Y-you killed her. You killed her when you lost control of that grenade. You killed her the moment you stepped into her home…you killed her the moment you set foot on this planet. We tracked you here. We attacked you, not her. If you want someone to blame…just look in the mirror.”

A seething Rey held up her lightsaber, as Luke screamed out to her, “Rey! No!”

But his call went unheeded as she sliced through Ap’lex’s neck, decapitating him with a clean stroke, his head splattering against the wall. She dropped the limbless body unceremoniously to the ground, taking a deep breath, exhaling her rage. She could almost hear Skywalker’s disapproval, his shock, but she wasn’t concerned now. There was still one more Knight, one more vermin that needed killing.

“Rey!” called out a desperate voice, causing her turn around. She saw Kuruk standing across the street, and he wasn’t alone. Her cousin Skyla was standing next to him, her hands bound in restraining cuffs, a blaster pistol pointed at her head.

“Rey!” called out Skyla a second time, confused and teary eyed.

No…thought Rey. In an instant, Rey’s anger turned to fear, and for a moment she was left frozen. Her mind quickly began to race, the realization donning on her. She had another family member, her cousin Skyla, the last surviving member of her family. And she was a hostage.

Rey took a single step forward, “Kuruk-”

“One more step, and this one gets her head blasted off!” warned Kuruk. “And if I so much as feel an inkling of your powers around me, I’ll pull the trigger. Then you’ll have another innocent’s blood on your hands…”

***

Kylo’s cross-saber sliced through the waist of a red armored soldier, cleaving him in two. He then immediately pivoted his weight, leaping up and swinging down at a second nearby enemy, slicing through his blaster rifle and his forearms. The armless soldier screamed, as Kylo swiped at his head, decapitating him at the neck. The past twenty minutes had been hell, and Kylo was already feeling blood drunk. He and his Knights had left an impressive heap of bodies in their wake since touching down on Exegol, but these mysterious enemies just relentlessly kept coming in droves. The red armored soldiers continually began pouring out from hidden underground bunkers and hangars, as hover tanks and AT-ATs began emerging as well, attempting to stifle any advance. Red painted Tie Squadrons also began launching into the air, engaging the First Order fighters with every bit the same ferocity as their ground counterparts. All of the vehicles brandished the same strange symbol, a symbol Kylo had seen in passing during his research into Exegol: the serrated red diamond of the Sith Eternal.

“How in hell did Palpatine manage to find so many soldiers?!” shouted Trudgen in between slicing a leg off one enemy and chopping another’s arm off with his vibro-cleaver.

“These aren’t Imperial regulars or even Stormtroopers…” noted Vicrul, carving through a squadron of soldiers with a twirl of his plasma-bladed scythe. More red soldiers rushed toward him, shooting their blaster rifles pointblank. The blaster bolts slammed into Vicrul’s armor, leaving burn marks on his chest. Vicrul grunted through the pain and responded by cutting right through them. “…they have no fear of death.”

“That’s because they’re not part of the Imperial Army,” answered Kylo, “They’re cultists, zealots. They’re known as the Sith Eternal, caretakers of Exegol and Sith religious worshippers. They answer only to the ruling Sith Lord.”

Ushar slammed his kinetic war club into a pair of Sith soldiers, creating a concussive blast that sent both of his victims flying into the air. “Gotta give it to the old man,” he admitted, “He always has something under his sleeve.”

Surveying the battlefield, Kylo could barely make out anything coherent amid the chaos. First Order soldiers started taking cover behind their tanks, while Sith troopers set up firing positions behind rocks and wrecked vehicles, both sides exchanging in continuous fire. Walkers on both sides traded long-distance barrages with one another, and fighter crafts tussled in the angry sky above, the unlucky ones falling from the sky like meteorites. Looking beyond the mess of the battle, Kylo could see a structure just barely visible in front of the roiling storms and lightning charges. Just a few kilometers away was the Sith Citadel, standing ominously before him. The structure was massive, shaped antithetically to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, an inverted pyramid that dwarfed over any nearby natural rock formation.

Kylo spoke via his com link. “General Quinn, what’s the status on our advance?”

“Supreme Leader, we’ve managed secured a landing zone for our forces, but we can’t advance. The enemy are too numerous, they’re just throwing themselves onto our position without any consideration for their own safety. In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone fight with so much zealotry.”

“We’re dealing with fanatics, General. They will all give their lives to defend their Emperor without a second thought. Where is our fleet? Why aren’t they bombarding the enemy?”

“They can’t, my Lord. The planet’s atmosphere is making it impossible for them to lock onto the enemy positions.”

“Then have them fly into the atmosphere for a better visual! We’ve already destroyed their long range ion cannon. They should be able to fly in with minimal ground fire.”

“My Lord, the planet’s upper atmosphere is heavily ionized. If they fly in, they could very likely short circuit their systems. If they lose their engines, they might very well crash down. It’s too great a risk!”

“I’ll decide if it’s too great a risk, General! Now give the order! Bring the ships into the atmosphere and have them clear a path now!”

“But my Lord…”

“I SAID…give the order,” insisted Kylo.

“Understood, Supreme Leader,” replied a hesitant Quinn.

Kylo then added, “Order all our available walkers to move up, hold the enemy back until our ships enter the atmosphere.”

A pair of Y-85 Titans flew in low, each hastily dropping two MegaCaliber Six ‘Gorilla’ Walkers right before being shot down by enemy tanks. The gorillas detached from their transport ships just in time, falling a good seventy meters down and slamming hard on their feet, their reinforced legs absorbing the impact. The quadrupedal walkers began to rise up, returning to an upright position. The four Gorilla walkers began to move forward, as Kylo, his Knights and a contingent of several hundred First Order Stormtroopers began following behind. The Sith AT-ATs and tanks wasted no time firing upon the Gorilla Walkers, but their thicker armor proved heavily resilient even against a concentrated barrage. The Gorillas returned fire with their chin-mounted laser cannons and fuselage-mounted MegaCaliber Six turbo lasers. The heavier laser blasts punctured straight through the enemy AT-ATs’ chassis and co*ckpit. The smoldering Sith Walkers buckled, before falling to the ground, as the gorillas held firm.

“Stand your ground, and wait for air cover.” Commanded Kylo, deflecting any approaching blaster bolt. His Knights stood by his side, Ushar and Vicrul blocking blaster fire, while Trudgen simply took the bolts on his chest, his heavier armor sufficiently deflecting the laser fire.

“This is a very risky play, Kylo,” commented Ushar. “If our ships lose engines power, they can very well crash down on top of us.”

“I know what I’m doing, Ushar,” reproached Kylo. “Nothing’s gonna stop me from reaching that Citadel.”

“And what price are you willing to pay-”

“Any price I have to,” interrupted Kylo, deflecting another bolt back at an enemy Sith trooper. “I’ve come too far and given up too much to stop now-”

An overhead explosion diverted their attention, as the co*ckpit of a Gorilla Walker exploded from a strafing squad of enemy Tie Fighters. The headless walker began to sway back and forth, teetering left, on the verge of falling.

“Watch out!” shouted Kylo, as he and his soldiers ran out of the way of the falling hulk.

The gorilla walker smashed into the ground, sending debris and dust flying in all directions. Kylo reached out with the Force to stop some incoming shrapnel, then blew it and the blinding dust away with a sway of his hand. Ahead, he saw the advancing Sith army slowly gaining ground, on the verge of breaking through the First Order perimeter. In the battle above, First Order fighters began dropping from the sky, as more and more Sith fighters took flight, overtaking the air space. There were easily tens of thousands of ground soldiers between him and that Citadel, and more were swarming the surface. Kylo had underestimated the fighting strength of the Sith Eternal, their sheer tenacity, and their slavish devotion to protecting their master.

“Always another trick up your sleeve, Old Man,” whispered Kylo with begrudging admiration.

“They’re here!” shouted Trudgen, pointing to the sky.

Kylo looked up to the stormy sky, watching as the nose of a Resurgent-Class Star Destroyer breached through the lightning-charged clouds. The First Order ship parted through the ion storm, hovering a few thousand feet above the battlefield, its turbo laser batteries wasting no time in taking aim at the enemy below. All at once they fired, unleashing a volley of continuous laser blasts onto the Sith Eternal. The Sith ranks were decimated in seconds, as hundreds of soldiers and tanks were engulfed in a carpet of explosions. Sith fighters scrambled to attack the Destroyer, as more ground-based enemy turrets began shooting at the capital ship. The Star Destroyer jettisoned its own contingents of fighters and bombers, making sure to intercept the enemy, as a second Destroyer appeared through the clouds, firing on the enemy ground turrets. The tide was beginning to turn, as the Sith Eternal ceased their advance amidst the flurry of turbo laser fire.

“Get me to that Citadel!” shouted Kylo, his eyes fixed on his destination, so tantalizingly close to his prey.

***

Captain Phasma gripped her finger around the trigger of her F-11D blaster rifle, as she felt the boarding pod’s magnetic grapples latch onto the hull of the Eclipse. She looked behind to check on her squad of Death Troopers, all six of them ready with their E-11D blaster carbines. She could hear the laser drills starting to cut into the hull behind the door. Allegiant-General Hux’s orders were explicit: fight their way to the bridge and seize control of the ship at any cost. The plan had worked swimmingly thus far, using the Republic as a distraction, and springing an ambush on the Eclipse when it was at its most vulnerable, but that had been the easy part. Her part was the hard part, but hers was also the most critical. Even if Kylo’s surface attack were to fail, the First Order was dead set on capturing the Eclipse. Yet, she harbored reservations about the Tognath Pirates and Weequay mercenaries who were joining the boarding party. Many were armed with old blasters from the Clone War eras, with equipment and technology well over sixty years old. Still, Hux assured her that they would be useful for support, and if nothing else, would serve as cannon fodder to allow her and her teams to reach the bridge.

The laser cutters continued burning through the hull, as Phasma anxiously shifted on her feet, the red light on the door blinking more and more rapidly, indicating the cutting was nearly complete. The light turned solid, and then green, as the door dropped down, and the hull broke off. Immediately, Phasma rushed forward, her blaster in hand. They were not alone, as several squads of Imperial Stormtroopers were waiting for them and immediately began firing, taking up positions along the corridors. Phasma’s chromium armor repelled the blasts as she and her Death Troopers began stepping out of the pod one by one, positioning themselves and opening fire. Their superior armor and weapons easily dispatched the awaiting troops, but more Stormtroopers began to rush their positions. More boarding pods latched on, and began cutting their way through the hull as Phasma and the Death Troopers fanned out, covering either sides of the corridors, shooting anyone that approached, dropping dozens of troopers who were simply outmatched. No longer attempting to rush their position, the Imperials tried a different tactic. A half dozen Imperial Stormtroopers set up a defensive position at the far end of the corridor, erecting a tripod with a heavy blaster turret.

Phasma took notice and commanded, “Get to cover!”

The Stormtroopers opened fire with the heavy blaster turret, as Phasma and the Death Troopers took cover behind the grooves of the Corridor. The heavy turret continued its rapid fire, pinning down Phasma and her squad, not allowing them to approach or leave cover without getting shot. She knew better than to test her and her Death Troopers’ armor against heavy blaster fire.

“Damn it!” she hissed.

The other three pods finally finished cutting through, and three driodekas simultaneously rolled out into the corridor, rushing toward the enemy turret like self-propelled metallic balls. The Imperial troopers redirected their fire, managing to destroy one droid while still in its ball form. However, the other two quickly uncoiled, and activated their shield generators, creating a glowing shield bubble that enveloped its entire chassis. The heavy blaster bolts struck the shield bubbles with no effect, as the droidekas began firing back with their twin repeating blaster cannons, their phased shields allowed the droid blasters to fire outward unimpeded, pelting the Imperial defensive position, and dropping several Imperial troopers. The droidekas slowly moved forward on their tripodal legs, continuing to fire, doubling as a moving defensive barrier, as Tognath pirates and Weequay mercs began rushing out of the pods and into the corridor to join the fight. Phasma and her squad pulled out of cover and began advancing behind the droids. The opposing Stormtroopers promptly abandoned the turret and hastily retreated, overwhelmed by the advancing force.

“Not bad,” Phasma conceded to the commander of the Weequay mercenaries.

“Droids old, but they still deadly,” the Weequay commander replied in broken Basic, as the other Weequays quickly began slicing into the nearby terminals, hacking into the Eclipse’s network. “Will have schematics, security systems and enemy movements for you very soon.”

“Good,” replied Phasma, before regrouping with her Death Trooper Squad. She pulled out a communicator and activated it, revealing a hologram of Allegiant-General Hux.

“Captain Phasma, did you board the Eclipse?” he asked anxiously.

“Yes, Allegiant-General. The Weequay have already begun slicing into the ship’s network. Once they finish, we will make our way to the bridge. I must admit the destroyer droids were quite the benefit.”

“The Imperials may have been surprised by the destroyer droids, but they won’t be surprised next time. They’ll no doubt be arming themselves with heavy ion blasters now, so don’t expect to rely on those droids for very long. From what we’re seeing out here, more than two dozen pods managed to attach themselves across the Eclipse’s hull. That should confuse the enemy and buy you some time to make your way to the bridge. We take the bridge and we take control of the ship, but do it quickly, Captain. The enemy fleet is attempting to regroup with the Eclipse. They know what we’re planning. We and the Republic ships will hold them off as long as possible, but time is of the essence.”

“Understood sir. Any word from Kylo about the attack on Exegol?”

Hux scoffed, before briefly falling silent, as if considering what words to say. “Leave the Supreme Leader to his mission,” he said conceitedly, “We have our own mission to complete. Taking that Eclipse is our highest priority. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. And Captain,” added Hux, “if you’d be so good as to personally kill Allena Kafaldi, I would very much appreciate it. She was always Pryde’s favorite, after all.”

“And if she and the bridge crew choose to surrender, sir?”

“She won’t, and neither will anyone on that bridge. They will fight you to the bitter end, any way they can. Kill everyone on that bridge, Captain, and notify me when it’s over.”

Chapter 13: Chapter 12

Chapter Text

Rey had no idea what to do. There was no answer to this riddle, no lesson she could draw from. The Sith did not care for the well-being of others, did not concern themselves with collateral damage or the lives of the weak. A true Sith would simply let her die, but Rey would not. Not after what happened to her aunt, but for the moment, Rey could only stand by and watch helplessly as her only surviving relative was being held at gunpoint.

“Rey? What’s going on?” asked Skyla hysterically. “What’s happening? Who are these people? Why are they after you?”

Rey hesitated to answer, unsure of what to say, or how much. Her cousin Skyla couldn’t possibly have guessed what was going on, why this was happening, or even who she really was, and Rey was not eager to give her those answers. A small part of her treasured the idea that at least one person didn’t know her real self, bought the lie she told, the lies she tried to tell herself.

“You really don’t know, girl?” asked Kuruk, with a maniacal chuckle, “You had no idea the infamous Darth Ira was sitting at your kitchen table?”

“What?” babbled an astonished Skyla. “No, you have the wrong person-”

“Oh, she’s definitely the right person,” interrupted Kuruk, digging the barrel of his pistol painfully against Skyla’s temple. “The most wanted woman in the Republic, and you didn’t even know it.”

“You’re wrong! Rey tell him, tell him that you aren’t who he thinks you are!”

Rey wanted nothing more than for Skyla’s words to be true, but as much as she wanted, she could not deny it any further.

“Rey?” asked Skyla, after a moment too long of hesitation.

“Who do you think she is?” mocked Kuruk, “Some scavenger rat? Some miner or explorer? You have no idea who you invited into your home, girl.”

“Rey, is it true?” asked Skyla, her eyes hurtful.

“Yes…” Rey breathed, “…it’s true. I go by the name of Darth Ira.”

Rey saw her cousin’s face sank, the revelation cutting deep. “Then the story about you being an explorer, about the Trilon Sector, everything…” uttered Skyla, “…was a lie?”

“Lying is what she does best,” replied Kuruk, before instructing Rey, “Toss your saber to the ground, raise your hands up and take three steps back from it.”

Rey complied, dropping her lightsaber to the ground, before raising her hands and taking three steps back.

“You killed my brothers,” said Kuruk, “It’s time I return the favor.”

Rey chastised, “Are you such a coward that you have to hide behind an innocent girl?”

“The Knights of Ren do what is necessary, no matter what it costs.”

“You mean you do what your master tells you,” she retorted, “he sent you to your deaths. Let her go and I’ll let you walk away from this.”

“Like hell you will,” spat Kuruk, taking his other hand and pressing a button on his wrist gauntlet, “I know better than to think you’d let me walk away. The way I see it, you have a choice to make, you can make a move and try to kill me before I pull this trigger, but we both know that even you aren’t that fast. Or if you really care about this girl’s safety, you will let me take my shot. It’s your choice, Sith. Unless you want another dead woman on your hands!”

“Another?” asked Skyla, the meaning behind those words sinking in, “Where’s my mother? Rey, what did you do?!”

“Shut up!” shouted Kuruk, before looking back at Rey, “Make your choice, Sith! Her life or yours!”

Rey breathed heavily, and looked again at Skyla’s face. She was confused, unsure, mixed with both anger and fear. Rey fought against every instinct she had to go for the saber, to reach out with the Force and disarm Kuruk of his blaster, or push him away, or pull Skyla away from him, but Kuruk was guarding himself well, his mental acuity well-tuned and his twitchy trigger finger begging for an excuse. Any ploy with the Force would likely end one way. He’d sense it before she could act on it, and Skyla would pay the price. Rey already had more than enough guilt for her to stomach. She would not risk her cousin’s life. There was only one way.

“Alright, you coward…” resigned Rey, lowering her hands to her side, “Take your shot.”

Kuruk pulled his blaster away from Skyla’s head and pointed it directly at Rey’s head, but before he could line up his shot, an angry Skyla frantically grabbed for the blaster pistol, surprising Kuruk and causing him to prematurely pull the trigger. The blaster bolt hit Rey in her lower ribcage, causing her to fall back and coil in pain. Rey screamed out in agony, only to look back and see Skya getting pushed to the ground, Kuruk standing over her with his pistol trained at her head.

“Stupid girl…” insulted Kuruk, “…you had your chance.”

Rey attempted to reach out with the Force, but the fresh blaster wound had weakened her. She could not concentrate, nor pierce through Kuruk’s defenses. In response, Kuruk reached out with his own free hand, initiating a Force attack of his own, freezing Rey in place. Whereas before Rey would have simply overpowered it, in her wounded condition, she found herself unable to break free.

“Now neither of you are getting out of this alive,” declared Kuruk, looking back at a downed Skyla, once again taking aim.

“No!” screamed Rey, once again facing the fact that she was about to watch another member of her family die.

But just as Kuruk was about to pull the trigger, the gun was ripped from his hand. The weapon flew away from Kuruk, towards the destroyed family house, and was caught by a wounded Layla, standing dubiously above the rubble. She was visibly hurt, her left arm dangling and severely burned, but she was still very much alive. She caught the blaster with her good hand and aimed it back a Kuruk, her eyes emblazoned with rage.

Kuruk craned his neck in genuine surprise, but his surprise paled in comparison to Rey’s, who looked on slack jawed. Not only was her aunt alive, but she knew the ways of the Force, and by Rey’s gauging, she seemed well attuned to it. Rey had so many questions, but she knew now was definitely not the time for them.

“Ma…” uttered a bewildered Skyla, in complete disbelief as to what she just saw.

“Get away from my daughter!” warned Layla. “Leave now!”

“Who are you people?” asked Kuruk, slowly reaching for his wrist gauntlet, “Who are you to her?”

“I said leave now!” repeated Layla.

Kuruk clicked a button on his gauntlet and immediately bolted towards her. Layla opened fire with the blaster, the first shot grazing Kuruk’s helmet. Kuruk leapt into the air, avoiding two more of Layla’s shots, as he fluidly drew a light-dagger from his belt buckle, landing directly behind her. Layla dropped the blaster, as Kuruk swiped at her with his dagger. Layla turned around and raised her hands up, stopping the blow with the Force.

“Not bad…” complimented Kuruk, before reaching out with his other hand, lifting Layla by the throat off the ground. “…but not good enough.”

Rey watched as Kuruk tightened his grip around Layla’s throat, noticing that his hold on her wound had diminished. He was too distracted, too busy dealing with her aunt to give Rey the proper concentration he needed. Her window had opened. With every ounce of strength and concentration Rey could muster, she stretched out her hand, and pushed Kuruk away from Layla, slamming him violently into the neighboring building, smashing him straight through the wall with such force that the building collapsed in on itself. Rey mustered back to her feet, doing her best to ignore the pain, watching as Skyla rushed to her mother.

“Get away!” Rey ordered the two of them, nursing her ribs as she picked up her lightsaber, “I’m going to finish this!”

Rey laboriously walked over to Kuruk, who was beginning to stir from the rubble. The crash and the toppled rubble had clearly injured him: his helmet half destroyed, part of his face exposed and bloodied, his armor mangled. Rey activated her lightsaber as she continued trudging toward him, fighting the searing pain from her blaster wound, but before she could reach him, she felt a tingling in her mind, her senses screaming out to her, her instincts demanding her to move, to get off the dirt road and run into the nearest adjacent alleyway. She learned long ago not to question her instincts, and immediately dashed, the Force aiding her speed, as a volley of heavy blasters rained down on her. The blasts left impact craters where she stood a split second before, as the firing continued, following her into the alleyway, destroying the nearby buildings. Rey only just managed to avoid the attack, feeling the heat of the explosions and smaller pieces of rubble spraying her back. Her ears heard the screeching sound of a ship engine, compelling her to look up just in time to see the silhouette of a ship flying overhead, the Knife-9. The ship finished its strafing run and ceased firing, banking sharply to the left, and looping back around, decelerating until it came to a complete stop, hovering ten feet directly above Kuruk. The ship’s bay doors opened and Kuruk wasted no time jumping on board, the doors closing behind him. As quickly as it appeared, the Knife-9 immediately bolted high into the sky and out of sight into the clouds. Kuruk had escaped.

“Coward…” muttered Rey in disgust, deactivating her lightsaber, suddenly finding it difficult to even stand.

The adrenaline from battle had begun to wear off, exhaustion setting in. She felt the fire in her lungs, the fatigue in her muscles, the pain both in her shoulder and her ribcage, the searing flesh left from the blaster shots, and her raw emotional state had all taken a serious toll. Rey fell to her knees, clutching at her wounded ribs, trying her hardest to concentrate, to snuff out the pain.

“Rey!” she heard the voice of her cousin Skyla, running over to her.

“Skyla…” greeted Rey in a pained voice, “…are you hurt?”

“No,” said Skyla, taking Rey by the hand.

“Your mother?” she asked, “How is she?”

“She’s alive. She’s at home, or what’s left of it.”

“I have to see her.”

“Rey, you’re hurt. You need help.”

“I’m fine…” she dismissed, “I have to speak with her.”

Rey rose back up to her feet, and began walking back, almost stumbling over. Her cousin caught her, propping her up over her shoulder, assisting her as she walked.

“You’re with the Empire,” Skyla said matter-of-factly.

Rey sighed, “Yes…”

“Then you’re the one they’re all talking about…the one they’re all afraid of.”

“Yes…” she admitted, feeling a weight lifting off her shoulders. The truth felt alleviating.

“Are you really the monster they say you are?” asked Skyla with a hint of apprehension.

Rey hesitated as she and her cousin walked past the bodies of the fallen Knights of Ren. Cardo and Ap’lex were lying in the dirt, mangled and in pieces. Rey felt repulsed at the sight, uncomfortably taking in her work, the horrid picture of carnage inspired by her wrath. She had thought she lost her aunt, thought she had lost someone else important to her. She allowed herself to go to a place she did not want to go, and she felt its allure, its pull. It was something a Sith would revel in, something she never wanted to feel again. She then saw the ghost of Luke standing next to them, the look on his face a mix of concern and disappointment. Rey didn’t know why it bothered her to see him look at her like that, but it did, more than it had any reason to.

“Not anymore,” she replied.

They reached what was left of the house, the side wall and half of the roof completely collapsed. As they walked through what was left of the kitchen, they made their way to the bedroom where they found Layla, lying on the bed.

“You’re alive…” she spoke in a startled tone.

“Disappointed?” asked Rey.

“Surprised,” she corrected, “but maybe I shouldn’t be. You’re a survivor, after all.”

Rey sat down in a nearby chair, as Skyla rushed to treat her wounds with bacta spray. Rey leaned back on the chair, letting the bacta slowly repair her injuries, before addressing her aunt, “Apparently, survival is a talent that we have in common. As is being Force sensitive. I saw what you did with Kuruk, saw you rip the gun out of his hand. I thought I had all the answers, but now I have even more questions.”

Layla’s eyes shifted, clearly uncomfortable, but whether it was on account of her injuries or Rey’s questioning she could not discern. “I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

“You both do,” said Skyla, finished treating the wounds, before asking Rey, “You weren’t raised on Burnin Konn, were you? Your parents didn’t die there. I didn’t pick up on it before, but you two know each other, don’t you?”

“Yes,” replied Rey.

“You’ve been here before, to this planet, to this house.”

“Yes,” acknowledged Rey. “When I was very young, before you were born.”

“So you lied about everything.”

“We both lied, Skyla,” confessed Layla, propping herself up against the bed rest, “It’s time you know the truth.”

***

The lead Star Destroyer listed back and forth as it endured a dual barrage of enemy ground fire and static discharges from the ion storm above. The planet’s atmosphere had been a nightmare to First Order vehicles, shorting out various systems at the most inopportune times, while the Sith Eternal vehicles appeared completely immune, likely specially shielded against the planet’s ionic atmospherics. The Star Destroyers were getting the worst of it. Not only were their shields heavily damaged passing through the ion storm, but they were also dealing with constant electrical strikes from the clouds above, as they were forced to remain at fairly high altitudes to best provide air support. After another heavy electrical strike, the Star Destroyer lost power to its repulsorlifts, causing the entire ship to fall out of the sky like a stone, cratering hard onto the black desert. The impact sent out a shockwave of dust that completely rocked the battlefield and everyone on it. Kylo covered his face, protecting himself from the pelting dust, growing all the more impatient with their lack of progress.

“What don’t you understand about my orders, General Quinn?!” yelled Kylo into his communicator, “I said I want that Citadel breached and I want it done now!”

“Supreme Leader, you’re too far ahead. We can’t reach your position. The enemy airspace is too hot, and we’ve already lost one Star Destroyer! You must retreat and rejoin the bulk of our ground force!”

“I’m not going to retreat when I’m knocking on Palpatine’s door, General! Send every bomber you have to unload just north of my position!”

“But my lord!”

“Just do it!” hollered Kylo, shutting off the communicator, just as Vicrul came up behind him.

“We can’t hold this position for much longer!” shouted Vicrul over the noise of the battlefield. We need to pull back!”

“No!” ordered Kylo. “I’ve ordered an airstrike just ahead of us. Order the men to take cover!”

The familiar roar of P-s4 Twin ion engines approached, as Kylo looked up to see a large cluster of First Order Tie Bombers approaching. Sith Eternal ground cannons and Tie fighters attempted to intercept, destroying several bombers, but the rest continued to make a beeline for the Citadel. Flying directly over them, the remaining Tie Bombers unloaded their payload of proton bombs from their bomb chutes. The explosion rang in Kylo’s ears as the carpet bomb hit its mark, blasting the main entrance of the Sith Citadel. The ancient stone shattered in the wake of the explosions, debris scattering into the air, as the bombers disengaged from their strafing run. Kylo and his fellow Knights braced themselves, the blast jolting his teeth, the hot gust of air whooshing over them. After the explosions died out, and the smoke began to clear, Kylo saw a sizable hole in the wall of the Citadel.

“Forward!” shouted Kylo, wasting no time running up the stoned staircase towards the Citadel superstructure.

Kylo was desperate to reach the breach, his knights flanking him, and a host of Stormtroopers following behind him. Unsurprisingly, their advance was met with fierce resistance, as a contingent of Sith Troopers began pouring out of the Citadel, trying to halt them at the staircase. Kylo blocked incoming fire, lunging forward at incredible speed, hacking away at every Sith Trooper unlucky enough to stand in front of him, plowing forward without even a thought as to how close or far his own men were to him. He passed through the breach and inside the megalithic Citadel, where even more soldiers were lying in wait. Harnessing his rage, Kylo smashed his fist into the ground, delivering a Force shockwave that sent the bulk of them flying back. Vicrul and Ushar came up behind Kylo, leaping over him and slamming their weapons into the discombobulated Sith Soldiers. Trudgen followed up behind them, slicing away with his vibro-cleaver, allowing Kylo a moment to look around the massive interior. The building was dimly lit, and curiously empty, apart from a handful of monolithic Sith statues and carved reliefs of ancient Sith texts.

Where are you, old man?” he wondered, taking a second to feel his surroundings with the Force. “Below us,” he said, “There must be an elevator shaft that takes us down into the center of the planet. That’s where he’s hiding.”

“Then let’s not keep him waiting!” shouted Trudgen, cutting through another enemy soldier, as the group of them fought their way further inside.

Kylo’s Stormtrooper escorts finally joined up with them, engaging the Sith Troopers and diverting the enemy’s attention. Amid the fray, Kylo and his Knights took the liberty to fight their way further into the center of the Citadel, where, as Kylo suspected, they found an ancient stone platform. Kylo and his Knights quickly overtook a handful of guards, before securing the platform and taking a closer look. The platform had no control panels of any kind, but Kylo quickly deduced that it was not something that could be operated with technology, but by a nudge of the Force. With a quick thought, Kylo activated the ancient platform, causing the floor beneath their feet to shift and retract, revealing a pit underneath. The four of them jumped onto the platform as it dislodged from the main floor, hovering in mid-air momentarily before it slowly began making its descent down the pit, its rate of descent increasing by the second.

There was little to see at first, the pit blanketed in an almost otherworldly veil of shadow, the only sources of light emanating from their weapons. Before long, however, the narrow pit gave way to a massive underground cavern, far larger and older than even the Citadel above it. Kylo began to discern the sheer scale of the locale, a huge cavern dotted with orbital stations and shipyards. It almost seemed as if the entire planet had been hollowed out, making room for webs of massive floating stations and dockyards beneath the surface. Suspended along the station modules and ramparts were hundreds of Tie Fighters and dozens of Star Destroyers currently under construction. The cavern itself was propped up by a series of ornate megalithic stone pillars stretching miles from top to bottom of the cavern, carved in the likeness of ancient Sith warriors.

“By the Shadow, are you seeing this?” asked Vicrul in sheer astonishment.

“Palpatine’s been busy,” noted Ushar, before pointing out to something behind one of the pillars, “Look there.”

The other three looked in that direction, and their eyes saw something truly disturbing, a new Eclipse Super Star Destroyer, currently under construction. The ship looked only about half finished, but it was already massive, dwarfing everything else in the area.

“As if two of those things aren’t bad enough,” gasped Trudgen.

Despite what was said in his grandfather’s holocrons, Kylo did not fully understand what Exegol really was and what it stood for until now. It wasn’t just another stronghold, but rather it was a refuge for those devoted to the Sith teachings, a haven of dark knowledge and technology, where those who worshipped the Dark Side could congregate and survive. He recalled the Sith writings and glyphs carved into the walls of the Citadel, and now seeing the pillars, he noticed more of them. The entire history of the Sith, its teachings, its secrets had been carved and preserved in the very rock of this planet, on the very walls of its structures, there for anyone clever and insidious enough to master. Its massive hidden facilities, though clearly old, had been upgraded to modern standards, able to churn out enough weapons and ships to field an armada. Exegol was more than just another base. It was a bastion of the Sith, a final refuge from which to recover and rebuild in secret should the Order itself be at the brink of destruction. Kylo could only fathom how many Sith Lords passed through here, how many times a Sith Master or an apprentice came to this very spot, their resolve renewed after looking upon the gift given to them by their forebears, a means of allowing them to rise up centuries or even millenniums later, like a thing that would not die, no matter how badly it needed to.

“He has to be stopped,” uttered Kylo, “This must all be stopped.”

The platform continued its descent, passing through a shaft carved in the cavern’s bedrock, and once again the party was enveloped in darkness. Kylo took in a heavy breath, noting the stale air and the lingering sense of death. This was the oldest part of the planet, almost primordial. The Force felt warped here, full of malice, spite, rot and decay. He had sensed it before he even set foot on Exegol. He was feeling it more with every second, and now it was overwhelming. It felt as if they were approaching a nexus of the Dark Side, a rotting poisonous dark heart that despite an eternity of time, refused to give out, as if every heartbeat was an act of defiance against nature.

“You feel it, don’t you boy?” Kylo could hear Palpatine inside his head. “The power of this place. The last stronghold of the Sith Order. It wasn’t made by any one Sith, but by many at different times throughout the order’s history, an amalgam of the Order’s ambition and power. It has long served a place of refuge for those who deem to carry the mantle, protected and stewarded by the ever faithful Sith Eternal. It has survived the Sith Civil Wars, the Jedi purges, Revan’s turn, the Brotherhood of Darkness, the demise of Valkorion and Zakuul, and even the death of Darth Bane. It has endured the test of time, surviving every defeat the Sith have ever suffered, and has enabled the next generation to emerge even stronger. Where all other Sith worlds fell, this one stands eternal.”

“I feel nothing but rot and death here, old man,” Kylo challenged out loud.

“Who you talking to?” asked a confused Trudgen.

“Quiet, let him speak,” reprimanded Vicrul, having some idea.

“Just like you and your Order, this place is a dying thing, clinging to the past, desperate to be part of a future that has passed you by. You can send as many legions of soldiers you have, as many cultists and fanatics you can convince to die for you, but it won’t be enough,” continued Kylo, “That day on the Supremacy, I promised myself I’d find you, no matter how far you ran, or how well you hid. I swore that I’d kill you, and that I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way.”

“You think me trapped, boy?” asked Palpatine peevishly, “You think a pretender can snuff out the flame of the Sith? Just like Snoke, you are nothing more than a petulant child playing with power beyond your comprehension. You are not even worthy of your own name, let alone the title of Sith, and just like your master, you will pay for your transgression with your life. Now you will suffer my wrath.”

“No more hiding old man! Show your face!”

“As always you fail to see what’s in front of your eyes! The Sith are eternal, Ren. You and your friends will be the ones who die today…”

The platform stopped, the sound of grinding stone indicating that it had finally reached the bottom of what appeared to be an inner sanctum of some kind. Kylo and his knights looked around, using their weapons for light as they slowly began fanning out, but the light from their weapons were almost completely snuffed out by the choking darkness, not able to even see more than two feet in front of them. Kylo slowly began to step forward, readying his cross-saber with both hands, hearing only the sound of their own footsteps against the stone floor.

“I don’t like this…” muttered Trudgen. “…if I didn’t know better, I’d say this was a-”

All at once and with an eerie synchronicity, a forest of lightsabers sprang to life, lighting up the room in a blood red glow. No less than thirty single-hilted lightsabers activated, held by men and women dressed in identical form fitting suits of black and red plated plastoid armor, their chest pieces emblazoned with a symbol, but not the jagged diamond symbol of the Sith Eternal. Instead, it was the symbol of the blazing Red Sun, the ancient symbol of the Sith Order.

“…trap.” finished Trudgen, as the four knights bunched up, their backs to each other, holding up their weapons, as these new assailants slowly began to move towards them with their sabers drawn. The four were completely surrounded.

“Sith Acolytes,” spoke Kylo.

“And lots of them,” noted Vicrul.

“Good old Palpatine,” muttered Trudgen sarcastically, “…saving the best for last…”

***

It was an unmitigated disaster in every sense of the word. Alarms were tripping in more than a half dozen sections and reports were flooding in about firefights escalating throughout the Eclipse. This strange mob of First Order insurgents, pirates, and battle droids had managed to latch onto the hull like mynocs, boring their way in and wreaking havoc every way they could. Admiral Kafaldi looked on from the bridge, disseminating orders to her bridge crew, who were having their hands full trying to maintain some semblance of order. The pirate slicers had already begun hacking into the ship’s closed network, preventing any attempts to seal off and trap the boarding parties. They also had the foresight to disrupt communications, making it difficult to contact and mobilize security details. The added headache of battle droids among their ranks made things even more difficult.

“This is getting better by the minute,” she uttered sarcastically, turning to her lieutenant, “Where are they now?”

“Sections 2, 4, 7, 12, and 18 so far, captain. We’ve lost two security detachments so far, and four more are pulling back.”

“And where’s Phasma?”

“Section 12, heading towards the bridge.”

Security camera footage came on screen, showing Phasma and her squad of Death Troopers blasting their way through a security detachment. Kafaldi couldn’t help but swallow nervously at the sight, and the presence of the Tognath pirates, and the Weequay mercenaries were not helping.

There’s no way… she thought, a sobering hint of doubt creeping up her in mind. She saw the signs, the flow of battle, the directions the boarding parties were taking, how each group was fighting their way room by room, section by section, and converging toward a single location. Hers.

“Do they honestly think they can take the bridge?” she asked in disbelief, “Send more security details to intercept her. And why haven’t we been able to jam their battle droids yet?”

“The enemy Weequays are blocking our jamming efforts. They’re overriding our socketguard fail-safes.”

“Seventy year-old relics, and we can’t even shut them down?!” she railed, before forcing herself to speak calmly, “Make sure the squads are equipped with heavy ion blasters and grenades, and prioritize the destroyer droids. Now what’s happening with the battle outside?”

“The Republic has repositioned their ships in an attempt to box us in. They’ve cut us off from the rest of our fleet. Our Star Destroyers are attempting to break through, but the Republic Starhawks are stifling their advance.”

“Leaving us to fend off the First Order without any support,” noted Kafaldi. Was this your plan all along, Hux? “Prepare the axial laser, Lieutenant. They won’t fire on us with their own people on board. If they’re so desperate to take this ship in one piece, then let’s take advantage of that and knock out some high value targets. Target the second Mandator and fire when the cannon is charged.”

The Lieutenant shook his head frustratingly, “Captain, we’ve lost connection with the axial cannon. They’ve severed our link to it.”

“Of course they have,” said Kafaldi, rolling her eyes. “What still works? Do we have any control over this ship whatsoever?!”

“Navigation and turbo laser batteries are still operational.”

“Then let’s be sure to use them. Move us to Sector 5. Bring us right along that cluster of Starhawks and bring our broadside to bear.”

The Eclipse advanced, its hulking frame coming right alongside the Republic’s makeshift blockade. The Eclipse’s starboard batteries unloaded on three hapless Republic Starhawks, firing full broadside into all three ships simultaneously, obliterating them all in about ten seconds.

“That should put a wrinkle in their plans,” said Kafaldi, looking over the battle map. The destruction of the three Starhawks created gaping hole in the Republic’s blockade, providing Kafaldi the opening she needed, “Contact the Star Destroyers Reckoner and Triumph. Order them to regroup on our location immediately. If they want the Empire’s most prized warship so bad, then they’ll have to take it over my dead body…”

Chapter 14: Chapter 13

Chapter Text

It was a difficult conversation for the three of them. Divulging the truth to her cousin was a bitter moment for Rey as she confessed who she really was, her identity as Darth Ira, and her allegiance to the Empire. Most bitterly of all, she revealed her childhood here in this house, and confessed her actions that killed her parents in a fit of rage. By the end of it, Skyla only had a look of disgust, looking at both of them harshly.

Skyla turned to her mother, and demanded, “Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this? Why did you lie about Uncle Jendan and Aunt Skyla? About them living on the frontier and dying in an accident?”

“I lied because I wanted to spare myself the pain, and spare you the ugly truth about our family,” answered Layla, “I never wanted you to know any of it, and if I had my way, you still wouldn’t know.”

“Why? To protect me or yourself?” challenged Skyla. “Because you didn’t want me to know you betrayed Aunt Skyla’s trust and sold my cousin into slavery? That her fate in bondage paid to pay for our survival?”

“She had good reason,” defended Rey.

Skyla looked back at Rey, her eyes full of contempt, “And what about you? Everything you told me was a lie. Now you’re saying you killed your own parents?”

“Yes…I did. I did it in a blind rage, while attempting to kill your mother - and you while you were still in her womb. I became a danger to her and to you. That’s why she left me on Jakku.”

“And that’s where the Emperor found you and trained you to become a Sith?” asked Skyla warily.

“Yes,” spoked Rey, “I became a Sith Acolyte, and then his apprentice.”

“Why did you come back here? What were you planning on doing?”

“I came back here to face a past that haunted me. This place was the start of a harrowing life’s journey for me, and I wanted to find answers about what really happened,” answered Rey, shifting her gaze to her Aunt Layla, “Just when I thought I found closure, when I thought I learned what I needed to know, I see you alive, and I find myself with more questions. This whole time I thought I was the only one in our family who could feel the Force, but that’s clearly not the case. It’s strong with you. You survived a blast that should have killed a normal person, and you managed to stop a deathblow from Ren’s Knight mid swing. Those are no small feats, especially someone without formal training. How long have you been like this?”

“I hoped I never had to tell anyone this…” Layla sighed, “…since I turned fourteen. It was so subtle at first, like a whisper in the wind. I heard voices even though nobody spoke, and realized I could listen to people’s thoughts. Soon after I began to see things, events that hadn’t happened, things that would eventually come true. Then I found I could move things without touching them, sometimes by accident. I was so terrified, I didn’t tell anyone, not my parents, not even my own sister. I ignored it, refused to listen to it, but it grew louder and louder.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? Go out and find help?” Rey asked.

“What help?” she laughed, “What kind of help can a poor mid-rim girl expect? What’s the best that could happen, to get snapped up by those crazy wizards like you were? To get brainwashed and tortured, to choose between becoming a stoic or a psychopath? What kind of choice is that? This power, this thing, it isn’t natural. Normal people are afraid of it, and they should be. It breeds monsters. The Jedi, the Sith -call them whatever you want – they’re all monsters in different ways. They inflict pain on others, and they hide behind their codes. This thing you call the Force, it’s not meant for normal people. It’s not something to be worshipped or wielded. There’s nothing holy about it. It’s like a parasite that sinks its talons into you, burrows into your mind and puts thoughts in your head. It starts innocently enough, but the more you use it, the more you cease to resist it, the more it changes you, the more you come to depend on it, until you’re a slave to it, and before you know it, it’ll lead you down a path of suffering, for you or the people around you. And if you dare turn away from it, shut it out, or bottle it in, it’ll haunt you…until it finally breaks you.”

Rey squinted, her aunt’s words sounding all too familiar, mirroring her own unvoiced fears, “And yet you carried on…so many years without it. How did you endure it?”

“I found a reason to…” Layla confessed. “I found Norrin. I found someone who loved me, I found someone who took that pain away. He was the reason I needed to keep going, to wake up and live my life. And I was happy until…the day he died, I almost gave in to despair, I thought I couldn’t go on, but when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to keep going. Because that’s what a mother does for her child.”

Rey glanced over to her cousin Skyla, her face on the verge of tears after hearing her mother’s words.

“You never told anyone?” asked Skyla.

Layla shook her head, “Not even your father. I learned to be very good at hiding it.”

The new revelation put Rey on edge. By every account, Layla appeared to be speaking from the heart, but something about her words did not sit well with Rey. She had discovered something that her aunt did not wish revealed, never would have revealed had the circ*mstances been different, and it colored her story. Her aunt had lied, a lie by omission, but a lie nonetheless. Rey wondered what else she had to hide.

“You knew…” Rey pointed out, “You knew what I had, you knew what it was, but you never told me, you never told my parents. Why didn’t you?”

“I couldn’t without revealing the truth. I was recently widowed, living on your parents’ charity. I didn’t want them to think I was a-”

“A monster? Like me?” snapped Rey.

“I was ashamed, Rey,” she said defensively, her eyes shifty, beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. “I wasn’t brave enough to tell the truth…until now.”

Rey felt her emotions beginning to stir, finding her aunt’s words and tone becoming more and more suspicious. She could see the signs, the telltale indications of someone hiding something. She wasn’t as confident or as assured as before. It was almost as if she had unexpectedly veered off a well-rehearsed script and was suddenly forced to improvise.

“If you had this power…why didn’t you try and stop me that day?”

Layla sighed, “What could I have done, Rey? You were so much stronger than me, even as a little girl. That power coursed through you so potently, you took to it like a fish to water. Unlike me, you had no fear of it. You saw it as a plaything, a toy. You did things on a whim that required tremendous effort from me. I knew that at some point, you would do something horrible. I warned your mother and father, but your father didn’t listen. He refused to see what was right in front of his face.”

“Just like you…” uttered a voice emanating from inside Rey’s mind, causing Rey to almost jump.

“Master…” she mentally replied back, making a point to appear outwardly stoic. She concentrated, her time appearing to slow, as she psychically conversed with her master.

“So close to the truth and yet you still can’t see it”, continued Palpatine. “When will you open your eyes, my girl?”

Rey did everything she could not to panic, a sudden rush of guilt for leaving her post under false pretenses, for leaving the most important person in her life at risk of Kylo’s wrath. “Forgive me, Master. I-”

“I know why you’re there, child,” he cut in, “how you were deceived by Skywalker, and brought here in search of answers. Answers to questions that have haunted you all your life. Answers you once knew, but have forgotten.”

“I found my answers,” she answered dejectedly, “and now I wish I didn’t. All along I knew deep down, but I wanted so desperately to prove myself wrong, to prove everybody that I wasn’t the monster they say I am.”

“The strong do not concern themselves with opinions of the weak, girl. That is the one lesson you have yet to learn. A lesson you will learn today.”

“What lesson?” she asked, holding back tears, “There’s nothing more to learn, there’s nothing more to say. I’m a monster. That’s what I am. That’s what we are.”

“The only monster here is the woman before you, this woman who claims to be your blood, the woman you’ve rightfully hated and mistrusted the moment you laid eyes on her. She has been lying to you from the beginning. They’ve all been lying to you.”

Rey began to protest, “No, I saw the vision, I remembered-”

“You saw what Skywalker wanted you to see. You were fed a well-crafted lie in an attempt to turn you away from your rightful path of power, away from your true destiny.”

Rey paused in confusion, a sudden sense of panic overtaking her, a torrent of emotions beginning to swell, “How can that be?”

“Trust your instincts, girl. You have good reason to mistrust your aunt. Your real mistake was trusting Skywalker. He tempted you with a promise of redemption, but all he wanted was to lure you away from Exegol while his nephew attempts to finish me.”

“But that’s not…I saw-”

“Is it so farfetched to think the wise and good natured spirit of Skywalker would be dishonest with you? That he would have you believe you are like him? Weak, like the rest of his Order and his accursed family? Is it impossible to believe that the Jedi would hide away the truth to suit their own needs, or to tamper with the thoughts and memories of their oldest enemies? They have done it before, you know that better than anyone. Open your eyes. He is lying to you because he knows what will happen if you discover the truth. He wants to keep you weak, to deny you what is rightfully yours, to give his family and the Republic a fighting chance against us. Do not be deceived. Gaze into your aunt’s thoughts, look into her memories, see the truth for yourself…”

His echoing voice retreated from Rey’s mind, and with her communion with her master severed, she found herself sitting in front of her family.

“Rey?” asked her cousin Skyla, nudging her shoulder, “Are you alright? You started zoning out.”

With a wave of her hand, Rey placed her cousin in a deep sleep. Rey quickly stood up and caught her, placing her gently down onto the chair.

A shocked Layla protested, “Rey, what are you-”

“She’s fine,” Rey cut in, her voice grim, “She shouldn’t see this…I’m going to ask you one last time - what really happened that day?”

“I already told you-” she began, but before she could say another word, Layla grimaced in pain.

“Did you expect me to let it slide? Your powers with the Force? You’re a very good liar. I imagine you’ve practiced it in the mirror a thousand times, trying to convince yourself you’re not to blame…but you revealed more than you wanted to. You showed me your knowledge with the Force, and that got me suspicious. When I started questioning you about your power, I could see the cracks in your story beginning to form. The shifting eyes, the panicked speech, the telltale signs of a liar. I would know, and that makes me wonder what else you’re keeping from me.”

“Rey, I told you the truth-”

“Stop lying to me!” shouted Rey, raising her hand, bringing it closer to her aunt’s face, reaching into her mind. Rey could feel her resist her attempt, her mental defenses sharp and stronger than anticipated, but not strong enough to resist a fully trained Sith. “Stop fighting, it’ll only make it worse. One way or another I will get what I want.”

Rey closed her eyes, and after a few moments scouring her mind, she found the memory she was looking for. She delved further, finding herself in a familiar place in a familiar time, as she stood across the room seeing her parents shouting at each other, and her aunt cradling her unborn child in her belly. Rey once again saw the despair and anger in Layla’s eyes, but this time she could sense her thoughts, sense the building rage, the feeling of betrayal, followed by an eerie calm. Rey felt the power beginning to swell around her, causing the entire room to shake.

It was you… Rey thought, watching as the memory played out. She felt her aunt reaching out with the Force, kinetic energy building up, looming over her parents like an unseen shadow, ready to crush them at the flicker of a thought.

I sensed it… Rey realized, turning to the doorway, watching her younger self enter the room. …I tried to stop you. She saw her entrance play out as before, barging in, sights set on her aunt, raising her hand and lifting Layla up by her throat. As before, her parents crowded her younger self, begging her to put her aunt down. This time, however, Rey looked back to her aunt and saw a very different look on her face than before. She had venom in her eyes, and dark thoughts in her head, and brewing within those thoughts was a devious plan.

Rey looked back to her parents as they grabbed her and tried to stop her, unaware of the threat that was building right in front of them. The young girl was startled by her parents, her concentration momentarily breaking, losing her hold on Layla just long enough to allow her aunt to unleash her power on the three of them. A wave of Force energy shot out from her, shaking the entire house, strong enough to kill. Without thinking, acting out on pure instinct, the young girl put her hands up, her own power slicing through Layla’s like a rock splitting a crashing tidal wave, but her parents were not so fortunate, caught up in the blast, sending them both careening into the nearby wall with bone crushing force, snuffing out their lives.

“It was you all along…” Rey uttered, as she opened her eyes, letting go of her aunt’s mind.

Layla slumped over, trying to shake off residual pain in her head, before focusing back to Rey, eyes staring daggers at her, “What did you see?”

“The truth…”answered Rey coldly.

Layla sighed in resignation, “So now you finally know the truth. I almost fooled you.”

“You killed them both.”

“A shame I didn’t kill you too. I would have done the galaxy a favor-” Layla moved quickly, drawing a blaster pistol from underneath the bedsheets, and firing it at her, but Rey sensed the danger, igniting her lightsaber and deflecting the blow back to her, striking her hand, causing her to drop the pistol.

Layla screamed out in pain, clutching her scorched hand, as Rey approached her, standing ominously above her, her lightsaber still ignited.

“Why?” asked Rey, her temper starting to flare up, “Why would you do that to you own family?!”

“Because of what they did to me!” questioned Layla, her own anger beginning to build.

“What did they do?! They took you in, gave you a life here!”

“They ruined my life! They ruined it when your father convinced Norrin to come to this lifeless dustbowl of a planet! I saw his death coming…saw it in a dream. I tried warning him, tried to dissuade him, but he trusted Jendan and his ridiculous dream, and he died for it! Leaving me and our unborn baby! Your father and his asinine dream took the man I loved away from me. I hated him for that! I hated my sister because she still had the love of her life just an arm’s reach away while I could only hold on to a memory! I hated that you were growing up with a father while my unborn child would never get to know hers. I swallowed my hate, day in and day out…but then your powers began to manifest, and at such a young age. You paraded it wherever you went, scaring the villagers out of their minds. You put us in danger, and your stupid father refused to believe it! So when he decided to throw me out, I made a decision, to put myself before them.”

A blast of Force Lightning spewed forth from Rey’s fingertips, striking her aunt with a powerful jolt. Any last vestige of sympathy or mercy had been bled away. Rey was determined to end her, painfully.

“Stop this Rey!” pleaded the ghost of Skywalker, conjuring up before her.

“You stay out of this Jedi!” shouted Rey venomously, her eyes turning a shade of gold. For the first time in her life, the darker part of herself had been fully unleased, without a scrap of shame or hesitation. The Dark Side of the Force washed over her, coursed through her veins, and a part of her relished the feeling of finally letting go, finally relenting. She looked back and blasted her aunt again with an even stronger electrical jolt, knocking Layla off her bed, “All this time you had me believe that I was responsible…but you were the one with the blood on your hands. And you wiped that blood on me! You made be believe that I did it! Why?!”

“I needed someone to blame. You were the perfect patsy. The whole town knew about you, about your strange abilities. It was easy enough to make them believe it was you, that finally the little witch lost control. I was able to convince them to send you off world, to a place far away. That’s why I dumped you on Jakku.”

“And stole my parents’ home, my home! My life!” shouted Rey in a fury.

“Believe me…it wasn’t what I wanted, but it was the hand I was dealt.”

“Last question…” said Rey, “Why were you so afraid of me? So many times I heard you and my mother arguing about me, so many times when you thought I wasn’t looking, you glanced at me with fear in your eyes. It was more than my powers, wasn’t it? It was something else, something more extreme. What was it?”

“A premonition,” Layla uttered with a pained sigh, “I told you before I would see things, things that hadn’t happened yet, things that eventually came true. The first day I saw you use your power…I remember you lifted up a rock while playing outside. When I saw that, I received a vision…of you standing over my dead body, and the body of my baby girl. I was confused then, but then later I found out I was pregnant, and I became terrified of you. Those visions always came true. I had one about Norrin, about the mining collapse that killed him. I tried to warn him, but he assured me nothing was going to happen…I didn’t tell him what I was, what I could see. I let him go, hoping my premonition would be wrong, but it wasn’t…he died exactly the way I saw it. I lost my husband by doing nothing. I was not going to lose my daughter too. I decided to do something about it, get you out of my life before you had the chance to kill us…that’s why I wanted you gone.” Layla smirked painfully, “To think more than twenty years later…my vision came true after all.”

“This fate was of your own making, and now you’ll pay the price. You call me a monster…you’re the monster.”

“We’re both monsters Rey…the Force made us that way.”

“No…” she rebuked, holding up her lightsaber, “…you made me this way.”

“One last request…” blurted out Layla, staying Rey’s hand.

Rey shook her head, “If you think pleading for your life is going to stop me-”

“Not my life…” corrected Layla, breathing heavily. “My daughter’s. Spare my daughter Skyla…she’s done nothing to you. She’s innocent, and she’s the only thing in my life worth saving. That’s the only thing I ask.”

Rey hesitated only for a moment, before swiping down with her lightsaber, decapitating her aunt with a clean stroke. Deactivating her saber, she knelt down, taking a deep breath, feeling the rage begin to dissipate. She turned to Skyla, still completely unconscious, completely unaware of what transpired. She wouldn’t be awake for hours, by Rey’s estimation, and by then Rey would be long gone, and her cousin would be forced to pick up the pieces of a broken life, but at the very least she would still have a life to live.

“I’m sorry…” Rey said, allowing her to feel sorry for her, before steeling her resolve, turning around to the dilapidated wall, looking past the rubble to the setting sun on the horizon. There was no time to waste. She closed her eyes, and began to concentrate, finding that hidden string, the vestiges of a bond that transcended time and space, her mind’s eye fixed on Kylo Ren. You had your chance, Kylo… thought Rey …now it’s my turn.

***

Kylo’s lightsaber ripped through the chest plate of an attacking acolyte, skewering straight through her plastoid armor. As he craned his head, he was taken aback by another acolyte leaping into the air, lightsaber readying for a killing stroke. Kylo dropped his skewered victim, intentionally falling to the ground, just narrowly avoiding the killing blow, feeling the heat of the plasma blade as it swiped past his face. Kylo got back to his feet and started to backpedal, only to be flanked on both sides by two more acolytes, but before they could attack, they were thrown aside by Ushar and Vicrul with synchronized Force pushes. Meanwhile, Trudgen had his hands full dealing with three more, exchanging blows with their lightsabers and his vibro cleaver, his heavier, thicker armor well suited to glance off their blows.

“Trudgen, form up!” reprimanded Kylo, making a point to keep his knights together, lest they be divided and overwhelmed.

Backing themselves into the nearest corner so as not to allow themselves to be completely surrounded, the four of them held their ground against a group of thirty strong. Several more acolytes converged, swinging their lightsabers, but Ushar and Vicrul successfully blocked their attacks with their own plasma tipped weapons. Kylo lifted another pair up with the Force, slamming them into their brethren, doing everything in his power to keep them at bay.

Powerful, skilled, but unseasoned, thought Kylo, as he feigned left only to pirouette and cut down a lunging acolyte. The acolytes were indeed formidable, but they lacked the experience of real combat, something Kylo and his Knights had in abundance. Still, they were relentless, charging eagerly at them with reckless abandon, armed with lightsabers and an overwhelming exuberance that only untested youth could provide, eager for glory, unversed in fear.

We should teach it to them, decided Kylo, slamming his fist into the ground, unleashing a shockwave of Force energy that knocked the surrounding acolytes off their feet.

“Now!” shouted Kylo, moving to the offensive, his knights at his flanks, swinging their weapons with tested rage, cutting through the disoriented acolytes unlucky enough to be within reach.

“Is this the best you have?!” taunted Trudgen, his vibro-cleaver dripping with fresh blood.

Despite their faces being obscured by their masks, Kylo could tell by their body language that the acolytes were beginning to think twice about their odds. Every felled comrade made things that much harder and victory less likely. The seed of fear had been planted and already began to blossom. Ren and his knights continued their onslaught, hacking their way one after another, making a point to keep close enough so as to defend each other’s blind spots, letting their opponents stumble over one another for a chance at landing a blow. Changing up their strategies, a few acolytes stretched out their hands, blasting them with the Force, but the Knights of Ren’s superior abilities negated their attacks, and threw them back in turn.

As they fought their way to the other end of the room, they found an entryway to what seemed like a large hallway, and just out of view, Kylo began to sense a larger power emanating in the dark, and he instantly recognized it to be the Emperor. He was so close now, so painstakingly close to his target, he could almost taste it.

“You feel him too?” asked Vicrul.

“Yes…” replied Kylo, locking blades with an acolyte, jabbing the quillion of his cross-guard into the man’s unguarded throat. “He’s just beyond that hallway.”

“Then go and finish this,” said Ushar.

“Think you three can handle them alone?”

“Ha!” laughed off Trudgen, running a shoulder into an unprepared acolyte, striking another in the arm with his cleaver, “We can handle these loth-cats!”

Kylo broke off, slaying one more acolyte before darting through the entryway. The acolytes attempted to pursue but they were cut off by the three knights, blocking the entryway.

“Now, now, little loth-cats…” mocked Trudgen, “…you’ll need to get past us first.”

Kylo left them, continuing down the darkened hallway, surprised by the lack of additional security. He followed the path, feeling the pull of Dark Side energy further into the underground sanctum, until he stumbled upon a massive stone chamber, the very same room from his vision, and right at the center of that room was a throne.

“I know you’re here, Palpatine,” he declared, igniting his saber, “come out and fight!”

This part of the sanctum seemed the oldest, where the dark Side was at its most potent, and most putrid. To Kylo’s surprise, the room smelled of decay, of rot, though from where he could not determine.

“Impressive…” echoed a voice from the shadows, prompting Kylo to keep his head on a swivel, “I must admit, I did not expect you to get this far. To the heart of this planet, the very heart of the Sith Order.”

“You’ve run out of tricks old man, no more schemes, no more protectors to hide behind, no more places to run. Now show your face, so I can finish what I’ve vowed to do.”

Out from the shadows came a figure cloaked in black, attached by the spine to a large mechanical appendage connected to the ceiling, an Ommin Harness, a mechanical arm that served a dual purpose as both an orthosis and life support system. Even before he could properly see him, Kylo was taken aback by what he felt, not strength, but frailty. The figure glided across the room, carried by the mechanical arm, as he sat down on the throne before him. The sight of the many wires and tubes connecting the figure to the harness left Kylo confused. The Emperor removed his hood, and Kylo could see with his own two eyes the state he was in. He had seemingly aged decades since he last saw him, his body wrinkled and gaunt, his skin color turned an unnatural shade of grey. He looked like a living corpse, hanging on by a thread.

“Disappointed,” smirked Palpatine, his face clearly in pain, “You’re not alone, boy. To come so far only for my body to fail me now. I imagine you were not expecting to be greeted by a foe who’s already half dead.”

“The cloning process…” guessed Kylo.

“A failure,” confirmed Palpatine, “Yes, as it turns out, the cloning process had not been perfected after all.”

All at once, it made sense. The Emperor’s mysterious absence these past few months, the big secret about his whereabouts, how nobody, not even the highest ranking members of Imperial Command seemed to know anything about his condition. “So this is why you haven’t shown yourself…” Kylo realized, “…why nobody’s even heard from you.”

“Indeed. Only my apprentice and the most loyal servants of the Sith Eternal know of my condition. The scientists stationed here struggle daily to keep me alive, but it’s been a losing effort. Even with the benefit of Sith alchemy, this cloned body has begun to degenerate at the cellular level. To think, I’ve dedicated an untold amount of wealth into cloning technology, and still those bunglers cannot clone me a usable body. I was certain that this time would be a success, but now even this body has begun to fail me like all the rest.”

“Pathetic…” muttered Kylo. “The great Sheev Palpatine, the Emperor of the Galaxy, last of a long line of Sith Lords, reduced to nothing but a shriveled old man who can’t even walk on his own two feet.”

With a snarl, Palpatine raised his hands, shooting out Force Lightning from his fingertips. Kylo blocked the electrical current with his cross-saber, dissipating it with surprising ease. The Dark Lord’s strength had diminished, and it was no hard task to power through his attack, walking closer to the throne.

After a few seconds, Palpatine desisted, lowering his hands, his body unable to maintain the attack.

“Weak,” taunted Kylo, “What would your subordinates think of you if they saw you like this, if they saw a desperate old man clinging onto life? Do you think they’d be inspired? Or would their resolve wither away and crumble like they did before? I told you I’d come for you, that nothing you had would stop me. There’s no one left to protect you now, old man. Where is your apprentice now?”

“She’s exactly where she needs to be,” answered Palpatine, “You still don’t understand how special she is. I recognized it the first moment I saw her, when she was just a girl. I could feel the power emanating from her. She has such a mastery of the Force, greater than anyone else I’ve ever seen, greater than my own, a perfect Sith in the making, the likes that any Sith Lord would kill for the chance of mentoring. But she could never fully commit herself to the Dark Side. The childhood trauma she endured had taken a heavy toll on her, burdened her with fear and guilt and left her grasp over her powers tenuous. She was unstable, fighting with her true self, clinging onto the lies she told herself, the daydreams of being something she was not. She could not face the truth, but thanks to you and your uncle, she finally understands. Skywalker thought he could turn her, you thought you could kill her, but you both have failed spectacularly. All you’ve done is awoken her to the truth. She is finally ready to become what I’ve always known she could be…”

“You put too much faith in her.”

“And you don’t put enough…” countered Palpatine. “…the Sith cannot die. It will live on through her.”

“Tell yourself whatever you want, but I want you to know that when I’m finished with you…I’m going to finish her.”

Kylo raised his lightsaber and swung for Palpatine’s throat, but the blow never hit its intended victim. Instead, it was blocked by a lightsaber that seemingly conjured out of thin air. Confused, Kylo looked up to see Rey staring back at him, her eyes a frightening shade of gold, her expression icy. Despite being a thousand lightyears away, their bond had rekindled, and now, he sensed a change in her. Whereas before she had been teetering towards the light, now there was no such conflict. He sensed in her no regrets, no shame, and no inkling of mercy.

“Now…” she began, “…where were we?”

***

Captain Phasma took cover behind a wall as an ion grenade went off at the foot of their advancing destroyer droid, an electrical burst knocking out its shields. Just ahead, entrenched Imperial soldiers proceeded to unload their ion disruptor rifles at the exposed droid, blasting it to pieces.

“Great…” muttered a frustrated Phasma, glancing over the corner to her main objective, the main bridge just a few hundred meters away, sealed tight behind heavy blast doors, and what looked like an entire battalion’s worth of Imperial Storm Troopers standing in her way.

The past hour had been hell for her and her pirate allies as they fought their way room by room, corridor by corridor towards the bridge. Though the Imperial security forces had been initially blindsided, they had since begun to put up a much more respectable fight. Though the pirate boarding crews had managed to successfully join up, they were still heavily outnumbered, and worse yet, their destroyer droids were less effective than before. The Imperials had learned, and were now using ion weapons against them. As much as she hated to admit it, the Weequay mercs were doing a masterful job impeding Imperial movements. With backdoor access to the ship’s security systems, the Weequays were able to block entire sections of the ship, preventing the enemy from surrounding their position, even managing to trap many Imperials behind blast doors, and clearing their way for their own men to advance, all the while staying one step ahead of the Eclipse’s fail-safes while under enemy fire. The Tognath Pirates were proving their mettle, engaging the enemy with the upmost prejudice, shooting across the corridors or rooms with their archaic but very lethal long rifles, and attacking with crude staffs and make-shift clubs when close enough to do so. Their hardened exoskeleton and primitive nervous system made them extremely difficult to kill. Phasma and her Death Troopers were more than pulling their weight, directing the groups and laying suppression fire, killing scores of lesser soldiers, but Phasma was not blind to the fact that their progress had slowed to a crawl. As she and her men continued their way through the ship, they encountered ever increasing opposition. The Imperials were not giving up the Eclipse without a fight, and were willing to die for every square inch of it.

“Can we open the bridge’s blast doors from here?” she asked the Weequay commander.

“No from here…” the Weequay replied in broken Basic, “Need be in front of door.”

Phasma looked back, to the enemy barriers set up just in front of the bridge, and the nearly twenty storm troopers shooting back at them, a quartet of manned heavy turrets continuously laying down automatic fire, making a rush virtually impossible, even for the Tognaths. Her own men had taken to ducking into adjacent rooms, shooting from the doorways, but the lengthy corridor had only one way forward, and should they advance, would funnel them into a kill box.

Phasma felt the vibration of her communicator, and pulled it out, to see Hux’s image.

“Captain Phasma, what’s your status?” he asked anxiously.

“We’re nearly at the bridge, Allegiant-General. We’ve encountered heavy resistance.”

“Captain, the Eclipse has begun moving. It is attempting to regroup with the rest of the Imperial Fleet. Right now, we are doing all we can to slow it down, but you must take that bridge before they succeed, or else the ship is lost to us! This is our one chance, Captain, we’re counting on you!”

“Yessir. I’ll report back when the bridge is secure.” Phasma deactivated the coms, taking a moment to think. She turned to her squad, “Do we have any more thermal detonators?”

“We’re out,” one of them reported. “We still have detonate charges.”

Too heavy to toss from this distance, thought Phasma, looking back at the blast door, pondering, before turning back to the Weequay, “Commander, how many more destroyer droids do we have left?”

“Four. Why?”

“I need you to scramble their comm systems and cut power to the hallway lights, both at once. Can you do that?”

“Yes, but only a few seconds-”

“That’ll have to be enough. I have a plan.”

Chapter 15: Chapter 14

Chapter Text

Rey and Kylo traded blows with unparalleled speed, reading one another flawlessly, their attacks and parries feeding into a dizzying sequence of moves and countermoves that only the most adept Force wielders could follow. Their abilities were equal, their restored bond synchronizing their every thought and decision, making it so easy for Rey and Kylo to read one another’s movements, with neither side receiving a definitive advantage. Through their bond, Rey could feel Kylo’s pain, but now she had her own pain to focus on and draw from, the outrage and hate over her aunt still fresh in her mind, giving her extra voracity in her steps to match his own. Her prior wounds dealt by Ren’s Knights were still felt, but her newfound adrenaline allowed her to soldier on. Despite being worlds apart, they dueled as if they were right next to one another, their attacks bending the fabric of reality.

“You’ve learned…” noted Kylo, after a brief lull in the fray, “…you’ve finally stopped clinging onto the light like a frightened girl. You’ve immersed yourself in the Dark Side. You’ve embraced your rage, and your pain.”

“I have your uncle to thank for that,” Rey replied, her voice deadly serious, “Was this the plan all along, Kylo? Were the two of you in collusion? Was he supposed to lure me away while you besiege Exegol and kill my master?”

“Whatever game my uncle was playing with you, I had no part of it,” defended Kylo, “but it sounds to me like you’ve finally seen him for what he is, a manipulator and a liar. Why were you on that dustbowl of a planet, anyway?”

She felt him probing her thoughts. She didn’t bother to stop him.

“What a tragic family reunion…” Kylo snickered, “Did you enjoy killing your aunt? Did you tell yourself that she got what she deserved?”

His taunt was well scouted, a blatant attempt to rile her up, to get her unfocused. Before, it would have worked, but now she had no desire to be goaded. Instead, she thought to turn the tables. “Your knights certainly got what they deserved. Without you to help them, they were not up to the challenge. Do you regret sending them to their deaths?”

Kylo’s expression hardened as he stretched out his hand, unleashing a massive Force push. Rey felt the energy of his attack, as it flowed its way into her physical space, kicking up the sand and debris around her. The blast shoved her back, threatening to knock her to the ground, but she stabbed her lightsaber into the dirt, anchoring herself in place. Rey then leapt into the air, twirling the double-bladed weapon for an aerial spinning attack. Kylo reared back, then stepped forward, attempting to counter, but he was unprepared for Rey’s follow-up attack, as she seamlessly detached her blades and landed a cross swipe across his chest, the tips of the sabers leaving scorch marks across Kylo’s chest piece, causing him to wince in pain.

“I cut them to pieces,” she continued, “limb from limb. I did it slowly…so they would suffer. They screamed out in agony the whole time. I watched the hope drain out of them.”

She saw the anger in Kylo’s face, and she could sense his frustration, his anger beginning to cloud his judgement, hamper his movements, his every thought easily readable to her. For her part, she began to feel a surge of newfound power unlike anything she felt before, her attunement with the Dark Side as sharp as ever. Instead of fighting against her like it had always done before, it was now fighting for her, the full breadth of the Force at her direct command, bending to her will, the true power of a Sith Master.

The two continued to trade blows in a series of quick but furious exchanges, backing off, repositioning and reengaging. Kylo was drawing more power, drawing from his rage, but she could sense the creeping doubt, the crack in his veneer of self-control. She landed the first blow, a moral and psychological victory, and she was determined to press her advantage.

“You’re starting to understand, aren’t you?” she mocked him, “To have come so far, climb so high, only to realize now you don’t have what it takes.”

Rey swiped high again with her dual lightsabers, forcing Kylo to block high, leaving his base open. She promptly spun around, sweeping his legs out from under him, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground. With a boost from the Force, she propelled herself upward, leaping back into the air, swiping down with a spinning attack. Kylo barely managed to block the blow, pulling himself away from her and getting back onto his feet.

“Still a petulant boy throwing a temper tantrum…” she continued, “…still lashing out to the galaxy about how hard your life had been, how your mother and father didn’t love you enough. You had no idea about real pain, about real hardship, about going to bed cold and hungry, about desperately reaching out in the dark for someone to love. You killed your own father out of spite for your family…mine was taken away from me…” She hit him with a massive blast of Force energy, pushing Kylo several yards back, forcing him to stab the ground with his cross-saber as she did. She hit him several more times, each blast fiercer than the last, as Kylo struggled to stay on his feet. “…you have no idea what you threw away, the life you walked away from.”

Rey hit him again with a final massive blast, cracking the ground beneath Kylo’s feet, sending him and his weapon tumbling into the dirt.

“Why can’t I beat you?” spat a frustrated Kylo, as he struggled back to his feet.

“Because I’m better than you. I’ve overcome my guilt, while you’re controlled by yours. All the power you’ve gained with the Dark Side, your privileged upbringing, your family lineage, all the advantages you’ve ever been given, but you’re still not good enough. You’ve never been good enough and deep down you’ve always known it,” She looked at Kylo, bleeding from the mouth, his body hunched like a wounded animal, nursing his damaged ribs.

Rey moved closer, swiping down with both blades. Kylo blocked, but she began battering away at his guard. She could feel him weaken with each block, her own swings intensifying. Finally, she broke through his guard, her blade slicing through Kylo’s wrist. Kylo screamed in pain as his lightsaber and severed hand fell to the floor. Rey held her blade by his throat, standing triumphantly above the hunched Kylo. Then appearing in her sightline, right next to the defeated Kylo, was the ghost of Skywalker. His facial expression was harsh, the harshest she had seen from him, his judgmental eyes staring directly at her. Seeing him now, Rey couldn’t help but pause, to allow her emotions to settle. Any lingering sense of comfort his appearance had instilled in her had been drained away. All she saw now was a ghost, an echo of a dead man.

“You’ll never be stronger than me…” she said to Skywalker, with more than a hint of vindictiveness in her voice, turning her attention back to Kylo, staring into his angry eyes. “…time to finish this.”

Rey tightened her grip on her lightsaber, winding back for a killing blow. But before she could follow through, she heard a distinct sound of a blaster shot directly behind her, and the sharp burning pain of a laser bolt hitting her lower back. Rey buckled to her knees, dropping the lightsaber to the ground, briefly regaining eye contact with Kylo, who looked back at her with utter confusion. Then his visage disappeared, their link severed. As her body began going into shock, still processing the pain, Rey turned her head around, looking over her shoulder to see the gunman responsible. Standing behind her was her own cousin, Skyla, awake with a blaster in hand and her crying eyes full of hate.

***

Kylo did not understand exactly what he had seen or felt. Rey had him dead to rights, had him defenseless, literally disarmed. He had no recourse, no perceivable way of escape, but before she could finish him, something happened, something or someone attacked her. He could not see who or what, but he could see the aftereffect, the paleness on Rey’s face, the pained expression, the desperation and confusion in her eyes. He could sense her life force waning right before their connection severed. Be it a matter of luck or fate, he was spared, albeit worse for wear.

Kylo had no time to recover when a blast of Force lightning hit him while he was still down. Palpatine loomed over him, suspended in the air at the end of his Ommin Harness, raining down lightning, causing Kylo’s body to seize. After several seconds of sustained electrocution, the Emperor ceased his assault, and Kylo managed to catch a glimpse of his withered face. Palpatine had a look of complete uncertainty, as if for the first time, he did not know what was going on. The all-knowing all-seeing Emperor had been blindsided. Despite all the pain, Kylo couldn’t help but begin to laugh.

“What have you done?!” shouted the Emperor, his voice almost manic.

Kylo’s laughter only grew louder and more insolent, despite his injured ribs and the seared pain where his hand once had been. He laughed at the lunacy of the situation, at the fact that he had been spared, at the fact that his rival had bested him only to be fatally injured by something else, at the fact that Palpatine’s plans had been dashed and that it wasn’t even by Kylo’s doing.

Again, Palpatine blasted him with Force lightning, causing Kylo to fall to his back.

“What have you done with her?!” shouted Palpatine, even more desperate.

“She’s dead…” said Kylo, between bouts of laughter, “…your precious scavenger is dead.”

“That’s not possible…”

“All your schemes, your armies, your ships, your acolytes…all of it for nothing. Your heir is dead old man, and with her your precious Sith legacy!”

Palpatine responded with another blast of Force lightning. Kylo had to hand it to the old man, he had more in reserve than he thought, no doubt fueled by anger and fear, but each blast of lightning was less intense than the last. He was tiring, and Kylo was waiting for his chance.

“Now there’s nobody left standing between you and me…” Kylo uttered, reaching out with the Force for his lightsaber hilt. The hilt shot up into the air, the blade igniting midflight. The lightsaber spun rapidly, heading directly for Palpatine, who took notice of it too late. The spinning blade sawed straight through Palpatine’s Ominn Harness, cutting clean through the metallic arm and tubing. Severed from his harness, Palpatine fell to the ground. Kylo redirected the blade’s trajectory, catching it with his remaining hand.

Grunting in pain, Palpatine shot another attack of Force lightning, but Kylo was ready for it. He blocked the electricity with his saber and trudged forward with little effort. His power heavily depleted, Palpatine vainly attempted to crawl away, but Kylo had no intention of letting him go. Lifting the Emperor off the ground with the Force, Kylo proceeded to squeeze his throat.

“You look tired, old man…” mocked Kylo, glaring at a suspended Palpatine who struggled to breathe in his telekinetic clutch, “…why don’t you take a seat?!”

Kylo hurled Palpatine back, sending him crashing into the stone throne with bone crushing force. Coughing, the injured Palpatine attempted to stand back up, but his body was gravely wounded from the impact. Kylo walked towards the throne with his lightsaber at the ready.

“It cannot end this way…” muttered Palpatine as blood poured out of his mouth.

Kylo advanced, picking up his pace, running towards Palpatine with his blade stretched outward with his left hand. With one fell swoop, he sliced clean through the Emperor and his stone throne. The separated stone backrest crashed to the floor, and along with it the severed upper half of the Emperor.

Kylo deactivated his lightsaber, and took a deep breath, unaware he had been holding it for nearly a minute. He allowed his rage to ebb, the pain from his injuries beginning to intensify as his adrenaline began to fade. Kylo looked back at the severed corpse, unable to feel anything but disappointment. He had steeled himself for a more satisfying fight, to vanquish both the master and the apprentice, but circ*mstances had cheapened his triumph. The Emperor’s frail state, and Rey’s fatal wound were not expected, and Kylo couldn’t help but feel like he had gotten away with something. As much as he wanted to deny it, Rey had him beat. He couldn’t help but think of his uncle’s old Jedi teachings about luck, but it gave him no comfort. Whether it was an act of destiny, or random chance, the entire ordeal left him feeling hollow, and he couldn’t help but rehear the Emperor’s words in his head.

You’re right old man, he thought, it shouldn’t have ended this way.

Kylo then heard footsteps approaching from the end of the room. He turned around to see his fellow Knights, Vicrul, Trudgen and Ushar, coming out of the darkness, all three of them looking worse for wear. Trudgen hobbled in on his right leg, his left leg missing, as he held onto Vicrul’s shoulder for added support.

“Glad you survived,” spoke out Kylo. “The Acolytes?”

“Dead…” groaned Ushar, favoring his wounded shoulder, “…but they didn’t go down easy. Just ask Trudgen.”

“Hey, they landed a lucky hit…” Trudgen attempted to laugh through the pain. Trudgen craned his neck to see the remains of Palpatine and the throne. “Ha! You did it! You killed the Emperor!”

“Not unscathed, I see,” noted Vicrul, pointing to Kylo’s stub. “Took a piece of you with him, didn’t he?”

“Not him…” corrected Kylo, “… her.”

Even through their damaged masks, he could see the confusion.

“How?” asked Vicrul.

“Our connection…but she’s dead too. I don’t know exactly what, but something attacked her.”

“Are you sure she’s dead?” asked Ushar, “How do you know?”

“I felt it…” Kylo answered curtly, “…I felt the life draining from her body before I lost our connection. Now there’s nothing…I feel nothing from her, the bond’s been severed. There’s no way she could survive.”

“So it’s done then,” spoke Vicrul, “The Sith are finished, we’ve done what we’ve came here to do. Now we can finally get off this accursed pl-”

“We’re not done yet,” interrupted Kylo, proceeding to walk out of the throne room, and down the corridors, looking for a communications room, certain one would be nearby. As he suspected, there was one, older than most, bordering on archaic, but perfectly functional as Kylo sprung it to life.

“This holo-communicator has a direct line to the main Imperial network,” observed Vicrul. “The Sith Eternal’s sensor arrays can bypass the planet’s atmospherics and the surrounding nebula. We can use this to contact every ship in the Imperial Fleet.”

“We can also tap into their sensor array and give our boys some much needed intelligence,” added Ushar.

“Get on that, but first I have a message I want to send to all of them loud and clear…”

***

“Dammit, push them back!” shouted Kafaldi, as she watched the live security feed just outside the bridge, watching as the intense firefight between the First Order boarding party and the Imperial Security detachments continued to play out.

More and more, Kafaldi couldn’t help but feel that the battle was slowly slipping away from her. The enemy boarders were just outside the blast door, too close to Kafaldi’s liking, and thus far the ship’s security systems and personnel had been incapable of neutralizing them. Captain Phasma and her motley crew had proved to be a formidable force, fighting and hacking their way through the ship’s interior, edging their way towards the bridge, noticeably frantic to reach it before the Eclipse could regroup with the rest of the Imperial Fleet. Outside, the battle was starting to turn against them. Kafaldi was having her hands full fending off both the Republic and First Order fleets, frantically dishing out commands to the Imperial captains even as she could hear blaster fire just outside the blast door. Most dangerous of all was the Republic Viscount, which, despite sustaining heavy damage, was still a nuisance. It had already knocked out another half a dozen more Star Destroyers, and was now seemingly embarking on an intercept course for the Eclipse.

“Is she really that daft?” Kafaldi asked herself, before turning to her lieutenant, “Have we managed to get our axial cannon back online?”

“No Admiral, the Weequay slicers still have us locked out. They’re staying one step ahead of the ship’s fail-safes, and set up a firewall. Our computers haven’t been able to break through yet.”

“Damn it,” muttered Kafaldi, as she looked out of the bridge windows to see the Viscount steadily approaching. “Get our starboard batteries ready, pass alongside the Viscount, and fire at them point blank.”

“But Admiral, without our shields-”

“They don’t have any shields either, Lieutenant! And by the looks of it, they’re in worse shape than we are. This is our best chance to finish the Viscount. If Organa thinks she can stop us from rejoining with the rest of our ships, she’s in for a rude awakening.”

The Eclipse and the Viscount closed in on one another, passing each other at very close range, their turbo laser batteries taking aim.

“Fire starboard batteries!” she commanded.

The Eclipse’s turbo laser cannons opened fire full broadside, unleashing a hailstorm of green lasers directly at the unshielded hull of the Republic Viscount. The Viscount likewise returned fire, red bolts peppering the Eclipse’s hull, causing Kafaldi and the bridge crew to grab hold of their chairs and desks, as the ship rocked from the onslaught.

“As we make our pass, turn the ship starboard and focus fire on their engines!” shouted Kafaldi.

The Eclipse’s turbo lasers turned and redirected fired on the Viscount’s portside as the two ships proceeded to pass one another. Per Kafaldi’s orders, the Eclipse turned, keeping their broadside batteries trained on the Viscount’s stern, now with a clear shot at the Viscount’s engines. The Eclipse opened fire again, striking a direct hit at the Viscount’s engines, destroying several of its ion thrusters outright. The Viscount was left stranded, floating in space with no effective means of propulsion.

“Direct hit!” confirmed the lieutenant, “The Viscount’s ion drives are completely offline.”

“Bring us about, right on their stern. We’ll finish them off,” directed Kafaldi.

“Admiral, we’re receiving an urgent communication from Exegol, it’s the emperor’s personal frequency.”

Kafaldi blinked in surprise, “Patch it through, Lieutenant.”

The lieutenant did as instructed and turned on the holo-projector. To everyone’s complete horror, they did not in fact see the Emperor, but only his severed head, and the man holding it, Kylo Ren.

“To all those who turned their backs on me…” Kylo began, “…to everyone who betrayed my trust, know that this is the fate that’s in store for you. This is what becomes of those who cross me. Your Emperor is dead, his apprentice is dead. The Sith are extinct.”

“Who else is seeing this?” asked a panicked Kafaldi, her eyes glued to the image.

“It’s being broadcast to every ship and station in the Imperial network,” said the lieutenant in disbelief as he looked at his instruments, “everyone is seeing this…”

Kylo continued, “All Imperial Forces are to surrender immediately. Anyone who continues to fight will suffer the same fate. The Empire is dead. The galaxy now belongs to the First Order.” The transmission then ended, leaving everyone on the bridge completely slack-jawed.

It can’t be… thought Kafaldi, unable to come to terms with what her eyes had just seen.

“Admiral…” spoke her lieutenant timidly, “What do we do?”

Kafaldi looked at him, and could not find an answer. As she stood there, befuddled, she suddenly heard a screeching sound blaring over the intercom, causing everyone to flinch. As Kafaldi looked to the security feed, she could see the outside hallway lights malfunctioning, blinking on and off before falling completely dark.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

“The First Order’s scrambling our intercom systems. And it seems they’ve cut power to the hallway lights.”

“But why?” she wondered aloud, staring intently at the screen, trying in vain to see what they were doing.

The First Order completely stopped firing, as if content to lurk in the dark. Kafaldi could barely make out the silhouettes of her own men, trying to fix their coms, also distracted by the static. It was then she faintly heard the sound of droidekas barreling towards the door. The surprised Imperial security detachment resumed fire, but it was too late, and the droidekas were too close. The last sound they heard, and the next sound Kafaldi heard was the explosion that ripped straight through the blast door.

Kafaldi and several more members of the bridge crew were knocked to the ground. The blast came from detonate charges, rigged up to the droidekas to be used as rolling bombs, the scrambled coms and blackout serving as perfect cover. It was deviously effective, killing the defending security detachment and breaching the bridge’s blast doors. Kafaldi struggled to pull herself back to her feet, her eardrums still ringing, looking back to the big hole in the blast doors, watching as Captain Phasma walked on through with her blaster drawn. She fired at the nearest crewmember, as her Death Troopers followed her in, sweeping the room, and shooting at anyone who was still moving. In one final act of desperation, Kafaldi drew her blaster pistol and fired at Phasma’s head, but the laser bolt ricocheted harmlessly off her helmet. Phasma turned and shot her in the chest, causing Kafaldi to drop her pistol.

Kafaldi wheezed, the searing pain making her go into shock, as she barely remained conscious, looking on as Captain Phasma pulled out a communicator, speaking to a hologram of General Hux.

“Sir, the bridge is ours,” said Phasma, “we will have complete control of the Eclipse’s subsystems imminently.”

“Excellent work Captain,” said the hologram of General Hux, “bring the ship to the coordinates I’m sending you. And prepare for my arrival. There’s one more thing we need to take care of.”

“Yes sir,” replied the captain, before putting away the communicator, noticing that Kafaldi was still alive. Phasma aimed her rifle at her head, “any last words?”

A wheezing and dying Kafaldi defiantly spat out, “For the Empire…”

Chapter 16: Chapter 15

Chapter Text

“No…” wheezed Rey, the realization that she had been shot in the back sinking in.

She should have felt the searing pain from the carbon scoring, but all she could feel was cold, the kind of cold she only felt once before, back in that cave on Ahch-To, and the foreboding shroud of death that loomed about her when she stumbled upon that mirror and gazed into her own reflection. The Force, which had always been so potent and ever-present, now seemed so distant. Despite attempting to reestablish her psychic connection with Kylo, Rey knew deep down that the bridge that linked their minds had been severed, and she had an awful feeling that her master had already paid the price.

Rey had not anticipated Skyla to wake up from her trance-induced slumber as early as she did, nor did she account for the untimeliness of her interference. She expected her to be incapacitated for a few hours, but Rey underestimated her will. Perhaps she was Force sensitive like her mother, but now it didn’t really matter. Rey could feel the life draining out of her, her body involuntarily shaking, her limbs turning numb, barely able to keep from keeling over.

“You killed her…” she cried, “…you killed my mother!”

“You’ve ruined everything…” muttered Rey weakly. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

“I just did the entire galaxy a favor…I killed the great Darth Ira! You brought death to our doorstep, you lie to us, and you kill my mother in cold blood!”

“Your mother wasn’t the person you thought she was,” coughed Rey, “She killed my parents, and blamed me for the crime.”

“Why should I believe a word you say?!” roared Skyla, “the moment you walked into our home, you’ve told us nothing but lies and brought us nothing but death! But that’s what you do best, isn’t it? You’re the real monster here!”

“I am not lying…your mother was a liar, and a murderer. She allowed herself to be consumed by jealousy!”

“You’re lying!” shouted Skyla, “That’s what you Sith do, isn’t it? You lie and you kill the innocent!”

“She wasn’t innocent…” replied Rey weakly, “…your mother was a monster.”

“Not to me! To me she was the only person I had! The only person who looked out for me on this entire planet, the only person that gave a damn about me, and you took her away from me!”

Even now, Rey could not help but feel a small degree of empathy, but she couldn’t help herself as she spat out, “Your mother deserved her fate.”

“And you deserve this!” exclaimed Skyla, pulling the trigger a final time.

Rey felt the blaster bolt strike her chest. If the shot to the back wasn’t fatal, then this one definitely was, the blaster bolt hitting her heart. Rey fell over, her face hitting the dirt, her vision blurred, her eyes growing heavy, until all she saw was darkness.

So, this is how it ends… she thought, before allowing herself to drift away, ready to embrace oblivion.

“What are you afraid of?” came a voice from the dark, a voice she recognized to be her master’s.

Rey stirred, her aches and pains mysteriously gone, she looked up to see herself in front of a mirror, the same mirror she stood before on Ahch-To, the same mirror that she saw whenever she retreated into her mind. She saw herself in the mirror, and appearing behind her reflection, she saw Palpatine looming over her, notably healthier than she had last seen him.

“Master…” Rey gasped in complete shock, “I thought you were-”

“Dead?” finished Palpatine. “I am dead, child. You can thank that accursed grandson of Skywalker for that. To die at the hands of a pretender instead of a worthy Sith is a tragedy all its own.”

Rey lowered her head in shame, “Forgive me master…I couldn’t save you.”

“You were never meant to save me, child. You were meant to succeed me, to follow in my footsteps, to end my life and begin your own as a true Sith master. And yet here you are, in this place, the place you always retreat to whenever you’re afraid. What are you afraid of now?”

“What am I afraid of?” she asked, her voice cracking, “I’m afraid of failing you…I’m afraid that after everything I’ve done, everything that I’ve been through, I’m going to die on the same miserable planet I was born. I’m afraid that after all this time, all the faith you’ve put in me, I wasn’t strong enough.”

Palpatine gave her a stern look, the look she once feared when she was a young acolyte, when he sought to challenge her, to push her beyond her limits. “You’re lying, child,” he answered. “Even now you lie to yourself. You’ve always been stronger than you’ve allowed yourself to believe, always weighed down by trauma and doubt. It isn’t the fear of failure that frightens you, it is the fear of success. You’re afraid of being what I know you already are: the ultimate Sith. You are the culmination of thousands of years of planning, the endpoint of countless trials and errors, the triumph of painful evolution that has sprouted so many failures, so many false hopes. We Sith have always been ruled by fear, fear of our own weaknesses, fear of our limitations with the Force, fear of our enemies who threaten to snuff us out at any chance they get. That fear is how we survived for so long, how we grow stronger, but you are the last of us, the greatest of us, the one we have waited for millennia. You are the Sith that has grown beyond fear…beyond foe…beyond doubt…beyond death. And if you wish not to die on this accursed rock, you need only rise and take this galaxy for your own…”

All at once, the mirror, her reflection and her master faded from sight, and Rey again found herself lying in the dirt. She once again felt pain in her chest, but she pushed it out of her mind, as she willed herself to stand back up. Her cousin Skyla had her back turned to her, but promptly turned around in a panic upon hearing her stir.

“How?” was all she could manage to say, completely befuddled.

“Witchcraft…” mocked Rey, seeing her cousin draw her gun before it actually happened.

A terrified Skyla fired her blaster repeatedly, but Rey easily swatted away the bolts with her bare hands, drawing closer to her with each step. Skyla backpedaled as she continued firing, but Rey did not cease her advance, deflecting the blaster bolts, completely unaware of the pain she should have felt. Rey stretched out her hand, locking Skyla and her final blaster bolt in suspension.

Rey walked calmly toward her, passing by the suspended blaster bolt, as it jittered in the air. For no other reason than out of sheer curiosity, Rey placed her hand on the burning blaster bolt, letting the plasma sear the skin of her hand. She pressed down hard, clutching the plasma now, snuffing it out with her grip. She looked at her burnt palm, surprised by the lack of pain, discerning the unnatural limits her body could now endure.

“I should thank you,” she replied, walking over to Skyla, standing right in front of her, as she stayed locked in suspension. “You helped me more than you’ll ever know.” Rey put her hands on either side of Skyla’s face, immediately beginning to leech off her life force.

Skyla struggled to move, attempting to pull away, but Rey would not relent, using the Force to lock her in place, as she continued to leech away at her life essence, transferring it to her own body. Very quickly, Rey felt rejuvenated, her wounds healing, her pain subsiding.

“You’re a monster…” gargled out Skyla, hurling one final insult as the last of her energy drained away. Rey dropped her to the floor, a lifeless pale husk.

As she looked down on the corpse, she once again saw her cousin, the last member of her family, lying lifeless in the sand.

“And you’re no family of mine…” renounced Rey, before looking down at her once damaged hand, seeing that it had completely healed.

***

The rout of the Imperial Fleet was already well underway as Allegiant-General Hux and Admiral Holdo shuttled their way over to the captured Eclipse without incident. Following the broadcast of the Emperor’s demise and Admiral Kafaldi’s subsequent death, the Imperials had fallen into total disarray, with most ship captains losing all will to fight, abandoning the battlefield and making uncoordinated hyperspace jumps out of the sector. A scant number of Star Destroyers remained, offering to switch sides and pledge their allegiances to the First Order. Hux scoffed at the thought of their duplicity, but then again, he knew they needed the manpower. He knew Kylo would not be so forgiving, and would sooner have them executed as traitors rather than join their ranks. Kylo was still very embittered by their initial betrayal at Crait, but Hux knew the numbers, the logistics, and the odds. They would need every ship and every abled body they could muster to continue their war against the Republic, and what was left of the Imperial Armada. They were long past the point of biding their time.

“Congratulations, sir,” spoke Phasma, “the mission has been a resounding success.”

“So it seems…” replied Hux cryptically, the wheels turning in his mind, “Is the ship fully secure?”

“We have successfully detained the majority of the ship’s personnel. We’ve managed to keep them contained in locked off sections, with no way for them to override. We are in complete control of the ship.”

“Very good, Captain, lead on to the bridge. It’s time we inform our allies.”

“And give them the good news,” added Holdo with a smile.

Hux and Holdo were promptly escorted to the ship’s main bridge, minding the broken debris as he passed through the shattered door. He glanced over the damage, mostly superficial, with a few computer terminals and stations destroyed, nothing they couldn’t work around. Hux’s accompanying aides immediately began setting up portable terminals, and assumed control of the bridge.

Hux walked over to the bridge window, overlooking the battlefield, realizing how eerily calm it had become. Firing had completely stopped, and he could see the Republic Fleet, and their Viscount heavily damaged, limping through space like a wounded purrgil, easy prey for them were it not for the wishes of their Supreme Leader. Hux looked to his left, and saw the body of Admiral Kafaldi. For a fleeting moment, he gleefully tried to imagine the look on Pryde’s face when he’d inevitably hear about her death.

“Allegiant-General, we’re patched through,” replied Holdo, stepping aside as the portable holo-projectors sprung to life.

The holo images of various commanders and ship captains of the First Order immediately turned in, as well as Rotta the Hutt, leaders of the Coalition and General Quinn calling in from Exegol’s surface, and finally Kylo Ren himself. Now fully integrated with the Imperial satellite network, the First Order had no trouble communicating through the planet’s atmosphere or the surrounding Nebula.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m speaking to you from the Eclipse’s main bridge. The ship is now ours.”

A chorus of cheers erupted from the group, along with hoots from Rotta.

“Very good,” replied Kylo, curtly. “What’s our fleet strength?”

“We’ve lost a third of our ships in the battle.”

Kylo turned to Quinn, “General Quinn, what’s the situation on the planet’s surface?”

General Quinn spoke up, “Our ground troops are still encountering resistance, but the enemy’s morale has clearly wilted. And without their communications satellites, they can no longer effectively coordinate. We’re pushing them back into their underground bases, but we do not have the manpower on hand to take the fight underground.”

Kylo then turned to Hux, “I want you to reinforce General Quinn, we are taking control of this planet. I will send you a complete technical readout of the planet’s interior.”

Hux couldn’t help but protest, “Supreme Leader, we do not have sufficient manpower to take the planet in any reasonable length of time. And we certainly don’t have the manpower to hold it. Should Pryde and the other half of the Imperial Navy decide to launch a counterattack-”

“Your objection has been noted, General, and hereby overruled. This planet is too strategically important to abandon after having fought so hard to win it. I will not allow what’s left of the Empire to take it back without a fight.”

Hux felt the urge to persist, but instead thought it prudent to hold his tongue for the moment, “As you command…Supreme Leader.”

Kylo nodded, the smug look on his face aggravating Hux to no end, “And what about the Republic, what is their current status?”

Holdo chimed in, “The Republic Fleet has lost more than half their numbers, having borne the brunt of the Imperial Armada. Many of their surviving ships are heavily damaged. The few that are relatively undamaged are collecting scattered escape pods and assisting with repairs.”

“And my mother?” asked Kylo.

“Still alive and kicking,” answered Holdo. “The Viscount is heavily damaged but still intact.”

“Then we’ve done what we came here to do,” replied Kylo, “Contact the Republic Fleet. Tell them to collect their survivors, and withdraw from the quadrant by the end of the day. Remind them that after today, our partnership is dissolved.”

“As you command, Supreme Leader,” replied Hux.

Kylo promptly disconnected. However, the remaining First Order leadership continued to stay on.

“Now maybe our best chance,” continued Hux, “do we all agree?”

The commanders all nodded in silence, as Rotta began speaking in Huttese, to which his interpreter droid promptly translated, “The eminent Rotta the Hutt says the sooner we put down that crazed little mongrel and his bantha of a mother the better.”

“Then it’s decided. General Quinn, recall your ground forces and withdraw from the planet’s surface immediately. The rest of you, get into your positions as we discussed, and prepare to open fire on the Republic Fleet. Admiral Holdo, you will return to the Mandator and deal with the Viscount. I will take the Eclipse and deal with Kylo myself.”

Holdo smiled, “As you command…Supreme Leader.”

***

“How are those repairs coming, Lieutenant Connix?” asked Leia.

“Ion drives are still down. We’re still getting no propulsion from any of the sub-light engines,” answered Connix.

Leia slumped in her chair, the exhaustion setting in. The day had been harrowing for her and the 1st Fleet. As of the latest tally, six Starhawks, twelve Mon Calamari cruisers and sixty-two support ships were lost, and half of the surviving ships were either heavily damaged or inoperable. Barely a third of the 1st Fleet was operational. The First Order, by comparison, suffered far fewer losses, having managed both to successfully besiege Exegol and overtake the Eclipse. A part of Leia was relieved when she saw the transmission from Kylo. Palpatine, the man who haunted their family for generations, was truly dead, the sight of his severed head on the holovid proof enough for her. Still, a part of her was very worried. The Imperial Fleet may have been scattered, but now they were at the First Order’s mercy. She was growing nervous about the First Order’s erratic movements and repositioning. Most of the Republic ships were in no condition to fight, and even the Ackbar was a sitting duck without its propulsion and its shields in working order.

He wouldn’t, she reassured herself, my son wouldn’t betray us…

“Admiral, we’re getting an audio transmission from the First Order’s Mandator,” announced Connix.

“Put it through,” instructed Leia, before introducing herself, “This is Grand Admiral Organa, who is this?”

“You’re a tough old bird, Organa…” she heard Holdo speak, “never did know when to quit.”

“Quitting never really suited me, Holdo,” answered Leia, suddenly feeling apprehensive about the call.

“Sometimes, it’s useful to know when to quit on a lost cause, like the Republic.”

“All the things you and I have been through, fighting the Empire, fighting to restore freedom…why in the Galaxy did you turn your back on it, on us?”

“Because they turned their backs on us first, Leia. You know, sometimes I wish you could see things the way I see them, see the Republic the way I see it, a bloated bureaucratic unfixable mess that betrays the very people it claims to serve, and throws away the people who fought for its survival on a political whim. You of all people should know that.”

“I know what the Republic is, I know it’s a mess, but I refuse to believe it’s unfixable, Amilyn. I know it can still be saved.”

“But why would you even want to?” asked Holdo. “Look what fighting for it cost you. Your marriage…your son. And they just stabbed you in the back for all those years of loyal service. What in the Galaxy makes you so delusional to think that after all this sacrifice, the Republic is still worth fighting for?”

“Because I saw what the alternative brings…” replied Leia, “I saw when my planet was destroyed by the Empire, just as you saw your planet suffer under their boots. We fought for freedom in those days. You championed the principles of the Republic back then, even at gunpoint. Are you so petty that you’ll betray those principles over a personal slight?”

“Maybe I was just tired of pretending that things would work out. Maybe I finally realized that it was insane to think that the Republic would be anything better than a snake pit. Maybe I decided to join a side that appreciates my worth. The Republic may need you right now, but even if you win in the end, even if you miraculously save the galaxy from the tyranny of the Empire, and snuff out the First Order, they’ll just cast you aside just like they did before.”

Leia shook her head, “You tried your luck with the First Order, thinking that maybe somehow, they’ll be different, that maybe they’ll run things better, that maybe they won’t make the same mistakes the Empire made. Too many people think that way, too many people forget how things were. I haven’t. And I’ll never stop believing, no matter what it costs me, or who’s put in front of me.”

Holdo refrained from replying, and Leia could hear a tired sigh, before speaking, “Then this is goodbye, old friend. Your son sends his regards…” The communication ceased after that, leaving Leia befuddled. The alarm suddenly blared.

“General, the Mandator is locking onto us!” shouted Connix.

The Mandator’s autocannons lit up with energy, firing a volley straight at them. The blasts struck the unshielded hull of the Ackbar, tearing right through the armor, rocking the entire ship. The bridge shook violently, throwing everyone around, as sparks and shattered terminal screens peppered the room.

“The hull’s been breached!” shouted Connix, barely managing to hold on as she reviewed her terminal. “Seal off any ruptured sections!”

“The First Order is attacking our fleet!” shouted another bridge aide, “They’re fighters are swarming all around us! Their Destroyers are advancing on our positions.”

“Dammit!” cursed a flustered Connix, before turning to “Admiral, your orders?”

Leia could feel pain in her chest, a virulent pain that she hadn’t felt since she thought her son died at the battle of Crait. Despite everyone saying, despite everyone warning her about him, she was sure that Ben would never betray her. Oh, Ben…she thought, feeling as if her heart had broken.

“Admiral, your orders?!” repeated Connix, momentarily bringing her out of her emotional stupor.

“Abandon ship. All crew members to the escape pods. Regroup with any operable ship we have left in the immediate vicinity. Send word to the Fleet. Order them to begin preparations to jump to lightspeed.”

Connix and the rest of the bridge crew all stared, dumbstruck by her answer, “We’re abandoning the Ackbar, Admiral?”

“The Ackbar is already lost lieutenant. This battle is lost. Right now, we need to save as many people as we can, and fight another day. Send the order, Connix.”

Connix begrudgingly did as ordered, and relayed Leia’s instructions. Just then, a series of explosions rocked the Ackbar once again, as a wave of Tie Bombers dive bombed the ship’s bridge. Several terminals exploded, sending bridge personnel flying around from the force, as alarms of all kinds continued to blare, emergency flood lights kicking in, painting the bridge in flashes of red. Leia herself had fallen off her chair and tumbled to the floor, hitting her head hard. She wasn’t sure if it was from one of the explosions or from banging her head, but she could only hear ringing in her ear. Her eyes struggled to focus, as she lay on her back, barely making out a bloodied Connix, as she rushed to her side, screaming inaudibly at her, taking her hand.

“Ben…” Leia whispered, on the verge of tears, unable to come to grips with it.

She noticed Connix, turning to the terminal, listening to something or someone. Slowly, the ringing in her ear began to fade, and she could barely make out a voice over the comms.

“...I repeat, this is General Finn calling the Ackbar. We’re heading to your location. Is anyone on that bridge still alive?!”

“Finn…” called out Leia, before falling unconscious.

Chapter 17: Chapter 16

Chapter Text

“What the hell is Hux doing?!” shouted an enraged Kylo, as he looked on at the holo-map, watching his own fleet turn on the Republic.

“Looks like that mangy cur stabbed us in the back,” groaned Trudgen. “Never did like that sniveling little krik.”

“Contact the ship captains,” directed Kylo, “order them to cease their attacks immediately!”

Vicrul began transmitting, but was met with only silence, “They’re not answering our hails, Kylo. They’ve shut us out.”

Kylo blinked in surprise. “All of them?”

“All of them.”

Kylo’s fists tightened as he turned to Ushar, “Get General Quinn on the line, we’re heading back to the surface.”

Ushar activated his communicator, but the transmission failed. “No response. Maybe we’re too far below the surface.”

“Or maybe they’re trying something,” countered Vicrul. “Look.”

Kylo turned to the holo-map of the planet’s surface, seeing the First Order ground army beginning to withdraw.

“Quinn is running,” said Vicrul with a heavy sigh, “They’re abandoning us.”

Kylo stared at the holo-map, his anger beginning to boil over as reality sank in, “They think they can shut me out?”

A console alarm began to beep, prompting Vicrul to check. ”We’re receiving a transmission.”

“From who?” demanded Kylo.

“From Hux,” answered Vicrul.

“Put it through…” demanded Kylo. A hologram of Hux appeared, his face a shade more serious than usual.

“Ren…” greeted Hux coldly.

“Hux, what is the meaning of this?!” shouted Kylo, “you’ve disobeyed my direct orders! I told you not to attack the Republic!”

“I’m simply doing what is best for the First Order, what you refuse to do. I told you before not to let your personal feelings get in the way, and that is exactly what you were doing. We’ve been given a chance to strike a deathblow to our enemies, but your stubborn refusal to take advantage of that is threatening our chances of winning this war.”

“I am your superior, Allegiant-General. Whether you agree with me or not, you will obey my orders! Now order the Fleet to stand down immediately.”

Hux straightened out, and sternly answered, “No.”

“What?” Kylo was taken aback by his refusal, unused to seeing Hux address him with such backbone. “You’re toying with treason, Hux. Rethink your decision before it’s too late.”

“I have rethought it, Ren. In fact, I’ve rethought our entire arrangement. You and I achieved much these past few months, but I would say our partnership has run its course. I and the rest of the captains have agreed that you are ill fit to lead us any further. Consider this our vote of no confidence.”

“This is treason, Hux! You’ve just sealed your fate!”

“No Ren…you’ve sealed yours. I must thank you for sending me the technical readout of the planet’s interior. Exegol has quite the honeycomb maze under its storm ridden surface, so many hidden bases, and geothermal substations. I see the ground beneath the Citadel is almost completely hollowed out. Any serious disruptions to the substations would cause a cave-in…should something go wrong, like…say a fully charged blast from the Eclipse’s axial gun along the nearby fault line.”

“Damn you, Hux!” shouted Ren.

“Farewell, Kylo,” sneered Hux, “If you love this dead world so much, then let it serve as your tomb.”

Hux killed the transmission.

“Get back to the elevator now!” shouted Kylo to his brethren, just as the proximity alert began to blare.

The Eclipse came into view on the holo-map, energy readings already spiking, indicating the axial cannon was primed and ready to fire. Within moments of appearing, the Eclipse shot out its beam directly down onto the planet, targeting a nearby fissure. The plasma burned through the planet’s crust, burrowing its way into the core, as the ground began to shift beneath Kylo’s feet. The rock walls began to crack all around them, the Inner Sanctum starting to fall apart, as Kylo and the others struggled to keep from falling over. The holo-map shorted out, as the consoles lit up with warnings of a complete system overload. Hux’s strike did its job, destabilizing the base and rupturing the underground substations. The entire facility was threatening to cave in on itself.

“Move it!” shouted Kylo, as they attempted to rush back to the elevator lift as the rubble rained down on them.

Kylo struggled to use the Force to shield himself and his knights from the ever-increasing amounts of debris. Vicrul assisted him, pushing away rocks that impeded their path, while Ushar assisted a one legged Trudgen to walk. Finally managing to reach the platform, Vicrul activated the console, and the platform began its slow ascent. Setting down Trudgen, Ushar assisted Kylo and Vicrul, using the Force to push away any incoming falling rocks large enough to crush them or the platform.

Clearing the inner sanctum, and entering the main cavern, the party was suddenly hit with a gust of flames.

“By the Shadow!” shouted Trudgen. The cavern was in the process of turning into a molten hellscape before their eyes, the orbital stations and docked ships exploding all around them in a conflagration of destruction. Not only were explosions lighting up every corner of the cavern walls, but the runed pillars were crumbling before their eyes. The geothermal stations had by now gone into meltdown, causing a series of chain reactions that threatened the integrity of the entire cave system. Further explosions ruptured below them, as fiery plumes of clouds began to rise up. Out in the far distance, they saw the shell of the unfinished Eclipse, breaking off its dry dock, tumbling to the ground, and exploding on impact, sending a tremendous shockwave through the cavern.

Kylo shielded his eyes, temporarily blinded from the exploding Eclipse. As he opened them and looked up, he saw an incoming boulder headed straight for them. The boulder smashed into the corner of the platform before Kylo could properly react, forcing it off its ascending course, and sending it barreling downwards with a quick jerk. The sudden impact knocked Trudgen off the platform, falling into the inferno below before anyone could even react.

“Trudgen!” screamed Ushar as he struggled to push back the flames with the Force, unable to reach out for him in time, only able to watch as his comrade disappeared into the blanket of fire below.

“He’s gone!” shouted Vicrul, also battling against the flames that continued to rise, “We need to head back to the surface! Kylo!”

Shaking off his discombobulation, Kylo grabbed hold of the platform with his Force powers, proceeding to lift it up towards the Citadel entrance at a faster pace. The explosions below and around them were compounding, the flames moving closer, threatening to engulf them. Finally reaching the surface, the three of them jumped off the platform, just as a column of fire erupted directly behind them through the shaft, destroying the platform, and sending tremors throughout the Citadel.

“Get to the entrance!” directed Kylo, but the ground began to break under their feet, knocking all three of them to the ground. Kylo looked over his shoulder to see Ushar attempt to stand, only for the ground to give out under him. Before Ushar had time to react, he fell through the ruptured floor.

“Ushar!” shouted Kylo, only to feel the ground shifting under his own feet. In a desperate bid to stay alive, Kylo placed his hand on the floor, reaching out with his power. With a deep breath, he concentrated on the rocks, sensing the building heat of the underground explosions, the cracks that began to form in the foundation, and in an act of sheer will, he compressed the ground, using the Force to keep the Citadel floor intact. However, the mental strain was tremendous, the continuous underground explosions and tremors pushing back against him, taxing his concentration, and while he barely managed to keep the Citadel floor from crumbling further, he could not maintain his hold on the rest of the citadel, which began to tilt and sink into the ground, threatening to fall through the weakening crust into the explosion-ridden cavern below.

“I can’t hold it for long!” spoke Kylo, desperately trying to figure something out, trying to convince himself he wasn’t merely delaying the inevitable. For the first time in months, Kylo felt fear.

“Ren” called out Vicrul, in a surprisingly calm, if not defeated tone “...it’s been an honor. It’s time for the Shadow to claim us.”

The sound of cracking rock diverted Kylo’s attention upwards, as the citadel walls tumbled down upon both of them.

“Look out!” shouted Kylo.

Kylo managed to telekinetically stop the rubble from hitting him, suspending the rocks midair in an impressive display. Kylo spared himself from being crushed, but Vicrul did not even bother, instead allowing the rocks to crush him.

“Vicrul!” yelled Kylo upon witnessing the last of his compatriot’s death.

Kylo breathed erratically, his fear threatening to overtake him, as everything around him began crumbling, his powers at their limit as he fought to keep the ground beneath his feet from breaking apart, and keep the rocks above from crushing him. He had gotten as far as he possibly could, defeated his foes, only to fall to an act of betrayal, something he should have accounted for, something he should have seen coming. He tried to summon his rage, to count on the inferno in his heart for a final act of defiance, but he found his anger completely burnt away, his heart finding nothing but emptiness. Kylo closed his eyes, and as if for a final taunt, he began to hear voices, voices of friends and foes alike.

“Ben!” he heard the voice of his father cry out to him.

“You think a pretender can snuff out the flame of the Sith?” taunted the voice of Palpatine

“You’ll never find yourself again…” he heard the unheeded warning of his grandfather, Anakin.

“You’ll never be stronger than me...” said the voice of Rey.

Kylo opened his eyes, sensing the Force around him, sensing the taint of the Dark Side coiling around him like an unseen serpent. He had never felt its grasp on him so potent, so deeply entrenched in his body and soul, and yet it wasn’t like before. It wasn’t drawing from anger or fear, but instead bore a strange feeling of numbness, as if the Force itself had been torn. In the end Ben Solo was not strong enough. Not even Kylo Ren was strong enough. The prize at the end of the path was oblivion. He was left with nothing, and with nothing left to give, he did the only thing he could do. He surrendered, surrendered to that beckoning call of the Force. He closed his eyes once more and allowed the Force to take him.

***

What the hell did we fly into? Finn asked himself, holding on for dear life as Maz weaved her ship around in a desperate bid to shake off two pursuing Tie Fighters, clipping the side of the Stranger’s Fortune with blaster fire, causing the ship and its occupants to jolt.

“Judging by the blaster fire, I’d say your truce with the First Order has been called off.”

“I knew it! I knew we couldn’t trust them!” hollered Finn in anger, gripping the armrest of his chair as Maz turned the tables on the pursuing Tie Fighters, looping up, and getting behind their pursuers, giving Finn a clean shot. Finn pulled the trigger, destroying both ties with a burst of laser fire, as Maz once again attempted to head back towards the damaged Ackbar, but their advance was halted by a pair of Tie interceptors, forcing them to disengage. The interceptors did not pursue, seemingly happy to only chase them away.

“Odd…” noted Maz, as she flew back, keeping a clear distance as they circled around the Viscount.

Finn and Maz had flown into a massacre. The fragile truce had clearly ended, and now the entirety of the First Order was bearing down on the weakened Republic Fleet. The two arrived just as the retreat order had been broadcasted, but they had no designs on leaving, trying repeatedly to reach the Ackbar and ensure that Leia would get out alive.

“Look there,” pointed Maz, adjusting her goggles to get a better look.

Finn, squinted hard, barely able to make out the interceptors blowing up some fleeing escape pods that had just jettisoned from the Ackbar.

“They’re attacking the escape pods as soon as they’re jettisoned…” noted Maz in disgust, “...those beasts! As if they couldn’t stoop any lower.”

“They’re not letting anyone off the ship, and they’re not letting anyone else come close to it.” Finn pulled up a battle map, examining the First Order ship formation, how they were surrounding the Viscount. “The First Order may have crippled the Ackbar, but they’re still not willing to attack the ship with their Destroyers. They’re setting up a perimeter and keeping anyone from getting in or out.” He then noticed the Mandator closing in, “...and they’ll let their Mandator finish it at a distance with its autocannons.” They’ve got her trapped… realized Finn, just as a communique came through from the Ackbar.

“Finn, is that you?!” spoke the voice of Kaydel Ko Connix, Leia’s lieutenant.

“Connix! Thank the Force you’re alright.”

“Finn, they’re destroying any escape pod that leaves the ship. We’re stranded.”

“I know, we’re seeing it from out here, they’re not letting us near you.”

“The Mandator’s still charging its weapons, but we’re not gonna last much longer at this rate. And Finn, Leia…she’s not doing well.”

Finn felt a lump building in his throat at the news, fearing the worst, “What happened?”

“She fell. We've got her stabilized in a medical capsule for now, but she needs serious medical attention.”

“Damn it!” burst out Finn, “We’ve got to get to her!”

“We’ll never reach them,” argued Maz, “Their fighters will swarm us if we approach. The Fortune is fast but not that fast.”

“Not if we lead you in,” chimed in a female voice over the comms. Finn looked out the co*ckpit window to his right and saw a squadron of Y-Wings formed up alongside their ship. A group of X-wings joined up on their left, and behind them approached a trio of Starhawks in battle formation.

“General Finn, this is commander Pava. We’ll cover your approach as best we can. You can fly right into the docking bay, and get the Admiral out of there.”

Finn looked over to the Mandator, and five nearby Star Destroyers grouping into battle formation. “That dreadnought will be ready to fire on the Ackbar any minute. We won’t get there in time.”

“Let us handle the dreadnought. We’ll keep them busy and let you and the fighters move in.”

“Three Starhawks against five Star Destroyers and a Dreadnought? That’s a suicide run, Commander. I can’t order you to do that.”

“And you won’t have to, General. Anything for Admiral Organa.”

Finn sighed heartedly, before acknowledging, “Thank you, Commander Pava. We’ll follow your lead. May the Force be with you.”

“Tell Poe we gave these bastards hell. Out.”

Finn switched comm channels, “Connix, we’re heading in. Move Leia to the main docking bay, and get ready for our arrival. This is going to be a rough one.”

“Roger that.”

Finn sighed, wrapping his hand around the trigger grip, “Okay Maz, take us in.”

Maz nodded, “Keep those fighters off me as best as you can. I’ll get us there.”

The Starhawks advanced first, immediately unloading a trio of volleys at the Mandator, inflicting moderate damage to the vessel’s heavily armored hull. The Mandator turned away from the crippled Ackbar and trained its guns on the leading Starhawk, firing its autocannons. The Starhawk exploded instantly, just as the other two Starhawks promptly repositioned, floating down, and aiming for the autocannons. Firing a pair of volleys, the Starhawks succeeded in hitting their mark, disabling the dreadnought’s autocannons, but in doing so, they allowed themselves to be surrounded by the supporting Destroyers. Within close enough range, the Destroyers wasted no time barraging them with turbo laser fire. With no avenue of escape, the Starhawks stood their ground and returned fire, holding out for as long as possible.

Amid the engagement, the Stranger’s Fortune and the fighter escorts made their approach, fighting their way through a torrent of Ties. Maz displayed her dog fighting skills, expertly weaving her relic of a ship in and out of enemy attacks, as Finn did his damnedest to keep up on the laser cannons, downing a few Ties as they flew their way through. Their escorting fighters provided much needed cover, engaging the bulk of the Tie fighters in close range, allowing the Fortune to fly in close to the Ackbar.

“Connix, we’re heading in. Stand by,” radioed Finn, as Maz flew towards the hanger.

Finn left his seat, and headed to the back of his ship, preparing to open the cargo hold doors. The Fortune passed through the hangar’s magnetic field and touched down. Connix and a small team of medical staff and droids were already waiting with Leia in tow, who was inside a floating medical capsule. Finn opened the doors, and the group filed in, taking care to bring Leia in first.

“How is she?” he asked.

“Not good.” replied a worried Connix, as the staff began to secure the capsule.

Finn looked at Leia, unconscious, a breathing mask covering her nose and mouth. The site of her fragile state sent a shiver up Finn’s spine, and for a brief moment, he thought she might have been dead already.

“Finn,” shouted Maz from the co*ckpit. “We have company! It’s the Eclipse! We need to leave now!”

Finn closed the doors and held onto an overhead handle, “We’re in, Maz. Punch it!”

The Stranger’s Fortune lifted off and blasted out of the hanger bay without a moment to spare. Finn looked through the viewing port to see the Eclipse just ahead, its axial laser already charging with an emerald glow. The Eclipse fired, striking the Ackbar dead center. The beam pierced straight through the ship’s hull. Within seconds, the vessel was completely engulfed by a massive explosion that seemingly lit up the sky. Finn, Connix and the others all watched somberly, as the Republic Flagship, the greatest ship in the Fleet, vanished before their eyes. The Fortune’s hyperdrive engaged, and then everything blinked out of view as they jumped into lightspeed.

Finn turned away to look at Leia, shifting restlessly in her capsule, as if aware of what just happened. A part of him felt bewildered by the whole situation. He thought he was coming here to save Rey, but instead he ended up saving Leia. I’m not going to lose you, he thought, just as Maz drew his attention.

“Finn, you need to get up here and listen to this.”

Finn walked back to the co*ckpit, where Maz directed him to sit down. An audio transmission was playing across the comms, “It’s being broadcasted on all channels, and on the Republic holonet.”

Finn instantly recognized the voice as Allegiant-General Pryde.

“Today marks a tragic day for the Galactic Empire. Our great Emperor is dead, killed in a coordinated surprise attack by the Galactic Republic and the scheming traitors calling themselves the First Order. But fear not, loyal sons and daughters of the Empire. The reports of Lady Ira’s death were false. Emperor Palpatine is dead. Long live Empress Ira!”

Finn’s heart skipped a beat as he heard another voice, a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“My loyal subjects…” spoke the voice of Rey, “...it is with great sadness that I speak before you now….we were dealt a grave blow today, a blow our enemies had hoped would be enough to destroy us. But I assure you, they have not succeeded. Emperor Palpatine dreamed of restoring the Galactic Empire, to unite the Galaxy under one leadership, one voice. He desired to deliver the Galaxy back into the hands of the strong and pry it away from the weak and undeserving, to restore security and safety to its citizenry. As his apprentice, I understood the importance of his dream better than anyone else. I made it my mission to protect him and help him achieve that dream. However, as his apprentice, I failed in my duty to protect him…but as his successor I make this vow to you now…I will succeed in carrying out his vision of a strong and united Galaxy. I will punish those that sought to stop us, and I will end this war once and for all. To all those loyal to the Empire, know that I will lead you to total victory. To the Republic, I will soon offer you one chance to surrender peacefully. To the First Order, you will receive no mercy from me. This is Empress Ira, rightful ruler of the Galaxy, and I am coming to take what is mine…”

***

Rey shut down the communicator, and took a deep breath, resisting the urge to tug on the sleeves of her brand-new outfit. Her new tunic was regal, elegant, and practical, befitting of a Force wielder. The color scheme of black with red trimmings was made to evoke the apparel of the Sith Lords, the quality fit for an Empress, but something about it felt very uncomfortable. Rey brushed it out of her mind as an Allegiant-General Pryde walked towards her.

“A fine speech Empress Ira…” he congratulated, causing Rey to flinch upon hearing it, the sound of her new name and title also making her uncomfortable. Pryde continued, “Your message will no doubt sow fear into the hearts of our enemies.”

“No doubt,” she replied, looking over Pryde’s shoulder and noticing someone else lurking in the corner of her private quarters.

“If you’ll excuse me, Allegiant-General. I’d like a moment to myself.”

“As you wish, Empress,” bowed Pryde, backing away towards the exit, “I will oversee the preparations just as you’ve instructed.”

Pryde left the room, the doors locking behind him, leaving Rey to deal with her uninvited guest.

“So you’ve finally done it…” spoke the voice of Luke Skywalker, his previously kind face now replaced by a look of apprehension, his voice laced with a hint of fear, “...you’ve finally become what your master always wanted you to be. Does it please you?”

“Come to lecture me yet again, Jedi? Or are you here to spin more lies like you did on Jandur.”

“I never lied to you, Rey-”

“You withheld the truth from me,” countered Rey, calm but sternly, “A lie by omission is still a lie.”

“I showed you the truth, from a certain point of view.”

Rey snickered, “How typical of the Jedi…keep to your code until it no longer suits you. Tell the truth until it isn’t convenient for you. Spare your enemies until they are too strong for you. Such hypocrisy. You led me to believe that I was responsible for my parents’ deaths, but I wasn’t. My aunt killed them, not me, but you would have made me believe otherwise. Why? Give me a straight answer, Jedi.”

Luke obliged her, “I deceived you because I had to, Rey. The future isn't easy to see. It’s ever changing, alway in motion, reshaped by every decision we make. But I saw a clear enough glimpse of your future, I saw what would happen if you discovered the truth. I hoped to turn you away from it for good, but I didn’t count on Palpatine’s last ditch interference.”

“He showed me the truth about my past, and about you…you lured me away from Exegol. You knew Kylo would attack, and you made sure I wasn’t there to stop him!”

“Do you really believe that?” asked Luke.

“You give me no reason to believe otherwise,” countered Rey, “you made a choice. You chose your family,” “you chose your own blood. I understand that, even if it makes you a hypocrite. Jedi are not meant to harbor attachments, not even family. Your nephew may have killed my master, but he did not finish the job. I’m still alive, and Kylo is dead. I sense nothing from him. The best chance you had to stop me is dead. Now I’m going to finish my master’s work, and I'll start by killing the last living Jedi. One Skywalker still lives. I will be sure to pay your sister a visit.”

Luke’s face betrayed nothing as he spoke, “It’s sad to see what you’ve become, Rey. You have reached a level of mastery over the Force that few beings have ever dreamed of. You have mended your broken mind, and broke through your limits. But you’re less now than you’ve ever been before. Your master has filled your head with pointless ambitions, and foolhardy vendettas, and they will lead you down a path of tyranny.”

“Spare me the rhetoric. I’ve seen the alternative. I lived in a galaxy that you helped foster, a galaxy where the feeble cling to power, where everyone squabbles among themselves, and the desperate are ignored. I suffered under the would-be governance of the Republic, and I will not allow it to continue. Under my rule, no one shall ever have to suffer like I did ever again…”

“You’ll trade one form of suffering for another, Rey.”

“Enough!” Rey flicked her hand, pushing Luke’s ghost back, much to his surprise. It was not an attack, but more of a warning, imparting on him the knowledge that even now, even in his incorporeal form, he was not beyond her reach. “I’ve had enough of this conversation. I know exactly what you are, and I have no further need to speak to you. Leave my sight while you’re still in one piece.”

Luke got back to his feet, “A final word of warning, Empress. The Force cannot abide a master. It will not be controlled, and now it is more unbalanced than ever. It will find a way to redress itself. It must, and it will do everything in its power to stop you.”

Rey smirked, “Let it try, because nothing will be enough…”

Chapter 18: Chapter 17

Chapter Text

The past week had been the longest of Finn’s life. After the disastrous defeat at Exegol, the Republic had been thrown into complete disarray. Nearly a third of its total fleet strength had been lost, including the Republic's Flagship. Finn and the remaining survivors of the 1st Fleet had managed to regroup on Coruscant, but the damage was already done. Though Palpatine had been killed and the Sith Citadel destroyed, the Empire was still in a commanding position. As if that wasn’t problematic enough, now the First Order had a superweapon of their own, and even more ships added to their fleet after the mass defection. News of Kylo’s death and Rey’s ascension had already spread, and had thrown Republic Intelligence for a loop. On the political front, Supreme Chancellor Omas was struggling to keep his already tenuous grip on a divided Galactic Senate. Rey’s cryptic demand for surrender was a point of fierce contention, with many of the more jittery senators advocating for conditional surrender should a formal offer be made.

Worst of all was the situation with Leia and her deteriorating health. Despite having been stabilized, she remained unconscious since the battle, only occasionally showing signs of cognition and talking in her sleep. Her vitals were quite weak and growing weaker by the day, and despite being attended to by the best medical professionals in the capital, they were not expecting her to last more than a few days. In light of her failing health, Chancellor Omas had appointed Lando Calrissian to the rank of Grand Admiral, who proceeded to bolster Coruscant’s planetary defenses as strongly as possible. Preparations had gone smoother with the arrival of Poe and the 2nd Fleet, as well as the newly finished second Viscount, aptly named the Skywalker in honor of the late Jedi Master. The bulk of the entire Republic Fleet was now in orbit above Coruscant and battle-ready, making it the most secure place in Republic space. Still, in spite of the show of strength, there was a purveying tension that an attack was not only likely, but imminent.

After an exceedingly long and arduous day overseeing defensive preparations, Finn decided to forgo his daily meditation and instead spend some time with Poe and the rest of the gang in Central Command’s private lounge. Finn arrived first, sipping his cup of jawa juice as the rest of the crew began to file in, with Chewie and Rose Tico arriving just after him, and already in the middle of an argument.

“Listen I’ve had it with you and Babu Frik’s suggestions on rerouting the power, okay. It’s not gonna work, I did the math.”

Chewie bellowed in disagreement, causing Rose to groan in frustration as they took their seats at the counter, asking the droid bartender for drinks.

Finn spoke, “Should I even ask how it’s going with the shield upgrades?”

“Don’t ask,” answered Rose, rubbing her eyes, taking a sip of her drink, “The readings we got from the Ackbar's run-in with the Eclipse made us realize that the Viscount’s shields aren’t up to snuff. Poe wants us to upgrade them, but we still can’t figure out how to do that without shorting out the entire ship. He called in some old tech savvy friends of his from Kijimi, and they’ve been driving me nuts. This one Anzellan, Babu Frik, wants to completely overhaul the power flow systems to the shield generator, and the Wookiee here actually agrees with him.”

Chewie hollered defensively, just as Poe walked in.

“You two are still going at it about that generator?” Poe asked knowingly.

Chewie answered with a groan, as Poe sat down with them, ordering a drink of his own.

Rose chimed in, “Your little Anzellan friend wants to completely redo the generator’s power systems. The kind of wattage we’re dealing with, he’s liable to blow it up.”

“Listen, Babu is an expert at taking something that absolutely should not work, and making it work. Trust me, and trust him.”

“Oh how I missed you guys.” smirked Finn, before deciding to change the subject and asked Poe, “How’s Leia? You went to see her?”

“Yep,” said Poe, downing his drink in one gulp before motioning to the bar droid for a refill.

“That bad?” asked Finn.

“Worse. She started talking in her sleep again while I was visiting her. I’m scared she’s gonna go any minute.”

“I know what you mean,” said Finn. “She’s tough but…I can feel it. She’s slipping away.”

“Isn’t there anything you can do, a wave of your hand or something? I mean you’re a Jedi after all.”

“I can’t help with that,” said Finn, regrettably, “I’m a Jedi, not a miracle worker. I wish all it took was a wave of a hand and poof, she’s all better, but that’s not how the Force works. A Jedi can’t stop natural death.”

“I know, I know…it's just…I’ve been under her from the very beginning, when I first decided to join the resistance. I mean, before I decided to join the Resistance, I was just a spice runner on Kijimi, a young punk without a future, but she took a chance on me anyway.”

“And now you’re an admiral in the Republic Fleet. Looks to me like she made the right choice.”

“She made the right choice with you too.”

Finn smiled, genuinely happy to hear that. “Thanks.”

Poe smirked briefly, before his small smile faded, “I don’t know what we’re gonna do without her. What the Republic will do without her. She’s more than a leader, she’s a symbol.”

“The best we can,” answered Finn, “it’s all we can really do.”

Poe nodded, tapping his cup nervously, “So…you wanna talk about it?”

“About what?” deflected Finn, sensing what he was about to ask.

“About Rey,” Poe clarified.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Finn, I can tell it's bothering you-”

“I don’t wanna talk about this,” repeated Finn, standing up from his seat.

“Where are you going?” asked Rose.

“To see Leia.”

“Come on, we just got here,” said Poe.

But Finn would not be dissuaded, “Look, if you’re gonna keep trying to interrogate me about Rey, then I’d rather be somewhere else, alright?”

Finn left the lounge and started making his way to the base’s medical center when he felt something, a tremor in the Force. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Finn still managed to sense it.

“Can’t be…”

Finn rushed to the end of the hallway and turned the corner, looking down to the elevator at the far end of the adjacent hallway. A group of med techs dressed in full scrubs began entering the elevator. The last one to enter, a human woman, turned around to close the doors, but not before briefly making eye contact with Finn. Her face was obscured by a surgical mask, but her hazel eyes were unmistakable.

“Rey?” whispered Finn, just as the elevator doors closed.

***

Leia Organa was well acquainted with death. Her birth parents, her adopted parents, her friends, her husband, her brother, and now her son. Almost everyone in her life had died, and she knew she was soon to follow. She did not have a full awareness of her surroundings. She presumed she was in some kind of medical facility, slowly waiting for the inevitable. She could hear Lando, Poe and Finn, when they visited her, hearing their faint voices as if they were speaking from so far away. She just managed to make out what they were saying: the latest news of the war, reminiscing of old times, or even to air their worries. She heard Finn’s voice the most, as he visited her the most, pained by the knowledge that Rey had succeeded Palpatine, heartbroken over how things had turned out. He spoke to her about it, asking for advice, wondering what she would do in his shoes. It hurt Leia to know how lost he felt, and how she was unable to guide him, but she was in no position to. Leia knew her time was coming, but she wasn’t spending it completely alone. And there was somebody she could talk to, somebody who decided to pay her an overdue visit.

“I’m so sorry,” said Luke to his sister, his voice speaking directly into her mind.

Leia could sense her brother’s presence, and even converse with him through the Force.

“Sorry for what?” she asked him.

“For everything. For not being there. For not being able to save Ben. For not being able to stop Rey. For failing you when you needed me most…when you all needed me most.”

“It isn't your fault, Luke.”

“But it is. I tried to turn Rey to the light, but all I did in the end was push her further into the dark. I tried to hide the truth from her. I thought maybe if I did, I would spare her pain-”

“And did it?”

“No. It just made things worse.”

“Did it spare you any pain when Kenobi and Yoda hid the truth about Vader?”

Luke hesitated, and Leia could sense her brother’s misgivings. After a long pause, he continued, “I guess I ended up making the same mistakes as them,” he confessed.

Leia understood better than most, remembering her brother’s decision to go down the path of the Jedi, to forgo the pursuit of attachments and want. To walk the luminous path, as Yoda put it. She respected her brother’s decision, even if she didn’t fully understand it. It was a sad sight to hear the remorse in his voice.

“Do you have any regrets?” she asked him, “About devoting yourself to the Jedi Code?”

“Yes…” he confessed, “...I tried so hard to rediscover their teachings, to learn from them, and emulate them. And in the end, I made those same mistakes. I thought I wouldn’t fall into that same trap, but I did, and now the galaxy has to pay for my mistake.”

“Is she really that powerful?” asked Leia.

“Yes,” answered Luke gravely. “Kylo was the only one who came close…and with him gone there’s no one else.”

Leia was disturbed by her brother’s words. Her heart was weighed down, hearing of her son’s death. Even though she already knew the answer, she was compelled to ask, “Is Ben really gone?”

“Yes… he’s gone, Leia.”

“I thought I felt something during the battle, after I lost consciousness. it was like a dream, I thought I felt him…he was broken, he was afraid…and then I couldn’t sense him anymore. That’s when I knew…I’d never see him again, never make things right with him.”

“I’m so sorry. And our chances of winning died with him.”

“You don’t have any hope at all, do you?” asked Leia, biting back her sorrow.

“I’d lie to you, but you’d know.”

“You make her sound like she’s a monster-”

“She is, Leia. She’s a perversion of the Force itself. You have to understand, her very existence is a threat to the balance of the Force. She is what every Sith aspired to become, and now they’ve won. There are no more Jedi to stop them.”

“But Finn, he’s-”

“He’s not strong enough, Leia,” interrupted Luke, “Palpatine got what he wanted. And if Rey decides to attack, she won’t be stopped.”

“I don’t accept that,” said Leia. “I’ve mentored Finn, I’ve seen how far he’s come in just a few months. It hasn’t come easy to him, but he’s made so much progress.”

“And you’ve done a wonderful job with him. More than I ever could have hoped. You’ve been an amazing Jedi teacher, better than I had any right to expect. But Finn’s not ready. I don’t think he’ll ever be ready to face something like her. I’m not sure if any Jedi can.”

“I can’t believe she’s that far gone, and deep down, I don’t think you believe that either. You took a huge gamble and you turned Vader back to the light when everyone else thought it was hopeless.”

“That was different, Leia. He was family. There was a bond there.”

“And there’s a bond between Rey and Finn. He loves her, Luke.”

Her words caught Luke by surprise, “Does he? Even still?”

“I know he does. I know it deep down in my soul. It’s the kind of bond Han and I had, the kind of bond that, no matter how far away you go, no matter how much time passes, or how badly you think you damaged it…won’t break. That’s how he feels about her, even now, and if she even remotely feels the same way…maybe there’s still a chance.”

“You’re taking a huge gamble, Leia.”

Leia smirked, “Well, I am your sister, after all.”

Now it was Luke’s turn to ask her a question, “Do you regret how things turned out with Han?”

Leia mulled over the answer for a moment before answering, “Yes. I was so desperate to serve the Republic I neglected him, and Ben. We drifted apart, and after Kylo, we…ran away from each other. Maybe we were just too afraid to show each other how hurt we were. We both tried to deal with it in our own ways. We both wasted so much time…”

“So did I…” said Luke, “sometimes delving too deep into the past…blinds you from the things that matter in your life.”

“I served the Republic for so long, and only now after I lost just about everyone, I realized something. Sometimes, you need to stop looking at the big picture. Sometimes, you need to focus on the things that really matter to you.”

The two let a moment of silence pass, content to just be in one another’s presence, when they felt a sudden shift, a warping of some kind, but not in a physical sense. She could sense her brother suddenly start to panic.

“How could I have missed her?” he asked himself.

“Luke, what is it?”

Luke could only reply, “She’s here…” before he suddenly disappeared, as if he was pushed away.

Moments after, Leia could feel a current of unseen power surging through her body, and before she could even determine what was the cause, she miraculously opened her eyes to see the overhead lights of the hospital room. A sudden rush of awareness overtook her, her senses returning as she sat up from her bed, unsure of what to make of what she had felt. She was awake, fully conscious, her body imbued with a renewed vigor. She hadn’t felt this good in years, certainly not since before she knew she was dying. It was as if her whole body had all at once been healed, but she had no idea how.

“Admiral Organa…” spoke a voice to her immediate right. “...feeling better?”

Leia looked over to see who was speaking, and she saw a young woman sitting down, dressed in medical garb, but she was no medtech. Her hazel eyes momentarily turned a shade of gold, the Sith eyes. The young woman took off her mask and stared at her intently.

“Rey?”

“I’m here to negotiate your surrender.”

***

Why did he have to see me? asked Rey, her mind still preoccupied with Finn. Her little subterfuge had gone off perfectly until he turned that corner, locking eyes with her. It was something she didn’t count on, even though she should have. A thousand things could have gone wrong, as Allegiant-General Pryde had incessantly warned her when she insisted on this covert operation. Nevertheless, Rey would not be dissuaded, and to Pryde’s credit, he and his Imperial agents had truly outdone themselves. Not only did they arrange smuggling her onto Coruscant completely under the detection of the Republic Fleet, but they also managed to counterfeit the proper credentials and provide clearance codes to Coruscanti Central Command’s Medical Wing. Harder still was locating Leia within the sprawling superstructure in the heart of Coruscant’s Senate District, but once Rey was on site and in proper disguise, she was certain it would’ve been a simple task to discover that information. She read the minds of everyone she encountered, every passerby in the halls, every technician, security detail, or high-ranking officer who she passed by, until she found the information she wanted. She mind-tricked her way through any encounter, conversation or checkpoint, doing well to avoid the cameras or subtly redirect them if she needed to pass unseen. Nobody recognized her, and as quickly as they saw her, they immediately forgot her. But somehow Finn recognized her instantly, and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. She hoped he’d be somewhere else, anywhere else but in this building.

Rey pushed the thought out of her mind, compelling herself to focus on the moment.

“I’m here to negotiate your surrender.” she spoke, gauging her quarry, seeing how the great Leia Organa would react.

Clearly confused, Leia nevertheless did not even flinch, and simply asked, “How did you bring me back?”

“I can do things with the Force that no Sith or Jedi could do. I have the power to heal, and stave off death for as long as I wish, the very power your late father so desperately hoped to acquire. I find the road to success is often paved by the failures of the ones who came before you.”

Leia turned to the edge of the bed, and stood up, “I haven’t felt this good in years. I’ve almost forgotten.”

Rey sat in silence as Leia took a few steps around the room. She saw Leia eying the call button on the railing of the hospital bed.

“No use calling for help,” answered Rey. “I’ve sealed off this wing, and changed the security codes. The guards are under my power. We shouldn’t be disturbed.”

“Why did you heal me?” she asked Rey.

“Perhaps I wanted to speak with the legendary Leia Organa-Solo face to face. In a way, this is our first meeting, you meeting the real me anyway. And I am very curious about you, the woman who gave the Empire nothing but grief since she was fifteen years old, the woman who's been training Finn in the ways of the Force, the last of the Jedi Order. I just had to meet you in person.”

“You sensed Luke and you drove him away.”

Rey nodded, “I’ve had more than my fill of your brother’s meddling. His sermonizings have long since lost their shine. No, I wanted to speak to you alone. You are the leader of the Republic, after all.”

“I’m not the leader of the Republic-”

“Yes you are,” cut in Rey, “if not in title, then certainly in practice. The Chancellor, the Senate, they’re bureaucrats who specialize in wasting time and betraying their own allies. They do not speak for the people, even if they pretend to. But you…you do. The people listen to you, they put their faith in you. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I brought you back. This war has gone on long enough. I want to negotiate an end to it.”

“A Sith willing to negotiate? Is this some kind of trick?”

“This is no trick, and why not negotiate? Are the Jedi still so self-righteous even now that they will not negotiate with a Sith? Contrary to what you might think, I don’t enjoy killing. I have done it many times, but I never enjoy it. Bringing you back will demonstrate to them my ability to show mercy.”

Leia tilted her head, either in contemplation or in attempting to read her mind. Instinctively, Rey guarded her mental faculties, but no such attempt was made.

“I can see why Finn likes you,” Leia said, the words catching Rey off-guard. “I can’t lie, the way my brother described you, I was expecting someone…else. Someone more like Palpatine, but you’re not like him.”

“I never claimed to be.” replied Rey.

“Then why pursue this? You have the power to stop this war right now. Why not just call it off.”

“Because this was my master’s final wish. As his apprentice and successor, it is my duty to carry it out.”

“And what is his final wish? To besiege Coruscant? To wipe out the Republic?”

“To replace a weak and sickly government with a strong one. To establish order and enforce a lasting peace that won’t crumble to scheming politicians in the Senate, to exude strength rather than weakness and uphold the common good.”

“And who decides the common good? How will you enforce it? What will you do with the people who fall outside it? Kill them?”

“I’ve already told you. I have no interest in killing. Which is why we’re talking now. Nobody else has to die. Not even you. I prefer my final victory to be bloodless. These are the terms I’m offering, and they are nonnegotiable. The Republic is to disband its remaining two fleets, and relinquish command of the remaining Viscount to Imperial control. The Senate will recognize me as the rightful ruler of the Galactic Empire, and allow the Imperial Fleet to occupy Coruscanti space to oversee a peaceful transition of government. The Chancellorship is to be abolished, but no other Senators will be harmed or detained. The Senate will remain intact as an advisory body. In exchange I will immediately cease all aggressive action and personally hunt down the First Order. They betrayed you too after all, and they need to be brought to justice.”

Leia listened, but already Rey could see she had no intentions of agreeing. Finally, the elderly woman replied, “I know how this ends. I’ve seen it all once before. How long before you dissolve the Senate like your master did? How long before you’re building superweapons under the guise of peace? How long before you or someone else starts persecuting nonhumans like before? I reject your terms.”

“Don’t try me, Jedi.” warned Rey, “I am offering you one chance to save your skins. We both know how this plays out otherwise. You can’t win. Why fight if you have no chance of winning?”

“We had no chance before, but we beat the odds. And as for me, I’m not afraid of dying. So if this is all you have to say, do whatever you have to and stop wasting my time. We both know you can’t allow me to live.”

Rey couldn’t help but admire Leia’s staunchness. She had absolutely no fear, despite the unwinnable odds. “I was going to kill you if you refused my offer…but it seems destiny has already decided you will die in this room, whether it is by my hand, or by a natural death. But it doesn’t have to be. Never mind the terms or the Republic. What I am offering you is far more personal. If time is what you want, then I can give it to you. Forswear the way of the Jedi, abandon this war, and I will give you a second chance to live again.”

“Why would you do that for me?”

Rey chose her words carefully, “There’s more than one way to end the Jedi, and perhaps I don’t want to spill your blood this day.”

“But why?” Leia persisted, as if trying to coax her true motives out of her.

“Because I don’t want to hurt him…because you matter to him.”

“You mean Finn?”

Rey closed her eyes, feeling almost embarrassed by her confession, “I’m offering you a chance to walk away from all this. If I can dissuade you from this fight, maybe I can dissuade him. You don’t owe the Republic anything, and neither does he. Renounce the path of the Jedi, and live out the rest of your life in peace. Do not waste what’s left of your life the way your brother did.”

After a brief pause, Leia spoke, “You may not believe this, but I’ve never considered myself a true Jedi, I never finished the training. My brother was the real Jedi. He put the Jedi code before everything else, something he regretted in the end. He told me he failed to pay attention to the things that really matter, the personal things, the kind of relationships a Jedi would forbid. They lacked empathy, they were afraid to connect with people because they thought it made themselves vulnerable to the Dark Side, but it doesn’t. Luke used to know better, when he saved our father from your master. But he forgot that lesson along the way, and he ended up making the same mistakes as his predecessors did. I never believed in the Code like he did, but I still made the same mistake. I ignored the people that mattered to me in pursuit of a dream, a dream to restore the ideals of the Old Republic, something that was so pure, but it was never pure, and after we won, we made the same mistakes that destroyed it in the first place. I lost my son to that dream…and no matter what you offer, that will never change. That’s something I have to live with, no matter how much more time you give me. We can’t keep making the same mistakes, we can’t keep blindly following the ones that came before us, we need to change, we need to be our better selves. There is still a chance.”

“A chance for what?” asked Rey.

“For you and Finn. Finn still loves you, and you love him. I see the look in your eyes whenever I say his name. You care deeply about him, as much as he cares about you. Despite everything you’ve been through, everything you’ve been taught, you’re still clinging onto hope that you might see him again. He wants to believe that your old self is still there.”

“My old self was a ruse, a disguise meant to disarm and get close to my enemies. Nothing more.”

“If that’s true then why do you hate killing? Why are we even having this conversation? Why have you refrained from killing me or anyone else in this facility?”

Rey hesitated to answer.

“It’s because deep down that is not who you want to be. My brother told me about what happened to you and your family. What happened to you was a terrible thing, something no girl should ever have to go through. My brother was wrong to mislead you the way he did, but he was terrified of what you would become if he didn’t. He put his faith in the Force and in his predecessors, but he didn’t have any faith in you. I do, and so does Finn.”

“If you’re trying to play games with me-”

“This isn’t a game, Rey. You have my answer. What happens next is up to you. There’s always a chance to stop, to be who you want to be instead of who you’re expected to be. It’s your decision, Rey. It’s always been your decision.”

Rey internalized her words, surprised by her own hesitation. She had sworn off Jedi wisdom, but Leia’s words cut surprisingly deep. She began to understand why Finn held her in such high regard, why he was committed to her teachings and guidance.

“I’m trying to decide if you’re the best of the Jedi or the worst…” Rey confessed.

Leia smiled, “Well, I’ve never been accused of sticking to the rules.”

Suddenly, Rey’s attention diverted to the nearby door, as a dance of sparks ignited, a blue lightsaber piercing through the metal and slicing a big hole through the metal plating. The cut slab slammed onto the ground with an echoing thud, and through the fresh opening came an irate Chewbacca, hollering at the top of his lungs with his bowcaster at the ready.

“Chewie…” called out Rey, holding her hands up in an attempt to pacify him.

Rushing into the room right behind him were Poe Dameron, Rose Tico and of course Finn, all of them armed, Poe and Rose with their blasters trained, and Finn with a lightsaber in hand.

“Step away from Leia!” shouted Poe, his eyes full of anger and apprehension.

Her hands still up, Rey slowly began to back away from the bed, until she found herself leaning against the wall.

Chewie let out an accusing scream, which Rey took offense.

“I’ve done her no harm, Chewie.”

“That’s only because we stopped you before you got the chance!” shouted Poe. “Now get down on the ground!”

“If you think you can detain me, you’re sorely mistaken,” challenged Rey, “Let me walk out of this room, and there won’t be any violence. But if you try to get in my way-”

“Rey, please,” pleaded Finn, daring to take a step forward, his eyes the only ones that weren’t simmering with hatred. “Don’t do this.”

Hearing Finn’s plea left her with a lump in her throat, but before Rey could respond, they heard the heart monitor by Leia’s bed flatline. Everyone, including Rey, turned sharply to Leia, seeing her laying down in the bed, looking so comfortable, as if she was only in a deep sleep, but everyone quickly began to realize that she was gone. Frantically, Rose and Finn rushed to her bedside, Rose checking the console, and Finn checking her pulse, hoping it was some kind of mistake.

“She’s gone,” said Finn, his voice on the verge of cracking.

For a brief moment, there was complete stillness, as if the world momentarily froze, the news hitting all of them, leaving them all momentarily stunned, even Rey. However, the shock quickly passed as Rey began to notice venomous glances from the group, their eyes turning from shock to anger.

“You did this!” shouted Poe, “You killed her!”

“No…I- I didn’t!” stuttered Rey.

“This is all your fault!” shouted Rose, pointing her blaster back at Rey.

Chewbacca roared violently, before looking down through the sights of his bowcaster.

“Wait!” shouted Finn, but his word was ignored as the other three fired on Rey.

Rey stretched out her hand, suspending the blaster bolts midair, and with her other hand, she directed a blast of Force energy to the wall, breaking through the metal and concrete to expose the outside. With no time to waste, Rey jumped through the newly made breach, plunging several stories to the lower levels of the facility, only to land gracefully on her feet without injury. Rey looked back up to see Finn Force jump after her, falling inelegantly towards her, slipping up and falling down as he landed. Despite the landing, he made it unharmed, standing back up, his lightsaber in hand but not activated.

Rey bit back a chuckle, but soon began to realize that Republic security guards were fast approaching.

“Think you can keep up?” asked Rey playfully, slipping her hand in her pocket and activating her ship’s remote autopilot system and transponder beacon.

Rey raced with incredible speed towards the very edge of the massive kilometer high superstructure, overlooking the rest of the city and the flying speeder traffic below. She looked back at Finn, giving him a smile before vaulting herself off the building. She felt the winds on her face and the sounds of the city buzzing past her ears as she fell ever downward, passing multitudes of speeders. She looked back to see Finn hot on her heels, a look of grave concern plastered on his face, clearly out of his comfort zone as he also made the descent.

Well done, Rey thought, turning her head to look forward, seeing a perfect target to land on, an elongated truckspeeder. Stretching out her hand and concentrating, Rey used the Force to slow down the vehicle, then gracefully landed on the attached cargo container. She turned around to see if Finn managed to make it. Sure enough, Finn did, gripping the corner railings of the truckspeeder’s cargo container. Gritting his teeth, he managed to pull himself up, much to Rey’s relief. The two squared off atop the container, as the skyscrapers of Coruscant whizzed by them.

“You’ve learned so much,” said Rey, impressed, dare she say almost jovial.

“I had a good teacher,” said Finn, his expression as cold as stone. “Did you do it?”

“No. I swear to you, I did not kill her. Her time had come, she went the way she wanted.”

“How can I believe you?” he asked.

“Look into my mind if you don’t believe me,” answered Rey.

Finn hesitated, but did not in fact look, his features softening, instead taking her at her word. “Why were you there with her?”

“I only wanted to talk to her.”

“How did you get her to talk?”

“You’re not the only one who’s learned new things,” countered Rey. “I offered her a chance to surrender, to stop this war. She refused my terms. Then I offered her a chance to extend her life, and again she refused me. She’s quite a remarkably stubborn woman.”

“Yes…she was…” Finn’s voice tapered off, but he regained his composure and asked, “What now, Rey? Did you think this through? Do you expect me to let you go?”

“That depends,” replied Rey, walking towards him slowly, “You can try to bring me into custody, but I will tell you now, I won’t be held prisoner.”

Finn cautiously brandished his lightsaber, grasping the hilt with both hands, but falling short of activating it, “Stay back, Rey.”

But Rey ignored his warnings, continuing to walk towards him, “Or you can kill me, and prove you’re a real Jedi.”

“I’m warning you! Don’t come any closer!”

“They’ll call you a hero, the Jedi pupil who slayed the evil Empress Ira. The one who destroyed the last of the Sith taint and brought balance to the Force once again.”

“Don’t make me do this, Rey!”

Rey walked right up to him, and gently but purposefully grabbed his hands. She guided them up, until the hilt of his lightsaber touched her chest, the blade emitter pressing right where her heart was. All Finn had to do was press the activation plate, and the plasma blade would ignite and run right through her.

“You feel it, don’t you?” she whispered to him, “That looming cloud over your head, the thoughts churning in your mind, that biting need to press that trigger. The Force is speaking to you, practically screaming for you to kill me. It wants me dead, and it wants you to end this. A thousand generations of Jedi are in your ear right now, telling you to listen to it, to obey it.”

“What are you trying to do?” asked a nervous Finn.

“I’m trying to make you decide. Leia warned me not to blindly follow the past, not to do what is expected of you, but to do what you want to do. You have a chance to end all of this right now, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did, but if you do, do it because it’s your choice and no one else’s.”

Finn looked down at the hilt, his hands starting to tremble.

“Look at me, Finn,” she said calmly, as calm as she ever felt in her entire life. He looked up and met her gaze. “What’s it going to be?” she continued “Are you going to do what it wants, what they want? Or are you going to do what you want?”

Finn sighed, and in that exact moment Rey knew his answer.

“I’m not going to hurt you…” he whispered, his breathing frantic.

Rey gave him an elated smile and quietly responded, “I know.”

Impulsively, she leaned in and kissed him, pressing her lips onto his. Finn was surprised at first, but eventually reciprocated, the kiss turning deep and amorous. In that moment Rey felt so alive, the sounds around them fading from concern, her thoughts consumed with delicious hunger. She had wanted to do that ever since she saw him on the wreckage of the Supremacy. Finally, their lips parted, both of them breathing heavily, their eyes again locked, their expressions a confusing mix of desire, fear and exuberance. Rey reached into her pocket and placed a cloaked binary beacon in Finn’s hand.

“Come find me,” she said to him, before letting go of him and stepping off the side of the container.

Finn rushed over and called out her name, but his voice soon faded away, drowned out by the bustling noises of the speeders and the howls of the wind. Rey spotted her Tie Silencer fast approaching, the autopilot tracking her transponder signal. The Silencer pulled right alongside her, matched her speed, allowing Rey to easily grab hold and open the main hatch. Pulling herself in, she hopped into the co*ckpit chair and disengaged the autopilot. She blasted the thrusters, promptly speeding upward past the city skyline and out of the planet’s atmosphere. Rey began the countdown to the hyperdrive, as her sensors picked up a squadron of pursuing A-Wings converging on her position, but they would never close in on her in time.

Rey pulled out the paired binary beacon, and placed the band around her left wrist, letting out a deep breath.

“I’ll be waiting, Finn…” she said joyfully, as the hyperdrive engaged and the stars fell away.

Chapter 19: Chapter 18

Chapter Text

He had forgotten his own name. He could not remember what had happened to him or where he even was. He could not see anything other than the molten rock that slowly cooled and hardened all around him, as he remained suspended in a bubble of Force energy, his flesh burnt beyond pain, black and charred, held together only by his own will. All he could feel was hunger, a ruinous hunger that continued to build, hour by hour, day by day, not for food, or water, or even air, but for something else. He felt a sickness course through his veins, a tainted primordial power, spawned by calamitous loss that somehow sustained him beyond any natural limit. He was a wound in the Force, a tear in the very fabric of the Galaxy, a walking cosmic maw defined only by its unquenchable hunger. As he lay in his self-made cocoon, buried deep into the rubble of a dark planet, drowning in Dark Side energies, the man could only wait, wait as his hatred bled away, his ambitions, his fears and his hopes all bled away. The void that was left behind offered him a new and twisted kind of power, the likes of which had not been seen in eons. He emerged from his bubble, ripping through the molten rock, clawing and climbing up until he emerged to the surface. His lungs filled with air, his first breath in his new form, a charred hand clasping the cold sand of the surface, and for a moment, he could feel again. He felt a phantom pain coursing through his body, worse than anything he had ever physically endured. He did not know if he was alive, dead, or in some state in between, but he could remember one thing, one name that refused to escape him, even when all other thoughts had burned away.

“Rey…” he spoke the name, though even speaking it brought him pain.

He struggled to his feet, what was left of his armor fused to his skin, forcing his legs to move, as he slowly made the climb up his way up the massive crater, grasping at the sand with his one hand. He heard the sound of a ship flying overhead, and he looked up to see it. The triangular vessel decelerated until it hovered directly above him, extending its landing gear and touching down. A figure walked out of the vehicle, a cloaked human, garbs similar to his own, his face hidden by a mask. The masked man slowly and cautiously walked over to him.

“Kylo?” said the masked man in disbelief, “By the Shadow, what happened to you?”

Kylo… he repeated in his head, the name sounded familiar. That was his name, Kylo Ren, not the name he was born with, but the name he had chosen. He looked again at the man, his eyes straining to see, the memories slowly trickling back.

“Kuruk…” he breathed, remembering his fellow Knight of Ren. He remembered the others: Trugen, Ushar, Vicrul, Ap’lex, and Cardo. He remembered how they fought with him, and died for him. He remembered how he led them to ruin.

“I came as soon as I could, Ren. When I heard what Hux did, I came back to Exegol to look for you, but the citadel was destroyed. You were buried…I didn’t think you could’ve survived…”

“Hux…” mumbled Kylo, remembering that name as well, the name of his betrayer, the man who had stolen his victory from him. “Where is…that traitor?”

“Ren, you’re falling apart, you need medical attention-”

Kylo raised his hand, and wrenched his comrade towards him with the Force, grabbing him by the throat. “Take me…to Hux.”

Kuruk gargled out a response, “I-I can’t, nobody knows where he is. He took the Eclipse, and fled the sector. He could be anywhere…”

Kylo felt himself beginning to drain Kuruk of his life energy, as his companion began to grow weaker by the second. It was not some technique or a conscious effort. Merely being close enough to another living being allowed him to leach away at his life essence. Conversely, Kylo felt himself grow stronger, his body undergoing the onset of cellular regeneration, his damaged mind growing sharper, the synapses in his brain beginning to restore themselves, reclaiming old memories.

Ben! He heard his father, Han, shout.

Ben. He heard his mother, Leia, whisper.

Kylo released his grip on Kuruk’s throat, “Wha-what happened to my mother?”

“She’s dead, Ren,” wheezed Kuruk, holding his neck as he struggled to regain his breath. “Rey killed her in her sleep-”

Kylo let out a blood curdling scream, as his power began to unfurl, cracking the very ground, causing tremors across the desert, knocking Kuruk to the ground. Kylo wanted to split the planet in half, destroy everything, and wipe out every pathetic form of life in the galaxy. They were irrational thoughts, nihilistic thoughts, but whatever he had become, he had the power to make it so.

“Ren!” screamed out Kuruk, “Stop, you’ll destroy the Knife-9!”

Kylo’s greater mental faculties won out, as he silenced those thoughts. This newfound power was not easy to reign in. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be. Perhaps he was not meant to control it at all, and merely be its vessel, but Kylo was not gone completely. There was still enough of himself to hold onto. As his powers began to dissipate, the pains began to return, his lungs, his limbs, his entire body charred to an almost unrecognizable state.

“Ren, we need to leave, get you some medical attention.”

Kylo struggled to breathe, hearing his own words repeat in his head, Let old things die… He looked at Kuruk, and made his decision.

Kylo lifted him up with the Force, and promptly began draining the Force around him, within him, draining him of his power, his very life, “You should have died with your brothers, Kuruk…like I did.”

Kuruk convulsed, his body going into shock, as he was painfully turned into a husk in mere moments, his cells atomized. Kylo dropped his corpse, the body shattering into dust as it hit the ground, with only his armor remaining.

Let the past die…he told himself, …kill it, if you have to.

He severed Kuruk’s life from the Force, that broken connection sending a terrible tremor. He fed on that dispersal of life, consumed the released energy, gorged on it like a starving animal. When the deed had been finished, Kylo felt his hunger sated, but he knew it would not last. His mind a little clearer, he began to think that beneath the ravenous hunger, was a terrible purpose. Kylo entered the Knife-9, and fired it up. His purpose was clear, he could feel his prey, as clearly as he ever felt before. Rey….

***

Rey turned her head to look out the co*ckpit window of her ship, gripped by an inexplicable feeling of apprehension. As she stared out into the blackness of space, she briefly felt a strange tremor. It was for less than a second, but she could have sworn she sensed something twisted, ravenous, unlike anything she had felt before. She focused herself, closing her eyes, reaching out with the Force, reaching as far as she could go, past the planets and the stars, but she was unable to find the source of that tremor. It frightened her, even though she knew better than to feel afraid. After all, there was nothing in the galaxy that could contend with her. It was as if she had been startled by a shadow, or a trick of the mind, unsure of what she felt was even real.

“Empress Ira?” asked the hologram of Allegiant-General Pryde, “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, I…” Rey trailed off, struggling to find the words, before clearing her throat, “...you were saying, Allegiant-General?”

“This amended peace proposal…is radically different from the one we originally discussed. The provisions are far too lenient: withdrawing entirely from the Corellia System, discontinuing our push into the Core Worlds, pulling back our forces to the Mid Rim and giving our word for no renewed aggression. Your Highness, forfeiting Corellia means we lose our strategic position to invade the Core Systems and strike at Coruscant.”

“I understand your concern, Allegiant-General, but the prior terms were too demanding. These terms are more palatable.”

“With all due respect, Empress, we are being far too lenient on them. This proposal makes us look weak, like we no longer wish to press on the fight.”

“That is exactly what I want, General Pryde. We and the Republic have been dealt serious blows at Exegol. If ever there would be a time to bring the Republic to the negotiating table, then that time is now.”

“Our aim was to retake the entire Galaxy, not to settle for half. This was not Emperor Palpatine’s wish.”

“With all due respect, Allegiant-General, I am not Emperor Palpatine. We have secured a powerful position for ourselves in the Mid Rim systems and the Republic is in no position to dislodge us, but nor are we in a position to lay siege to Coruscant’s planetary defenses without suffering extensive losses.”

“Losses that I and Imperial High Command have calculated and find acceptable.”

“I don’t find it acceptable, General!” shouted Rey. She hastily caught herself, trying to return her voice to a normal level. “You may be quick to throw away the lives of half our men, but I am not, not without at least attempting to reach a diplomatic solution.”

“Winning a war requires sacrifice, Empress. A good commander understands the need to risk his resources for the most optimal chance of victory. Calculated risks are required in war, and to seize control of any territory without incurring casualties is a fantasy.”

“Are you questioning my leadership, Allegiant-General?”

“No, your Highness, I am merely concerned that your inexperience is blinding you to the necessary cost of victory. You were perfectly happy to risk your own life without considering how your death or imprisonment would damage our cause, yet now you hesitate to send soldiers into battle. What happened to you down there?”

Rey hesitated before answering carefully, “I had a…realization, General. Losing potentially half our military power in an all-out assault on Coruscant is way beyond a calculated risk. If we can agree to an armistice, it will buy us some time to rebuild our forces.”

“But it will buy the Republic time to do the same. Imperial Intelligence has estimated their remaining Fleet strength. At the moment, we believe them to have fewer ships than we do, and we know their Viscount is no match for our Eclipse. If we agree to peace, they will have ample time to rebuild their fleets and expand their production. Then we will be the ones at a disadvantage. This is our best opportunity to attain complete victory, but we must act immediately.”

Rey shook her head, “You’re putting all your faith in Imperial Intelligence, Pryde. Have you forgotten their prior warning of an imminent Republic counterattack on Corellia? What about the attack on Exegol? They’re hardly infallible. And let’s assume for a moment that those estimates are correct. Assume we do take Coruscant and lose half our strength doing it. Our numbers will be so dwindled, half the star systems could rise up against us, and we would not have the clout to reign them in. We’ll have pockets of rebellions sprouting like weeds throughout the galaxy. Or worse, what if the First Order decides to attack us? Or did you fail to factor them into your projections?”

“As a matter of fact, we have, Your Highness. We have many Imperial sympathizers throughout Republic space. Many of the outer star systems are on the verge of seceding, no doubt some of them could be persuaded to join our cause should we secure the capital. The rest will fall into line in due course once we begin expanding our military. Rebellions will no doubt occur. Fighting will persist for months, perhaps even years. That’s true, but we will eventually crush them. As for the First Order, they are of little concern now that Hux has taken command. That man is too impetuous to effectively lead, and our latest intelligence reports have his fleet rebuilding in Hutt Space. They’re stolen Eclipse is damaged and they lack the proper facilities to repair it. I concede that under Kylo’s command, the First Order was a dangerous beast, but with Kylo dead, it has since been defanged. We will take care of Hux and his turncoats once we’ve dealt with the Republic.”

“Don’t underestimate your enemies, Pryde,” warned Rey, “And don’t underestimate me. Contact the Republic and offer them my terms.”

“And do you really expect them to even consider these terms after you killed Organa?”

“I did not kill Organa. And you will make mention of that in your message to them. Now, I still have business to attend to. I will return within two days. I do not want you to do anything until I return, is that clear General?”

“Abundantly clear…your Highness.”

Rey killed the feed, and sank into her chair. She felt her control over her subordinates slowly beginning to slip. Their sentiment wasn’t entirely without merit. This reworked peace proposal clearly alienated Pryde and the rest of High Command, but Rey had anticipated their reservations. The terms were overly generous, and she was well aware that it would leave the Empire in a more vulnerable state, but she wanted to make an earnest effort at diplomacy, even if it was only temporary. In retrospect, her little visit was very ill advised. She was fully aware that the Republic wholeheartedly believed she had murdered Leia, their beloved protector, and paragon of democracy. Realistically, she knew that any chance for a ceasefire was practically nonexistent, with too many pieces in motion, and too many players staring each other down across the table unwilling to budge. The war would not end, not without violence. But still, she needed to try, for Finn’s sake, as well as her own.

***

“Citizens of the Republic, it is my unfortunate duty to inform you that a terrible tragedy has befallen our fair democracy. Less than twelve hours ago, our revered and most steadfast protector, Leia Organa, was assassinated in cold blood by the would-be Empress, Darth Ira…”

Finn looked at the monitor hanging above the bar in the officer’s lounge, stirring his glass of Tarisian ale, the bottle right next to him, trying his best to refrain from tossing the glass into the monitor. Chancellor Omas was dressed in his finest garb as he spoke from his suite in the Senate District, a quick speeder ride away from Finn’s very spot, but the message was being broadcasted galaxy wide, as every republic citizen were undoubtedly tuning in to hear the Chancellor spin his tall tale. The wider Republic citizenry had no idea about Leia’s death, or Rey's alleged involvement, and it was kept secret until Omas called an emergency session of the Senate. Finn believed Rey when she insisted that she did not kill Leia, but it seemed he was the only one. Leia’s death by Rey’s own hands was too convenient a narrative for both Republic High Command and the Republic Populist Party to pass up, and it presented a great opportunity for Chancellor Omas to clear the dejarik board.

The Chancellor continued his speech, “Shortly after Organa’s death, we were contacted by Imperial High Command. They have denied the assassination and have proposed a peace treaty. The terms of said treaty is a formal recognition of Imperial annexation over the Mid Rim star systems, and demilitarization of the neighboring Expansion Region. In exchange, the Empire promises to withdraw from Corellia and pledge not to attack on the Core Systems unless they themselves are attacked first. Now there are some who may consider these terms reasonable and worthy of consideration, but I and the majority of the Senate have wholeheartedly rejected these terms. We will not allow ourselves to be coerced into an uncertain peace and soil the memory of Leia Organa who gave all she had in defense of our freedom. We will not allow ourselves to capitulate to despots that threaten our very way of life!”

Finn heard footsteps approaching. He didn’t have to turn around to know that was Poe, with BB-8 at his side.

“I figured you’d be here,” said Poe, “You drunk?”

“Not yet…” said Finn, taking another swig.

The speech went on, “Which is why I called a special session with the Senate, and through a majority vote, I’ve been granted emergency powers until the Imperial threat has been squelched. With the authority vested in me by the Galactic Senate, I have initiated the following measures. I hereby call for a draft on every star system from here to the Outer Rim. I’ve called upon the commerce guilds to secure loans, and am in talks with the corporate leaders of the Expansion Region to commission the construction of 1,000 new warships, quadrupling the current size of the Republic Fleet. Any sector that intends to secede or in any way aid either the Empire or the First Order will be labeled an enemy of the Republic, and will be dealt with accordingly.”

“He certainly likes to talk,” said Poe, standing next to him.

“Yes, he does…” mumbled Finn.

Finn had to give it to him. Leia’s supposed assassination by Rey not only killed any support for the Centrists in the Senate, but it also galvanized public fervor against the Empire. With hatred for the Imperial crest reignited, any possibility of surrender was dead on arrival, and any Senators on the fence swung to the Chancellor’s favor. Turning Leia into a martyr made Chancellor Omas the most powerful figure in the Republic since Palpatine. Too good an opportunity to pass up, even if it’s a lie, Finn thought, suddenly feeling repulsed.

Omas continued speaking, “Our enemies believe we are weak, that our democracy is weak, that our leaders are weak, but they are fatally mistaken. We will mobilize the full might of our great Republic and bring it to bear-”

Finn turned off the monitor with a flicker of the Force.

“I take it you’re not a fan of the speech,” noted Poe.

“Hard to be a fan when you know it’s all bantha sh*t.”

“What’re you talking abo-”

“I’m talking about Rey,” said Finn forcefully, “She didn’t kill Leia.”

“You keep saying that, but how do you know?” snapped Poe. “Because she told you? Sorry, Finn, but I don’t believe it.”

“I know she didn’t do it, Poe, I saw it in her eyes.”

“And you don’t think she was lying? You don’t think that she was manipulating you? How do you even know what you feel for her is even real? Who’s to say she didn’t use those Force powers of hers to make you feel that way about her?”

Finn shook his head, “That’s not how the Force works.”

“Well how the hell would you know? You’re not even a real Jedi, you’re just an apprentice.”

Poe’s words stung deeper than he thought it would have. Judging by Poe’s reaction and BB’s disapproving beeps, it was obvious on his face.

Poe tried to apologize, “Look, Finn I-”

“Don’t. I…I know. I know I’m not a real Jedi. I know I can’t live up to Luke or Leia. And I know I’m not ready for this. The more I learn, the more I realize how much more I don’t know, probably never know. But I’m all that’s left of the Jedi now, whatever that’s worth. And when I hear a blatant lie like the one Chancellor Omas just told, I can’t help but feel sick.”

“There was no other choice, Finn.”

“Yes, there was, Poe. Rey handed us favorable peace terms, but the Chancellor and the rest of High Command outright rejected them. They lied to the whole galaxy because they wanted to continue this war, because it was best for them. We could have ended it, Poe, we could have stopped anyone else from dying. But nobody wanted it….not even you.”

“What’s the point of making peace with people like that, Finn?” challenged Poe, “You really think we’re going to allow those monsters free reign over half the galaxy? Give them a chance to attack us again whenever they feel like it? Are you out of your mind?! You think Leia would let a threat stay on our doorstep? As much as you’d like to think otherwise, these people can’t be trusted. They can’t be negotiated with.”

“And what would Leia think about what you’ve done?” snapped back Finn. “Would she have pulled the wool over people's eyes the way you’re doing?”

Poe sighed, but hesitated to answer.

“If there’s one thing I learned from her, it's to never give up on someone you love. I can’t give up on Rey.”

BB began to chirp, but Poe shut him down.

“Don’t, BB…” said Poe, before looking back at Finn, “Leia’s gone, Finn. I know that hurts you as much as it hurts me, but she’s not the one running the war anymore. We need to do whatever we have to do to get rid of this threat…permanently. The last time the Republic tried to settle for peace was the Galactic Concordance, and you know damn well what happened there. We allowed the First Order to build themselves right back up under our noses. They kidnapped children, took slaves, conditioned them to be soldiers, allowed them to amass a fleet and build Starkiller Base. Hell, they forced you to fight for them! We let it happen because some spineless politicians were so desperate for peace at all cost. But peace made out of fear isn’t real peace. We’re not gonna make the same mistake this time.”

“They won’t do that. Poe. She won’t let them.”

“Enough about Rey, Finn!” screamed Poe. “You may be so sure about her, but I’m not falling for it. She is a Sith, just like her old master. All she knows is how to lie and how to kill! First Luke, then Leia! You said it yourself, Finn, you’re the last Jedi, the last one on her hit list. Sooner or later, she’s gonna come after you. Do yourself a favor and forget you ever cared about her.” Poe turned around and began to walk off, but stopped when he noticed BB wasn’t following, “Come on, BB. We’ve got things to do.”

But BB did not move, instead only beeping out some disapproving sounds.

“Not you too, BB. Look, I know you spent time with her-”

BB continued his defiant beeps.

“You know what, fine. You two wanna stay here and cry over Rey, be my guest.” And with those words, Poe stormed out of the room.

Finn lowered his head, placing the bottle back on the bar counter.

BB rolled over towards him, making some chippering sounds.

“I know she didn’t do it, BB,” answered Finn, “No matter what anyone says, I know she didn’t do it…”

BB then let out a more earnest set of beeps.

Finn pulled out the bracelet from his jacket pocket. He wanted so desperately to go, to confront her, to find out one way or another where they stood. He wondered what a Jedi would have done. A Jedi would have pressed the trigger and run his lightsaber right through her… He wondered then what Leia would say to him, what advice she would give.

BB continued beeping.

“You really think so?”

BB affirmed.

Finn nodded, “Alright, so I go to her, and find out for myself. How do I do that? I need a ship, and I sure as hell can’t ask Chewie to borrow the Falcon.”

BB beeped out a solution.

“Steal a starfighter? You're kidding me. They’re all locked down. Security’s tighter than ever, and I don’t have the personal clearance codes. I can’t exactly order someone to give it to me without raising suspicion, now can I? Besides, I don’t know how to fly them.”

BB countered.

“Steal Poe’s starfighter? Are you nuts?”

BB corrected.

“Borrow, okay, borrow. Same difference. Besides I already told you, I don’t know-”

BB interrupted again, more emphatically this time.

“You know the clearance codes…” said Finn, suddenly feeling stupid “...of course you’d know. You copilot the ship. I assume you can fly it remotely too, right?”

He heard BB’s affirmative beeps, and began following the rolling droid out of the room and into the hallway.

Finn took a final big swig of Tarisian ale before getting up and following BB. “Alright, just a little desertion, nothing I haven’t done before…” he whispered nervously.

BB beeped out again, sounding a little more scared.

“Yeah, I know, BB. Poe’s going to kill us.”

Chapter 20: Chapter 19

Chapter Text

“Looks like we’re getting closer, BB. Drop us out of hyperspace,” directed Finn, as he noticed the binary beacon’s light rapidly started to blink.

BB-8 complied, dropping the Black One T-70 X-wing out of lightspeed. Up ahead was a large terrestrial planet, a vibrant orb painted with greens and blues, with two moons in its orbit, one angelic white, the other hellish red.

“Never seen this system,” said Finn, looking over his instruments.

BB beeped out some sounds.

“Any idea where we are?”

BB voiced his uncertainty.

“You neither, huh? Whatever that planet is, it’s way off of the hyperlanes.”

BB beeped out again.

“Might as well,” asked Finn, staring at the planet. “Take us in, BB.”

BB complied, descending the ship, and flying it into the planet’s orbit. Passing through the clouds, Finn could see the planet’s surface, lush with forests and clear bodies of water, with towering mountains dotting the horizon. BB continued to fly a few hundred feet above the ground, slowing down the ship to allow Finn to inspect the surface. Finn checked the binary beacon, the blinking light now practically solid. She was close. He continued to scour the grounds, finding a small valley flanked by a crescent mountain range, a large inland lake directly in the center of it, with what appeared to be a small solitary mountain or hill jutting out from the water. Surrounding the lake was dense shrubbery, and trees with no obvious clearing. Finn looked to the entrance of the valley and spotted Rey’s Tie Silencer, sitting idly by a small clearing just outside the valley.

“She’s here,” he noted, looking around the valley. “No other place to land…set us down next to her ship, BB.”

BB landed the X-wing right next to the Silencer and shut down the engine.

“Stay here BB.” instructed Finn, as he exited the co*ckpit, “If I don’t contact you in the next twelve hours, go back to Coruscant…and tell Poe he was right.”

BB began to object.

“I’m serious BB,” interjected Finn, putting on his weapons belt, “if you don’t see or hear from me in twelve hours, get the hell out of here.”

Finn made his way into the valley, trudging through the dense foliage and trees, immersed by the sounds of exotic avians and small animals. The Force felt unusually strong in this place, easy enough for even his own relatively inexperienced senses to readily pick up, and Finn had a mind to listen, allowing it to flow through him, allowing himself to feel the connections of the plants, the trees, the rocks, the water, the animals, searching for her.

“Finn…” he heard her voice in his mind, feeling her presence nearby.

Finn made his way further into the forest, pushing away the vines and foliage until he came across the edge of the lake. Checking his binary beacon, he saw the light practically solid, indicating she was nearby. He looked out towards the small mountain, and saw a faint glow in the distance, the unmistakable glow of a lightsaber.

Rey… he thought, not hesitating to dive into the water and swim his way to the mountain. After a few minutes, he reached the mountain, grabbing hold of some vines. He brushed his hand against the rock, only to find that it wasn’t rock at all, but a strange smooth alloy, an alloy that vibrated when he touched it. Finn soon realized he wasn’t on a mountain, but some kind of strange pyramidal structure, perhaps an ancient ruin that had mostly submerged under the lake. Above the water, the ruin was covered in moss and vines, littered by colonies of gawking birds. From the sky, it looked like an overgrown mound of dirt. Finn couldn’t help but wonder what in the galaxy could it be. His attention was soon averted when he heard the unmistakable hum of a lightsaber only a few yards above him.

Wiping the dripping water out of his eyes, Finn started making his way up to the summit of the structure, using the moss and overgrown vines to more easily climb. I’ve seen this before… he thought to himself, a feeling of deja vu overtaking him. The valley, the forest, the ascent, he remembered all of it from his vision weeks ago during his meditations aboard the Ackbar. He was sure he would find her at the peak, and when he reached the top, his vision was vindicated. He saw Rey, double-bladed lightsaber in hand, swinging and twirling it around with expert grace, practicing lightsaber forms against the backdrop of a setting sun. She was dressed in a white Imperial tunic, trading out her typical black uniform that made her look less harsh. Her lightsaber was different as well, no longer sporting the blood red color and instead swapping for viridian, giving the plasma a silvery greenish hue. Just like in his vision, Finn could not take his eyes off her.

She took notice of him, deactivating her lightsaber and calling out to him, “Hello Finn. I’m glad you came.”

Like in his vision, Finn couldn’t find his tongue, unable to string a sentence together, standing slack-jawed, as if caught in a spell.

She laughed at his awkwardness, though it wasn’t out of mockery. Rather, it was a kind of laugh that felt very genuine and uplifting, the kind of laugh that raised spirits. “I was afraid you wouldn’t show.”

“I almost didn’t, Rey,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what I’d walk into.”

“Were you afraid I’d lay a trap? I didn’t hurt you back on Coruscant, and I’m not going to hurt you now.”

“Then why did you lead me here? What is this place?”

Rey knelt down, placing a hand on the ground, “This is Tython…this is where it all began.”

“Where what began?” asked FInn.

“The Force,” she answered, “this place is where the first sentient beings discovered it. This is where the Force speaks loudest.”

Finn looked around quizzically, “I’ve never heard of this planet.”

Rey did not look surprised, “It’s not a world the Jedi or the Sith care to remember. Few records remain, many were intentionally destroyed. The Jedi often rewrote their own history to suit their agenda. The Sith were just as guilty, remembering only what they wanted to.” Rey reached with her hand beneath the vines and vegetation, touching the strange alloy underneath. “This was the birthplace of both our Orders, tens of thousands of years ago. Over time, the hyperlanes shifted, and memories of the planet were willfully forgotten. It was all too convenient for both the Sith and Jedi to erase their shared history.”

“Why?”

“Because neither the Sith nor the Jedi could own up to the truth, that thousands of years ago, our two opposing Orders were once one. The galaxy’s first Force sensitives were brought to this very planet to understand all aspects of the Force, the Dark and the Light. Before the Jedi were blinded by arrogance, and the Sith blinded by rage.”

Rey’s face strained with effort, and Finn could feel power emanating from her. The strange ruin began to vibrate more noticeably, then violently, nearly causing Finn to lose his balance. The vines began to break apart, the distressed birds hastily flapping away, as Finn felt the ground shift from underneath his feet. The ruin began to levitate, slowly rising out of the water, the water flooding in to fill the gaping void left behind. At first, Finn thought Rey was lifting it off the ground, but he soon began to realize that it was rising all by itself. They weren't standing on a ruin, but a derelict ship, seemingly reactivated after countless eons. The pyramid shaped vessel continued its ascent, now several hundred feet up, before it halted in a stationary orbit above the lake.

“What did you just do?!” he asked in a panic.

“I’ve reawakened it. This vessel is the last of a long-forgotten civilization, tens of thousands of years older than the First Republic. No one knows who built them, but whoever they were, they managed to weave the very Force into their technology. In many ways, this vessel is an embodiment of the Force. The ancient Bindu called them the Tho Yor, prehistoric and hyper advanced arks that used the Force to traverse the Galaxy long before conventional space travel. They visited many planets, calling out to those who were Force Sensitive, drawing them in like moths to a flame, and brought them back to this world for an unknown purpose. With no way to return, those Force-Sensitives came to settle here, and became the first Tytheans. They built enclaves, cities, temples, an entire civilization, all for the purpose of studying the Force, free of prejudice, and restriction, long before the Jedi enclave on Ahch-To, or the Sith arrival on Korriban. The Tytheans sought balance, not just with the Force, but within themselves, and this planet was where the Force was at its strongest.”

“How do you know this?” Finn asked.

“Because I can hear them…” she answered, “...through the Tho Yor. I don’t know who built them, but I can see the echoes, and I can feel the faint traces of the pilgrims who came through. Quite a thing to glimpse so far into the past.”

Finn cautiously touched the hull, concentrating heavily. He could not see so vividly like Rey had, but he could still feel the lingering traces, the ancient presence of the Force almost speaking to him. He could feel its aura, its imperceptible pull, like a beckoning whisper.

“Remarkable, isn’t it?” asked Rey, “such an ancient ship, yet more advanced than anything we can build today.”

“Why did you bring me here? Why show this to me?” he asked her.

“Because it is only right that we know the truth about what we are and where we came from. The Force is a strange and fickle thing. It has a will, desires. It chooses people, bestows power upon them. It can be nurturing and spiteful. It gives and it takes. It influences our thoughts and our actions, controls us in an effort to attain balance. Why it does these things, even I don’t know, but I do know this. The Sith and the Jedi were never meant to be what they had become. We allowed ourselves to drift apart, allowed our predecessors to lead us astray, and now we are paying for their mistakes. And to think it all started with this.” She placed a hand back on the ship’s hull, her power flowing through the Tho Yor, the ship beginning to vibrate more intensely, as if stirring from a millennia long slumber. “It makes me wonder what would have happened if those chosen pilgrims refused to heed the call. Would we have ever known about the Force? Would the galaxy have been better for it? I also can’t help but wonder how many more chose not to heed the Force’s call. What might have been their reasons? How many had something more important in their lives that they would not be willing to walk away from? Families? Loved ones? Why would anyone willingly give that up?”

Finn could see the pained expression on her face. Whatever was going through Rey’s mind was eating away at her, tears beginning to build up in her eyes.

“There’s another reason why I brought you here,” she spoke, wiping away her tears, before looking at him, a mischievous smile beginning to form, “defend yourself.”

Rey suddenly activated her lightsaber, and rushed toward him with unparalleled speed. More out of instinct than a conscious effort, Finn ignited his own lightsaber and blocked the incoming blow. Their sabers tied up, the plasmas clashing against one another.

“What the hell are you doing?!” he demanded.

“I want to see how much you’ve learned. How well Leia’s taught you,” said Rey, pushing back, and repositioning, “Get ready…” She initiated an attack, striking high with her double-bladed lightsaber.

Finn blocked, remembering his training, remembering the saber forms he studied. He was trying to get accustomed to the sloped ground, adjusting his weight and his footwork. He could anticipate the upcoming blow before Rey initiated it. Rey followed up with a low attack, attempting to strike at his leg, but Finn managed to block. She followed up with a series of quick strikes, utilizing both ends of her lightsaber, each blow faster and more confusing than before. Finn struggled, but managed to keep up, blocking each blow, feeling the Force guide his hand, his instincts nudging him ever so subtly, moving his body where it needed to be. He could see her next move before she made it, reading her body language. Finn blocked with ever increasing speed and certainty, his grip on his lightsaber tightening, his defense keeping up with her offense. After a final blocked overhead strike, Rey backed away, a beaming smile on her face, as she deactivated her lightsaber.

“You’ve learned so much,” she said, “I’m impressed. Leia was a good teacher.”

“Yes…she was,” he said, deactivating his own lightsaber. “What is this, Rey? No more games.”

“Why not? You don’t even know the stakes.” She moved right up to him, almost eye to eye, “You haven’t even asked what you could win.”

“And what can I win?” he asked.

He felt her breath against his earlobe, as she whispered softly to him, “Me…”

Finn blinked, clearly unprepared for her answer.

Rey began to back away, moving towards the edge of the ship, “....all you have to do is catch me.”

“Rey, what are you doing?” asked Finn nervously.

Rey smiled at him, the smile he fell in love with. “Catch me, Finn.”

She fell off the ledge, allowing herself to fall towards the water. Finn raced to the edge, watching as she continued to make her descent, speeding towards the lake, doing nothing to halt or slow her fall. At this height, the impact would kill her. Frantically, Finn reached out with his hand, and with a bit of concentration, he caught her with the Force.

Rey hovered in midair, only a few feet above the water’s surface.

“Well done,” she called out, before suddenly pulling him in with the Force, causing Finn to fall off the edge of the ship.

Finn fell, screaming at the top of his lungs, until suddenly his fall slowed, then stopped. He found himself suspended in the air, and in Rey’s arms. Confused and flustered, Finn was about to berate her, until he looked into her eyes. He had never seen this look on her before, serious, warm, and direct. It was all those things, and yet so much more, a look he couldn’t fully describe but understood its meaning. Impulsively, his hands moved to her back, holding her, even as they continued to hover, his heart beating faster than he had ever felt before. She wrapped her arms around his neck, a small smirk beginning to form, timid, and inexperienced. She was just as nervous as he was, or at least that’s what he told himself.

“Rey…” he breathed, realizing he was holding his breath, “...whatever this is-”

“It’s whatever we want it to be,” she answered breathlessly, “There’s nobody else. There’s nobody left but us…”

Temptation, attachment, love. Finn juggled all the words in his mind, all the words his Jedi training had warned him against. He honestly didn’t really believe it, and neither did Leia.

“I’m tired of it, Finn.” she confessed, “I’m tired of what I am. I’m tired of the Sith and the Jedi, the Light and the Dark. Long ago, it made no difference. I just want to forget about all of it for one day. Just one day, Finn. Let me have this,” she pleaded, “Forget everything else for one day, and let me have this day with you.”

“This is a mistake,” he said weakly, his voice breathless.

“Huge…” she teased, “...but let’s make it together.”

She had him, and before he could change his mind, she kissed him. The kiss was full of passion and love, like they both had been waiting a lifetime for it. Everything else seemed to vanish from thought. The universe had condensed into a single blissful moment. Rey had lost all concentration, dropping the two of them into the lake, still kissing as they plunged into the cool water. Finn held onto her, as they breached the surface, taking in air. Rey’s eyes betrayed a slight hint of fear as she clutched onto him for dear life.

“You okay?” he asked her with genuine concern.

“Yes, it’s just…I can’t swim,” she admitted sheepishly, her grip around him tightening.

Finn tried all he could not to laugh, but it was a futile effort. He burst out laughing at the thought that the most powerful woman in the galaxy, with mastery over virtually every aspect of the Force, was scared of water. Rey’s reaction to Finn’s laughs was confused at first, but before long she started laughing as well, owning up to the absurdity of her phobia.

“You know, you can always just push away the water or lift yourself out of it,” he suggested.

“I know, but maybe I just want to hold onto you.”

“Then hold on tight,” he said, as he began swimming to shore, with Rey holding on seemingly for dear life.

Finn reached the sandy shore, and the moment they reached the shallows, Rey cupped his head, turning him to face her. Her fingertips felt like they were burning against his cheek, just as her eyes burned with desire, her body fidgeting with anticipation, as if daring him to make the next move. Finn’s heart raced, suddenly aware that he was at the edge of a precipice, about to break past the point of no return. But the truth was, he had already fallen, not for the allure of the Dark Side, but for her. Taking a nervous breath, Finn finally gave in and kissed her once again, their hands exploring each other, as they stripped away their drenched clothes, their fears, their doubts, and their codes.

***

Rey was content to lie back and listen to the ambience of the crashing surf and the chirping birds. The sun had already retreated behind the horizon, and the stars had begun to appear in the sky above. The planet’s twin moons Bogan and Ashla dominated the skyline, the symbols of the Dark and the Light, of passion and serenity, chaos and order, the natural balance of the universe. She looked out beyond them, to the stars that littered the sky. Something about them seemed different to her, somehow brighter, more colorful. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was due to the planet’s atmosphere or if she was still basking in some sort of romantic high, but for some reason they looked more beautiful. Maybe she didn’t have time to notice, or maybe it was true what her mother once said to her. Things look more beautiful when you’re in love, she offhandedly remembered hearing her mother say that, one of her oldest memories of her. The gravity of those words was lost on her younger self, but now as a grown woman, Rey truly began to understand. There was nothing more intimate for Rey than letting her guard completely down, to not be afraid of another’s touch because that touch would never hurt her. She had never felt so weak and yet so strong, and the contradiction enthralled her. Lines had been crossed, rules had been broken, and yet all of it seemed so trivial in comparison to what she had felt. There was no going back, but even if she could, she would never want to.

A chilly breeze brought her back down to reality, and Rey was suddenly fully aware of her exposed state. Her clothes were scattered along the sand, and she dared not move away from Finn, doubling down and curling into him, taking advantage of his body heat, afraid that moving from that spot would bring the whole thing to an end.

“It’s getting cold.” Finn stirred. He reached out, grabbing his jacket and draping it over her shoulders. “We should get dressed.”

Rey nodded disappointingly, as the two of them began to collect their clothing. Time was pressing on, and the day was soon to end, whether she wanted it to or not. After getting dressed, the two of them started a small campfire, sitting next to one another near the flames in awkward silence, as if the consequences of their actions were starting to sink in. Both were eager to say something, but neither wanted to be the one to start, anxiously waiting for the other to speak first. Rey tugged at Finn’s jacket, still wearing it, fidgeting. She told herself it was on account of the night breeze, but in reality, she was nervous beyond comprehension. Finn put his arms around her, hugging her tightly, his warmth banishing the chills. She liked the small gesture.

“I really-” she said.

“I really-” he said at the same time.

Both of them laughed nervously, and Rey asked him to go first.

“I really enjoyed that…” said Finn.

“Me too…” she replied wholeheartedly.

“But I have to ask, Rey. Where do we go from here?”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” she admitted. “We can’t just pretend that nothing happened, that nothing’s changed.”

“So what should we do?” he asked.

“I know what I’d like to do,” she replied, resting her head against his shoulder, “I’d like the two of us to get on a ship and get away from all this. Leave everything and everyone else behind.”

“Tempting,” said Finn, with a smile, “but we can’t run away. The Galaxy’s on the verge of collapse, we have to do something.”

“I’m not sure if there’s anything that we can do.”

“You’re the Empress. Can’t you just order your people to stand down?”

“Not forever. Too many of them are out for blood. Too many of them hate the Republic, and are bitter over the Galactic Concordance. They’re clinging to my master’s dream of restoring the Empire. I thought I could carry on Palpatine’s wishes, but I’m not like him. I don’t want to do this anymore, but I’m not sure if I can stop it. It’s like trying to leash a rabid gundark when it knows it’s cornered its prey. Pryde is already starting to question me. I’ve ordered my men to stand down for the moment, but If I delay too long, they’ll see it as weakness, and they’ll revolt against me.”

“They’ll never turn on you, you’re too powerful, and they know it.”

“Don’t be so sure. If they think I’m weak…. you can have all the power in the Galaxy, but if people think you’re too afraid to use it, why would anyone fear you? What about your people? I suspect they didn’t care about my proposal.”

Finn shook his head, “No, they outright rejected it. The Senate and Republic High Command are convinced that you killed Leia, and they’re rallying every system still under their umbrella to take up the fight against you. I tried to convince them but they wouldn’t listen, because they don’t want to listen. Too many people have died. They won’t settle for a truce.”

“At least you believed me,” she said, taking his hand, “that’s all that concerns me. So many times in my life, people I’ve cared about were taken away from me. Everyone I’ve ever had a connection with has died. For a long time, I felt cursed. You’re the only person in this whole Galaxy that I truly care about Finn. You’re all I have left, and I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to you.”

Finn kissed her forehead, “You know, I used to daydream about saving you, bring you to the Light Side. I thought I could change you. Now I realize, it’s not so simple. Nothing about this is simple. All of my friends think you’re a monster, but that’s not what you are. We become so preoccupied by how we see things, that we fail to see things for what they are. Whatever you want to call yourself, whatever you decide to be, it won’t change the fact that I love you. I had from the moment you first hit me with that staff and knocked me on my ass on Jakku.”

Rey laughed, tickled by the memory of their chance encounter, “You kept grabbing my hand, I was so annoyed with you then. Now I never want to let it go.” She tightened her grip on him, “I realized I was in love with you when you dueled Kylo on Starkiller Base, after he slammed me into that tree. He would have killed me, but you stood in his way. You didn’t know what you were doing, but you fought him anyway. That’s what I love about you the most. You’re not a coward. You’re the bravest person I know because you’ll never run from a fight when you fight for the people you care about, even when you know you have no chance.”

“Hey, I got a hit in,” joked Finn, “For an ex-Stormtrooper, I thought I did alright.”

“Not well enough,” bellowed a strange voice behind them.

Rey and Finn instantly stood up and turned around, looking back at the tree line. Inexplicably, the trees and shrubbery started to wilt. The leaves began to fall and shrivel, as if undergoing accelerated decay. Birds raced out of the forest, flying as fast as they could seemingly to get away from something, but most of them began to drop like stones out of the sky, littering the beach, dead silent before they even hit the ground.

“What’s going on?” asked Finn, hastily putting on his weapon’s belt.

“I’m not sure,” confessed Rey, staying perfectly still, observing, sensing. She could feel the Force all around her being drained, strange tremors emanating from the rapidly dying forest. The Force twisted and roiled, as if in pain. She could feel the severing of life from the Force, a cascading effect that only seemed to grow and grow like a building storm, consuming the Force the way a black hole consumes a star. It moved closer and closer, but at the epicenter of it, Rey felt absolutely nothing, merely a hollowness, a shadow. It was completely antithetical to everything she had known, but she did feel it once before, albeit briefly, on her journey here. Now it had followed her.

A figure stepped forth from the dead forest, casually walking onto the beach in an unhurried pace. He was hooded and cloaked in tattered black robes, his armor broken and seemingly melted around his body, his right hand replaced by a crudely made prosthetic, the parts of his face that were visible were burnt to a crisp, and his mouth covered by a respirator. The man, if it was a man, looked like he was falling apart, yet somehow, he could still stand and move, his walk strange, like he was controlling his limbs outwardly, as if his flesh was inanimate, being moved by invisible strings.

“Who are you?” demanded Rey, her Sith instincts setting in. She could not discern who this man was, she could not even see him through the Force, only able to perceive him with her own two eyes. Alive or dead, she should have felt something, but whoever or whatever this was, she saw no trace, no echo, not even a thought emanating from him. Only a gaping breach where the Force should have been. It greatly unnerved her.

“Not surprised you don’t recognize me,” said the figure, his voice distorted by a modulator, but Rey and Finn both recognized the voice and its familiar cadence. “You could say I’ve been through hell.”

That’s impossible… thought Rey.

“Kylo?” asked Finn.

“The scavenger and the traitor cuddling by the fire…how romantic…” he said with disgust, walking closer to them, “...I couldn’t have asked for a more fated showdown. The last remnants of both the Jedi and the Sith, waiting to die at my hands.”

“You died,” said Rey in denial, “I felt you die.”

“You more than anyone should know about the impermanence of death. As you said, the Force is a fickle thing. Sometimes it takes away, but sometimes it gives something back. By every right I should have died on Exegol, but the Force had a different fate in store for me. Tell me this, did my mother die well, did she hold her head high when you ended her life?”

“I didn’t kill your mother-”

“Liar!” roared Kylo, the ground shifting beneath his feet, as enormous energy began to build around him, “I’ve been lied to my whole life, and I am tired of hearing it. You wanted revenge on me for killing your master, so you assassinated my mother on her deathbed, is that right?”

“She didn’t kill her, Kylo.” defended Finn.

Kylo’s eyes darted to Finn, “And you…her hapless apprentice. You’re a poor substitute for a Jedi. My uncle would be ashamed to know that a cowardly turncoat was the last of his Order. My mother isn’t alive to protect you anymore, Finn. The only question now is which one of you dies first.”

“Finn, leave,” ordered Rey.

“No,” refused Finn, readying his lightsaber.

Rey tapped into Finn’s mind, and pleaded, “I can’t fight him if I’m concerned for your safety. Leave. Let me deal with him. Please…”

“Yes, do as you’re ordered, soldier…” mocked Kylo, as if able to read their thoughts. “Run along, and leave your betters to their business. I’ll catch up with you soon enough.”

She noticed Finn’s frustration but he did as she asked, leaving the beach, and leaving the two of them alone. Thank you, she whispered gratefully into his mind.

“Still latching onto people, I see…” ridiculed Kylo, “All that power at your fingertips, and you still clamor for family. You’re your own worst enemy, Rey, debasing yourself with a turncoat. Attachments only lead to weakness, and there is nothing that makes you weaker than love.”

Rey took a deep breath, allowing her power to swell, brandishing her lightsaber. Her eyes shifted gold, brimming with controlled anger. “I don’t know how you survived, but this time I’ll finish you for good.”

“Come and try…” challenged Kylo.

***

Kylo stayed still as Rey leapt into action, igniting her lightsaber mid jump and swinging it directly for his throat. Kylo raised his palm, stifling her swing before it made contact. Rey struggled against his Force grip, managing to break away, flipping backwards, landing gracefully on her feet and shooting in for a followup lunge, but Kylo telekinetically caught her plasma blade in his hand. Rey’s eyes squinted, clearly not expecting his newfound power. She disengaged, backstepping with a pirouette, before hitting him with a powerful Force push. Kylo was shoved back, but planted his feet firmly into the ground. His boots scraping through the sand and dirt, he managed to stay on his feet, returning the favor with an even stronger Force push, tossing Rey more than ten meters back. She slammed onto the ground with such impact that her body slid through the sand, hitting the water bank with a mighty splash.

Kylo moved toward the lake, watching as Rey pushed away the water with the Force, getting back to her feet. He detected a glimpse of panic on her face, even as she continued to hold back the wall of water, clearing space for them to fight. Kylo walked closer, sizing her up, as she began to step backwards, parting the water away from her. She was certainly strong, stronger than ever, he deduced by how easily she held the wall of water at bay, but Kylo knew that her strength in the Force would not be enough this time.

Rey reignited her lightsaber again, twirling and swinging, but Kylo anticipated her assault, dodging her strikes with profound ease. Kylo felt himself growing stronger, her mere presence a source of power for him to siphon off. Her tremendous ability with the Force was now a hindrance rather than a help, and she was slowly growing weaker by the minute. Kylo grabbed hold of the hilt of her lightsaber with his cybernetic hand as she attempted another swing. He then grabbed her by the throat with his other hand. Rey gasped, unable to breathe, unable to pry her lightsaber free from his clutches. Kylo instantly felt the Force draining from her, the physical contact accelerating the process. Rey struggled, lashing out with the Force, but Kylo restrained her efforts, blanketing her with his own considerable power.

“Is this the best you have?” he mocked, squeezing a little tighter on Rey’s throat. Rey’s eyes began to haze, her concentration broken, the wall of water flooding back in, crashing into both of them hard. Kylo buckled from the water but maintained his hold on Rey. Now shoulder deep in water, Kylo mustered even more strength, dunking Rey’s head beneath the waves, attempting to drown her. Rey’s building fear evolved to outright terror, as she thrashed in the water, trying to pry herself free, or wriggle herself away, but to no avail.

“Where is all your strength, your Highness?” he taunted.

As if to answer his taunt, Rey broke his hold on her in a display of sheer will. A massive burst of Force energy exploded outward from her, pushing away the lake in a massive tidal wave. Kylo was sent flying back, hitting the decayed trees, breaking through their trunks. He slammed into the ground, cratering into the dirt like a meteorite.

“There it is…” said Kylo, standing back up.

He looked out to see Rey staring back at him with venom in her eyes. She briefly broke eye contact with him to look down at her lightsaber, repeatedly clicking on the ignition switch, but the emitter only sparked faintly, seemingly shorted out or damaged. Rey looked back to him, putting away her now useless lightsaber. She began walking towards him, stretching out both of her hands, electrical sparks building in her palms. She hurled an onslaught of Force lightning at Kylo, hitting him dead on. The rotted trees ignited from the electrical sparks, catching fire around Kylo. Rey doubled down and stoked the flames with the Force, bearing it down on him. Before long, half the rotted forest was ablaze, the flames and electricity enveloping him in an all out bid to kill him. The exposed parts of Kylo’s flesh began to burn, his mangled armor offering little in the way of protection as he covered his eyes. The pain was considerable, the first sign that he actually could be hurt, but pain was nothing new.

“I’ve been through worse,” he declared, extending his hand, balling the electricity into his palm.

Kylo put out the flames, and powered through the pain, as he continued to let the electricity build, expelling the electrical current from the rest of his body and focusing it all into his hand, the tattered gloves and the flesh of his fingers disintegrating, but showing no signs of stopping. Rey continued her assault, but quickly realized what he was doing, and promptly stopped her lightning attack. Harnessing the lightning captured within his closed hand, Kylo redirected the charge, smashing his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of earth and lightning careening towards Rey. Rey attempted to vault over it, avoiding the wave of earth, but was subsequently hit by the discharging electricity, shocking her in midair and dropping her to the ground.

In an instant, Kylo was upon her, grabbing her by the throat before she even had a chance to rise, pinning her to the ground. Immediately he felt her enormous power being siphoned away, transferred to him. He fed off her energy, felt his pain start to subside, the seared flesh of his hand restored, his labored breaths normalizing. Rey looked on in horror as she stayed pinned, unable to get him off, and growing weaker by the second, her eyes losing their golden Sith hue.

Kylo raised his cybernetic hand to his own mouth, pulling off his respirator. He could feel the flesh on his face regenerating and his lungs healing.

“All that power is wasted on you…” he derided, “...what would your master think of you if he could see you now?”

Kylo heard the approaching hum of a lightsaber, turning to look just in time to see it twirling towards him. Kylo released Rey and stepped back, narrowly avoiding the spinning blue plasma blade as it whizzed past him. The separation gave Rey enough time to spring back to her feet and back away. The twirling blade boomeranged back to its owner. A returning Finn caught it mid-air and moved next to Rey.

“I’m impressed,” lauded Kylo, “but you picked the worst possible time to grow a spine. You should have run while you had the chance.”

Struggling to catch her breath, Rey choked out, “I told you to leave, Finn.”

“I’m not leaving you again,” declared Finn, handing Rey a second lightsaber.

Rey took the lightsaber from Finn, taking a moment to examine it, before activating it. Her eyes lingered on the blue blade, before she stood next to Finn, assuming a battle stance. The two of them raised their lightsabers, prepared to engage together.

“My mother’s and uncle’s lightsabers…” noted Kylo. “Don’t you find it ironic that you plan to use them to murder their last living family member?”

“You’re nothing but a disgrace,” argued Finn.

Kylo snickered, “No, you’re the real disgrace.”

Kylo readied himself as both Finn and Rey sprang into action, swinging their lightsabers at him. Kylo dodged and feinted, his body quicker to respond after having somewhat healed, his powers still growing, but he was not having an easy time dodging or stifling both their attacks. Kylo could now easily anticipate Rey’s moves, as he was now firmly entrenched in her mind, and her weakened state made her easier to manage, but Finn had thrown a wrench into his plans. Finn continually prevented him from taking advantage, always cutting him off, and it was beginning to annoy Kylo.

Kylo pushed aside Rey with the Force, only for Finn to strike him in the shoulder, Kylo flinched, grasping his wounded shoulder, bringing him an awkward feeling of deja vu, back to their last fight on Starkiller Base, fueling his rage all the more. As Finn attempted to strike again, Kylo stopped him cold, using the Force to lock him in place.

“You’re more trouble than you’re worth, Finn…” muttered Kylo, lifting him off the ground, he saw Rey approach out of the corner of his eye, Force jumping towards him, but he managed to stop her midair, locking her in an iron-clad grip. Both Rey and Finn struggled to break free, but his hold on them held firm, keeping them suspended off the ground. He could feel their power transferring to him, his body again regenerating.”

“You have a lot to offer,” Kylo told Rey, a dark smile forming on his face, “All that power feeding me, sustaining me. I’ll think I’ll keep you alive. but your boyfriend-”

“No, Finn!” shouted Rey, but too physically and mentally drained to break free.

Kylo squeezed down on Finn, contorting his body unnaturally, causing Finn to scream out in agony. He was ready to pull Finn apart, but before he could finish the job, he was struck by heavy blaster fire, knocking him back, breaking his hold over both of them. Finn and Rey fell to the ground in a heap, both of them wounded and exhausted.

“What?!” Kylo shouted in surprise and frustration, as an X-wing strafed overhead.

Kylo did not sense anyone alive onboard, likely piloted by a droid. The X-wing banked right, turning around for another pass, firing on Kylo’s position, but Kylo was prepared this time, freezing the heavy blaster bolts midair. However, in the blink of an eye, the fighter inexplicably accelerated, locking its S-foils into a closed position and barreling directly towards him at full sub-light speed.

“No, BB!” shouted Finn, just before the X-Wing crashed into an unprepared Kylo, engulfing him in a fiery embrace.

Chapter 21: Chapter 20

Chapter Text

Rey was stunned, the magnitude of what she had just witnessed just starting to sink in. Before her, a large inferno continued to burn, the ground littered with debris, the blackened husk of the X-wing relentlessly burning. Though it was only seconds after the crash, time felt like it had stretched out, her mind flooding with memories of Jakku, when she first encountered BB in Teedo’s net, when she, Finn and BB started their brief but memorable journey, running into Han, Chewie, Leia and the Resistance, back when everyone thought she was a nobody. She didn’t know it then because of her memory wipe, but those brief few days were the happiest of her life. Now BB-8 was gone, and despite all her would-be power, there was nothing she could do about it.

“BB!” she heard Finn shout, looking over to him, watching as he desperately dragged his broken body towards the wreckage.

“Finn, no!” she pleaded, running over to him, stopping him before he could reach the wreckage, “He’s gone, Finn. BB’s gone. We need to leave, we need to leave right now!”

Rey immediately activated her transponder beacon, remotely calling her Tie Silencer, just as the ground started rumbling beneath their feet. Rey looked back to the floating Tho Yor ship, watching it suddenly glow red, making a guttural malignant sound that terrified her. The entire planet seemed like it was on the verge of being ripped apart.

“Finn, we need to leave now!” she screamed over the increasing violent quake and the building hum of the Tho Yor. She could sense the world dying, as if all life on the planet was being excised on a global scale, its energies being siphoned away and devoured.

“Please Finn!” shouted Rey, finally getting Finn to look and listen to her. “We need to get away from here!” Rey then looked overhead, seeing the night sky being devoured by a building whirlwind, lightning and thunder booming around them. Finally, she saw her ship approach, the co*ckpit hatch automatically opening. Grabbing Finn’s hand, the two of them jumped, just before the ground collapsed under their feet. Climbing in, Rey placed Finn into the co-pilot’s seat, and immediately took control of the ship, blasting the thrusters as fast as they could go. The ship flew through the angry clouds, shaking violently, as hail and lightning peppered the hull. Finally leaving the atmosphere, Rey and Finn looked out the window to see the entire planet being engulfed by a spreading wave of energy, blanketing the planet, leaving only a dead gray surface in its wake, all vestige of life drained away.

By the Force, thought Rey, barely able to fathom what she was witnessing, what Kylo had just done.

Finn groaned in pain, clutching his ribs, as he leaned back into the chair.

“Hold on, Finn,” Rey spoke, frantically punching in coordinates into the navigational computer, initiating the countdown to hyperspace, desperate to put as much distance between them and this planet as she possibly could. The ship's nav computer finished its calculations and the ship’s hyperdrive shot into lightspeed. Rey then turned her attention to Finn, “What hurts?”

Finn snickered, “Everything…but mostly my ribs. I think he cracked them…” Finn began to cough.

Rey lifted up Finn’s shirt to see his ribs, heavily bruised, and undoubtedly broken.

Rey hesitated for a moment, debating what to do, looking inward to her own body, feeling how much power she had left, how much she had lost, and how much had returned. She was not at top form, her confrontation with Kylo taking a major toll on her, leaving her weak, but she was determined to fix Finn’s injuries.

“Listen, Finn.” I’m going to put you to sleep. It’ll be easier to heal you while you’re unconscious.”

“Whatever you say. I trust you, Rey.”

She kissed his cheek, then waved a hand across his face, placing him into a deep sleep, then proceeded to Force heal him. It took a tremendous effort on her part, her own body on the verge of exhaustion, as she telekinetically reset his ribs and proceeded to mend his broken bones. After more than an hour of concentration, she was physically and mentally spent, but relieved that her lover was on the mend. Realizing she was still wearing his jacket, she promptly took it off, and placed it over him, content to let him sleep, not envying the pain he would feel when he would wake up.

Plopping into her own chair, Rey rubbed her eyes, her adrenaline dumping, her weakened state more apparent than ever. She could feel her power drained, only slowly returning, her own congruence with the Force allowing her body to restore herself. Kylo had done something to her, something she had never felt before. It wasn’t some technique of the Sith, not a typical Force drain, not a weapon to be aimed, but something baser, an anomalous hunger feeding on the Force the way a black hole fed on matter. it loomed over him like an invisible cloak, shielding his presence from her, killing any connections that it came across. It cut through the currents of the Force like a surgical knife, or more aptly, like a tear in a tapestry, threatening to unravel it. She felt that cloak, that shadow growing with every living thing it consumed. It grew incrementally as he passed through the forest, draining life from the plants and the fleeing birds, an invisible hand that seemingly snatched the breaths out of the living. And when it reached her, when he held her down, she could feel it consuming her very life essence, healing his own as a consequence. Her own power protected her, serving as a buffer, offering some remedial protection, keeping her and Finn from being outright devoured, but she could feel it slowly fading with every minute she was near him. Had she not escaped his grasp, she too would have succumbed eventually, and they both knew it. Kylo was an enemy she was ill equipped to defeat, an enemy that seemed unkillable.

But how? she asked herself, thoroughly confused. The betrayal on Exegol, the destruction of the Citadel. She felt him die. There was no way he could have survived. Rey couldn’t help but feel lost, her fear beginning to build, as it did during her encounter with him. Reluctantly, Rey closed her eyes and called out through the Force, beyond physical space.

“I need to speak with you…Skywalker.” She opened her eyes to see the Force Ghost materialize, giving her a solemn face.

“I thought you never wanted to see me again,” he groaned, clearly not happy to see her.

“I don’t, but I have a problem. Your nephew’s come back from the dead.”

“I saw…” he replied, crossing his arms. “...I saw what he did to you and to the planet.”

“Then help me understand…” she said, “...I couldn’t sense him, I couldn't hurt him. Every attack I sent his way, he cut right through. It’s like he isn’t there, like he’s a-a-”

“A wound?” Skywalker finished for her. “A void, an absence in the Force that drains whatever it comes in contact with?”

Rey blinked in surprise, “Y-yes. But that is impossible.”

“No, it’s not. It’s the rarest kind of anomaly, a breach in the Force. It manifests in moments of extreme pain and death on a cataclysmic scale, when overlapping echoes are created and become so powerful that it can tear a wound in the fabric of the Force itself. If that wound is left unchecked, it will grow and fester, turn hungry, and seek out places or people strong in the Force to nourish itself. And if it ever grows too powerful, it could devour all life in the galaxy. In even rarer cases, it's possible for the wound to graft itself to a person, usually someone at the epicenter of the breach, someone strong in the Force, someone versed in the Dark Side who experienced extreme trauma. It happened before with the ancient Sith, and now it’s happened again.

“But how did Kylo survive it?” asked Rey, “I felt him die.”

“He didn’t completely survive Exegol, Rey. Part of him did die that day, his connection with the Force was severed, and replaced with that wound. But Skywalkers are not so easily killed, and he was at the epicenter. The First Order’s betrayal, the destruction of the Sith Citadel, and the deaths of your master and the Sith Eternal. He allowed all that death, all that pain to consume him, to become him. That’s why you can’t sense him, Rey. You can only sense the echoes he leaves behind. He may feel the Force, but he does not feel himself. All he feels now is pain, and not just his own pain, but the pain of the countless dead, the echoes of lost souls that willed the wound into being, and now it’s hungry, it wants to spread itself out.”

“How could this even happen?”

“You caused it, Rey.”

“Me?” asked Rey in astonishment.

“Yes, you set the stage without even realizing it. I warned you before that the Force would not be controlled. When you reached this new power, you threw the Force out of balance, and this is the result. You created a monster that can’t be defeated no matter how powerful you become, one that’s hell bent on feeding that hunger. In time he’ll lose all reason, all sense of his old self, and he’ll turn that hunger on the whole galaxy until there’s nothing left.”

Rey couldn’t help but shiver at Skywalker's words. His tone was harsh and unkind, but truthful. Rey nervously asked, “How do I stop him?”

The look on Skywalker’s face turned grave, “I don’t know if you can…”

“Rey?” groaned Finn weakly, stirring from his sleep.

Rey immediately rushed over to him, “I’m right here.”

“Who are you talking to?”

Rey looked back, but Skywalker had vanished. “No one,” she answered, before turning her seat back around to the flight controls, dropping out of hyperspace and plugging in new coordinates.

“Where are we going?” asked Finn, struggling to sit up.

“To Coruscant…” she answered, restarting the hyperdrive countdown. “...you’re going home.”

***

Kylo knelt down to the ground, picked up a handful of dead soil, letting the howling wind carry the particles away. The planet’s surface had been totally destroyed, wiped clean of life. Nothing on the planet had been spared, not the tiny insects, the trees, not even a single blade of grass remained. Everything living had been wiped clean, their cells atomized, turning to ash, everything but him. Standing back up, he walked over to the ruined X-wing, the flames snuffed out, leaving only a blackened and mangled hull. Close by, he spotted the detached cracked head of a BB-series astromech droid, the X-wing’s pilot, he presumed. It was a strange and desperate choice for a droid to deliberately crash into him, a choice that blatantly infringed on a regular droid’s behavioral inhibitors. Then again, his mother would always tell him to never underestimate a droid, and having known R2 for more than half his life, he shouldn’t have been so surprised. Picking up the droid’s head piece, Kylo stared into its nonfunctional photoreceptor, annoyed that this hunk of scrap metal was the reason why his quarry had escaped him.

“They won’t escape me again…” he declared aloud, crushing the headpiece in his grip.

Kylo had survived the X-wing crash, and handedly defeated Rey. His body was fully restored, his flesh no longer burnt, his face repaired, his organs perfectly functional, his mind and memory fully intact. He could feel himself again, and most of all, his hunger was gone. I can’t be stopped…he thought, drunk off his own power, reveling in the feeling of invincibility. For one glorious moment, he was whole. Yet, only moments later, he suddenly felt that hunger begin to return, his pains slowly creeping back, the flesh on his hand again beginning to crack and blacken, his restoration seemingly unraveling before his eyes.

“No…” seethed Kylo, as he began to understand. As tremendous as it was, his newfound power was fleeting, eroding away like that dirt in the wind, inching down to nothingness. Even a planet’s worth of Force energy would only quench him for so long. Rey, however, was different. Her anomalous power appeared to be more potent, more enduring, like a bottomless well he could draw on indefinitely. He only needed to catch her. “...run all you want, I’ll find you.”

Kylo heard a strange undulating sound, turning around to see the lonely floating pyramid, now glowing red. He could not understand what it was saying, but he knew he had to approach it. The strange ship called to him. He could sense the echoes of its long and storied history, a thing that predated the Jedi and the Sith, something that may have been made when the Force was still young.

The Tho Yor made its descent, approaching the ground. Kylo walked towards it, stretching out his hand. The ship’s bottom tip stopped just above the palm of his hand, and began to hum an otherworldly pitch, beginning to slowly spin. It was speaking to him, speaking in a language or a series of languages that he did not know or even recognize, and yet somehow understood the meaning. He listened, and Kylo could see into the past, observe the echoes of the travelers who boarded it, the hands who crafted it, and the intention behind its creation. It was built for a very specific purpose, to bring disparate peoples together, to introduce them to the Force, to foster knowledge and peace to a galaxy that deserved neither. Whoever or whatever built it had failed, succeeding only in creating more strife, more division than ever before, inciting a cycle of wars and savagery, of triumph and deposem*nt, of freedom and oppression, of Jedi and Sith, of Republic and Empire, of the ordinary and extraordinary. It was a mistake that needed to come to an end.

I will stop it all… he arrogantly thought.

Kylo touched the surface of the Tho Yor, activating it. Through no act of his own, Kylo began to ascend, lifted off the ground by an unseen hand, until he reached the widest part of the ship’s hull. Kylo reached out, placing his hand against the hull. He could feel the energy, concentrated cosmic energy. The glow grew in both scope and intensity, until he was completely consumed by it, until he felt his own body awash with light.

Kylo opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of a white void with seemingly no end and no beginning. He felt the Force in the void, stronger than he had ever felt, cosmic, ancient, possibly predating life itself. Kylo looked around, walking aimlessly, feeling a sturdy floor, but seeing nothing, until he stumbled onto a ghostly figure, draped in a white robe. The figure turned around to face him, and pulled back the hood.

“Mother?” he asked in disbelief.

“Hello Ben.” said the ghost of Leia, her gaze wholesome, as if genuinely happy to see him. “It’s good to see you, son.”

Kylo steeled himself, forcing down the emotions he felt, asking her in a cold tone, “Why are you here?”

“I’ve come to try and save you, Ben.”

Kylo couldn’t help but laugh, “Save me? From what?”

“From making a terrible mistake.”

“And what mistake do you think I’m going to make?” he humored her.

“You’re planning to take this craft to Coruscant. You wanna wipe out the Galactic Capital like you did to Tython.”

“Yes,” Kylo reached out with his hand, feeling the power of the ship resonating around him. The open white void turned black, as dots of light began shimmering. A rendering of the galaxy appeared before them, a star map. With a bit of concentration, Kylo zoomed the image into the galaxy’s core, to the Republic capital. “Amazing isn’t it? These mysterious builders outdid themselves, to make a ship so durable that it lasted for thousands of years, and tune it to the Force so it can respond to your very thoughts. Rey stirred it awake, but she did not pry beneath the surface. Just as it compelled Force-sensitives to come to it, it can also be compelled to obey. You just need to be strong enough.”

“Ben, have you thought this through? Have you considered the consequences?”

“I have. Using this ship, I can appear right under the Republic Fleet’s nose, and deal a deathblow to them and those backstabbing Senators in one swoop. I’ll cut a wound so deep into the heart of the Republic that it will never be able to recover.”

“You will kill trillions, Ben. Not just soldiers and politicians, but everyday people, common citizens, families, children. Innocent lives. Is that what you want your legacy to be? Is that how you want the Galaxy to remember you?”

“Our family is no stranger to mass murder. You have your own father to look to. How many families and children did he kill? How many innocent lives did he take or order to their deaths? Didn't he force you to watch as the Death Star destroyed Alderaan? How did that make you feel?”

Leia closed her eyes, the memory of that day still painful. She held back tears, as she spoke somberly, “I lost my real father that day. He and my mother were on Alderaan when Tarkin gave the order to fire. There was no warning, no chance for anyone to escape or put up some kind of defense. The planet was there one minute and gone the next, and Vader made me watch. He may not have given the order but he gave his consent, and he was just as guilty. The truth is I never considered him to be my father, even long after Luke told me who he really was. He swore to me that Anakin Skywalker found himself by the end, but I didn’t care. He was always Vader to me. He killed my real father, Bail Organa. I know that my son isn’t capable of doing what his grandfather did, that deep down, he was better. I kept telling myself that you were tricked into going down this path, and despite everything I was told, despite everything I had witnessed, I never gave up on you, and I hoped more than anything in the Galaxy that we could have reconciled before the end. My son wouldn’t do what you’re planning on doing. You have the power to travel anywhere across the galaxy and even beyond it at your fingertips. Leave. Get away from everything, and leave everything else behind. Maybe you can even find a cure for your affliction or learn to control it. You're stronger than this, Ben.”

“And there it is, one last plea for redemption, to turn my back on the darkness and waddle back into the light like a shameful frightened boy,” mocked Kylo, “That boy is gone, Leia. Was I tricked into going down the Dark Side? Yes, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t find some truth. And it wasn’t the first time I was lied to. You hid my grandfather’s identity from me. I found out about it along with the rest of the Galaxy after your political rivals blurted it out on the holonet to knock you out of the running for the Chancellorship. You, Han and Luke all chose to keep that from me. And when you thought I was becoming too much of a problem, you sent me off to Luke and his antiquated Jedi teachings. I didn’t want to live like that, to serve people who didn’t deserve it, to roll over for a government that spurned my family, to act on behalf of politicians that praised us one minute, then condemn us the next. That’s why I sought out the Knights of Ren and Snoke, that’s why I chose to learn about the Dark Side, and join the First Order. I chose to rule instead of serve. I chose to reclaim our real family legacy, not the lie you’ve told yourselves.”

“You’re right, I should have never hid the truth from you. That was my mistake. But you became enamored with a lie. You idolized a broken man, Ben. What Vader was…he was only a shadow of the man he used to be.”

“You’re so right,” agreed Kylo, “I was led to believe that Vader was the epitome of rage and strength, and I chose to follow in his footsteps. But my time on Mustafar and visit to Amidala’s tomb made me realize he was weak, that all the Sith were weak. They wasted their time on personal glory and political power, inflating their egos on the praise of bootlickers. They were obsessed with ruling over the weak, as if it somehow gave them validation, only to later lose everything they built to their enemies or their so-called allies. I learned a valuable lesson on Exegol when my own men mutinied against me. That everyone is an enemy. This need to rule the weak, to establish a legacy for posterity, for grandeur, it’s meaningless. Right now a three sided war is waging as we speak, but in the end, it won’t matter who wins. Someone else will come around, a hundred years from now, a thousand years from now, whenever. Someone will find they can lift a stone with their mind, or stumble on some forgotten Sith or Jedi ruin, some other power will rise and bear its fangs, and this whole mess will start again. It’s the order of the universe. And that’s when I realized something else, something that Rey made me see. The Force is the ultimate enemy. She was right to hate it for the little games it plays with us, how it moves us around like pawns on a dejarik board, how it separates us, decides who has power, and who does not, how it pits us against each other. It decides whose lives matter, and whose don't. But Rey was so close to completely destabilizing that order with her newfound power. She pushed the Force so out of balance that she practically held it hostage, but instead of using that power to the fullest, she chose to stand idly by and let the pendulum swing back against her. And like a body’s immune system responding to an infection, it triggered a fever to try and burn her out. It pulled me from the brink of death and gave me this power. It set us on a collision course where I will inevitably kill her, and then I will be fated to die a slow and punishing death to the very same power it saddled me with. All for some semblance of balance…but I refuse to play its little game any further. I say let the fever kill the body. And now I can see a way out of what fate has in store for me. And Rey is the key. When I capture her, I won’t kill her, but I’ll feed off her power. With her as my prisoner, my power can last indefinitely. And when I destroy Coruscant, when I snuff out all those trillions of meaningless lives in a flash of sheer terror, it’ll create a cascade of screams that will reverberate throughout the galaxy. I’ll cut a wound so deep that the Force itself will quake and collapse, and the Galaxy will wither and die, until all that will be left is her and me. And when I’m done, it’ll just be me.”

Leia no longer looked him in the eye, instead setting her gaze downward. He had seen her sad before, but this was far beyond sadness. Yet for the first time in his life, he felt no remorse, no shred of regret for having brought her to such a state. He had severed the last tie to his old life.

“Then my son is truly dead. If you’ve really convinced yourself that the Force, that fate, that whatever you want to call it, is conspiring against you, then you are beyond redemption. You think you can just tear it all down because you’re unhappy with how things are? You’re obsessed with questions that have no real answers. Whatever the Force really is, whatever it may or may not want, you have no right to arbitrarily decide who lives and who dies.”

“You’re wrong. I have every right to decide, because I wield the power to do it.”

“No matter how powerful you are, Kylo, you won’t do it.”

Kylo snickered, “And what makes you say that?”

“Because Rey will stop you. Because I believe in her.”

“Rey? You think the Sith is going to save the day from me. She already tried. She’s no match for me.”

“Maybe not alone…but she isn’t alone. You are.”

“You’re overestimating her.”

“And you’re overestimating yourself…” With that remark, Leia disappeared, leaving Kylo truly alone.

***

“Any word?” asked Poe.

“No…” breathed out an exhausted Rose, “...still nothing from Finn or BB.”

Poe sighed, gazing out the cabin’s viewport of the Viscount Flagship. He saw the amassed Republic fleet hovering in orbit above Coruscant, unable to shake off the eerie feeling that had gripped him. He darted his gaze down to the planet below, looking at the night side of the planet. Even during the night, it still teamed with shimmering lights of Coruscant’s ecumenopolis, the beating heart of the Republic from its earliest inception. It had been almost two full days since Finn and BB had gone AWOL, hijacking his own personal X-wing, and they hadn’t heard anything from them the entire time. The Admiralty had their hands full carrying out the latest order from the Supreme Chancellor, who had declared martial law following a massive cyber-attack on Coruscanti Defense Network. Republic Intelligence unsurprisingly were oblivious as to who was responsible, be it the Empire or the First Order, and couldn’t even determine a point of origin of the attack, whether it was planet side or off-world. The only thing that anyone could agree on was that a follow-up attack was extremely likely. Even more disturbing was that just about all the Republic spies embedded on Imperial-controlled Corellia had simultaneously gone dark, putting the Fleet and its commanders on edge. For nearly two days, Poe, Lando and their people had done everything they could to get the Fleets up to snuff, upgrading the Viscount’s defense systems and getting the planetary shields fully operational. Now, well into the night, the group had a rare moment to themselves, to celebrate an almost forgotten Life Day with the crew’s resident Wookiee, though it was made all the more awkward with Finn and BB’s absence.

“I hope they’re alright,” said Rose.

Poe shook his head, “I just can’t believe he would just go, without even saying anything.”

“Well, you saw how angry he was,” chimed Lando, accepting a warm mug of chocolate from Chewie, as the Wookiee hovered over a multiprocessor for another brew. “Thanks Chewie. I wouldn’t worry, Poe. I think he just needed some space, and some time to think.”

“Or maybe he went out to look for Rey,” postulated Poe, “He has feelings for her. What if she’s luring him into a trap?”

Chewie hollered out to Poe as he handed him another mug of chocolate, and then another one to Rose.

“I get what you’re saying Poe,” said Lando, “But what if Finn was right about her? What if she really didn’t kill Leia, and what if the Senate just threw away its best chance for peace?”

“I don’t believe that,” countered Poe, “Rey doesn’t fool me. I know she killed Leia, and if I ever get a chance to take her out of the equation, I’m taking it.”

Chewie bellowed out a question for Poe.

“What kind of question is that? Of course, I trust Finn.”

“And what if he steps in between the two of you?” asked Rose nervously.

Poe hesitated to answer, instead blowing on his mug of simmering chocolate, before taking a quick sip. “If that happens…I’m not sure what I’d do.” Poe pushed the thought out of his mind, and called out to everyone, “Okay people, let’s gather round. Chewie, Happy Life Day, pal. 235 years old and still not a gray hair in sight.”

“Certainly aging better than I am,” quipped Lando.

Chewie let out a quiet laugh, before raising his mug and uttering a few barks and roars for a toast.

“Well said, Chewie,” praised Lando, repeating it, “To our departed friends and family who gave their lives so we can be here today. Han, Luke, Wedge…Leia. Until we meet them again.”

They all took a sip of their drinks, only for the comms to interrupt them.

“Figures…” muttered Poe, walking over and answering the call, “What’s going on, Aftab?”

“We’ve just got word from Republic Intelligence. They’re saying their sensor array just detected a massive gravity well just on the outer edge of the system. They’re saying it could very well be an Eclipse slipping out of hyperspace.”

“Finally, those idiots in RI did something useful for a change. Bring the ship up to alert status and contact the rest of the fleet to do the same. Send fighter patrols to start fanning out the area.” Poe turned to his group, “Looks like we’ll have to cut this short.”

“I’ll head back to my capital ship,” said Lando.

“I’ll head down to engineering,” said Rose.

Poe nodded, “Alright, Chewie, you get down to the hangar bay and get the fighters ready to deploy on my mark. Have the Falcon on standby too just in case.”

Chewie hollered out an affirmative growl.

“I’ll be on the bridge and keep you guys posted. Stay safe everyone.”

The group dispersed, heading to where they needed to go. Poe fought the urge to head down to the hangar bay with Chewie and get into a fighter, but he was needed on that bridge now. Making the trek to the bridge, he immediately headed to the holo-table where Rear Admiral Aftab Ackbar and his Mon Calamarian lieutenants were waiting.

“Alright Aftab,” said Poe, “what have we got?”

Aftab answered, “Nothing since that initial gravity displacement. Might have been a glitch in the detection system.”

“After what happened on Corellia, do you really want to take that chance?”

“No Admiral. We’ve been using every detection method we have, but nothing’s pinged anything-”

The proximity alarm suddenly blared, as one of the bridge aides shouted out, “Multiple ships incoming in sector A6 - correction, make that A6 and A7…A8, A9…A10?”

Poe looked at the holo-map, and watched as an entire enemy armada filled out the edges of the map. More than fifty capital ships and at least three times as many support ships had slipped out of hyperspace simultaneously, and began converging on Coruscant in battle formation.

“It's the Empire's whole damn fleet. Send word to our ground forces, tell them to activate the planetary shield. Battle stations people, get ready for a fight!”

Chapter 22: Chapter 21

Chapter Text

Finn awoke to a blinding light shining right in his face, preventing him from seeing anything. He held up his hand to shield his eyes, unsure of what was going on, thinking they were experiencing some kind of malfunction, if something happened with the ship’s hyperdrive, or if there was a miscalculation by the nav computer and dropped them out of hyperspace right next to a star.

“Rey?” he called out, ”Rey, what’s happening?”

He heard no response, as he reached out, trying to grab onto the console, something, but there was nothing to grab. The light quickly faded, allowing him to see again, and as he lowered his hand, Finn was surprised to find himself someplace completely different. He was no longer in the Tie Silencer’s co*ckpit. Now, he was in a small hovel or a settler’s homestead. He was in a dome shaped room, with walls made of grayish pourstone. In the back was an old nanowave stove against the far wall, cooking something. In the middle of the room was a small wooden table, with a handful of appliances, seemingly salvaged or self-made, some vegetables, and a BX series kitchen droid dicing away, making jittery noises as it moved.

What is this? Finn thought, another vision?

“Oh, you’re home early,” he heard Rey’s voice, coming from just outside the room.

She walked into the kitchen, giving him a quick smile before walking over to the stove, looking positively radiant. Her usual restricted Imperial garb was replaced with commoner’s clothes, baggier and more comfortable. She was wearing a cooking apron around her waist, and Finn noticed her belly was visibly swollen.

“You caught me by surprise, dinner’s not quite ready yet. How was work?” she asked him as she awkwardly bent down, putting a tray of meat into the stove. “Ducane still having you repair motivators? He’s been really running you down with these double shifts since I left.”

Finn did not speak, forgetting how to string words together, forgetting to even breathe, able to only look at her completely transfixed.

Rey stood back up, arching her back with a groan. She looked back over to him, “Don’t give me that look, I know I’m supposed to let BX handle the cooking, but I’m not going to just sit around like a beached Cartusion whale. Besides, BX still has a few-” the kitchen droid shot out a spark from its chassis. “-kinks that I need to work out.” She sat down on the nearest chair, resting her hand on her belly, protectively, before looking back at him with a perplexed look, “Finn?”

He did not respond, instead completely frozen with a newfound fear, not the typical fear of danger he was so well acquainted with, but a deeper rooted fear for something he never had, fear of the possibility that what he was seeing was real, and an even greater fear that it wasn’t.

“Finn?” asked Rey, tugging on his shoulder, jolting him out of his stupor. Finn almost fell out of the co-pilot’s seat, as his eyes darted around. He was back in the Tie Silencer, still enroute to Coruscant, and Rey was sitting just next to him in the captain’s chair. “Are you alright?”

Struggling to catch his breath from the shock, Finn attempted to compose himself, “I…I’m fine. Just blacked out for a second, I guess. I thought I saw…”

Rey gave him a perplexed look, and asked, “What did you see?”

Before Finn could say, the nav computer began to chime, signaling they were about to reach Coruscant.

“Almost there,” she said, taking a nervous breath.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked her, “You can drop me off at any other system, and I can find my own way back.”

“No,” she said, giving a pregnant pause, “They need to know what’s coming, and I’m the only one who knows how dangerous Kylo is. This is so much bigger than the war we’ve been fighting. If he’s not stopped soon, then he’ll become too powerful, and everything, everything will be at risk.”

“You know they’ll try to arrest you the minute we touch down, Rey.”

“If that’s what they wish, then fine. I won’t resist,” she assured, “just as long as I have a chance to plead my case.”

“I swear I’ll do everything I can to make them listen to you, and I won’t leave your side no matter what.”

Rey reached out for his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. They took a moment to look at each other’s faces, to let their eyes drink in the sight of one another, just as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. Finn turned to look directly ahead, only to be blindsided by an oncoming Star Destroyer, half engulfed in flames.

“REY!” shouted Finn, as Rey frantically jerked the controls, narrowly evading the Destroyer’s damaged bridge.

The two of them were caught in the middle of a full-scale battle with Imperial and Republic warships alike firing at near point-blank range while countless fighters battled each other like bloodthirsty shyrack swarms. All sense of order or battle lines had been lost, devolving into a hodgepodge of destruction, as Imperial Star Destroyers engaged up close, intermingling and muddying the Republic formations, a bold but effective strategy to neutralize the long-range advantage of the Republic Starhawks. It also made it more difficult for the Republic’s planetary defense platforms to fire on the attackers without risking their own ships. Beneath it all, the planet Coruscant had engaged its shields, encasing the entire planet with a blue bubble of energy. Coruscant was under siege.

“What the hell is going on?!” asked Finn.

“Pryde…” spat Rey, “He disobeyed my orders. I told him not to attack!” Rey looked to the coms, attempting to contact him, but to no avail. “He’s blocked all communications.” She looked around, “He must be cloaked.” She tried other channels, attempting to hail anyone, but none of her communications went through. “They’ve changed all their frequencies. I can’t get through.” she seethed.

Unsure of exactly what to do, Finn desperately scoured the hectic battleground, seeing the Viscount flagship in the distance, well in the thick of battle, fending off several Destroyers. “Take us there, that’s Poe’s command ship. Let me hail him.”

Rey proceeded to fly towards the Viscount as Finn attempted to establish communications, “Viscount Star Defender Skywalker, this is General Finn. I have an urgent communique for Admiral Poe Dameron.”

After a few minutes, Poe’s voice chimed over the comm, “Finn? Where the hell have you been? We’ve been calling you and BB for days.”

“Listen I don’t have time to explain, I’m in an enemy fighter on my way to you right now. You need to let us land and meet us at the hangar. I’m transmitting my clearance code and transponder signal to you now.”

“Alright I have you on visual…that’s Darth Ira’s ship. What the hell are you doing in that, Finn?! Where’s BB? What happened to my ship?”

“Poe, I’ll explain when I land, please. It’s a matter of life or death.”

After a brief pause, Poe responded, “Alright, permission granted. Bay 3. I’ll meet you there.”

Finn took a breath. He didn’t need to Force to recognize that something was off with Poe. He knew Poe well enough to recognize the hesitation for what it was: suspicion.

Rey flew towards the Viscount, “The moment they realize I’m with you, they’ll shoot me on the spot-”

“I’m not going to let that happen. Let me walk out first, then I’ll call you out.”

“I don’t want to but I will defend myself if I must.”

“It won’t come to that. Just take us in and promise me you won’t come out of this ship until I say so.”

“Alright,” answered Rey, setting up an approach vector.

The Tie Silencer made its way through the battlefield, dodging explosions and other fightercraft until they reached the Viscount, landing in the open docking bay. Dropping down the loading ramp, Finn walked out of the craft, only to be greeted by Poe and a platoon of heavily armed Republic Commandos, decked in full armor, with heavy blaster rifles all pointed directly at him.

“Where is she?” asked Poe coldly.

“Who?” asked Finn, doing a poor job of feigning ignorance.

“Cut the crap, Finn,” spat Poe, “I know she’s on that ship. What is this, a ploy to bring her aboard? Did she take you hostage or was this your idea? Did she tip you off about this invasion? Is that why you left to go and find her? Did she do something to you, or are you just a traitor after all?”

“It’s not like that Poe-”

“Really?” Poe walked forward, “Call her out.”

Finn shook his head, “I’m not gonna do that, Poe. Not until you and those soldiers stand down.”

Poe stepped forward, drawing his own pistol and pointing it at Finn’s face, “I said…call her out.”

“You really gonna shoot me, Poe?”

“No, but I’m willing to bet she doesn’t know that.”

“Stop!” shouted Rey, coming out of the Silencer and down the ramp with her hands up, “Please don’t hurt him. He didn’t betray you.”

The commandos trained their sights on her, encircling her, but keeping a fair distance.

“Rey…” whispered Finn, shaking his head.

“Cuff her.” ordered Poe.

A pair of commandos stepped forward with opened energy cuffs at the ready, grabbing Rey by her wrists and wrangling her down into a prone position. They slapped the cuffs on her, her arms bound in an energy field behind her back. After placing the restraints, they pulled her back up.

“You didn’t try to resist,” said a surprised Poe. “I was sure you would.”

“I didn’t come here to fight. I came here to talk.”

Poe co*cked his head, “And what would you possibly want to talk about?”

“About Kylo, Poe,” said Finn. “He’s back.”

***

Allegiant-General Pryde looked over the holo-map in his private quarters, taking account of the battle’s progress. The siege of Coruscant was well underway, and, after nearly ten hours, was more or less going according to plan. The decision to invade the capital was not one he took lightly. Nor did he take lightly the fact that he had deliberately disobeyed Empress Ira. Yet, it was the only real decision he could have made, given the circ*mstances. Victory would not permit a delay, and any hesitation would only jeopardize the Empire’s chances of victory. He had watched Ira these past few months, took note of her abilities and her methods. She was strong in so many ways, and in some ways, would have made a better ruler than her master. She was a ruler more suited to keeping the peace rather than winning a war. However, she was weak in one crucial way. For all her empathy, Ira lacked a certain ruthlessness, the resolve to make the difficult judgment calls, to deliberately send men to their deaths for victory. It was certainly a heavy decision, one he elected to spare her from making.

Pryde noticed his coms flashing from an incoming message and turned it on, “Report, Commander Fel.”

The nervous Commander cleared his throat, before answering, “Our forces are slowly gaining ground on the right and left flanks, sir. The Republic formation is finally showing signs of weakness. It would appear that the preemptive cyberattack worked. The Republic Fleet had no effective warning, and little time to prepare. We’ve taken sectors 25, 58 and 79, as ordered, sir. Also, our Destroyers have managed to close the distance on their Starhawks and robbed them of their range advantage. Unfortunately, the Republic ground forces did manage to activate the planetary shield, so a ground assault is, at present, impossible. But if our…friends on the other side are to be believed-”

“It's a dangerous thing to call men of that ilk your friends, Commander Fel. In my experience, the enemy of your enemy is never your friend, but that does not mean one should squander an opportunity when it presents itself. What of the Republic Viscount? What news?”

“The Viscount is proving a difficult nut to crack. It’s embedded in the center of the Republic battle line and has almost single handedly stopped our fleet’s center advance. We’ve lost four Destroyers to it already, and our bombers keep getting repelled by Republic support ships. With respect, sir, should the Eclipse engage?”

“Not yet.” answered Pryde, “not until the shield falls. That will be all, Lieutenant. Notify me if the situation changes.

“Yes sir.”

Pryde shut off his communicator, before sitting down on his chair, placing his hand against his chin in contemplation. Pryde was playing with fire and he certainly knew it. He activated the console on his armrest, inputting a frequency that was not meant to be used, and sent out an audio transmission. After a few moments, someone answered.

“Enrick” greeted the voice of Armitage Hux with his usual nasally curtness.

“Armitage…” greeted Pryde dispassionately, “Your cyberattack came through. The Republic Fleet was taken by surprise. it allowed our ships to get the jump on them.”

“As I told you it would,” Hux replied smugly.

“I must admit, I did not expect you to reach out. It was bold of you to reestablish a line of communication between the Eclipses. You run the risk of a communication trace.”

“The risk of being traced goes both ways, Enric. Although I have a good idea where you are. And if I even get a whiff of you trying to trace this communication, then our deal is off.”

Pryde hesitated, looking over to the holo-map. Hux’s Eclipse could have been anywhere, in this very star system, or even somewhere on this battlefield. Assuming its cloaking device was still intact, it could have been hovering above Coruscant, watching the battlefield unfold. The thought unnerved Pryde more than he’d care to admit, that uncertainty scraping away at the back of his mind.

Pryde chose to poke the bear, “And where are you now, pray tell?”

“Close by…” Hux deadpanned, his response giving away nothing.

Pryde bit back a groan, “Our ships are in place. I am still waiting for you to come through with those shields. Are you certain your people will take them down?”

“They will do their job,” assured Hux. “They’re already in place, and it will be only a matter of time. Just make sure you act fast. You will only have thirty seconds to take them down permanently. If they allow themselves to regain their footing, then we will both be finished.”

“That is the only reason I have agreed to this proposal of yours, Armitage. And don’t think that I’ve forgotten what you’ve done to us on Exegol. That account still needs to be settled. You killed my Emperor. And you killed Allena.”

“Still gnawing on that bone like a scavenging ruskakk, Enric?” mocked Hux, “Did the death of your protégé strike a nerve? Did it bruise your ego so badly to know that I actually managed to outwit you?”

“And does it bear any weight on your conscience to so casually turn on both your Republic allies and your Supreme Leader?”

“Deception is the game we play. And Kylo Ren was a dangerous liability. So, I eliminated him. It's a shame you didn’t have the gumption to deal with your new Empress as such. But then you always seemed to prefer to remain second in the pecking order. Speaking of which, I wonder what she will say to you when she discovers your deceit.”

“I did what I did because it was the only way. The Empress is young, and compassionate to a fault. I corrected her mistake, and I will take responsibility for it. You, on the other hand, only care about yourself. You have no desire to serve something greater than yourself, you simply wish to lead.”

“Don’t delude yourself, Enric. It was you who turned on us at Krait. You turned your back on Supreme Leader Snoke. You swore your allegiance to him, just as I did. and then you broke that oath the instant Palpatine resurfaced.”

“Snoke was a usurper, an alien that threatened to lead us astray from our mission. I tolerated his leadership because it was the only way to carry on and rebuild the Imperial Remnant, but my allegiance is and always has been to the old Empire, to humanity, to Palpatine. You weren’t there on Endor, on Chadawa, or on Jakku. Your father and I were, boy. We saw the fall of the Empire with our own eyes. We fought long after we realized there was no real hope of winning. And when our leaders turned their backs on their oaths and signed the Concordance, we were among the few who carried on. We helped build the First Order out of a broken army, so do not lecture me about loyalty, Armitage.”

“As always you’re living in the past, Pryde,” challenged Hux, “My father had the same problem and he died because of it. You have a keen mind for command. That cannot be disputed, but you have no vision beyond reclaiming what was lost. You seek to recreate the past, but you will fail just like my father did.”

“There will be no failure. I’m taking an awful risk on you, only because we both know that if I fail here, then you will fail sooner or later. You need me because you lack the strength, and I imagine that must eat away at you. Rest assured, I will uphold my end of the bargain. So sit back in your stolen Eclipse and bear witness to my victory.”

“Your victory is only possible because of my planning. Should you win today, rest assured we will meet again very soon, and when we do, only one of us will come out alive.”

Pryde snickered, “I’m looking forward to that day, boy.”

***

“How much longer?” asked Commander Phasma, her patience beginning to wear thin.

“D-d-d-d-d-don’t rush me now,” stuttered the slicer, DJ, as he worked on his portable terminal. “These Republic s-s-s-security systems ain’t as easy to crack as they used to be.”

“Can you do it or not?”

“Yeah....” replied DJ, typing away on his panel. “I t-t-t-took down the Republic Defense Network for you, so you already know I made the grade.”

“Well, quit talking and get to it,” spat Phasma, moving over to the plated wall and opening a viewing slit to see the commotion outside.

The newly promoted Commander Phasma and her squad had been cooped up inside the belly of an old Mark III Sienar freighter for the better part of two days, while the planet quickly devolved into mass panic all around them. The freighters were currently docked in a warehouse lot in the Industrial District, hidden among two dozen other freighters holding munitions and heavy equipment that the Republic never got around to unloading following the sudden attack. The lot was within walking distance from a spire-like structure, their main target. The concrete spire was a reinforced bunker housing one of Incom Corporation's state of the art planetary shield generators. The area was heavily guarded by Republic security personnel, but they were having their hands full with panicking mobs of factory workers flooding in at their checkpoint, demanding protection and shelter. The mobs proved a useful distraction, serving as a smokescreen for their activities, as their hired slicer worked on remote-hacking the bunker’s security systems.

It was Holdo who concocted the plan after having acquired intelligence on Republic ground defense systems. In anticipation of a siege, the Coruscanti Defense Force hastily installed four Incom planetary shield generators placed in key locations across Coruscant, a necessity to encompass a planet of that size and a shield of that strength. The irony was not lost on Phasma. It was quite the booming business for Incom, selling ships to the First Order and selling shields to the Republic. The four generators jointly projected and powered the overhead planetary shield, protecting the ecumenopolis from any orbital assault. Moreover, the destruction of one generator would not knock out the shield, as the other three would automatically reset and rebalance their energy outputs to compensate for the disabled one, a truly impressive piece of technology by all accounts. At the very least, that was how it was advertised on the brochure.

However, what was not on the brochure was that there was a crucial weakness in the design that could be exploited, a weakness that nobody outside the manufacturers knew, something that Holdo managed to finagle out of Incom higher-ups for a large sum of credits. While it was true that knocking out one generator would not disable the shield, taking out one would initiate a thirty second refresh cycle, allowing the adjoining generators to reboot and redistribute power. Within those thirty seconds, the shield would be down, leaving a small but not insignificant window for a well timed bombardment from space to knock out the remaining generators completely. And Pryde’s ships were already in position to take advantage.

Getting planet side was quite the challenge, but Holdo had a plan ready to smuggle in a small detachment of elite soldiers on cargo freighters, disguising them as a heavy weapons shipment from Sienar Fleet Systems. The First Order’s working relationship with Sienar made it simple enough for Holdo to arrange the covert mission, calling in a few favors with her contacts, acquiring the freighter, getting it through inspection, and forging the manifest. Once planet side, it was easy to get lost among the thousands of other transport ships that were coming and going on an hourly basis. Now they were waiting for their opportunity to strike on the bunker. Yet it was the bunker’s garrison, as it turned out, that was the real obstacle. The generator itself could not be remote-hacked, so that meant breaching the bunker, and accessing the generator room directly, but in order to do that without alerting the entire Coruscanti Defense Force, they first needed to disable the bunker’s security systems, which was where DJ came into the picture. Phasma had no idea where Holdo found him, but she told her he came highly recommended. To Phasma’s eyes, he was a drunken fool, and his behavior and manners did little to dissuade her opinion of him.

Phasma’s communicator began to buzz, compelling her to answer. A hologram of the newly appointed Allegiant-General Holdo immediately asked, “What’s the hold up, Commander? We’re falling behind on our timetable.”

“Ma’am it’s taking longer than anticipated. This slicer is still trying to hack into their security system.”

“We need to move it, Commander. Pryde’s Destroyers are already in position. The longer we delay, the more likely we’ll miss our window.”

“Understood ma’am.” spoke Phasma, “I’ll motivate our little friend.” She deactivated her communicator.

DJ snickered, “You know, I can always be motivated with more credits. Given the risk I’m t-t-t-taking-”

Phasma drew her blaster pistol, and aimed it directly at DJ’s face.

“H-h-h-hey now,” stuttered DJ, raising his hands.

“I’m giving you precisely sixty seconds. If you don’t shut down those security systems in the next sixty seconds, then I’ll shoot you right here.”

“W-w-w-ait a minute-”

“Fifty-eight seconds.”

DJ began typing at almost lightspeed.

“Forty seconds.”

“D-d-d-don’t shoot.”

“Thirty seconds”

DJ continued typing, sweat building up on his forehead.

“Twenty-”

“Alright, alright. it’s done.”

“Now was that so hard?” asked Commander Phasma, gesturing to her men to ready up.

“My p-p-payment?” asked DJ.

“There’s a ship at the end of the lot, space worthy. You’ll find your payment inside. Get out of my sight.”

“T-t-t-toodaloo,” stuttered DJ, wasting no time leaving the spacecraft.

Relieved that he was now out of her hair, Phasma turned to her squad, her Death Troopers, already geared up and armed. “Let’s go.”

Draping themselves in tattered gray cloaks so as to hide their armor, Phasma and her Death Troopers exited the spacecraft and proceeded to open the cargo bay doors. Clicking on the control panel, they activated a retrofitted droid deployment rack, which hovered above the ground and proceeded to slowly exit the craft. Once outside, the rack automatically began to extend its hydraulic panels, depositing its deadly cargo: a dozen B2 series super battle droids, a gift from Rotta the Hutt and the Syndicate Coalition. The heavily armored B2 units stood upright, towering even over Phasma and her troops. The droids turned on automatically as they primed their wrist blasters on each of their forearms, lining up side by side to one another, their dull silver armor showing small signs of rust, but otherwise in decent condition after sixty years in storage.

The super battle droids proceeded to march out of the lot, approaching the bunker head on, closing in on the unsuspecting mob and the distracted security detachment, while Phasma and her Death troopers circled around to the back of the bunker, no longer needing to concern themselves with the surveillance system or security alarms. The B2s opened fire on the crowd, their wrist blasters firing full auto as they indiscriminately targeted both civilians and soldiers alike, shooting with a cold precision that only a machine could manage. Eruptions of screams soon followed, as dozens of people fell to the floor either dead or injured, while others scurried for their lives. The shocked soldiers immediately opened fire, but their own blaster bolts did not penetrate the B2s’ armor, and they too quickly fell. As the crowd began to frantically disperse, more Republic soldiers poured out of the bunker, taking defensive positions to fend off the assailing droids. While the soldiers and droids exchanged fire, Phasma and her Death Troopers stacked up against the bunker’s emergency entrance, sticking a detonate charge against the reinforced door and removing their cloaks.

The troopers detonated the bomb, blowing a hole right through the duracrete and steel. Phasma immediately went through with her blaster in hand, gunning down two disoriented guards as the rest of her squad filed in, checking corners in the cramped bunker. The squad proceeded to make their way further into the base, shooting any Republic soldiers they stumbled across, until they reached the generator room, and proceeded to line the room with explosives.

Placing the last charge herself, Phasma ordered the retreat with a hand signal. The Death Troopers immediately proceeded back to the exit, with Phasma right behind them, readying the detonator. Upon leaving from the breached door from which they entered, Phasma turned around and pressed the trigger. The bombs collectively went off with a thunderous sound, as clouds of debris burst out of the bunker, cracking its foundation. The shield generator ceased to function. Phasma looked up, the column of energy now severed. Within moments, the overhead planetary shield began to flicker and then deactivate altogether. The sky was wide open.

Your turn, Pryde…

Chapter 23: Chapter 22

Chapter Text

The plan went off as intended. At the first sign of disruption with the planetary shield, the positioned Imperial Star Destroyers unleashed a trio of strategic volleys onto the planet’s surface, obliterating the exposed generators and rendering the shield inoperable. Coruscant was completely exposed, much to Pryde’s surprise.

So Hux came through after all… he thought, now looking on from the main bridge of his Eclipse.

“Sir, we’re receiving an audio transmission from Commander Fel,” spoke up his aide.

“Patch it through.”

“Allegiant-General, the shield is down. We’re proceeding immediately to the next stage of the plan.”

“Very good Commander. Remember, it is of the utmost importance that you capture the Supreme Chancellor, no matter the cost.”

“Understood sir, I will see to it personally.”

“The Eclipse will begin its engagement and provide you support. Take your battlegroup and deploy your men down to the Federal District. Surround the Executive Building and bring me Chancellor Omas.”

“Consider it done, Allegiant-General,” replied Fel before killing the feed.

Pryde turned to his aides, “Charge the axial cannon, and take us in.”

The Eclipse advanced into the fray, still cloaked and undetected as it navigated through the medley of ships like a stalking firaxan shark. The gargantuan vessel plowed straight through an unsuspecting Republic Starhawk, cleaving the ship in half before firing its fully charged axial gun on a nearby defense platform, wiping it out with a single emerald blast. Fel’s cohort of ships followed close, as the Eclipse began to unload a double barrage of turbo laser fire to any Republic ship unlucky enough to cross its path, cutting straight through the Republic line, and opening a clear approach vector to the planet’s surface.

Seizing the opening, Fel led his battlegroup down through the planet’s atmosphere amid a storm of ground turret fire. The four Destroyers quickly deployed their contingents of Tie squadrons, which proceeded to pick off the ground turrets, clearing a path and securing the immediate airspace. Fel’s ships surrounded the Federal district, hovering mid atmosphere just above the Republic Executive Building, as thousands of speeders and pedestrians began to scramble to get away.

Pryde redirected his Eclipse to the Republic fleet’s center, with the Republic Viscount dead ahead of it. The Viscount had held firm for the entirety of the battle, but Pryde was planning to change that.

“Recharge the axial cannon and prepare to engage the Viscount. We must not allow it to advance,” he directed.

“Allegiant-General, the axial cannon will not breach their shields without an overcharge.” spoke the nervous lieutenant, “So long as we’re cloaked, we won’t have sufficient power-”

“I’m aware of that, lieutenant,” chastised Pryde, ``Right now, I’m only interested in stalling them. Keep the ship cloaked and keep relocating with each shot. The Republic knows we’re here, but they don’t know our exact location. Keep them guessing and keep them away from Fel’s battlegroup.”

After giving out the order, Pryde turned his gaze away from the battle, and out into the void, away from the chaotic battle, to the blackness of space, and he couldn’t help but wonder if there was someone lurking just out of sight.

***

“I’m sorry Poe…” lamented Finn. “I’m sorry about BB. I wish there was something we could have done, but the little guy-”

“Took matters into his own hands.” finished Poe, his voice despondent, the sudden realization that his little mechanical friend was gone. He and that droid had been through hell and back together. They had so many close calls, pulled off so many death-defying stunts, but this one was one too many for the chipperly droid.

“He saved us,” added Rey, still in her restraints. “He bought us enough time to escape, but we saw what Kylo did to Tython. He drained that planet of all life, tore into the fabric of the Force itself, and now he has possession of the Tho Yor. If he learns how to control it, there will be no stopping him. We need to gather everything we have and take the fight to him.”

“And why should I believe you?” asked Poe.

“Because I was there too, and I can vouch for her.”

“Vouch for her? Your judgment is compromised, Finn! How do you know she isn’t playing you?”

Rey answered bitterly, “Because I’m here, on your ship, in these restraints, listening to you prattle on and waste our time while the real threat is lurking out there.”

“Did you look outside? How do I know you didn’t orchestrate this attack?”

Rey scoffed, “If that was true, then why am I here? Why did I surrender to you? I already told you, Pryde disobeyed my orders and launched this attack. You must believe me.”

“And why should I believe Leia’s killer?”

“I didn’t kill her!” snapped Rey, her face turning angry, her eyes turning Sith gold, as the entire hangar began to shake, the sounds of metal creaking and scraping, prompting the Republic commandos to point their weapons at her. “You don’t think I can crack this ship like an egg if I wanted to?! Restraints or no restraints, if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already!”

“Rey,” shouted Finn, “stop it!”

It was then a certain Wookiee raced towards Rey, bowcaster in hand, aiming it point blank at her temple.

“Chewie…” said Rey in surprise.

Chewbacca roared out a blatant threat for her to stop, grabbing her by her tunic and lifting her up with one hand in an impressive feat of Wookiee strength, his other hand still aiming the caster.

“Chewie, put her down! Rey, stop this!” shouted Finn in a desperate bid to diffuse the situation.

Rey’s angry gaze softened, her eyes returning to their normal hazel. The shaking and creaking soon stopped. Chewie then placed her back on the ground, and let go of her, taking two steps back.

“Stand down,” ordered Poe, his commandos lowering their weapons. Chewie followed suit, lowering his bowcaster, but giving her an angry glare.

“You really think I killed her, Chewie?” asked Rey, with a hurtful look in her eyes.

Chewie stayed uncharacteristically silent.

“Please Poe,” pleaded Finn, with desperation in his eyes, “If you don’t trust her, then trust me. We need to stop Kylo before he reaches the planet. He’s going to do to Coruscant what he did to Tython, and if he does…then it's all over, and none of us, Republic, Imperial - none of us will make it out of this.”

Poe sighed, not entirely sure what to make of it. He didn’t trust Rey, but Finn seemed to be completely sure of it. And if what she told him happened to be true, if Kylo was alive and could do what she claimed, then he had no choice but to trust her.

“Take off her restraints,” he commanded with a reluctant sigh.

The commandos proceeded to reach for her but Rey pulled away.

“No need,” she said, using her powers to deactivate the energy cuffs, and letting them fall to the ground completely inert. “I’ve been shut out from Imperial communications, I need to patch through to them, order them to stand down.”

“Do you really think you’ll get Pryde to listen to you?”

“I’ll make him listen,” she said sinisterly.

Poe felt his communicator chime, and quickly pulled it out of his pocket, “It’s Lando.” He activated the communicator, “Lando? How are you and your people holding up out there?”

“It's not looking good, Poe. We’ve lost the planetary shield. We’re hearing reports of sabotage. Then out of nowhere an unseen vessel cut a swath right throughout our left flank. We’re sure it was the Eclipse. It destroyed a Rendili Platform and cleared a path for a detachment of Star Destroyers to enter Coruscant’s atmosphere. They’re besieging the Federal District right now.”

“Dammit,” cursed Poe, “How the hell did they take down our shields, and what are they trying to do?”

“They’re trying to capture the Supreme Chancellor…” explained Rey. “...they’re overwhelming the Federal District with ground troops while they tie up your fleet in orbit. They positioned four Star Destroyers in the lower atmosphere to provide support and cut off any Republic ground reinforcements. Imperial Intelligence knows that in the event of a planetary siege, Republic Security will move Chancellor Omas to a safe room beneath the Executive Building. Pryde plans to brute force his way into the building and take Omas hostage, forcing the Republic’s capitulation.”

“And how would you know that?” demanded Poe.

“Because it was the strategy he proposed, a strategy I ultimately rejected because it would have been too costly. And we had no way of dealing with the shield at that time, but evidently, he managed to find a way. He was always very resourceful… and callous.”

Poe rubbed his chin in contemplation. “We need to intercept them, move the Viscount into position and take out the Star Destroyers above the Federal District-”

The alarm began to blare, the lights all over the hangar bay flashing red.

“Brace yourselves!” shouted Poe, just as the entire ship began to rock.

The vessel rocked back and forth, the docked fighters swaying around, as they and the rest of the hangar personnel struggled to remain on their feet. An emerald light engulfed the exterior of the ship, clashing against the Viscount’s deflector shield for several seconds before dying out, and everyone knew exactly what had hit them.

“It's the Eclipse!” shouted Poe, just as his personal communicator beeped. “It’s engaged us!”

“We won’t be able to stop the ground assault with the Eclipse breathing down our necks,” said Finn.

Chewie hollered out an idea.

“Yeah,” agreed Poe, reopening communications with Lando, “Lando, we’re in a bind here. The Eclipse has engaged us, and we can’t advance. Can you take point and intercept the Destroyers above the Federal District?”

“Sure thing, Poe.”

“I need to get down there,” said Finn, “I’m in charge of the Defense Force. The Chancellor’s safety is my responsibility, and there’s no way I’m going to stay up here while they’re fighting down there.”

Poe nodded, “Alright, Chewie, you and Finn take the Falcon and meet up with Lando. I’m going to head back up to the bridge and deal with the Eclipse.”

“And what about me?” demanded Rey.

Poe sighed, “I’m going to regret this…if you really mean what you say, then get to your people and order them to stand down.” Poe held up his communicator, “Rose, how are the shields holding up?”

“Holding strong Poe,” replied Rose, “I have to admit, Babu Frik’s upgrades really panned out.”

“Told ya he would.” replied Poe, before the alarms blared again, “Incoming! Brace yourself!”

A second emerald blast struck the ship, rocking the vessel once again, but as before, the Viscount shield’s held firm. The blast receded and Poe got back on his communicator, “Rose, you and your people okay?”

“A little rattled but okay.” she replied, “it doesn’t look like the Eclipse is overcharging its canon. They probably want to stay cloaked.”

“They’re testing our defenses, keeping us busy. At the very least, we know they’ll have to decloak if they want to break through our shields. You and Babu need to keep an eye on the shield generator, keep it working as long as you can.”

“Will do.”

Poe deactivated his communicator, taking a long deep breath, to try and calm his nerves and gather his wits. He looked back to catch a glimpse of Rey and Finn embracing, their heads tilted into each other, their lips joined at the tail end of a kiss. The two broke away, their hands still touching each other’s shoulders, lingering in a vulnerable embrace, as if they were afraid to let go of each other. He saw the look in Rey’s eyes as she looked at Finn, pooling with unshed tears, intimate, emotionally vulnerable, honest, and afraid, but not for herself. She looked at Finn with genuine care, and grave concern, a look that took Poe aback. He recognized that kind of look. He had seen it before, back in the bad old days during his spice running years on Kijimi with his partner in crime and would-be partner in life, Zori Bliss. Sith or no Sith, those eyes didn’t lie. There was no inkling of manipulation or betrayal, just an uninhibited truth. Poe continued to look on silently as the two whispered something in each other’s ears, before they reluctantly pulled away from each other and went their separate ways, Finn joining Chewie on the Falcon, and Rey returning to her Tie Silencer. She passed Poe, not even looking at him, but Poe could see she was trying her best to hold back her tears as she walked up the ramp into her ship. Poe stood still for a moment, and for some reason, against every instinct, every inkling in his bones, a dangerous thought had begun to take root, that maybe he was wrong about Rey after all.

***

Finn looked on longingly as he watched Rey’s Tie Silencer blast off from the Viscount’s hanger bay. A part of him was terrified that he might never get to see her again. She was flying into hell, and despite all her strength, despite her unparalleled command of the Force, Finn wasn’t sure it would be enough. She was not only contending with her defiant subordinates, but she also had Kylo’s shadow looming over her, ready to strike at any moment. Finn was surprised Kylo hadn’t revealed himself already, wondering what could he possibly be waiting for. Finn tried not to think about that, instead his mind beginning to drift to their little embrace, their kiss, and the words they exchanged before they parted.

“It’s not enough,” she confessed to him, her words reverberating through his soul, “one day with you isn’t enough. When this is over…when we set things right, I’m running away with you.”

Finn beamed when he heard those words, his faith in her validated. Their brief time together on Tython had stripped away any illusions, any potential misgivings, any doubts about her character or intentions. He knew she was not the monster the Republic feared, not the danger to the Galaxy that his friends had painted her to be. Deep down, she wasn’t like Palpatine, wasn’t like the other Sith. Though she may have wielded the Dark Side, she was not ruled by it, and her words were heartening, as was his reply to her, “I promise you, no matter what happens, I won’t let anything hurt you.”

Chewie’s bark over the comms jolted Finn out of his reminiscing, prompting him to strap into the Falcon’s gunner seat. “Yeah, yeah, Chewie, I’m strapped in. Take us out.”

The Falcon blasted out of the hangar, joining a host of fighter squadrons and a half dozen capital ships as they speedily flew towards the besieged planet. Looking on through the turret window, Finn could see Lando’s own command ship, a MC90 Star Cruiser, the Defiance, advancing towards the Imperial battle line.

Finn spoke over the comms. “Alright Lando, looks like we’ve got some Destroyers trying to block us from our approach vector. We need you to clear a path for the fighters and we’ll dive bomb those Destroyers above the Senate District.”

“Don’t you worry, Finn, I’ll hold your hand all the way through. Just keep near us and help to keep any bombers off our tails until we make our window.”

Lando’s battlegroup advanced into the enemy line, the Defiance spearheading the assault, firing almost point blank against the nearest Imperial Star Destroyer, as other Mon Calamari Cruisers and Starhawks engaged other nearby Destroyers. Chewie flew the Falcon with relentless precision, dodging blaster fire and outflying entire Tie Squadrons as Finn proceeded to shoot down as many as he could in the quad-laser turret. It was complete pandemonium, a reckless plan hastily enacted for a desperate situation, throwing caution to the wind for the element of surprise, something Han would have no doubt lauded. After some tense ship-to-ship fighting, Lando’s battlegroup managed to bully their way into the Imperial controlled sector, opening a window for the fighter squadrons to make their descent into the planet’s atmosphere.

“Alright General, it’s now or never. Be safe down there, and do whatever you have to do to get to the Chancellor.”

“Will do Grand Admiral. Stay safe.”

With an angry wail, Chewbacca led the charge down into the planet’s upper atmosphere, the accompanying fighters and bombers flying closely behind.

As the clouds parted and the planet’s surface became visible, Finn was confronted with a horrendous sight, a litany of destruction of what was supposed to be the most heavily guarded city sector in Republic space. Above the city loomed four Star Destroyers, and below them, Imperial and Republic soldiers battling on the streets, in the plazas, all the way to the very steps of the Executive building, as thousands of citizens fled either on foot or in whatever vehicle they could find. The once busy skies of Coruscant were now completely devoid of traffic save for the occasional fleeing speeder and military vehicles as multitudes of citizens sought refuge in rapidly filling designated bomb shelters. Fires had erupted out across the district as several skyscrapers were shelled and left burning. The once bustling center of Coruscant was now a warzone, as pillars of smoke began to rise into the sky amid the setting sun. Hundreds of assault landers continuously fielded more Storm Troopers and AT-STs, as the Imperials began to mass in the Senate Plaza, establishing a powerful foothold right on the Chancellor’s doorstep. The Republic defenders had mounted defenses within the surrounding Senate buildings and apartment complexes, the bulk of them barricaded in the Executive Building, deploying turrets and defenses along the staircases, determined to hold their ground at all cost, but clearly outgunned and outmatched.

Finn opened a channel to the fighters, “Alright, lets form up, I want the Y-Wing Squadrons split into two groups. The first group, you hit all four of those Destroyers with your ion cannons as soon as they’re in range. The second group, you follow up, and unload every proton torpedo and concussive missiles you have. Aim for their command towers. When we blow past them, we’ll swing around to the Executive Building and provide air support. If we can do enough damage, we’ll drop all four of those Destroyers out of the sky right on top of them.” He then called out to Chewbacca, “Chewie, let’s give our boys on the ground a hand.”

Chewie let out an approving roar, as the Falcon readied its armaments. As instructed, the Y-Wing bombers split into two groups, the first firing their mounted ion cannons on the unsuspecting Star Destroyers, shorting out their shields with electrical currents as they flew right below them. The second squad made their bombing run, dropping proton bombs on the command towers of the now unshielded Destroyers. Two command towers exploded from bombings, knocking out the ships’ power and causing them to drop from the sky. The other two Destroyers sustained heavy damage, but the Y-Wings fell short of destroying their command towers. The damaged destroyers remained in the sky, crippled but still in the fight.

Dammit, thought Finn. “Alright, Chewie, drop me off at the Executive Building. I’ll get the Chancellor and call for evac as soon as I have him. Meantime, do what you can from the air.”

Chewie flew the Falcon towards the Executive Building, fighting their way through oncoming Tie Fighters. The alerted Imperial pilots flew especially aggressive, bearing down on the Republic Fighters relentlessly, desperate to keep the Republic ships away from their damaged destroyers, doing everything in their power to prevent them from making another coordinated attack. The Republic had lost the element of surprise, but half of the guarding Destroyers were down. The playing field had leveled, and it would be a dogfight from here on out.

Finn unbuckled himself from the turret chair and walked over to the Falcon’s boarding ramp, hovering his hand over the button. “Chewie don’t bother touching down, just get me close enough to the building and I’ll Force jump it.”

Chewie hollered out in objection.

Finn did not take too kindly to his words. “Hey, that was one time, and I did not break my ankle. I sprained it. I’ve gotten the hang of it since then…I think.”

With a pessimistic gruff, Chewie reduced speed, and descended just above the upper floors of the Executive building. Opening the Falcon’s door, Finn took a deep breath and jumped off the Falcon, landing stylishly on the landing pad. Not bad…he thought, just as the Falcon blasted off back into the sky.

“Good to have you back, General,” said a voice just behind him.

Finn turned around, but didn’t see anyone, then looked down to see Maz Kanata, brandishing a compact blaster rifle in hand and her trusty jetpack strapped on her back, looking like she had already seen quite a bit of action.

“Still alive, Maz?” asked Finn jokingly.

“Still alive,” she answered, before asking knowingly, “Did you enjoy playing hooky with Rey?”

Finn held back a smirk, before turning to the matter at hand, “What’s the situation down here?”

“We’ve been on the backfoot ever since those Destroyers entered the atmosphere. The Imperials have fought their way into the lobby, but we’ve held them for now. They clearly want the Chancellor alive, or they would have leveled the building by now. We’ve held them off for now, but we’re running out of men.”

“What about reinforcements?”

“I just spoke to Commander Connix. The Coruscanti Defense Force has been cut off from us since the start of the siege. Those blasted Destroyers have kept them at bay, but now that you’ve downed two of them, they’ll at least have a chance to push through. Connix is readying for another push, but there’s no guarantee she’ll get through.”

Finn looked down from the rooftop, seeing the turmoil down below. It wasn’t looking good, and Finn had a strange feeling that something worse was about to happen. He had a sixth sense about it, an instinct that he had learned to trust implicitly.

“We can’t hold the Executive Building. We need to evacuate the Chancellor. Where is he now?”

“The Chancellor is secure in his private bunker in the lower quarters. We have the entrance heavily guarded and we have elite commandos inside the bunker with him.”

“And there’s no other way in or out of that bunker?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

Mas’s magnified eyes blinked, “There’s a secret service tunnel that connects the bunker to the old Spaceport, a relic of the Old Republic Cold War, but that’s been closed off since before even I was born, and it doesn’t show up in any of the schematics.”

Finn’s heart skipped a beat, “Get the Chancellor on the coms right away.”

Maz took out her comm-link and spoke into it, “Alpha team, what’s your status?”

Much to Maz’s surprise, her hail was met with silence.

A concerned Maz spoke again, “Alpha team, come in.”

“Give it here,” said Finn, frantically taking the commlink, “Alpha team, this is General Finn, report in immediately.”

“FN-2187…” said a voice that chilled Finn to the bone. “…how nice of you to finally drop in.”

“Phasma! What have you done with the Chancellor?”

“Consider him a prisoner of the First Order.”

The comm went dead, and Finn looked out towards the lower quarters of the Executive building, to the adjacent Spaceport. Maz looked on as well, adjusting her goggles to magnify her vision, where she spotted a single Sienar freighter lifting off.

“There!” she shouted, pointing to it.

Finn changed frequencies on his comm-link, “Chewie! Chewie, they’ve got the Chancellor! The freighter taking off from the old spaceport! Go after it! We’ll be right behind you!” Finn then shouted out, “Maz, we need your ride!”

“I’ve got it!” she said, punching in a code on her gauntlet to remotely call her ship. The Stranger’s Fortune sped over to their location, hovering just overhead as Finn Forced jumped into its opened doors. Maz followed right behind him, flying to it with her jetpack. They immediately went to the co*ckpit, just in time to see Chewie race ahead of them in hot pursuit of the fleeing freighter.

“Don’t lose him Maz!” shouted Finn, with angry determination. Not this time, Phasma…

Chapter 24: Chapter 23

Chapter Text

The Sienar freighter continued to flee, trying in vain to shake the Millennium Falcon that was hot on its heels. Maz and Finn flew close behind, desperate to figure out how to disable the freighter. Unable to outrun them, the frigate’s aft turrets opened fire, trying to keep the Falcon at a distance until its hyperdrive motivator kicked in.

Finn felt like a fool. Phasma had snatched away the Chancellor from right under his nose. That woman had been the bane of his existence for as long as he could remember, terrorizing him when he was a grunt in the First Order, aggravating him since his defection to the Republic. He remembered their last encounter back on the Raddus, when she rescued Holdo from them. He was determined to not let her win again, not after all he had been through, how far he had gone. But his desperate hope was beginning to wane as enough time had no doubt lapsed for the freighter to enter hyperspace. Except it didn’t.

“They should have jumped to lightspeed by now,” remarked Maz, “Why in the Force haven’t they?”

Finn was puzzled by this, trying to come up with some kind of explanation. It was then that his commlink sprung to life. Confused, Finn answered it, “Hello? Who is this?”

“F-F-F-Finn. It’s been a minute. How’s it been, partner?”

“DJ?” asked a surprised Finn. “How the hell did you get this frequency?”

“I’ll tell ya over drinks some other time, you Republic guys really need to overhaul your s-s-security systems, you’re almost as bad as the Imperials. Anyways, I just want t-t-to let you know that the First Order hired me for a little job, but I didn’t much appreciate how they t-t-t-treated me, so I left them a parting gift, a little something I coded into their nav-computer. They might find it…kinda impossible to j-j-j-jump to lightspeed.”

Finn was left speechless, “Wh-you…”

“Consider it a f-f-f-freebie, Finn. See ya when I see ya.”

The comms went silent, leaving both Finn and Maz floored.

Regaining his wits, Finn hailed Chewie. “Chewie, Chewie! The freighter can’t jump to lightspeed. Pull back, let Maz and I take a shot at it.” Finn turned to Maz, “So Maz, you used to be a pirate, right? Does this old bird have any special tricks to disable a ship?”

“This old bird has a surprise or two left under her feathers.”

Maz punched a few buttons on the console, and the Fortune opened up its hidden underside compartments, revealing a hidden ion pulse missile launcher, primed and ready to fire. Maz accelerated, evading the freighter’s turret fire, until the targeting computer locked onto it. She fired a pair of ion missiles, which slammed into the rear of the freighter, engulfing the entire ship in a mass electrical current. The freighter’s engines began to sputter, and the ship started to lose altitude, descending into the upper Uscru District. It landed violently on the overpass entryway of the Galaxies Opera House, scraping the surface of the rampway before coming to a dead stop just in front of the Dome. The Falcon and the Fortune landed on the upper deck of the rampway, with Chewie, Maz and Finn racing out to the crash site, weapons drawn. The three of them lined up against a particularly large and mangled piece of wreckage a hundred yards away, looking at the downed freighter for any signs of movement.

Chewie roared, aiming his bow caster.

“Damn, Maz, you really did a number on it. We need the Chancellor alive.”

Maz adjusted her goggles before readying her blaster rifle, “Well, it was the best I could do under the circ*mstances. Sienar freighters have sturdy cabins. He should be fine if they held him there.”

“And if they put him in the cargo hold?”

Chewie hollered.

Maz betrayed a look of distress.

Putting away his blaster, Finn gripped the hilt of his lightsaber, “I’m going in for a closer look.”

Maz went prone, taking aim with her rifle alongside the corner of the wreckage, “Alright. Be careful, Finn.”

Finn cautiously walked forward, taking measured steps toward the freighter. The freighter’s mangled cargo doors suddenly sprang to life, the hydraulics attempting to force the jammed doors open. Finn flinched from the noise, taking one step back, before igniting his lightsaber. Suddenly, the jammed doors were ripped open, as a one-armed B2 Battle droid walked out of the wreckage and started shooting directly at Finn. Finn’s Jedi training kicked in as he deflected the repeating fire, trying his best to stand his ground. A second B2 battle droid forced its way out of the wreckage, this one with both arms intact, and proceeded to fire on Maz and Chewie, who promptly returned fire. The B2s walked forward, shrugging off Maz and Chewie’s blaster fire, and forcing Finn to move back. Finn then noticed more movement coming from the ship. He saw Phasma storming out, with a cuffed Chancellor in tow, as well as four Death Troopers ushering them away. The group headed to the Opera House, disappearing into the corridor below.

Finn refocused on the assailing droid, concentrating on its one remaining arm joint. He could almost feel the metal bolt, the steel holding it in place. He psychically grabbed the joint with the Force, and with a wave of his hand, he pulled off the battle droid’s only remaining arm, before then unleashing a Force push, sending the armless droid careening into the wreckage. The second battle droid reprioritized its target, turning its attention fully to Finn, shooting Finn with both its wrist blasters and inundating him with rapid blaster fire. Without thought, Finn’s hand moved before he could consciously react, twirling his lightsaber to deflect the burst of fire, feeling the Force intuitively guide his actions, seeing the blaster bolts and blocking before they could reach him. As Finn continued to deflect and parry the bolts, Chewie and Maz sprang into action and out of cover. Maz fired up her jetpack, shooting at the droid below her, hitting it on the upper part of its chassis. The droid ceased firing it at Finn and aimed to the sky, just as Chewie tossed a thermal detonator at its metallic feet. The detonator exploded, blasting off the droid’s feet, as its upper half collapsed to the ground.

“Good throw Chewie!” complimented Maz, landing back to the ground.

Chewie hollered triumphantly, only to then get shot by a blaster bolt square in the chest.

“Chewie!” screamed out Maz in horror.

A startled Finn looked to the source of the blaster fire, catching a glimpse of Phasma’s chromed helmet, as she lowered her blaster and retreated back down the steps to the corridor below. Angrily, Finn began to run forward, only to be stopped by the now legless B2 battle droid. Heavily damaged but still active, the droid attempted to move, clawing at the ground with one arm, while taking aim at Finn with the other, shooting with cold indifference. Finn quickly burst into action, running faster than what was humanly possible, leaping into the air with his lightsaber brandished. Dodging the blaster fire, he impaled the droid with his lightsaber, piercing through its heavy armor plating, hitting its vital sensors inside the torso. With an extra ounce of vindictiveness, Finn wrenched up with his lightsaber, splitting the droid in half. Quickly he checked the rest of the ship’s cargo hold, seeing other inactive B2 droids, likely destroyed in the crash. Finn double checked to make sure there were no other active threats, and once he was confident the droids were pacified, he ran back to Chewie, who was being attended to by Maz.

“Chewie, are you alright?”

Chewie hollered weakly.

“No, you are not fine,” argued Maz, pulling out an emergency container of bacta spray, and discharging it on his chest wound. “You’re lucky you’re not dead.”

Chewie struggled to stand up, but both Finn and Maz tried to hold him down.

“No way, Chewie, you cannot fight like this,” insisted Maz.

Finn looked back at the domed Opera House, and with a sigh, he spoke out, “Maz, help Chewie to the Falcon and call for help. I’m going in alone.”

A surprised Maz argued, “No, Finn. It is too dangerous.”

“I can’t let Phasma escape. Not again,” Finn insisted.

“Phasma is formidable enough, and she is not alone. Her Death Troopers are with her. They are counting on you to go after them.”

Chewie let out a weak gurgle, prompting Maz to apply more bacta spray.

“Listen to Chewie, Finn. Wait for back up. We have to call Connix-”

“I can’t just sit here and wait. Phasma might have already called for an evac. She might be gone by the time help arrives. I have to do this. Besides, this is a long time coming.”

Maz paused briefly, adjusting her goggles. She looked into Finn’s eyes, before finally nodding, “Do what you need to do, Finn.”

Chewie wheezed out some encouraging grunts.

“Don’t you worry, Chewie, I’ll get them.”

Finn made his way down to the main corridor of the Opera House, falling short of stepping inside. The night sky had taken hold, and the corridor was almost completely blackened in darkness, save for a few windows letting in the moonlight, an easy spot for an ambush. Finn closed his eyes, concentrating, focusing his mind, his thumb hovering over the lightsaber trigger. He recalled his Jedi training, the heightened sense of the Force, hearing without his ears and seeing without his eyes. He could sense the antipersonnel mines peppering the ground, cloaked in the shadows, boobytraps placed there, waiting for him to make one false step. He heard the breathing of the Death Troopers, the four of them spaced out sensibly, each with a sightline to the entrance. He felt their fingers pressed against the trigger of their E-11D blaster carbines. He needed to move fast, faster than any normal human could go so as to avoid their fire. He needed to step in exactly the right places to avoid tripping their mines. Most of all he needed to go for the kill, not hesitate, not rethink himself, not give his opponents time to regroup, or he was as good as dead.

Finn breathed out, and with the Force at his back, he dashed into the corridor, leaping as he entered to avoid the initial blaster fire from the Death Troopers, blocking a few more blaster shots for good measure. He avoided the mines, trusting the Force to guide his feet, allowing his instinct to feel his way through the corridor as he focused on deflecting the Death Troopers’ heavy blaster bolts. He managed to successfully redirect one blaster bolt back at the shooter, hitting him square in the chest, causing him to keel over and drop his weapon. The other three darted out of cover, backpedaling to keep a safe distance from Finn and his lightsaber, the intelligible sound of their vocal scramblers from their helmets masking their frantic communications. Finn kept up the pressure, dodging or blocking their blaster fire, forcing himself not to think, but to let his hands do the thinking. He pulled in one Trooper with the Force, tossing him to the floor and onto one of their own mines, exploding with a violent burst.

Finn darted in at the two remaining combatants, but failed to see the surprise flashbang grenade detonating at his feet, blinding his eyes and ringing his ears. His senses completely shook, Finn knew he had been duped, a clever ploy he didn’t account for. The close quarters made flashbangs especially dangerous, but Death Trooper helmets shielded the wearers from the effects. They could still see him even if he couldn’t see them. Finn forced down his mounting fear, knowing it would do him no good. He put his trust in the Force to see and hear for him, to press on the attack. His hand moved, twirling the lightsaber, blocking the unseen blaster bolts, before spinning around and slashing at the unseen Trooper straight across the chest, slicing straight through his black armor. The final remaining Trooper rushed him from behind, attempting to shoot him point blank in the back of Finn’s head, but Finn instinctively knew to tilt his head, evading the bolt at the last possible second, feeling the heat whiz by his ear. In a fluid motion, Finn reversed the angle of his lightsaber and stabbed the plasma blade behind him, impaling his opponent straight through the chest. Finn felt the Trooper keel over behind him, as his eyesight finally began to normalize. Looking back, he could see his handiwork, the lifeless bodies of the four Death Troopers down on the ground. Finn suddenly took an anxious breath, realizing he had held it since the start of the encounter, hardly able to believe what he had just done. His momentary shock dispersed, however, as he heard the sound of the Opera House lights inexplicably turn on. The corridor and the adjacent amphitheater lit up, as if to announce that Phasma was awaiting him.

Finn cautiously crossed the rest of the corridor, peering out through the entranceway and looking around the main seating area. The Opera House was brightly lit, the overhead lights making his eyes water, still sensitive from the flashbang. As Finn walked down the aisle, he could see the main stage, spotlights shining on them, and Chancellor Omas sitting down, his arms restrained and his mouth gagged with a rag, looking worse for ware and barely conscious. Finn scanned the amphitheater, checking the balconies, the booths, the orchestral stands for any sign of Phasma, but as yet she was nowhere to be found.

“I know you’re here Phasma,” he announced, “It’s not like you to cower away in the dark.”

Phasma revealed herself, her personalized F-11D blaster trained on him. “You’re calling me a coward?” she barked, “You always did have a bizarre sense of humor FN. How’s the Wookiee? A shame I didn’t aim just a little higher. Consider that payment for Starkiller Base.”

“I should have killed you on that base,” he replied starkly, activating his lightsaber, “I guess I was more preoccupied with humiliating you for once.”

“I haven’t forgotten FN. I intend to pay you back.”

“Drop the act, Phasma. You know what I can do. You saw what I did to your boys in black. You can’t win this. Hand over the Chancellor.”

“You want him?” she taunted, grabbing the kneeling Chancellor by the collar, wringing his neck, “Then come and take him.” Phasma shoved the Chancellor down, and stepped forward, walking to the center of the main stage. To Finn’s surprise, she tossed away her blaster and drew her quicksilver baton. With a click of a button, the baton protracted into a full-sized double-edged spear. She tucked the staff under her arm, inviting him to a duel, “Are you brave enough to fight me, soldier to soldier, or are you what I’ve always known you to be? A coward?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed. Such a blatant taunt should not have cut him so deeply, but Phasma’s words always cut deep. She was more than just another adversary. In so many ways, she was the very embodiment of everything he feared about the First Order, an old nightmare that he rightly should have outgrown, but never really did. He was tired of it, tired of hearing her voice engrained in his head, her silhouette he swore he would see in the shadows, the derision and beratements he regularly endured under her boot. She had tormented and terrified him for years when he was in the First Order, and Finn was determined to prove to her as much to himself that he wasn’t afraid anymore.

Finn climbed up to the stage across from her, “Alright, that’s how you wanna run this? Fine. No powers. No tricks, no gadgets, no other weapons. Just you and me, soldier to soldier.” He raised his weapon to a fighting stance.

Phasma lumbered forward with heavy steps. Finn opted to stand his ground and let Phasma come to him. With a powerful thrust, she swung her staff, prompting Finn to brace his body, and block high with his lightsaber. The quicksilver spear tangled with the lightsaber, as the two combatants struggled against one another, but the heavier and stronger Phasma quickly gained ground, pushing Finn backwards. Finn struggled to keep balance, as Phasma threatened to steamroll him, forcing Finn to disengage and pivot, letting Phasma run right by him. He slashed at her right shoulder with his lightsaber with what he hoped would be enough force to amputate it. But the blow failed to fully cut through her chrome armor, leaving only a slight abrasion.

Phasma groaned slightly, turning back around. “Not bad, FN…” she said, sounding more annoyed than anything, “…that almost hurt.”

Finn tried to hide the surprised look on his face, not anticipating her armor to be so resistant to a lightsaber. With surprising speed, Phasma lurched forward, attempting to spear him through the chest. Finn side stepped, swinging at her helmet, but Phasma blocked his attack with her wrist guard, sweeping his legs and knocking him on his back. Phasma stabbed at him with the edge of the spear, but Finn managed to roll out of the way as the tip pierced into the stage floor. Finn got back up to his feet, swiping horizontally with his lightsaber, hitting Phasma in the left leg with a clean swipe, the plasma blade cutting deep through the front of her shin guard. Phasma visibly flinched, stepping back with a slight limp, clearly in pain.

“Did that hurt?” he mocked, any vestige of Jedi poise intentionally forgotten.

Finn went on the offensive, the momentum now on his side, making a calculated series of high and low swings. Phasma blocked the string of blows, but struggled to find an opening to counter attack, as Finn continued his onslaught, relying on his superior speed to keep her on the backfoot. Feigning high, Finn hit her again, this time across the abdomen, leaving a molten streak across her chest piece. He could not see her face, but he could tell by her movements that Phasma was growing desperate. She began to attack wildly, robbing Finn of the momentum, forcing him to block again, and in a desperate bid, elbowed him in the chin after a missed swing. Finn staggered backwards, but kept his senses just enough to see her next attack coming, evading her swipe and sidestepping around to her back. Thinking quickly, Finn grabbed Phasma’s cape, and threw it over her head, momentarily blinding her. Seizing the chance, Finn used all his might for one big swing at her head, hitting her right in her helmet. He heard the armor shatter and saw the sparks fly as the lightsaber collided with Phasma’s helmet with a heavy electric thud. As the sliced cape dropped back, he saw the damage, the left side of the helmet almost completely sliced off, the upper part of her head exposed and badly burnt.

Phasma dropped to her knees, her weapon falling from her hand, and rolling onto the floor. Finn encircled her, as he saw her reach for her helmet, uncomfortably pulling it off and tossing it to the ground, seeing her face for the very first time. He didn’t know what to expect, imagining all kinds of things, but the face he was met with wasn’t what he expected: a blond-haired woman in her late thirties, hair scrunched-up, with striking blue eyes and a fair complexion. She was hardly the monster he had made her out to be after all those years, never seeing her without her chrome mask. Her left ear and temple were badly burned from the blow he dealt, and he could tell by looking in her eyes she was completely out of sorts, likely concussed, as she struggled to maintain eye contact.

“Give it up Phasma,” he warned, pointing the edge of his lightsaber at her chin, “you can’t win.”

“Of all the people…” she spat out in frustration, her brow furrowed, eyes full of hate, “…finish it.”

Finn paused, contemplating his options, electing to deactivate his lightsaber, “I don’t kill defenseless prisoners. Consider yourself a prisoner of the New Republic.”

Finn turned his back, and walked toward the Chancellor.

“Who said I was defenseless?” she asked, drawing a hidden blaster pistol and shooting a single round at Finn.

Finn saw it coming, turning around just as she pulled the trigger, holding out his hand and freezing the blaster bolt in place midair. Phasma flinched, also frozen in place by the Force, as she struggled in vain to move.

How the hell did Kylo make this look so easy? Finn thought, concentrating hard to maintain the stasis, as he walked over to her. Walking past the suspended blaster bolt, he went over to her, pulling the gun out of her hand.

Finn shook his head, “I gave you a chance.” He raised the gun and shot her between the eyes. Her head reared back from the impact, only to freeze up in Finn’s stasis. Finn released his hold, letting the bolt shot past into the front row seats, and Phasma’s body topple over lifelessly. “You should’ve taken it.”

Finn turned his attention to the Chancellor, removing the gag and the restraints.

“Chancellor Omas,” he greeted with a slight bow, “Sorry I’m late.”

“Better late than never,” replied the Chancellor, half awestruck, “What you just did… was extraordinary. I’ve never seen a Jedi in action before.”

Finn was heartened by the Chancellor’s words. “Sir, we need to get you to safety immediately. The Falcon is waiting just outside-”

A beeping sound caught their ears, as both Finn and Chancellor Omas looked to Phasma’s body, realizing her communicator was receiving a transmission. Finn telekinetically pulled the comms to his hand, activating it, seeing a small hologram of Amelyn Holdo.

“Commander, status re-” Holdo paused, her face sinking at the sight of him, “Finn?”

“Holdo,” he greeted snidely, “It’s been a minute.”

“Where is Phasma?”

“Phasma’s dead,” he answered, “I gotta hand it to you, it was one hell of a stunt, letting the Empire through our defenses, having them attack the Federal District while you sneak in and kidnap the Chancellor. Must have done some serious reconnaissance to find that old service tunnel. Did Pryde know that you and Hux were gunning for the Chancellor, or did you deviate from the plan and try to steal him from under his nose?”

“Gloat while you can,” warned Holdo, her eyes narrowing, “This isn’t over.”

The feed went dead.

Finn shook his head, No it isn’t…

***

“We’re sure in the middle of it now…” muttered Lando to himself as he oversaw the battle aboard the bridge of his capital ship.

The Defiance was in the thick of the fight, trading fire at close range with a pair of encroaching Star Destroyers, as the rest of his battlegroup did everything in its power to tie up the Imperial forces in the sector. The Imperial flank had momentarily faltered in the wake of Lando’s push, allowing the Falcon and the accompanying contingent of fighter squadrons to slip through and engage the Imperials on the planet surface. Since then, however, the Imperials had regrouped, with more capital and support ships bolstering their numbers and engaging ship-to-ship with the Republic.

More unsettling was the fact that nobody had heard anything from Finn or Chewie. It had been several hours since they flew down to the planet, but they had failed to stay in contact. He was getting encouraging reports from Commander Connix on the ground, stating that two of the overhead Imperial Destroyers had been knocked out of the fight. With Imperial air support cut in half, it allowed the Coruscanti Defense Force to push through. The Imperial advance in the Federal District had, at least for the moment, been stymied.

You probably would’ve routed them by now, Leia, Lando quipped to himself.

Lando turned on his communicator and hailed the Skywalker, “Poe, how is it looking on your end?”

“The damn Eclipse keeps taking pot shots at us. They’re keeping us bogged down.”

“How are the shields holding?”

“Fine for now, but we can’t do a hell of a lot while this thing keeps playing hide and seek with us. They don’t seem to have any interest in decloaking and going for the jugular. They don’t seem to want to fight. They seem to just want to tie us up, keep us out of the fray. What about you? How are you doing on your end?”

“We’ve fully engaged the Imperial right flank. If nothing else, we’re keeping them away from the planet’s surface. But I haven’t heard anything from Finn or Chewie.”

“Me neither. I can’t get a hold of Maz, I can’t even get a hold of the Chancellor. I’m worried, do you think they might have-”

“Have a little faith, Poe,” assured Lando, “They’ll come through.” He learned long ago to trust in his friends, and made a point never to forget it.

Almost as if on cue, a call came in from the Falcon over their private military channel.

Poe frantically answered it, “Finn, where you been? Please tell me some good news! We could really use some right about now!”

“Poe, we’ve got the Chancellor aboard the Falcon. We’re taking him away from the Federal District to a secure location. Maz is notifying Connix as we speak.”

“Good work Finn!” shouted Lando happily. “I knew you’d pull through!”

“There’s more. Phasma was there. She kidnapped the Chancellor and tried to get away, but we managed to stop her. The First Order’s got their dirty hands all over this. They’re the ones that took down the planetary shields.”

“Do you think they’re in cahoots with the Empire?” asked Poe.

“I don’t know. Maybe in the beginning. Taking down those shields gave them a window of opportunity. But I doubt Pryde would be happy to let them run off with the Chancellor. My bet is they did what they always do and double crossed them.”

“Great, more good news, as if we don’t have enough to worry about” said an aggravated Poe, “Lando, your tech boys have been monitoring Imperial military transmissions? Any chatter about the First Order?”

Lando opened up a Com-Scan log, “The Empire keeps cycling through different frequencies, making it tough to get a read on them. But what little we’ve been able to decrypt doesn’t mention anything about any-” Unexpectedly, Lando was interrupted by a ping, “-Hold on. We’re intercepting a message right now. Strange…it’s being broadcasted across the entire Imperial network, not even encrypted. Patching it through.”

A familiar voice calmly spoke out, “My loyal subjects, this is your Empress speaking…”

“It’s Rey!” shouted Finn, “She must have gotten through.”

Lando added, “And it looks she wants us listen in.”

“…I’m speaking to you now because you have all been misled. Despite what Imperial Command may have told you, I never signed off on this operation. On the contrary, I gave explicit orders not to besiege the capital, but your superiors disobeyed my commands and took it upon themselves to invade Coruscant. They ignored my concerns for your safety, and showed no hesitation in sacrificing your lives by sending you head on against the Republic Fleet. They even went so far as to shut me out of Imperial communications. That is why I am addressing you directly, like this. We are bleeding ourselves dry against the Republic at a time when we can least afford to. There is a danger coming, an existential threat far greater than anything the Republic can ever pose. I do not say this lightly - this isn’t an idle threat over our sovereignty or political ideals. This is a threat on our very lives, and not just our own, but all life in the galaxy. Some of you know what I can do, and what I have done. I saved many of you at the Battle of Krait, and I have always tried my best to lead you to a victory where you will live to enjoy the hard-fought peace. I have fought alongside you, and now as your empress, I say this to you. Cease your attack on Coruscant and the Republic Fleet immediately. Withdraw to the edge of the star system. All Imperials on the planet’s surface are to withdraw as well in an orderly fashion. Any further aggression from any Imperial ship will be seen as an act of sedition and will be punished accordingly. This is Empress Ira, and I await your decision.”

“She did it!” shouted Finn exuberantly.

“But will they listen?” asked Lando, leaning forward in his chair, observing the battlefield.

As Rey’s broadcast concluded, he noticed the Imperial ships in front of him cease all fire. The ships began to turn away from the Republic line, as they all seemingly in unison made an about-face.

“I’ll be damned,” remarked a shocked Poe, “she actually got them to stand down.”

Lando spoke to his officers, “Send word to all our ships, tell them to stop firing, and to not fire unless directly fired upon.” He spoke back into his communicator, “Poe, spread the word to your people, and Finn, tell Connix to do the same.”

“You got it, Grand Admiral,” said Finn.

“Roger that,” confirmed Poe.

Lando sank into his chair, and for the first time in hours took a deep, relaxed breath.

“Who the hell would’ve though…” mumbled Lando, with a smirk.

Yet as quickly as things stopped, the bridge alarm blared.

“Energy spike detected in Sector 35!” shouted a bridge crewmember, “They’re firing!”

Lando turned to the window just in time to see the emerald glow devour the bridge.

***

Poe Dameron looked on in horror as the Defiance burst into flames from a direct hit from an emerald beam. The energy beam tore straight through the vessel’s shields, boring through the bridge, and bursting out through the vessel’s stern. The ship exploded seconds later, a million chunks of flaming debris scattering like an explosion of stars. There was no time to react, no time to reroute power or call for an evacuation. Grand Admiral Lando Calrissian and the entire crew of the Defiance had been wiped out in a blink of an eye.

“Poe?!” shouted a panicked Finn over the comms, “Poe, what happened?!”

But Poe failed to answer, instead looking on dumbstruck.

“Admiral Calrissian…” muttered Aftab in complete disbelief, as the entire bridge staff looked on slack-jawed. The Republic had just lost their commander-in-chief, along with the second most powerful ship in the fleet.

Poe felt his anger swell, his rage uncontainable as he cursed out, “That bitch!”

Aftab turned to him confused, “Admiral Dameron?”

“This was her plan from the beginning! She tricked us! She lured us into a false sense of security only to turn on us when our guard was down!”

Finn attempted to speak, “Poe, wait a minute now, don’t be hasty-”

But Poe interrupted him, “No, Finn! I’m not waiting another damn minute! We trusted her, and she double crossed us!”

“You don’t know that-”

“I knew it from the start!” shouted Poe, “I should have listened to my gut, but I trusted you. I trusted her, and Lando died for it! Well, I’m in command now, and I’m going to finish this!”

Finn screamed out, “Poe, wait!”

Poe shut off the communicator and looked to Aftab, “Ready all guns and fly straight into their line! Engage them head on at point blank range! If the Eclipse wants to shoot us, they’ll have to risk shooting their own ships!” He went back to his command console, addressing the fleet, “This is Admiral Dameron, all crafts resume the attack, fire at will! Let’s get rid of these Imperial bastards once and for all!”

Chapter 25: Chapter 24

Chapter Text

“Poe? Poe?! Damn it!” cursed Finn, slamming his commlink on the table, before turning to Maz and Chewie, “He’s not answering me.”

Maz worriedly looked back to Chewie’s wounds, continuing to patch him up as the Wookiee lied back on the couch. “Poe is in a dark place. He is convinced Rey has betrayed us, and nothing you say will convince him otherwise.”

“It wasn’t Rey,” defended Finn.

Chewie weakly grunted out a question.

“Because I know her, Chewie!” shouted Finn, “She didn’t kill Leia and she certainly didn’t kill Lando!”

Chewie painfully barked out a rebuttal, asking Finn a very direct question as to why he was defending her.

Finn hesitated to give an answer.

“Because he’s in love with her, Chewie,” Maz answered on his behalf, changing the magnification of her goggles to get a better look at Finn. “I said before that when you live as long as I have, you see the same eyes in different people. But sometimes, people surprise you. Sometimes, you see different eyes in the same people. Yours have changed since the day you walked into my cantina. Then, you had the eyes of a man who wanted to run, because he had nothing to fight for, because he had no one to care for. But that is not what I see now. Now I see a man who is prepared to die for the one he loves.”

Finn nodded, and for the first time audibly acknowledged it,” It’s true. I do love her, and I believe in her, even if nobody else does. Rey did not double cross us, I’ll bet my life on it.”

“And are you willing to bet all our lives on it?” asked Maz.

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

Maz and Chewie looked at him contemplatively, as the communicator sprang to life.

“General Finn, do you read me? This is Commander Connix. Come in General.”

Finn walked over to the comm and picked it up, “Go ahead, Commander.”

“Good to hear from you, general. We’ve surrounded the Federal District. The Imperial ground forces are in full retreat, and are currently in the process of shuttling their troops back to their remaining Destroyers. We can wipe them out right here and now. We’re already in position and waiting for your order to attack.”

“No, Commander, do not engage the Imperials. I repeat, do not engage.”

“But sir, this could be our best chance to finish them off.”

“I repeat, Commander, do not engage the Imperials.”

“But Admiral Dameron’s orders-”

“Admiral Dameron is not your immediate superior, Commander, I am. Now I will take full responsibility for whatever happens, but, as your superior officer, I am ordering you to stand down. Do not fire a shot. The Imperials are going to fly away, and you will let them.”

Finn shut off his comm, and nervously raced to the Falcon’s co*ckpit and looked out its window. The two damaged destroyers hovering in orbit began to lift up, as dozens of transport ships followed in its wake. Even from this distance, Finn could see the amassed Coruscanti ground defense surrounding the Federal District, with hover tanks and mobile artillery platforms all trained on the fleeing enemy. To his great relief, they did not fire their weapons, allowing the Destroyers to retreat and fly off into the sky unmolested.

Maz walked over and looked on, her eyes filled with mixed emotions, “I hope you know what you are doing, Finn.”

Finn was used to being second guessed, used to second guessing himself, but that wasn’t the case this time. This time, Finn was absolutely sure, because he was absolutely sure about Rey.

***

Rey watched in silent horror as the Defiance exploded before her eyes. Whatever brief sliver of hope there was to end the battle peacefully had died with Admiral Calrissian. An insolent blast from the hidden Eclipse saw to that. Imperial communications erupted in panicked transmissions, as ship captains hastily attempted to coordinate with their superiors, desperate for orders. Allegiant-General Pryde had irrevocably destroyed any chance for a smooth retreat. She had expected Pryde to be difficult, but she never imagined he would go to such lengths as to blatantly disobey her direct orders and put their entire fleet at tactical risk. With Lando dead, Admiral Dameron had assumed command of the Republic Fleet, and, with a full head of steam, had reengaged the Imperial battleline. The Imperial Navy, now out of position from having started their withdrawal, had lost battle cohesion, and very quickly suffered considerable losses, with more than a dozen Destroyers going up in flames within minutes. The Republic Viscount had bullied its way into the Imperial center with no Imperial ship able to stop it. At this point there was no recourse. It was to be an all-out fight to the bitter end.

“No…” she said, hearing the panicked chatter over the communications, the bone-chilling screams right before the ominous static, the agonizing sounds of needless death. “Damn you, Pryde!” she cursed, smashing her fist in frustration on the co*ckpit controls.

She looked out through her co*ckpit window, watching the Viscount take no prisoners, its thousands of turbo laser turrets shooting at every Imperial ship within range. Star Destroyers and support ships exploded amidst the onslaught, shattered debris hitting the hull of the Viscount as it continued to advance uncontested. Before, the Eclipse had managed to keep it at bay, but since that defiant blast that destroyed Lando’s capital ship, it had been surprisingly silent, content to lurk in the dark as if waiting for something. All of this, and they were oblivious to the fact that Kylo was coming. Any chance for a unified stand against him had died with Lando. She hoped to turn it around, stop the fighting, but Pryde dashed those hopes.

Rey sank back in her chair, her heart sinking, as the transmissions continued to flood the Imperial network, leaving her at her wits end.

It's over…she thought, resigned to defeat.

“Giving up so soon?” she heard a voice just out of view. Rey nonchalantly turned her head, looking over to the co-pilot seat to find Leia sitting down in it. The robed apparition gave her a reassuring smile. “That isn’t like you, Rey.”

“We’ve lost, Leia. My people have betrayed me. Your people are convinced I betrayed them…now they’re killing each other again. When your son arrives…there won’t be anyone left to stop him.”

“You’re starting to sound like my brother.”

Rey sighed, “He came to me, after I fought Kylo on Tython. He said he didn’t think I could stop him. I tried so hard to find a way. I thought maybe if we all could stand against him…it was a foolish hope. Maybe Luke was right all along.”

Leia scoffed, “Luke may be wise, but he sees the future through a very narrow lens. He spent so much time immersed in the Jedi Code and its teachings, that he forgot some things that he used to know. He began to fear fate instead of making it himself. He’s forgotten how hard someone fights for family. When he sees you, he sees only a Sith. He sees someone who’s already lost. He doesn’t see what I see.”

Rey dared to ask, “What do you see?”

“Someone desperate for family, someone who found someone she truly loves, someone who will fight harder than anyone can rightly expect. And someone who can decide her own fate. You still have a chance, Rey. You already have everything you need to stop him.”

“But how?” she asked, “That Force wound of his is insurmountable. All this power I have is useless against that wound. Finn and I both tried, and we still couldn’t beat him. If we challenge him again, we’ll lose.” Rey tried to bite down her sorrow, “And the worst thing is…I caused it. I created that wound, I pushed the Force so far out of balance, it pushed back the only way it could. I tainted the Force…I’m a disease.”

Leia shook her head, “I don’t pretend to understand everything about the Force, but I know this much, it’d doesn’t define who you are. It doesn’t force you down a path unless you allow it to. It may have a will of its own, but it still respects yours. You decide your own fate. Your destiny is in your own hands, Rey. You need to decide if you want to spend time opening wounds…or closing them.” And with those words the apparition vanished.

A bewildered Rey was left with little time to dwell on her words when another communication blared, this one coming through her private comms channel. She recognized the transponder code, the Janus, her own capital ship.

“This is Commander Fel of the Janus to Empress Ira, do you read me?” spoke a voice over the communicator.

Rey hastily answered, “Commander Fel, where are you?”

“We’ve just exited Coruscant’s atmosphere and are at the far end of the battlefield.”

“How did you manage to escape?”

“The Republic ground troops…just stopped firing on us. They let us go. I don’t understand…”

Finn… she realized, relieved that at least he still had faith in her.

“Empress, we’re in position to engage, what are your orders?”

“Listen to me, Commander. Do not engage. Move your battlegroup to the edge of the Sector 7-9, and hold your ships there. I have been trying to contact Pryde and the Eclipse since I arrived without any success. You must have a direct line of communication to him to coordinate the ground strike. I need you to patch me through to him.”

“Ma’am, protocol dictates that we maintain radio silence while the Eclipse remains cloaked. It’s too dangerous to attempt to contact him now.”

“I’m aware of the risk, Commander. My order stands. Patch me through to him. Priority one. I’m sending you my transponder code. He’ll know it’s me, and he’ll know it’s an urgent demand.”

“There’s no guarantee he’ll answer, Ma’am.”

“Let’s see if Pryde is daft enough to refuse a direct summons from his Empress.”

Commander Fel did as she bid, the transmission sounding, awaiting a response. Rey sat at the edge of the pilot’s seat, convinced that Pryde, for all his politicking, had at least enough respect for her to answer her hail. She had saved his life at the Battle of Krait after all. Answer me, dammit… she whispered, just as a holographic image turned on.

“Empress Ira…” greeted Pryde solemnly.

Rey began, “Allegiant-General, what is the meaning of this?! You disobeyed a direct order from me! Perhaps I should have anticipated your guile in arranging this siege behind my back, but to deliberately commit mutiny?!”

“Empress, you don’t understand-”

“I understand enough!” she railed, “You have undermined me in front of the entire fleet and you have jeopardized its safety with your flagrant attack-”

“I did not attack,” he cut in.

Rey scoffed, almost in disbelief at what she had heard, “And now you dare to lie to me, Allegiant-General? Don’t sink yourself any lower than you already have.”

“This is no lie, Empress. I did not fire that blast.”

“Then who…” Rey paused, the wheels in her mind beginning to turn, “Hux. He’s stalking the battlefield. He framed you for the attack.”

“Which is why I have not fired since. If I fire the axial cannon, I will have revealed my position to him, and he will fire on me long before it recharges. We’re playing a waiting game, him and I. Empress, we must end this transmission. The longer we speak, the greater the chance he will trace it.”

“No. I have an idea,” she said, “The Eclipses have a direct line of communication with one another. Hail him.”

“Hail him?”

“Yes, relay a message to him. Tell him the Empire is prepared to negotiate terms of surrender to the First Order in exchange for his assistance.”

“Surrender?!” he exclaimed uncharacteristically, “Lady Ira-”

“Now’s not the time for debate, Pryde. We have a larger problem. We have another threat on our doorstep and it could arrive at any moment. We need to stop it, and we may need Hux’s help. Get him on the call, and then let me talk to him.”

“But Hux is scum. Do you expect me to demean myself so much as to ask for terms of surrender?”

“I expect you to do what I say this time, and say whatever you need to say to get him to answer us!”

She heard Pryde groan out in frustration, “Empress-”

“That’s an order, Allegiant-General!” she commanded.

A visibly irked Pryde did as she instructed, sending a message to the Eclipse’s sister ship. As expected, Hux responded, his holographic likeness springing up, his weaselly face as smug as ever, clearly pleased with himself.

“Well, well, Pryde. I never thought I’d see the day when you’d surrender to me. I suppose all that bluster has melted away with one calculated blast.”

“You never cease to amaze me, Hux. No matter how far you stoop, you always find a new low. I must admit, it was clever of you to stir the hornet’s nest, targeting Admiral Calrissian’s flagship and framing me for the attack. That hotheaded Admiral Dameron is seeing red. I presume you plan on sitting back and letting our fleets destroy each other, so you can feast on the remains like a carrion eater.”

“A fine plan if I do say so myself. Your message said you wish to ask for terms of surrender, I knew I had to hear this with my own ears.”

“It’s not my decision, Hux…” he countered, “…its hers.”

Rey was patched through, causing Hux to become noticeably tense.

“Darth Ira,” Hux addressed her curtly, “Surprised to see you here. To what do I owe the honor?”

Rey began, “Supreme Leader Hux, I have an offer I think you’ll find quite generous.”

“I’m listening.”

“I am prepared to surrender myself into First Order custody if you immediately cease any further hostilities-”

“Empress Ira, no!” objected Pryde.

“Quiet!” she chastised Pryde, before readdressing Hux, “…I will also relinquish my throne, and declare you as Emperor. The First Order and the Empire can rejoin, with you in command.”

Hux’s eyes widened, the offer clearly too good to ignore, “And what do you wish in exchange?”

“To help us defeat a common enemy.”

“The New Republic?” guessed Hux.

“No, Kylo Ren.”

She saw the confused faces of both Pryde and Hux.

“Kylo Ren is dead,” said an annoyed Hux, “I killed him myself on Exegol.”

“He’s not dead. He survived your attack, and he’s come into possession of an ancient weapon, a weapon that could doom the whole galaxy unless all of us - the Empire, the First Order, the Republic – all of us unite against him.”

“Is this some kind of a joke? Or some trick to let my guard down? I will not stand for it!” shouted Hux.

“This is absolutely not a trick, Kylo is alive. I encountered him myself on Tython. I fought him, and I know what he’s capable of.”

“More of your sorcerous tricks. I must say I’ve had quite enough of them.”

“Kylo is alive,” she repeated, “and he’s coming to Coruscant. If he reaches the planet’s surface, he’ll unleash an attack that will scour across every corner of the galaxy. He will wipe out everything, everyone, everywhere! If you don’t help us stop him, then there will be no galaxy left for anyone to rule!”

“And you expect me to believe this folly?! I was there when Kylo died! I ordered the attack myself! Nothing survived Exegol, I made sure of it! This is just some Sith nonsense!”

“You must believe me Hux!”

“Believe you?! Does your Allegiant-General even believe you?” he turned of Pryde, “This is who you shackle yourself to? A lily-livered girl who threatens to throw away everything you’ve fought for over fear of a ghost? Do you expect her to rule the Empire? Or does an Empire require a stronger leader?”

Rey looked to Pryde’s hologram. “Pryde…”

“How many times will you let someone else dictate to you?” Hux continued, “Why don’t you grow a spine for once in your old and withered life, and deal with her the way I dealt with Ren?”

Pryde stayed silent, crossing his arms, causing Rey to suddenly panic.

“Pryde…” she began, “…you swore allegiance to me-”

“He swore allegiance above all to the Empire,” said Hux, “and in his mind, obeying you in this is a betrayal to its future. I for one have had my fill of these quarrelsome Force users, and Pryde, I suspect you’ve had the same. Why don’t we end this once and for all? Here’s my proposal. An alliance between your people and mine, so we can destroy the Republic Fleet together. We can bicker over who’s in charge when the Republic is gone. All I require of you is to take care of Darth Ira. I presume you’ve tracked her location by now. One volley from the Eclipse turbo laser batteries, and I doubt even she would be able to survive. All you have to do is shoot.”

Rey felt her heart beginning to race. She had no way of knowing where the Eclipse was, what its range was, or from what direction an attack would come. So many turbo laser blasts, she knew she’d never be able to stop them all, nor would she be able to evade them all.

“Allegiant-General…” she pleaded, “…don’t do this.”

“Having trouble making up your mind?” pressed Hux. “If you lack the gumption, just send me her coordinates and I’ll do the honors for you. What do you say, Enric?”

Pryde turned to Rey, with a grieved expression on his face, an expression Rey had never seen before, “Forgive me, Lady Ira…fire!”

“No!” screamed Rey.

She frantically grabbed the controls of her Silencer, awaiting a storm of turbo laser fire, but nothing came her way. Instead, she watched a blazing green glow manifest in the distance, the glow of an axial cannon as it discharged its beam, striking an unseen surface. The emerald beam trailed across the cloaked surface, leaving a molten streak of burnt metal, distorting the cloaking field, before it failed altogether. The Eclipse II had been exposed.

“Damn you, Enric!” grunted Hux.

“I can always count on you to prattle on, Armitage. Long enough to track your location.”

“You just made the last mistake of your life. Fire!”

A beam from the Eclipse II began to spark up and returned fire, hitting its sister ship, tearing straight through its cloaking field. Both Eclipses were now exposed and heavily damaged. Rey’s proximity alert began to sound, and she watched First Order ships jumping out of hyperspace. The entirety of Hux’s fleet had been brought to bear.

“Stop it! Both of you!” shouted Rey. “You’re dooming us all! We need to stop Kylo!”

Hux burst into a fit of rage, “For the last time, Kylo is dead! Dead!! DEAD!!”

But just as Hux finished his ranting, a second alarm triggered. Hux, Pryde and Rey all looked on, watching as electrical discharges began to seemingly manifest in space at the center of the fray. Rey’s instruments spiked with energy, her ship systems short circuiting, her communications with Pryde and Hux flickering on and off. A colossal gravitational pull was detected by the ship’s sensors, as the debris of destroyed vessels began to be pulled into some kind of manifesting gravity well that only seemed to grow by the second. The pitch black of space tore open, revealing a reddish light that flooded the battlefield like a red sun. Something was coming through, warping the space around it, pulling things toward it. Rey wagered to guess who it was.

“What is this?!” demanded Hux.

Rey closed her eyes, steeling her nerves, “He’s here…”

***

Supreme Leader Armitage Hux stared out through the bridge windows at the strange occurrence, the blood red light that seemed to have manifested out of nowhere. He turned to Amelyn Holdo, “What am I looking at here? Is this some kind of trick? Is this the Empire or Republic?”

Holdo was stumped, “I don’t know, I have no idea what this even is.” She turned to her console, “All our instruments are going haywire, they can’t identify it. Whatever it is, it isn’t a hyperspace jump. There’s no mass shadow. This is something different.”

Hux felt a twinge of fear building in the back of his mind, Rey’s words suddenly a cause for concern, “Overcharge the axial cannon to maximum, go to full alert. I want every gun we have pointed at that red light. Order the Fleet to establish a perimeter around it. If something comes through that, I want it blasted into oblivion!”

Hux’s fleet did as ordered, keeping a healthy distance from the phenomenon, as the light grew brighter and brighter. Electrical discharges increased in frequency, as all wayward debris continued to be pulled into it, huge chunks of Imperial and Republic vessels drifting into its gravity well, clanging into the hull of the stationary Eclipse. The debris encircled the light, spiraling around it like waves of a great maelstrom. The rest of the battle fell silent, as Imperial and Republic ships alike ceased firing, also witnessing the event with equal confusion, all unsure of how to proceed.

“Overcharge complete, Supreme Leader,” spoke Holdo.

“Wait for my order,” instructed Hux nervously, the fear now spilling over to the forefront of his mind.

With a final burst of energy that rocked the Eclipse, something finally came through, flying out of the light, a massive pyramid-shaped vessel, just as large as the biggest super-Star Destroyer. The vessel lurched forward with surprising speed, faster than any ship of that size could hope to match. To Hux’s horror, it was heading straight for them.

“Fire on that ship!” he squealed in full panic.

The Eclipse fired its axial cannon with all the energy it could muster, striking against the surface of the strange ship, but the staunch vessels simply plowed forward uncaringly, unfazed by the beam as it continued to advance.

Hux looked on in shock, realizing too late that the ship could not be stopped. The vessel charged at the Eclipse with frightening speed, showing no signs of slowing down or changing course. There was no time for evasive maneuvers, leaving Hux only enough time to scream out, “Brace for impact!”

The bridge deck shook violently, as the mysterious craft plowed into the aft of the Eclipse, tearing through the hull. The front half of the Eclipse collapsed in on itself, crushed against the force of the triangular ship like a can against a hammer. Every alarm on the ship blared, as Hux grabbed hold of the nearest console, desperate to hold onto anything. The ship’s foundations cracked, the sound of metal bending and breaking, glass shattering, electrical wiring flailing, oxygen oozing out from pressurization failure, pipes bursting, all in a terrifying orchestra of destruction.

After a minute long collision, the two massive ships finally came to rest, the triangular vessel lodged into the mangled wreckage of the Eclipse II. Regaining his wits, a disoriented Hux stood back up, looking out at the cracked window of the bridge, the cracks growing and creaking.

“Hold on to something!” shouted Holdo to the bridge crew.

The bridge window shattered, the room depressurizing, sucking out anything that wasn’t bolted down. Hux and Holdo held on for dear life at their control consoles, as other bridge crewmen were sucked out into the void. The emergency environmental shields finally kicked in, repressurizing the bridge. A bloodied Hux stood up, looking out onto the damage.

“Damage report,” he groaned in pain.

Holdo got back to her feet as well, looking over the control console, “Critical. Half the ship is destroyed. We have no engines, no weapons. Life support and emergency power are dangerously low. We’re a sitting duck.”

Hux looked out at the anomalous vessel. From his point of view the ship’s exterior looked pristine, without so much as a scratch to show for it. Suddenly the vessel shifted again, dislodging from the wreckage of the Eclipse, just as part of its bronze-colored hull began to glow that sinister red glow.

“What now?!” exclaimed a worried Hux.

The glow shone brighter, just as a small solitary fighter flew out from it. The larger vessel began to make its descent, towards the planet, while the fighter headed toward what was left of the Eclipse. Even from this distance, Hux knew exactly what ship it was: the Knife-9. Hux swallowed nervously, knowing who was likely piloting it, “Ren.”

“He’s alive?!” screeched Holdo, uncharacteristically afraid, “How is that possible?”

“It’s not…” he replied, opening up a direct feed to the hangar bay, hoping the cameras were still operational. A glitchy muted feed popped up, as the Knife-9 flew inside and landed. He watched as a handful of stormtroopers began to surround the ship with their weapons drawn, just as the Knife-9’s ramp dropped. An unmasked Ren walked forward, his face malevolent, sick, his skin unnaturally pale. The Storm Troopers opened fire, but Ren only stretched out his hand and the troopers burst into piles of ash. Hux looked on, as Ren stared at the camera, his face more scarred than before, his hateful eyes still recognizable, but with an added dementedness that Hux found chilling. He stared into the camera for an uncomfortably long time, as if he could see through it, see directly into Hux’s eyes, causing Hux to be more disturbed by the second. Finally, after an agonizing minute, Kylo mouthed out the words, and to Hux’s terror, he heard his voice echo in his mind, “I’m coming for you.”

Chapter 26: Chapter 25

Chapter Text

Rey watched as the Tho Yor cut straight through the First Order blockade, ramming into the Eclipse II and devastating its bow. She was surprised how easily it withstood a full blast of its axial cannon, and how it now raced towards Coruscant at frightening speed, glowing red like it did on Tython.

Pryde was still on the line, his face betraying great concern, “What is that infernal machine, Empress? What are we dealing with?”

Rey stared ponderously, sensing the Tho Yor, cautiously reaching out to it with the Force. She sensed a tainted will guiding it, a twisted directive meant for a destructive purpose. It was being commanded to reach the planet’s surface and begin powering up. She warily attempted to commune with the Tho Yor, like she had when she awoke it on Tython, but her efforts were blocked, and she found her mind invaded. Rey shut her eyes, bracing herself from some kind of psychic attack, but as she opened them, she found herself in a black void. She moved her legs, and felt a floor beneath her feet, but she could not see it. She turned around, and saw a decaying Coruscant, a husky grey celestial body that had been completely ravaged, the destroyed remains of the Republic and Imperial Fleets floating eerily throughout a starless space.

“What is this?” she said aloud.

“Your destiny…” she heard a voice calling out from the darkness. She turned around, and watched in abject horror as she saw a body being tossed to her feet.

“FINN!” she squealed, her wave of emotions overwhelming her, as she dropped to her knees to check on him. His hands were ice cold, and as she turned him to his side, she saw the lightsaber burns skewering his chest and back. He had been run through. Rey lost all sense of control, grabbing the body and hugging him desperately as tears streamed down her eyes.

“You really thought you could beat me?” continued Kylo, “That you could strike me down at the last possible minute? Were you truly that arrogant? Or were you that desperate to fight me here of all places? The Tho Yor is more than just an amplifier or a nexus point, it’s a direct vein to the heart of the Force itself, and I can drain as much as I want from it. You never had a chance.”

Kylo slowly walked toward her. He was fully healed, his body seemingly cured, as he nonchalantly walked right past her looking out towards the planet, a lightsaber hilt held behind his back. “Quite the sight, isn’t it? A dead Coruscant, a dead galaxy…a dead loved one.”

Instinctively Rey held out her hand and attempted a Force attack, but she felt nothing, her powers robbed from her.

“No need for that…” he said, turning around to face her, “I killed it. Forever. We’re all that’s left. Isn’t that what you wanted? To be free from it?”

Rey for the first time, could feel and hear nothing, just an eerie silence, “What have you done?” she whispered.

“What I was meant to do,” he replied walking towards her, “I should thank you. You made it all possible. You gave me the power to wipe the slate clean, how to kill it, to get rid of the Force once and for all.” Kylo ignited his lightsaber, “Now there’s only one thing left to do. It was always going to end this way, with me as the last one standing…” Kylo raised his lightsaber up high and swiped down at Rey.

Rey jolted in her seat, suddenly back in her Tie Silencer.

“Empress, are you alright?” asked Pryde, “You started to shake-”

“I’m fine,” she dismissed, trying to process what she had just seen. It was a vision, induced when she attempted to connect with the Tho Yor. Is it trying to show me something? She wondered, uncertain if what she had seen was what could happen, or would happen.

Rey spoke again, “Contact Admiral Dameron. Hail the Viscount and invite him to this call. The Republic needs to know what’s coming.”

Pryde did as instructed, immediately sending hails to the Republic Viscount. Poe Dameron quickly answered, his hologram joining the conversation.

“What the hell is going on?!” started Poe with a head full of steam, “is this another one of your traps?”

Pryde interjected, “Do not address Empress Ira in that manner…”

“Enough, Allegiant-General,” reprimanded Rey, “Poe, I need you to contact Finn on the surface.”

“I’m not doing anything until I get some answers.”

“Poe, we don’t have time for this-”

“Then make the time,” he insisted, “What is that thing?”

Rey indulged him, “It’s called the Tho Yor, an ancient vessel that predates the Old Republic. It is fueled by the Force and serves as both a conduit and an amplifier to Force users. Kylo Ren obtained it on Tython and he’s now looking to use it on Coruscant, creating a tear in the Force large enough to destroy everything in the galaxy that’s connected to it.”

“So you were telling the truth about Kylo after all…” conceded Poe, “And Lando? The attack on the Defiance?”

Pryde took the liberty to answer, “That was Hux’s doing, not mine. He played us both.”

Poe eyed the two of them suspiciously before speaking again, “Stand by…” Poe’s hologram disappeared, leaving Rey and Pryde waiting on him.

“I’m sorry I doubted you, Empress,” Pryde spoke, “I’m sorry I disobeyed your orders, but I want you to know that everything I did, I did it because I thought it was best for the Empire.”

“And what of its people Pryde?” she asked. “If you wish to redeem yourself to me, serve me now, and help us stop this catastrophe.”

Poe returned to the call, with Finn’s holographic image also manifesting.

The moment he saw her, Finn immediately asked, “Rey, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Finn.”

Poe rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah, she’s fine, you’re fine, everyone’s fine - what are we doing here?”

“We have to stop the Tho Yor from touching down on the planet. If it is allowed to initiate its attack, there’s no stopping it.”

“And how would you like us to do that?” asked Poe derisively, “That thing just trucked through a blast from the Eclipse’s axial cannon without so much as a scratch. What do you expect us to do about it?”

Rey sensed the Force echoes, psychic screams that reverberated from the Eclipse II, painful wounds in the Force. Rey may not have been able to sense Kylo, but she could absolutely detect his handiwork. He was on board the Eclipse II and judging by the echoing screams that pierced Rey’s mind, he was cutting through the survivors on that ship.

“You feel it too, Rey?” asked Finn.

“Yes…Kylo isn’t onboard the Tho Yor. He’s fighting on the Eclipse II right now, in pursuit of Hux. He’s controlling the Tho Yor telepathically.”

“Seems that Hux’s luck has finally run out,” said Pryde with reserved glee.

“Must be personal for Kylo,” added Poe, “cause from where I’m standing, he could have easily killed him with that Tho Yor thing, but he’s choosing to get his hands dirty. He must have something much worse in mind for the Supreme Leader.”

“This could be the chance we’re looking for,” said Rey. “If I can get inside, I’ll be able to override his hold over the Tho Yor, stop it from attacking, and perhaps, even use its power against him.”

“Great…” said Finn, nervously, “…so how do we get you inside?”

“We distract him. Kylo’s command over the Tho Yor is strong, but not infallible, and it requires constant mental effort. He’s already dividing his attention with Hux. If all of our ships attack the Tho Yor, get in its way, do everything to stifle him, Kylo will lose focus, and even if it’s only for a few moments, it’ll be all the time I need to get inside of it.”

Finn nodded, “Okay, so how do you want to do this?”

Rey turned to Pryde, “Do we have its trajectory?”

Pryde turned on a holo-map, showing the vessel and a highlight of its current route, “Our calculations say it’s headed for Monument Plaza. At its current speed, it will arrive in approximately nine minutes.”

“Damn, that thing moves fast,” remarked Poe in disbelief.

Rey nodded, “We need to slow it down. Pryde, is your axial cannon operational?”

“No, engineering is trying to repair it but it was heavily damaged from Hux’s attack.”

“Damn it.” Rey looked at the holo-map, trying to brainstorm an idea.

Pryde offered a suggestion, “It’s heading near your battlegroup, Admiral Dameron. If you move now, you could intercept it before it reaches the planet’s orbit.”

“Alright, I’ll try to slow it down,” agreed Poe.

“Be careful. You saw what it did to the Eclipse. Don’t be reckless.”

“Where do you want me?” asked Finn.

Rey hesitated, almost hoping he wouldn’t ask, “Evacuate Monument Plaza of any straggling bystanders. Assemble your ground troops and fire on it the second it gets into range. If we’re lucky, we’ll damage it. At worst, we’ll overwhelm Kylo. I’ll fly near it, and see if I can find an opening. If it works, I must fly in, so check your fire.”

Poe snickered, his eyes staring daggers at her, “Right, be ashamed if you got shot out of the sky…”

“Really, Po?” chastised Finn.

Poe disingenuously held out his hands, “Just saying…”

Rey chose to ignore the remark, turning to Pryde, “Pryde, I want you to maintain visual contact on the Eclipse II at all times, but keep your distance. Keep us informed should anything change. Order Commander Fel and his battlegroup to assist Finn down on the planet.”

“Understood, Empress, though I must caution you not to trust these Republic scum.”

“Well, who’d have thought,” Poe fired back, “Funny, I had the same feelings about you Imperial bastards.”

“Enough!” shouted Rey and Finn in unison.

Rey looked at Finn and gave him a subtle nod, letting him speak his peace.

Finn continued, “If we’re going to do this, we’ll need to work together. That means trusting each other. This is bigger than what side of the fence you’re on, this is life and death, for everyone. You got it? Now the clock’s ticking. Let’s get where we need to be.”

With an affirming collective nod, the group transmission came to an end. Rey immediately began imputing a new frequency, but Finn beat her to it.

“Rey?” he asked with a worried look on his face.

Rey laughed nervously, “I was just about to call you.”

“Do you know what you’re doing? About this Tho Yor thing?”

“No, but I have an idea…” Rey breathed, “…Finn, I want you to promise me something.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“If I manage to get inside the Tho Yor, I want you to promise me that you won’t try and go in after me, no matter what happens.”

“Rey, you can’t expect me to-”

Rey cut him off, “Finn, I don’t know what’s going to happen when I get inside. I don’t know if what I’m planning will even work…all I know is I have to stop Kylo no matter the cost. The Force is the strongest I’ve ever felt around the Tho Yor. Inside I imagine it’ll be even stronger. It’ll be safer if I go alone.”

Finn shook his head, “I can’t make that promise, Rey.”

“You must-”

“I won’t,” he insisted, interrupting her, “I can’t let you take all the risk.”

Rey tried to keep her composure, “Listen to me Finn, it’s too dangerous. Kylo’s influence is all over it. If I get in, it’ll be a battle of wills for control over it-”

“And I’m not going to let you face him alone!” he shouted, before trying to compose himself, “I’ll hang back, but if I feel you’re in danger, I’m going in-”

“And what possible difference do you think you’ll make?!” she shouted, “You’re outmatched, Finn! Your command of the Force is miniscule compared to ours, and I can’t fight Kylo with everything I have if I’m concerned for your life!”

Finn stayed silent, the anguished look on his face indicating her words cut him deep, “You think I’d be a burden? That’ I’d just hold you back, and slow you down? Is that what you think? Or are you just saying that because you don’t want to put me in danger? Because I wasn’t that on Tython. I saved you from Kylo, I fought alongside you, and I remember the two of us doing a hell of a lot better against him than when you fought him by yourself. We’re stronger together, Rey. Okay, I’m not as powerful but maybe I just might tip the scale-”

“I can’t lose you…” she finally confessed the true reason, “…I’ve lost everyone else I’ve ever care about, Finn. I can’t lose you too, I love you…and if you die because of me, I’ll never forgive myself. So, I beg you, no matter what you hear, no matter what you see, no matter what you feel, do not come after me.”

Finn gave her a sad look, “Do you remember what you told me on the Supremacy? You told me to stay away then to. You said you didn’t care if I was a better man, you only cared that I stay alive. I’ve become a better man since then, Rey. Not because I learned about the Force, but because I finally found something to fight for. I left you once. I’m never doing that again. I love you too much, and now I’m finally brave enough to admit it. So do whatever you need to do to stop Kylo, but if I so much as get a whiff that you’re in trouble, you better believe I’m jumping in after you.”

With that Finn closed the comm, leaving Rey to her bewildered thoughts. Frustrated and surprisingly moved, she came to the realization that they had their first fight. She couldn’t help but smile as she placed her hands on the controls and began flying off in pursuit of the Tho Yor.

***

There was no turning back. Kylo knew that better than anyone. He saw his destiny, saw the final hurdle he had to cross. He felt the hunger in him building, a little more by the second, the voracious desire to rend the Galaxy asunder, to drown the Force with the echoing screams of the dead masses, until it was smothered under the weight of it. He had the means to do it, the knowledge, the Tho Yor, but there was something else he wanted, a desire more ravenous than the hunger that bit at his soul, something he was determined to get with his own two hands: revenge.

Kylo walked down the mangled corridors of Eclipse II, trudging his way past the rubble, making his way towards his quarry, tearing through blast doors with ease. The Super Star Destroyer was still at least partially intact, certain sections retaining emergency power, with gravity control, floodlights, and environmental shields sprouting out along the major breaches. First Order soldiers scurried around like womp rats, doing everything they could to stop him, lining up and opening fire. Kylo braved through their fire, the blaster bolts hitting him as he marched forward, his Force wound overriding the pain, not allowing him to die. Raising his hand, he disintegrated them, destroying them at the subatomic level, as one by one they turned into dust in his wake, their life essence fueling him, regenerating the very damage they inflicted. It was hardly a challenge.

The bigger challenge Kylo found was keeping the Tho Yor under control. Now that he was outside of it, he quickly realized it was fighting against his will, feeling it in his mind. Like everything else, it was looking for a way to abandon him, but Kylo’s hold over it was ironclad. He would not let it squirm away from him.

“How are you not dead?” he heard Hux over the sound system. “I destroyed the Exegol Citadel myself. How could you have possibly survived?”

“Who said I survived?” he answered, feeling his quarry a few hundred meters away. “Maybe I’m just a ghost looking to take revenge, here to shatter your dreams the moment you were about to grab them.”

Kylo pressed on, seeing what looked like a battalion of Storm Troopers lined up shoulder to shoulder in the corridor ahead of him, crouching down to one knee, assuming firing positions. Behind them was another line of Storm Troopers aiming RPS rocket launchers directly at him. They fired their launchers on mass, sending a half a dozen rockets loudly careening toward him, but the rockets froze midair, their jet streams struggling vainly against the immutable grip of the Force. The frontline Storm Troopers began firing their blasters, but Kylo gave them no chance. With a flick of his hand, he turned the rockets around and sent them barreling back at the Storm Troopers, engulfing them in a cacophony of explosions. The successive blasts ruptured the hallway, causing a breach in the wall that sucked out the bodies and anything that wasn’t bolted down. Kylo continued, powering through the leaking pressure down to the next hallway.

“You think this will save you, Hux?” he shouted. “Send as many as you want, it won’t make any difference! You’ll pay for turning on me!”

“You left me little choice, Kylo,” spoke Hux over the intercom. “You were always too rabid to lead, too impetuous to listen to your peers. At least under Snoke, you were leashed and muzzled, but after his death you became uncontrollable. I foolishly hoped to direct your destructive tendencies and make you an asset to our cause. I will admit, you had your uses, but I soon realized that leaving you in power would have meant the death of us all.”

“Always the schemer, Hux. Always plotting, but lacking the backbone to lead.” Kylo raised both his hands, tearing apart an impeding blast door, towards the bridge. “You’re nothing but a coward.” Now right in front of the bridge, Kylo saw a dozen Death Troopers, aiming their heavy blaster rifles at him. “You’re all going to die.”

But Kylo suddenly felt a strange pain, a mental strain taking root that he did not anticipate, as he felt his concentration beginning to wane. He looked inward, to the Tho Yor, and saw in his mind’s eye the Republic Fleet intercepting it, showering its hull with laser fire as it made its approach to the planet. He saw the Republic Viscount leading the charge, unloading a full broadside of its turbo laser batteries. He felt the Tho Yor shuddering from the swelling assault, every laser blast hitting its hull requiring a little more of Kylo’s attention, as they whittled away at the Tho Yor’s Force barrier. He felt it try to break away from his dominance, an unspoken will to escape from his clutches, but Kylo doubled down, commanding it to press on, directing it to smash into the Viscount. The two massive ships collided, the corner tip of the Tho Yor scraping alongside the Viscount’s port as they swiped by one another. After breaking away, the Thor Yor continued to make its way towards the planet, as the Republic ships continued to fire.

A sharp scorching pain pulled Kylo out of his concentration, a heavy blaster bolt to his shoulder bringing his attention back to his immediate surroundings. The pain was sharp, his own body vulnerable, the protection from the wound diminished after directly controlling the Tho Yor. The Death Troopers opened fire en masse, Kylo getting hit twice more, one in the chest and another in the thigh, the wounds regenerating slower than before. He was using so much energy on the Tho Yor that he was struggling to use his powers now. He found it increasingly grueling to divert the blaster bolts, the difficulty of commanding the Force increasing in magnitudes as he split his attention. Angered, Kylo brandished his cross-saber, activating it and charging forward, resorting to his instinctive saber skills, charging at the cohort of Death Troopers with rabid fury. The Death Troopers backpedaled, the corridor doing little to provide them space, as he proceeded to close the distance and brutally cut them down, hacking away at limbs and slicing two troopers clean through their waists. With the last of the Troopers felled, Kylo turned his attention to the main bridge’s blast door, furiously driving his lightsaber through the center of the door, the plasma blade burning through the reinforced durasteel, desperate to reach Hux.

As Kylo slowly burned his way through the final door, he was stricken once again by a mental shock. The Tho Yor was under attack, this time from below, as it made its way through the planet’s atmosphere. A host of Star Destroyers unleased a volley of turbo lasers as it made its descent. They were promptly joined by a second hail of laser fire erupting from the ground, the Republic ground force establishing a concentrated defensive position, firing long range artillery and heavy ordinance. The double bombardment threatened to overwhelm him, as he felt his grasp on the Tho Yor slipping. With a final blood boiling scream, Kylo began to power up the vessel, as he simultaneously wrenched his lightsaber through the door. Cutting a hole, he forced his way onto the bridge, only for a single blaster shot to catch his attention. To his left, he saw Hux at the threshold of an open escape pod chamber, stumbling, clutching his stomach as he fell to his knees. Confused he then saw Holdo, standing above him, holding a blaster pistol in her hand.

“He’s all yours,” said Amelyn, her face as smug as ever, as she hit the button to seal the escape pod. The pod then jettisoned from its station, shooting into space until it quickly disappeared from view.

Surprised by what he had witnessed, Kylo walked forward, moving closer to the wounded Hux.

“That treacherous woman…” coughed Hux, “…pulled a blaster on me as we were entering the escape pod. She was certain you’d never let me go, so she shot me and left me behind…” Hux managed a cynical laugh, “…should have anticipated her feeding me to the wolf while she saves her own skin.”

Kylo couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment creeping in, having been robbed of a healthy victim. He had wanted to take his time with Hux, to give him a long and creative end, but now he was gravely injured, even dying. He wouldn’t last more than a minute.

His disappointment gave way to anger, as he stretched out his hand and Force pulled Hux across the floor towards him. He grabbed Hux by the throat, squeezing hard enough to hurt him but not to choke him to death.

“A quick death is too good for you. All your schemes, all your backstabbing. You stabbed me in the back…”

A choking Hux coughed out blood, but despite the obvious pain, his eyes locking on Kylo’s, for the first time looking completely devoid of all fear. They were the eyes of a man no longer afraid of death, as he knew his death was imminent.

Amid the dripping blood, Hux weakly retorted, “And you, always letting your emotions getting the better of you…always charging head long into the fray without considering the cost to those around you. You think you would have been a fit ruler? You’re no ruler…You’re not even a leader. You were never anything more than an angry pup, barking for his bitch of a mother…”

Incensed, Kylo grabbed his face, and began draining his life force away agonizingly slowly. Hux shut his eyes, his body shaking from the pain, as his skin began to slowly burn away, turning to dust one cell a time.

Kylo gave him a malformed smile, giving himself to the moment, his ears relishing the sound of Hux’s screams, his eyes the sight of his flesh melting away, his mind fixated on wrenching his nemesis’s soul from his body as slowly and as painfully as possible. “I came all this way just for you Hux. I intend to savor the moment.”

But at the moment of his greatest triumph, he sensed something slip past him, and like a fleeting whisper spoken in the back of his mind, he heard Rey’s voice, “Gotcha.”

Kylo froze, dropping a half dead Hux unceremoniously to the ground, his expression one of complete shock, as he realized he had been played. The Tho Yor was no longer completely under his control, as he now sensed another presence within it, jockeying for dominance over the vessel. He had spent too much attention on everything else that he had lost sight of the one danger that could truly foil his plans.

“No…” he breathed, the realization that he had been played starting to sink in, “She won’t defeat me now!”

“Is it Ira?” he heard Hux, as he struggled to sit up, his mangled face making something that resembled a smile, “Poor Kylo, all the power in the universe at your fingertips…and even now you’re duped by a scavenger.”

Kylo screamed out as he crushed Hux’s neck, killing him instantly. He immediately called for the Knife-9, remote piloting it to leave the hangar and hover just outside the sealed bridge window. With a final wave of his hand, Kylo broke through the emergency shutters, breaching the atmosphere in the room, and allowing the force of the vacuum to propel him forward. Kylo grabbed hold of the awaiting Knife-9, and hastily pulled himself inside, closing the door behind him. The co*ckpit sealed and repressurized, Kylo jumped into the pilot’s seat and grabbed hold of the controls, flying the ship towards the planet. He switched on the ship’s stealth cloak, flying straight towards the Tho Yor.

“She won’t beat me this time…”

***

Finn looked anxiously through his binoculars, watching as the Tho Yor made its way directly towards their location. The vessel had smashed through Poe’s battlegroup with relative ease, even damaging the Viscount in the process and had already begun entering the atmosphere before Poe could even finish his update. All the while, its Force barrier proved practically invulnerable, absorbing any amount of laser fire without sustaining any noticeable damage. The Tho Yor speedily flew through the clouds before coming to a dead stop over Monument Plaza, hovering directly above the Rock of Umate. The ship started glowing red, pulsating with Dark Side energy. He had felt it before on Tython, when Kylo unleashed his Force attack that destroyed the planet. He could sense it growing in power, building to a point of critical mass, and he was beginning to think that it might already be too late.

Come on, Rey…he thought.

As per the plan, Finn relocated the bulk of the Coruscanti Defense Forces to the plaza, surrounding the vessel on all sides with his ground troops and heavy vehicles. He wasted no time giving the order for his artillery to bombard the Tho Yor. Meanwhile, he ordered Commander Connix to evacuate every remaining civilian out of the district as speedily as possible, clearing out the designated shelters and ferrying them to the outlying districts. The mobile AV gun platforms fired round after round in a ceaseless barrage, their blasts piercing the sky, but every blast failed to penetrate the barrier. Fel’s Imperial battlegroup remained nearby, encircling the vessel and firing nonstop, but even their assault proved futile. Finn, Maz and Chewie looked on from their mobile command center, all of them beginning to doubt if any of this was even having an effect.

“It’s no use,” said Finn. “We can’t break through its barrier.”

“Should we fall back?” asked Maz, looking on through her magnified lenses.

Finn shook his head, “Nowhere to fall back to. That thing goes off, it’ll destroy the whole planet. All we can hope is that somehow all of this is helping Rey.”

Chewie hollered out, still in pain but patched up and back on his feet despite protests from the medics.

Finn couldn’t help but agree, “Yeah, you said it Chewie. That thing hasn’t so much as budged.”

Commander Connix reported in, “All civilians have been evacuated, General.”

“Good,” he said, knowing it was likely a futile endeavor should the Tho Yor launch its attack. Whether someone was caught out in the open or deep in an underground shelter, it wouldn’t have made a difference. The Force wave would claim everything living, stripping the capital bare, not just in the sector, but the whole planet. Still, he wanted to avoid any unnecessary civilian casualties on account of their own bombardments. More than anything, Finn did it for himself and the people under his command, give them an objective, keep them busy. He knew that idle hands and idle thoughts were the worst defense against the prospect of certain calamity, and he was determined to operate under the assumption that the world, or the whole galaxy for that matter, was not about to come to an end. “All we can do now is sit tight and use that thing as target practice until Rey figures out a way in.”

Connix asked, her tone ambivalent, “You really think she can do it?”

“I know she can,” he answered, reaffirming his faith in her.

A strange sound reverberated from the Tho Yor, akin to a deep, guttural metallic groan. The ship ceased its pulsating red glow, returning to what appeared to be a neutral state.

“Is it her?” asked Maz.

Finn turned to Connix, “Order the artillery batteries to cease fire and standby.”

Connix passed the order down the chain of command, as the mobile artillery quickly ceased their firing. The Imperial Star Destroyers followed suit. The plaza fell silent as everyone held their positions with bated breaths. The Tho Yor itself, continued to hover in place, as if it was struck in a haze of indecision. It was then, Finn’s ears caught the faint but unmistakable sound of an ion engine fast approaching, and as he turned around, he saw Rey’s Tie Silencer fly overhead, headed directly for the Tho Yor. The Silencer did not slow down or bank, recklessly staying on course, about to collide vessel’s hull, but just as the Silencer should have slammed into it, the Tho Yor’s hull transformed into a blinding light. The Silencer flew right in, disappearing from view as the light regressed and the opening closed.

“She’s in!” shouted Finn, as Chewie and Maz both shouted joyously.

Immediately, the Tho Yor began to ascend, its blood red glow disappearing altogether, replaced with a calming green that seemed to wash over the entire ship like a wave.

“She did it,” he said relieved, feeling the Dark Side energy beginning to dissipate. But just as he was ready to catch his breath, the Tho Yor’s hull opened again, the metal turning to light, allowing something to enter it. “What was that? Did something go in? Anyone get a visual?”

“No, we didn’t see what went inside.”

The calming green glow turned red once again, cycling between the two colors as the Tho Yor ceased its ascent, beginning to spin. Finn sensed the Dark Side returning, a primal rage clashing with the serenity of the Light, and he surmised that Kylo had managed to sneak his way inside with the Knife-9. All his fears came flooding back, the reality that Rey was in there with Kylo sinking in. He was determined not to let her face him alone.

“I need to get in there,” he said.

“How?” asked Maz.

“Chewie, you good to fly me up with the Falcon?”

Chewie gave an affirming grunt.

“Alright, get us just above the Tho Yor and I’ll drop down to it.”

“General, is that a good idea?” asked Connix, “Do you even know how to get inside?”

Finn tried to put on a brave face, “Yeah. If I concentrate, I should be able to communicate with it, get it to let me in like they did.”

“General it’s too dangerous, please reconsider,” urged Connix.

“It’s the only play we’ve got left.” Finn turned to Chewie. “Chewie can you get the Falcon ready?”

Chewie hollered as he and Maz headed for the Falcon to get it prepped for launch.

Finn turned back to Commander Connix, “Commander, I’m leaving you in charge of the Coruscanti Defense Force.”

“General, I-”

“If I don’t make it out…tell everyone it was an honor to fight alongside them. And tell Poe I was right about Rey.” Finn offered her a handshake.

Connix gave him a worried look, but took his hand and shook it, “It was an honor for me too, sir. Leia was right to put her faith in you.”

With a grateful nod, Finn left the mobile command center and headed for the Falcon. They took off, flying towards the increasingly erratic Tho Yor.

“Okay Chewie, keep her steady,” said Finn, unbuckling himself out of the co-pilot’s seat.

Chewie gave out an encouraging roar, offering his paw. Finn took it, but was caught off guard when the Wookiee pulled him in for a hug.

“Thanks, Chewie,” he choked, feeling the strength of the Wookiee even with only one good arm. “I’ll see you when this is all over.”

Chewie let go, and Finn walked out of the co*ckpit to the loading bay where Maz was waiting for him by the cargo door’s control panel.

“Are you ready?” she asked him, her hand hovering over the button to open the door.

Finn took a deep breath and closed his eyes, a strong calm overtaking him. He felt the turmoil, the doubt, the fear being exorcised from his body, replaced by a bizarre sense of peace. There was a reason why he was here, why everything happened the way it happened. His purpose was clear.

“Ready,” he said, as Maz hit the button, opening the cargo door.

The heat hit him immediately, the temperature rising precipitously around the Tho Yor, the wind tantamount to that of a hurricane, as the air around the ancient vessel began to warp.

“Remember Finn,” shouted Maz, over the fury of the wind, “Trust in the Force and trust in yourself!”

“I will! Thanks Maz, for everything!”

Maz nodded, “Now go and help the woman you love!”

Finn gave her a nod, walking to the edge of the ramp, looking straight down to the Tho Yor. He felt the Force around him, more potent than ever before, felt the conflict within the vessel, a calamitous tug of war for control, the Light and the Dark dueling. Amid the swirling chaos, Finn felt oddly calm, feeling elation wash over him, the same kind of elation he felt when he was with Rey, that same elation when he saw that vision of her carrying his child. He saw the destiny he wanted, the destiny he had chosen to believe in, and he knew that she was waiting for him. With a deep breath, he dove out of the Falcon in an ultimate leap of faith, letting the light consume him.

Chapter 27: Chapter 26

Chapter Text

“Something’s wrong,” Kylo said to himself.

The Tho Yor did not feel the same, something that Kylo failed to account for. After flying into the Tho Yor, he was immediately displaced out of his ship, and thrust into a white void that defied space. As before, he tried to mentally take control of the vessel, but he felt the will of the Tho Yor continuously slip away from him, as if it was being tugged away by someone else. Rey…he concluded. The Tho Yor vacillated between them, schizophrenically attempting to serve two masters as the interior of the ship fluctuated between black and white, light and dark, powering and depowering, leaving them in a stalemate. Kylo had expected that her hold would easily break once he arrived inside, but much to his surprise, he could not easily wrestle it away from her. To her credit, she had quickly familiarized herself with the augmenting properties of the vessel, how it amplified her Force abilities, but Kylo shared in the augmentation, and she could not take control from him completely. All he had to do was find her, and let his Force wound do its work. But he found it was not an easy thing to find her, as she remained hidden in this metaphysical scape.

“Where are you?!…” he shouted into the blinding void, brandishing his cross-saber. “You think you can hide forever?! There’s nowhere left to run!”

“You’re the one running…” he heard her voice bellowing behind him, “…you’ve been running all your life.”

Kylo turned around, seeing nothing but white. He concentrated, banishing the light and coating the interior in darkness, but he still could not find her. She was able to hide from him in both the light and the dark.

“Running away from your guilt,” she continued, “blaming everything but yourself.”

Kylo felt his control ripped away, the light returning with added fury, forcing him to briefly shut his eyes. The flash of light quickly faded, and as Kylo opened them again, he was met with a veil of shimmering twilight, and before him, a large wall made of ice seemingly extending out infinitely in either direction, its surface immaculately smooth to a mirror sheen. Kylo stared at the wall, seeing his own reflection looking back at him, puzzled by the strange illusion.

“What is this?” he demanded, not sure of what to make of whatever defense this was. Was it some kind of barrier, a ploy, a distraction to buy herself time. It unsettled him, something about it, the way his reflection looked in that mirror, a twisted version of his old self, a horrid beast that only knew how to kill and nothing more. But what he heard next shook him to his bones.

“Hey kid…” he heard a voice coming just behind him, a voice he knew, a voice he silenced. Kylo dared not look back, instead only stared straight at the mirrored wall, watching as Han Solo stepped out from behind Kylo’s reflection, looking exactly how he looked the day he died on Starkiller base. “…been a while, hasn’t it?” he said, with the familiar Solo smirk.

Kylo froze, processing what his eyes were seeing, a hint of guilt overcoming him. He was afraid to turn around, daring only to look at him through the mirror, at the reflection of the man who was his father. With a cracked voice, he whispered, “You’re not real…I killed you.”

“Yeah, you did,” he said, with a regretful sigh, “I tried to bring you back, but you wouldn’t listen. You didn’t want to be saved. I told your mother you were too far gone. The worst thing that happen to me that day was that you proved me right.”

“I didn’t need saving.” Kylo answered back. “I’m exactly who I’m meant to be.”

“Is that what you keep telling yourself?” spoke another voice, seeing another figure appear from behind his reflection, his uncle Luke. “Is that how you justify hurting the ones that care about you?”

“Seems to be a family tradition,” Kylo retorted, “I seem to remember you tried to kill me.”

“You really believe that?” asked Luke, “I tried to save you, Ben. I tried to guide you away from the terrible path you were on, but you didn’t listen. You turned your back on the Jedi Code, turned your back on your own family.”

“I listened to myself. The Jedi were weak. Ben Solo was weak, so I destroyed him, and I became something more. I heard the Dark Side call, and I answered.”

“And where did that lead you?” asked another, in an angry, decrepit voice. Kylo shifted his gaze to see Snoke in the mirror, his old mentor. “Right to me. Oh, the things I saw in you…the passion, the rage, the unlimited power of your bloodline. Yet you squandered your gifts and betrayed me. You struck me down, and played right into the hands of my sworn enemy.”

Kylo felt his hands ball into a fist, “I went further than you could have dreamed! I became stronger than you ever were! I did what you never could! I killed Palpatine! Me, not you!”

“And yet you’ve never been so afraid,” said another voice from his past. The figure appeared in the mirror, ornately dressed in a satin robe. It was Palpatine, in all his smug glory, gawking at him, like he knew something he didn’t, “An aimless little boy who believes in nothing. You mock the teaching of the Sith. A true Sith embraces his fear, wields it. But you…in spite of everything you’ve been through, in spite of the façade of strength you project, you’re weaker than ever. You’re a slave to fear, too afraid to unshackle your chains.”

“I’m not afraid!” shouted Kylo. “I’m not afraid of anything!”

But then, it was Kylo’s own reflection that spoke back to him, “You’re afraid of yourself.”

Kylo stepped back in startled surprise.

His reflection continued, “You’re afraid of what you could have been if you made different choices. You’re afraid of the life you could have had if you only dared to let people in. You’re afraid that deep down, you know that everything you’ve ever believed in, everything you’ve told yourself is wrong, and that she was right. You’re afraid that you’re just a sad little boy lashing out at the galaxy for all your own mistakes.”

Kylo ignited his lightsaber and with a chilling rage, stabbed the image of himself, plunging the plasma blade as far as he could through the ice. The mirror wall cracked, and shattered, the twilight veil lifting, the illusion dispelled to reveal Rey, eyes closed in meditation, sitting down on her legs in a diamond pose, arms resting on her thighs, holding the hilt of her lightsaber. He could almost see the radiant power dancing around her, drawing into her, or was it flowing out of her?

“Do you remember what it feels like…” she began, her voice calm and her face impossibly serene, “…to have a family? The feeling you get when you’re surrounded by people who love you? I remember. It was such a long time ago but I remember what that felt like. I thought I’d never find that again…but I did.”

Kylo breathed out erratically, his anger fatiguing him, as he tried vainly to catch his breath. “No more games, no more tricks, no more stalling, Rey. This ends right now!”

“You’re right,” she said, opening her eyes, staring directly into his, “this ends now.” She stood up, before staring down at the lightsaber hilt in her hand.

“Still think you can fight?” he asked, “Haven’t you learned your lesson? You should know by now you can’t win.”

Rey continued to look down at her lightsaber, “The Force can be a cruel thing. It can show us the things we're most afraid of, turns our fears against us. It can torment us with glimmers of a future we’ll never see. Sooner or later, it forces us to face our mistakes. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, but you are my biggest. That wound of yours is my mistake. I should have never allowed it to happen. My arrogance, my stranglehold over the Force led us to this. I’m sorry, Ben.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” he spat.

“But the Force can also be kind,” she continued, her voice solemn. “It can bring us closer to people, see the good in them, and in yourself. It brought me to him…and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep him safe. It took me a lifetime to understand this, but the Force is what we make of it. We shape it and it shapes us.”

“Enough talk!” shouted Kylo, pointing the angry red blade straight towards her, “Fight me!”

But to Kylo’s surprise, Rey threw away her lightsaber. The unexpected act put Kylo on guard, expecting she was formulating some kind of a ploy to bait him in.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“I’ve seen my destiny. I’ve seen what happens if I fight you here. I know I can’t beat you. You want my power…then go ahead and take it.”

A hesitant Kylo deactivated his lightsaber, and cautiously began to approach her, her abrupt surrender leaving him more than a little suspicious.

“That’s not like you.” he commented standing directly in front of her now. “I thought a Sith never surrenders, never stops fighting. What would Palpatine say?”

Rey sighed, a look of pained resignation on her face, “He’d say he’d be disappointed in me… That I’ve lost my way, that I’ve become blinded by such small things…such small wonderful things. That I am betraying him, betraying the very beliefs of the Sith for what I’m about to do.”

“And what are you about to do?”

“Accept what I can’t change…”

With a satisfied grin, Kylo raised up his hand, setting his mind’s eye on Rey, the unseen tendrils of the Force enveloping around her like a noose. She surprisingly offered no resistance, as Kylo lifted her off the ground. With Rey now firmly in his grasp, he began to siphon away her essence, drawing her power into his broken body, feeding his Force wound. He felt himself grow stronger, his body rejuvenating, his dulled sensations revitalizing. Inside the confines of the Tho Yor, her extraordinary power was all the more potent, and he found it intoxicating, a euphoric high of absolute triumph. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the knowledge that finally, at long last, he’d won.

“…and fixing the things I can.”

Kylo’s eyes shot open, as he saw Rey raise both her hands, a flash of light suddenly spewing forth. In an instant, the steady stream of energy turned into a floodgate, as Kylo felt the pulse of the Living Force beating against him, an unfamiliar pain creeping up on him as it enveloped and perforated his body. At first, he thought she was trying to attack him, trying to wrestle away her power and break the siphoning effect, but he quickly realized that wasn’t the case. She was giving him even more of her energy, a profound amount of energy the likes of which he could not fathom.

“REY! What are you doing?!” he shouted, the sheer quantity of energy making it difficult for him to move, feeling like the weight of the universe was bogging him down.

“Giving you want you wanted,” she shouted coyly, her face harsh, grimacing with concentration as the luminous energy continually poured out from the palms of her hands. “…every bit of it!”

Kylo tried to move his arms, once again igniting his lightsaber as he struggled to reach her, desperate to kill her, but the torrent of power that surrounded them both weighed him down. He struggled to merely hold onto the blade with his mechanical hand. With all he strength he could muster, he stretched out his sword hand, the plasma inched closer and closer to her face. Rey showed clear signs of pain and intense concentration as she moved her outstretched left hand, keeping his lightsaber at bay, using the Force to block it. Mere centimeters from her, Kylo managed to break through her defense, swiping at her hand, severing it at the wrist.

Rey screamed, her body flinching, as Kylo temporarily managed to break out of the hold. In a frantic motion, he raised his cross-saber, winding for a killing stroke, only to then be confronted by the face of Leia.

Mother?

Kylo froze, seeing her staring back at him, looking young, the way she looked in the old holo-recordings when she was part of the Rebel Alliance. She bore a look of pained determination, and with her other hand, pushed Kylo back several yards. Kylo stumbled, but stayed on his feet, looking back to his mother, but her visage had vanished, and it was Rey’s determined face staring back at him.

Kylo screamed in anger, as he began trudging forward, fighting against the immense current of Force energy that flowed into him. He was enraged that Rey resorted to a Force illusion, using his mother’s face against him, and equally enraged with himself for his hesitation. He laboriously stepped forward, one heavy foot at a time, fighting against the pressure, the energy field that only seemed to grow with each passing second.

“I’ll kill you!” he roared, painstakingly moving closer, his body shaking as he inched his way toward her.

Rey let out a strained yell, her pain blatantly obvious, but doing everything in her power to maintain the energy flow. Kylo stretched out his sword arm once again, the edge of his lightsaber only inches away from her face, until a sudden flash and an immense kinetic shockwave pushed both of them back, knocking them to the ground.

A disoriented Kylo slowly began to get up, his eyes trying to refocus, seeing Rey stirring a few meters away from him. Even as he got back to his feet, he felt there was something wrong. His body ached, the prior numbness gone, the phantom pain of his Force wound vanished, as was the hunger.

“What did you do to me?!” he shouted.

Rey got to her knees, looking completely exhausted, tucking her freshly cauterized stump of an arm under her other armpit. She was clearly in tremendous pain, but despite that pain, she smiled. Her smile gave way to a bout of laughter, a self-gratifying laughter that sounded more terrifying than anything he heard from her before.

“I…healed you…” she managed to speak out, as her bout of laughter ebbed. “…I closed your wound.”

The gravity of her words slowly sunk into Kylo’s head, his initial confusion surrendering to a horrifying revelation. It should not have been possible, to drown out the void, restitch the missing fabric of the Force, rebalance the broken scale. But she had done it.

“Impossible…” spat Kylo, “No one has that kind of power or precision…”

“And once again you underestimate me. Nothing’s impossible, Kylo. Not in here, not when you’re willing to sacrifice everything.”

Kylo looked at his hand, the feelings of his extremities back. He felt his own skin, like he was once again trapped in living form, no longer the force of nature that he was, his unmatched power fading into oblivion.

Kylo grabbed her by the throat.

“Undo it!”

“I can’t…” she choked out, prompting Kylo to release her, letting her drop to her knees, coughing, “…I sacrificed all my power to close your wound.”

“You’re lying!”

“I’m not…” she said between breaths, “…I had to redress the balance. It was the only way…the only way to stop you.”

Kylo was at his wit’s end, not sure how to proceed. Despite every hope to the contrary, he knew she wasn’t lying. He felt the proof around him, within him, and he didn’t sense her. He could feel no power emanating from her anymore, as weak in the Force as any normal man or woman. She was totally exhausted, barely able to even sit up straight.

“I opened your wound when I took this power…” she panted, “…it’s only fitting that I should sacrifice that power to close it.”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”

“I’ve done you a kindness, Kylo. And I’m giving you one last chance, which is more than you deserve. Walk away. Find your ship and leave this place. Get lost somewhere far, far away, to the outer reaches of the galaxy, somewhere they’ll never find you, and live your life in peace.”

Kylo took pause at her words, contemplating her offer. The galaxy had been spared his wrath, and now its wrath would fall upon him. He had been denied, had been cheated out of his rightful destiny. His power now only a fraction of what it had been when he bore the wound. He had lost.

The white void began to dim, the energy around them starting to dissipate. Kylo felt tremors beneath his feet, black cracks beginning to form against the glowing white pane, the booming sounds of cracking rock and warping metal filling his ears. The dimensional veil was disintegrating around them.

“What’s happening?” he said.

“The Tho Yor, it’s crumbling…” observed Rey, “…too much damage has been done. It won’t be long before it falls from orbit and breaks apart completely. If you want to live, then leave now.”

“Live? You mean live with the shame of defeat? Live knowing I was beaten at the final hurdle? Live cowering in fear of being discovered, of being dragged before a Republic or Imperial tribunal? No, no, no. I won’t run, and I won’t surrender. And if you honestly think I’ll spare your life-”

“I don’t expect anything from you,” Rey smiled defiantly, “I’ve already won, in more ways than you can know. My life is a small price to pay next to what I’m saving.”

“You threw it all away…all that power just to spite me,” he said, “You foiled my victory. How high and mighty of you, always trying to be something you’re not. You’re so desperate to be a hero. I’ll turn you into a martyr!”

Kylo ignited his lightsaber once again, lifting it up and swiping it down. Rey offered no resistance, simply closing her eye, and extending her neck out, almost welcoming the swing, but before the plasma blade could land, it was blocked by a blue lightsaber.

“Not on my watch,” spoke Finn.

***

Finn and Kylo broke off, Kylo taking a calculated step back, his face laden with annoyed surprise. Finn purposely stepped in front of Rey, putting himself between her and Kylo. He held out his lightsaber in a defensive posture, gripping the hilt, never taking his eyes off his opponent even as the ground continued to rumble.

“Finn, what are you doing here?!” shouted a panicked Rey behind him, “I told you not to come after me!”

“And I’d told you I wouldn’t leave you again,” replied Finn, not taking his eyes off Kylo.

“I’m surprised you even made it in here,” conceded Kylo, “Not bad…for a novice.”

Finn gave him a sarcastic smile, “I picked up a few things.”

“I hoped I’d run into you again…” confessed Kylo, twirling his cross-saber, “…you’re wielding my mother’s lightsaber. Let’s see just how well she’s taught you.”

“He’s weakened, Finn, but he’s still dangerous,” spoke Rey, trying to get back up to her feet, only to fall down again after a particularly violent tremor, groaning in pain from her injuries.

“Rey, you’re in no condition to fight. Get out of here, I’ll take care of him.”

“Don’t you dare tell me to leave,” she argued.

“You’re hurt. You can’t fight, you can barely stand up, and your powers are gone. Get to your ship, get it ready-”

“You’re not going anywhere…” interrupted Kylo, “…nobody’s getting out of here alive.”

A black fissure formed just between them, splitting the floor in half, separating Rey and Finn from each other. Rey held on desperately as the ground started to shift, while Finn struggled to maintain his balance. Taking advantage of Finn’s momentary imbalance, Kylo bull-rushed him, swinging his lightsaber wide, reminiscent of their first fight in the snow-covered forest of Starkiller Base. This time, Finn did not flinch, correcting his footwork and decisively blocking his strike. Their blades locked, crackling against each other as they jockeyed for control. Kylo slowly began to gain position, pushing his lightsaber closer to Finn’s body, looking to jab him with the extended quillon like in their first fight. Finn took notice, but instead of panicking, he stayed calm, controlling his breathing, applying steadily more pressure against the blade, stopping Kylo mere inches away from his shoulder. Finn then began to gain ground as Kylo’s grip slowly faltered, the cross-guard’s quillon now pulling away from him and moving closer to Kylo. Now it was Kylo who was struggling. He was not in top form, clearly exhausted, clearly raddled by whatever Rey did to him. The quillon jabbed into Kylo’s chest, burning through his armor, forcing him to break off with a grunt.

“Won’t fall for that twice,” jabbed Finn.

Kylo charged forward again, not giving him any amount of respect, swinging low for his torso. Finn darted out of the way, and attempted to counter, but Kylo spun around blindingly fast, almost hitting him with a follow-up high swing. Finn narrowly avoided the blade as it whizzed by his face, backpedaling and relenting the initiative. Kylo proceeded to press his advantage, striking at him repeatedly with heavy swings. Finn blocked each strike, feeling the weight of his attacks, struggling to keep his posture, and read his movements. As Rey surmised, Kylo may have been weakened, but he was clearly no less dangerous. Finn continued to block Kylo’s attacks, until he finally saw an opening. Dodging left, he attempted to lunge, but Kylo was ready for him, baiting him in and knocking him back with a concussive Force blast. With a Force assist, Finn quickly sprawled back to his feet, and not a moment too soon as Kylo drove his lightsaber into the ground, narrowly missing him. Holding his breath, Finn dodged a follow-up lunge, landing a hit on Kylo’s left shoulder. Kylo grunted, but without missing a beat, he pirouetted, swinging at him once again, this time grazing Finn’s left arm, searing through his jacket and a good chunk of flesh from his deltoid.

“You really think a traitorous worm like you can beat me?!” bellowed Kylo.

Finn winced from the burning pain, as he and Kylo reset their stances, but a booming sound overhead diverted everyone’s attention. The Tho Yor rumbled, its pocket dimension flashing white, then black, repeatedly and violently, before finally shattering altogether with a massive distorted crack. Finn covered his ears, as the reverberating sound shook his entire body. The pocket dimension collapsed, revealing the massive interior of the Tho Yor. The ship’s hull, the strange bronze-colored metal, which before seemed completely indestructible, was now somehow breaking beneath its own weight, its properties irreparably altered. The entire vessel shook, as chunks began to fall from above them. The exit portal at the eastern facing wall continuously flickered opened and closed, as the ship’s power system went haywire. Everything about the ship was on the verge of complete failure.

Kylo and Finn dodged the showering rubble as they reengaged, locking blades once again. Kylo shoved him back, swinging upward with his lightsaber, forcing Finn to dodge by the thinnest of margins. Both bucked from a sudden crack in the floor and the subsequent aftershock, with chunks of the ground breaking, cleaving and jutting out like the inside of a crushed can. Kylo and Finn continued to duel, scaling the uneven terrain, refusing to take their eyes off one another.

“You’re not worthy of her, of being her disciple. You’re just a cowardly deserter, and that’s all you’ll ever be!”

“Shut up!” said Finn, kicking him back, climbing up a jutted metal slab to give himself some space. Kylo walked up confidently, clearly having the advantage.

They continued to battle amid the mangled ground, as Rey attempted to follow, scaling the terrain with her one good hand. Clearly on the defensive, and barely maintaining himself, Finn braced for another incoming Force attack. Kylo stretched out his hand, looking to Force grab, but Finn psychically fought off his hold, stretching an arm out, causing a deadlock. Kylo redirected his power, instead focusing on the ground beneath Finn’s feet, creating a tremor that forced Finn to fall to a knee. Kylo advanced, swinging violently with his lightsaber. Finn barely managed to raise his saber in time to block, as their blades clashed once more, but this time Finn was in a bad position and on the verge of losing the clash.

“Finn!” she called out to him, “You can do this. Stay calm. Trust in yourself.”

Kylo briefly looked over to Rey, and then looked back to Finn, “Before you die, I want you to know I’m going to enjoy killing her…”

Finn felt Kylo invade his mind, clawing at his guarded memories, brute forcing his way through his mental defenses.

“FINN! Ignore him!” shouted a concerned Rey, “Whatever he’s saying, don’t listen!”

But Finn heard Kylo’s voice in his head, …and your unborn child.

Finn screamed, finding the strength to push Kylo back, and with a violent surge, proceeded to finally go on the offensive. Kylo was now the one blocking as Finn felt himself giving into his anger, the aggressive step breaking the combat flow, giving him the initiative, but the heat of the moment threatened to overtake him.

“Finn, don’t!” shouted Rey, “He’s baiting you!”

Her warning fell on deaf ears as Finn continued his attack. Kylo was content to continue fencing with him, blocking the blows with relative ease.

“Finn, remember what Leia taught you!” screamed Rey.

Recomposing himself, Finn took a much-needed breath. With a cooler head, he broke off the attack, giving himself space to reassess. Kylo’s intention was obvious: bait him into and weather the storm until Finn was too exhausted to fight. Finn couldn’t beat him this way, and they both knew it.

“And you were doing so well,” mocked Kylo, twirling his lightsaber and readying himself again, inviting him to attack.

Finn took a second deep breath, and opted to resume a defensive posture, much to Kylo’s surprise. “Come and get me,” he taunted.

Kylo proceeded to attack, but Finn held firm, blocking the blows, his form crisper, his breathing flawless, just like all those lessons had taught him. Kylo accelerated the speed of his attacks, changing levels, striking both high and low, but Finn managed to either block or dodge every attack coming his way. He found his rhythm, felt the Force flowing through him, speaking to him, both controlling and obeying him, leaving Kylo visibly stumped.

Finn briefly saw in Kylo a hint of concern, like he was surprised he had held up this long. He could sense Kylo’s power waning, either from exhaustion, frustration or a combination of the two. Finn dared to believe that he could actually win.

Kylo’s swings grew all the more desperate, his movements more feral, more extreme, as he used every ounce of strength in reserve left for a final flurry. With the Force to assist him, he sped up his attacks, sacrificing form for speed, causing Finn to backpedal in a blindingly fast assault. Unable to rely upon his eyes, Fin instead drew upon the Force to read the next sequence of blows, blocking every blow without relying on his eyes. Finn kept firm, remembering Leia’s lessons, remembering his breathing, his technique, determined to weather Kylo’s emphatic storm. Finally, he saw an opening as Kylo missed a wide swing. Finn ducked underneath the swing, rolled behind him, and with a surgical upward strike, slashed Kylo across his back, cutting through his armor and into his spine.

Kylo let out a bone chilling scream, as he fell to his knees, his body shaking, his arms dropping to the ground, his still activated cross-saber falling out of his hand and hitting the floor, the plasma blade burning against the metal. His back was seared, a burnt streak of carbon scoring trailing up what used to be his spine, rendering him completely immobile.

“How’s that for a novice?” bit back Finn, only now allowing his heartrate to skyrocket.

Kylo’s face was in shock, the realization dawning on him that he had been bested by a nobody, an ex-Stormtrooper, a turncoat. Finn was surprised Kylo was even conscious, knowing firsthand the excruciating pain he must have been feeling.

Kylo looked up to Finn, slowly craning his neck with great effort, giving him a pained smile, “She taught you well. Now finish it.”

“After everything you’ve done?” Finn shook his head, “You don’t deserve a quick death. You’re going to stand before those tribunals and you’re going to pay for everything you’ve done in front of the whole galaxy.”

Kylo snarled at him, before Finn slammed him down face first with a tug of the Force. Kylo fell prone, lying completely motionless.

Finn looked around for Rey amid the escalating devastation. He saw both her Tie Silencer and Kylo’s Knife-9 a few hundred meters away, getting pelted by falling debris. He saw the ongoing destruction of the Tho Yor, energy distortions and internal explosions continuing to rip it apart from the inside out, piles of rubble and smoke now making it harder for him to see, and his inability to sense her causing him great alarm.

“Rey!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, circling around, desperate to see a sign of her.

“Finn!” he heard her shout back, turning towards her direction.

He was relieved when he saw her appearing out of the dust. Finally getting a good look at her, she was completely disheveled, her injured arm still tucked against her body, bits of dust and rubble in her hair, looking like she’d been through hell. Even in such a sorry state, Finn couldn’t help but think she was the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen; the beaming expression on her face, the pooling tears of joy in her eyes upon seeing he was alive. They were both alive, and the realization made their spirits soar. Rey ran over to him, embracing him in a hug, resting her head against his shoulder, her one good arm wrapping around his back in a tight squeeze. Finn likewise hugged her back just as tightly, his cheek brushing against her hair, ecstatic just to hear her breathing against his chest, to feel her warmth, her beating heart against him.

“You’re alive,” she whispered, “Did you stop him?”

“Yeah,” he said, kissing her forehead, “I stopped him.” Finn looked around, at their crumbling surroundings, larger chunks of debris now beginning to fall and hit the floor in a cacophony of destruction. He backed away from Rey and cupped her cheeks with his hands, “Rey, we need to leave right now. Get to the ships-”

He did not see it. He did not hear the hum of Kylo’s lightsaber as it jettisoned forward from the ground like a javelin, didn’t see the angry blade as it careened toward him while his back was turned. He felt it skewer his heart, pierce through his chest, and he saw the horrified shock on Rey’s face.

***

“NO!!!” Rey screamed, the red blade bursting out of Finn’s chest, the cross-guard guided by an invisible hand as it pierced through Finn’s back. Instinctively, she reached around for the hilt, deactivating the blade, and grabbed Finn as he fell, placing him down as gently as she could manage. “Finn, Finn, look at me,” she pleaded, her voice desperate. “You’re going to be alright.”

Finn looked at her, his eyes heavy, his breathing erratic, his body trembling from pain. Rey looked over to Kylo, still lying on the ground, but noticeably conscious, his robotic hand stretched out, having thrown the lightsaber with the use of the Force, using his last ounce of strength to hit his intended target. His eyes seared with tremendous pain, but his face betrayed a twisted expression, and his mouth pursed into a demented smile, beaming with a smug satisfaction that he had landed the blow on his enemy, and had struck down the love of her life right in front of her.

All at once, Rey’s despair turned to anger, as she tightened her grip of Kylo’s lightsaber, activating the blade and racing up to him with a frightful wail. She ran up to Kylo holding up the blade with one hand.

Kylo smirked, “Seems I-”

Kylo never had the chance to finish his sentence, as Rey drove down the lightsaber across his neck, decapitating him. She screamed out at the top of her lungs, letting out every ounce of hatred and pain as she dealt the death blow. Kylo’s head rolled, and his body went limp. For a fleeting moment, Rey stood above the body, her breathing erratic, her soul boiling over with raw emotions, as she just held the lightsaber in hand, presiding over the corpse, almost wishing he would still be alive so she could strike him down again, but a dying groan behind her snapped her out of her blood haze. Rey turned around, deactivated the lightsaber and dropped it to the floor as she ran over to Finn.

“Rey…” he wheezed, as she scooted down to her knees to grab a hold of him.

“I’m here…” she tried to assure him, but her voice was full of panic, “…you’re going to be alright. I…”

She looked at the wound, at his skewered chest, and she knew just as well as Finn that it was terminal. Rey started quivering with remorse, as she placed a hand on his chest, further inspecting the wound, a wound that would have been child’s play to heal if she still had her powers, but now he was entirely beyond her aid. It was a tragic irony that only now, after she had permanently expunged herself of the Force, that she wished she still had her powers to save the one she loved.

“It’s alright…” he said, his breathing slowing, his face becoming pale, “You have to…get outta here…”

“No, I’m not leaving without you!” she insisted stubbornly, tears streaming down her face, “You’re all I have…you’re all I want. I can’t lose you…”

“You need to…let me go…” he said, his hand touching her stomach.

“I’m not leaving you…” she said sternly, fighting through her tears, her voice cracking, “…I can’t live in a galaxy without you.” She rested her cheek on his forehead, hoping, praying for a miracle, “Everyone I love leaves…stay with me.”

She felt the palm of his hand brushing against her face, as she shifted to look him in the eyes. He guided her head to his, as their lips embraced, kissing one another deeply, passionately, one last time. Rey felt the last gasp of life expel from his mouth mid kiss, and felt his body go limp against her. Rey clutched onto his body, her emotional damn breaking as she began to sob unconsolably. Completely distraught, Rey gently placed Finn’s body down on the ground, crying on his chest, letting the tears fall freely, completely oblivious to the crumbling ship, ignorant to the sound of the Tho Yor breaking around her.

Rey slinked off him, falling on her back beside his body, staring up into the ceiling, watching the cracks forming above as she lost all desire to live, knowing the future she wanted was taken from her. Suddenly the prospect of life was too hard, too insurmountable to overcome. It was far easier to lie down and die alongside him, than stand up and try to live without him. She watched as a large chunk of the ceiling broke off, falling right towards her. Rey closed her eyes, happy to embrace death as the sounds drowned out in the wake of a tranquil silence.

“Rey…” she heard Finn’s voice, soft and tender.

“Am I dead?” she asked, her eyes still closed, just happy to hear his voice again.

“Not yet,” he said.

She opened her eyes, seeing a serene blue sky above her, feeling the tingle of wild grass brushing against her arm and the steady sway of wind on her face. She was back on Tython, before the planet had been ravaged. She turned her head to her left, seeing Finn lying down beside her, looking completely fine, his wound gone, his clothes pristine, and not a scratch on him.

Rey caressed his face, “is this a dream, or a vision?

“I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I’m breaking a few rules talking to you like this, but the Force is very strong here, even after all the damage this place has been through. I bought us a little time.”

“Time for what?”

“Time to convince you to leave.”

“No, I’m not leaving. I’m staying with you.”

“You can’t, Rey.”

“And why not?”

“Because you have more than just yourself to look after now,” he said, caressing his hand on her stomach.

Rey, sat up with a bewildered look on her face, “You mean…”

He nodded, “Can’t say I didn’t leave you empty handed. I wanted to tell you before, but I was scared I might have been wrong.”

“But how can you know? It’s only been a day since Tython.”

“I had a vision, a glimpse into the future, saw you, carrying our kid, you were happy. We were happy.”

“Your vision was wrong about us. What makes you think it isn’t wrong about the pregnancy?”

“A feeling. I choose to believe it’s true. Can you really take the risk believing it isn’t?”

Rey stared back up at the clouds, sighing heavily, “Things didn’t go our way, did it? It didn’t go Kylo’s way either. We all lost everything.”

“Not everything. You still have a chance for a real life, Rey. You can still have what you always wanted: a family. And can you honestly lie there and tell me you wouldn’t give everything for even the chance to see our kids’ faces with your own eyes?”

Rey looked over to him ponderously, “Faces? You mean-”

“Oops, I think I might’ve said too much just now….” He jested. “But seriously, your best life is still ahead of you if you want it. You can give them the life you always wanted, the life we were both denied.”

“What if I can’t?” she asked nervously. “What if I don’t have what it takes? I’m afraid, Finn. I’m afraid I can’t do this alone.”

“You’re not alone, Rey. Not anymore. And not ever again. Whether you can see me or not, whether you can hear me or not, I’ll be with you.”

Rey kissed him, “I love you, Finn.”

Finn smirked, “You know when I first realized it, I was scared to say it out loud. Now they’re the easiest three words I’ve ever said. I love you. Now get up, Rey. We need you to get up…”

Rey opened her eyes, watching the falling hunk of rubble approaching her at an alarming speed. She immediately rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding it before it hit the ground with a vicious thud. Wasting no time, she forced herself back to her feet, scaling up a particularly large slab of debris, on the lookout for the ships. She spotted them in the distance a few hundred yards away, but the space between her and them were fraught with large fissures, falling debris and hill sized mounds of destruction.

Rey felt the anxiety building, the deathtrap before her looking insurmountable without the Force at her command. Unconsciously, she touched her stomach with her one remaining hand, before looking down at it, at the promise of something wonderful. I can do this…she said to herself, choosing to believe she’ll make it, determined to keep her unspoken promise to Finn.

With a sharp breath, Rey darted forward, sliding down the bumpy heap, ignoring the scrapes and cuts she sustained, as she sped her way down to the floor. Her feet hit the ground running, as she made her way towards the ships, dodging out of the way of some large chunks of falling debris, weaving out of the way of danger, focusing only on what was happening in front of her and directly above her. She scaled over a mound of rubble, jumping over the fissures all the while being pelted by small droplet-sized chunks of the ship, until finally she saw her Tie Silencer just a few yards away. Fighting through the exhaustion, she ran towards her ship, only, as if in a stroke of cruel irony by fate, for it to get crushed by a large slab that pulverized the ship’s co*ckpit.

“NO!” she said, her hopes crushed along with her ship. But she then noticed the Knife-9, still relatively intact. Rey ran to the ship’s main door, opening the outer terminal, and attempting to hotwire it. She raised both her arms, only to see the burnt stump, having momentarily forgotten she only had one hand to work with. Rey struggled to manipulate the wires, until finally she opened the door, getting inside and heading to the ship’s co*ckpit. She hastily began hacking her way to bypass the ship’s security, even as she felt the ship vibrate from the constant pelting of debris just outside. Come on…she thought, desperate to get the ship working. Finally, the dashboard sprang to life, the co*ckpit systems turning on. She grabbed the controls and immediately lifted off the ground. A particularly large chunk of debris smacked into the Knife-9’s wing, shaking it violently, causing Rey to nearly fall out of her seat. Strapping herself in, Rey angled the ship to the far-off exit portal, still flickering off and on, seemingly at random, her one chance to escape.

Rey closed her eyes, as she placed her hand on the throttle lever. We’re going to make it…

In an act of blind faith, she pushed the throttle forward, as the ship accelerated towards the portal. The Knife-9 narrowly made it through just before the portal deactivated altogether, making it outside just as the Tho Yor finally lost all remaining power. Rey looked back in time to see it begin to implode, the floating pyramid collapsing in on itself, the pressure compounding, crushing the hull until it finally lost all remaining propulsion and fell, cratering into the ground with a world-shaking collision that shattered every unbroken glass in the immediate vicinity. The last vestige of a bygone age was left in ruins, the shattered legacy of both the Sith and the Jedi laid bare for the galaxy to see.

Rey took a much-needed sigh of relief, a fleeting but genuine feeling of happiness overtaking her as she nervously laughed, finally allowing to drop her guard and feel the thrill of being alive. But that happiness quickly dissipated as she recalled the events that just transpired, and what she had lost. She had fixed her mistake, but she had lost the man she loved, the pain still so raw, so fresh. She was so relieved that her powers were gone, that the constant echoes, and ghosts, the ceaseless bother, the uncontrollable bouts were gone. Her body had been purged, left without the ability to connect to the Force, an extreme measure meant to balance out the scales, a psychic lobotomy to render herself inert to its call and its command, but it came at a price she was so desperate not to pay.

“I’m so sorry, Finn,” she apologized out loud, feeling the guilt set in, the weight of her actions painfully felt. What would this mean for the galaxy, for the Empire, the Republic, for the people who claimed to serve her, for the people who stood against her? A thousand questions were left unanswered. Rey reached over to the comms, only to hesitate right before activating it. She noticed that the indicator for the stealth system was activated. The Knife-9 had been cloaked since she fired up the engines. Then it dawned on her. Nobody knew she made it out, nobody, not her enemies or her subjects had any idea that she was still alive. For all everyone knew, she died on the Tho Yor with Finn and Kylo. She contemplated keeping it that way.

You can give them the life you always wanted… Finn’s words reverberated in her mind, her concern about how things were slowly giving way to how things could be. The chance for a real family was far greater a destiny to her than any empire. Her master’s words, who she had for so long taken as inalienable fact, were now just air, the legacy of her Order inconsequential compared to the enormity of motherhood. Everything that ever mattered to her gave way to something more important. She was determined to get away, to raise her children, and keep them away from everything she had been a part of. She had begun to believe that maybe, just maybe she survived for a reason, to do what her parents tried to do for her, to give her children a good and happy life. She did not know if she could. All she knew was she needed to try. Rey punched in a new set of coordinates, letting the hyperdrive spring to life and the nav computer run its calculations.

She made a promise to herself right there, to leave behind everything she was, everything she had. Empress Ira, leader of the Galactic Empire, Sith master and successor to Palpatine, died on Coruscant. She was Rey Solana, the only daughter of Jendan and Skyla Solana, two humble prospectors who tried to make a life for themselves in a rough and tumbled Galaxy. As the nav computer finished its calculations, Rey activated the hyperdrive and with bated breath, began down the path of her chosen destiny.

Chapter 28: Epilogue

Chapter Text

Epilogue:

“Welcome to Prospector’s bluff,” greeted a cheerful young female Twi'lek, typing away on what looked like a brand-new computer terminal, “Any cargo to declare?”

Poe Dameron shook his head, “Nope.”

“How long do you plan on staying?”

“No more than six hours. Need my ship’s transponder code?”

“No sir, that isn’t necessary. Prospector’s Bluff has no travel restrictions. We’re not picky about where you’re from or where you’ve been. We can’t afford to be,” joked the Twi'lek.

Poe feigned a laugh, before inquiring, “Say, this spaceport looks brand new. And when I flew in, I couldn’t help but notice all the construction work. Looks like this town’s undergoing some serious renovations.”

The Twi'lek nodded, “Yeah, you should have seen this place just six months ago. It was a complete ghost town.”

“What changed?”

“Apparently someone bought out the extraction rights from the Mining Guild and started pumping serious money into this town. Now with the Empire and Republic both clamoring for resources, raw materials are in high demand. Prices are up, business is booming and workers are flocking here seemingly on a daily basis.”

“Any idea who this benefactor is?”

“Some private investment fund, or so I’ve heard. Must’ve seen an opportunity with the current rates on raw materials. Whoever they are, they’re keeping a lid on it. Doesn’t make much of a difference to the people around here anyway. Between us, the Republic relinquishing Jandur was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to this planet. Now that we’re part of the Neutral Zone, the miners get to sell their ores to both sides. Alright…the docking fee will be 5 gold trugits please.”

Poe paid the fee and left the spaceport. Walking down the streets of Prospector’s Bluff, he gaugedthe state of this little miner’s town. It had been recently brought to the Republic’s attention that the planet Jandur was in the middle of a resurgence, made possible by some unusual financial activity. The evidence for it was all around him, as he looked around at busy streets, the freshly paved roadways, the mobs of pedestrians, human and nonhuman alike passing by, most of them returning from work in the mines, their gear and clothes dirty from digging but otherwise in good condition. Shopkeepers peddled their wares from their stands and even the odd group of squealing young children could be seen playing on the streets. The hovels were basic, but new and clean, along with a new spaceport with cargo ships coming and going. It was nothing like the ghost town the last census report had described.He was beginning to think that maybe Holdo was telling the truth after all.

Poe Dameron hated being Grand Admiral, preferring to jump in an X-Wing rather than oversee the Republic Reconstruction Effort, but he couldn’t refuse Chancellor Omas’ offer. Most of his time these days was spent between repairing the extensive damage to Coruscant, and expanding the Republic military, but just occasionally, he had an oddball good day. One such good day occurred when the de facto leader of the First Order Remnant, Supreme Leader Amelyn Holdo was taken into custody, given up by the Hutts as a bargaining chip to get back into the Republic’s good graces.

It was out of curiosity that Poe agreed to speak to her, face to face, when she asked to cut a deal, asking for a commuted sentence in exchange for what she described as a juicy piece of intelligence he wouldn’t be able to resist. He was floored when she told it to him, so floored in fact, that he didn’t think she was telling the truth.

Go and see for yourself, flyboy. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. Her exact words buzzed in his ear the whole trip to Jandur, until he landed the Falcon onto the spaceport. He didn’t tell the Chancellor where he was going, didn’t tell his generals or his staff, making up a cover story that he was on a diplomatic mission to Canto Bite. He didn’t even tell his private security, deciding to stretch his old reconnaissance muscles and check for himself. The only people he told were Chewie, Rose, and Connix, and even they thought it was a terrible idea, but try as they might they couldn’t deter him, and he decided to go alone, in search of someone who was supposed to be dead.

It had been six months since the officially christened Third Battle of Coruscant, and the Galaxy had been reeling ever since. For the first time since antiquity, the Galaxy had no unifying central power. Instead, it had been split in two, with the Republic firmly in control of the Core Worlds and the Empire in control of the western portion of the Outer and Mid-Rim systems. In the immediate aftermath of the battle, the Republic and Empire had agreed to an uneasy truce, acknowledging one another’s territorial claims and establishing the Neutral Zone, a demilitarized strip of space from the Guu Run to Shipwright's Trace that separated Republic and Imperial space. All that said, tensions were still high, and the threat of renewed conflict constantly loomed in the back of everyone’s minds.

Truthfully, the armistice was a blessing for both sides, even if neither side cared to admit it. Kylo’s calamitous attack may have been thwarted, but the battle still left deep scars on Coruscant’s surface, killing millions, and leaving the Federal District in ruins. Chancellor Omas was forced to temporarily relocate the capital to Chandrilla, calling in every favor at his disposal to amass the credits and the manpower for the rebuilding efforts, a logistical nightmare that Poe Dameron was up to his eyeballs in. The Republic Viscount had also been heavily damaged and had been undergoing repairs and refitting for the last six months. As a recompense for instigating the battle, the Empire had relinquished its hold on Corellia, a huge concession, as it closed up the only easy avenue it had into the Inner Core. It was perceived by some as a show of goodwill, but Poe knew better. He knew the Imperial Fleet was now only at half strength, and could no longer effectively control the territory they had conquered. He knew a tactical withdrawal was warranted, falling back to more strategically defendable systems, establishing their Capital on Fondor and investing heavily into military infrastructure. He hated that the Republic was too weak at the moment to capitalize. He hated that Chancellor Omas signed that truce to begin with, but he did find some solace in knowing their Imperial counterparts were faring little better.

By all reliable accounts, the Empire was facing its own set of problems. The signing of the truce meant a reprieve from an immediate Republic counterattack, and a bit of breathing space as they struggled to rebuild their fleet, repair their Eclipse, and reorganize their top brass following a shocking coup. Nobody knew the whole story, but from what the Republic Intelligence Network could piece together, a contingent of high-ranking officers led by Commander Jagged Fel successfully deposed Allegiant-General Pryde and had taken control of the Empire, with Fel at least nominally recognized as Emperor. How long he’d hold onto the title with so many Imperial commanders eying it was anyone’s guess. The Empress’s death left a gargantuan void in Imperial leadership, one that led every Imperial scrambling to try to fill. But not everything was going against them. Empress Ira’s death, which the Imperials and their propaganda machine labeled as a heroic sacrifice, bought a remarkable amount of good will for the Empire across the Galaxy, particularly along the Mid and Outer Rim systems. Imperial loyalists championed her as a just and virtuous leader, a martyr against Kylo Ren’s onslaught, and a symbol of Outer Rim strength against the tyranny of the Galactic Center. The propaganda worked so well that many Outer Rim volunteers began swelling their ranks, joining what was being perceived to be a new and less repressive Empire. Time would only tell if that sentiment would ring true. For now, both sides were content to sit back, lick their wounds and keep an eye on one another.

Poe continued snooping around, making sure to put on his cloak so as to avoid being recognized, checking the booths and shops as he walked by. Most everyone met him with a friendly face, selling foodstuffs from across both Imperial and Republic sectors. Many of the shops he passed by sold heavy equipment, mostly mining equipment, but a few others specialized in differing things: home furnishings, land speeders, jewelry. He even stumbled across a pet store where groups of children flocked, delighted by the kibbins, ground weevils, and loth-kittens featured in the shop windows. Before long, he stumbled upon a small tavern, with some outside tables and an overhead pergola for shade. After an hour of wandering around the town, Poe felt he could use some time out of sun and a stiff drink to steel his nerves.

Poe was pleasantly surprised when he saw tarisian ale on offer, and promptly ordered a glass. It was Finn’s favorite drink, and he couldn’t help but be reminded of him every time he drank it. He also couldn’t help but remember the blowout he had with Chewie right before he left, the shouting match the two had about Poe going on this wild goose chase. Chewie yelled at him for wanting to go through with this, asking him why he couldn’t leave well enough alone. Poe remembered the words he yelled back to Chewie, “No, I’m not going to leave it alone! Not after everything that happened. If what Holdo says is true, if she’s really there, then I’m taking her down! Now, you coming with me or not?”He was surprised when Chewie turned him down, and got even more angry when he dared to bring up Finn and ask what he would think of him. Poe regretfully remembered what he told him verbatim, “Finn’s dead, Chewie. He can’t tell you, me or anybody what he’d want because he’s dead. And she killed him, just like she killed Luke, just like she killed Leia. And you expect me to just look the other way?”

“Bartender, another round,” Poe called out. Getting his drink topped off, he continued to wallow, then remembered his conversation with Rose Tico, and her words of wisdom. “What are you going to do, Poe?” Poe lied, saying he didn’t know what he was going to do, to which Rose responded, “You seriously going to go into the Neutral Zone by yourself and do what? Arrest her? How is this going to go any other way but badly?”

Now on his third drink of tarisian ale, Poe finally eyed what he was looking for, a nicely sized and well-maintained shop, with an overhead sign above the entrance written in Galactic Basic, Solana’s Repair Shop, pretty much exactly where Holdo said it would be. Shaking his drink nonchalantly, Poe recalled his discussion with General Connix, who stopped him just before he left on the Falcon, asking him, “What’s the play here, Admiral? Is this an arrest or an assassination?” He was surprised by her bluntness, telling her he was just going to take a gander, that he wasn’t even sure that what Holdo was telling them was true. But Connix knew him better and replied, “This isn’t you, Poe. You’re no coldblooded killer. What would Finn think?”

Downing the last of his drink, Poe dropped a gold trugit and got up from the table, heading out of the tavern and towards the repair shop. As inconspicuously as possible, Poe walked down the street, scouting out the shop, which was closed for lunch, and the adjacent living quarters in the back. Sneaking around the back of the pourstone hovel, Poe drew his blaster, where he noticed a side door, unlocked. He quietly slid it open and cautiously walked inside, aiming his blaster and checking the corners. The dome shaped building was very inconspicuous, just basic furniture and amenities, nothing fancy or sinister. As he continued making his way through, he came upon the kitchen, noticing an antique of a nanowave stove cooking something. He peered in further, and saw a table with a lanky BX series kitchen droid presiding over it, dicing away at vegetables. It looked old, and sounded older, making jittery noises every time it moved its arms.

And then, coming out of a nearby room, he briefly spotted her, turning the corner and walking into the kitchen, with her back turned to him. She was dressed in work clothes stained with oil spots.

“Acting up again, BX?” he could hear her speak, her voice unmistakable, “what am I going to do with you?”

Poe’s heart raced, the realization that the person he’d been desperately searching for was right in front of him. Darth Ira, the specter that haunted the Republic, the Sith Master that destroyed the last of the Jedi, the most dangerous person in the Galaxy, the object of his nightmares, was one pulled trigger away from coming to an end. He almost felt the hate building up in his chest, his finger squeezing on the trigger, but not hard enough to shoot. By all indications, she had no idea he was even here. It was the perfect opportunity to kill her quick and clean, dart out of the hovel and head back to the Falcon without her even having a chance, but a part of him felt it was too easy, too simple. Despite knowing how dangerous she was, despite knowing what she might do with her powers, he desperately wanted to confront her.

Poe sprinted into the room with his gun pointed at her back. “Hands up!” he shouted.

Rey flinched, apparently completely taken by surprise. She immediately raised her hands above her head.“I never did get around to fixing that lock.”

“You thought no one would find you, huh? taunted Poe, “thought you could just walk away like nothing happened?! Turn around, very slowly!”

She complied, turning around, showing her face. Poe instantly recognized her. Her face was a little dirty from engine grease, having not had the time to wash yet. Her brown hair was recently cut short and seemed a little disheveled, like she had just finished working. But it was her expressive hazel eyes that he recognized instantly. He had expected them to be filled with anger, but instead all he saw was fear, and her face betrayed a look of complete helplessness. It was only then he noticed her pregnant belly, clearly several months along. Poe then realized that the look in her eyes was the look of an expecting mother suddenly afraid for her unborn child.

Dammit, thought Poe, suddenly unsure. An awkward silence overcame the room, as even the chef droid ceased moving.

“Please…” she broke the silence, “…please don’t shoot.”

***

Rey was so sure she had made a clean getaway, certain that she had everyone, even her own people, convinced that she died on Coruscant. She made a point to be careful, ditching the Knife-9 in the deep desert of Jakku, and booking passage to Jandur under a false identity. She thought she was sufficiently careful withdrawing the funds from her various dummy corporations and shadow accounts, using various backdoor channels and pseudonyms to throw off the scent of anyone snooping. She was sure that nobody would be watching Jandur. Nobody ever paid any attention to Jandur. It was typical for the Republic to only take an interest in it after it was no longer theirs. Perhaps she was foolish in thinking they would leave well enough alone. Or more accurately, that Poe would leave well enough alone.

Rey gulped nervously, distinctly aware of her own powerlessness, looking across the room at Poe, at the blaster pistol pointed directly at her face. He was too far to rush, and she was too far away from the kitchen table to reach for the hidden blaster stored underneath. She knew that if she tried, he’d surely shoot her first, but she also noticed something else about Poe, something uncharacteristic of his demeanor: hesitation.

“You didn’t know,” she surmised, reading the expression on his face.

Poe’s silence spoke volumes.

Rey kept her hands up, “You’re a long way out of your jurisdiction, Admiral Dameron. The Republic has no authority here on Jandur, so if you came here to arrest me-”

“I’m not an admiral today,” he said curtly.

“An assassin, then?” she accused, “Sneaking into my house, prepared to kill me in cold blood. I didn’t think you could stoop so low as to shoot an expecting mother.”

The silence that ensued was deafening, as Rey kept her hands up, completely helpless. She could see the turmoil in Poe’s eyes, the uncertainty and derision as he contemplated his options.

“Neither did I,” he admitted, his face betraying a bit of shame, “And I guess when the chips are down…I can’t.” He holstered his blaster pistol, “Put your hands down.”

Rey breathed a little easier, as she lowered her hands. The two of them just stared at one another awkwardly, for nearly half a minute. Finally, Rey broke the silence, “Care for a drink?”

Poe nodded, “The stronger the better.”

They sat together at the kitchen table, awkwardly sipping their cups, his filled with alcoholic knockback necter, and hers filled with nonalcoholic blue milk, an awful tasting drink she had the displeasure of trying on Ahch-To during her time with Luke. For some reason, she had developed a taste for it in her recent months of pregnancy.

“Do you live alone?”

“Yes, apart from BX, my cooking droid.”

“Any security?”

“No.” she said tersely, “haven’t even gotten around to fixing the lock on my side door, as you’ve noticed. To be fair, I never needed to until today. Not much crime in Prospector’s Bluff. Nothing the local Sherrif can’t handle.”

“There a gun hidden under the table?” he guessed.

Rey hesitated, before reluctantly admitting, “Yes.”

“Why don’t you take it out and slowly hand it over?”

Rey pulled the gun out from the under the table, but instead of handing it over to him as instructed, she merely plopped it down on the table.

“That’s the best you’ll get. Forgive me if I don’t trust you.”

“Fair enough. At least I’ll see you reaching for it if your trigger finger gets itchy.” Poe took another swig of his drink, “You’re a hard woman to find.”

“Not hard enough, it seems. How did you find me?”

“Holdo,” he answered, “She got betrayed by the Hutts, and is looking to cut a deal. She led me to you.”

“Impressive. I took great care to cover my tracks.”

“If it’s any consolation, we missed it, and so did the Empire, it seems. I mean, who in their right mind comes to Jandur? Why, of all places in the entire Galaxy, would you end up here?”

“It’s my homeworld…” she said, “I was born in this town.”

“And that repair shop up front? What’s with that?”

“It was my father’s. He and my mother were prospectors, but he always loved to tinker, so he set up a shop to repair mining equipment. They poured so much effort to save this town,” Rey wiped a building a tear out of her eye, “If they could only see what it looks like now.”

“I walked around the place. You’re pumping in some serious money. New spaceport, houses, shops, mining equipment, a pet store? How’d you manage to get all that money?”

“I syphoned off small sums over a large number of hidden Imperial slush funds. With all the infighting and chaos after my supposed death, it wasn’t difficult to abscond with the money. Nobody in Imperial Command even knew. I’m amazed Holdo discovered the discrepancy.”

“Hate to admit it, but she’s the best intelligence operative I’ve ever seen, and she can pick up a paper trail like nobody’s business. I take it you don’t have any contact with Imperial Command?”

“No one,” she said, “I left that all behind. For good.”

“Why?” he asked her.

Rey gently patted her swollen belly, “because I don’t want my children to live the kind of life I lived. I don’t want them in that world.”

“You were Empress. Your children would have been next in line. You expect me to believe that you’d just throw that away?”

“It’s the truth,” she held up her right hand, pulling off her glove to show off her robotic prosthetic. “You lose pieces of yourself to that life, body and soul. And worst of all, I lost the man I loved.”

“Finn…” Poe leaned forward in his chair, “What the hell happened on that ship?”

She told him everything he wanted to know, sparing no details, explaining how she lost her powers, the duel between Finn and Kylo, and both their deaths. She saw in Poe’s eyes a hint of sadness.

“He saved my life, and I couldn’t save his…” she confessed, “…it was the most awful feeling I ever felt, holding him in my hands as he was dying, unable to help him…” she stuttered, “…for as long as I could remember, I wanted nothing more than to get rid of my powers. When I finally did…it was right when I wanted them the most. I suppose they’re right when they say be careful what you wish for…”

Poe listened intently, his eyes showing sympathy. He fiddled with his empty glass, trying to lighten the mood, “You know, a part of me was terrified that the minute you knew I was here, you’d tear me apart with those Force powers of yours.”

Rey grabbed the bottle and refilled Poe’s cup, “The fact that you’re still in one piece, drinking my finest bottle of honeyed nectar should be proof enough that I’ve lost it.”

“Finn really loved you, didn’t he?”

Rey nodded, “And I loved him more than anything. I was ready to die for him, but he died for me instead. I held him as he died, helpless for the first time in my life, hearing him struggle to breathe, something that would have been so easy to fix if I still had my powers…” she started crying, “I was going to stay…I wanted to die with him, but he didn’t let me. He said I still have something to live for.” She touched her belly, “He was right.”

“We’re monitoring Imperial chatter. You know they think you’re a hero? You’ve become a martyr to their cause.”

Rey sighed, “I’ve heard as much, from the travelers who come into town.”

“They’re starting to rebuild their forces. Our latest estimates claim the number of Imperial volunteers have tripled over the last few months. Even if that’s off by half, that’s still an alarming figure. Baffles me that people can’t see the Empire for what it is.”

“Maybe they’re just seeing the Republic for what it is? Something that takes, and doesn’t give anything back. The Core has never been kind to its Outer Rim Territories. Systems are neglected, punished. I’ve seen that first hand. Maybe they’re willing to take a chance on a younger, leaner Imperial authority.”

“Still not fond of the Republic I see.”

“Let’s just say I’m happy that Jandur was included in the Neutral Zone.”

“You had a hand in that?” asked Poe suspiciously.

Rey smiled, before taking a sip of her blue milk, “No…”

“Did you also happen to hear about what happened to Allegiant-General Pryde? How he was deposed by a someone who was formerly under your direct command?”

“Yes. Commander Jagged Fel. He’s a good man, loyal, studious. He’d make a decent leader.”

“I suppose you had nothing to do with that either.”

“Not a thing…” she said, a coy smile on her face.

“Really? You sure you haven’t had any contact with Imperial Command?”

Rey took another sip, “I may have left him a set of instructions in the event of my death. I may not care much for the politics, and the scheming, but I was not prepared to leave the Empire in shambles and my people at the mercy of Enric Pryde. After his disobedience, I knew I couldn’t allow him to stay in command. Fel did exactly as I instructed. He’s a clever one. He’s young, he lacks Pryde’s experience, but he’ll learn.”

Poe snickered, “A plotter to the end, I see?”

Rey shrugged her shoulders, “Consider it the last posthumous act of the late Empress Ira.”

Poe leaned back in the chair, “Who’d ever thought the Galaxy would get this messy?”

“It’s always been messy. We’ve just gotten better at seeing it.”

“So, I guess the big question now is what am I supposed to do with you?” pondered Poe, “If I leave you here, how do I know that you won’t pose a threat down the line?”

“I’m no threat to the Republic, Poe. I’m no threat to anyone anymore. I couldn’t do anything to you even if I wanted to.”

“Maybe you’re just saying what I wanna hear? Maybe I can’t trust you to stay out of it? Even without your powers, you’d still be a dangerous figurehead.”

Rey looked down, patting her stomach, “I have two very big reasons why I’ll never go back.”

Poe nodded, “I’m going to choose to believe you, for Finn’s sake. In that case, I guess the only real choice for me is to walk on out of here, and for you keep playing dead.”

Rey felt a heavy burden fall off her shoulders, “Thank you.”

Poe sat up, “Thanks for the drink. I need to head back. Duty calls. Gonna break the bad news to Holdo that her tip was a dead end.”

“You might consider turning her, make her an asset, and get her to work for you.”

Poe did a double take, “You kidding me? After everything she did?”

“I’m not saying you should trust her. Make sure she knows she’s alive by your good grace. Make sure she knows exactly what will happen if she crosses you. She might be useful to you. As you said, it’s a messy Galaxy. To be a leader, you’ll be required to get your hands a little dirty from time to time. I learned that lesson too late.”

Poe held back a laugh, before nodding, “I’ll consider it. Take care of yourself, Rey.”

“Solana,” she said, feeling the compulsion to tell him.

“What’s that?” he asked, as he was about to walk out the house.

“My full name, Rey Solana.”

Poe gave her farewell nod, and walked out of her home. The door closed, and with it closed another chapter in her life, the opportunity to finally put her past behind her. She felt a load off her chest, after her confession, just talking to someone who had been there, who was involved. The last surviving Sith, forsaking her teachings for the promise of a family, loved by the last of the Jedi, who died protecting her. An ironic end of an era. She doubted this was the true end of either the Jedi or the Sith. As long as there was someone with the talent and will, it was never truly gone. The Sith and the Jedi had been dead before, but they always found a way to rise from the ashes. The Republic and the Empire were both rebuilding their strength, and it was only a matter of time before the peace would break. Whatever fate had planned for the Galaxy, Rey was content to let it play on without her. Right now, at this very moment, she was content to stay out of galactic affairs and stay right where she was, happy to deal with small problems, small adventures, and await the most important event in her life, welcoming her children into the world.

In the end, despite all the mistakes, the terrible tragedies, the loved ones lost, Rey had found her reason to carry on. She was excited for what was to come. She was going to be a mother. “You’re going to love it here…” she promised, a bright smile donning her face, as she allowed herself to feel all the joy of parenthood. “…and I’m going to love you.”