Fandom Star Wars: Chaos and Order [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

‘At least you know you’re annoying me.’

Kylo led on to the sparring room without that comment. It agitated him more, actually, that she was aware of what she was doing. Then again, how could she not be with the way the Force moved between them? Verena asked about rules, and Kylo considered that rules against dismemberment should probably be on there.

Then again, if she wasn’t good enough to avoid it….

“No rules that I need,” he said as he drew close to the room and the door opened automatically, recognizing him. It didn’t open for just anyone, unlike the other gyms or sparring rooms. “But if you need to set ground rules, you may.”

The room was fairly expansive, but also, empty. The space was needed for the use of the Force, as was the emptiness. In theory, Kylo wasn’t trying to impale anyone on random objects lying about, after all. It was also a bit more cushioned than the usual sparring chambers, which didn’t really teach people how to take an impact in real life, but that wasn’t the idea here.

It was just to get used to it, and practice it, against others.

~***~

Poe couldn’t recall his first impression, but no doubt, it was tainted by his parent’s view. Neria couldn’t deny her own view was tainted by it, though that view was touched with fear, annoyance, and not a little dislike. The way Leia reacted only aided that. “I imagine our parents’ stories of working with Leia are significantly different,” Neria noted.

Her father grumbled about working with the Senate, and Leia, more than once. Adelaide had significantly more respect for Leia than anyone else, but even she grumbled over the woman’s antics, and had breathed a sigh of relief when Leia stepped down from her post. “She was always a figure in my childhood, at a distance for the most part,” but Neria still saw her. It wasn’t just the stories.

Her father must have known, somewhere deep down, Neria would be the only child he could rely on. He knew what the Carrion Plateau sought. He knew what it took, too. ‘Milo and Mari need not worry about that.’ No, a formal adoption would be atrocious for children not brought up that way.

“You’re lucky your father isn’t the sort of Pathfinder I loathed,” she teased, “though they could have used a different name,” she commented with disdain, “I suppose you admired your mother more as a child, didn’t you?” He chose her path, rather than Kes’s.

He may have grown to admire his father more, but his choice was made already.

 

[cleopat]

Verena looked around the expansive room as they entered, noting how bare it was, save for the slightly cushioned floor. She wanted to state a ground rule of no permanent damage, no decapitation, but since Kylo mentioned no rules, she didn’t want to either.

He could perceive that as weakness, and she wouldn’t dare let him get the upper hand like that. “No ground rules from me.”

Maybe she should have. Would Kylo not stop until he killed her? Would she do the same if presented with the opportunity? Well, that may upset Snoke a little.

But she would have proven she was greater than Kylo Ren.

As she reached one side of the room, Verena took hold of her lightsaber, the dual ends lighting up in the familiar red hue. “Ready when you are.”

~~~

Poe could only agree with Neria’s statement. Their families grew up on vastly different sides of the Empire, which undoubtedly shaped their views for the future of the New Republic, and those they interacted with on the opposite side. Although after his mother died, he couldn’t recall his father really…caring about all the political stuff. He just wanted to live his life with his son.

He chuckled at her comment about his father and the Pathfinders. Kes Dameron used to tell Poe stories about the Pathfinders when he was really young, but after the death of Shara Bey, he just…stopped.

He would have to see if his father would be willing to tell those stories again.

“Some of my earliest memories were of my mother taking me into her A-wing interceptor, sitting me in her lap, and teaching me how to control the ship.” He smiled at the memories. “Those memories stuck with me the most, obviously, as they inspired me to continue learning how to pilot ships. My mother died when I was young, and one of my mother’s friends continued teaching me how to fly ships, and I guess I just never saw myself doing anything else.”

L’ulo L’ampar, whose death was still too fresh for Poe.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo smirked a bit behind his helmet as Verena also indicated no ground rules. Now it was time to see how good she was when given a true threat, and see when, or if, she’d call an end to it. “All right,” he reached his usual starting point by muscle memory, and turned to her, flaring his red saber to life.

A saber such as hers hadn’t been common even under Luke Skywalker. Advanced saber forms weren’t exactly the focus. Building a lightsaber, yes, but Luke was more involved in teaching the Force, not saber combat.

Kylo knew how to deal with opponents that had such weapons, if only from how some of the Order’s stormtroopers were equipped, but this was still a bit novel, as he imagined his crossguard saber would be for her. It was deceptive; the flares could do significant damage if they were ignored, and they often were.

When Verena claimed she was ready, Kylo didn’t bother wasting time. He was an offensive fighter, and a strong beginning was his best defense, so he sprinted across the floor to her, and let his lightsaber burn into the floor when he swung up wide. He was always rather careless and reckless about the environment, quite willing to let his saber burn through anything and everything.

It tended to throw people off, since they imagined he’d be concerned with the area around him and take into account the length of his blade.

He didn’t.

If his saber could cut through it – it would. And he’d continue in that vein, staying on the offensive, with wide, strong and reckless, swings, if allowed to stay on the offensive, testing her first that way without throwing in the Force.

And if she lost an arm? So be it.

~***~

When a parent died young, it was not uncommon for the child left alive to build them up in their head. Neria didn’t have that luxury; she had Jova and Wilhuff to build up in her head, in whatever way was useful, instead. Poe’s confession was no surprise at all, nor that friends of his family kept him on the path.

It may be typical, but typical could still be endearing.

“Humor me,” he’d been doing it all night, why not a little more? “If you couldn’t be a pilot – say you developed bloodburn, or something of the like – what would you do instead?” Was he still a soldier at heart, or was it situational? Did he have ideals of a peaceful world where military pilots weren’t needed?

Or was it in his blood?

Perhaps it was only flying in his blood, and not a warrior – though that would make not being a pilot truly harder to imagine.

 

[cleopat]

Verena used the few seconds she had before Kylo attacked to briefly study him and his form. His crossguard saber. His aggressive approach, without a care to anything around him. She had already surmised he didn’t care about damage to the ship, based on the rumors she heard about him and his infamous temper.

He would do anything to land attacks on his opponents.

In a way, Kylo’s attacks were predictable. Verena easily blocked and dodged as his attacks came. Hopefully with his offensive strategy, he would tire first, but she knew not to fully rely on that to happen.

After another dodge, Verena had the opening to roll away, and with a split second of not having to defend herself, she swung at Kylo in rapid succession, utilizing both ends of her saber to her advantage in her speed, as well as her acrobatic skills to swiftly dodge whatever attacks Kylo swung her way.

~~~

Poe frowned. She didn’t know.

Still, the question stung a little, as he recalled being a child, and receiving the news that his mother died of bloodburn. It had been so sudden. His dad was so distraught, that he nearly all but forbade Poe from flying ships.

“I probably would’ve died like my mother,” he answered simply. “I would’ve continued to fly knowing the risks. I can’t see myself doing anything else.” It wasn’t the answer she was searching for, but it was the only one he could give.

Poe just…didn’t see himself doing anything else. He had loved flying for his entire life, so imagining himself in any other position felt wrong. “But if I absolutely had to choose something else, I’d imagine I would’ve still ended up in the Resistance one way or another.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Verena preferred to dodge. That was a bit annoying, though whenever she did block, Kylo tried to get in close quickly to press the crossguard into her, but she was quite good at breaking away. Speed was indeed her strategy, but much as she thought he’d tire from his own swings, he thought she’d tire from having to run around so much.

The tide turned for a moment, as Verena finally found an opening to lash out at him with, but he was able to deftly block the swing. Unlike Verena, he didn’t step back if he didn’t have to. He met her swings with his strength, and pushed back against them to get her to step back instead when he blocked, always trying to exert his power.

She didn’t have the same strength, so he attempted to disrupt her fast swings by catching them and pushing back, but soon enough, he pulled at the Force within.

‘Enough!’

He was getting tired of watching the spinning red blades.

As her blade collided with him, he took one hand off his saber and pushed the Force out against her to attempt to knock her back, even if it did put him at a momentary disadvantage in gripping his own saber, and holding her blade off of him. He presumed the move with the Force would more than make up for that, though. She’d either fall back, or try to block it herself with the Force, which would require attention off of her own saber.

~***~

Poe was one of those stupid ones. He saw the death of his mother to bloodburn – admittedly, something Neria hadn’t known – and was still willing to risk it. So many pilots were. Neria was sure both Mottis would do the same damn thing. But it wasn’t flying that was his end all, be all – he didn’t leave that empty.

If he had no choice, he’d be with the Resistance, no matter what.

Someone who couldn’t thrive without war, a battle, a cause. Something had to grip him and pull him to action. He was either invested, or he wasn’t. Neria nodded, “I am sorry about your mother, Dameron. I knew she had passed but I did not recall the cause,” had she ever known? Hard to say. “I’ve known a few with it. It’s…terrible.” It broke their souls more than anything.

She did so much research on others, information slipped in and out when they weren’t important, and Shara Bey hadn’t been. Poe was only important in his relationship to Leia, which was important enough – but not important enough to recall such a thing as Shara’s death.

Either way, the little game said a lot about who Poe Dameron was, whether he realized it or not. Neria had never humored psychology, but philosophy had lent it self in similar ways for assessing others.

“My parents died by suicide,” she offered, so Poe was no longer awkward with the information of death between them. “My father’s death was ruled an accident to the public, but…it wasn’t. My mother’s cause of death wasn’t disclosed to the public.” The benefits of wealth and media control on Eriadu, she supposed. “They passed close together. I suppose my dad couldn’t live without her,” a wry smile as she shook her head at the thought. “I was an adult, so I managed, though Adelaide Tagge remains paranoid that I’ll trip over the edge one day,” she laughed it off, quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers.

“Try not to go running off with that information. It’ll be denied and buried if you ever try to spread it, and you with it,” a teasing smile came up at that, as if it was some dear secret. It was, but hardly the sort she’d assassinate Poe over.

But he didn’t know that. Not really.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo’s strength was certainly an advantage for him, but Verena refused to allow herself to get tired by guarding herself against that strength. She met and blocked his swings, dodging and rolling out of the way when she felt that he may have been able to gain the upper hand.

She foresaw Kylo using the Force before he did so, when he took one hand off his saber. Still, the Force pushed against her, and Verena stumbled backwards a few feet before she rolled into it and straightened herself back up with ease, a smirk on her face.

Not one born of arrogance, but rather excitement.

She reached one hand out and pulled Kylo towards her with the Force. When they were close enough to one another, Verena channeled the Force to jump over Kylo and land behind him before striking again in another series of successive strikes.

~~~

Poe hummed his agreement that bloodburn was terrible. He heard stories from those who knew his mother, and from other pilots. But if he ever developed it…he didn’t see himself stopping. He would just make sure his last mission was a great one to go out with.

Then Neria offered information about her family that he didn’t ask for…and that was different than what the public believed. He vaguely remembered hearing about their passing, but like she mentioned, neither one was deemed a suicide to the public. “I’m…I’m sorry to hear that.” He truly was, but was it something Neria wanted to hear?

“I know you’ll probably dismiss that,” he chuckled, trying to bring light to their suddenly serious conversation. “But I promise I won’t tell anyone that information ever. I’ll take that information to the grave.”

Or maybe mention it to BB-8 if it ever became relevant.

“Were you close to your parents?” It was obvious he was close to his, though he needed to talk to his father more often. Their relationship had been rocky over the years, but they still deeply loved one another, and he knew his father worried.

 

[Lucyfer]

Verena was out of striking range too quickly, but when she pulled, he didn’t resist. He swung, but she jumped, and he managed to step with his swing so he was out of range of her own attack by the time he turned back around to meet the saber.

He put both hands back to the saber as he began to block again, but this time, he made his approach slower.

This time, he wanted to break her lightsaber, without her realizing it.

At least, that was the goal as he stepped into each block, catching the blade lower and lower on the crossguard blade. It was a risk – she could cut through his hilt if he wasn’t careful – but he was going to try and catch her longer hilt on the extra jet his crossguard blade gave him.

And though she couldn’t see, his face was caught in a thoughtful grimace. Not entirely angry – not entirely pleased. It’d been a while since he had a challenge and a part of him was relishing this dance.

~***~

“I know you won’t,” Neria had no doubt about it, or else she wouldn’t have told Dameron. It availed him nothing to tell anyone. He wasn’t out to bring her family down further. He wasn’t out to make a quick profit. There was nothing at all that would give him reason to speak of it, and so, she did trust he wouldn’t.

But he still needed to know not to tell.

“I was,” she answered, “my father in particular,” perhaps no surprise, given she followed in his footsteps to take over the name. Not that she was left with much of a choice, but she had already been on that track before he passed, “he wasn’t the sort of man who was concerned with the opinions of others, or others being greater than him, either. He acknowledged his betters. He knew to pause and listen. That was his greatest trait, the one everyone underestimated, because he was quiet.”

Neria couldn’t be that quiet, but Marius? Marius could almost go ignored in meetings, until he spoke with a single, devastating, thought, picked up from everything else. “But I was close to my mother, as well. She was always there. She was always willing to support me. Not that I had a choice, but I suspect she would have supported me if I wanted to do anything else but lead Eriadu and the Imperial Remnants,” Neria laughed at the idea of it, but she knew her mother would have been fine with it. “She was too soft.” It’s what killed her, “But I suppose without that, I’d not know what it is and that’d be my tragic downfall,” a joke, of course, but not entirely.

“It was nice to always have someone in my corner, no matter what. My father wasn’t that way, but lucky for him, I was always willing to follow the path set out for me.”

 

[cleopat]

Verena noticed how Kylo slowed in his approach, but she didn’t understand why. She kept striking at him, and he kept blocking, and it was when her blade was low on his, when that extra jet of his crossguard was dangerously close to her hilt, when she realized his strategy.

‘Oh no you don’t.’

She stumbled backwards, and quickly, she reached a hand out to push against Kylo, to give them further space as she took in deep breaths. If he didn’t stumble back from the Force, she would take a few more steps back, as quick as she could.

They had been at it a while, and Verena realized she was beginning to feel tired. Kylo was indeed the toughest spar she had had in a long while. This time, she would wait for Kylo to come to her, as she took a few seconds to breathe and rethink her next strategy.

~~~

Poe listened to Neria as she spoke of her parents. He could see some of her parents’ traits in her, even if she would deny it, though he wouldn’t say she had the trait of quiet observation her father had. And maybe he wouldn’t say she was soft like her mother, but Poe still had much to learn about Neria.

He supposed she had many surprises hidden about herself. Every true politician did.

One of the kids shifted in their sleep, and Poe looked over at them, mindful that they were not disturbing their much needed rest. Who knows what will happen in the next few days for them.

“I can see both of your parents’ influences in you,” Poe said. He folded his hands behind his head for a better cushion, gaze still staring ahead on the stars. “But I think we’re always influenced by our parents, even if we want to deny it constantly.” Oh how much of his father did he have in him despite looking up to his mother the most?

“And I think because of that, they’re always with us, whether we want it or not.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Verena figured it out. It was obvious in the clumsy and quick way she tried to escape, blasting the Force at him to try and keep back. This time he did hold up his hand to shield himself, creating a barrier with the Force, but that still bought her time to get away, and try to catch her breath.

Kylo pressed on the weakness – he wouldn’t give her room. Even if he was somewhat impressed she recognized the tactic and found a way to escape it. At least, temporarily. That was always the thing – it was only, ever, temporary, while he still breathed.

He was on Verena immediately, only now he’d adjusted his swings a bit, so she was at more risk of the flares from the crossguard. His strikes were intended to connect low, rather than high, on the blade.

His swings were still just as reckless and wild, but there was a bit more finesse in his attempts to now use the crossguard itself as a weapon, and see if he could catch Verena on that. He wasn’t anticipating it, but he was anticipating catching her when he switched back to the normal swings.

She’d be in closer by then.

~***~

Neria also glanced down as one of the kids moved, and reached her hand out to stroke their hair. If either of them were truly having easy sleep, she’d be surprised, but nightmares didn’t always manifest in fitful movements or sounds. Sometimes, it looked perfectly normal. Still, she hoped when they woke, they didn’t recall any dreams.

That it remained restful, if only for the body.

The mind was sorting itself out.

“I’d never deny it,” Neria chuckled, though she knew family likely had a very different meaning to a Tarkin, then a Dameron. One didn’t earn the last name Dameron, one was born into it. Tarkin wasn’t so easy.

Family was stuck to her, in more ways than one. She’d forged herself, intentionally, into it. “I wonder how much of Wilhuff you see in me,” she wouldn’t make that a direct question. He didn’t actually know Wilhuff, but everyone knew of him. And that’s all he knew of her parents.

‘Whether we want it or not.’ Except, she’d intentionally styled some of herself after him, too.

It didn’t help the Leia situation, but she wasn’t trying to fix that. That was in Leia’s court, now, even if she didn’t know it.

But then, she heard a hum in the air, and she rose. That was enough to disturb Mari, who shifted a bit and looked blearily around. There was nothing to see.

Until, all at once, there was.

Orrineswa appeared just as the ramp started to lower, a few hundred feet away. In space, that sound never would have registered, and on the ground it was still hard to hear, but Neria was too familiar with her beloved ship for it to be completely ignored.

“Took you long enough!” She shouted at the ship.

Actually it was a lot faster than she expected, as she grabbed her bag, and then knelt to pick up Mari, a bit too tired to protest, but shaking with confusion and the fear a new ship inspired. “These are my friends,” she whispered, “that’s my ship. Orrineswa.”

“Orin-eshweh?”

‘Close enough.’ Neria nodded.

“What the hell do you mean long enough?” Marcus’s voice called from the door as it opened, and he approached to help if it was needed. “Adelaide sent us immediately, yelled at Karan to un-ground Cibor! He’s not ungrounded, but he’s here.” A miraluka walked behind Marcus, blindfold over his eyes, a stark contrast to the man in a flightsuit. The miraluka was in robes.

Marcus stopped short, and canted his head, dark eyes assessing the other pilot. Marcus was the typical flyboy – for an Imperial. Short, black hair – not slicked back, but not just loose. His skin was fairer than Poe’s, and his features were sharper. He was also a bit more in shape; his own training was rigorous to keep up with the infantry. A grin grew easily, and this friendly, though it was too easy to see how it could be used as a threat, “Fucking Dameron?” oh, he knew him.

“Marcus, there are children.” Neria handed off her pack to the miraluka without a word, as Mari stared at the blindfold, fascinated, ignoring the man cursing like…well, like a flyboy.

Marcus blinked, recognized that, “Well, fuck,” he said it again. He did grow up in a naval household, after all, and Neria groaned. He knew what she meant! “Why are there kids?”

“It was a very eventful visit to Jakku,” Neria offered.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo didn’t tire out, much to Verena’s chagrin. It was clearly obvious that he had more stamina as he was relentless in his strikes, and as Verena could feel her arms begin to tire.

I must be better. I can’t fail.

But as she continued to block, mindful of his crossguard flares, she grew fatigued. Her arms grew tired from Kylo’s aggressive attacks. She could feel the sweat dripping down her neck, but she continued to block, her quick reflexes growing slower.

As she attempted to dodge to the side, her feet tripped, and she was unable to save herself from tumbling to the ground. Fuck. Verena quickly held out one hand to stop Kylo from swinging his saber onto her with as much Force as she could muster.

You’ll never be as good as Kylo Ren.

She could hear Snoke’s voice in her head, repeating a phrase she had heard many times before. How she wanted to scream! Verena couldn’t even look at Kylo as she admitted, “That’s enough.”

~~~

Poe was tempted to answer Neria’s somewhat rhetorical question of how much Wilhuff he saw in her. Of course he was far too young to have been around when the Grand Moff was still alive, but he knew the stories. He’d seen the holovideos.

You have his cheekbones he wanted to say, but didn’t.

Not when he heard the hum in the air, sitting up to look around for the noise. It didn’t immediately sound like a First Order ship, so he didn’t panic, but he wasn’t relaxed.

Rubbing his eyes, Milo woke up when his sister stirred, frowning at the interrupted sleep. But suddenly, a ship appeared out of nowhere. “Is this real?” he whispered, still unsure if he was dreaming or not.

Poe gently grabbed Milo and picked him up as he overheard what Neria told Mari. Okay, yeah, the Resistance definitely needed a ship like the Orrineswa.

Milo was fascinated by the miraluka, curious as to how he was able to still walk around with a blindfold over his eyes. He could bump into something! Poe, meanwhile, was focused on the familiar pilot who definitely knew who he was.

“Shit, Marcus is that you?” Oh he knew the Imperial pilot. “Didn’t expect to see you here.” Then again, Poe didn’t expect himself to be there, and yet here he was.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo was too used to this, and though he tired some – it wasn’t nearly as much as Verena. It was evident she didn’t usually fight against those who could keep up such a brutal assault, and that wasn’t a surprise. There were very few who could. It was Kylo’s greatest advantage in combat, and he abused it.

Verena eventually stumbled, poorly.

He would have continued his swing if she hadn’t pushed her hand up, if she hadn’t told him it was enough – without being able to look at him. Not that they’d had real eye contact, given the mask, but he could see she wasn’t even willing to look at his mask.

He relaxed his posture and stepped back as the Force hold lightened, rather than fight against it for his freedom. She gave up – he wouldn’t fight her on this, either. He wouldn’t push her on this. His saber deactivated.

He offered a hand up, “I can see why you are a capable fighter. Your speed would deal with most opponents.” Most.

But not him.

~***~

Marcus laughed at that, “You’re the odd man out here, Dameron, not me,” he grinned, “though I suppose if anyone was going to be getting into trouble….”

“You know him?” Neria wasn’t actually surprised. Perhaps only that Marcus seemed on good terms with him.

“In the way I know most people I worked with when I was in the New Republic’s forces,” he said, “So you both got caught by the Order, huh?” Neria nodded, carrying Mari along towards the ship where Karan stood in the doorway, assessing the situation that approached, “we both went our separate ways, though. Wasn’t really my style. Too many rules.” As if there weren’t numerous rules working with Neria.

One of which quickly came into play, “Halt.” Karan commanded at the ramp, and Neria stopped. He used his datapad to scan all of them, wanting to make sure no tracking devices, or other abnormalities came up. He hummed to himself, “Commander Dameron, if you would follow Commander Motti. He will escort you and the children to the lobby area. You are only permitted to that area,” Karan’s tone was serious as he lifted his gaze from the datapad.

He didn’t think he needed to explain why, given the nature of the stealth ship, and Poe’s affiliations. Some secrets needed to be kept. The cockpit would be far too much information, as would the engine room.

Neria didn’t override him, but bent to set Mari on the ground, “Are you all right to follow Marcus? He curses a lot, but he’s a good guy.”

Silently, the miraluka offered his hand to Mari. “Oh, do you need help?” Mari asked him, before nodding to Neria, and taking the hand, “I can follow. Are you not…?”

“Governor…Neria,” Karan shifted for the child’s sake, “needs to be spoken with about what has happened, before she can catch up with you,” he dumbed down ‘thoroughly debriefed to prove she isn’t compromised’ as much as possible.

Again, Neria didn’t override it, but nodded, “Do we have another to pick up?” there was a touch of hope.

A ghost of a smile touched Karan’s lips. “Yes.”

The spy survived. “Then we will return to Hosnian Prime. Oh,” he looked at Dameron, “word has come from the Order. Your droid escaped on a YT Freighter. I do not know its current location.”

“You’re still hanging out with Beebee?” Marcus remembered it, of course.

 

[cleopat]

I still wasn’t good enough. I still failed.

It had been a long time since she lost a sparring match, and Verena loathed to know that Snoke had been right all along. She wasn’t as good as Kylo. She’ll always be second compared to him.

She couldn’t decide which emotion she felt at that moment, though confusion soon won as Kylo offered a hand. It might as well have been the strangest thing she’d ever seen.

She looked at the hand, then up at Kylo, that confusion clear on her face, before she finally decided to take the hand and rose to her feet. “Uh, thank you.” It was clear she wasn’t used to positive comments concerning herself or her fighting style.

When was the last time Snoke gave her a compliment?

“It’s still not good enough though. I have much to improve.”

~~~

Milo squirmed in Poe’s arms once they were in the ship, and Mari was on the floor. Poe knelt down and set Milo down on the floor, who immediately shuffled over to Mari.

Poe wouldn’t argue against only being allowed in the lobby area, understanding the reason. Yes, he would like a complete tour of the ship, every little nook and cranny, but he certainly wouldn’t throw a fit over not having one.

But it all did make him want to convince General Organa to try and work with the Imperials more. Set aside their differences to defeat a common enemy.

Upon news of his droid, Poe’s brows rose with great surprise. “He escaped…on a freighter?” How the hell did his little droid even do that? Beebee had to have had help, right? Who would help the droid? Where were they going?

Oh, he had so many questions, and it all made him concerned about his droid.

He turned back to Marcus, “Yeah, Beebee is still with me. He’s an extremely useful and loyal little droid, and saved my ass too many times over the years.” Including earlier that day with Terex.

Between Poe and Beebee, the droid was the one truly running the show.

 

[Lucyfer]

Once Verena was on her feet, Kylo let go of her hand, “You do have much to improve upon,” Kylo agreed. Then again, he was of the mindset it was never good enough, and never could be good enough. Once he thought he was good enough, he’d stop improving himself, and then he’d falter.

He’d be overtaken by someone else.

He could never allow that. Not when he was hunting someone like Luke Skywalker. Even in his old age – or perhaps because of it – Kylo knew Luke was formidable in the Force. Perhaps no longer with a lightsaber, but he may not even need it.

“You will have opportunity.”

Perhaps not against him, eventually, Snoke would part them – right? But still, she now knew something about someone stronger than her. That would help her in her goals. Kylo knew Luke lay ahead, and he knew how formidable he was. That kept him going. “Phasma may be able to assist in getting you accustomed to the brutal fighting style.”

It would be…something less than him, but likely still more than she was used to.

~***~

Mari let go of the miraluka’s hand once Milo shuffled over, “Are you okay now?” she looked up at him. The man smiled and nodded, before starting to head away from the lounge area that Marcus had led them to.

“Are you really abandoning me with the kids?” Marcus complained.

The miraluka turned his head towards Marcus, “My duties lie elsewhere,” he explained simply, as the ship came to life around them, the pilot evidently informed they could move on. Marcus let out a loud, obnoxious sound, as the miraluka left them, and collapsed into one of the seats.

“Best damn bodyguard in the world, pain in the ass to deal with,” he said to Poe, before he took a seat.

“You say bad words a lot,” Mari pointed out.

“Yes I fucking do,” Marcus affirmed, “I can teach you several if you’d like,” he offered with a wink, and Mari gasped, flushing at the thought of it being offered so lightly! She shook her head quickly.

Marcus laughed a bit, “Your loss,” his attention redirected to Poe, “Glad you still have that little guy. I didn’t really care much for the droid they assigned to me. Left it there,” he wasn’t really a huge droid person to begin with. TIEs didn’t utilize them to any degree, so he wasn’t bound to grow fond of an astromech or see much use. It had been a constant complaint of his in the New Republic, using the crutch of droids. “How’d you end up in this mess with the Order, though? I mean, the Order usually leaves us the hell alone unless they’re sending flowers and chocolates to Neria,” he laughed, “they know better than to try with the rest of us.”

They followed Neria. They weren’t breaking from her.

Mari crept a bit closer to find a good seat, but she didn’t interject. She was a bit too uncomfortable now that she was left in a strange room with just Poe and Milo, and the conversation wasn’t one she fully understood.

~***~

The Orrineswa didn’t have a place in it that was, technically speaking, safe for debriefing. Not with Neria’s intimate knowledge of the ship. All the same, she let Karan take her towards one of the guest rooms her guards usually occupied, or Cibor, and she took a seat on the bed.

“Explain everything….” He paused as the miraluka stepped in, eyes narrowing.

The miraluka held up his hands. “I do not intend to halt this. I have my orders.”

“Omega’s orders are to put me down if I’m compromised. I tried to convince the Herald of Lian to put me down, but she didn’t get anything out of me.”

“You resisted?”

Neria smiled, “Didn’t have to. She was only interested in the map to Luke Skywalker, and I legitimately knew nothing. I was cooperative, and she was rushed. Your spy got me out of there before it could go further than that.”

Karan arched a brow, “Regardless, I’ll need to go through the process.”

“I know, I know. I could have just lied about all of that,” she laughed, but would indeed cooperate with Karan through the process.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo’s agreement…didn’t sting as much as she thought it would. Maybe because he followed it with what felt like encouragement and advice, both of which were foreign to her.

“I need someone who’s just as capable in the Force as we are, but…Captain Phasma may be able to assist me in that regard,” she agreed with a nod. Though Verena found herself wanting to spar with Kylo again in the future.

Would they even have the opportunity? She didn’t know how much longer Snoke wanted to keep her on this Luke Skywalker mission, or how much longer it will be until they’ve finished the mission.

She pulled out her datapad and checked her messages. It seemed that during the match, her quarters had been prepared, and Lieutenant Mitaka had been able to procure clothes for her, enough for a few days, just in case. Good.

“It seems that my quarters are ready. I will leave you to whatever it was you were going to do before this.” Verena turned and made her way to the exit.

Right before opening the door, she paused and looked over her shoulder back at Kylo. “Thank you.” She would specify what her gratitude was for before opening the door and walking out of the room.

~~~

Poe chuckled at Marcus’ offhand comment. He could relate all too well with those who were damn good at their job, but pain in the ass to deal with. He was certain some said that about him.

He wouldn’t deny it.

And he chuckled again at Mari’s own comment. Poe wouldn’t deny that, but flyboys, no matter who they were flying for, were often very colorful in their vocabulary. Poe was no exception, though after one too many looks given to him by Leia, he tried to do better.

It didn’t often work.

“I don’t know if Neria would like to come back in here and the kids have a completely new vocabulary.” But it was obvious Marcus didn’t care, and it’s not like the children wouldn’t learn the words eventually, right? He certainly knew quite a few at their age, thanks to his mother and her friends.

Milo didn’t say anything about the bad words, but he did climb into a seat near Poe, with enough room for Mari, whom he encouraged to come sit next to him.

Poe nodded at Marcus, not surprised he didn’t keep a droid. He recalled the preferred ships of Marcus, they didn’t exactly need a droid. With his next question though, Poe groaned, and ran one hand through his hair, mussing it up a bit. Or, well, even more than it already was. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you.” Neria only knew because she found out through unfortunate means.

He couldn’t avoid that.

“It’s top secret information. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you, that kind of secret information.” Information that his droid had, in some freighter traveling kriff knows where. He hoped Beebee would be able to find a way to either find his way back to the Resistance, or contact him.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘There’s no one.’ No one besides himself, Snoke, and likely Luke, but obviously she needed more work on enduring, first. She wasn’t wrong, though. It was good to train against someone in the Force. He didn’t get to do it often. Even with the Knights, it wasn’t as equals. They weren’t anywhere near as good as Verena was.

He nodded as she headed off, and left the sparring room behind to head back to the gym, and finish his routine. It wasn’t long before he was storming through the Finalizer, checking monitors, and seeking updates on the situation on Jakku.

It unfortunately presented itself through Mitaka, who had the job of telling him that the droid not only wasn’t found, it escaped in the Millennium Falcon, with the stormtrooper and some girl that Mitaka could only sputter details about.

No one important.

And no signs of Dameron, Tarkin, or their spy.

Of course, Snoke wanted to see them.

Immediately.

Kylo wasn’t aware who else would get that message, wasn’t aware General Hux had already received it, or that Verena would be getting it. Such things as who Snoke wished to see did not concern him, when he needed to be seen over a failure. And this was a great failure for the Order.

‘If the droid makes it back to the Resistance….’

Worry gnawed at him. Luke returning…he didn’t want that at all.

~***~

Mari hesitated, but did eventually head over to Milo as Poe and Marcus continued talking. At least Poe wasn’t so vulgar!

“Why do I very much doubt it’s all that secret?” Marcus mused, but he didn’t push Poe on it, “fine, fine, we’re entitled to our idea of secrets, you’re entitled to yours. Ours are just as stupid,” if not more stupid, but he kept them anyways, “you want anything to drink? Eat? You too, kids.” He included them, “Not that I can give you rum, but I think we’ve got some juice.”

“What kind of juice?” Mari asked tentatively.

“Aurilian, jogan, liwi, uh, I think we have shuura….” He saw the kid’s blank faces, “what, nothing in there you like?”

“Um. I don’t know.”

Marcus smacked his head, “Right, Jakku, desert, hold on,” he got up and went to the fridge, opening it, and then pulling out every juice, before taking down multiple cups, and filling each one up a little. He was able to put them on a tray before bringing them back, “You can try them all. Jogan’s the most popular,” he tapped the reddish one.

As the kids went through the new juices, the Orrineswa eventually started to slow again, to pick up their spy. When it actually came to a stop, a teenager ran out from the cockpit and to the door, returning only a few minutes later with a man who’d definitely seen better days, but still wore a crooked grin.

“Isn’t your dad supposed to debrief him, too?” Marcus asked when the stranger entered the area.

“He’s kinda busy,” Cibor said, eying Poe and the kids now that he had a moment to pause, “who are they?”

“Dameron, and uh…kids.” He had not gotten their names.

“Mari and Milo,” Neria returned, Omega behind her, though he stepped off to the side, near to where Mari and Milo were sitting. He didn’t sit, but stood near, serene expression. “You’re up,” she gestured back, and the spy inclined his head, before heading out of the room.

“You got me grounded,” Cibor stated flatly.

“You got yourself grounded. Get better at lying about our crimes.” Neria stated, just as flatly.

 

[cleopat]

Upon entering her temporary quarters, Verena first messaged that Lieutenant who messaged her, Mishaka or something, to let her know if there were any updates about the droid. Then she immediately headed for the shower. She could feel sweat and sand everywhere.

It was not a pleasant combination.

Scalding hot water may have helped her feel clean, but it did little to ward off the thoughts that persisted, many of which concerned a certain masked Force user who got under her skin.

Until he acted…surprisingly pleasant. Which annoyed her even more.

After the shower, she saw the message from the lieutenant. The droid managed to escape Jakku, with the rogue stormtrooper and some girl, and naturally with no sign of their escaped prisoners.

Of course she received a message soon after that Snoke wanted to see her, and Kylo included, she assumed.

That didn’t bode well.

She headed for the audience chamber, arriving seemingly at the same time as Hux and Kylo. Verena gave them each a nod, worry gnawing at her for why Snoke wanted to see the three of them at once.

Obviously about their failure, which only increased that worry.

~~~

Poe made a noise of agreement with Marcus, even though he hardly thought that Marcus had anything as secretive as the map to Luke Skywalker. Or, well, maybe the Imperials did have something as important.

“Just some water for now, thanks.” While he would absolutely love something stronger, he wanted to remain fully sober until he returned to the Resistance base, and until he got BB-8 back.

Milo looked at the tray of juices, not knowing what any of them were. He first tried the one the new adult suggested, and his eyes lit up at the sweet, delicious taste.

Was this what it was like not living on Jakku?? So many choices for sweet juices like that one?

Poe chuckled at Milo’s reaction to the juices. A new figure ran out from the cockpit, to which he raised a brow in curiosity. The figure, a teenager from the looks of it, returned a minute later with someone else. Poe was certainly beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable around so many people he didn’t quite know their intentions. Yes, they seemed to be helping them so far, but what if it was to gain his trust for some nefarious reason?

What if they were trying to sweet talk him into revealing the Resistance location, only to turn around and destroy them?

Yes, he certainly held paranoia, and for good reason!

He raised a hand in a lazy wave when the teen asked who they were. Neria returned, which given the circumstances, shouldn’t have made him feel better since he couldn’t quite trust everyone around him, and yet he did feel somewhat better. “So…what exactly is going on here?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo Ren was not enthused to see Hux. Not that he was ever enthused to see Hux, but in these situations with Snoke, they brought out the worst in each other in efforts to please Snoke and avoid trouble. Verena added definitely made this obviously a very bad meeting, but Kylo held himself tall, and walked in as they were all gathered, and pressed the button.

He took a knee before the hologram appeared.

“Rise.”

Snoke was in no mood.

Kylo rose quickly. Although it wasn’t visible, his gaze averted down, rather than remain on Snoke’s impassive face. The clear dissatisfaction was obvious as Snoke began, “The droid will soon be delivered to the Resistance.”

The truth of it hung in the air. They had failed to get the droid, and Snoke knew. There had been no additional sign of it. Kylo knew nothing about the girl who took it. She could be with the damned Resistance!

“Which will lead them right to the last Jedi,” his dissatisfaction enveloped them all. “If Skywalker returns, the new Jedi will rise.” Kylo swallowed thickly, threat of it too much for him to speak to immediately.

~***~

Neria arched a brow at Poe’s query, “Yularen is debriefing the spy, as he did with me, to make sure they aren’t further compromised,” an important thing. “Cibor Yularen is returning to the cockpit to take us to lightspeed.”

Cibor mouthed the words with mocking facial expressions behind Neria. Mari tried not to laugh and failed dismally, but Neria didn’t bother looking back; she knew Cibor too well, and he was already grounded. No point adding to his trouble.

“And Mari and Milo can stay here, or I can get them settled into an actual bed to rest.”

“We already rested!” Mari said, mostly because she liked the juice, but also because she didn’t want to be tucked away in a strange bed and probably left alone.

“It was an option, nothing I was going to force,” she looked back at Cibor then, “you’re still here?”

“Well – you haven’t said where we’re going!”

“Hosnian Prime, was that not obvious? I have a senate meeting in…stars, what time is it on Hosnian now?”

“Check your datapad.”

Neria stared at him, until the depths of his stupidity sunk in.

“Oh. Don’t you—don’t you keep a spare on the ship?”

“And you think your father was going to let me anywhere near it before he cleared me? I haven’t even had a shower yet!”

“…point.” Cibor agreed, then grinned, “I can’t wait to have all that power.”

“Yes, yes you can,” Neria chuckled, “now get us to Hosnian Prime before I revoke your ship rights.”

“Aye!” he sprinted towards the cockpit immediately.

 

[cleopat]

General Hux was equally not enthused to see Kylo, but any meeting with Snoke almost always included the Knight of Ren. He would not speak a word to Kylo before entering the audience chamber with the others.

Both Verena and Hux likewise took a knee before the hologram appeared, but rose quickly when Snoke demanded it.

No, he definitely was not in a pleasant mood.

If Skywalker returned…Verena swallowed. The threat remained unspoken, but they all knew what that would mean.

Even if Verena joined forces with Kylo to defeat Skywalker, could they eliminate that threat? Or would Luke, even in his advanced age, be too much for them?

“Supreme Leader,” Hux spoke first, “I take full responsibility for the failure of the mission to capture this droid.”

~~~

Milo likewise laughed at Cibor’s antics, and Poe looked amused, but said nothing. Ah, young pilots. Somehow even more obnoxious at that age.

Milo looked unhappy at the prospect of even more rest, and he echoed Mari’s sentiment. But they didn’t have to! He continued to suck down his juice.

Poe hated to admit it, but he would like some of that rest. It had been one hell of a day. Under different circumstances, he could have fallen asleep back on the sand dunes of Jakku.

He chuckled at Cibor’s exit. “He seems like quite the handful. Does he get in trouble often?” Poe would not be surprised if that answer was affirmative.

How often did Poe get in trouble when he was younger, still under the eye of his father?

Way, way too often.

 

[Lucyfer]

Taking full responsibility was rarely a good thing to do. It was very often a death sentence, and not even Kylo was going to do that. He was going to toss blame anywhere and everywhere, so if Armitage wanted to take full responsibility? He sure as hell wasn’t about to stop Hux, and silently hoped this was the end of the General.

“General!” Snoke interrupted before any additional nonsense could spill forth.

Yet, it wasn’t punishment that came from Snoke, “I think it is time we changed our strategy.” Kylo’s brows knit together. What kind of strategy could deal with this situation that he wasn’t already aware of? “The weapon?”

‘Starkiller.’

Kylo felt himself go cold.

He knew of it, of course. He resided on the base. He knew they would have to use it, at some point, and yet…he couldn’t like the idea of it. Not learning so much about Alderaan through stories and holovids. Not seeing the diaspora of Alderaan built up by the debris of the Death Stars. And Starkiller would do even worse.

It could take out multiple planets at once.

No, he didn’t like it.

But he didn’t dare admit that aloud.

~***~

“Yes,” Marcus and Neria answered Poe in unison.

Marcus added, “It’s always Neria’s fault,” and Neria rolled her eyes.

“He needs to learn how to lie. It’s practice,” that wasn’t entirely a lie on her part. He did need to learn to deceive his spymaster father if he was to overtake the practice, after all. Karan didn’t enjoy that aspect of it, nor did he agree with it.

“He’s already a pilot?” Mari asked as Neria leaned against a nearby wall.

“Not legally,” Neria said. Mari gasped, as if that was scandalizing information.

“And yet.” It was apparently a sore subject, “he’s the only one besides Neria who flies this ship, even though I could.” It ate him up. Not even Lucius was allowed, or any of the Tagges, but the teenager? The teenager? Marcus didn’t get it.

Nor did Neria ever explain other than, “Yes, he is,” she smiled to the kids, “I’ll show you the cockpit later, and how it looks to go into lightspeed,” she promised. That was a bit too much for that day, especially with Poe, who would likely try to get his own way into the cockpit. She didn’t trust the flyboy with regards to that, even if she gave him space to talk to Lor San Tekka.

She wasn’t so sure it would go both ways. However, the thought of ‘later’ made her realize a few things, and she pushed away from the wall, “I’ll be back,” she sighed, “I need to get my datapad in order and wear something not blood stained.”

“Aww, come on, Sindian’s reaction last time was priceless.” Marcus laughed, “No one’s going to stop you!”

“It embarrasses Tagge and your brother.”

“Fuck’em.”

Neria rolled her eyes, “I’ll be back,” she reassured.

 

[cleopat]

Hux’s stoic expression was marred by the twitch of his cheek when Snoke interrupted him, fully expecting more anger and disappointment, maybe even worse.

But there wasn’t.

Instead, Snoke approved him to use the weapon. ”The weapon. It is ready. I believe the time has come to use it. We shall destroy the government that supports the Resistance, the Republic. Without their friends to protect them, the Resistance will be vulnerable, and we will stop them before they reach Skywalker.”

His words echoed in the chamber. The same cold feeling washed over Verena. She recalled the feeling of taking lives for the first time, how she felt that empty hollowness immediately after. At the time, it had made her waiver in that darkness until Snoke brought her back.

Multiple planets at once? She didn’t know how she would feel right after that destruction.

But she dared not speak her thoughts, but rather focus on Hux’s words.

~~~

Poe could only chuckle at the unison answer. But what young flyboy wasn’t like that?

And flying illegally…Again, reminding Poe of himself. Oh how often his father got onto him for flying without a license. He was sure he was single handedly responsible for every gray hair on his father’s head.

He almost asked if he was going to get a tour of the cockpit before Neria left. He let her go to make herself more presentable for Hosnian Prime. Obviously Poe would be arriving as is, beaten, bloodied, and bruised, with bits of sand in his hair and clothes.

He did not want to see another desert planet for a long time.

“So…she doesn’t even let you fly this ship?” Poe asked Marcus. “Did you give her a reason for that ban?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Snoke leaned back in his throne at Hux’s declarations, before lifting his wrist off the arm of his throne and flicking it forward. “Go. Take the Finalizer back to Starkiller Base, and oversee preparations.” Snoke directed.

He did not dismiss Verena and Kylo. Kylo sensed that, as General Hux left them. He waited in that tense silence until Snoke spoke again. “There’s been an awakening,” he said it calmly, as if it was something obvious. “Have you felt it?”

At first, Kylo wanted to challenge what he asked, or clarify it, but he paused.

He recalled how some things had felt…strange, in hindsight, on Jakku. When Phasma named the traitor, it didn’t seem odd to him that it was one that accompanied them all. It felt expected. There was also the sensation of the girl.

His want to know more of her stemmed from some intuition.

Not Resistance, but….

“Yes,” he answered, even if he couldn’t quite explain it.

“There's something more. The droid we seek is aboard the Millennium Falcon. In the hands of your father, Han Solo.”

Mitaka failed to mention that, and Kylo tilted his helmet up, visibly surprised by this. Mitaka mentioned the Falcon, but not…Han Solo. No one mentioned Han Solo! His heart raced faster. It was definitely getting to the Resistance, then.

“He means nothing to me,” Kylo managed to say, but his voice wasn’t steady. If Snoke didn’t feel the chaotic way the Force swam around him, Verena certainly would. And why the hell wasn’t she dismissed?

“Even you, master of the Knights of Ren, have never faced such a test.”

What test? If the droid was away from Han by the time he found it….

“By the grace of your training, I will not be seduced.” The words were spoken by rote, there was no feeling behind them, nothing above the chaos he felt within.

“We shall see. We shall see…,” his gaze shifted to Verena, “You shall not allow him to fail.”

~***~

“She doesn’t let anyone fly this ship, except him, and herself,” Marcus ‘tsk’ed as he leaned back, “and she knows I’m a better pilot,” he didn’t get it. “And this, even when it was the only ship that could rescue her with the First Order at Jakku – he was going to enforce the rule!” Marcus pointed accusingly at Omega.

Omega simply shrugged.

“She’s lucky Karan was willing to let Cibor pilot it,” he noted, “or you’d both still be on Jakku.”

“Adelaide did not give Karan much choice.” Omega opted to point out.

“You didn’t give us much choice,” Marcus said, but again rolled his eyes, “talking to a wall, that one. All rules, no fun.” Omega offered no counter to that, “You’ll be lucky to even see a bedroom on this ship, let alone the cockpit, Dameron. Neria’s very particular, even with more impressive ships. Oh! You kids have never been on a Star Destroyer, have you?”

Mari shook her head.

“That’s gonna be cool!”

“We’ve seen destroyers,” Mari said, “crashed ones.”

“Oh. I forget that about Jakku – well, still, seeing the inside up and running is something else. It’s basically an entire city unto itself,” he was willing to divulge some more details about the current destroyers, and the culture, the slang developed that gave Adelaide a headache but amused Lucius – even if Lucius was usually a killjoy.

It was enough time for Neria to return cleaned up and in a new uniform, this charcoal gray, and she found her bit of wall to lean against and shut her eyes. She was dog tired, and not at all ready for Hosnian Prime, but no one on the planet was going to know that.

Not as they left lightspeed, and made their way back down to the planet.

 

[cleopat]

Hux, standing proud, turned and marched out of the audience chamber.

Verena stood where she waited, in that tense silence, until Snoke spoke again.

There’s been an awakening. Have you felt it?

Her brows scrunched as she didn’t understand, but she paused, and recalled what she felt on Jakku. Not merely with the stormtrooper, but…there was someone else. “Yes.” Her gut instinct pointed to the girl that was mentioned earlier, but she wasn’t sure.

But the news of the droid aboard the Millennium Falcon, with Kylo’s father, seemed far more important at the time. Her eyes snapped over to Kylo. She couldn’t see his reaction, but she could feel the chaos that swirled around him. It was just as much of a surprise to him.

She hardly believed his words when he spoke of how Han Solo meant nothing to him.

When Snoke turned his attention back on her, she turned her gaze away from Kylo and back on the figure in front of them. “Of course not. I know failure is never an option.”

It was why she always strived for more. To be more. Because she couldn’t fail.

~~~

Poe wanted to ask more about why the kid was the only exception to Neria’s rule. Why he of all people was deemed worthy enough to pilot the ship, when Poe knew Marcus’s skills firsthand as a pilot were nothing short of spectacular.

He just looked on in amusement at the back and forth, only pouting slightly when Marcus mentioned that he would be lucky to ever see anything fun on the ship. Well, this would be his only flight aboard the ship. He could handle that.

Milo looked excited about seeing an actual working Star Destroyer. “Yes, we’ve seen them, but only from a distance.” He frowned. “I’ve read about them, and I’ve always wanted to see one on the inside!”

Poe chuckled at the kid’s enthusiasm. Upon hearing footsteps, he turned to see Neria, who found a nice wall to lean against and possibly take a nap. He quietly got up, so as to not disturb the kids’ questioning about the Star Destroyer, and went over to her. “I bet you regret not resting on Jakku now while you could,” he joked quietly.

“But seriously, if you need to rest, I promise I’ll behave while you’re gone.” Not that he wouldn’t enjoy resting either.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Good,” Snoke was willing to grant approval in Verena’s lack of hesitation, though anger flared from Kylo at it. That there was any doubt in him! He wouldn’t fail. He would do what was necessary. He would get the droid.

He would get the droid.

He would get the droid.

He would kill his father.

He wouldn’t need to kill his father, he would get the droid.

If he didn’t need to kill his father, why was there a test? He would—

“Dismissed.” Snoke said callously. “Make sure your shuttle is prepared to leave Starkiller base at a moment’s notice.” The droid wasn’t going to come to Starkiller, after all, but Kylo couldn’t stop the Finalizer from going there.

The hologram flickered off before either could speak in the affirmative. “My shuttle will be prepared.” Verena’s needed work. Significant work. He didn’t need to mention that. He needed to meditate. He needed to talk to his grandfather.

His grandfather, who never answered.

Was Luke right? Had Darth Vader truly…? ‘No. You feel the dark side in that helmet, he never could have escaped it.’ A jumbled mess, Kylo turned to leave the audience chamber.

~***~

‘I couldn’t have.’ Neria could not let herself relax in that situation, likely, as Poe himself couldn’t. It was a shame indeed that she couldn’t rest even now, within the safe confines of her ship. “I am not worried about you behaving. Other people will make sure of that.” Omega and Karan for sure, but Marcus was likely to even shift back into being a professional if Poe tried anything.

He only acted stupid, but his cavalier attitude was a mask to his real intelligence and cut-throat nature.

At least he was talking to the kids. He was getting better at that. Of course, Lucius having kids helped with that. He was a pretty good uncle, minus the cursing. Some kids loved that, though, and the colorful language was still casually interjected throughout the question-and-answer period of Star Destroyers.

“Shouldn’t you go back to ooo-ing and aaa-ing over Star Destroyers?” she teased, just a bit. The Resistance had its own capital ships. He likely wasn’t in much of a mood to enjoy a Destroyer after just escaping from one, though. “That’s going to be a headache to explain to the Senate why I have them,” she chuckled, but the headache was gnawing its way forward.

Oh sure, she had every document in the galaxy that made it legal, but revealing those documents was going to have the Senate spend months trying to repeal their legality, she’d have to argue grandfather clauses to keep what she had, and none of the time was going to be spent dealing with the reason she even bothered to share the information.

“Or, if you and Marcus need a room….” She couldn’t help but joke.

 

[cleopat]

Snoke flickered away, and the audience chamber was left silent. That went…much better than I thought it would.

Verena thought he would be angry at them for their failures. That he would berate Verena for her shuttle, if he knew.

She let out a breath, and the stress of the day began to settle in her bones. She needed a distraction. Rest could come later, when they had the droid.

And her answer came in Kylo’s statement. His shuttle will be prepared. Hers still needed to be worked on, and there was much she could do herself to fix it. She looked back at the man stalking away, and the inner turmoil could be felt through the Force like a storm. She wouldn’t comment on that.

Her footsteps followed his, and before the distance between them became too great, she spoke to him, “As we are both aware, my shuttle requires extensive repairs.” And why do I keep insisting on his presence when we both got under each other’s skin?

Verena didn’t have an answer for that for herself.

“Surely the man who was flying my ship at the time of the crash could pitch in a hand with repairs, regardless of who was truly at fault.” She still said it was largely him, but she would admit some minor fault in it as well, now that her mind wasn’t consumed with anger.

~~~

Poe knew not to underestimate anyone on that ship, even the teenager. The Imperials were a cut-throat sort of people, and he was sure their offspring were likewise. And he personally knew some of the potential Marcus held.

Again, all reasons why he wanted them on the Resistance side.

He shook his head at Neria with a light scoff. “I think I’ve had enough of them for now.” But, again, to have one a part of the Resistance’s Navy…that would be something. It would certainly put them at a better level with the First Order. Sure, they had their own capital ships. “I’m sure you’ll be able to talk your way out of trouble with the Senate though.”

But more weapons is always better in war.

At Neria’s tease, Poe laughed and shook his head. “Nah, not my type.” Even if he could somehow look past the Imperial title, imagine General Organa if she ever found out what Poe did!

“Besides,” he whispered, leaning a bit closer to Neria’s ear, “there’s someone else in here I would rather share a room with.” A bit of a light tease himself.

Though Neria wasn’t bad on the eyes at all.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo glanced down at Verena as she came alongside him, not sure what her point was initially in mentioning the state of her ship. He was very aware it needed extensive repairs. What did that matter to him? Then came the reason for the approach: she wanted help fixing it.

He knew how to fix ships.

He hadn’t fixed a ship since…well, Luke.

It hadn’t felt right to him, even if he recalled enjoying it. It was something attached to his father. Sure, he knew Darth Vader had also been a famed pilot, and a mechanic. He built Threepio, after all – but it was always Han who came to mind when he thought of working on a ship, because he used to work alongside him on the Falcon all the time. The Falcon was always breaking, though, so that would explain it.

It really was a piece of trash.

He let the Order work on his shuttle, and any other ship he piloted.

Now, with Han fresh in his mind, he wasn’t sure how to react to this. There was a terrible part of him that wanted to chase being close again, but another that needed to push it far away so that he was prepared. ‘That’s running.’ He hated that thought.

He didn’t want to be running.

“You are aware neither of us need to lift a finger to repair your ship, aren’t you?” Kylo opted to ask without volunteering. Maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she hadn’t been afforded such luxuries yet. He didn’t know.

Why did she want to work on it anyways?

~***~

Neria chuckles at Poe’s admission to being quite done with Destroyers. She can hardly fault him given his brief tour of the Finalizer. He was unlikely to ever get a true tour of one of the Destroyers, to know the life that teemed within. It’s almost a pity. The New Republic refused to even make use of them, or TIEs, despite the ways they were useful.

The fear was too recent.

That’s how she had power, though. Fear. Well, fear, and attraction. She was a magnet, and she grinned at Poe’s words. “I suppose likes don’t often attract,” she chuckled at his dismissal of Marcus. That was probably it was so easy to like Poe. He had familiar qualities. Easy on the eyes, and only too easy to banter with.

“A shame you’re leaving Hosnian Prime far too early. I’ve nice quarters on the planet.” But he had to find his droid and the Resistance again, and a tryst would take only too much time. He knew how to find her, though. She was a public person, after all.

“What are you two whispering about?” Marcus interjected, grinning wickedly, “no secrets here!”

“No secrets!” Mari chimed, probably more than a little giddy from all the sugar in the juices, and Marcus’s inability to shut up. He could be a bad influence. The question was how much did she want to annoy Marcus, or put a quick end to the questioning?

“Just discussing where Poe is going after all of this,” she said, “unfortunately, he’s not staying.” The kids deserved to know.

“What?” Mari’s face suddenly fell, crushed, “what do you mean he’s not staying? Aren’t you two married?”

Marcus burst into laughter immediately. “Ohmystars, that’s funny.”

Mari just looked more confused. What was funny about that?!