Fandom Star Wars: Chaos and Order [Closed]

[cleopat]

Verena could make out some body parts, and some limbs. Everything was still in chaos as she struggled to maintain her hold on the woman, as the pressure being put on her burns brought forth the pain again.

She was aware she also had to be mindful of her lightsaber, because in the struggle, it would be just as easy to cut herself as it would be to Neria.

But she tried to use the ground to her advantage, and nearby on the ground were rocks. Verena grabbed whatever body part she could grasp and slammed it as hard as she could against a nearby rock, hoping to incapacitate the woman in some way.

At the same time, she felt the graze of a blaster bolt against her side. She used that pain to fuel her strength in slamming whatever bodypart she could against the rock.

 

[Lucyfer]

The mercy was that Verena wasn’t confident in using her lightsaber in close quarters. Neria was more than willing to take advantage of that with how she moved, and the time she took in aiming, but Verena was just as quick to try and grab Neria with her free hand.

Neria was able to get off a shot into Verena’s side as Verena’s hand slammed her shoulder down into the rocks. The armor helped, but it was still jarring – and seemed to give Verena a good idea of where her head was by the feel of hair, and other clues.

Verena’s hand jumped up to her head and Neria thrashed, kicking out hard against the wounded side as she tried to pull herself back and up with her elbows, but not before Verena slammed her head back onto the rocks.

Hardly the first head injury of the past 24 hours. Not as bad, though likely bleeding. Terex wasn’t nearly so panicked.

Neria’s vision swam and nearly blacked, before she slammed the muzzle of the blaster into a body not hers, and held the trigger down. She didn’t care if it was a leg at that point; she needed Verena to let go before she was knocked unconscious.

 

[cleopat]

Verena hissed in pain with the kick against her fresh wound, but she didn’t let go of the hair she felt in her grasp. And she prepared to slam the woman’s head down again, she felt the muzzle of the blaster too late.

Pain tore through her hip as Neria managed a good shot through flesh. Her hand immediately let go of Neria’s hair as she writhed in the new flare of pain added on to the already growing collection.

Her whole body was pure agony at that point. It would be a miracle she could walk herself back to the shuttle, if she got out alive.

No, I will get out alive.

But for a brief second, there was a brief thought of fear that she would purposely get left behind, that Kylo had lied to her about being on the same side after their conversation

 

[Lucyfer]

X-Wings soared overhead. The cavalry had arrived, and Neria was freed from the grasp as the extra boost sent the First Order TIEs fleeing. With Verena writhing in agony, Neria scrambled away and got to her feet, in spite of doubling and blurring vision. Her face was contorted in a snarl, but for all the irritation, there was a part of her gleeful to have found a decent opponent.

She doubted Verena felt the same.

Neria aimed down at Verena as best she could in spite of questionable balance and vision, and would again begin to fire at her, wanting to end this.

Unbeknownst to her, but within Verena’s sight, the First Order shuttle that had brought her and Kylo was starting to board. Kylo Ren had returned from his own search, but he didn’t have a droid.

A young woman was draped over his arms.

 

[cleopat]

The X-Wings soar overhead, and as Poe led his squadron into battle, the tide quickly turned against the First Order. Poe and his pilots were of course ecstatic as they watched the First Order ships begin to fly away.

Verena, stumbling as she rose to her feet, grimaced at the realization. And then of course the damned woman, still invisible, still tried to attack her through a series of shots, which Verena reflected with her saber.

The shuttle wasn’t far, but it was what was draped in Kylo’s arms that had her completely baffled. The last she checked, the droid did not look like a human girl.

“This fight is over,” Verena snarled, already limping her way to the shuttle. “Leave now while you still can.” Even if she had half a mind to try and get Kylo to help with the fight.

Verena would never admit it out loud, but she knew right then that she had lost for now. Everywhere hurt. The bolts from Neria’s blaster hit her in several spots, along with a good kick to one of those wounds. Clothing and metal melted together in several wounds where the pellets burned her.

Several troopers made their way to the shuttle, when one spotted Verena. “Herald!” Another one nearby turned, and both ran over in shock at the injured Herald.

Verena just hoped that Neria wouldn’t shoot the troopers, and allow them to help her to the shuttle.

 

[Lucyfer]

Verena was well enough to deflect the blaster bolts, and Neria made a mental note to carry a regular slugthrower in the future, if she knew she’d be dealing with those who wielded lightsabers. As it was, she allowed her attention to briefly be distracted by Verena’s glance, and declaration the fight was over.

‘Hardly.’

But if Verena thought Neria was so inclined to mercy, who was she to destroy that illusion immediately? So, she let Verena walk. She let her get to stormtroopers.

And then she opened fire on all of them.

One trooper went down immediately, though the wound wasn’t fatal. Neria was still struggling with keeping her aim well-placed. Unfortunately, Verena wouldn’t be the only one able to help the other trooper.



Kylo Ren had situated himself in the shuttle, and intended to head off – not even thinking of Verena – until he saw her as he turned to close the shuttle. ‘Damn it.’ No, he couldn’t leave her. He had no idea how she ended up in her current state, until he saw a blaster shot from nowhere hit a trooper.

Another followed, but he caught it with the Force, and threw it back, not knowing where it originated from. Of course, he couldn’t do that nearly as quick as the shots came, and he couldn’t sense anyone or anything.

A droid?

“Open fire!” Kylo shouted, pointing in the direction. The troops aimed above Verena and those in the field – and opened fire.



Neria had sense enough to duck and throw her arms up to cover her head. Most of the shots were too high to hit her, thanks to Verena’s positioning – but not all. Troopers and their notoriously bad aim did them some favors, but Neria bit back any sound. The armor still helped.

 

[cleopat]

Neria still didn’t give up.

If she wasn’t so angry, Verena would have been impressed with the woman.

As it was, the pain the woman inflicted on her fueled the anger raging inside, and so when another shot came out and took down a trooper, she readied herself for another.

But Kylo came and deflected the bolt, followed by ordering the troopers to open fire in Neria’s general area.

Verena didn’t stand around to see if one managed to hit Neria. During the fire, she urged the trooper towards the shuttle. Her legs shook as they threatened to collapse, but she bit through the fatigue and anguish to make it to the shuttle, only to collapse very near the entrance.

Her breathing was ragged, every inhale took a great deal of effort. Immediately she wanted to ask about the damn droid, but she would wait until they were…less distracted by the invisible menace.

 

[Lucyfer]

Once Verena was in the shuttle, Kylo pulled the shuttle door up with the Force, before adjusting his hold on the woman in his arms. He looked down at Verena, before looking to one of the troopers, “Have medical waiting in the hangar when we dock,” he directed. He’d call ahead himself, but his hands were a bit occupied.

“Yes, Commander,” the trooper was quick to step aside and pull their own communications device out to call ahead to Starkiller base.

Another trooper was already rushing to the first-aid kit in the shuttle. They pulled it down and hurried to Verena’s side, dropping down besides her, “Would you like help?” they didn’t dare presume what the Herald could or couldn’t do? Either way, they were willing to take direction, or let the Herald bandage herself up.

Kylo was glad to see some urgency, but he couldn’t help but ask: “What did this to you?” it was a threat they clearly needed to be prepared for.

~***~

When the shuttle doors dropped, Neria relaxed. The blaster fell from her hands, to her side, and she found the dial on her wrist to turn the invisibility off, as someone screamed, “REY!” in the distance.

‘Deep breaths.’ She moved one hand around the back of her head and felt that terrible, sticky wetness of blood. The pain of touching the wound was exsquite – she felt sick with the rush of pain.

She swallowed it down as she got to her feet, trying to check herself over for other injuries. Parts of her armored suit were burned through by blaster bolts. The skin beneath was burned, reddened. Other parts ached from bruises. Her arms had it the worst, but that was the idea – they’d kept her from getting shot in the head.

‘Shuttle. Omega.’

She saw a shuttle landing. Not hers. She hadn’t gone far from her own but no one was there now. She turned towards it anyways, but the steps were uneven as adrenaline faded, and someone caught her before she could fall, “Imp, huh? Thought we were done with you lot years ago.”

“Least you can see the difference,” Neria half-joked, not recognizing the voice immediately, and not really recognizing the figure who helped her straighten up until she saw the wookie. “Ah, hells.”

Han Solo snorted. “That’s about how you look. C’mon kid. You need serious medical attention.”

 

[cleopat]

Verena nodded at the trooper by her side, motioning for them to do whatever was needed to her body. Kriff, she wouldn’t even mind something that would knock her out for a few hours.

The trooper started on the obvious shot in her side. “It was that fucking Tarkin,” she answered through a hiss. “She had a device that blocked the Force around her, and then there was that damn stealthing technology of hers.”

Her hands fiddled with the injuries caused by the melted pellets, gently tugging at her clothes to try and separate the two, but she groaned as she quickly realized medbay would have to take care of that, as flesh and clothes melted together. There was another great wave of pain, and she punched the floor next to her with a short cry in an attempt to alleviate that pain somehow.

At least watching some of the troopers jumping made her feel a little better.

She finally had the chance to look at the woman draped in Kylo’s arms. “Who’s that?” It looked so effortless for him to carry the strange woman, she briefly wondered how it would feel. “Where’s the droid?” She didn’t see it anywhere.

~~~

The remnants of the battle were obvious in the smoking debris and the strewn bricks that laid everywhere. The shuttle landed in the midst of all the damage, and the ramp lowered, revealing Leia Organa with a look of sorrow on her face.

She knew her son had been here. She knew he was responsible for the attack.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” she could hear C3PO comment behind her.

But she wasn’t focused on him or his typical neurotic comments. Instead she had her eyes set on Han Solo, and the woman he caught before she fell to the ground. “Han,” she greeted, though her tone hinted strongly that she wished they could meet under different circumstances. She then turned to the woman, “Governor Tarkin.”

Before she could continue, an X-Wing landed near them, and Poe climbed out of it. “General Organa!” he called out, hurrying over to the group. He then paused upon seeing Neria and Han. “Mr.-General Solo, sir,” he stammered out, unsure of how to address the older man. Then he focused on Neria, brows furrowing when he noticed her new head wound. “What happened?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo stilled at the comment. “That kind of technology….”

That was dangerous to them.

And yet his thoughts also went right to Snoke, and how useful it could be. He was quick to banish it. Sure, Snoke couldn’t stand up to Kylo without the Force, but he still had the praetorian guard. No, no, it was a foolish thought…and even if it wasn’t, he doubted very much it would be easy to get that.

But he wanted a spy to find it.

Destroy it.

‘You can’t tell Hux. You can’t tell….’

All the Troopers heard Verena.

He wanted them dead, but refrained, as he refrained from telling Verena to keep it a secret. He’d silence the troopers later, and bring her into the fact this had to be kept secret. Hux would use this against them. This could be very dangerous. They had to destroy this, somehow, someway.

And he had to answer about the lack of droid. He was preparing to do that for Hux, so why not test it with Verena? “I don’t know who she is,” that much was pretty accurate, “but she’s seen the map. I saw a vision of it in her head,” he answered, “I can access it when she wakes. Then we will know where Luke Skywalker is. We don’t need the droid.”

Hux wasn’t going to like that answer.

Snoke probably wasn’t, either.

But he’d get the answer to where Luke was, and then it wouldn’t matter how well they liked the answer. For some reason, he held the woman closer, protectively, perhaps concerned that Verena would lash out with that information.

Even if, in her state, that likely wouldn’t amount to much at all.

~***~

This was not about to be Neria’s day. As she righted herself with Han’s help, Leia Organa’s entourage exited the shuttle ahead of them. She forced herself right up, and brushed Han’s arm away as Leia greeted her, eyes narrowed ever so slightly at her. “Princess Organa,” she greeted in turn.

It was no insult, even if some may perceive it as one. It was Leia’s title.

It was Leia’s only legitimate title, as well.

Han lifted his hand in a little wave, looking more awkward than before, though Chewie let out a warm greeting to Leia, before Poe Dameron came hurrying over. Han rolled his eyes at the greeting, “Just Han, hotshot,” he said, not quite recognizing Poe after all the years apart. But he did notice the attention that he gave to Tarkin.

A smirk touched Han’s lips as he shifted his weight back and folded his arms over his chest.

“A fight happened, Dameron,” Neria didn’t need to provide the details. Leia was Force sensitive, and she didn’t need to make it more obvious that she was, well, not recognizable in the Force right then.

“One hell of a fight,” Han snorted, “toe to toe with a Sith? Stupid. Even for you.”

Neria’s gaze shifted to Han, evidently wanting to respond, but that was halted by someone shouting, “POE!” and attention shifted to the stranger in the jacket Poe had worn before the Order got him.

And the orange droid following close behind him, trilling gleefully.

At the approach, Han shifted back to where Leia was, “I saw him, Leia,” he spoke lowly. The reuniting people didn’t need to know, immediately, “Our son. He was here.” She probably already knew, but…assumptions weren’t the best idea. “Him and…some other woman with the Force.” He didn’t know her. Didn’t really care, unless she played a role in keeping his son with Snoke.

Then he’d care a whole hell of a lot.

 

[cleopat]

Verena was completely unaware of the internal conversation Kylo was having. She didn’t think anything of the Force technology Tarkin possessed, or what it meant if it got into the wrong hands. Or, rather, worse hands.

Her concentration was focused on her pain and the trooper attempting to patch her up some before they met with the medical staff at the hangar.

And of course on Kylo’s answer as to why he didn’t have the droid. She gave him a look, not liking his response at all. “A droid would’ve been easier to get the information from.” Just a simple hacking into its system and extracting the information.

But the girl? Well, not many had been able to resist Kylo’s mind probing. “You better be right.”

~~~

Poe looked a bit sheepish with Han’s correction, but he nodded. It would feel weird to call him Han, but he could do it.

As he opened his mouth to ask Neria more about this fight, and a Sith, he heard someone should his name. Poe looked over in the direction the voice came from, and he beamed when he saw who it was, and who was rolling beside him. “Finn!”

He ran in their direction, meeting Finn and BB-8 halfway. The two enveloped each other in a tight hug. “You’re alive!”

“So are you!”

Beebee trilled next to them, and Poe broke away from their embrace to kneel down to his droid. “I missed you so much Beebee!”



Leia said nothing of the way Neria addressed her. She gave a warm smile to Chewie and extended her own greeting to him, “Hello to you too, Chewie.”

She frowned at Han’s words. Another Force user. That would explain the darkness she felt lingering around Maz’s castle, though the emptiness she felt around Neria was interesting. A question for another time.

Poe’s abrupt departure slightly surprised Leia for a moment, but her attention was refocused when Han spoke. Her face fell, and she could feel the ache in her heart at the mention of their son. “That’s what I was afraid of.” To cause all this chaos…she feared their son was getting further and further away from ever coming back.

“Do we know anything about this other woman?” In a similar thought to Han, if this woman was aiding Ben’s further descent to the dark side, then she wanted to know.

She wanted her Ben back.

 

[Lucyfer]

There were numerous advantages to a droid. For one, everyone could see the image. Kylo didn't need everyone to see it, though. He and Snoke alone needed it. Perhaps Verena. He dared not admit it would be easier. “You haven't seen the Order struggle with a simple encryption.” He had seen that

Poe’s droid likely had plenty of security fail-safes, as would the map. It wouldn't be easy.

He couldn't let himself believe it would be, and this was the bad decision.

He couldn't fail.

“You'll see,” he reassured in light of her doubt.

The trooper pulled away then, “I'm sorry, Herald, there's nothing more I can do here.” it made sense, but that answer definitely didn't please Kylo.

“Why not?” Kylo demanded. “She's still bleeding!”

“S-sir, it's metal and clothe fused with flesh. I do not have the training nor tools. I'd make it worse.”

Kylo seethed, but when he didn't argue further, the trooper hurriedly got to their feet and went back into formation, as the shuttle continued through lightspeed.

Back at Starkiller, Ava Irving awaited the shuttle, fully aware that the Imperials had lived, so her job continued.

And who was she to pass up a chance to know the newest on the Acquisition List Neria had?

~***~

Finn felt the relief in the hug, and the way it was passed on to the droid, but he was still full of anxious energy, and it was VERY obvious that Poe was near important people. Besides Han, he'd heard the greeting for Leia, and he recognized Neria from Jakku.

He had to get something done, for Rey’s sake.

He pitched his voice low and crouched down with Poe. “BeeBee wouldn't be here if it was just me that helped. There was another, Rey, from Jakku. She piloted us out of there. And the First Order just captured her here.”

It didn't make sense to Finn, but he didn't like it.

And he didn't think Poe was the sort to let someone who helped out BB-8 remain in trouble. BB-8 confirmed in whistles and beeps, though with the caveat that he had an idea why she was taken.

She'd seen the map.


Neria allowed a ghost of a smile to touch her lips at the reunion, and she gave BB-8 a brief wave, before letting her attention turn to the battlefield and Leia.

Vera Tagge was picking her way through to the area.

Neria picked up on Leia’s question, despite the way her vision started to blur again and reality wanted to tilt beneath her and send her sprawling to the ground.

She certainly swayed.

“Verena, Herald of Lian, hapless pawn of Snoke rather like Ben, but either too soft or too trusting.” she would claim that she only called him Ben because she didn't recognize any titles or names the Order used.

She'd claim she just wanted Leia to know, she knew.

She'd claim it, but the terrible truth was, she spent most of her life wanting Leia to actually see her, to actually create something with her, in the Senate. When the truth came out and shattered every illusion she held of Leia, it still couldn't get rid of the echoes of hope she'd once held. Not entirely.

Calling her son Kylo to her face was a step too far.

Han gave her a once over, “That what you call soft?”

Even as her head pounded, Neria answered, “Yes,” but that wasn't the whole reason, “she trusted me to speak the truth when she had me as prisoner. Unlike Dameron, my mind was never read by the Order.” Soft. Trusting.

“Suppose you're the expert in what's cruel,” Han said, defensive for Leia’s sake.

Neria cut him a feral grin for the effort, but Vera was at her side then and set a hand in her shoulder. “Excuse us, Princess Organa,” Vera said, inclining her head politely, “Imperatrix, General Tagge needs to discuss our next operation.”

Vera wanted to say she needed to get her head fucking checked immediately, but protocol forbade her from mentioning weakness.

 

[cleopat]

If the Order struggled with a simple encryption, then Verena wanted to question the competence of their cryptographers. Extracting information from a droid should be simple work!

But that was hardly the greatest issue at the moment.

“I hope you’re right.” The trooper pulled away, and although Verena was also upset he couldn’t do more for her wounds, she understood. She would honestly rather someone from medbay handle the rest, given the delicate nature of the wounds.

The rest of the trip continued in relative silence, with Verena doing her best to not move too much. She held in her hiss of pain with every little jostle of the ship, with her fingernails digging into the palm of her hand as a result.

Not soon enough, the shuttle exited lightspeed and entered into the hangar. Verena tried to get up herself, but in her struggle, the same trooper from before came over and helped her up

~~~

Poe frowned as Finn explained the situation. A girl that helped them, who had seen the map, which was why she was taken by the First Order. That wasn’t good at all.

“Alright then,” Poe began with a nod. If this girl helped them, then he would have to make sure they help her. “I’ll do what I can to see if we can get her back.” Beebee trilled in happiness. He looked back at Finn, looking at what he was wearing. “Is that my jacket?”

Finn began to take it over, “You want it back?”

“No, no,” Poe said with a shake of his head. “Keep it, it suits you.”



Leia was about to call off the question and order for medical attention for Neria, but she spoke anyway, despite the sway in her step.

She spoke of the Herald of Lian, a name she wasn’t familiar with, but the way Neria spoke of her made Leia wonder if, like how she desperately hoped for her son, this Herald could come back to the Light.

One of Neria’s allies came up, asking for a further discussion of their next plan. But to Leia, it was obvious that she needed medical attention first before doing anything that required thinking. “Be sure her head gets seen first,” Leia urged.

It was then Poe came over, with BB-8 rolling behind him. “General Organa, I-” he paused upon giving Neria another look. “I’m guessing two head wounds in one day isn’t exactly good for your head.” She looked like she was about to fall over.

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Does your shuttle have a medkit?” Neria needed more than that, but it would be a good start.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo did want to help Verena when they landed, but he did not want to put the girl he held down. He didn’t trust the troopers. He also didn’t trust the Force holding to keep her asleep once he released contact. He did not need her waking up. Getting her down a second time wouldn’t be as easy.

It should be. But, he knew, it wouldn’t be. He’d felt something he wasn’t quite grasping when he’d put her under; he’d never felt a latent Force, before, after all.

Still, Kylo hovered to make sure the Trooper did nothing that would cause Verena additional harm, as she was helped out to where a gurney waited, and Ava Irving. Kylo knew her, much as he disliked that. She was the main doctor on Starkiller base, after all, and he’d come to get patched up more than once, though he usually deferred to the droids.

He didn’t trust another to see him, let alone tend to him.

“You will know the results soon,” Kylo spoke to Verena, “rest,” he added, unsure why, before he would indeed leave her to the care of Ava.

The gurney hovered in the air, and followed Ava when she began to walk – backwards, so she could see Verena, though she clearly had done this more than once. She knew the path without looking back, and people stayed out of her way, “Hello Verena,” she offered, “I see you’ve had better days. At least, I hope so,” her smile wasn’t teasing, nor her tone. Both were warm; she wasn’t trying to mock.

Her hope was genuine.

“I’m Ava Irving, head of the medical facility here on Starkiller. Kylo knows me, but he doesn’t trust me,” she chuckled, “I’ll understand if it’s something unique to you Force users – stars knows I can’t understand it – and you wish to only be seen by the droids. Just let me know your preference, and tell me what happened. That will better help me assess the wounds and make sure they are properly treated.”

~***~

‘I’m going to kill everyone, and then myself.’

Neria felt like snapping when Leia drew attention to the wound, and again, when Poe brought attention. She even started to pull away from Vera, hot defiance against how bad it was all but bursting from her, but Poe settled his hand on her other shoulder, blissfully ignorant to her loathing of everything about the situation right then.

Vera’s grip tightened just enough for Neria to understand she’d caught the shift. Vera was trying so hard not to let her damn herself.

And Vera pointed upwards, at the remaining star destroyer, “We appreciate your concern, but we were more than prepared for injuries. That is the Exigency, our flagship,” and so, Neria’s ship, her second love after the Orrineswa, although Leia likely never saw this one. The Senate would have rioted, no matter how questionably legal it was. “We have medical facilities on board to handle anything.”

Neria regrouped while Vera talked nonsense. Well, not nonsense, but nothing necessary. She considered, then, the potential in front of her. She had no interest in Luke Skywalker, but she had every interest in putting an end to the weapon that destroyed Hosnian Prime.

Leia likely wanted the same.

Based on history, the second shot was always aimed at the rebels.

Neria continued to speak through her pain, “We will be taking the Exigency to Ilum,” Neria told Leia. “From what I understand, that is where the Order is based, and their weapon. We have a vested interest in making sure it does not fire again.”

“Starkiller,” Finn blurted into the conversation, earning attention, “The weapon. It’s called Starkiller. I used to work on the base. You’re not gonna destroy it from the air – not while it has its shields up.”

“And you know how to take them down?” Han arched a brow.

Finn hesitated, before nodding.

‘Liar.’ Neria didn’t call him on it. Someone who knew the base was still useful, and if he had a vested interest in returning…well, this was the one who saved Poe. She didn’t think it was malign.

Han shifted, “Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere else?” The open field of Takodana wasn’t…ideal. “All of us,” he grudgingly included the Imperials, even if it wasn’t his place, “don’t want to get in anyone’s way.”

Neria cast a glance at Leia. Han meant nothing to her. For this one excursion, it may indeed be worth it.

 

[cleopat]

The trooper helped her to the gurney, and Verena bit back another moan of pain as her wounds shifted in the movement. There was no avoiding it, and she really didn’t want to show more weakness in front of everyone.

Especially in front of Kylo, whose parting words stuck with her in ways she didn’t quite comprehend.

But now she was handed off to the doctor, who seemed much too perky for Verena’s taste. The doctor’s first comment was only met with an unamused stare. Of course she’s had better days! She couldn’t remember the last time she was injured to this extent. Maybe during one of Snoke’s…harder training sessions.

“If Kylo doesn’t trust you, then maybe I shouldn’t either.” She sighed. Verena could only guess at why he preferred droids. That damn helmet of his. “I personally don’t care who sees me, as long as these wounds get treated.” And that she can quickly leave medbay.

Verena really didn’t want to answer the question of what happened. It only reminded her of that weapon Neria had, and how much damage she was able to do as a result. She sighed, “Hit by several pieces of a melted shotgun pellet. A blaster bolt grazed my side, and a direct hit in my hip.” There may be minor cuts and bruises all over, but she didn’t care about those.

~~~

Everyone looked up at the star destroyer as Vera began to talk about it. Leia had brief flashbacks to her time aboard one with the Empire, with one of Neria’s family member. But she knew she shouldn’t let old prejudices get in the way of discussing the shared threat, and Neria hadn’t even done anything to warrant hostility.

Finn spoke of the weapon, and while Leia still didn’t exactly know who he was, Poe seemed to trust him, and that was good enough for her. It was clear he was once part of the First Order, but she didn’t sense any ill-will towards them.

“I think the Exigency is the best place right now for us to continue this discussion,” Poe offered, sending a look to Leia. Between her and Neria, they would be the ones to make the final call.

Leia nodded, “I agree, that would be the best place for all of us to discuss what to do next.” And for them to ensure that the weapon is never able to fire again.

 

[Lucyfer]

Ava listened attentively to the explanation of the wounds. Melted pellets was a bit surprising, and she worried her lower lip, but nodded. “Don't worry, I can aid with these injuries, Herald.” She said.

The medbay was soon in sight and they passed into it. The gurney floated to rest on a metal frame and locked itself into place. A curtain hid them from the rest of the world, and Ava's eyes went over the tatters of Verena’s appearance.

“I am going to have to ask you to remove your clothes. If you need assistance, I can help, but if you would rather, I will go outside and wait.”

Not that it would matter.

Ava was going to see everything anyways. The wounds were so scattered it would take removing all articles of clothing for Ava to work, but she'd offer the illusion of privacy.

Some appreciated the lie.

~***~

‘I did not offer my ship!’ Neria wanted to protest, but she refrained. Leia accepted, and time was critical. “Very well.” She hated this. “I will let General Tagge know to expect your shuttle. No other ship.” She gave Han a meaningful look at that.

She didn't trust his Falcon.

Han snorted but lifted his hands in surrender. “Fine by me, kid.” He wasn't technically a part of this, though he knew he was about to get dragged into it, Falcon or not. “Chewie, watch the ship.”

Chewie roared agreeably.

Leia would have power to decide who accompanied her onto the shuttle for the discussion. “I'll see you aboard.” She wasn't even going to have time to get seen by her damn medics before dealing with Leia. The utter bantha shit–

She cut her thoughts off on that note and turned to her own shuttle. Omega was there with many of the others, and she went to his side, despite his uncomfortable shift. Once the doors shut, she took the belt off and tossed it to Vera, who stepped away with it.

Everything hit and Neria leaned hard into Omega as she called up to Adelaide.

“Report,” the General ordered.

“The droid is with the resistance. The Order captured a civilian. Princess Organa wants to discuss a joint operation. Her shuttle is allowed in, no others.”

“Neria is severely wounded and needs medical.” Vera called and Neria gave her a look of betrayal.

“Understood. I'll handle the discussion with Princess Organa.” Adelaide stated before terminating contact.

 

[cleopat]

Verena scowled at the thought of removing her clothes. It wasn’t the act of doing it in front of someone that was the problem, it was knowing she would need help to remove them. She hated needing someone else to help her with something.

It was weakness. She was not weak.

But, as she fiddled with the ends of her top, Verena loathed to admit to herself that she would need assistance. “The melted pellets burnt my clothes to my skin in several places. I…will need some assistance.” The words felt vile as she said them, but there. It was done.

At least there was a privacy curtain so no one could see her, and if Ava told anyone, Verena would know who to come to.

I am not weak.

~~~

Poe found himself not wanting to leave Neria’s side, but that would hardly look appropriate in front of…everyone. Even if he didn’t care about propriety most of the time.

He needed to stay with Finn and BB-8 for now, now that he knew they were safe, and he was sure Leia wanted to speak with him on the way to the star destroyer.

Leia watched the Imperials get on their shuttle and return back to the star destroyer, before she turned to those who were left. “You know a lot about the First Order,” she said to Finn. “You can join us.”

Finn gave a nod, ready to do whatever it took to bring down Starkiller Base.

“And I want you two to come along as well,” she directed at Poe and Han this time.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Poe said with a grin, and with that grin, Leia wondered exactly how close he and Neria grew during their little escapade together.

They all gathered into the shuttle, with C3PO following with comments of how he never expected the Resistance and the Imperials together in a mutual discussion and alliance.

Leia hardly believed it either.

The shuttle took off and flew to the star destroyer, landing in the hangar when prompted over the comms.

 

[Lucyfer]

Ava understood too well how much Verena did not want to do this. ‘Maybe it is a Force thing.’ One theory. “I’ll be careful not to cause you more pain than necessary, but I will likely need to cut around some areas where it sticks,” she warned.

Of course, she would try not to – not to save the clothes, the clothes were trash. Mostly, so she wouldn’t have as much work separating the cloth from the flesh later. Still, where it was too stuck, she did end up cutting around it, and bit by bit, she got the clothing off of Verena, and let her eyes focus on the situation.

She pressed her lips together, “Okay,” she spoke gently, “I am going to freeze the areas that have melted cloth and metal on them, and shave them off. I’ll apply bacta quickly to close the wounds and restore the skin,” that would do for those wounds.

The larger wound from the blaster was another story. “I’ll need to bring in a droid to get imaging of your side, x-rays and scans. I need to check on the internal damage,” there had to be some, “I may need to open it up further to treat it, depending. I am going to start with that, if it’s all right?”

She was always inclined to ask permission, and so she would wait for it before inviting in a droid to get images of the damage from the blaster shot.

~***~

Adelaide, for her part, would not subject Neria to any embarrassment. The Resistance shuttle was not given leave to land until Neria had left the area, after a terse, but short, argument.

“This is my job, Imperatrix. Or do you not trust me to organize a simple operation with allies?”​

Neria had to admit defeat, or admit she didn’t trust Adelaide.

She’d never do the latter.

Adelaide was in the hangar to meet the Resistance when the landed. She knew she would not be a pleasing sight to any of them, being the only Imperial in Neria’s court who actually served the Empire, but that did not matter right now. “Princess Organa,” she took in the others – the spymaster Threepio, the scoundrel Han, an unknown, and Poe Dameron, “Follow me. You will be briefed on what we already have in process, and what plans we are looking to execute.”

The meeting wouldn’t be long – they didn’t have the luxury of time when news came forward of the Order targeting D’Qar with their next shot – but it did go well. Finn and Han Solo would go to Starkiller Base to shut down the shields, and Adelaide was quietly glad Neria wasn’t present. She would have too easily volunteered herself for it, and there’d be no arguing with it.

Despite the threat, Leia Organa would return to D’Qar with C-3PO to manage the X-Wings, and get the Resistance moving. Some, at least, would be saved, even if D’Qar was destroyed.

Not Leia.

Poe Dameron, however, would stay on the ship, and Adelaide was willing to allow the other X-Wings to dock in the hangars, to bring them to Starkiller under the cover of the Exigency, and launch when the shields were down. She wasn’t thrilled to have a hangar full of Resistance pilots, but it was a decent enough idea.

Adelaide saw Leia, Han, and Finn off, and worked with Poe to help organize the X-Wings in a hangar not accustomed to X-Wings, as the Exigency jumped to lightspeed.

Neria picked her way back to the hangar by then, protein bar half-eaten in hand, frowning at the mess of ships on the floor, not at all briefed on what the hell Adelaide had just agreed to. Her head was, thankfully, no longer bleeding, and in a far better state than even the bacta had done now that she’d actually seen her doctor.

She still had one hell of a headache, though whether that was from getting her head bashed in, or exhaustion paired with no caf, was up for debate as her eyes finally settled on Poe amongst the many other pilots. “Dameron – what the hell did Leia talk my General into?” she wasn’t sure how angry she wanted to be at Adelaide. Yet.

 

[cleopat]

Verena allowed Ava to remove her clothes and cut around the areas that couldn’t be removed without great pain on her part. She adjusted her body when needed, to help the process along, even with her wounds protesting the movement.

She hardly understood why Ava was explaining to her what she was going to do. She should just do it! But she couldn’t muster the energy to be angry, just slightly annoyed.

“Do what you need to do,” she said. “I trust that you’re competent at your job to make the right decisions.” And if not, Verena would make sure the doctor was promptly dealt with.

For the duration of the medical inspections and treatments, she would lay there, accepting what needed to be done.

~~~

The meeting was swift and productive. Leia fought Han some on his plan to go to Starkiller Base, but ultimately she caved. He knew what he was doing. She hoped.

Leia left after the meeting to maintain communication with the X-Wings, and to direct the Resistance base into proper protocol if needed. She didn’t hope it would come to that, but they had to prepare for anything.

Poe directed his squadron to the star destroyer after assuring them that it was okay, it was safe. Enemy of their enemy and all that. Snap had a brief discussion with Poe over the entire situation, but ultimately Poe convinced him that this was the best course of action if they wanted to launch a surprise attack on Starkiller.

They had finished up their discussion when he heard Neria’s voice. Poe turned to look at her, glad to see she was faring better than before. “Nothing bad, I assure you. Your star destroyer will transport our ships to Starkiller, where we will launch a surprise attack once their shields are down.”

It sounded much easier in the plans than he was sure it would actually play out.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure that my pilots behave while here.” He gave her a comforting grin.

 

[Lucyfer]

Ava huffed at Verena’s words, and wagged a finger, even as she walked to go let the droid in, “You have bodily autonomy, Herald. And you know your body better than I do. Unlike the troopers. No autonomy~,” she said it in a sing-song, as if she took advantage of it somehow. If she did, she certainly didn’t disclose it, as the droid came hovering in to do its scans of Verena’s side.

“But I mean it. If I suggest something you know will hurt you more – tell me. Not that I expect it from an X-Ray, but there are some species out there hurt significantly by it,” she was obviously human. Almost everyone in the Order was human.

Those few who weren’t, well…they wouldn’t last. The Order was more human-centric than the Empire had been, and that was saying…a lot. “That’s why I’m telling you before I take any action. It’s a bit redundant but—ah,” the droid chimed with information in binary, and Ava listened, “good news, I will just need to clean the wound, give a couple of injections, and stitch you up. Then I can get to work on the melted parts.”

And she’d already explained that, so she’d get to work on cleaning the blaster wound.

~***~

Neria listened as Poe explained the parts he understood of the plan. They were heading to Starkiller, and would await the shields coming down. Armitage Hux wouldn’t be anticipating a squadron of X-Wings inside the Exigency. Somehow, it was too easy. ‘What’s stopping Hux from destroying us?’

She bit into the protein bar as Poe promised his pilots would behave, “Boring,” she noted, as it dawned on her just how they were getting away with this arrival to First Order space. ‘Arkanis.’ A feint. A threat to a threat.

At least, that would be a part of it. She understood what Adelaide had left to her.

Stalling.

Well, she was good at that, at any rate. As large as the Destroyer was, the ship heading to bring down the shields would arrive ahead of them. “Not a single thing destroyed? How am I supposed to use you all as bad examples for my own pilots, then?” she teased.

 

[cleopat]

Sometimes it felt like Verena had no autonomy, not with Snoke always commanding her to do something, to be somewhere. And with training? It was always about pushing through the pain, testing the limits of her capabilities before she passed out.

She eyed the droid as it took scans of her side. “Alright then.” She didn’t know if she would be able to tell Ava if something would hurt her more. She was so used to ignoring that pain. But if it placated the doctor, then she could offer the words.

With her laying in the bed, and the adrenaline now wearing off, it hit Verena just how exhausted she was. It felt like every muscle in her body was going to protest any little move. If she fell asleep, she wondered how long she would remain asleep. You can’t sleep now.

There was still too much to do.

But first, she had to endure the doctor and her treating the wounds.

~~~

Poe chuckled and shrugged. “We’re supposed to be the good guys, remember? If anything, your pilots should be used as bad examples for mine.” Although if they gave Snap and Jessika enough to drink, there would easily be chaos everywhere.

He didn’t dare tell Neria that. She may actually try and test that theory.

His eyes shifted down to the protein bar she held, then back up to her head. It looked much better than earlier, that she actually had more than bacta applied to the wound. He hesitated on asking her how she was faring, given her earlier reaction, but now they weren’t surrounded by people. His pilots were far enough away, conversing amongst themselves.

“How’s your head feeling?” Poe finally asked. “That wound looked quite painful, and on top of another one?” Neria needed to rest, not to do whatever was next, but it seemed that luxury would have to wait a while longer.

 

[Lucyfer]

Ava finished cleaning the wound, and got Verena stitched up. A bacta patch was placed over it, and wrapped, before she went to deal with the many melted pieces. “I am sorry for any pain,” she added.

She hadn't used any anesthetic so far, nor would she. She'd gotten into the habit of not using it. Few of the officers wanted it, and troopers were rarely allowed it, after all.

Verena didn't want much conversation, that much was clear, but it was also clear that she'd taken the explanation somewhat better. Ava knew better than to push too far on a first interaction. Still, she did continue to speak to any new action she'd take, to keep Verena in the loop.

When it was all done, Ava stepped back, “I've already called for clothes for you, so no worry about heading out in one of our stylish gowns,” Ava teased, “but if you do want a lollipop, I have twenty different flavors,” she gestured then to a glass container which did indeed have many lollipops in them. “The kid troopers love them, but I won't tell anyone. Won't even notice if you want to take one and hide it in a pocket.” Ava winked.

“But do you need anything else for me, or have any questions about this? You should try to rest for at least a day to keep those stitches in your side in place.”

Ava's tone suggested she knew that Verena wouldn't heed that.

So then she'd up back here.

~***~

“Please,” Neria rolled her eyes at Poe’s declaration of being the good guys. He could believe that if he wanted to. She knew that she wasn't on the wrong side of things here, after all. The good guys were on her ship, after all.

At the question, she shrugged, “No permanent damage,” some may disagree, “it's not the worst wound I've dealt with.” That was far too true.

It was hard to believe how much had happened in a day. Her mind went back to the start of it all with Terex, but she had to stop herself. There was…too much to consider in that, and she didn't have the luxury of actually feeling all that she needed to feel for it.

Grief would do her no good.

“I need to check in with my general,” Neria said, “you can brief me on the situation all around on the way, if you like. Or you can stay here,” either way, she knew she had to get to the command center before they reached Ilum.

 

[cleopat]

Verena couldn’t quite tell if Ava was genuine in her apology for any pain. She was too used to those not sorry at all for inflicting pain, but her cheery disposition made her consider that.

She did let out a groan here and there during the cleaning, but for the most part, she remained silent, the perfect patient.

Not soon enough, they were finally done. Her torso still felt stiff, but far better than her earlier state. At the mention of the lollipops, Verena glanced at the jar with a raised eyebrow, as if saying ‘do you really think I am going to grab one?’

She wouldn’t rest for the recommended day. She didn’t even know if she was allowed to. “I assume I’m cleared to go back to work now?” Once the clothes arrived, she would put them on, not caring if Ava watched or not. She’d already seen a good bit of her.

And next Verena needed to see what Kylo managed to get from the girl.

~~~

“I’m glad to hear that.” Poe had half a mind to ask Neria what her worst wound she suffered from was. But that wasn’t important right then. Maybe another time, like over a shared meal.

Like a date?

He shook away the thought of a dinner together. That was putting more images into his head that he didn’t want to deal with right then, when they needed to be focused on serious business.

But with the choice in accompanying Neria or not, Poe picked to come along. “I’ll fill you in,” he offered. Somebody had to do the job, after all! So when Neria started walking, Poe followed by her side.

“Finn and Han Solo are already on their way to Starkiller to lower the shields.” She remembered Finn, right? “And once those shields are lowered, that’s when we spring into action.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Ava could only sigh at the question, “You are now out of my control, Herald,” she said, as the droid entered with the clothes, “but please, try to be careful, okay? I know it’s a hard job, but I really don’t like when you all get hurt out there. I’d rather stick to giving you all vaccines and cold medicine.”

That wasn’t going to be her luck, of course, but she’d learned over time how effective concern, kindness, and interest, were with the First Order people. Given her role, she was even allowed that, it wasn’t discouraged heavily as in other areas of the Order, so she was able to run with it.

With the clothes delivered, she would step out of the room.

And hope Verena took a lollipop. There was nothing to them. They were just tasty as fuck.

As she stepped out and went back to the front of the medbay to look into new reports, she heard heavy footfall heading that way. She flicked the medbay door opened even before they got close enough, and in strode Kylo Ren himself, looking…disoriented. “Commander Ren? Can I—”

“Where is Verena?” he snapped, hands slamming on the desk.

Ava didn’t flinch. “She is still here, she will be released when—”

Apparently, Kylo didn’t want to hear the rest, as he strode off to follow the pull of the Force, and so, Verena. He pulled the curtain to the side, not considering the consequences of that action.

Ava sighed at her desk...but strained to eavesdrop all the same. Whatever had Kylo in a tizzy was no doubt great information!

~***~

Many of Neria’s assumptions were proven true. Han Solo and Finn had gone to the base, likely taking the Falcon, and Chewbacca. Leia was probably gone; Neria had nothing to support that, other than a suspicion that Leia would rather be back at her own home base where she could organize things.

Poe and his crew were coming along to Starkiller to strike when the shields went down.

Simple.

“Let’s hope Finn actually knows what he’s doing. I could tell he was lying about knowing how to bring the shields down,” but Han Solo? She actually did trust Han Solo to figure it out. Of the many people in the galaxy, Neria would cross Leia and Luke, before crossing Han.

Luck favored that asshole.

That didn’t mean she was going to be nice him, though.

The thought of giving Poe a tour crossed her mind, as they walked through the ship, “Don’t worry. I don’t actually think they will fail. Whatever else is true of Han, he’s notoriously lucky.” She wouldn’t grant him much else, not even ‘good pilot’, but luck? Oh, certainly.

The command center opened to her as she reached the doors, and she saw Adelaide peering over a screen. Her head turned and she straightened up, “Imperatrix.”

“Must we with the formality?” Neria didn’t actually enjoy the title Imperatrix, which Adelaide knew. But, it was the proper title in war. She didn’t wait for Adelaide to answer, “Commander Dameron’s filled me in on some. What doesn’t he know?”

Adelaide gave Dameron a cursory glance, then returned her gaze to Neria. “Arkanis is completely barricaded. Communications are down. Sindian believes General Hux will save the planet. You have the opportunity to break both Senator Sindian and General Hux.” It was all said completely deadpan, but there was a malicious glint in Adelaide’s gaze that hadn’t sparked when she spoke with the Resistance. “I thought you’d enjoy this role best.”

“You know me so well,” Neria chuckled, “Patch Admiral Motti through.”

 

[cleopat]

Verena said nothing to Ava when she warned to be careful. She couldn’t assure anything, knowing the very nature of her position could bring anything to herself. But as the doctor left, Verena muttered, “Thank you.” Whether or not she heard was hardly her business.

And whether or not she saw Verena grab a lolli and stuck it into the pocket of her borrowed pants mattered not either.

But once the clothes were delivered, Verena grabbed the pants to slip on. It was then she heard Kylo Ren, first his demanding footsteps, then asking where she was. If only he could wait a few seconds…

She heard his footsteps approach her private area, but she was still surprised when he pulled open her curtain. Her torso was still bare, except for the bandages and a bra. “Were you worried about me that much?” she teased, pulling the shirt over her head and concealing her torso from Kylo’s view.

But it was obvious something was wrong. It was easy to read in his body language, and with how the Force moved about him. “What happened?”

~~~

Poe shrugged at Neria’s comment about Finn. “I trust him. He seems like a smart kid, despite everything. I think between him and Han, they can figure out how to bring the shields down.” Between Finn’s knowledge of Starkiller and Han’s knowledge of ships and shields and…just being plain lucky, they could do it.

He believed it.

He chuckled when she mentioned how lucky Han was. That he definitely was.

Neria led him into another room with Adelaide, whom he met earlier, but didn’t talk to much. That was all Leia. He lifted a brow and looked to Neria after all the information was given. “Why would Hux save Arkanis?” He didn’t know that was the General’s homeplanet, and in his eyes, after the destruction of Hosnian Prime, any planet was a target for him.

Poe…somewhat knew who Senator Sindian was, but politics wasn’t his game at all. It bored him tremendously.