Fandom Star Wars: Cold Wars [Closed]

[insensitive]

‘“Sorry”.’ A stormtrooper just apologized to her.

She would’ve thought that amusing, except it reminded her of what she’d lost at the hand of stormtroopers and the First Order. Rebels, some of which she’d known, though none of them ever familiar enough to her for a hole to have formed. Just enough for it to be noticeable.

None of those losses enough for the memory of them to hurt, except for one.

Her father.

She closed her eyes, FN-2187’s footsteps long-since faded from earshot. It was going to be a long time waiting.


By the time Kylo Ren started toward the room in which she was being held, Keelee was worlds away. Exploring the realm of abandoned memories, enough to fit within her lifetime - limited as it was - was not a way she often occupied herself. Not in such detail.

No, this was more than just one of those late nights, where her thoughts ventured to the sweet memories of before, when she was a child. Like the time she’d broken an ankle on a rock tumbling down a hill, and her father brought her back home to make sponge-cakes with jam while her mother tended to the injured joint. The time she and her father had lain against a patch of grass in an isolated field, staring up at an infinite stretch of sky and stars.

Or the painful memories of past mistakes, past lessons. Like the time she learned the pain of hot machinery when helping fix her father’s old starfighter. A piece of junk, considering his usual place was on the field.

Instead, she was remembering all the times she’d been told something just so that she would stop asking questions. All the lies.

“No, nothing’s wrong with you,” Leia, when she would find herself staring at a mess of things around a younger, angered, grieving Lee.

“No, I don’t know what happened to my son,” Leia, when Luke’s padawans were murdered.

“No, your mother loves you, but she has a duty to the Senate,” Leia, when Lee’s mother left her with the rebels. When she abandoned her.

Before, she believed it all. There were doubts, questions, but none strong enough to cause her faith in the Resistance or the General herself to waver.

Somehow, in the span of a single day, she was so far from where she’d started. And as far as she could see, there was no way she would ever be able to return. Not to any point of ignorance, as blissful as it may be. She was opening her eyes to the lies, and though she knew she would never submit to the First Order and its ideals, she would only learn through seeing things for herself. It was the only way to uncover the truth.

But almost more than that, she couldn't help but feel betrayed. She didn't yet come to terms with it, but the bitterness, the anger, was simmering low from somewhere within her.

When the door slid open, Lee knew immediately who had entered. The sound of his footsteps against the hard floor were enough of an indication. Her limbs tensed, eyes focused on the wall across from her before his figure became visible, and the mask was at the forefront of her vision.

She glanced at the cup in his hand and its contents, then the article of clothing. She spotted no First Order insignia, which was only somewhat comforting. When she brought her eyes back to the visor of his mask, strangely enough, there was none of the hostility which had been present before.

Wariness, yes. She didn’t doubt that the feeling coiling faintly within her stomach was apprehension, and some amount of the unease she’d felt before still lingered. Just nowhere near to the same degree.

Both of them had a chance to calm themselves. Hopefully.

But that was still uncertain. Lee eyed him warily, awaiting words that would break the tense silence.

~***~

Poe could only imagine the amusement that must’ve resulted from Mcknifeface, which was easy enough to do. There was only so much he and the other rebels could do to entertain themselves, so creative, sometimes painful solutions, were completely necessary.

He chuckled along with her, “She most certainly was,” Nevajen Coswell never shied away from a chance to psych herself up on whatever intoxicants were available. She wasn’t an addict, far from it, but she knew how to party. Lee, on a few occasions, watched the races as well, which tended to bring an extra spark of excitement. Mostly because she claimed not to understand them, but on the contrary, she was one of the people that took it upon herself to narrate the races like they would in an official setting. Hearing her repeat the words “Jet-ass” over and over again was always strangely entertaining.

Good times.

Briefly, he remembered Nev’s mission with Lee, and he wondered whether or not they had yet located the secret lead of theirs. Soon as he was back in his X-wing, with a comm-system that could appropriately mask them, he would ask the General about it. By now, he hoped they would have made progress.

“Well, you haven’t seen Jet-ass in action,” he chuckled, remembering Lee’s narrations: “And, nowhere near the finish line, Jet-ass has lifted off! Oh - no, wait, he’s coming back down!” straight into another of the droids.

In truth, the names were about as creative as each other. But there was a “Mc” in Mcknifeface. Jet-ass hadn’t been granted the luxury. Or a title, for that matter.

He would propose one to Nev when they were back at base.

“Yeah,” he said, in agreement about her comment of people being the same. It was something he was only reminded of every once in awhile, but it always made him question things. Why, despite so many being so similar, everything was so divided. Why it always ended up that way.

But the answer was always simple, to him: some people just valued power and gain a little more than others.

 

[Lucyfer]

The tension remained in the room as he stepped into it, but it seemed less. Kylo still waited until he had paused and assessed the situation. Lee was clearly awake, staring ahead, but silent. She didn’t spit any further vitriol his way, but seemed to be waiting for him to make the first move, noting what he had.

He set the shake and the clothes down on a nearby table, which usually held other implements that weren’t so nice. “I am going to let you out of the chair to change,” he stated. “I will step out.” So far, she hadn’t shown any indication of struggling or acting up.

Perhaps she could be trusted this far.

If not, it wouldn’t be difficult to bring her down. She was on a ship surrounded by Stormtroopers, and Kylo would be right outside. He didn’t think she would soon forget that and take drastic action, but he’d been wrong before. At least, right now, Snoke was willing to trust his assessment of the woman without needing to take a look himself. Hopefully, by that time, there’d be no doubt.

But that time wasn’t just yet.

They had to stay nearer to Starkiller Base as it finished its completion. Snoke stayed further from that location to make sure the First Order wasn’t all in one place. The Finalizer was in lightspeed now to return to that area, until they had another lead to follow up on.

He lifted one of his hands, and all of the shackles sprang open with a flick of his wrist. She wouldn’t fall forward due to the angle of interrogation seat, but he half-suspected she might be unsteady on her feet after being pinned in the same position for so long. He didn’t move forward to offer a hand, but rather stepped further aside so she’d have more room.

He would delay a moment, just to make sure her first reaction wasn’t to try and make a run for it.

~***~

The agreement was a moment of silence between them, heavy with the reality that for the fact they were all alike, there remained enemies. Somewhere in the First Order, someone was just as ridiculous as them. Terex had that sense of humor, and it did cause a beat of pain in Neria to think of what would soon be occurring. Not that it would still her hand. Hardly.

He would not be the first who had meant something to her, that she’d taken the life of.

Betrayal was the norm among senators.

“You know, I’ve always been curious if the jet juice among rebels is the same as the jet juice among imperials,” it seemed an easy topic to move to, a discussion of the infamous jet juice. She suspected it would be the same, another similarity, and yet, she had an opportunity to find out. “I know we throw in bitters in ours, which I’ve suspected may not be normal….”

The conversation would drift from one topic to another, pausing only at the checkpoints and getting back on track in the lane, and a few messages that Neria received on her pad.

Like one from Toc that told her where Terex had ended up, and another from Trayjan informing her the move to Kaddak had been approved and he was getting the forces out that way.

Those tidbits of information were relayed to Poe, including where Terex had ended up – at least for a moment – the Ring of Kafrene. Neria didn’t think it wise to detour just yet. She didn’t think Terex would be there long. Not long enough to matter.

So, they came to Takodana, with a nearly full hangar of ships from all across the galaxy, multiple styles represented to indicate the one truth of Takodana: all were welcome.

 

[insensitive]

Lee deflated, releasing a slow breath as the tension in her limbs eased up some. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but given their previous interactions as well as his reputation, she half-expected him to regard her the same way he had during what time he’d spent interrogating her.

Ravaging her mind, really. But thankfully most evidence of the occurrence had died down significantly, where physical pain was concerned. At most, the sides of her head still faintly ached.

But no, she was being allowed out of the chair. That surprised her a bit - she would’ve thought he might grow more impatient about a decision, where his offer and her place amongst the war was concerned, given the time he gave her to collect herself. Heal.

More than likely, he was told about her compliance. How she put up no fight against the stormtrooper’s who kept watch on her.

‘I would have,’ but she wasn’t a fool. There was no way she was getting out of this chair without it being authorized.

There was more to it than that, anyway. She would have, but given the things she considered, giving everything she’d been told, she decided it would have been more than foolish to attempt an escape now. There were things she had to know, whether or not she truly wanted to. Even if she managed to escape, she wouldn’t learn anything.

Besides, FN-2187 had been a strangely pleasant guard. Despite his purpose, what he was, she got the sense he wasn’t much like the rest of them. But that would be determined later, once she had an opportunity to see who he truly was. Who they all were.

She flinched at what followed his gesture, nearly forgetting his abilities. Her own abilities. It served as yet another reminder of the things she didn’t know.

Again, it was becoming a theme, and she hated it.

Carefully, Lee lifted herself by her elbows, thankful for his distance once he moved further from the chair. She was careful not to brush the freshly-wrapped wound at her arm against anything, balancing herself mostly on her right elbow as she stepped onto the floor. When she stood, she had to balance herself a moment on the chair, before she felt familiarly steady and let go.

Stars, it felt good to be standing again.

Her joints ached a little, but nothing that bothered her. Especially when she looked up from herself. Standing, she felt all the more exposed.

Trying not to let it bother her, nor allow it to show through her movements, she crossed the small space to the table, keeping him in the corner of her eye whilst she took the article of clothing in her hands. She then straightened herself and looked his way again, this time waiting for him to leave.

~***~

Poe chuckled a little, thinking back to his comrades and the things they did to pass time. Though excitement wasn’t rare, it wasn’t often provided by their duties. “Trust me, things aren’t very normal around the rebels either…”

He would wonder about her relationship with Terex again during the time they spent on the more light-hearted subjects. He didn’t doubt her, but there was a part of him that questioned if he could be so sure she wouldn’t let anything get in their way. But he didn’t have to remind himself more than once that she was different from most; she was a senator, and senators were usually hardened by their experiences with betrayal, corruption, and the like.

Everything about this woman told him that she would be the last person to let personal relations stand in the way of justice.

Though, “justice” was somewhat of a loose term these days.

Poe landed the corvette gently inside the hangar, careful as any pilot would be not to scratch their ship - or, stars forbid, someone else’s - but not before marveling at all the different models. He was no stranger to the openness of the world, when it came to those who were permitted to stay, but he hadn’t been in a long time. It was rare for him to see so much in one setting.

If the bar she was planning to take him to was anything like he pictured, he would get to see much, much more.

“Perfect,” he said, both to himself and to the woman in the co-pilot’s seat. The ship was tucked safely away from the most obvious slots, mostly out of view. He faced Neria with a small, satisfied smile.

And to think she had doubted him.

“All right, so, you’re the one with the most experience with this place.” He began to flick stray switches, shutting a few things down, but not everything. He would await her judgement, in case she had another preference for how they chose to park.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo observed Lee as she moved, taking note of where she seemed weaker or what could still use healing. He understood that the droid had likely just provided some treatment. It wasn’t a full bacta therapy to bring her up to scratch immediately. Still, it didn’t seem too bad. She would likely be more fully restored once she had the shake in her, as well.

When she moved to the clothing and looked his way, he gave a nod. “You have five minutes,” he indicated, “If you are changed before then, just shout.” He would hear. The doors didn’t keep all sound from penetrating them. That wasn’t their purpose.

There was even argument that it shouldn’t be – if they wanted fear to move through the lines, it would be good for Stormtroopers and others to know what prisoners went through.

Kylo would turn away and then and pace back to the door, letting it slide shut behind him. Only at that point did he begin to count down, assuming she would know he meant a galactic standard minute of 60 galactic standard seconds. He’d heard arguments and protestations against his determinations before.

Another failing of the galaxy. They couldn’t adequately standardize even the telling of time, nor currency, or language.

‘A Wookie can’t speak basic.’ Kylo found the thought surfacing around the 30th second, and he pushed it back. So long as they understood basic, and could be equipped with a translator droid or translator on their datapad, then that should suffice, but no one should be without the knowledge of it. It should be standardized.

Some in the First Order, he knew, would prefer to see races that couldn’t speak it eliminated at worst, and reduced to laborers at best.

Kylo didn’t yet fall in that category, and he idly wondered if it was a softness of his, a familiarity with Chewbacca and others of the multiple species outside humans, that caused it. Should it be something to eliminate. ‘Snoke isn’t human.’ At least, he didn’t think Snoke was human. Snoke never revealed what he was, nor his age, though he’d picked up rumors that suggested Snoke was well over a thousand years.

The thoughts were taking him away from his count.

He restarted at a minute.

~***~

Neria was certainly paying attention to how carefully Poe landed the Orrineswa. No dents, no scratches, nothing in the landing seemed to suggest it would be damaged or even marred, so Neria gave a small nod approval, accepting that he could, indeed, fly it…in peaceful circumstances.

She wasn’t so sure she was going to let him fly it if things turned to hostilities, as she knew they may.

Now they were on Terex’s trail. He may not have had time to leave anything here, but he would have started to move his own pieces to protect himself, to keep them from catching up, no matter how futile running away was.

“Indeed, I am. Aye-one,” she called as she rose, and the droid came forward, “Keep the ship hot, myself and Dameron are the only ones allowed in until I say otherwise, in person. Don’t trust anyone else.”

“We’re on Takodana, I know how this works,” the droid almost sounded miffed to be told how to operate.

Neria’s eyes just held a slight glint of amusement at that, but gave the droid a small nod of acceptance, “My apologies, Aye-one. I shouldn’t doubt you.” She moved by the droid, who was waiting for Poe to move to make a few adjustments to how the ship was humming. Neria didn’t glance back or wait – she was down and off the ramp and into the hangar soon, taking in the scents and sights immediately wafting over from the large castle.

Flags danced in the air, and every time, her eyes always sought Eriadu’s flag amidst it all, so far from the Imperial flag – a reminder of what had come first. Even Alderaan’s flag still hung amidst all the others, despite being long gone.

These all lined the path to the stairs, and on up the stairs, to the castle that was both Maz’s home and Maz’s business. Aliens of all sorts moved about in various states of intoxication, and were ignored by Tarkin. A few, however, didn’t ignore her. A few froze on the spot – pirates who knew the name and face too personally, and others, who knew it too impersonally. It wasn’t the majority, but Neria marked each one in her mind, trying to assess the odds they knew Terex, before she reached the final step, and pushed open one of the two doors to the cacophony of noise and conversation that was Maz’s Castle.

“See anyone you know?” Neria would throw back to Poe, partially curious, but more to see his response to the place. If he saw anyone he knew, it would be notable. Anyone he knew, Terex might have known.

 

[insensitive]

Five minutes.

That would be more than enough. The Resistance uniforms weren’t the most difficult things to get into, provided they weren’t pilot’s uniforms. Those, on the other hand, were a pain in the ass, and neither uniform was particularly flattering.

Her uniform was comprised of a light-beige, long-sleeved shirt and baggy pants equipped with plenty of pockets. Atop the shirt, she wore a heavy rust-brown vest, which usually carried most of her necessities. All of which, as well as her weapons, would either be among the wreckage back on Iridonia, or was taken from her during the trip from the planet.

She pushed the thought of those events, her companion, away and waited for the door to close. Her voice would be heard through the door, which made her question if that was intentional.

The First Order thrived on fear. She didn’t doubt it could be used as a means of keeping others aboard the ship in check. ‘That’s not how things work with the rebels,’ but she figured nothing worked the same as it did in the Resistance.

Of course, they still tortured. It was a necessary tactic, in some situations. The reminder made her question her bitterness, but she was snapped from her thoughts at a grumbling noise that sounded from somewhere nearby.

Her stomach. She hadn’t eaten in...well, she wasn’t sure how long, but judging by the hollowness of her body, it had been far too long.

Lee reached over to the table, lifting the shake up for inspection. It looked more like a green sludge than a “shake”. Too hungry to care, she pressed the cup to her lips, taking in as much as she could without accidentally drowning herself.

She frowned, swallowing the last bit with a sour expression as the taste began to register before setting the near-empty cup down. Of course even their food was unenjoyable.

With the minutes in mind she unzipped her jacket, quickly wiggling out of it as well as her pants, before wrestling the shirt over her head and leaving all three in a heap on the floor, as well as her boots. She examined the black jumpsuit briefly, relieved that it was uncomplicated, and pulled it onto her figure. Surprisingly, it fit nicely, only a tad loose around the arms and legs given her height, but nothing drastic. It looked as simple as its design, with a small collar around the neck. She zipped it up, adjusting it comfortably in place before slipping back into her boots and lifting the pile of clothing up into her arms.

“I'm dressed,” she yelled to the door, per instruction, resisting the urge to cringe. She felt like a child, awaiting direction from much more capable, superior adults.

~***~

A1D-3 was quick to approach them, which left Poe to wonder where the droid had been waiting. He hadn’t heard it but a few times during the flight, but given the ease of the conversation, its presence when closeby had hardly registered.

When finished taking the necessary steps to lock up the ship’s systems, Poe stood as well, watching the exchange between the two. For a moment, Aye-one reminded him of a few of the rebels back at base.

He followed Neria down the ramp, taking in the true size of the hangar once he was inside of it, his eyes widening some as a barrage of scents, sights, and sounds tumbled over him. He paused only once or twice, attempting to get a better look at the ships as they passed like any flyboy would.

‘This place is enormous…’ he thought to himself. The lines that went in zig-zag patterns over the castle’s outer walls were adorned with a myriad of flags honoring so many planets. All the worlds, as far as he could see, were present as far as representation.

Even Yavin 4, his homeworld, was included among the hanging banners. A pang of emotion he couldn’t identify hit his heart when he saw it; it’d been a long time since he’d been there. Though its surface wasn’t always the friendliest of landscapes, it held history that included the Jedi, and the Rebellion.

It held history of he and his parents.

Those memories, however, were swept away once he spotted the Imperial flag. ‘All are welcome.’

Once inside, the sounds only intensified, as did the smells of various foods and intoxicants. But his focus switched to the eyes that followed them. Her, specifically. Not all of them were pleasant. It seemed that, in fact, most of them weren’t.

Her question nearly breezed right by him, but he turned his attention away from the people once they made it further into the place. He scanned the faces, looking for someone he might recognize. “No…” he said, at first more to himself than to her, “Not at all,” yet. He was sure that was a good thing, though; anyone he might recognize would more than likely be wanting his head.

Or maybe not something so extreme. Nevertheless, he didn’t have the best reputation amongst pirates.

“Maybe we should just stick to finding this bar,” he said, lowering his voice a little but leaning in so that she could still hear him. “I don’t want to find out exactly how big a place this is,” even if he didn’t know all these people, word spread easily. Not only was Neria a perfect example, but he was catching glances the further they went. He didn’t want an opportunity to recognize them.

 

[Lucyfer]

It had nearly been the full five minutes before Kylo Ren heard the call that she was dressed. When he turned back to the door and it opened, the reason why became obvious. She had dressed in more layers than he’d cared to notice, and she had also paused to drink most of her shake already.

He debated gesturing her back to the interrogation slab, and for the moment, decided against it.

The door shut behind him and he came back around. “I spoke with Supreme Leader Snoke. For the moment, he has agreed to spare your life.” He had managed to make Snoke see her in a good light. He imagined it went without saying that if she opted to remain with the Resistance, that could be taken away at any time.

Her indecision could only last so long, as well.

He gave her a once-over then. The uniform was plain, something worn under most other attire, as it didn’t reflect anything relating to the First Order. It seemed to fit her, albeit a bit loosely. Still, it had to be better than wearing the dirty and bloody attire of before.

“Have you taken more time to consider your position?” In relation to the First Order. In relation to Leia, and the Resistance.

He didn’t know yet if it had been enough time to come to a decision, but he expected it had been enough time to have more questions about her situation. He felt a bit more calm now, after speaking with Snoke and meditating.

He wouldn’t let mention of Leia Organa unravel him again. Not so easily, anyways.

He imagined she would be calmer now that she was at least unshackled, and had some time to rest, and consider all that had been said – the truths about herself, and what she had been following so blindly all this time. Hopefully, she would no longer follow it all so blindly, but come to realize she had been on the wrong side – a side of liars and half-truths, that needed to be put down.

Or at least…he hoped she would come to see that, the more she thought about it.

~***~

There was much that Takodana and Maz’s Castle brought out in others. Poe’s curiosity was more than what Neria had expected. A second visit may be in order, one day, so he could be allowed to look around the hangar and consider what ships he wanted to know more about. Neria didn’t pause while walking, but she had slowed whenever he did.

Within those doors, he didn’t know anyone.

Not yet.

But eyes came to her as she lingered in the doorway, wanting to be seen by as many as possible, wanting word to spread that she was there – if a panic ensued, anywhere, she could follow it and likely find something about Terex.

Poe’s wariness of the place was almost amusing. The way he dropped his voice and stepped closer kept a playful smile on her lips, brows lifted in anticipation of some sort as he made his discomfort clear. “Don’t worry, I was not planning to walk about here.” No, she intended to get right to the bar and find Maz Kanata.

The bar was not far from the door, of course – though it was packed. Neria paid that little mind, stepping between a pink fluggrian and tan clabronian. The Clabronian, in particular, looked miffed as she brushed between, while the fluggrian all but abandoned their seat in an instant, opening up space for Poe as Neria put an arm on the counter and glanced down to see the droid Emmie tending to things.

The copper droid noticed her as she leaned forward, almost over the counter, “Who is it today?”

The question might have seemed strange, but Neria answered, “No titles today. I just need to see Maz Kanata.”

“I don’t like it when you’re here without titles.”

That voice came from lower, and behind. Neria looked back to see the much shorter woman with the huge spectacles over her eyes, “Well – come on, I know you don’t have much time, if this is tied to how fast Terex went running.” A gesture away from the bar, and Neria pushed away, motioning for Poe – a gesture that paused Maz. “Who’s the boy?”

Neria would let him introduce himself.

 

[insensitive]

Lee straightened a bit once he entered, watching his movements closely. She stayed where she was, planted in front of the table, but she half-expected him to order her back into the chair.

Thankfully, he didn’t. He wasn’t at all concerned with what she might do.

“For the moment, he has agreed to spare your life.” A relief, but not one she would find herself grateful for. It was a reminder, after all; ‘You are at the mercy of these people.’

A few seconds of silence passed, in which she could not help but feel the tension. She was wrestling with her nervousness, not allowing it to outwardly show, but there was more to the situation than what was laid out on the surface. It was as though she was watching her old life slip away, escaping even further the more she attempted to reason with all the lies, or find some way that made sense to deny what he told her.

But there wasn’t one. There was no way she would ever be able to look at them the same. The people she thought were like family just hours ago were all liars, whether they were lying to her, or themselves.

She wanted to know the truth. She needed to. She wouldn’t allow anyone to make decisions for her any longer.

Lifting her chin some, she forced the doubts away. “I have. And I’ve realized I can’t trust the Resistance.” Despite the certainty of her statement, her eyes were not on his visor, but instead searching around the room as she chose the words. “My entire life, I’ve been one of them. I was raised a rebel. But I’ve known they were flawed, ever since I joined myself.”

She didn’t bother taking another look at the flaws within the First Order. She knew they existed, she’d seen them firsthand. She knew they couldn’t be trusted. But for once, she wasn’t even thinking about that - she was thinking about all the things Leia Organa lied about. All the reasons she had to hate her, and as a result, her Resistance.

It was enough to disgust Lee. She hadn’t even joined on her own accord - she’d done it because she thought it was what someone else would have wanted. What her father’s morals would have wanted.

That was what she thought now, at least, as every reason she had not to trust them flashed behind her eyes. Really, she was angry. In her mind, she’d been betrayed by her own family. And more than anything, it hurt.

“I want to see it all. I want to see the things they’ve hidden from me, about themselves, about the First Order,” she still didn’t trust them, and it was more than likely that he was aware. But if the Resistance hid so much, who was to say they were telling the truth about these people? She’d seen the things the First Order was capable of, the way they slaughtered so many people for a galaxy under one, totalitarian rule. And while it still had the ability to make her blood boil, how could she be so sure that was all of it? That it was wrong?

How could she be so certain that anything the Resistance had taught her was true, or right?

“And I want to learn about this...thing inside of me.” It had been there for as long as she could remember. Even though she knew what it was now, the Force, Leia denied its existence entirely. Every time Lee had done something that couldn't be explained, no matter how minor or severe, Leia was always quick to deny.

Every time, Lee was left to believe she was broken.

~***~

Poe wasn’t quite so amused - or delighted, for that matter - about the many pairs of eyes which followed her as they made their way through the place. Though some followed him, most lingered on her, and he questioned if that was the goal.

Most likely. She was a senator, he was Resistance, and these were pirates, so suspicious glares as a result of their presence wouldn’t be much of a shock. If that shock extended to panic amongst them, however, then it would be something to look into.

This was a place Terex must have commonly visited, Poe reminded himself. They would want to question anyone worth questioning before he was out of reach again. At least that way they could save some time.

Though he doubted Terex would manage to get very far, regardless.

The amount of people inhabiting the space inside was just as discomforting as the outside, but this would be more manageable. At least there were only so many of them, and he could pick out ones within the crowd easily enough. Outside, the mass was always moving, shifting between different areas of the castle.

Poe followed close behind Neria, taking note of the clabronian’s gaze as it followed them, as well as many others. Most looked wary, or were simply uninterested and did not notice, but some such as the fluggrian were wholly aware of Neria’s status and resolved to make way, rather than express distaste.

He watched the exchange between the droid and Tarkin, when the sound of another voice joining in caused his gaze to avert downward. Standing behind them, Maz Kanata, whom he knew for her reputation as the Pirate Queen of Takodana.

“Poe Dameron,” he didn’t much mind being called a “boy”. Maz, as far as he knew, was over a millennium old. If there was any truth to that, he was sure to be a boy in her eyes.

He wasn’t so sure if announcing his position as a Resistance pilot was the wisest, so he opted to simply cut to the chase. He wasn’t so interested in staying any longer than needed. Lowering his voice a bit, “And this is about Terex. You know where he’s headed?” a question, but he was fairly certain about the answer considering how quickly she picked up on their reason for presenting themselves.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lee tried to look confident and self-assured as she tilted her chin up, and Kylo couldn’t help but mimic the gesture a bit, canting his head back as he looked down on her. He expected defiance from that gesture, but that was not what came from her lips. Rather, she spoke to how she had given it thought, and spoke to the betrayal she felt.

Betrayal he had known.

Betrayal he could still feel in the air, coming off of her, as hot as any other emotion. Her tongue gave no lies, even if he was not fully convinced. ‘She is not saying she wants to join the First Order.’ He noted as she was speaking. ‘She wants to know the truth.’ To be able to determine for herself what was right.

Obviously, he knew that did not mean he could quite release her, or move her from the position of prisoner to ally. However, he did think it could mean a few changes to her station while she was learning, and determining where she wanted to be. Armitage would not be pleased with it, but the last time Kylo cared what Armitage wanted was nearly a decade ago.

Plus, she wanted to learn about what was within her. The Force, that pulsed through her, and must have saved her a time or two. Kylo did wish to teach her more of that, and he hoped it would guide her to the right path. “It’s the Force,” Kylo said, “It’s in everyone. Every living thing is tied to the Force, but not everyone can use it.”

While it bound everyone, it was not possible for all to use. Kylo did not know why some were Force sensitive and others weren’t. It was something he had wondered about before, being born to the Skywalker line, a powerful one, but not even Luke or Snoke had answers for him in regards to that. It remained a mystery, and not what he was out to solve that day.

“Tell me, what do you know of the Force?”

So many had misguided thoughts of it. They saw it as something mere Jedi used, to lift rocks or manipulate people, without understanding it and how it moved through everything. Proper manipulation of it could make one capable of doing, well, anything. With proper focus, and proper control, nothing else but the Force would be necessary.

~***~

Maz Kanata did not answer Poe’s query immediately, but gestured them on. Neria gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, but followed all the same to where Maz brought them, a table rather than the bar, where she must have been not that long ago. Fruits rested in a bowl on the tabletop, and chairs circled it – more than necessary. Neria presumed she’d had a meeting before them as she took one of the seats, and Maz took another.

“I do not know where he’s gone,” Maz confessed, “but I have information about his business here that may help, but first, I need to know what I’m getting myself involved in.”

Maz wasn’t a fool. She knew aiding in information meant she was also a part of the Tarkin scheme. “There is a 98% chance he killed Lovetta Tagge.”

Maz Kanata let out a breath, followed by a series of clucks that showed her understanding of the situation and why Neria was there under no title that day. She wasn’t there to pull rank, she was there wreak havoc over anything or anyone that got in her way. Another reason Maz didn’t like it when she showed up that way. She didn’t bind herself by the usual rules of formality. “She was a sweet girl. Could have learned to be more cautious, but, sweet,” Maz commented, “I am sorry for your loss.”

Neria shook her head, dismissing the words.

Maz went on without provocation, “He was here. He met first with a woman for payment. Perhaps it’s related. She’s long gone. Her ship was of Arkanian make, though, and her name sounded like one from Arkanis – Niani Sinyi.”

The way Neria’s gaze darkened suggested she knew that name, but she didn’t speak to that knowledge. Armitage Hux was not a standard name of Arkanis – Imperial import. The Royals and those tied to them tended to stick to more traditional names, and kept those sorts in their employ, as well.

Sinyi was an aide to Sindian.

“He stayed a night, and I heard him mention some business with his newfound wealth on Kafrene,” where he had gone, “before his tune changed.”

“What business on Kafrene?”

“Information, spice, he didn’t say precisely,” Maz answered.

 

[insensitive]

Lee wasn’t ready to speak such certain words as she knew he might prefer. Condemning words, that told him she wanted to be part of the side he had devoted himself to long ago.

No, she was far from ready, and they both knew it. Going for so long on nothing but lies, she sought the truth. If he truly believed that was what he could provide, then he would be more than willing to give it to her.

At least, that’s what she hoped. But she far from trusted any one of the men aboard this ship, especially not himself. That shred of hope within her, if she wasn’t careful not to feed it, would do her no good. Thankfully, all those years of living in the Resistance had done her some good; it would not be so easy for her to be convinced.

‘At least he can keep his word.’ Not even Leia could do that.

“It’s the Force,” Ren stated, though she was already aware of that. He went on, however, to give some explanation for it. And unlike its name, the explanation he gave, she didn’t know.

It was tied to everything living. That, she had no idea about. Of course, it was obvious that not everyone could use it, otherwise it wouldn’t be quite so mysterious. It wouldn’t be something that made those who could wield it, like Luke Skywalker, superior.

Her eyes flooded with some kind of realization at his words, wandering to one of the room’s walls as she recalled what she knew. There were different generations of powerful Force-users, and she knew some by name - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, the Emperor Palpatine - but the most famous line of them were the Skywalkers. Luke was as obvious a name as any, and so was Vader before him.

Anakin Skywalker. Luke and Leia’s father.

The grandfather of Kylo Ren.

Though not any of the sources Lee had searched through, Leia, or her father with all his lessons about Force-users from before, had made any note of the connection, it must mean something. Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker both were among the most notable of those connected to the Force. And Ren, while she hadn’t seen much of his power firsthand, was growing just as infamous.

When she was asked to explain her knowledge of the Force, she hesitated a moment, unsure as to how to respond. All she knew was what she’d been told, what she knew from her own discoveries. “It’s...the energy of the universe. I think,” that would make sense, if it was connected to all living things. “It’s balance - or is supposed to be. The Dark and the Light.”

Pausing, she looked at him. “Isn’t it connected differently to the people that can use it?” She didn’t know if different people were better at different things, if they were naturally gifted at a certain aspect of it where others were not. “In terms of power, I mean. Luke Skywalker is said to be one of the most powerful masters of it. So was Darth Vader, and he was a Skywalker too. And you…”

Though the statement trailed off, she only found more questions, forgetting that she might not be in the position to do so. “So if someone is able to use it, do they automatically pass it on? Or does it just increase the chances?” ‘Were my parents able to use it, too?’

~***~

Judging by the state of the table they were led to, Maz Kanata was a busy woman. Either that meant she and Neria were on good enough terms that they were being granted an audience, or the Pirate queen earned her reputation through generosity, Poe thought as he took a seat.

Both meant good things, provided Tarkin's presence didn't cause an uproar.

98%. That was more than Poe would have thought she was convinced, but he would take it, nonetheless. Not even he could blame her for the remaining two.

Maz expressed her own sympathy at the death of the Tagge girl, but Neria was quick to dismiss the words. Though it didn’t look like Maz was entirely pleased with the reason for their arrival, she went on, and Poe glanced Neria’s way in search of any kind of reaction that would clue him in to how useful any given bit of the information proved to be. If the change in her eyes was anything to go off of, he guessed she knew the woman in question personally.

The Ring - they knew that was where he’d run to, but if Neria had been right, he was long gone by now, looking for a new place to hide. Or was preparing to.

That, or he was expecting them to know this, and follow.

Unease flooded his expression. Kafrene was known as a trading post, a mining colony, but there was also the chance that members of his gang could’ve been alerted of Tarkin’s plan somehow. Though she was having someone deal with the Ranc gang, he wasn’t confident enough yet to assume some of the members hadn’t managed to flee, or hadn’t already been separated.

He wouldn’t vocally express this, not yet. If they were lucky, it was no more than a worry, but over the years Poe had learned to be cautious of Terex and his gang. It seemed they were everywhere.

‘“Newfound wealth”.’ He lifted a brow and looked over at Neria, wondering if it would benefit them to find out for themselves.

 

[Lucyfer]

It was as Kylo Ren anticipated. Lee did not know much in regards to the Force, although she knew some things more than he anticipated. She was able to point out the names of notable Force users, and to question that. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and himself were all of the same bloodline. Leia had the Force. She chose not to train it or harness it, though, something he had always wondered about it.

He was also envious.

The Force had plagued his early childhood years, erupting in fits of emotion. It never seemed to bother Leia despite her lack of training. It never seemed to bother Luke, either – he had no stories of such problems.

Kylo could only shake his head at their query, “There may be familial ties to the Force, but it has not been confirmed. I know nothing of the parents of Anakin Skywalker, whether or not they were able to use the Force. I have seen those come from parents who were not touched by the Force, have capabilities to use it. How, or why, someone is able to use the Force is unknown, but this power has manifested in you.”

She mentioned balance, and Kylo knew it was a lesson that Snoke tried to teach, in the early years. He was starting to think it a pointless one as Snoke, and he himself, focused more on the dark side of the Force. “The Force has a Light side, and it has a Dark side, or at least what the Jedi once termed Light and Dark. The Dark is considered any talent that the Jedi thought led to evil, led to power, and so they banned them in their fear of them and tried to quash all teachings of these things.”

Whether or not it was truly Dark was irrelevant to him. He didn’t see it as inherently evil, just as a path to power, and power was how one could truly begin to make changes in the galaxy. “How long have you felt it within you?” Perhaps she hadn’t known what it was, perhaps Leia had downplayed it, but there must have been a time when she sensed it, and knew something was amiss, before it was pointed out. “What does it feel like?”

He knew how it felt now to his trained understanding. He knew how to manipulate and move it, so that it felt like a course of rushing water through him, power just waiting to be released at his command, power ready to move towards anything at any time – but he still recalled when it felt more like bursts or explosions within him, when it didn’t flow so easily, and even the times when it was hard to recognize it at all.

He did not know what stage Lee was at, or how it seemed to her, but he had learned that teaching the Force required an understanding of the other’s feelings, and their way of defining it. Their language. If he couldn’t put it in terms they understood, there would be no way to teach them.

~***~

Poe did not speak up through the dialogue with Maz, nor add his own questions or input, except to underline the wealth bit. “He was paid for his service, no doubt,” Neria suggested. Terex didn’t work for free. For anyone. He may have his ideals, but he was still a mercenary sort. If he had gone to Kafrene to spend it, it could mean any number of things for what he would acquire, “Did he spend much of that wealth here that you saw, Maz?”

“Room, food, little else,” Maz said, “You’re wondering if he’s paid anyone to come after you?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Neria noted, “There aren’t too many bounty hunters willing to take that up, but he’d find them.”

Maz smiled, “I did not see him conversing with any of those sorts, before or after. Although he did seem to speak of doonium and the prices dropping. He may be considering investing in more protection for his gang, for himself.”

‘Everyone is noticing….’ And no one had answers yet for why the price had adjusted so rapidly. A matter to deal with later. “It seems I’ll have to follow to Kafrene, then,” she hadn’t wanted to head out that way, but to skip over and get ahead of him. Without knowing what he was sought on Kafrene, it was hard to estimate where his next jump would take him.

Knowing he meant to go there before he became aware of her investment in his death did mean it was unlikely he originally intended to set any traps, though. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t. He wasn’t stupid. “You don’t happen to know about the doonium market, do you?”

“So I’m not the only one finding that strange,” Maz seemed almost relieved, “It’s rare doonium becomes so costly without kyber following. Something is being built with it all, but I haven’t heard any rumors on that, either. It’s certainly being kept out of sight. It isn’t you, is it?”

“Please. I’m only to blame for the price of stygium.”

 

[insensitive]

Lee assumed there must be familial ties, of sorts, but of course, she couldn’t speak to the extent of which they went. It wasn’t entirely surprising he couldn’t either. The Force wasn’t something she figured could be understood so easily.

It was becoming more and more obvious that he disagreed with the ways of the Jedi, but she could understand the dangers of power - too much power. She knew where it could lead; the Emperor Palpatine was a prime example of that.

Then again, the Dark Side itself, couldn’t be inherently bad. If there was to be balance, then both sides, Dark and Light, needed to be present. It was those who abused their abilities for selfish exercises in power and needless dominance - the kinds that benefitted nobody but themselves - that made them truly evil.

That, was not something she had been taught. She’d been taught to fear the Dark Side as a whole, regardless of who it was that wielded it. She’d been taught it was wrong.

His question made her pause. She didn’t know for sure how long it had been there, but as memory served, it was never entirely dormant. It was as though its presence was hidden away, far enough to remain an uncertainty, yet close enough to feel all the same.

And when it came out, it was chaos.

There were few occasions that it had shown itself, those being moments of anger, or desperation; moments when the air around her would flex, and her surroundings would tense, or quiver under the control of something she could never see or identify. It was never enough for her to truly understand - just enough to plant the seed of doubt, and uncertainty.

Sometimes, even the fear that this feeling, this presence, was more than she could ever hope to control or understand.

“It’s been there as long as I can remember,” she finally answered. “It feels...like the ghost of something. Something that’s barely there, so small I can’t be sure it exists, until it’s all I can feel.” She paused, hesitating a moment, before speaking again, “Until it’s consumed me, and I don’t have any control over it at all.”

It made her feel not just inexperienced, but incapable. Lee was realizing now just how little control she possessed, how much she didn’t know. She’d decided she couldn’t allow herself to let anyone else wield so much power over her, but it felt more and more like she had none of her own. And it certainly seemed there was no way she could attain it here, or anywhere near the First Order.

~***~

It was more than likely that Terex was paid to kill the Tagge girl, which Neria was in agreement on. Though Poe wouldn’t be aware of any personal ties Terex might have to her, he knew the man would be far more inclined to go after someone if there was money involved.

More likely still, if the First Order was involved.

Poe raised a brow at Maz’s comment about the possibility Terex was investing in protection for himself, or his gang. The subject of doonium and the fluctuation in its prices was one Poe discussed with Leia not too long ago himself; it was curious, he thought, and potentially the result of something dangerous. It was something he knew would need to be looked into on the Resistance’s end, considering all that it could mean.

He would try digging into it himself, but that was for another, later time.

“What’s happening with the doonium market could mean anything,” he said, “But you mentioned it seemed like Terex was concerned about it.” His eyes first addressed Maz, before he turned his attention on Neria, “Do you think it’s possible he could already be planning something on Kafrene?” The man could still be preoccupied with his escape from her, but he wasn’t a complete fool. “We could be running directly into a trap, following him there.”

 

[Lucyfer]

The masked man listened attentively as Lee spoke of her connection to the Force. It was nothing new to her, even if the realization of what it was remained new. It had been there, a whisper beneath her skin, a power that thrummed to life when her will, her emotions, overcame her. Kylo knew that. He no longer lost control as he had as a child, but he remembered that sensation vividly, and the way it had scared his parents.

He found himself reaching up to undo the buckles of his helmet, and to take it off once more.

This was not a task set before a faceless stranger.

This was a task meant for a familiar face, no matter how difficult it may now be to look at him, and no matter how much he preferred the mask. He set it aside, “I know that feeling,” without the modulator, his voice was sincere. Heavy. “When I was a child, I knew I had the Force, but I could not always contain it. The Force follows our Will. Even those without it can, in some way, influence the Force around them.”

Han had called it luck, but it wasn’t quite that when his shots rang true, just as the skills of some pilots went beyond mere knowledge of their crafts. Han wasn’t by any means Force sensitive, but his will was strong, and it was loud. “When I was a child, I would destroy things. I never meant to, but…,” it happened. His anger needed an outlet, and that outlet usually became the nearest things to him.

Occasionally, he felt that surge still, and First Order technology had suffered for his controlled rages – but it was better than the alternative of bottling it up. Not that Hux understood that.

“You have to become accustomed to feeling it within you. If you can already feel it consciously, then I want you to reach down into it now. Settle yourself. Breathe in, close your eyes if you need to, and reach within.”

This wasn’t a task for her to reach outwards with. Not if she already felt it. First she needed to accustom herself to what was within, before she could begin to recognize it as something that was around her.

~***~

‘Not anything.’ Neria did not comment on that. The doonium situation had to wait, but it could feed in to Terex getting supplies with the price drop, and fairly quickly, which was all the more reason not to wait and let him have such opportunity. Of course, most of his gang would soon be eradicated, and so would he himself – but still.

“It is entirely possible,” Neria confirmed, “Were I in his shoes, I would certainly be planning something. My next logical step is Kafrene, since he has been vocal enough about it here. Whether or not he’ll remain there to see it through is questionable.”

Maz hummed, “He should know you don’t throw a Tarkin a trap.” Maz knew that from more than one Tarkin. Their family history was written in their veins, as much beast as they were human – and they were the one beast no one wanted in a trap, not even Maz, because given an inch, they’d take a planet.

She’d seen it, more than once, and it remained what she saw in Neria’s eyes, the same eyes as Wilhuff, as Jova, and every Tarkin before her.

But the boy’s gaze was almost too fresh-faced to be sitting at her side, and conspiring to take down Terex. He was near enough in age, and the Force flowed around him in a fashion that suggested he held some familiarity to it, though he was not attuned. If she had known he grew around a certain tree, that movement would have made more sense to her.

“He should know many things, but his actions suggest otherwise. He’s running, and running prey tends to make mistakes in their haste.”

“Fear is often a bane more than a boon,” Maz agreed. And Terex had been afraid, no matter how he laughed, or how he smiled. “You may yet catch him up if you remain in pursuit, prepared or not. He left several hours ago, but if his business takes him time, you should arrive before he is able to leave if you go now.”

 

[insensitive]

When he removed the helmet to reveal his face once more, there was no wave of disgust to roll through her. But she felt something akin to unease, studying his features. Searching for little hints within them that would connect him to his parents.

It was no question that his looks had come from his father. Though she had never met the former smuggler, she’d seen his face more than once. It was unsettling, recognizing the similarities - the similar nose, and brow. Though Lee would have never guessed he could be Leia’s son by appearance alone, there was something to his eyes, she realized, that reminded her of the General. A certain sternness; something piercing that she could never quite pinpoint the meaning of.

In both pairs of eyes, it was equally discomforting, and for perhaps the same reason. It was the kind of stare that made Lee feel like she was being analyzed, her mind being read through a lens only the holder could properly discern.

“I know that feeling,” he confessed, which succeeded, yet again, in surprising her. A man like him did not strike her as one to possess much empathy, much less be willing to show it. But there was no questioning the weight of his words. None of the emotion within his statements were feigned.

That did provide her some relief, if only for a moment. He’d felt the weight of it, too; had laid waste to objects of his own on account of the Force. She wasn’t the only one who was prone to such things.

Lee’s chin raised some at his instruction, a small pit forming in her stomach. What he was asking of her wasn’t quite the strangest thing; on at least a few occasions—the nights in which she couldn’t make herself sleep—she had attempted to make sense of the feeling. A couple of those times, she’d felt it from within, somehow, though it was never strong enough to register as something so important. No more than a feeling of calm to focus on, and cause her worries to drain away.

That did not seem very difficult, on its own. So she lowered her gaze to the floor, inhaling a slow, deep breath. Directing her concentration on that which lay within. Her veins, her bones, the beating of her heart. Though it was thumping hard, nervousness having spiked its rhythm, it was more comforting than focusing on this ship.

Eventually, it became louder than the feeling of his gaze, and she closed her eyes.

And it was there. A presence, a still, quiet kind of life. Like the shadow of a ghost, it clung to her from the inside.

It was almost terrifying.

Lee drew in a sharp breath, her eyelids snapping open as it washed over her. It was stronger than it had ever been during all those nights—not anywhere near as obvious as when she’d stopped the blaster bolt, but, reminiscent of those times when it would lash out, it was there.

“I feel it,” she vocalized, pausing a moment as if speaking too loudly would cause the feeling to drain away. Or worse. “How do I control it?” There was a certain amount of ambition in her voice that hadn’t been entirely present before; had she not been focusing on the feeling itself, she might have been inclined to mask the sudden eagerness.

~***~

Poe did not disagree with Maz’s statement about the Tarkins. If there was anything he’d learned from the vast amount of information he’d gathered from the family—Jova and Wilhuff, more specifically—it was that, fucking with a Tarkin was no smart move.

They were machines, almost, in the ways they conducted themselves. Powerful, robust machines that built off one another through reputation alone.

And yet, the prospect of Terex being so naive as to throw one a trap did not seem entirely ludicrous.

But there was no way of knowing, and Dameron wasn’t one for sitting around and waiting for things to clear up on their own. If there was a smudge on the glass, he preferred to swipe it away himself. “All right, then we go after him,” he said, speaking after a few seconds of thought, “Catch up to him before he has the chance to put anything in place. Otherwise, we wait for him to leave and give him the chance to get his head straight.”

Poe didn’t think the man was known for being consistently wise, but he had moments. If fear was the motivation behind his decisions right now, it was possible they could still catch him within that state of mind before he was able to cook up something clever.

 

[Lucyfer]

The examination of his features did not go unnoticed by Kylo as he spoke to Lee. He didn’t speak up to address it, although it did spur both anxiety and anger in him. ‘What do you see?’ He knew, of course, what she saw. Even Hux saw it, and so did a man who’d only known his mother when she’d been a teenager. Hux had used that to his advantage before, to dupe people. He still remembered how grating it had been to hear ‘Ben’ slip his lips, but he’d played along.

They had gotten off that planet, and both of them had their way, it would be the first destroyed by Starkiller once the base was fully operational. Which, it should be soon. They now had enough doonium to finish the last of it off. The planet with that aged relic of an Alderaanian guard could be lost to time, and with it the memory of how easily people saw his parents in his face.

He didn’t speak to that aloud, and he tried to let that agitation fade when her gaze lowered, following his instructions. Though he looked at her with a similar, thoughtful expression to the one she’d shown earlier, his gaze was not truly on her in a similar way. He was reaching out, instead, to feel the Force within her.

To feel how it stirred.

And it did, as Lee began to calm. He felt it seem to rise up all at once, overcoming her senses in a way that was obviously a bit frightening, given the way that Lee looked up at him and spoke of it. ‘Of course you do.’ Who wouldn’t feel that? It brought a smile to his lips, though, to hear her ambition. What fear may have existed before, and what fear may still be there, was secondary to that ambition, now that she knew what it was.

That was the start. “In time, you will master control of it,” he answered her, “The first step is to become accustomed to that feeling. To make that sensation, normal, to have it ever present so that it is noticeable when it is gone, not when it is present,” he explained. That was the key of meditation, to keep the Force ever-present, and to keep one ever-aware of it, “Once you are familiar with it, you will sense how it moves through you, and when it moves to react to your will, your desires. When you recognize that, you are able to stop it, before it can.”

Sometimes, it would still get the better of her. It still got the better of him, at times.

“If you feel comfortable enough, you can try to reach out for that same feeling, around you.” The Force was there. It was not, perhaps, as strong as it was on a planet like Naboo. These were metal walls and nearly lifeless, save for the crew, but it was here, still.

~***~

Poe Dameron had a sort of anxious energy that Tarkin suspected could fly either way. He may determine a trap was too much of a risk, or he may decide that waiting around was not to his liking. In either case, Neria expected movement, and she was quietly pleased that there’d be no need to persuade him to go along after Terex now – before he got his head on straight.

“Thank you for the information, Maz,” Neria said as she rose.

Maz smiled to that, “Good hunting,” that was to Neria, before her gaze shifted to Poe, “You be careful,” he needed the warning. Neria could get out of traps. That didn’t mean Poe would, “And may the Force be with you.”

It was not what she’d ever say to a Tarkin; already she could see the slight crease of the woman’s brow. “If you need anything else….”

Neria just nodded. She would be back, if she thought Maz could help. Despite the woman’s history with piracy, and the family heirloom she kept, Maz remained a contact for a reason. Whatever history was between them, it was often left behind once Neria arrived on Takodana, and Maz seemed to feel much the same. So long as the rules were followed, there was no reason to dredge it up.

There was nothing else she needed to say, so she turned to leave. Perhaps further recon would have been useful, but she felt it wouldn’t offer much else about Terex’s motives. She didn’t expect Poe to delay; he hadn’t seemed comfortable with this environment.

Not that Kafrene was a more comfortable place. It was, likely, far worse. There were no rules to keep people in line, and the security there was…well, corrupt, to say the least.

 

[insensitive]

Lee couldn’t decide whether or not to be pleased with herself once a smile found its way to his lips, but then, she was too distracted to seek out a preference. That, and the sensation she felt was more than just that of the Force stirring within her; it was one of something akin to excitement. Accomplishment.

The feeling of being acknowledged, this presence inside of her being regarded as something not inherently bad but good, brought her more relief than could’ve been expected.

Master control of it. The prospect of such a thing was so new it sounded almost unbelievable, but the way in which he described it—the stories of others who had done just that, himself a living example, perhaps...it couldn’t be quite so impossible, as she might’ve led herself to believe after years of being ruled by the feeling. Years of that control slipping away, leaving her the victim of her own capability.

The idea of changing that, admittedly, had its appeal, and it shone through her eyes as he spoke. As did the bit of fear that still remained, reignited somewhat by the notion of having the feeling that overshadowed her life for so long be “ever-present”.

But she wouldn’t bother to question him, nor would she entertain the thought of backing out for very long. In spite of how comforting that seemed, it was fear that had plagued her life for so long. Misinformation, lies; hiding from what she was surely would not bring about peace of mind.

She nodded, her gaze lingering this time on Ren’s for a few moments. Lee wondered whether or not there was much to reach out to in this place, but figured that if there was, it would have to be himself—he was connected to the Force, and his connection was strong, if their...initial “meeting” was anything to go by.

Again, she closed her eyes, inhaling slowly whilst she centered her focus on the feeling. It was in the air around them, already she knew that, but it was just that: a knowing. Not so much a feeling as something she considered must be fact.

But eventually, like a low thrumming, it seemed to pulsate around them, and it was familiar. It felt like it did in those moments when it overtook her and, as a result, made her want to cringe. Subconsciously she did, and her brow twitched, her head instinctively inching backward, but she could feel his eyes on her.

Suddenly, the realization occurred that she could feel much more than that coming from him. Not just his gaze but everything, directly in front of her, like all the energy in the room had been drawn to one spot, drained from the air and into his vessel.

And though she had no way to place the sensation that went through her, there was something so distinct about it. Yet neither her thoughts or instincts could discern if it was simply off-putting, or strangely the opposite.

Quickly, she backed away from the feeling, stepping out of the trance once she opened her eyes.

“There’s…” She hesitated, blinking once, then twice, allowing her eyes to wander as she composed the state of her thoughts. Lee straightened some and glanced behind him, looking to change subjects; get an answer to a question she still had no answers for. “Why did Snoke agree not to have me killed? What am I being expected to do?”

~***~

Neria seemed in agreement with Poe’s conclusion, which both relieved him and brought about a new kind of dread. For the moment, he would settle with the relief and rose from his chair, eyes going to Maz as she wished them off.

The hint of a smile found his lips. He hadn’t earned a reputation through being careful, though he suspected there must be some benefits considering how many advised him to follow a cautious path. He nodded anyway, tipping his head in response to the phrase, “May the Force be with you.”

Neria’s discomfort went unnoticed by Dameron, though he already suspected her opinions about the Force differed from his own and the majority of people within the Resistance. It was something he would likely ask her about later; now was hardly an opportune time.

Having no qualms about leaving, he followed after Tarkin, at her side as they made to step out once more into the mass of Takodana’s inhabitants.

“Kafrene,” he muttered, keeping his voice low, “This'll be a hoot.” The sarcastic edge to his voice was obvious. He felt there was no reason to stay on Takodana any further, but migrating to yet another world full of pirates hardly seemed the most desirable of methods to employ in catching Terex, where comfort was concerned. "I'm almost sure one of us is going to bump into someone we'd rather not; the place is crawling with all kinds of lowlifes."

Still, despite making things more dangerous for them, the absence of rules and lawful structure on Kafrene meant they could take action if anything unsavory occurred.

 

[Lucyfer]

There was no further hesitation from Lee in diving into an examination of the Force, within, and without. His own gaze remained steady on, and so did his own presence. He didn’t swell it to make it easier to find – unaware that wasn’t necessary. He was used to his own presence, after all. He sometimes forgot how large an impact it made on the world around, and particularly how easily it could be felt by others with the Force.

He hardly knew how much power radiated out from him. Snoke always made it seem as if it wasn’t enough.

The Commander of the Knights of Ren was able to feel when Lee’s own energies brushed his, when her attention took note of his own. It was electric; he hadn’t felt that sort of sensation in a while. Snoke did not so often reach out, at least, not while on the Supremacy, not while such a distance was between them.

If he did, and Kylo didn’t notice…well, that wasn’t a thought he wanted to linger on.

He did, unconsciously, relax as her exploratory influence moved about, before she seemed to draw back to herself and speak. His brows knit together as she started to say something, and then abruptly changed it.

“No more than what I’ve told you,” Kylo answered, “you will have to make a choice at some point,” this would not last – not his instruction, nor her imprisonment, indefinitely. “You will have to decide if you wish to join the Knights of Ren, or if you prefer to keep your loyalties to the Rebellion. A time for that has not been set,” though he wasn’t sure they could bet on longer than a week.

He didn’t say that. He did add, “The Knights of Ren are other former padawans of Luke. Others who saw the folly of his way,” for he suspected that knowing he wasn’t the only one – knowing others had joined him, at that same time, would help.

~***~

Poe did not dwell behind or follow in her steps, but he came right alongside her. Neria offered a cursory glance over as he did so, grumbling the name ‘Kafrene’ like a complaint. It was inappropriate to smile at his mood, and yet, she did. “You’ve never partied in Kafrene before, Dameron?” There was a tease in the question. “Stars, I don’t think you’ve been taught how to be a proper rebel.”

As if ‘proper’ and ‘rebel’ belonged in the same sentence.

The lawlessness of Kafrene would offer ample opportunity in and of itself – to Terex, but to herself as well. She wasn’t liked, but people were willing to deal with her. Some might be more inclined to try shooting her first, but failing that, talks were usually an acceptable alternative. “Anyone in particular you’re concerned about running into?” She asked as the hangar returned to sight.

At least leaving Takodana seemed like it would be easy. “Exes, jilted astromechs, an ewok with a grudge?” The suggestions would have only gotten more ridiculous from there, but she managed to stop herself from continuing to make them. The intention was to help remove some of the tension, as well as to make him consider if there actually was anyone to worry about.

It might be impossible to predict in Kafrene, but some expectations could be set as they returned to the Orrineswa, which didn’t appear to be trapped or damaged. Even so, Neria’s eyes went over with a bit more suspicion as the ramp was lowered by Aye-one from within the ship to allow them up and onto it.

 

[insensitive]

Though she drew her presence away from his own influence on the Force, the effect he had on the room’s energy did not dissipate. It felt stronger, now that she was attuned to it; where it originated from.

Lee did not know much about the strange feeling, nor her own connection to it, but it was evident even to her that something about the energy emitting from him was different from her own. But that did not take away from the sensation still buzzing from within her veins. It was as though, when the girl reached out, a charged spark was what met her curiosity.

It only succeeded in elevating her intrigue.

Join the Knights of Ren. That was the choice being offered to her. Join, or remain loyal to a faulty cause that she would never return to.

Lifting her chin, she nodded. “I understand.” Perhaps more could have been said, even disputed, but not even the rebel in her had any desire to search for a reason. It seemed, there was none. Not yet.

Looking around the room, “Where am I going to be held? A new cell?” There was a slight challenge in her tone—given the way he’d spoken before, it sounded like he planned on enlightening her about all the wrongdoings of the Resistance, the superiority of the First Order; doing so from within a cell felt counterproductive—but the question was entirely genuine.

Besides, what shred of reluctance could be discerned through tone alone was almost too slight to perceive, given the resignation that accompanied it.

~***~

He gave her a sidelong glance, though the looming sense of dread did lift some at her contrasting view on the situation. Poe wasn’t quite looking forward to arriving on the planet, but he supposed it was only right that she should tease him. This was happening of his own accord just as much as it was hers.

He raised a brow at her rather specific inquiries. In actuality, his reason for dreading the world as much as he did was not a result of an inability to act like a “proper rebel”—a term he’d never once heard of, prior to this conversation—but precisely the opposite. It was too much partying that landed him a...poor reputation, in a few places.

But she didn’t need to know the exact details of that.

“I can’t say I favor the way the world runs to begin with,” he said as they stepped out of the castle, down the stairs and in the direction of her ship. “So long as we manage to avoid Cyd’s Pub, I don’t see it being an issue.” There were others, of course—bars, taverns, and the like—but back when he used to find himself on Kafrene, Cyd’s was his hangout of choice.

As a result, it became the very last place he wanted to visit. As he followed her up the ramp, he added, “Of course, knowing Terex, that's probably exactly where we’re headed.”

 

[Lucyfer]

A slight cant of the head, and a raised eyebrow was what met the query that came from Lee. A new cell? He didn’t see the purpose of that. She was in a perfectly good cell right now, and she had yet to agree to the terms.

She understood.

But she remained, presently, in-between – more rebel than ally.

“Why would you get a new cell?” He asked instead, curious, “Is that what the Resistance does with prisoners?” for she remained just that, “Let them have a new space after a few hours?” It didn’t dawn on him to consider that it might be better for her to have a place to actually lay down or stretch her legs, rather than return to the chair.

The chair was, after all, the best way to make sure prisoners didn’t escape. Removing someone from the chair suggested they could afford to be lax, and this was a woman with the Force. Kylo couldn’t imagine that would go over well if she wasn’t truly convinced to stay. She may be untrained, but now that she was starting to understand what was there, she might just succeed in a few more things than any of them would like.

~***~

Poe didn’t agree to any of those suggestions, but stated a locale, rather than an individual. Cyd’s Pub. It was not a place that registered as familiar to Neria, so she just hummed acknowledgment of it and turned over the possibility of Terex being there. He knew it was possible she had Poe with her.

If he knew Poe’s history, he may indeed take them there.

“Assuming you are correct and Terex finds a way to take us to Cyd’s Pub,” Neria said as she stepped back into her ship, and turned towards the cockpit to settle back into her seat. She’d let Poe play with the controls again to get them going. It might relax him a bit to have that distraction of a ship, “what do I need to know about Cyd’s Pub and your history with it?”

It could be as simple as a debt owed. That was often the case.

Neria doubted it was that simple, though. Not with Poe. He didn’t strike her as the sort to leave a debt unpaid without finding a way to pay it back, even if that meant a payment plan of sorts.

 

[insensitive]

Keelee's eyes narrowed, before sweeping along the walls, the chair. He couldn't be serious. Of course, she had yet to state any kind of allegiance to his First Order, but she hadn't expressed any desire to attempt taking off back to the rebels, either.

She wasn't an idiot, nor was she suicidal. She knew there would be consequences if she tried something so foolish, and judging by what he'd already done, there was no question those consequences would prove quite a deal more than simply painful.

The consequences could be lethal, if she wasn't careful. If she chose wrong-- whatever wrong was, in this case.

She didn't know the answer to that, but she figured that was why she was going along with this with so little reluctance; at least, she thought she was sparing him a great deal of trouble, anyway.

"Well, for starters, I don't see exactly how you're going to gain any favors with me if I'm going to be holed up in here," she retorted, not seeing the sense in holding her tongue. "Shouldn't I be given...I don't know...a proper place to sleep? Or do you plan to just keep me in here in this chair until you figure you have the time to pop in and tell me to 'reach out', or whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing? Or will I learn nothing but opinions and half-truths until I swear to sell my soul to your cause?"

~***~

Neria's assumptions were indeed correct about Dameron, but, though he was not necessarily the sort to leave a debt unpaid, he wasn't one to turn his nose up at the idea of say...persuading one out of more money than they may have wanted to give in the first place.

He settled into the pilot's chair, suppressing a sigh as he reached forward to fidget with the switches and buttons and things laid out before them. As he started up the ship's systems, ignoring the brief blip of curiosity toward the droid accompanying them on their journey and where exactly he usually went off to, he centered his focus back on her question. Where he wanted to start. What he felt he should say.

Perhaps all, or, at least a good deal of it. "Awhile ago, when I was just getting used to the freedoms of flying, and all, I was...not unknown to gamble. I was good at it, actually," he said, reminiscing about all the fun he had getting blind-drunk and throwing all his money at bets and games. "Really good..."

When starting out, perhaps predictably, he was a natural when it came to the spending. After so much wasted time in so many pubs around the places he went, he'd taken quite a liking to places like Kafrene. Cyd's Pub was one of his favorite spots; though it wasn't any kind of professional spot, as one would expect, it was popular amongst people who had a knack for high-risk activities. "More than once, I managed to make big money-- and not in the cleanest ways. When a bunch of wasted criminals are gathered around a table, you know, it's especially difficult to resist...getting them worked up, for lack of a better phrase," he said, readying the ship to exit the hangar. "The guys I bet with would throw all their money into the pot to prove something, depending on the day." Not always excluding him.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo Ren did feel the heat of anger cross over him at the tone in which Lee took, but her last statement was enough to nearly make him feel guilty, or at least, consider what she was saying. “I have not been giving you half-truths,” he couldn’t claim to have not given his opinion. He had done that.

He didn’t think that was a bad thing, though, but he felt defensive over her idea that he was only offering half-truths.

Regardless, she had a point. If he expected her to come to liking them, showing some further mercy may be required. “However, I suppose this room does not…inspire much faith in the Order. I can see to it that a more traditional cell with a bed is arranged,” they didn’t have many. It wasn’t exactly in their plans to keep prisoners comfortable, simply to use them for what was needed, and then execute them.

“You will need to continue practicing reaching out with the Force. It is the keystone of all use of the Force – I would expect you to continue to practice when I am not around.” That much, he thought, should have gone without saying. However, he reminded himself that she hadn’t even known what was within her.

How many people throughout the galaxy were so ignorant?

Likely, too many. With the Jedi Order gone, it wasn’t common knowledge, or commonly recognized.

~***~

Poe Dameron was, obviously, a thrill seeker. The fact he was a gambler, or had once been, came as no surprise. It was a common trait to flyboys, in her experience with them. Whether it was gambling with their lives, gambling with credits, or a host of other things – they liked to chase the thrill and the high of it.

Cyd’s Pub was apparently a place to cater to people like him, which made Neria a bit curious how she’d never known of it. She discarded that thought. It was possible her favorite flyboy didn’t know of it. He did prefer Spira, after all. “So you pissed off various individuals of, likely, criminal associations, and they probably want you harmed or dead for the credits. Makes sense, I suppose.” Neria noted, “I imagine some may have forgotten, or just don’t care any longer.”

There were others who would hold a grudge, and if Terex was aware of them, he’d enlist them. She wondered, briefly, how he’d go about it. Terex had a certain charisma in his cavalier way, and he had just gotten a big payday for knocking off a Tagge.

He’d never pay up, of course, but would those fools know it? “I’ll keep this in mind in our dealings on Kafrene,” she noted, “Was there a particular individual or gang you recall upsetting more than others?”

 

[insensitive]

Without the presence of the mask to conceal his features, the anger that crossed him was not quite so easily unnoticed. Not the most obvious to spot with how wrapped up she’d become in her own frustration toward the situation, how it certainly would have been easier had she and Nev just been too late and found the town in ruins—that, and he must have had some practice with keeping his emotions from reaching his expression—but it was there.

His dispute against her statement about half-truths could have been argued further. The things he said, though not completely untrue, were his side of the story when concerning the Resistance. A side of the story shown to him by Snoke, she thought. His image of the rebels and the degree to which he saw their wrongness was unmistakably out of porportion.

Perhaps just as much as hers about the First Order.

Her anger deflated somewhat when he seemed to agree with her. Though she still did not want to be regarded just as a prisoner, that was precisely what she was. To them, now, she was no more than rebel scum; a sight to look down upon. In the future, she would either be made a tool, or an obstacle to be snuffed out in a matter of seconds.

Which one was still her choice to make, and evidently, he understood that.

She didn’t bother to remark at his further statement, but it was obvious enough to her that she would have to become accustomed to the feeling of the Force. The way it shifted around her, the way it influenced all things physically seen, even unseen.

In a slightly calmer tone, she said, “So what now, then?” She suspected he must have other things to attend to, unless the Force Order made just as little progress as they seemed to have at the village and he planned to use this time to teach her other things.

~***~

Poe gave a low hum in response to her first remark. He doubted so many of his winnings would stay forgotten, especially once he showed his face, but there was no way of knowing who would remember and who would not. Furthermore, like she suggested, there was no way of knowing it would become a problem with a good majority of the people he came into contact with. Some might see his face and do no more than glare, before moving on with themselves. Others might not even have stayed on Kafrene.

“If Terex is expecting you alone, we don’t have a reason to worry just yet.” But that didn’t quite mean his presence would cause no difficulties once Terex found out. “Let’s hope he’s still preoccupied with panicking over what he’s going to do about the Tarkin on his scent.”

Once they lifted out of the hangar, him steadying the ship while they were headed for the next location, Poe’s nose wrinkled some at her question. “No gangs, not that I recall. But there was one guy, Ral Frayler. He had a...reputation, among a fair amount of the worse-than-average criminal sorts.” For Kafrene, that was saying something. “I left with a ship of his—it was a piece of junk, really. A beat-up Storm IV Twin-Pod, I think. No idea how he got it, but I didn’t ask.” Dameron ended up selling the thing off to some junk collector not long after. But still, it had been fun to see the look on the man’s face when he left with a few pockets-full of money and his whole ship.

Poe had the idea to return to Cyd’s only once more, after that, before having the good sense to leave the place behind.

“What about you?” he said, directing some of his focus from the ship for a moment to look at her. Getting them on course certainly had done something to steady him, given his obvious affinity for the silver vessel. "Anything I ought to know about, before we get there?" He imagined the world wasn't entirely foreign to her, either, but he wouldn't know. Most of her personal endeavors-- as he assumed they would for most of...ever, really-- were a mystery to him.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo couldn’t help but scoff at her question, “Already done with questions and demands?” Obviously, she had asked a question. By that, he mostly meant queries of the Force, or the First Order. Was she so eager to have him leave already? He took it for that. Perhaps she needed that time alone with the Force to get used to it.

Or perhaps she just wanted to make sure he got to the task of getting her a room. “I will see to it that a new cell is prepared for you, then. You’ll be moved to it within a couple of hours,” he’d see that some Stormtroopers escorted her towards it, likely the FN Corps again. Phasma was intent on them getting more experience.

He considered what might help, “I’ll make sure that a dinner is prepared, and there are a few sets of clean clothes allotted to you.” Being clean, being fed, these things would help her to see that the First Order was capable of more than destruction. They were capable of providing, as well.

Capable, willing, to listen and to negotiate, in some circumstances.

It wouldn’t be with the wide-scale, not with the Core, but the Core and the corruption of the Senate deserved all that was coming to them. The system had to be destroyed before anything could bloom from its ashes.

“You’ll need to return to the chair to be locked back in, until then.”

~***~

Ral Frayer. Neria repeated the name over and over in her head. She contemplated sending it on to her contacts, but opted not to, keeping her datapad out of sight. If they ran into issues with him, those issues would be dealt with. It wasn’t a familiar name to her, though she knew enough to be aware she didn’t know the names of every problem.

Just most of them.

At least Poe seemed to be relaxing as he played with the system in front of him, experienced enough to handle the ship without Neria jolting or flinching to correct him. A rarity.

“I haven’t seen a Storm IV in years,” she noted, “not my style, but I heard they catch a good price,” most things of Bespin did, though. Lando Calrissian liked to keep up that rich atmosphere, and the casinos there were definitely stacked to his favor so he often could.

Though, once upon a time, it used to mean Bespin was almost always on the verge of collapse. One wrong hand and Lando went scrambling.

He asked of her, and she let out a hum as she considered Kafrene and her experiences. ‘Where good dreams go bad.’ The unofficial slogan, a far less inviting one than Maz Kanata’s, but far more inviting than the Carrion Plateau. Oh, she’d been there. Usually she preferred to use intermediaries so the things done there couldn’t come back to her, but she had made her appearances.

“There’s no one in particular who lives there, or frequents it more than they frequent other places,” Neria said, speaking as she continued to think through it, “Of those who would be more likely to cause trouble, there are two: Lady Cerris, a nothoiin – one of the founding families of the Ring of Kafrene who now abuses the fact that it’s wasteland devoid of law to use that to better Nothoiin. Calling her out in private on that didn’t win me any favors…nor did my own abuse of the system to reduce the numbers of her preferred gang exponentially when she didn’t listen to me.”

The likelihood of that being an issue seemed slim due to that caveat, “Then there’s Mercurial Swift. Generally speaking, I avoid the places he goes. He’s a First Order bounty hunter,” with a strong sense of loyalty nowadays to General Hux, from what she understood. “He’s well into his 70s, but like Terex, he seems to be fine with cybernetic enhancements,” and he had more than one, nowadays. “Still pretty, and still dangerous. I know he uses Kafrene as a place to grab less than legal marks."

 

[insensitive]

Her eyes narrowed on him at his statement. She could hardly believe he might be so eager to be in the presence of a Rebel for very long, considering the way most First Order, as well as those that shared their viewpoints, looked at them. Regardless of whatever she thought she’d find here—answers, questions, enlightenment, or none of the above—she was still a Rebel at heart.

It wasn’t just a view, to her; it was the way she’d been raised. It was part of her, whether she wanted it to be or not.

Even if such a way of thinking was correct or not.

He continued before she could find a reason to answer. A couple of hours. That seemed reasonable enough. And yet, the thought of spending so much time alone and with nothing to occupy herself with but thoughts, in a cell, wasn’t comforting in the least.

She thought it had to beat whatever alternative she could have faced. At least this way, she could count on not being tortured—having her mind ripped open and shredded into again.

Lee’s brow raised some. She hoped it wouldn’t be more of that sludge, or anything with a similar taste, but she more than doubted it mattered. Instinct prompted her to thank him, but the thought of doing so conflicted her as quickly as it popped into her mind, and so she resolved to stay silent.

She looked over at the chair, hesitating a moment. She hadn’t expected to be allowed to remain unrestrained, but the idea of being back in that uncomfortable piece of metal for hours was just as dreadful as the reality.

“One more thing,” she said, meeting his eyes. “On Iridonia, when I asked you not to have the wreckage of my shuttle...searched,” the term “searched” was loosely, seeing as he would’ve done far more had he gotten to Nev, “and you agreed. Was it only because you thought it would’ve been a useless effort? Do you, genuinely, not care about us? I mean…” She paused, as if racking her brain a moment longer for the right words would make any difference, “If you’re willing to go to all these lengths to “better the galaxy”, there must be some part of you that cares about the people. There has to be some part of you that sees the things the First Order does are...well, wrong.”

~***~

Dameron couldn’t blame her for not having seen a Storm-IV as of late, considering that, since the incident with Frayer, he himself hadn’t happened upon any. Ships like those weren’t quite to his liking, either; he preferred the slimmer models, the ones that could sell you on style but still remain fast and loyal to its pilot.

But, nonetheless, he wouldn’t deny that the Twin Pods were at least good for a little lighthearted, carefree joyride with one of the Resistance.

A smile pulled Poe’s lips. He hadn’t expected he might take any Tarkin as the silent-shy type, especially not her, and so it was not at all difficult to imagine her words as realities. He figured, though, that such forcefulness would inevitably come with a price. He knew it, given his own hard-headed nature.

Never did it play out particularly well for him when poking the belly of the beast. He assumed this Lady Cerris must not have been a very frightful one.

Poe’s nose wrinkled some at the next name. Though he’d never had a run-in with the man personally, he knew enough about him to gather he was more than just a First Order bounty hunter. Like Terex, he was loyal, and those—when it came to the opposing side—were always the worst.

“I’m really starting to get tired of all these cybernetically-enhanced agents,” Poe said before adding, “The bad ones, anyway.” Not that he paid much attention to the good ones. The Resistance wasn’t exactly full of them. “But anyway—how much of a risk is there that Terex might’ve...recruited him, I guess? If he’s still loyal, they might not want much to do with each other.” Still, he wanted to know how easy it was going to be to avoid the guy.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo knew she wouldn’t want to go back into the chair. Her glance, and her hesitation, was entirely expected despite previous bravado and demands. He was about to insist, when she turned back to him, and asked a question instead.

Whether or not he knew the First Order was doing things wrong.

He almost wanted to sigh, but he didn’t. He assessed his own answer before it left his lips. He wanted to say ‘no’ immediately, but that would be a lie to himself. “Haven’t I said as much already?” He had told her already that the First Order had its flaws. The brainwashed Stormtroopers remained a point of issue with himself and General Hux.

That wasn’t all, of course.

“It seems less wrong than what the New Republic does in blatantly ignoring the problems of other worlds, or taxing them into dependency, all but making them slaves to the whims of the Core worlds. Our means aren’t clean, but neither is your precious Republic, and at the end, we will at least have put to end a system that has thrived for not just decades, but millennia, on withholding the means for stability from others.”

The Core could have solved so many problems a long time ago. They refused. The Senate enabled this – Old Republic, New Republic, it was much the same to Kylo Ren. “One day, you’ll see.”

Or perhaps, she wouldn’t. Perhaps she would be dead before then, but he hoped that Lee would choose right. That she would understand that what she was defending was wrong. More wrong than the First Order.

~***~

‘You know that one.’ Poe Dameron had not reacted to Lady Cerris in such an obvious way as he did Mercurial Swift. She couldn’t help but chuckle at his comment on the cybernetically enhanced agents. “I have never been a fan of it myself, but,” she shrugged, “compensation is fairly common among humans, be it large ships or cybernetic enhancements.”

Mercurial Swift compensated for age and the natural decay.

Wilhuff and Jova still would have made swift work of him, or so Neria let herself think. “I believe that Mercurial Swift would kill Terex as soon as work for him, but that adds to the threat. He may be there on word of Terex being there.” Terex was still, officially speaking, a traitor to the Order, and he knew things he shouldn’t.

There was the risk of ending in a crossfire if Mercurial Swift was there. He’d be happy to take them both down – and likely, happy to take down Poe Dameron, just as well. “I’d suggest a blaster if he shows up, and not asking any questions. Mercurial has always been a fan of close combat.”

Two batons – one that promised death, one that promised sleep. Both were to be avoided. “Of course, this is just worst case scenario. It’s also possible he won’t be anywhere near.”

If Neria were betting…she’d be betting on Swift’s presence. Nothing about this situation seemed good, not for herself, and certainly not for Terex, who shouldn’t have been stupid enough to kill a Tagge. That had to be seen as a liability, in a way. They had to know she’d hunt him.

So why not kill him first?

 

[insensitive]

She almost glared at him, as though he might have completely missed the point of her question. He’d admitted the First Order’s flaws, that much was true, but admitting to having a few “flaws” was different than admitting to be wrong.

Now that she thought about it, though, it became more than obvious to her how stupid of a question it’d been. Someone like him, someone who supported a cause like this, would never admit to being wrong.

She found that she was unable to dispute him, however, about the ways of the Republic; how it was so hesitant to give its support. Not only to the Resistance’s cause, of course, but to the Outer worlds. Leia herself had expressed her frustration regarding them a few times before, and Lee couldn’t help but agree.

So now, as he expressed his own, similar perspective, she wondered just how much of this ignorance he must have witnessed in order for him to feel so strongly against it. So much so that he could do such things.

After all, he was Leia’s son; he had to have been exposed to quite a lot.

In the end, perhaps she would see. Perhaps she would look back at the Resistance with nothing but contempt, and shun the idea that her father had ever been wise or brave for his decisions, as well as her mother for more reasons than she presently could. Or perhaps she would only have more reason to despise the First Order, and she would be killed at the hands of Leia’s own son.

“Maybe,” she said quietly, before turning back to the chair, approaching it, and positioning herself as comfortably as possible on the cold apparatus.

~***~

Poe gave a low hum in agreement about “compensation”. He’d known plenty of initiates who’d shown up solely for the bragging rights. Fortunately, most of them didn’t take long to dissuade from the job.

Though, lately Dameron may have taken those kinds of fighters, if it meant they’d have more than the few initiated this past year.

He agreed with her assumptions about Swift. If the man was as loyal as his reputation suggested, he would be more than willing to engage with Terex and Poe both, simply because of who they associated themselves with—and who they no longer did. As for Neria, whatever personal experiences she may have with the man, it wasn’t really his concern, but at the very least he knew that Swift would be willing to target her, too.

“Let’s hope for that,” Poe said, smoothing their course with the presses of buttons and the flicks of switches. “But if he does engage, what about you?” He turned his head to look at her. “I’m guessing you have more experience with the whole...close-and-personal thing than I do.”

Judging by her choice of weapons, at least, he hoped she was as good a fighter as he took her for. She was a Tarkin, after all, and he knew enough about the Plateau to make some judgements of his own.