Fandom Star Wars

KyloGlenn · Apr 24, 2016

Paquin’s eyes narrowed at Gnaeus, slightly annoyed that he was dragging her into this. But she knew he was only trying to help Kylo, so for that reason her face softened and she played along. “No,” she turned to Kylo and spoke the next words hesitantly. “If I were Snoke it would give me the impression that you were incapable and irresponsible.” She was being honest, but it seemed a little too harsh to her. 

“But, I’m not Snoke. I’m a medic. And as a medic, I think that leaving your wound uncovered is incredibly stupid. Do you know how many germs are crawling into it right now, just waiting to turn into an infection? Thousands.” Though Kylo was perfectly healthy and wasn’t likely to get an infection, she still hoped to scare him into at least getting it bandaged. Infections were Paquin’s worst nightmare, maybe they could be his. 

She backtracked to grab her bag and the blaster she’d dropped to spar with Gnaeus. “It’ll take two seconds and you won’t die from sepsis.” Sepsis wasn’t really in the question, but she was working off the hope that Kylo had no idea what she was talking about and would just go with it. 

Paquin was already walking out of the exit, hoping to avoid any backlash from her words. She also hoped that they’d follow, otherwise she’d look a little stupid. 

- 

It didn’t take Hux as long as he thought it would to gather a group of Stormtroopers, give them a comlink and instructions. They were to keep their distance but remain prepared. If things went sour, all Hux would have to do was press a button and the troopers would come rushing into Snoke’s ‘throne room’. 

There was an air of nervousness around Hux, things could still go so wrong. What if Kylo picked up on something suspicious? Luckily the General’s anxiety was nothing to cause alarm, they were going to report to Snoke after a string of failures, surely Kylo was nervous as well. 

Hux was not going to go in alone, so he went on a hunt for Ren. His presence with Snoke could either aid Hux or royally screw him. The knight’s failure could overshadow his, or it could worsen it. Kylo Ren would never have failed if Hux didn’t let Mira go. Of course, Snoke wouldn’t know that he let the traitor go. 

Hux sought out Phasma, who had been with Ren. She pointed him in the direction of the training grounds, and so he headed that way. 

- 

“No problem. And thank you for sharing.” Finn smiled. Despite his itching need to run and share the strange story Mira had told him, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t betray her trust, especially if he wanted to hear the full story. “I’ll see you later.” He gave her a nod in goodbye before turning on his heels and making his way to the command center. 

He barely made it a foot into the center before he was bombarded by Poe. “Did she say anything to you? About the First Order, Snoke?” 

Yes. “No, Poe. I just mapped out the base for her, took her to the showers and that was that.” 

“Sorry, Finn. I just think we’re wasting time.” 

“The First Order will still be there in a few hours.” 

“That’s my point.” 

Finn sighed. “This change is probably overwhelming to her. If she needs a moment to herself to rebuild, she should have one. Trust me, I’ve been where she is. General Organa,” Finn quickly changed gears. “Do you have those lightsaber parts?” 

Leia’s attention shifted to Finn, gesturing to a sack and a pile of neatly folded clothes beside her. “Everything but a kyber crystal, but from what I hear she already has one.” 

“Thank you. I’ll be right back.” He was getting a good workout. Nothing compared to what he’d been put through with the Order, though. He grabbed the pile and turned back through the doors. BB-8, who’d been rolling around the center, quickly darted after Finn before Poe could stop it. 

Finn set the items outside of the door like he said he would. BB-8 let out a string of beeps, informing Finn that they’d watch the items, make sure they got to Mira. Finn chuckled, “Alright.” And with that, he left BB-8 to guard the items.

Lucyfer · Apr 24, 2016

Kylo Ren’s emotions spiked with anger again, but then calmed as he listened to everything Paquin was saying. 

That, and he could feel Gnaeus’s happiness. He understood. They were teaming up on him, for his own benefit, but still teaming up on him. ‘Remember when.’ 

He shut the thoughts off immediately of Mira and Kevan, before it all became too antagonistic. The early days, when Kevan and Mira didn’t understand the power structure nearly as well. When it wasn’t set nearly as well. Before the First Order. Before…. 

“Sepsis?” Kylo didn’t know what that was. He knew he didn’t want it, though. 

“Yes,” Gnaeus also had no idea what it was, “It happens from blaster shots,” he was bluffing to help Paquin. 

Kylo frowned, then sighed, “Fine. Fine. We’ll just have it bandaged and cleaned, but if Snoke calls I will have to leave.” 

“We know,” Gnaeus said, his happiness remaining present as he moved to follow after Paquin, walking alongside Kylo. There was a moment, once they were out of the training grounds, where the pair’s emotions faltered. Gnaeus reached out and put a hand on Kylo’s shoulders. It was rolled off, but Gnaeus felt just a second of relief. 

A second of appreciation. ‘You really are afraid.’ 

Soon enough, the medbay was before them, “I think Ariel’s dead to the world, but you should still try not to scream when she puts the disinfectant on.” 

Kylo was taking off his helmet then, knowing he’d need to so he could take off his top for Paquin to treat the wound. He shot Gnaeus a nasty glare for that comment. “I wouldn’t.” 

“I’ve heard you scream before for less.” 

“I do not!” 

“See, look at you, screaming.” 

Kylo took a deep breath, an action that caused Gnaeus to let his eyebrows raise behind the helmet. Was Kylo trying to remain calm? Why? Gnaeus wasn’t sure what to make of the visible restraint, before Kylo went to take a seat, removing his shirt and armor. 

“Oh, that reminds me,” Gnaeus realized then he hadn’t shown Paquin his face. He quickly let his hands move up to remove his helmet, so Kylo wouldn’t be alone in being exposed. 

That wound was quite nasty. 

He shook out his brown hair once the helmet was off, “Hello,” he greeted Paquin again. 

~***~ 

By the time that General Hux arrived to the training grounds, Kylo Ren and the others were gone. However, RL-0022 was there, training with one of the vibro-blades. He noticed General Hux there, apparently looking around for something. ‘The Knights.’ 

It was the only thing he could think of. Though RL-0022 knew he was not in Hux’s good graces thanks to the Knight Mira, he still went to approach to try and help his General, “General sir?” He spoke, hesitating, before going on quickly to add, to assume, “If you’re looking for Kylo Ren, sir, I think he went to the medbay. At least that was what it looked like.” 

They were going to the medbay a lot lately. That was where RL-0022 had met the Knight who had stolen his armor. 

~***~ 

With so little left, Mira clung to what she did have, what gave her identity and purpose. The dress could be restored, it just needed washed really. The coat…as Mira shrugged it off, she wasn’t sure she wanted it fixed. It was a tie. Restoring it would break that tie, just a little. She hung it near as she figured out which shower stall she wanted, though the dress, shoes, and much else were all put into an open locker space. 

She slipped into the shower and pulled the curtain, always watching for passing shadows. 

None ever ventured too close, and Mira did begin to relax under the water. It was scalding, reddening her flesh, but she either didn’t care, or didn’t notice. She tilted her head back under it and let it burn her eyes, her cheeks—everything. The head wound cried out at the heat, but almost everything else relaxed under the constant pressure. 

The burning cleansed. Not everything, but it was part of many small steps that Mira knew would lead to her finally solidifying her path. Herself. 

The kyber in the locket seemed to sense this. Mira felt its pull on her, chilling the metal of the locket. Mira could have stayed in there to meditate, and considered it, until the water suddenly became colder than Hoth and Mira all but leapt out of the shower. It was amusing how easy it was for her to handle the heat, but not the cold. She grasped the nearest towel and wrapped it around herself, before taking the coat and her discarded clothes. 

She crept to the exit on tip toes, hoping there’d be something—and there was. 

BB-8 squealed. 

“Shh,” Mira told it, glancing down the hall, “And don’t record this,” she told the droid as she bent to pick up the clothing. 

BB-8 beeped its protest at her suspicions. “Thank you. For watching all of this.” Every piece for a lightsaber was there, enough to make it truly feel like hers. There would be leftover parts. 

Mira stepped back in and changed quickly into the new attire. It was loose fitting, and to her chagrin, looked a bit like a Jedi tunic. She still draped the coat over herself and then walked back out to find BB-8 still waiting for her. She dropped down to kneel besides the droid. “How anxious are they?” 

There was one long, nervous beep. “It’s okay.” 

And then BB-8 let her know how Poe was doing, and how he didn’t trust her that much yet, “He’s smart. I wouldn’t trust me. Would you take me to a good area to meditate?” D’Qar was rich in vegetation, in life. “You can tell them where I am then. I just need a few hours.” 

BB-8 seemed happy to consent to this and quickly started to roll off, letting Mira follow. She walked behind, which seemed odd to the droid, who kept pausing now and then to call her forward, urging her quicker, but her pace didn’t shift. Eventually it led her outside, to something like a courtyard. There were paths made through it, some official, some just worn down by people walking. 

BB-8 beeped out an apology. “No, this is fine,” Mira said as she briefly reached down to touch the droid's head, as if it were a cat. It seemed to preen like one, too. 

Mira understood she wouldn’t really be allowed to go far. “Thank you. I’ll stay right here,” she set her clothing besides her as she took a seat, letting the lightsaber materials come to rest at her side, atop the clothing. She opened her locket, “Go tell them. Don’t let them worry. They can set guards on me if they want,” she chuckled, but imagined it would happen. Leia might think she could trust her, but she still had to be a General. She had to take care of morale. 

BB-8 rolled off to report, and Mira took the kyber crystal into hand, though it did not stay there. 

As she placed her hands in her lap, the crystal floated up. ‘Mend.’ 

Luke had told her, once, to focus on an idea. A theme. Her first had been ‘Control’. Kylo then told her that stupid, especially for a synethic crystal. It just needed to be in tune with her emotions, and so she had tried—she made one. It had never truly felt like hers. ‘Mend.’ 

The crystal pulsed its own energy into her hand. Into her body. 

Mira breathed deep. One wrong move now, and she could destroy the entire crystal and add more scars to her arms and body.

KyloGlenn · Apr 25, 2016

Paquin found it cute, but unsurprising, that Kylo didn't know what sepsis was. It didn't seem like Gnaeus did, either. Or he was just trying to further convince Kylo. It could so easily be looked up on the holonet. It's what seven-year-old Paquin had done. Though, she still couldn't really talk. 

There were plenty of things she could have looked up but didn't. Like history, for example. 

Kylo's lack of knowledge on infections worked out and they were at the medbay in no time. She watched as Kylo again took his clothes off, thinking about how many times his top half had been exposed for her to fix him up. 'Too many.' She hoped this wouldn't become a common occurrence. 

Though, Kylo wasn't careful. She wouldn't be surprised if it happened again. 

Paquin looked to Gnaeus as he removed his helmet, chuckling. "Hi." She'd almost forgotten that there was a face under there. "You're nice looking if that's what you wanted to hear." Her tone was humorous, she doubted he cared. Though, it was true. All the Knights had exceeded her expectations as far as appearance went. Before seeing Kylo, she figured he'd be deformed. Like Snoke. 

She delved deeper into the medbay to collect the items she needed. She passed Ariel, who looked dead. She would've been concerned if it weren't for the snores. The scar medicine glared at her like she intended it to when she pulled it out. So, she grabbed it, along with the gauze and disinfectant, and returned to Kylo. 

She placed the scar medicine into Kylo's hand before moving to wash her hands and wet down a cloth. Gloves were pulled on and she stood in front of Kylo once again. She placed one hand on his shoulder to hold him in place like she had with Kevan. Only she wasn't about to stab him. She could feel that Kylo was not calm in the slightest. "Relax," she tried to urge as she began to clean the wound. It would sting, but not as much as the disinfectant would. 

Speaking of the disinfectant. It was time for that. It was a spray, convenient for the position of Kylo's injury. "You know, it's not as bad as everyone thinks it is." That was a bit of a lie. And with the lie, she sprayed the solution onto the wound. 'Don't scream.' 

- 

General Hux looked down upon the trooper, recognizing him as RL-0022. There wasn't anger towards the trooper like there had been when he learned of Mira's 'betrayal'. That had apparently disappeared at the same time as the anger at Mira had. "Thank you, 22." It made sense, Ren was injured. 

"Do me a favor," Hux was sure the Stormtrooper would agree, "tell the rest of the Stormtroopers to pause their training and put their armor back on. They may be needed." Hux was going to take extra precautions. The small group he'd organized wouldn't be enough to ride the base of all the Knights if it came to it. He wanted as many forces to be ready, in case they resisted being expelled. 

"General's orders," Hux mumbled as he turned on his heels and marched out of the training grounds. To the medbay he went. 

"--as everyone thinks it is." Hux caught the last bit of what sounded to be Paquin as he entered. He wondered what to do with the medic if it came time to banish the Knights. She was still of the First Order, but she was also a part of the Knights. Maybe she wasn't yet completely loyal to Kylo, maybe he'd give her a choice. A Force-sensitive under his command would be useful. 

He wouldn't get his hopes up. 

- 

BB-8 returned to the command center, immediately going to Leia and gently running into her leg. It let out a series of beeps, explaining where Mira was. Poe and Finn, sitting not far from the General, tuned into the conversation. "Someone should go watch her," Poe suggested before Leia had a chance to respond to the droid. 

As much as Leia wanted to trust Mira, Poe was right. BB-8 let out another string of beeps, varying in tones, and repeating what Mira had said of sending someone to watch her. "Alright. Poe, Finn, why don't you go keep an eye on her. Keep your distance, building a lightsaber is a surprisingly dangerous activity." 

"Yes, ma'am." Poe stood, Finn joining. 

"Come on, BB-8." Finn waved his hand for the droid to follow. Finn recalled Rey explaining how long it could take to build a lightsaber, the droid could entertain them if need be. That and BB-8 could lead them to Mira's exact location. "Later, General!" 

The two walked side-by-side in silence, the droid not far in front of them. They walked quite a bit faster than Mira, much to BB-8's pleasure. Though, the droid was much more used to hurrying after them. 

BB-8 led them a different route than it'd taken Mira. Leia had said to keep their distance and the droid would help them with that. They'd gone around and entered through a path of to the side of the courtyard. Finn and Poe laughed at the sight of BB-8 rolling through some of the tall grasses as they stopped. 

They were in front of Mira by quite a few yards. "We should walk closer." Poe offered, moving to do so before Finn grabbed him. 

"This is fine. We can see her and we're not disturbing her." Finn sat in the grass, finalizing their position. Poe rolled his eyes but joined his friend on the ground. Together they watched in awe as Mira pieced the lightsaber together. They hadn't gotten to witness such an event, the process was brand new to them. 

They remained silent. As if they made one noise and the kyber crystal would explode. It very well could have if they were in hearing distance of the blonde. BB-8 let out a high, drawn out beep that faded towards the end. Its basic language equivalent would be 'cool'.

Lucyfer · Apr 25, 2016

“She thinks I’m nice looking,” Gnaeus spoke in a boasting tone to Kylo, who rolled his eyes. “I told you these masks aren’t useful. We could win people over with our pretty faces.” 

“That’s what Kevan was doing.” 

Gnaeus bit his tongue. 

Medicine was placed in Kylo’s hand, and Gnaeus walked over to see what it was, “Chicks dig scars, Kylo.” 

“I don’t,” he emphasized himself, and Gnaeus smirked a bit. 

He glanced to Paquin, then decided to have a bit of fun antagonizing him. He knelt to whisper, “It’s okay. I felt that jealousy. I think she still likes you more than me.” He hadn’t felt jealousy, but he did feel a spark of anxiety. ‘That answers that.’ Gnaeus had a sinking suspicion that Kylo refrained from harming him in the medbay because it would harm the medbay. Which was Paquin’s. For a man who followed his emotions, he was sometimes rather oblivious as to what his emotions meant, or where they stemmed from. It could be quite annoying when Kylo was angry, but didn’t quite know why he was angry. 

He didn’t exactly think his emotions through. He just felt, and acted. “Don’t you have something better to do, Gnaeus?” 

“Not really,” Gnaeus answered, straightening up as Paquin turned back to them and came over. Gnaeus stepped back. 

Kylo could detect the lie in what Paquin was saying. Even so, he would try to believe it, “Thank you,” he managed to say, before he was disturbed. 

Gnaeus had taken several steps back, actually. He nearly bumped into General Hux who came into the medbay. He stepped around him, offered, “Ren will be a moment.” Oh, Kylo was going to hate this. Bad enough Hux had found him near death in the snow, now to see him getting patched up and vulnerable? Nope. 

Well, maybe not so vulnerable. Kylo was shredded. It would probably be a good reminder to the General that Kylo Ren didn’t only depend on the Force. 

Kylo did glance towards the door as he felt Hux and heard Gnaeus, distracted from what Paquin was doing. Then he felt the sting of the disinfectant without looking to expect it, and he clenched his jaw and his fists against the sudden pain. 

He let out a hissed breath. He didn’t scream, but he’d certainly wanted to. He wouldn’t dare to, not with Hux there. “I told you,” he was speaking to both Paquin and Gnaeus. 

“Snoke can wait five fucking minutes, Kylo.” He assumed that was what Hux was there for. 

Kylo dug his nails into the mattress he was sitting on. 

~***~ 

The process of attuning the kyber crystal to the Force was also a process of attuning herself to the Force. Mira found it a delightful process, one that allowed her to flex what she’d known and felt ages ago. She was at once hyper aware of everything around her, and focused on the single project before her. 

She heard BB-8’s drawn out beep, but it did not disturb her. She felt the awe. As time went on, she felt more of it as others happened by. She felt horror and worry, as well. 

The kyber crystal crackled with energy, and it started to illuminate. All the crystals were clear to start with, and a light started to glow within, a pale color. It would seem aqua at first, and even that would take a while to get to. For Mira, the time seemed like nothing. 

For Poe and Finn, after the awe wore off a bit, it was certainly a while. But they had signed up for guard duty, and so they would remain. They did become more bold in whispering to each other, though. It became rather clear that Mira wasn’t too easily disturbed, thanks to all the people who did walk by. 

Then Mira had to grit her teeth and set her jaw. Her closed eyes tightened shut. ‘Mend.’ 

What she felt was not ‘mending’. 

Snoke was aware. He had felt Rey’s awakening. He had felt Kylo’s awakening. Now, he was feeling Mira’s re-awakening, and Mira could feel his rage even here. The hue flickered, darkening, deepening, and Mira took in a deep breath and held it, grasping at herself again and refocusing. ‘Mend.’ 

Mira wouldn’t know the hue of it, eyes shut against it. The hue didn’t matter to her, so long as it was not red. Never again. The color was always a reflection of the soul. The lightsaber was, in so many ways, a truly revealing piece of a Jedi. 

As Mira started to lift the pieces that Leia had provided for her, the crystal was glowing with a soft purple hue. It had reshaped itself under Mira’s care, facets adjusting, moving so that it would flow to the shape of a curved handle again, so the power matrix would move through it without trouble. So it wouldn’t crack. 

Mira only opened her eyes as the pieces moved up, and calmly began to form them around the crystal, setting the crystal properly into the core of the power matrix. There were sparks, but Mira was careful not to crack the crystal as it glittered with energy and power. She had to align it just so the power grid was touching it, but not actually going through it. The crystal was in the grid, without being violated by it. 

When that was accomplished, she began to encase it in the metal, and made sure the activation button was a comfortable place. ‘Purple.’ Interesting. ‘Windu.’ The name came to mind, a Jedi supposedly second only to Yoda. She didn’t know much else about him, though. 

The crystal was soon encased in metal, although the core of the curved hilt did appear to have a clear center, from which the crystal softly glowed, visible and safe, once it was all finished. 

No errors. Mira let it fall into her hand and then rose. With a quick gesture, the blade lit up, a brilliant, electric color, that shed light on a world that had now fallen into night. Mira let the blade vanish and pushed a hand back through her now-dry hair. 

Finn and Poe were on their feet, and BB-8 came over, beeping its excitement and awe at all of that. “I’ve never seen one like that!” Finn let out, “How many colors do they come in?” 

“Quite a few, actually. My first was green,” Mira said, finding the belt and easily attaching the lightsaber to it. Leia knew this all too well. 

“Green? How many have you had?” Finn was quite curious. 

“Three. I was…,” a moment, and then, “I was a padawan before I was a Knight. I don’t think lightsaber colors are important right now, though.” She looked to Poe. He was the one she needed to get to trust her, “I have much to tell, don’t I?” And it was late now. Mira wasn’t sure how many hours she’d spent. 

“Yeah,” Poe agreed, “The General should still be awake,” but if not, she wouldn’t mind being disturbed for this. “Come on, let’s get you back inside.” 

“Wait, do you need anything to eat first? Drink?” 

Poe gave Finn a mildly irked look, and Mira said, “Coffee. Just coffee for the moment. You can bring it to the control room, perhaps?” No more delaying. No more upsetting the Greatest Pilot. 

“Sure!” He was a bit disappointed he wouldn’t get the rest of the story immediately, but he took heart—coffee kept one awake, after all, and Finn wasn’t feeling tired at all. Not now that he finally got to stretch his legs again. 

Mira bent to pick up her things as Finn sprinted off, and nodded to Poe, who took the lead.

KyloGlenn · Apr 25, 2016

Hux's face contorted with disgust as the Knight, Gnaeus Ren, almost bumped into him. Already he wasn't entirely sure if the man could be tolerated. "Yes, Snoke can wait five fucking minutes," Hux repeated Gnaeus' words, his repulsion clear in the way he hissed them. 

Hux made no move to get comfortable, his arms resting behind his back. "He's not yet expecting us. It's better you clean yourself up. If I were Snoke I'd be enraged by the sight of you." Hux might as well be Snoke as he was enraged by the sight of Kylo. He usually was, but now disappointed may have been the right word. An extremely enraged Snoke would work in his favor. 

Or not. 

Paquin finished spraying the disinfectant. "See? You're fine. Arms up," Paquin raised his arms over his head so she could wrap the bandage around him. It was what would work best with the placing of his wound. And with that, she was done. "Two seconds, I told you." She pulled off her gloves, throwing them away. 

"Now dress yourself, Ren." Hux was clearly unaffected by how shredded Kylo was, as he easily ordered him around. "Snoke may not be waiting for us, but I'm sure he's anxiously wondering why he hasn't felt Mira's death yet." He figured Kylo had spoken to the Supreme Leader. He also figured that Snoke would have felt Mira's death like Mira had Kevan's. 

Paquin refrained from shooting Hux a look that would say 'shut up'. He was still her General and she wanted to keep her position as a medic. But ordering Kylo around wouldn't be wise, he was already on edge. She was worried he'd explode like she'd heard he'd done many times. She still had yet to witness such a tantrum, but she didn't really want to. 

Especially not in her medbay. 

- 

Poe walked ahead of her in silence the entire time, BB-8 rolling in between them. His pace was not slow, enough time had been wasted. At least the Resistance's time. Mira had used however many hours they'd been out there wisely, getting a weapon out of it. 

He wanted so badly to ask and have her share her knowledge right then, but the General needed to be the first to know. Then they'd need to check the truthfulness of her information, but that would likely wait until morning. The kyber crystals, Snoke's location. Poe had only recently learned of Snoke, Leia finding it would be important to tell them. 

She'd also informed those who didn't know that Kylo Ren was her son, but only higher ranking Resistance members. Only people that she felt needed to know. 

She so strongly believed that she'd get her son back. Especially after Finn came over from the First Order, and certainly now that Mira returned. Poe didn't believe such things. Ben Solo was dead and eventually she'd have to accept that. But Poe would never say such things to Leia. Not only did he not have the heart, but he was sure she'd smack him upside the head. Or worse. 

Poe was both feared and admired General Organa. It was funny for such a small woman to be filled so much strength and ferocity. 

They'd arrived at the command center and the General greeted them. If she was tired, she didn't show it. Not only was she strong and fierce, but unbelievably kind. When she wanted to be. Like then, when the greeting was accompanied by a smile. "I see the construction of your lightsaber went well," she gestured to the belt holding the lightsaber. She knew it would. 

"Are you ready to share, Mira?" She asked as she gestured to a seat for her to take. There could be no more diddle-daddling. It was time for Leia to be a General.

Lucyfer · Apr 25, 2016

‘You seriously have a death wish.’ Or so Gnaeus Ren assumed from the way that General Hux chose to behave. That, or he was the stupidest man in the galaxy. 

“You haven’t—” Kylo started to chastise, but couldn’t finish his sentence for the pain of the disinfectant. He hissed out air through his teeth. “You haven’t even told Snoke yet? What were doing?” Not that Kylo really expected an answer, no doubt there was something the General found more important to tend to. What was more important than arranging the meeting with Snoke, Kylo couldn’t fathom, but no matter. 

Another mark against Hux was good right now. 

Bandage wrapped, Kylo let out a relieved breath and then grabbed his armor and his black clothing. It really needed washed, but that could wait until after Snoke. When he was allowed to leave, and let the guilt and shame of failure sink in. That was the best time for laundry and repairing armor. 

He did not put on his helmet, though. It would be better to leave it off. He didn't want to appear as if he were hiding anything from Snoke. Not right then. He held it under an arm. 

“He is very curious about that one, Hux.” And Kylo had failed to kill her. Hux had failed to deliver her. Which would be the greater sin? 

Kylo looked to Paquin and Gnaeus, “There will likely be more to do after I return from Snoke, so go eat. Rest. Prepare,” he wasn’t sure what Snoke would want, but he was all but certain it would involve quick movements—before Mira could start talking too much, if they weren’t already too late. 

Kevan had ratted on the First Order movements, that was clear. That was the information his spies gave him. 

Mira wasn’t being tortured, though. She would offer information freely, and she knew what the Resistance would want most of all. Snoke’s locations. Kylo knew she was aware of some of them, perhaps not all, but enough to cause problems for them if the Resistance decided to strike. ‘Snoke is already prepared, no doubt.’ The FO and the Knights weren’t his only source of defense. Snoke would always have others to defend himself with. He was a man of means and resources, after all. 

“Got it, Kylo. Good luck,” the words were offered to both of them. It didn’t take a genius to understand both were nervous, and perhaps that was why Hux was more snappy, more controlling. 

He was not in a good position, either. 

With that, Kylo led the way out of the medbay. If Hux wasn’t going to make the first steps, Kylo would, and he’d call Snoke to the throne room. At least then they shouldn’t be waiting an eternity. Snoke did tend to answer him quicker, and with what was on his mind…no doubt he’d be there almost immediately. 

Snoke would want answers. 

~***~ 

Mira gave a nod to Leia’s words about the lightsaber, as she slid into the seat across from Leia. “I am, General,” it seemed she got on well with General’s. It was going to be difficult balancing both, but Mira would need to. Though, she admitted to herself, she’d betray the First Order before the Resistance if it came to it. Yet, the information she planned to share was more to harm the Knights than Hux. 

Poe took a seat with them as well. The square table had a position on each side, and so he occupied one rather than sit directly besides Leia or Mira. BB-8 rolled up to be besides the table, between Poe and Mira. “Where should I begin?” 

“Snoke’s location,” Leia answered, as Finn walked in with the coffee and calmly set it down in front of Mira, only to then take a seat himself. He looked eager. 

Mira took the coffee, “Rakata Prime was his main location, in the Unknown Regions. It wasn’t far from Starkiller Base,” Mira sipped at the coffee, “General Hux was taking me to another location, however, to see Snoke. The planet was Ashas Ree,” she’d known by the coordinates Hux had prepared to jump to. “He also frequents Corbos and Kamino.” 

“Kamino?” Finn spoke up, surprised. He knew the name for one reason: “That’s the clone planet!” Being replaced by clones was a constant worry of any Stormtrooper. 

“Yes.” 

“Why would—” and Finn fell silent for a few moments under Mira’s look. 

“Are you telling me Snoke has a clone army, as well as the First Order?” Poe was not pleased. None of their spies had found this information out before. 

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” Mira said, added, “It is not as large as the First Order army. Snoke acquired others to clone besides the Fetts, and that took him time. It also takes time for a clone to grow.” It was a well-kept secret in the Knights. Mira wasn’t even sure that Hux was aware of it, although she hoped he was. Snoke had resources enough to fund the FO, certainly Hux was smart enough to guess, at the very least, that he wasn’t the only one on the payroll. 

Leia took the news with poise and without much comment. Not yet, anyway. “And the kyber crystal cache?” 

“Wild Space,” Mira said, “The planet does not have the name, but I know the coordinates,” she relayed those quickly, “Icy. Force-sensitive worms live there.” 

“Worms?” Finn sounded amused. 

“Yeah, like the whiteworms,” Poe guessed. 

Mira nodded, “Precisely.” Finn paled then. “But it is a large cache the knights will use in tandem with the holocrons from Korriban to make weapons the universe hasn’t seen in ages. The Knights have many sith holocrons, thanks to the work of Ariel and Gnaeus Ren.” Names. Mira wished she could show faces, but she didn’t have them. She wanted them to know the Knights, besides herself and Kylo Ren. "Snoke will make use of those. He hasn't gotten his hands on them yet, but he will." Mira was careful not to suggest the FO would--of course they would, but the threat, the focus, needed to remain Snoke.

KyloGlenn · Apr 26, 2016

Food and rest. Sleep she could go without, she’d frequently stayed awake for days at a time. But sitting down for a few minutes never hurt anyone. And food, she always tried to eat often but she usually forgot or became too busy. The food that First Order was usually awful anyway. 

Hux and Kylo left, the General surprisingly let Kylo lead the way. Paquin was nervous for them, she’d witnessed Snoke when he was mildly angry. Surely he must’ve been scarier when he was absolutely furious. Paquin would’ve wished them luck, but Gnaeus had already done that. Though, they probably needed all the luck they could get. 

Paquin turned to Gnaeus, “You can rest here if you’d like. I can show you to the canteen if you’d like. The food isn’t the most appealing. And they won’t tell me what’s in it.” She had serious doubts that it was as healthy as they tried to claim it was. Still, she ate it. Maybe one day she’d test the food. 

“Or do what you need to do,” whatever Kylo meant by prepare. How were they supposed to prepare if they didn’t know what to prepare for? Obviously, it would likely be a manhunt for Mira, but Paquin had not a clue what you’d bring on a manhunt. 

- 

Hux let Kylo lead only slightly ahead, lost in thought for a moment. His head seemed entirely convinced that he’d have to break from Snoke right that day. He was even thinking ahead, for after he expelled the Knights. How that surely wouldn’t be the end of Snoke. He couldn’t just rip an entire military out from under the Supreme Leader and expect no backlash. 

He was already thinking as though it’d already happened. 

His finger was just twitching at his side as he walked, yearning to press the button in his pocket and have Stormtroopers rush at Kylo, just get it over with. But he did not do that. He followed Ren to the isolated throne room and then walked ahead, entering the code. He allowed Kylo to walk in first, to call Snoke. 

He followed in after, the doors sliding shut behind him. A deep breath was taken, some nervousness dissipating as they progressed. “Well go on then, Ren. Call Snoke so I can upset him.” He snapped, just so not to arise any suspicion before the meeting went underway, just by silence. He had no idea how Kylo viewed him, but he imagined it was ‘obnoxiously bossy’. Might as well play into that. 

Though, it truly did not matter to Hux who delivered the bad news. 

- 

“How many Knights are there?” Poe questioned. Kevan hadn’t revealed that information, mostly because it’d never came up. There were five, at least. Or four now, Kevan wasn’t one anymore. Mira couldn’t really be counted as one, either. ‘So three.’ Poe wondered how four people, including Snoke, could pose such a threat. The Force, apparently. 

“The number of them won’t matter if Snoke gets his hands on the kyber crystals. Especially with the First Order and a clone army, those are the bigger issues.” Leia didn’t underestimate the power that four Force-sensitives could hold, especially with her son among them. But thousands of Stormtroopers, who knows how many clones, and ancient sith weapons? That was incredibly hard to beat. 

“We should organize for a group to head out to the planet first thing in the morning. Start setting up to mine as much as we can and try to protect it from Snoke.” They didn’t have the resources that they needed to fully mine or protect the planet, not without the New Republic. 

“I’d like to have it monitored as much as possible, as well,” she spoke to Poe then. He would be the best to set that up. 

“Done.” They could iron out the details later. 

“Is there anything else you can tell us, Mira? Anything about General Hux, the First Order? Any bases we might not know about? Anything else about the Knights?” Specifically, Ben, she wanted to know anything, really. She wouldn’t ask that outright, though. Not with their current audience. But she’d take whatever Mira would give right then and there. 

Finn leaned forward in his seat, wondering if Mira would rehash the tale she’d told him, about Hux letting her go. Or if that would stay between traitors. 

That reminded him. Did General Organa let Hux go? Or was that backup she’d sent still looking for him? Obviously they didn’t have any information yet, otherwise Leia wouldn’t be questioning Mira about it.

Lucyfer · Apr 26, 2016

Gnaeus wasn’t all that interested in rest, and so he shook his head to that, “I’d much rather get something to eat. Something greasy and cheesy sounds deliciously terrible,” certainly there was an area on the ship that had such food. The unhealthy but utterly decadent food. “I don’t care much what’s in it. I’ve probably eaten worse.” 

Every Knight had a story. Gnaeus’s wasn’t glorious. He’d been a street rat. Womp rats weren’t exactly ‘good’ food, but he’d eaten them. 

“Would you show me the way? I can bring it back here,” he wanted to stay here, though. Stay close to Ariel, to Paquin. That was his way of ‘preparing’—being in one place. It was easier to make plans when they were together, and also easier to convince Kylo not to do anything too mad. 

Besides, he already had his helmet off. He might as well eat a bit, “You can tell me how you became one of us on the way,” he offered, figuring the story had to be interesting if she’d been a part of the First Order, first. Or at least, it’d be better than talking about the weather. 

Because there wasn’t any weather to talk about. 

Just the void of space around the base. 

It made small talk rather difficult. 

~***~ 

There was something quite different about General Hux’s antagonism. It was more than the norm, and held much more smug superiority than usual. It was grating, and it was also unnerving. Kylo Ren wasn’t sure where it was coming from. Perhaps this was how the General acted when he knew he was in trouble? 

General Hux was rarely the one in trouble. Kylo Ren hadn’t seen it often in his time with the First Order. The man was usually quite efficient in all that he did. 

Kylo had no cutting remark. He simply walked on to the projector and sent out the summons for Snoke. He then paced back to where Hux was, thinking briefly that this might be the last time they stood together as equals. He wasn’t sure where the thought came from, or why, but it was…solemn. 

Snoke did not take long to grace them with his appearance. In fact, it seemed as if he’d rushed to the projector, for as it lit before them, his robes were swishing as he was turning to sit in his throne, and to glower down upon them. 

Kylo’s breath caught at that glare. He couldn’t find his tongue to speak. 

“Mira has returned to the Jedi.” Not the Resistance, that wasn’t important. 

Kylo’s tongue returned to him. “General Hux let her go on Coruscant,” he gestured to the man at his side, throwing him under the bus immediately. “I tried to retrieve her, but the Resistance had already showed up to pick her up—Finn and Poe,” Kylo indicated, speaking quickly, “I couldn’t—I’m sorry.” He took a knee. He bowed his head. 

In truth, he was hiding that he was shaking. 

Hux couldn’t feel it, but Kylo could—that rage. With the hologram before them, he could feel Snoke’s emotions as if he were in the room. He’d been told Vader could act so long as he could see his target. Snoke had never done such tricks before, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable. 

“General.” Snoke spoke the single word as his demand for an explanation. 

~***~ 

Mira was relieved that Leia took the kyber crystals seriously. She at least understood what a threat that could pose. Never mind the knights—dangerous as they were, this was far more important. 

Yet, Mira didn’t let Poe’s question side. When Leia asked for more, she noted, “There remain four knights. Ariel Ren, Gnaeus, Ren, Kylo Ren, and Paquin,” she left the Ren out for her. “Paquin joined recently, a medic of the First Order. There may still be information about her, but the others…,” Mira shook her head. She knew their real names. “Who they were is as irrelevant as who I was, but that doesn’t mean they can’t change. They can see now they’re falling apart.” In such a small group, two traitors was a devastating blow. 

Kylo would grow more paranoid. 

He might become more mean and turn the others away. That was Mira’s twisted hope for them. Kylo wouldn’t be saved until he could be turned on Snoke. The same, of course, was true of Hux. “If Snoke were out of the picture, General Hux could be reasoned with.” 

“He destroyed an entire galaxy!” Poe all but shouted. He had no love for a man that vicious. 

“And I’ve attempted genocide. I’m still not sure if I succeeded at it, but have you seen any ewoks around anywhere?” Mira snapped right back, and watched the horror in Poe’s eyes as she held his gaze. “Three knights,” Mira said softly, “against the ewoks, for a stupid helmet. We won,” Mira had wondered before if Leia knew of Kylo’s crime. 

A glance at her indicated she had not, or else it still came as a terrible surprise to her. “Snoke is terrifying, and General Hux is not a stupid man.” 

“You let him go….” Poe remembered. “You said it was a long story.” 

Leia caught the detail. She had not caught Hux on Coruscant, but as talk of Kylo Ren being there reached her, she hadn’t questioned why. With Mira now before her, and her defense of the General, she became more interested in this matter, of this missed opportunity. “Mira,” the name was a gentle suggestion to go on. 

“None of us want Kylo Ren to become General Ren.” Mira answered, “Long story short.”

KyloGlenn · Apr 27, 2016

‘To each their own.’ If Gnaeus wanted the mystery food, then she wouldn’t stop him. Hell, she was going to eat it, too. “It’s not that interesting of a tale, but I’ll tell it.” She waved her hand, a signal for Gnaeus to follow her. “So, there I was, walking with Kylo. He decided to make a detour to Hux’s quarters.” She began, leading him out of the medbay. 

As she thought back on it, it was kind of a silly story. Childish in a way. “Hux and Mira were there, eating dinner. Things were said and next thing I know, Mira’s Force-pushing me. I don’t know why. It might have had something to do with me asking if they were on a date.” To be fair, it looked like a date. 

“I don’t think Mira liked me very much. But, anyway. I didn’t fall down and apparently that meant I was Force-sensitive. I was brought to Snoke. Though, he said I had to prove myself, which I think I did.” By killing Kevan. Either way, she considered herself a Knight now. She killed for them, after all. Quite a few times. 

“And now here I am.” The canteen was in front of them. They’d gone to the middle level, in the middle of everything. “Like I said, not exciting.” She probably could have made it sound a little more intriguing, but Paquin was not good at storytelling. She was not the best at being social, even if she liked people. 

Unarmored troopers served food to others as they moved through a line. There wasn’t usually much variety, but there were greasy and cheesy items. Paquin opted for fruit, the only thing she was sure of what it was. 

- 

Hux remained unflinching when Kylo threw him under the bus, he had expected as much. He watched as Ren took a knee, keeping a sneer off of his face. ‘Pathetic,’ his head kept saying. But if he were Kylo, he’d do the same. Hell, if he didn’t have a group of Stormtroopers waiting for his word, he’d be on his knees as well. 

Hux’s head tilted upwards as he was spoken to. “I did not let Mira go,” he denied, though he had in a way. “She overpowered me on my ship. It was silly of me to think I could take her on my own.” He specifically targeted himself. Faulting Snoke would do him no good if he wanted to skate by. 

“She took me to Coruscant and forced me into a ridiculous disguise. She was going to take me to the Resistance. I saw a moment to catch her off guard and I took it. Then I ran.” 

“Would you not die for the Order, General?” Snoke didn’t like his explanation, that was clear. This was not going well, Hux could already tell. 

“Of course I would. But I wouldn’t have died if I stayed with her, not immediately. Even if I managed to get the upper hand, I wouldn’t have had it for long. She bested Kylo, I had no chance.” Hux subtly threw Kylo under the bus, he had to. “I would’ve been taken to the Resistance and probed for information.” The intensity of his voice grew as he spoke, but there was no panic within Hux. It was mostly an act, and he hoped Snoke wouldn’t notice. 

“They have the scavenger. If she could get into Ren’s head,” he knew about that, “she could easily get into mine. Then the secrets of the Order would be revealed and we’d have been brought down in an instant.” Hux knew that Mira must have been sharing some information with the Resistance. Price of admission. He just hoped it was nothing detrimental. 

- 

The name Paquin rung a bell to Finn. He remembered her. He’d helped his fellow team member, FN-2003—Slip—to the medcenter a few times. He lived up to his name, in more ways than one. Paquin had been…strange, but nice. Hardly Knight material, to him at least. But he didn’t think much about her. Not with Slip being reintroduced to his thoughts. 

Thankfully, Mira had drawn him from his depressing thoughts. She hadn’t relayed what she’d told him about Hux letting her go, but he wasn’t about to share that. She’d have told Leia if she wanted anyone else to know. 

“Mira, Hux can’t be reasoned with,” they were passed that point. In the middle of a war. Yet, she’d readily attempt to reason with Ben, given the chance. She even had Han do it, which ended in his death. If anyone was passed the point of reasoning with, it was him. They’d have a better chance with Hux or the other Knights. “We’re enemies. Even if Snoke is a mutual enemy of the Resistance and the Order.” 

Poe exchanged a look with Leia, a look questioning if they could trust Mira. She’d supplied information that would likely prove useful, but she was suggesting that Hux could be reasoned with? Poe had doubts. 

Leia couldn’t deny that it was worrisome, but she wouldn’t act until Mira had actually done something to prove herself untrustworthy. She’d come here willingly, was providing information willingly, had done nothing to harm anyone yet. 

“I’m sorry, Mira. But I think I have to agree with Poe and Leia.” Reasoning with Hux? Impossible. Not to mention that was the last thing Finn wanted to do. 

A string of beeps came from BB-8. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Poe questioned the droid. More beeps. “Yes, Snoke would be our enemy as well as Hux’s. But this was the man that hunted for you!” The pilot was arguing with a droid now. A droid that had no rank or say in anything, which made the scene silly. 

“This would all be dependent on Hux actually separating from Snoke.” Leia interrupted. “Tomorrow we’ll go through with protecting the kyber crystal cache and go from there. Now, you should all get some rest, it’s late.” The General’s motherly tone came out, but she wasn’t sure if that would end the conversation.

Lucyfer · Apr 27, 2016

Not an interesting tale? ‘You don’t know Mira.’ Not that Gnaeus could claim to have known Mira, but she wasn’t the social sort. 

Certainly not the romantic sort, either. 

“That’s actually pretty par for the course with Mira so far as testing Force sensitivity,” Gnaeus noted, “It’s no good to just tell Kylo that someone is Force sensitive. He has to see it,” Gnaeus knew the story of Kevan. Mira had revealed him. But, she might not have liked Paquin, either. Gnaeus wasn’t sure she liked him, sometimes. 

Well…now it was obvious she didn’t. Traitor. “Hux has no luck in love,” he chuckled at the thought. “Perhaps he should consider dating Kylo Ren if he turns people away that easily. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore.” 

Some trooper heard what Gnaeus said, and nearly spat out their food at the imagery. 

“That aside, I’m glad Mira found you before she went off the deep end. Though, you haven’t proven yourself yet.” It had to go deeper than that. “You’d know if you proved yourself,” Gnaeus noted. He spoke as if he knew—because he was pretty certain. “You have to overcome your temptation for the light, which basically means, you have to overcome the thing that makes you weakest.” He didn’t ask what she’d done. 

It couldn’t be it. Paquin likely didn’t even know yet what made her weakest. “Don’t worry though. You will,” he offered a smile, “Then, you’ll be free,” he said it as he walked to grab a tray, spotting an area of cheese, meats, and starchy vegetables that just looked like heaven to him. He would indulge his gluttony that day. 

~***~ 

“Mira hardly bested—” Kylo started, looking up and beginning to rise at the insult that Hux gave. True or not, he wouldn’t say that Mira bested him. Just that she got lucky. Had help. Alone, he would have defeated her, as he had on the ship. 

“She escaped you.” Snoke snapped at Kylo Ren, “And do not think I am blind to your state, Kylo.” And then his eyes returned to Hux, “Nor am I blind to yours, General.” 

Or rather, how well he looked compared to Kylo, which meant he had not fought very hard for his freedom. Hux knew Mira meant to keep him alive, yet he had not done his damnedest to escape. This, his general, whom he thought could stand up to Force-sensitives. 

No. 

Something was amiss here, Snoke could sense it. “The Secrets of the Order are already being revealed, General, and more besides. Strategy must change,” and Snoke shut his eyes for a few long seconds, before he directed, “Kylo. Hux. You will come here. We will discuss this matter in person. Immediately.” His eyes opened then to look both of them over. 

It was part to get Hux closer, so he could determine the truth for himself. He would make sure his General had not gone soft, before he let him know there was going to be a shift in the…order of the Order. It was time to put in more control, and more of Snoke’s own soldiers whom he controlled directly. The First Order acted too freely. 

Hux needed to be monitored more closely if he was innocent, and lowered in position as well. He had failed, gravely. He had allowed Mira to escape, alive. It would have been better if he had killed her. Snoke could have understood that, but to simply escape without putting a blaster shot between her eyes? Unacceptable. If he had the opportunity to slip by Mira, he had the opportunity to kill her. 

That was the cunning Commandant he thought he had made into a General. ‘This does not add up.’ 

“As you command, Supreme Leader.” Kylo had no issue with this command, of course. “Shall I bring the other knights?” 

“Yes.” Snoke really didn’t care, but it would be good to check them as well. Make sure Mira’s treachery hadn’t rubbed off on them. 

~***~ 

Mira couldn’t help but shoot BB-8 an appreciative look for the beeping agreement. ‘At least the droid has some sense.’ The suggestion was practical. Mira knew better than to argue for long about the General. 

It would be too suspicious. They would start to wonder if she was a First Order spy. “Leia,” she spoke softly, “Hux didn’t corrupt your son. I won’t ask you to open dialogue with Hux now,” that would be far too much, “but don’t discard it. Neither you, nor Poe, know the man,” she glanced between the two of them, “And I’m not sure you know him very well, Finn.” 

“And you do, huh?” Poe folded his arms over his chest. 

“Better than you.” 

“Guys,” Finn interrupted, seeing the tension building between the two of them. Neither were the sort to give up, “Come on, it’s late, like Leia said. We can have this discussion later, right? Besides, it won’t matter—Hux won’t separate from Snoke.” 

Still, Mira posed the impossible. “If Hux separated from Snoke, would you consider it, Leia?” 

Leia let out a sigh, a sound of frustration that held a note of exhaustion. “I would,” she conceded. She would not be happy with it, but she would at least allow for the possibility. She didn’t have high hopes—but the odds of Hux separating from Snoke were slim, anyway. 

What would it mean for her son if that happened? ‘The Resistance and the First Order would be your enemies.’ That was not a thought she wanted to imagine for long. The First Order would certainly strive to kill him, rather than capture, especially if what she heard about how well Kylo and Hux got along was true. 

Mira gave a slight smile, then moved off her chair, “I’ll assist with the kyber crystals if that is where you want me, Leia.” She could see the doubt still in Poe’s gaze. It might be denied, if she was deemed too dangerous or untrustworthy. She might be cooped up on base for quite a while. “Finn, can you show me where I can sleep?” 

“Yes ma’am!” He all but hopped to his feet, certain he would get the rest of the story now, once they were clear of Leia and Poe. He’d done well—he’d kept silent. “Right this way.” And Mira followed, finally taking her first sip of coffee as she picked the cup up to follow after Finn.

KyloGlenn · Apr 28, 2016

Paquin liked Gnaeus. He was pleasant to be around, as far as she had witnessed. Even if he did say she hadn’t proved herself. 

To be fair, she probably didn’t. She would likely know for sure if she did. Still, killing all those people and Kevan had to count for something, even if it wasn’t her temptation to the light. Whatever that would be. Though, Kylo had said he still hadn’t ridden himself of his. But then again, he was different. 

She just hoped it wouldn’t take her sixteen years. 

“Thank you.” She smiled back, in between nibbles of fruit. ‘I think.’ ‘You’ll be free’ sounded vaguely creepy. She didn’t ask what his temptation had been, it seemed like an all too personal question. She’d probably learn eventually, anyway. Maybe one day they’d all gather around a fire and tell stories. Paquin wanted to both laugh and roll her eyes at herself. 

“How much trouble do you think Kylo and General Hux are in?” She changed the subject, her curiosity getting the better of her. There was a part of her that felt she could have prevented this whole ordeal, at least with Mira. She had noticed something wrong with 'RL-0022', but did nothing to stop him. 

It was silly to dwell on it now. “I assume you know Supreme Leader Snoke better than I do.” All she really knew was that he was scary. Paquin followed Gnaeus to the variety of cheeses and meats, glad that there were at least some forms of vegetables. She was happy with her bowl of fruit, though. 

- 

‘He knows.’ Maybe not exact details, but Hux knew the Supreme Leader sensed something amiss. If Snoke knew that Hux let Mira go, he’d have been dead already. But if Hux were to go to Snoke, then he’d know everything. There’d be no hiding it. And there’d be no way to stop himself from getting killed, he’d have no Stormtroopers. 

He couldn’t go. 

He wouldn’t go. 

His hand twitched at his side and this time, he allowed his fingers to press the button through the pocket, right as he spoke. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Snoke.” He wasn’t going to try lying anymore. Now he had to wait for the Stormtroopers. They had the code to the room, they could get in. 

He’d just keep talking until they got there. 

It was clear on Snoke’s face, in the way he tilted his head that he was confused, as well as furious. “Are you defying me, Hux?” 

“Yes. As the General of the First Order, it is my duty to decide what’s best for it. And you, Snoke, have become a hindrance. You and your Knights,” he looked to Kylo as he said that, “have set us back with your shenanigans. The droid was unessential to the Order, Luke Skywalker does not effect us. Mira is no true threat to anyone but you.” Hux’s voice was as even and calm as ever, no nervousness within him. 

If anything, he felt a weight lift off of his shoulders. Especially when the Stormtroopers could be heard nearing the door. “I will no longer do as you command, as you and the Knights of Ren are no longer aiding the First Order.” He turned and shuffled to the control panel, preparing to disconnect from the call just as the Stormtroopers marched in. 

- 

“Most of the rooms are shared, but we can see if we can find you an empty one.” Finn offered as they left the command center. It shouldn’t be a problem. It may have been mean to think, but as decent as Mira appeared to be, Finn doubted anyone would want to share a room with her. 

“Goodnight, Mira.” Leia called to them as they left. “I think I’m going to get some coffee for myself,” she’d be staying up a little longer, as tired as she was. Just in case something came up. 

BB-8 made no move to follow after Finn and Mira, as Poe was in the room. But to the droids surprise, Poe knelt down beside it and spoke. “Hey, buddy. Follow after them for me, will ya? I know you trust Mira, but I’m not so sure yet.” The droid let out a few beeps of protest, but Poe gave the BB-unit a look. A long drawn out beep was emitted and then BB-8 turned around and sped off to catch up with them. 

Leia caught the exchange and as Poe stood up, her face was apparent with disapproval. But she did nothing to halt the droid. For tonight, she’d let it slide. Just until they were sure she was on their side. She went on to acquire a cup of caffeine. 

Finn led Mira across the base once again, back towards the showers. “So,” he began, lowering his voice as he became aware of the droid’s presence. No doubt Poe sent it. But it didn’t seem BB-8 was making any move to catch their audio, keeping its distance. “I noticed back there that you didn’t go into detail about Hux, you know, letting you go.” His way of reintroducing the topic. 

He didn’t want to pressure Mira into sharing with him if she didn’t want to. But boy did he want to hear the rest of the story. It seemed so out of character for General Hux to let someone go. 

Finn gestured to the side, to a room that seemed wide open. There were usually notes on the doors that usually said if anyone was staying there. It was convenient since everyone came and went. There was no confusion on where to stay. Of course, some people still had permanent quarters.

Lucyfer · Apr 28, 2016

Gnaeus gave a nod to Paquin's words of gratitude. "Hmm," he mused over her question. Then, he snorted. "None of us, except maybe Kylo, know Snoke that well. I like to keep it that way." 

Snoke was scary. The less he knew, the better, in Gnaeus's humble opinion. "But they're probably in some shit." He sighed, "Mira was Kylo's second. She would have been a Jedi." He didn't know how much Paquin did or didn't know. Normally he let the Knights speak for themselves but Mira wasn't a Knight anymore. 

He opened his mouth to say more, but the device on his arm beeped. "Speak of the devil...." He click it on. "What do you need?" 

He didn't get an answer. 

He heard Kylo's question to Hux. 

Gnaeus lost all color. "Oh shit." 

~***~ 

Kylo Ren let the shock etch itself upon his face. Snoke rose from his throne at the defiance. 

Yet Hux was moving to shut off his line of sight and Snoke could hear the march of Stormtroopers. There was no time. The General he had created was prepared. "Bring the Knights to me." He spoke to Kylo through his rage. That was more important--saving them. 

Hux would be destroyed. The threat was unnecessary. He knew it if he had called for backup. 

Snoke vanished with the press of a button. 

Kylo Ren was left with the order and his rage. "How long have you and Mira been conspiring?" Kylo snapped. He wanted answers even as the doors opened. He took his saber in hand, fingers moving by his wrist radio to call to Gnaeus. 

The blade lit red as Gnaeus's confused voice spoke out to him. "How long have you been plotting this, Hux?!" He sounded wounded, as if he had truly cared about Hux's support. 

Guns were leveled at Kylo but none yet fired. Kylo hadn't struck out yet, and they all knew what he was capable of. Yet, they would defend Hux. 

And Kylo definitely planned to make them. Snoke may have ordered him to leave, but he hadn't told Kylo not to murder Hux on the way. 

~***~ 

Finn wasn’t subtle. How he ever hid his treachery was a wonder, but Mira could appreciate some bluntness at the moment. She sipped the coffee as Finn spoke in a hushed tone. He wanted more. “No, I didn’t,” she admitted. 

It would make Poe more suspicious. She wasn’t even sure what Leia would think, but she hadn’t been willing to test it. Plus, it still put Hux at risk. She wouldn’t endanger him. “I didn’t lie, either. I let him go, as well, not that I had ever planned to keep him.” Story time, then. They were at a room and Mira walked in when Finn seemed to agree that this was empty. She picked the first bed she saw, and gestured for Finn to take a seat at one across from her. 

The coat was removed and laid across the bed before Mira sat down. “Hux had the duty of escorting me to Snoke, conscious. I’m sure you can see the problem of that.” 

Finn canted his head. “I used the Force to knock him out with his own blaster.” It made sense then, and Finn had to cover his mouth to cover his reaction, a mixture of amusement and surprise at the thought of the great General Hux being brained with his own blaster. “I took over, took us to Hoth to get a clean ship, and kept Hux in handcuffs until we got to Coruscant. He was surprisingly cooperative considering he had no qualms about strangling others with the handcuff chains." She leaned forward to undo her boots, relieved to finally be able to take those things off. 

Finn asked, “Why not just leave him on Hoth?” 

“Too much Resistance there. The General wouldn’t have gotten out.” Mira noted. “On Coruscant, I undid his handcuffs, and we were swarmed by papparazi before he could leave. So we left the docks together, got disguises.” 

“Yeah, I saw Hux’s,” Finn said, “You pick that?” 

Mira shook his head, “He picked out that travesty himself.” 

BB-8’s curiosity had caused the droid to keep inching closer, little by little, but Mira didn’t care. The droid had escaped Hux and Kylo Ren; it could do so again. And perhaps it would find a way to just hint at what she and Finn discussed. If it was listening. She couldn’t really tell if it was just watching or listening. “He had an opportunity to capture me again,” Mira noted, setting the boots aside and then loosening the tunic. This would be much better to sleep in than her dress; she didn’t exactly have pajamas with her, after all. 

Finn was all ears, leaning forward and listening. “I’m not good with the emotional side of the Force. When…when I knew Kevan had died, I broke down. I would have been an easy target.” A blaster shot to the leg, or if Hux had gotten close enough, he could have returned the favor, “Or I could have worn myself out. Hux did not do that, however. He snapped me out of it,” an oddity still. 

Even Finn looked surprise, but he let Mira keep talking, “And then, he escorted me to the Jedi temple. I think he wanted to see me safe to a hotel, but he took me where I wanted to go.” 

A bemused smile was on Finn’s face, “So I told him how I betrayed the Order. We shook hands, and he left.” 

“He shook hands with a traitor?” 

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Mira smiled, “It’s why I think he can be reasoned with. It isn’t all black and white to him.”

KyloGlenn · Apr 28, 2016

Paquin’s eyebrows furrowed, expressing her interest in the topic. But, of course, something interrupted. Their attention reverted to the beeping wristband. Gnaeus questioned Kylo, but an answer was not given. It was responded with a question directed at Hux, to which Paquin’s eyes went wide, worry coming over her. 

She should just live in a constant state of worry if the Knights would be involved in her life. 

‘In some shit indeed.’ 

Hux could be heard responding to Kylo, and Paquin listened for a moment before wrapping her hand around the device, hoping to both muffle them and her. “We should get Ariel before any troopers become aware of the situation,” if they weren’t already. Ariel needed to be awoken and hopefully shoved on a ship, along with Gnaeus. 

She had a feeling that this situation would be partial to Hux and not the Knights. 

“And Kylo, before he gets himself killed.” With the way Hux was talking and knowing how Kylo was, it sounded likely. 

- 

Hux rolled his eyes at Kylo’s theatrics. ‘So dramatic.’ “Mira and I haven’t conspired, I decided this on my own.” Partly true. Mira had implanted the idea in his head, but they were not in it together. He had decided to defy Snoke by himself. “It’s been on my mind since Coruscant. This really could have gone differently, but it didn’t play out that way.” 

Even as Kylo’s blade was ignited, Hux was unafraid. Kylo could easily cut down the small amount of troopers, but that didn’t worry Hux. “I sure hope you’re not planning on using that thing. You can kill these troopers, but there’s hundreds more,” fewer than there was supposed to be. But whose fault was that? 

“You and your Knights will be mowed down before you can even breathe on me.” Surely Kylo Ren couldn’t take being shot at simultaneously by x-amount of troopers. Nor his followers. “But go ahead and try, see how far you get.” Hux turned to leave, he wasn’t going to stick around to see. He had to expel the rest of the Knights. 

He really should be killing them, but that would be difficult. They had their surprisingly strong armor, the helmets, the Force. Kill them if he could, but the goal was to simply get them off of the base. It would come to bite him in the neck later, he knew, but it was the best he could do at the moment. 

Troopers fingers twitched on the triggers, ready to fire. Even Hux could feel their anxiety before he left, they were terrified to be put against Kylo Ren who most definitely was prepared to fight them. 

Someone was trigger happy, as Hux heard a shot be fired as he rushed his way to the command center. 

- 

“Are you sure we’re talking about the same person?” Finn was not subtle with hiding his surprise. He wasn’t the subtle sort and he wondered how Rey hadn’t picked up on it when they met. “It sounds like he cares about something.” Or someone, rather. Hux wasn’t exactly known to show much concern over anything, this left Finn confused. 

BB-8 beeped out what would be the word ‘friends’. “Don’t tell Poe about this.” Finn pointed at the droid. He knew BB-8 would have to tell something, that’s what it was there for. But hopefully, it would figure out how to be vague because Poe would certainly not like the conversation they were having. Especially not the part about Mira and Hux being called friends. 

BB-8 squealed, something like ‘no promises’. Finn could understand that, the droid had to listen to its master. And Finn was not Poe. His eyes returned to Mira, hand dropping to his lap. “I could see where you believe he could be reasoned with,” but Finn’s dislike for the man was too strong for him to support it. The man was evil, he’d done too much bad. Luckily for her, the decision—if it ever came to it—wasn’t up to him. 

“Thank you for sharing, Mira.” He didn’t have the heart to shut her down. So, he didn’t. He’d let her believe that Hux could be reasoned with. He hoped that she’d at least keep in mind that this was war. An entire Resistance to side with was different than letting one traitor go. Not to mention it seemed as though Hux liked Mira. Maybe even had a friendship before she decided to betray the Order. She was different. 

“It’s quite the story,” he chuckled. It was entertaining, if anything. “I’ll let you rest if you’d like. I’m sure you’ll be having to get up early, for the kyber crystal thing.” He was sure Leia would want Mira on hand for that. “Breakfast is from four to eleven if that’s your thing.” He shrugged, standing up.

Lucyfer · Apr 28, 2016

Gnaeus turned off the radio after Paquin muted it. “You get Kylo. I’ll get Ariel,” he figured that would be safer. Paquin might still be accepted as First Order, or allowed to move easier than him. 

If he just went to the medbay, though, he didn’t think he’d encounter as much resistance as those headed to Kylo Ren. “Shoot him with a tranquilizer if you have to,” Gnaeus rose, anxiously shooting glances at the troopers who were too busy eating to care about the panic that had overcome the knight. “I’m going towards Kamino. If you can’t get Kylo…go that way. We’ll figure it out from there,” he offered. 

He was pretty sure that Snoke was near Kamino right now, but he’d find out once he was far, far away from Alderaan’s ruins. Now was not the time to think of anything else, now was the time to flee before every Trooper knew what Hux had decided. 

With that decided, Gnaeus started to walk off, putting his helmet back on as added protection, as well as to free up his arms to get Ariel, in case he had to carry her. He was really hoping that he wouldn’t need to do that, though. ‘Please be conscious enough, Ariel. Please sense the disturbance and wake up. Please.’ 

Gnaeus didn’t want to die. 

~***~ 

Kylo Ren didn’t believe Hux when he said it was all on Coruscant. ‘When I find you, Mira.’ He’d rip her to pieces. There wouldn’t be an atom left. 

He was going to rip Hux to pieces, as well. ‘Wanna bet?’ Kylo wanted to bet. He was quite certain he could breathe on Hux. Spit on Hux. Destroy Hux. His rage was potent enough, so that when Hux started to move off, to get by his soldiers, Kylo rushed. 

One dared to fire at him, and Kylo threw it right back, but these troopers were prepared. One had a vibroweapon and engaged Kylo, halting him before he could just cut through them and making sure Hux had time to get out of sight. Kylo pressed him, and as the one who originally fired tried again, Kylo let one hand release lightsaber. 

A jolt of lightning threw that foolish trooper over the edge, and the next blaster shot was again returned, striking the soldier in the shoulder. Kylo then disengaged and whipped around, managing to cut vibroweapon trooper in half. 

But he could hear more. ‘Damn it.’ 

Hux had a point…and so did Snoke. 

He would have to run, before his ship was destroyed. Before Gnaeus’s ship was destroyed. 

Before they were stranded and butchered. Kylo Ren might be stronger than any individual here, but a mob? No. He’d tire. 

Kylo cut through the Trooper directly in his way and ran. 

~***~ 

Not subtle, but not cruel. Not mean. ‘Friends.’ “Maybe,” Mira said. She could count her friends on one hand. Ben Solo. Kevan Ren. Brendol Hux? “If we are friends, I’m a good ransom, I suspect,” it would keep her alive with the Resistance, if they decided she was too dangerous after what BB-8 shared. 

BB-8 sounded flustered when it responded to that. It scolded her negativity, and she gave it a weak smile, “Sorry. I’ll try to get better.” This ‘human’ thing was going to take a while to get used to. 

Her gaze returned to Finn. Hux had hurt him, of course. Brainwashed him. Set him to kill without consideration. All of this, Mira could, and did, sympathize with. “Thank you, Finn. One day, perhaps you’ll tell me your story,” a slight cant of her head, and she rose with him. “Good night, I’ll be up for breakfast. Maybe.” She might sleep for a week. A part of her felt like it. 

“We’ll see,” Finn seemed to understand her exhaustion, “I’ll have BB-8 get you if we need to wake you,” somehow he figured the droid would fare better. 

Mira gave a nod, then looked to the droid, “See you in the morning,” they would probably have to wake her. 

With that, Finn left, BB-8 tailing behind. Mira picked up the coat, and laid it across the small drawer near the end of the bed. She took the holocron out, and did consider watching it, but exhaustion stole that away from her when her head hit the pillow. The holocron, instead, rested near her pillow, untouched and unwatched. 

Her sleep would be far from peaceful. Snoke’s anger would rage as Hux defied him and he fretted over the Knights. Mira could feel it in the vulnerable state of sleep, and it left her with only nightmares of a future that should never be. Snoke’s dreams, and Snoke’s wishes.

KyloGlenn · Apr 29, 2016

"Good luck," Paquin mumbled after him. Luck was on his side, for the most part, as Ariel was awake. She felt Snoke's anger, Kylo's anger, Gnaeus's anxiety. She was well and truly confused, and a little pissed off. 

She was already ripping the IV out of her arm and throwing her legs off of the bed. She stood, shakily. She was groggy, the pills she'd taken making her dizzy. But something was wrong and she was going to find out what. So, with support from various counters and walls, she stumbled her way out of the medbay. 

Ariel had a vague sense of where Gnaeus was, he was closer than Kylo. And that's the way she headed. 

- 

Paquin was glad she knew where Snoke's throne room was, hastily directing herself there. No one had stopped her yet, even a couple of Stormtroopers rushed passed her, no doubt going the same way as her. At the site of them, Paquin's speed evolved into a jog. She was very afraid that Kylo was going to get himself killed. Even if she knew he was very capable, there were a lot of troopers on the base. 

She spotted Hux, on his own and rushing. And he spotted her as well but made no move to stop her. She slowed, unsure of what to do in that instance, but Hux kept on moving right passed her. She blinked, but continued towards the throne room. 

Hux was not slow in getting to the command center. He knew how easily Kylo could catch up if he got through the Stormtroopers. He wasted no time in ordering the officers around. "Send more Stormtroopers towards Snoke's room," the officers only knew what room he was talking about, not what carried out within the room. 

"Sir?" That was Phasma. Boy was he lucky that she was a part of the Order, under him. Otherwise, she would pose a problem. 

"Kylo Ren is no longer in the chain of command. I want him and his Knights of Ren pushed out." He only quickly elaborated. 

"Including Paquin?" Phasma asked to confirm. The medic was a strange case, being both of the Order and the Knights. 

Hux had decided when he was her that she had made her choice. It was clear she was going after Kylo, so he wasn't going to bother questioning her. It was clear that her loyalties had shifted. "Yes." Phasma nodded at his confirmation before likely leaving to command her troopers. 

Paquin had made quite the time, finding herself near Snoke's room in what seemed like seconds. But she did not relax, not while seeing Stormtroopers in front of her. They halted and raised their weapons, and that's when she spotted Kylo Ren. 'He's already running. That's good.' "Kylo!" She called, and that seemed to distract the troopers, turning to look at her. 

- 

Finn and BB-8 returned to the command center after leaving Mira. There they unsurprisingly found Leia and Poe, Leia with a large cup of coffee. Finn felt the urge to take the coffee from her and tuck her into bed. "She's settled in and gone to bed," Finn informed them as the droid rolled to the pilot. 

"I think I'm going to head to bed as well. You two should as well," he advised, concern in his tone. He really was just leaving so he wouldn't be around when BB-8 relayed their conversation to Poe and the General. 

"Goodnight, Finn." Poe offered. He wanted to make it clear that it was Mira he didn't trust, not him. 

Leia echoed Poe as Finn retreated from the center. Poe wasted no time in questioning BB-8. "What do you have for me, buddy?" The droid in question let out a beep, expressing its hesitance on the subject. "I know you like her and all, but this is important. What if she's a spy for the Order?" 

BB-8 let out a long, low squeal. A sigh. Then a series of beeps followed, explaining what had been said. BB-8 left out Finn telling it not to share the 'friends' thing with Poe, but it did share the bit where it called Mira and Hux friends, as well as Mira's response to it. 

Poe listened intently, even lowering to his knee to be eye-to-eye with the droid. Leia only listened half-heartedly, but Mira and the General being proclaimed friends intrigued her. It made her desire more information on the relationship, as that was worrying. She wanted to question Mira on it, but it would likely be better to just observe her. "Thanks, BB-8." Poe patted its head. 

Poe stood and turned to Leia. He didn't say 'I told you so' for three reasons. One, nothing had actually been proven yet. It was just a story at that point. Two, she was the General. There was no doubt that General Organa would slap him upside the head if he said anything. And three, he had too much respect for her. "Finn's right. You should go to bed. We all should. Tomorrow will be a long day." 

Though, no one slept long after that. They got up at the crack of dawn, most of the base preparing for the mission. BB-8 was sent to wake Mira up a few hours after everyone else. The woman needed the sleep. The droid was set on apologizing for sharing her story, as well.

Lucyfer · Apr 29, 2016

A voice spoke up, but Kylo didn’t look towards it the way the Stormtroopers did. Kylo took advantage and took hold of the Force, throwing all of the distracted Troopers into walls or into machinery that could electrocute them. A couple were shoved over the edge, and Kylo cut through those who had fallen in his path as he made his way towards Paquin. 

His helmet was now on. Armor. 

“General Hux has betrayed us,” Kylo Ren seemed to have no thoughts of Paquin being a part of the Order. Not now, and not with her concern. “We have to leave.” He sounded bitter over that, and made sure to cut a deep gash into the wall near him. He’d damage all that he could on the way out, and kill everyone he could. Everyone Hux threw at him would die, he’d make sure of that. Hux would understand the mistake he’d made, but there’d be no going back. 

And Kylo could hear more of them. His free hand clenched into a fist as he walked forward, expecting Paquin to follow behind. It was better if she was behind—she could be a target, as well, and she was more likely to fall than he was. She wasn’t as good with the Force, and with the numbers that Hux had…no, he couldn’t imagine her holding up against all those blasters or vibroweapons. ‘Every. Single. One.’ 

Fury and hate were all Kylo knew. There wasn’t fear, despite the fact he was going towards the hangar to run away. 

~***~ 

“Ariel!” Gnaeus cried out when he saw the woman in the doorway of the medbay. He ran to her, and didn’t ask as he wrapped an arm around her waist, “Lean on me. We have to go.” 

“The hell is going on, Gnaeus?” She asked, doing as asked, and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. She felt some pressure of the Force as Gnaeus steadied her to make them walk. 

“Hux betrayed us,” Gnaeus answered, making their pace as quick as he could, considering Ariel’s state. “We have to go. We’ll get to my ship, and…,” he cut himself off as they ran upon a group of Stormtroopers. 

There was a moment’s pause. 

Then, the troopers let them be and hurried off. ‘He’s not trying to fight.’ Gnaeus watched them leave, and wondered at it. Why? Didn’t Hux realize now was the perfect opportunity? 

Gnaeus decided not to question his luck—he just kept walking on without hassling the Stormtroopers. If they left him be, he’d leave them be, as well. 

~***~ ‘Peace is a lie.’ 

‘My chains are—’ 

‘—no Death, only—’ 

‘No ignorance, only Know—’ 

Squealing beeps. 

Mira’s mind reached out to grasp reality. 

The holocron woke with her. “There is no dark side, nor a light side. There is only—” 

It was a voice Mira didn’t know as her eyes shot open and she rolled onto her side, mind still hazy from the dreams, to see the holocron awake. A man with long hair was turning as if to look at her, but a smile was on his face as he asked, “Are you recording this, Obi-Wan?” 

Mira reached out and closed her hand around the cube, silencing it as her vision cleared and she saw the droid there. It immediately queried what that was, and Mira put a finger to her lips as she rolled fully onto her side, “At least keep that secret for me,” she mumbled, as if already aware it had told everything. 

Her green eyes flickered closed, and the droid started to beep again, insisting she wake up. Leia wanted to see her. “Can’t I sleep till midday?” Mira murmured, as BB-8 rolled itself closer and bumped the bed, likely shaking it. Mira’s hand fell off the cube to fall upon the droid’s head. 

It let out a sorrowful beep, an apology both for waking her and telling Poe, “Shh,” she was slipping into sleep again, “It’s okay. They’d find out…just don’t let them get caught. I don’t want Snoke to know. I don’t want Hux in trouble….” 

BB-8 squealed quite loudly and suddenly, and Mira jolted into a sitting position, then let out a sigh and put her head against her knees. She wanted sleep. BB-8 spoke of food. “Okay,” she shifted out of the bed, tightened the tunic again—no new clothes. She draped the coat over her shoulders, not caring if it bothered others, and slipped on her shoes. The holocron was hidden in an interior pocket, “To food, BB.” 

And the droid rolled forward, taking Mira to food where she did get several perturbed looks as she found her way to sweeter foods. A platter of waffles drenched in syrup and sausage was what she took with her as BB-8 decided there was no time to wait—she had to go right to the command center. 

And so, Mira entered, yawning and with hair hardly done.

KyloGlenn · Apr 29, 2016

Paquin watched, partly disturbed, as Kylo killed troopers that she’d known. She tried to understand that they were trying to kill Kylo and he was just defending himself, but it was still uncomfortable. ‘Aren’t you supposed to keep them alive?’ She asked herself. But to do that would be a little hard in her situation. 

Again, she felt uncomfortable when he said General Hux betrayed them. That was true, as a Knight she was betrayed. But as a part of the First Order, she wasn’t. She was confused. She knew she couldn’t be neutral, but she’d spent so much of her life to get to where she was. She only knew the Knights for about two seconds. Yet she already deeply cared for them. ‘Kylo be damned,’ her head reminded her, to which she cringed. 

She sped up to walk alongside him. “You need to leave,” she corrected, “I still work for the Order.” Of all the stupid things Paquin had said in her life—which was a lot—that may have been the most idiotic. Kylo’s was raging and he would likely turn around and slice her in half. 

And he had a perfect opportunity, as she froze when an energy shot whizzed passed her. That happened too many times. At first, she was unsure if they had meant to shoot at her, but as she saw a trooper once again aim at her, it became apparent that they did. ‘I don’t have a choice.’ She realized. So, she fell behind Kylo quickly, like he’d probably wanted her to. 

She hadn’t originally planned on letting Kylo plow through the troopers, and she didn’t plan on it now. Especially with her own life at stake. “Come, we’re wasting time.” She wanted to grab him and drag him, but that probably wasn’t wise. So, she simply broke off, turning down a hall. Shortcut to the hangars. 

- 

Ariel watched in confusion as the troopers let them be, but she wasn’t complaining. She didn’t question it in that moment, in stead moving as fast as she could. They may not have been attacking then, but they could always change their minds. 

“Can’t we go at least twenty-four hours without someone becoming a traitor?” Ariel grumbled. “I’m too sober for this.” The painkillers gave off a sedating effect, not the same as alcohol. After all this was well and done with, she was going to down a bottle of whatever she can find. 

She was amazed at how easily they moved through the base. But as they neared the hangar, they weren’t treated so nicely. Blasters were pointed at them but none moved to shoot. “Keep moving!” A trooper ordered. Hux only wanted them off the base. But why? This was a perfect time to eliminate them. 

Maybe the General thought that would be too hard. 

That was a mistake, it would be incredibly easy to off Gnaeus and Ariel right then. Again, Ariel wasn’t complaining. “I don’t recall stopping.” She mumbled, mostly to Gnaeus. It wasn’t wise to sass someone with a gun pointed at you. “What about Kylo and Paquin?” She remembered them as the hangars were in front of them. 

They were deeper in the bowels of the base, and she wasn’t sure if Hux would keep Kylo alive. The General’s distaste for him wasn’t subtle, he’d probably jump at the chance to kill Kylo, at the very least. 

- 

There was something going on within the Order. The Resistance’s spies weren’t sure what, but they could inform Leia of that much. They were waiting on more information. But Leia wasn’t planning on sharing that with Mira. Not yet, anyway. She didn’t need to know. “Good morning, Mira.” She greeted when BB-8 beeped their arrival. 

She looked up and almost chuckled at the sight. Mira’s appearance was endearing, even with the First Order coat she was wearing. “Sorry for waking you so early. You can sleep in tomorrow, I promise.” Leia took a sip of her coffee. The exchange reminded her of mornings with Ben when she was with him. 

She frequently was away when Ben was a child, working with the Senate on something or the other. Looking back, Leia deeply regretted being there for her son, when he likely needed her the most. She shook those thoughts from her head and continued, “Everyone’s getting ready to head to the planet. I wanted to know if you have any information on the worms that we could use.” 

There were many species of white worms, all very different. They needed to know what they were dealing with if General Organa was going to send so many people there. 

Poe entered, carefully slipping by Mira. “General, Mira.” He greeted, before updating Leia. “We’re mostly prepared. A cargo ship is loaded with mining gear, but that’ll follow after the planet’s secured.” And that led back to the question Leia asked Mira, but Poe figured that hadn’t been answered yet, based on Mira’s state. 

Poe was still wary of Mira and was wary to throw so many people aboard this mission. This all could be for nothing, Mira could be setting them up, leading them to their deaths. She had said she’d attempted genocide before. What was happening with the Order could be a distraction, all leading to an attack on the Resistance. 

He’d been up late thinking about all this, even sharing with Finn and Leia. But the theory was too extravagant for them, Leia wasn’t having it. So he’d have to deal with Mira for now until something was proved.

Lucyfer · Apr 29, 2016

Kylo halted abruptly when Paquin disassociated herself from the Knights. ‘What?’ 

He did want to slice in her half. He didn’t want a to deal with another traitor. He watched as a blaster shot whizzed by her head, and he did nothing to stop it. He stalked forward and didn’t look at her as he walked on. When she took a shortcut, he refused to follow out of spite. 

He took a longer way, hacking his way through more of the soldiers. He didn’t get out unscathed, of course. Some of his armor was burned from shots, and his helmet had a ding in it by the time he showed up on the scene where his ship was. 

He purposefully ignored Paquin, and glared down at silver-Phasma who was there. Behind his helmet, his lips curled into a snarl. “You, too?” Not that he expected any different from her. 

“Leave, Ren.” She ordered. 

“I will. I’ll be back,” he snapped, and went on towards his ship. 

“You as well, Paquin,” she spoke to her. 

"You'll have to give her a ship!" Kylo snapped. 

~***~ 

Gnaeus glared through his helmet at the soldiers. He understood Kylo’s rage. He wanted to kill all of them, too, but he couldn’t risk it. “We are,” he spoke through gritted teeth. 

He led on to the ship, giving a glance to Ariel, “I told Kylo and Paquin to meet us out of here,” he said. He’d told Paquin. She would tell Kylo. 

“Where?” 

“Like I’d say that now!” 

He didn’t gesture. The door opened and the ramp fell. Gnaeus and Ariel went into it, and he let Ariel slip into the co-pilot’s seat as he took the pilot’s seat. He turned the ship on, holding his breath that they wouldn’t be shot at, before launching his ship out and driving off as quick as he could to escape the Alderaan ruins. 

~***~ 

Mira allowed a lazy smile to come onto her lips at Leia’s greeting, “I would appreciate it,” she said as the offer of sleeping in was made. She found a place to situation herself with coffee and breakfast, and looked on at the control area before becoming distracted again by Leia’s question. 

“Yes,” and as she said that, Poe arrived. Mira gave him a nod, “Dameron,” she greeted him by surname rather than first name. 

They would work to that. 

He explained what was gathered and prepared. “The worms are Force sensitive, so I can draw them to one place or another. However, they’ll be attracted to large gatherings of life,” she glanced to Poe, “I leave organization to you so far as that. The worms themselves can rise up to perhaps 20 feet or so. Their bodies are squishy, however, many of them are protected by the crystals growing upon them. It made using the Force a bit difficult for me to use, considering the kyber crystals can interfere and disrupt the flow.” 

Or reflect it. 

A benefit of lightsabers, “I’m not sure how many there are, there were many caves and tunnels on the planet so I assume there is a good number of them.” 

“Planning to commit genocide of them, too?” Poe sneered. 

“Would you like me to?” Mira asked calmly. 

That was clearly not the right answer. Poe looked away. “We should have enough Resistance pilots and fighters to secure the planet. You have any idea what the range of their sense is?” 

“It isn’t that far. The first I encountered didn’t notice me until I invaded one of its tunnels.”

KyloGlenn · Apr 30, 2016

Paquin was annoyed. She understood why he was angry. But she didn't care. She herself was upset. Maybe not as much as him, since he was rage in the form of a person. But she lost her career, which she sacrificed a lot for. People she'd spent ten years taking care of tried to kill her. She didn't exactly blame him for it, though. It was because of choices she made herself. 

"Don't be a child, Kylo." Paquin hurried after him, not sparing Phasma a glance. She'd just feel deflated. "You don't even know where Gnaeus and Ariel are headed." Or maybe he did, she didn't know. He could always just call them and find out, as well. But she doubted they'd give her a ship, it would probably be easier to kill her. 

Though, Kylo might just do that. 

As she stalked after him, her foot hit something, sending it skidding ahead of her. It was clear and it was quite obvious what it was, a kyber crystal. 'Mira,' it must not have been destroyed with the ship. Gnaeus did say they were hard to break. She grabbed it, with the idea of possibly throwing it. Probably at Kylo. But she didn't. 

- 

Ariel didn't relax until they were well past the ruins of Alderaan. They hadn't been shot at and it didn't seem that anyone was following them. She leaned her head back against the head rest. There was a dull ache there, the medicine must have been wearing off. 

"Now will you tell me where?" She inquired, looking over towards him. She wondered how things went so wrong. It started with Kevan, for reasons unknown, and that set Mira off. But how did Hux get roped into the traitor pool? No matter now. It was what it was. She and Gnaeus would likely be shipped back off to their missions after this, all things traitor left behind. 

Unless Snoke decided to kill them. 

No, he wouldn't do that. He'd still want the Knights, with their Force-sensitivity. They were valuable. As long as they remained loyal, they'd be safe. 

- 

"We might have to get close to draw them out, then." 

"Be careful, Poe. We've taken a big hit recently with the raids. We can't lose any more people." 

"I know, General. Don't worry, I've got this." He reassured. 

"Good. Now. What's the full plan?" 

"Draw them out somehow," he glanced to Mira as he said that. She could come in handy with that. "We might have to secure the planet slowly, form groups and have them each secure a cave at a time. Depending on how infested the planet is. Take out what we can really." Depending on how large and infested the planet was, this may take some time. "Then go in and mine once it's secure." 

Hopefully, whatever was going on with the Order would delay them from trying to gather the kyber crystals until the planet was secured and guarded. "So, Vallens," if she was going by last names, so would he, "are you coming along?" It was a challenge and a test, to see if she was committed. 

"Poe--" Leia began to warn, but was cut off by Finn entering. 

"Hey, General, we've got some news." Finn had been in charge of monitoring things with the Order for the time being. 

Leia nodded and stood, not planning to discuss the matter in front of Mira. Finn noticed Mira and greeted her happily, "Hey, Mira! Sleep well?" His gaze moved briefly to a displeased Poe, "Hope he's not giving you too much trouble?" His tone was playful, but there was a serious question in there.

Lucyfer · Apr 30, 2016

Kylo was on the ramp when he heard Paquin hurrying after, and he rounded on her, lightsaber bright as he held it towards her, daring her to come up the ramp and join him. “You work for the Order.” He reminded her, “I’ll not have you on my ship.” 

“She does not work for the Order,” Phasma denied, taking Hux’s own orders to heart. If she felt pain or sympathy for Paquin, it did not show. 

“Then she works for the Resistance—she denied us!” Kylo snapped, then wondered why he even bothered speaking to Phasma. What did it matter? “I don’t need another traitor. Hux can keep this one.” 

“Drop her off elsewhere then.” Phasma was now ordering him, and Kylo looked up from Paquin to see that Phasma had leveled a gun at him. 

He had little doubt it was at least as powerful as a bowcaster, and he understood there wasn’t room for argument here. He canted his head, “So even the Order doesn’t want her,” he let his blade return to the saber, and he spun around to stalk into his ship, leaving the door open for Paquin as he went to the cockpit, immediately setting about leaving. ‘And blow up a few things on the way.’ As if Kylo would leave anything near him in tact. Perhaps he’d blast Phasma into a wall from the ship. He did consider it. It’d be so easy to destroy the mass of Stormtroopers in the area once in the ship. 

~***~ 

“Kamino,” Gnaeus answered, reaching forward to start setting the coordinates. “Last I knew, Snoke was in that area, but Kylo will know better.” Kylo always knew better. 

Ariel let out a groan as she heard the buttons being pressed and the beeps before the ship shot into hyperdrive. “We’re probably going to have to go to war.” 

An actual war. “With the First Order.” The Resistance wasn’t someone that a normal war could be fought against, but the First Order was. It would be…weird. Gnaeus knew it would happen one day, and he was prepared to lead, but he never truly imagined it would. 

He had wanted to deny it. 

He preferred his small missions and small groups. “Someone will be sent to hunt Mira….” Now he was just speaking aloud, wondering. “How did it get to this?” He was there for what seemed like mere seconds now. 

Then it all fell apart. 

He looked towards Ariel, as if thinking she had more insight into this. 

~***~ 

In some ways, Mira felt so much relief when Poe decided to play the game with her. After all, wasn’t it through antagonism and proving herself that she’d won Hux over? An easy win was unnerving to her. Leia, Finn, and BB-8 were all good—but they were naïve. They would be hurt, over and over again, because of it. 

Poe Dameron was exactly the sort Mira wanted to deal with. He’d remind her of what she was, and make her work to be something new. 

And he used Vallens rather than Ren. ‘Points.’ “If you want me along, Dameron,” there was no malice in her use, “Wherever and however you want me involved, I will be involved—even if it is bait.” Not exactly a desirable position, but she’d be the best one for the role. 

Poe made a scoffing noise, but he didn’t toss the idea aside. 

There was an interruption as Finn came in with news, but it was clear that news was not meant to be shared. She answered his query, “Not at all. I like him; he’s smart.” Mira complimented easily, knowing full well it was going to bother Poe a bit. 

Leia smiled though, “He’s my best pilot for a reason,” she looked between them, “Take care of each other,” Leia hoped Poe would not do anything untoward if Mira did not give him reason. “I’m counting on you both in this mission,” and all the others, of course. She looked to Finn, then, “I’ll come with you for the news.” 

“Okay,” Finn nodded, “Be safe,” he offered, in case he didn’t get to see them off. 

BB-8 beeped its promise to keep them both in line.

KyloGlenn · Apr 30, 2016

Paquin was sure that Phasma was only following orders by pretty much forcing Kylo to take her with him, but she still offered a nod of goodbye to the woman before scurrying onto the ship. She didn’t feel safe around Kylo anymore, justifiably so—he pointed his lightsaber at her moments before. So, she kept her distance. At least, as much as she could. 

She sat down, fiddling with the crystal in her hands. There was really no use for it now, other than throwing it. “I’m sorry,” she wasn’t sure if the words were genuine, but she was so used to saying it no matter what. “I said early on that if the Knights would affect my work…,” to count her out. There was no point in trying to reason now. 

“I did what I could while trying to keep my job.” She didn’t see her actions as traitorous. She didn’t try to kill him, in fact, she was trying to prevent his death. She wanted to help him and the knights, but she also wanted her work. Now neither mattered. “Gnaeus and Ariel are headed to Kamino.” She finished before quieting. 

Paquin wasn’t sure what to do after this if Kylo let her live. She was going to be alone for the first time in a while, which she hated. She didn’t know where her parents were. If they were still alive. They were out of the question. She had no money, nor a ship. Though, that hadn’t stopped her before. Still, she fought the urge to cry. ‘No, not in front of him. Preferably not ever.’ 

She really should have kept her mouth shut and continued to merrily follow Kylo around. 

- 

Ariel shrugged in response. “I have no clue, Gnaeus.” It was followed by a sigh. She really was curious to how this all started. Everything seemed to go downhill after Starkiller. No, everything did go downhill after Starkiller. The redhead wasn’t sure if that’s what triggered all this, though. 

“I guess people just really don’t like Kylo.” More serious than a joke. Maybe that’s what triggered Kevan and Mira. Hux for sure didn’t like Kylo Ren, but Ariel didn’t think Hux was silly enough to go to war over his distaste for the man. He was smart enough to know the consequences and wouldn’t risk it over that. 

“We’ll get through it,” she hoped. “So long as no one else betrays us.” There were so few of them now. Another loss could cripple them. The Knights, at least. Snoke would be well and good. Probably even if it was Kylo they lost. Which was growing more and more unlikely, fortunately. 

Ariel wasn’t very dependable on anything else, but this she could be trusted on. She had no intention of abandoning the Knights. 

The blueness of Kamino was in front of them, as they slowed from hyperdrive. “We just need to figure out the gameplan.” 

- 

Mira disturbed Poe quite a bit. ‘Wherever, however you want me involved? I like him? He’s smart? She’s good.’ But he was better, he wasn’t going to buy into her games. Until he saw her, out there and working with no issues whatsoever—not even a slight hesitance would be allowed—he wouldn’t trust her. Maybe not even then. 

Leia didn’t want to see it, Finn and BB-8 were too nice and sympathetic to see it, but surely Mira’s friendship with Hux wasn’t simply a coincidence? Maybe it was and maybe he was overreacting but he’d rather be a drama queen than trust her, let his guards down and have her destroy what’s been built. 

“Will do, Finn.” Poe offered his friend a smile, despite his thoughts. 

“I’ll try and see you guys off. But, if I can’t, good luck.” Leia nodded her head at them, beginning to follow Finn out of the room before she paused. “May the Force be with you,” she added, for Mira. Then she and Finn ducked out of the room, off to discuss the First Order occurrence. 

“If you’re tagging along, I’d scarf down your food. I’ve gotta brief the teams and everyone needs to prepare. Then we’re heading out as soon as possible. And I’m not gonna let you get off with just playing bait.” He wasn’t entirely comfortable with letting Mira handle equipment unsupervised if he put her to the task. He was thinking of setting her up with Jessika Pava, she was reliable enough. 

And he certainly wasn’t setting her up with BB-8. ‘Traitorous droid.’ He thought jokingly. Poe knew BB-8 liked Mira, but also knew that it liked him, too. 

Meanwhile, outside the command center, Finn informed Leia of the situation. “The Knights are leaving,” which wasn’t unusual, the spies had seen them come and go. But, “They don’t seem to have left quietly. Quite a bit of commotion’s been heard.”

Lucyfer · Apr 30, 2016

The apology was a minor salve over the wound. Kylo Ren was still furious as he set the ship to leave Alderaan. Furious. Humiliated. And more and more, he was growing sorrowful. 

What had he done wrong? 

Where did it all go wrong? 

Why? 

“You failed, didn’t you?” Kylo snapped at Paquin as he swerved debris, always dangerously close to being hit. He was playing with it as a way to try and calm himself, to get his frustrations out in some ‘safe’ way. “You should get rid of that crystal.” He didn’t look over at her, but he had noticed it. “It’s tainted.” They took in energies. That one had likely taken in some of Mira’s. “Then again maybe that suits you, to have a traitor’s blade.” 

Void, was he angry. Even if he felt it quell a little when she mentioned Kamino, and he set the coordinates. 

He could feel her own sorrow, even over his raging torrent of emotions. “What do you want me to do with you, Paquin? Should I march you before Snoke so you can beg his forgiveness, or should I drop you at Coruscant where you can wait for the Resistance to take you up like a stray mutt?” The question was full of venom and hurt. 

He had thought Paquin wouldn’t separate herself so suddenly, and just like that. Not after she’d helped with Kevan and done so much more. 

It showed how little he knew of those around him. Snoke was certainly right; he needed to be far more invasive. 

~***~ 

Gnaeus hadn’t truly expected Ariel to know, but he had hoped. ‘It did.’ Deathstar 3.0 as Mira and Kevan had called it. He remembered in the early days, when it was being built, how the two of them had mocked it. 

It failed. 

With its failure came the downfall. ‘But of us, or the First Order?’ “I’m not planning on turning traitor.” But then again, who really planned to be a traitor when they committed to something like this? 

He couldn’t imagine it was ever in Mira or Kevan’s heads until recently. Was it that they just didn’t like Kylo Ren? ‘Maybe for Kevan.’ Not for Mira. Mira hadn’t…liked Kylo Ren for a while. “I don’t mind Kylo, though.” He didn’t ask Ariel’s opinion. 

He didn’t want to know. 

Then a ship appeared near, and Gnaeus recognized it immediately as Kylo Ren’s. ‘Good.’ He reached forward to signal out to the ship, to open communications. “Snoke will have a plan.” 

Snoke always had a plan. 

~***~ ‘May the Force be with you.’ 

Mira let the words echo in her head, feeling a sense of calm with them lingering in the air. Calm. Peace. This had always been what she wanted, but she knew it was fragile. She still had yet to figure out the human half—the way to slip into happiness or anger without destroying everything around her. Calm and peace were good, but they were not a lasting reality. 

Mira sighed at Poe’s orders. She was never a fast eater. She glanced down at the food, “Fine.” Utensils were discarded. Mira used the Force and wrapped the waffles around the sausages. All she needed was a stick to make them pancake-sausage sticks—sort of. It was a much quicker way to eat them, regardless, and she finished the plate quickly. “I’ll put this up and finish waking up. Where do you want me to meet you and the team?” 

Mira knew how to take orders. She’d been taking them for years—even highly unsavory ones. 

BB-8 beeped out the suggestion that it could lead Mira to where they would all gather, and questioned if it was going to be the hangar. “Yeah,” Poe agreed. Easier to meet out by the ships since they’d all be leaving in them. “All right, buddy. Don’t let her dawdle,” and with that BB-8 squealed off, taking Mira down a path that would take her away from Finn and Leia. 

As Leia was saying, “Keep monitoring the situation, Finn. We need to know what happened and why.” Why was seeming more important. It would trickle down eventually into the ranks. If there was a fuss with the knights leaving, the truth of it would have to come out. 

Perhaps it was to hunt down to Mira and the leave was sudden, the Knights not prepared. 

Or perhaps…something far more serious had arisen. With Mira saying it, Leia couldn’t help but think it. Would Hux truly severe ties? If the Knights were leaving, alive, it didn’t sound like it.

KyloGlenn · Apr 30, 2016

Paquin realized that she was genuinely sorry, but that didn’t mean much to him. 

Her hand clenched around the crystal as he called it tainted and insisted she was a traitor. The edges dug uncomfortably into her skin, if she was holding it any harder it likely would have broken the skin. She held back a comment relating to shoving the crystal up somewhere he didn’t want it. 

She was angry and sad, she didn’t really know what to do with the emotions. Paquin was inexperienced with such heavy feelings, there was never a reason for her to feel them since the academy, really. Her chest felt tight as she spoke, “I don't care, Kylo.” She didn’t care if she was kept as a Knight, killed, or if she’d be dropped on Coruscant. 

If she was going to march before anyone and beg for forgiveness, it would be him. He was the one that actually mattered, him and the Knights. They’d begun to feel like friends, which wasn’t common for her to have. She didn’t mean to hurt them or betray them with her choice. She chose work over friends, and now she had neither. And it hurt. 

“I'm sorry, I am. I don't know what more you want me to do.” She was straining to keep her voice from cracking at that point. She was frustrated that Kylo didn't understand or even try to understand her reasoning or how strange her position was. And then static came over the radio, someone was trying to communicate. Likely Gnaeus. 

- 

“I don’t mind Kylo, either.” He wasn’t always a raging asshole. He had his moments. Gnaeus didn’t ask, but she shared her opinion anyway. She wanted him to know that she wasn’t planning on going anywhere. But then again, the future was unpredictable. There was a multitude of things that could go wrong. 

'Speak of the devil.’ 

“I sure hope so.” Because this could go to shit real fast. Snoke had to have something like Gnaeus said he would. He always had a plan. But this was a very strange situation. She wondered if Snoke had expected this to ever happen and prepared for it. So many traitors and one of them had an entire army at his disposal. 

A connection was established and Ariel leaned forward being the first to talk. “Hello? Everyone okay?” She wasn’t with her head, but she didn’t think of that now. It was entirely likely for someone to have gotten shot. Especially Kylo, who was a giant, reckless target. Even Paquin, who couldn’t have been good enough with the Force or fighting against Stormtroopers. 

She hadn’t thought of it before, but it was possible there was only one of them in there, so she anxiously awaited a response. 

- 

Poe left in the opposite direction, towards Leia and Finn. He knew that an update on the First Order situation was probably in place and he’d take the chance to figure out what it was. 

“Yes ma’am.” Finn nodded, saluting the General. 

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s going on?” Poe questioned as he joined the two in a circle. 

“The Knights left the Order’s base in a hurry, apparently there’s some commotion,” Leia informed Poe, using some of Finn’s words. “Be safe out on the mission. They might be going after the crystals. Or even Mira, so keep an eye out for her.” She instructed him with narrowed eyes. She wouldn’t put it past Poe to abandon Mira any chance he got, not when he was this worked up. 

“Look out for her or look out for her?” 

“What does that even mean?” Finn questioned Poe’s logic. Was he losing it? 

“Just keep everyone safe, Poe.” Leia rolled her eyes. “Get back to work, guys.” 

And with that, Poe offered a nod at Leia and Finn before they all broke off to do their assignments. Poe arrived at the hangar before Mira, like he’d expected to, and gathered everyone around. It took a minute for all the pilots and fighters to gather, but they did. Poe didn’t wait for Mira, she was already privy to the plan. He began to run them down the plan, including using Mira as bait. 

A few people looked uncomfortable with that but didn’t say anything. They were either weirded out by her being on the mission, or with her being put in danger as bait. He didn’t know. “And one more thing. Stay alert, keep a close eye out for any First Order ships.” That usually went without saying. He wouldn’t go into detail, but he wanted them to be more aware than usual.

Lucyfer · Apr 30, 2016

Ariel spoke first, and Kylo was glad to hear she sounded all right. She spoke after Paquin’s apology, and Kylo was silent for several moments. 

They were all hurting, weren’t they? 

He could hear it in Paquin’s voice. 

He could hear it in Ariel’s worry. 

Kylo wasn’t known for being understanding, but he understood what it was to be torn apart. No doubt, the First Order was part of Paquin’s weakness. Her job. Her other life. She would have had to forsake that eventually. Hux made the choice “easier” for her by giving her none, but it had been too soon to be ripped away from it. No preparation. 

Kylo had been preparing to kill Han Solo for years. “You’ll come with us,” Kylo said. He managed to calm his voice. “If you want to stay with us, then you will…and you will fight against the First Order with us.” That was what he wanted, of course. 

He didn’t want her apology. He wanted proof of loyalty. Proof he could trust her. 

He reached forward then and pressed the radio button. “Paquin and I are here. Gnaeus?” 

A moment, and then, “Yeah, I’m here. Where’s Snoke at, Kylo?” 

Kylo answered back, “Here,” they were fortunate in their choice, “Just follow.” He knew where the hangar was, where they’d find Snoke to be. He ended communications then and drove the ship forward. “I won’t mention this to Snoke,” he offered. 

It wasn’t quite an apology of his own, but he was no good at those. Actions, he could do—this was his way of apologizing. By not throwing Paquin to the mercy of Snoke. Snoke wouldn’t think to look at her mind. Not right then. Not when they would be too busy organizing. At least, that was Kylo’s hope. 

~***~ 

The moments of silence were pure agony for Gnaeus as he waited for Kylo Ren or Paquin to say something. Anything. 

It did end, though. Kylo spoke, and mentioned that Paquin was there. Gnaeus let out a relieved sigh and reached forward immediately to confirm his own life. “Yeah, I’m here,” he answered, then asked, “Where’s Snoke at, Kylo?” 

Gnaeus had guessed, but he didn’t know how good his guess was. He was hopeful it hadn’t been too far off the mark. 

Kylo confirmed, “Here,” and Gnaeus pumped his fist in the air, to Ariel’s eye roll. “Just follow.” 

Gnaeus heard the click as the connection was cut, and he put his hands back to the ship, following after Kylo’s damaged ship as they descended to the watery planet, waves always roiling as if the sea were angry. The clouds were stormy, as per usual. 

It suited the mood. Gnaeus wasn’t going to complain about the dreariness at all as he followed Kylo to a docking station for their ships. It wasn’t an elaborate hangar, but that couldn’t be expected on this planet. 

~***~ 

Mira was more put together when she arrived in the hangar. She did not braid all of her hair this time, but adopted a look from when she had been with Luke. ‘All I need are beads.’ There were two small braids that she wove into her hair, and tied back as one at the back of her head, almost like a crown in design. Luke had once said all padawans’ had braids, before everything went to hell. 

Mira had never been made a Jedi. Not officially. Padawan probably didn’t fit, either; she was far too experienced for that. 

So she walked into the hangar with the Jedi attire, the padawan braid, and the First Order coat, and hardly cared at the odd mixture of pieced together things. It wasn’t like she had a real wardrobe here yet. She wasn’t getting paid yet. ‘May have to find out about that…much later.’ It’d be nice to have clothes of her own choice. 

Poe was saying something about watching out for the First Order ships. “Finished already?” Mira asked. “So what am I doing, then?” 

“Bait.” Poe had decided he didn’t want to trust Mira in a fighter, or with the equipment. “You can handle that, right?” 

“Sure. Stand still and use the Force, right?” 

“Yeah…something like that. We’re going to go cave by cave. I’m picking the first cave.” He knew Mira knew the planet—but that was the very reason he was picking. He couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t draw them into a trap in some tunnel. 

“All right.” Mira consented. “So, how am I getting there?” Most of the ships looked to be one-person ships. “Is there enough lap space with you, Dameron?” She couldn’t help the tease, knowing him as a fighter pilot. “Or do I get my own ship?”

KyloGlenn · May 1, 2016

There wasn’t a wave of relief at his words. In fact, she was quite perturbed by them. They were such a stark contrast from the antagonizing way he spoke to her before. Still, she didn’t protest them. She’d agree to remaining with the Knights and with that came fighting the Order. It was better than being alone with no job on a planet she’d been to only a couple times. 

Though, she wondered if she’d actually be able to kill the troopers. She’d found killing to be easy, but she never killed anyone she knew or took care of. She didn’t know Kevan or his men, or the clawdite. The Stormtroopers didn’t have any qualms about killing her, though. 

Her hand eased from the crystal enclosed in it. Now she’d have a use for it. She shoved it in the pocket of her uniform, which she suddenly felt very uncomfortable wearing. “Thank you.” She saw his not mentioning this to Snoke for what it was, an apology. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Kylo was not well versed in apologies like she was. 

Paquin found the constantly moving sea and the stormy nature of the planet calming as they descended into a less than impressive hangar. She didn’t expect much for a planet that was made of water. It made building things on it a little difficult. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She didn’t break down in front of Kylo, and she wasn’t going to in front of Ariel, Gnaeus, or Snoke. 

- 

“Good guess.” Ariel complimented him, mostly for the fact that if she were asked to simply guess Snoke’s position she’d have no idea. Gnaeus and Ariel descended and landed as Kylo did. She was ready to jump off the ship and go through whatever Snoke had planned. 

She figured it would be a while until she got her hands on something to drink. Unless Snoke was an alcoholic. Maybe he would send them on a planet that had alcohol. Ariel shook her head. She thought too much about liquor. She knew she had a problem, at least when she was sober. 

Ariel stumbled her way off the ship when she could. Luckily she wasn’t as unsteady as before, both sleep and the pills wearing off. Paquin was exiting Kylo’s at the same time, speed walking over to her. “Are you alright?” She asked, gesturing to Ariel’s head. 

“I’m fine,” she dismissed. Now wasn’t the time to complain about her pain. 

“Gnaeus?” Paquin pointed behind Ariel, into the ship. She made a lot of gestures, Ariel noticed. 

“He’s fine, too.” Ariel rolled her eyes, only while thinking about the fist bump he did earlier. The two of them waited for Gnaeus and Kylo, the question of ‘what’s next’ hanging in the air. 

- 

Poe awkwardly shifted from one leg to the other at her statement, before answering. “No, you’re not getting your own ship.” He didn’t trust her enough with equipment, he wasn’t going to let her pilot an armed ship. She was right about there not being room for her on his ship, but there was a brief thought about shoving her in the place BB-8 usually occupied. 

But then she wouldn’t be able to breathe and she’d die. 

Not to mention he wouldn’t be able to bring BB-8, then. 

“I’ll set you up with a girl named Jessika. You and her can take the ship Finn and I picked you up in.” He wouldn’t but her in a ship on her own, or one with equipment. Not yet. “She has a bit of a crush on Luke Skywalker,” not really a crush, just a fascination with him and the Jedi. 

“So, I’m sure you two will get along fine.” They could talk bout the Jedi or whatever. Maker knows Jessika’s down to talk about it. She wouldn’t be happy about not flying an X-wing. 

BB-8 beeped, telling Mira that Jessika wasn’t too bad of a gal. “I’ll have constant communication with you guys. I won’t hear everything you say, but I’ll be a push of a button away.” Poe added, almost a warning to Mira. In case she tried anything. He was almost tempted to tie her up, but not only would that not stop her, but Leia wouldn’t be happy. 

“If you’re ready, let’s get going.” Poe tilted his head. He would take her to Jessika then he’d likely meet them on the planet. Given nothing went wrong on the way there. By Mira or anyone else.

Fandom Star Wars

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

I made something that'll love me even when I won't

either born in hell or heaven sent

Users who are viewing this thread

Similar threads