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KyloGlenn · Jul 4, 2016

So, she did have to push it. In a way. She wasn't going to say that it seemed easy, but it wasn't as complicated as she had expected it to be. "This seems safe." She mumbled. But was anything involving the Force safe? Sure. Weapons, no. 

Paquin did take a hold of the glaive, carefully pulling it over to her. She held it in front of her, not letting it sit in her lap. That certainly wouldn't be safe. 

She figured her holding on to it was more for safety for the both of them, in case she pushed the Force into it a little too hard in one direction. This way she could keep a grip on it in case that did happen. 'Gently,' she reminded herself. She gave a few little test pushes outward, with the intent of being gentle. 

Then she'd have to figure out how to do it from all angles. "Should I close my eyes and start humming?" She asked in all seriousness when Gnaeus said it was a meditative process. Kylo once said it didn't matter if her eyes closed, but she didn't have to 'meditate' then. 

She didn't know what humming would do, but that's what she'd heard of people doing. 

- 

"Leia," Luke tried with a sigh, but Leia wasn't intending on letting him finish a sentence. 

"Don't 'Leia' me! The galaxy needed you! I needed you! And you only thought of yourself!" Leia raised her hand to hit Luke again, but he stopped her this time. 

Hux tore his eyes away from the scene then, hesitantly, when Phasma spoke to him. She was right, they didn't need to be apart of this. Hux had to be caught up on everything. But he was certainly pleased he witnessed it. But now it was starting to get more personal. 

Hux turned to Mira, taking the cat from her. "Get some coffee before talking to the girl," he instructed in a whisper, even though he'd heard she was going to wait until Rey approached her. Then he turned back to Phasma and nodded, signalling they could then leave. 

Leia seemed to remember the audience then and turned back to the remaining four, "Would you four please leave us?" The harsh tone didn't leave her voice, but she made an effort to be kinder to them. For the moment. She'd give Mira and Poe a talking to later. 

"Yeah, of course," Poe answered, poking Rey's shoulder, "Hey, you're good with mechanics, right? I'm sure there's a job we could need you for." Anything to keep Mira away from Rey. 

"Yeah, I'll come meet you after I talk with Mir--" 

"Nope, gotta go now," Poe then grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the ship.

Lucyfer · Jul 4, 2016

Gnaeus advised, “I wouldn’t. Then you won’t see where the glaive goes if you do push it too hard,” but Gnaeus wasn’t much of a meditator. “Maybe with the crystal,” he was pretty sure that’s how he saw Mira meditating, and even if she was the enemy, she was the best at this. “Humming optional. Eyes closed optional,” it all was, really. 

“I’ll stay here in case you mess up with the glaive to keep it from destroying anything.” Not that there was all that much to destroy. He’d keep it from hurting Paquin or himself. 

“I can try to show you want it feels like, if you need it,” he offered. He knew how to apply that kind of pressure. He could always try to apply it to her hand, so that she understood what she was trying to do. 

He’d have to be careful not to break anything, though. ‘Gentle.’ 

~***~ 

Coffee, yes. Mira needed coffee. She easily let the cat return to Hux, making sure the transition was smooth for the creature. Then, Leia dismissed them all, and Poe immediately grabbed onto Rey. 

Finn crossed his arms over his chest, but Mira grabbed his arm before he could make a verbal protest in the ship, and pulled the traitor out with her. “We going after them?” Finn sounded hopeful. 

“No, you’re going to help me find coffee. Probably by finding the FOTC boys.” She had a feeling they’d help her, or at least the leader who’d fought by her side. 

“FOTC boys?” Finn sounded quizzical. 

“Group of First Order fanboys,” she noted, walking out of the hangar and towards the campus. 

Finn scowled at the idea, “I’m sure there’s a better way to find coffee.” 

“The union was destroyed. Not sure where else coffee would be sold, but they know this campus.” 

“Lots of people know this campus!” Finn protested, but they were already out and on the campus, and the FOTC boys were obvious in their uniforms. Mira raised her hand when one glanced their way—Philip—and on recognizing her he did hurry over, hoping for news on Hux. 

“Knight,” he greeted, not sure on the name anymore. He’d heard so many conflicting stories. He glanced briefly at her companion, recognizing him immediately. Distaste wrote itself on his features. “Has Hux returned?” 

“Yes, and don’t look at Finn that way,” she said, “He’s my padawan, and last I knew the First Order and Resistance were working at peace?” 

Philip apologized quickly, though eyed Finn curiously as he was called padawan. Finn was still glowing when he heard it, forgetting briefly the need to find Rey and let her know what was up. 

Mira continued, “I need coffee, where can I acquire some, and get a brief on what happened here?” 

“There’s lots of coffee in the dorms,” since so many had woken early to start helping, “This way.” And as he walked, he asked, “What happened with the General and everyone?” 

Mira had little problem relating some of the details to him. “In a maneuver to save General Hux, Finn,” she drew the attention to him again, watching as Philip reddened in shame at his earlier disapproving look—Finn had saved Hux, “got Hux into a starship and took some of the fighter pilots towards Jakku. Poe and myself pursued to help get them off their tail, but in the process our ships were damaged and we crashed on Jakku. Your General is currently getting a briefing from Phasma, but he should be out soon to check on things.” 

~***~ 

As Mira had said, Phasma did begin to debrief Hux once they were off Leia’s ship and heading to their own, “Your father showed up,” she spoke lowly, added, “He’s been making a mess of the organization the FOTC has managed to create here,” she was actually rather impressed with that group. They kept level heads, compared to some of their peers, and had strong organizational mindsets. 

They’d be good for the First Order, one day. 

“Also,” here she hesitated a bit, and waited until they were both up the ramp and in their own ship. “August Tarkin has arrived. Supreme Leader Snoke is attempting to take Eriadu—he is not aware yet that we have this information, it was shared in privacy with his son, Johann, who was here for debate. He will want to speak with you, but he has already spoken with your father. Unfortunately, I do not know the results of it, only that the Commandant has seemed pleased with himself.” 

Which, in Phasma’s opinion, was never a good thing, but she didn’t share that. That went unspoken. 

Then she finally took in the cat. “Are you keeping it?” If so, they were going to need to get food for it. And water. Though, it seemed to already have a water bowl…and Hux had his coat? Mira’s coat? 

Phasma blinked then and actually took in Hux’s state. She sighed, “I’ll go get some burn salve.” Hux could get situated and prepare himself for the meetings. 

~***~ 

With everyone cleared out, Leia fixed Luke with a hard stare. 

“What are you doing, Luke?” She asked him, one hand dropping to rest on her hip. 

He seemed visibly confused by the inquiry. “I’m not sure what you—” 

“No, of course you’re not,” Leia pushed her other hand up into her hair, pulling some of it out of the single bun that was in her hair. “You haven’t been thinking of the larger picture, have you?” She sounded so disappointed. 

“I have…,” it was a quiet protest. He was always thinking of the larger picture, of the will of the Force. He was still planning to restore the Jedi, but he couldn’t even begin to work on that. He had one padawan, Rey, and he had to get rid of the Sith before he could think of truly starting to build again. 

Quietly, he asked, “You’re making an alliance with the First Order?” 

“At least temporarily,” she was certain of that much. “Perhaps permanent.” 

“Didn’t Hux create a weapon that destroyed entire planets?” 

“Yes.” There was some defiance in the way she said it, questioning what Luke would do, and on what grounds he had to offer advice at that point. 

~***~ 

“Poe!” Rey protested as she was dragged off and away, towards the many ships where Black Squad was. “Poe, let me go!” She finally ripped her arm free of him and halted. 

Poe did, too. 

“Mira knows who I am! She might know my parents, Poe!” 

“Yeah, maybe,” Poe said, “But Luke might be right. Maybe now isn’t a good time. We still don’t know how trustworthy she is—she might use your hope to hurt you, Rey.” Anything to keep Rey from reaching out later. Poe could only keep her away for so long, eventually she would get to Mira. 

He had to make sure she didn’t try to ask, or at least, took it with a grain of salt. 

Rey’s eyes narrowed, “You know something.” Mira must have said something while Poe was back there.

KyloGlenn · Jul 5, 2016

Gnaeus was great. He was patient and didn't mock her questions. She was aware of her cluelessness and how silly her questions may have sounded, but Gnaeus didn't point any of it out. She was sure that if it were Ariel or Kylo trying to teach her this stuff, they'd grow irritated quickly. Especially the drunk, since she was deprived of her alcohol. 

He offered to show her how it felt and she didn't even try to do it herself before she accepted that offer. She figured the only way to show her was to do it to her, so she held her left hand out. Even with Gnaeus having told her how easy things broke under the Force. 

"Don't worry if you break it, I'll probably be able to figure out how to fix it. Probably." She was right handed anyway. Though, the pain wouldn't be all that fun. 

Still, she hoped he'd be gentle like he'd instructed her to be. 

- 

Finn wanted to rub it in the fanboy's face that he saved General Hux, that he was Mira's padawan. And that he could totally kick the kid's butt if he wanted to. But he didn't. He just let a smug smile rest on his face as Mira informed the guy of the adventure they'd been on. 

Philip was almost as red as a tomato, but he nodded his head in thanks. "Thank you for sharing," he nodded his head at Finn, as well, in more or less of an apology. His eyes returned to the Knight or whatever she was. "I'd brief you, but I'm afraid all I know is what's been going on within the FOTC ranks." 

Finn nearly scoffed at 'FOTC'. He still couldn't believe people would want to willingly prepare for the First Order. Maybe their program was different from the one he'd been put through. 

"But things have been going as well as they can. We've been cleaning up the campus. The First Order and the Resistance are doing what it is they do." In harmony with each other, for the moment. Mira was right, they did have some sort of peaceful arrangement at the moment. 

The dorms came into view, students and officers alike filing out of the doors guarded by FOTC boys, coffees in just about everyone's hands. As they neared, the scent of coffee became apparent. "We've been keeping things guarded," Philip motioned to his fellow 'officers'. 

The lobby was crowded, with slow moving kids not yet put together. The members of the organizations were clear, much older and organized. And Philip spotted someone who could brief Mira and Finn. "The Commandant should be able to tell you more. If he wants to, that is." He'd been making things difficult for everyone, that was clear in Philip's voice. 

- 

Hux's irritation with his father was not disguised. He wished his father would just stay locked in his quarters on the Finalizer and let Hux do his job. Since Hux didn't utilize his father's skills or rather didn't need to, Brendol seemed to try and weasel his way into things he wasn't needed for. His eyes rolled and his jaw clenched. 

Tarkin was mentioned as they entered their ship and Hux's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Tarkin?" And it seemed the man who had once denied the Order needed its help. Hux would have laughed but Brendol was mentioned once again and apparently he was happy about something. 

Never good. 

"I feel I'll have to do some retcon, then." Hopefully August Tarkin was smart enough not to take anything his father said seriously. He probably did, considering his father's title of Commandant. 

The cat sat happily in Hux's arm, his other had her bowl and Mira's book and coat tucked under it, until the ship closed up and she leaped from his arm to the pilot's chair. Hux cringed slightly before he set the items down on the co-pilot's seat. He considered Phasma's question. He stared at that cat for a second, her staring back up and meowing at him. "Until it becomes convenient to find her a new owner," he decided. 

Then Phasma must have taken in his appearance and mentioned burn salve. "Thank you, Captain," a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips and he allowed it for a split second. He had work to do, that would wait until the burn salve was applied. His sunburn was too terrible. "I'm sure you'll want to hear about the journey we disappeared on." 

- 

Luke hesitated in his response, not only because of Leia's defiance but because he had no room to talk. He'd been absent. "Don't you think that's something hard to brush off?" 

"It's about as hard for me as it was for you," Leia snapped back, arms crossing. "Darth Vader destroyed my home planet and left over have the galaxy in total ruins." 

She had Luke there. Vader had done that, and Luke had forgiven him easily. Tried to save him. But he was their father! Still, Luke sighed. Leia continued, "Besides, this is war. You have to make tough decisions and make moves. You'd know that if you were around for a war." 

"But he was our father, Leia. He was different. He changed, I felt it in him. I saw it." 

Leia's eyes rolled. "Well, so has everyone else. Next time you decide to leave, just stay gone." Leia could hold a grudge that long. 

That made Luke shift. He wasn't planning on staying. He had Rey to train and he'd do that away from Mira and away from the eyes of everyone else. He had to, if they were going to defeat Snoke. "You're not staying, are you?" Again, Leia had that disappointed tone. 

- 

"I know nothing," Poe denied. 

"Liar." 

"I just know that Mira isn't trustworthy and that Luke is your teacher. He must know what's best for you." Poe's hands raised in defense. 

"Finn trusts Mira." Her arms crossed. 

"And that makes her trustworthy?" 

"Finn doesn't trust easily. He's a good judge of character." Rey wasn't letting up. 

"And so am I." 

Rey grew frustrated then, "This isn't your life, Poe! You haven't spent years wondering who you are or who your family is! I have a chance to learn now. I want to know. I'm an adult and it's my decision." 

Poe sighed, "You're right. It's your decision. But just remember who Mira is. She was with Kylo Ren. She still hangs around General Hux. She could just be faking all of this. I just ask that you press Luke first, instead."

Lucyfer · Jul 6, 2016

“I’m not gonna break it,” Gnaeus said. He tried to sound confident in that, but he could. It’d be an accident, of course. 

Gnaeus reached for her left hand, and would take it in his hands first, to get a feel of the energy closer to the surface, a sense of how Paquin’s own Force would resist. 

Then, he took a breath, and removed his hands—but made an effort to hold Paquin’s in place so that she couldn’t move it, in any direction. The pressure would come from all angles, as he’d told her she’d need to try to do. 

He’d apply a bit of pressure gradually, just so she could feel the shift from all directions at once, too. “Kinda get it?” He asked, uncertain of his own methods. He’d never really had to teach anyone before. He was ad-libbing. 

~***~ 

Dorms. 

Coffee. 

Mira had never wanted coffee more than in the moment she smelled it, and her pace quickened a bit in evidence of that. It was just as an FOTC individual moved to let her grasp a cup and fill it, that she heard Philip’s comment. Her eyes lifted and followed his to the red-haired man. Commandant Hux. 

She heard all she needed to hear of him from her brief conversation with General Hux at dinner. There was annoyance in the tone of Philip, which further indicated how useful Commandant Hux was. “If I were going to get information from him, I’d rip it from his head.” The blunt statement caused both Finn and Philip to look at her in surprise, and Mira simply sipped her coffee as if she hadn’t said anything horrifying. 

Right. She wasn’t with the Knights anymore. Those comments still surprised people. ‘I suppose I could passively try to read some minds to figure out what happened.’ 

“I don’t think Hux would like it if you did that,” Finn spoke lowly, so Mira alone would hear. 

“No,” she agreed. And it was his father. Not her place. “I’ll have to get a report from Phasma or Leia.” 

Finn didn’t seem thrilled at the idea of going to Phasma, “Probably Leia knows more,” he offered, getting himself a cup of coffee then and trying to make himself scarce before the Commandant could see him. He tried to keep his back to him so he wouldn't be recognized, even if it was unlikely the Commandant paid attention to someone as lowly as him. 

The entire program that he betrayed had been that bastard’s creation. He didn’t want to see him, or be seen by him, either. 

~***~ 

Phasma nodded her agreement with Hux doing retcon, moving to the door of the ship. A small smile rested on her lips, “Yes, General. I would like to be debriefed on what took you so long in returning, and how a cat has been acquired…as well as Mira’s coat.” 

It wasn’t Hux’s anymore. Of that, Phasma was all but certain. There was a reason he had it, and Phasma was curious to know. “I will be five minutes. You may think of how to begin in that time, and what questions you will need answered. I will assist as much as I can before you are, inevitably, interrupted.” 

By the Commandant. 

That went without saying. 

With that, Phasma popped out of the ship, and moved to locate one of the First Aid stations that was set up. It didn’t take her long to acquire burn salve—there was plenty of it now thanks to the injuries that were sustained, and all the explosions. 

Phasma did not take as long as five minutes, before she was back at the ship and entering it with the burn salve, which she offered to Hux. She would assist in applying it if it were necessary, but she had a feeling Hux would prefer to handle it himself. 

~***~ 

“No,” Luke answered her. 

“Why?” Leia demanded of him. 

“Rey and I need to train away from where Snoke can find us. We have to stay out of his sight if we hope to beat him.” 

“You still think this all revolves around you and your abilities with the Force?” If there was one reason Leia resisted learning more, sometimes, it was because of Luke’s dependence on the Force, as well as his belief that it truly did govern so much of what he did. “Then go. Get Rey and go, Luke. When you come back, you’ll find we’ve already dealt with Snoke.” 

She turned on her heel, angry, but more hurt than that. "Leia, wait," Luke quickly walked to catch up with her, not intending to let her leave like that. Not wanting to leave himself with her like this. 

~***~ 

Press Luke instead. Rey blew out air in frustration, “That doesn’t seem to be doing me any good.” 

“Just keep trying,” Poe advised, clapping Rey on the back just as they came in sight of Black Squad. 

He lifted a hand in greeting as some of them turned to notice, “Hey!” He called out, and then gently pushed Rey ahead of him, “Rey’s here to help,” he said to them, “What needs fixing up around here?” 

“Not much right now,” one of the Black Squad members said, “But you may, uh, wanna check in with your fanclub—tell them you’re here.” When Poe canted his head, the man continued, “They’ve been searching for you and the others all night, they need sleep.” 

The man didn’t sound too judgmental. The girls had done as Leia asked without question, and they should definitely be rewarded with their beloved Poe returning, and letting them know they’d done good. Even if they hadn’t found Poe. “How’d you get back, anyway?” 

“Luke,” Poe said, as if it should be obvious how considering Rey was with him. “Anyway, where is my fanclub?” He did remember them. They had helped Leia. 

“Wait, you have a fanclub?” Rey sounded highly amused by this fact. 

Poe puffed up a bit, “Of course!”

KyloGlenn · Jul 7, 2016

The pressure on her hand was a strange feeling and her Force naturally resisted against it but it still got the point across to her. “Kinda.” Gnaeus wasn’t sure of his own methods, but they did help Paquin. Now she knew how it was supposed to feel. 

As soon as the pressure on her hand lifted, she pulled it back to grip the glaive. She shifted positions so her legs were out of harms way, preparing herself to try ‘charging’ the weapon. 

Her eyes remained open and she didn’t hum, holding the glaive out in front of her. It was a lot more difficult than she thought, she struggled to maintain focus on applying pressure on all angles and applying too much or too little. Luckily the glaive was a good item to practice on, it’s movement telling her where she needed to focus on or apply more pressure. 

It took quite a few tries, but it came to a point where it felt right. The weapon was steady in one place and it wasn’t breaking. She tried not to get too excited in worry of throwing off the balance she’d managed to create. 

- 

“Well, I don’t advise ripping information out of anyone’s head, especially not the Commandant’s.” Philip offered, as much as he wouldn’t mind something unpleasant happening to the ginger man. 

“No need to worry about that, we’re not going near him.” Finn denied as he quickly moved on to add cream and then a lid to his coffee. If there was anyone who could rival Finn’s dislike for the General himself, it was his father. His father was pure evil and just about everyone in the Order knew it. “You ready to go Mira?” 

Though, despite Finn’s best efforts to avoid the Commandant, they were about to fail. 

It wasn’t Finn that Brendol recognized. It was the blonde that he’d come to loath, even if he hadn’t met her. He knew enough of her and he did not approve. 

Philip initially thought the Commandant was coming for him, unaware of the Commandant’s feelings towards Mira. So, when the older Hux pushed his way through the grouping of people, Philip greeted him, “Comman—“ 

“Your services are not needed, Officer.” 

“Well, I, okay.” 

Finn tensed then, even though the Commandant didn’t spare him a glance at all. Brendol didn’t recognize him, clearly. If he did, he would’ve made an even bigger fuss. “You, you’re the woman my son is so fascinated with.” There was a difference between Brendol’s own admiration for the Jedi and his son’s. 

- 

Once Phasma returned, Hux happily took the burn salve from her. “Thank you,” he said once again before he took his over shirt off, beginning to apply it. His hands immediately felt some degree of relief, followed by his arms. Luckily, the sunburn was in places he could easily reach. 

He was spared of any embarrassment in asking Phasma to help. 

“I was cornered and FN—Finn. Finn picked me up. But then we were chased by Snoke’s clones, run off of the planet. Poe and Mira followed and we were shot down and crash landed on Jakku. All forms of communication were destroyed. Obviously.” As he spoke, the cat actively tried to lick the burn salve off of his skin. 

Which brought him to his next subject. “While walking, looking for a town, their droid was attacked by the cat. She led us back to her home, believe it or not, and we stayed the night there. Mira found a book, the Jedi Guide,” Hux trusted Phasma with this information. “Skywalker and the scavenger were looking for it, which was why they were on the planet. Mira wanted to keep the book, so she wrapped it in the coat and gave it to me and that’s why I’m in possession of both items. Luke and the others don’t know we have the book, so I’d appreciate if you keep that to yourself.” Which she would, he already knew. 

He finished applying the burn salve, his skin felt instant relief. “After a bit of arguing, Luke eventually agreed to bring us back.” 

- 

“Just go, Luke. You’re only going to make this worse.” 

Luke struggled to catch up, wondering how someone with such short legs could move so fast. He did catch up, though. But Leia didn’t slow down. “Leia—“ 

“I can’t change your mind and you won’t change mine.” 

“I can’t leave with you like this. I need you to understand. Rey needs to be ready for Snoke, but he can’t be ready for her.” 

“Look around, Luke. Snoke’s already ready for anything. Five people knew about this meeting and he still knew about it, somehow! Disappearing again won’t make a difference. The only difference is whether you’ll be here to witness us tear down Snoke or not.” 

- 

“Where are they at? I’ll show Rey here the power of good looks.” Poe asked the pilot, to which he pointed behind himself. 

“They’ve got a set up a few yards over there. They’ve got tents and everything, you won’t miss ‘em.” 

“Thanks, bud.” 

“It’s good to have you back, Poe.” 

Poe turned back to Rey and nodded his head in the direction of his fangirls. “Oh, I have to see this.” A grin graced Rey’s face. Mira or Luke could wait the five seconds it would take for this club to be confirmed. 

“Then come on,” Poe was already heading to relieve the girls of their duties. He was touched they were so invested, so worried. The least he could do is thank them. 

The campus was a mess, but he found their tents. They were up and surrounding some computers. They spotted him from a mile away. “POE!” The girls immediately abandoned their post. He was sure one of them was tempted to throw the computers out of the way. 

Poe was attacked nearly five seconds later, four girls enveloping him in a tight hug. Words of ‘you’re alive’ and ‘we missed you’ were spewed, until one question surprised Poe. “Is Mira with you?” The question was full of some form of disgust.

Lucyfer · Jul 7, 2016

It worked well enough, it seemed. Paquin got an idea, and she applied that idea to the glaive. It took some time, but that was expected. “There you go,” Gnaeus smiled as the glaive finally stopped moving around. “I’d have you test it, but all you’d see is that a weapon like that can stand up to a lightsaber, for a little bit.” 

That’s how one knew the Force was being channeled properly. The weapon was protected from the lightsaber by the Force. 

“Okay, do you have any questions before working on the crystal? Or do you need to see anything else?” Gnaeus asked, knowing the next steps led to the actual creation of the lightsaber, “It takes time—hours—of focus,” Gnaeus noted. He hadn’t mentioned that. He probably should, lest Paquin think it would be as quick and easy as channeling the Force into that glaive. 

No, it would take a while for the crystal to become attuned, and then a while more to put it all together the first time. 

~***~ 

“You’re no fun,” Mira’s pout was false. No, she shouldn’t think of ripping things from people’s minds unless it was absolutely necessary. 

Like one of the troopers, to find out where the hell Snoke was, so she could sever his head from his neck. Mira was just about to ask if they had taken any prisoners, when Finn interrupted, wanting to move away. “Just a moment,” and even then she still wasn’t able to ask. 

No, the Commandant decided to notice them. 

Mira wanted to tell Finn to run when the Commandant approached, to leave, even though his look was fixed on her. Finn didn’t need to get involved in this. Philip was at least spared, though, dismissed by the Commandant himself. “If you say so, Commandant Hux,” Mira wouldn’t feign not recognizing him, tempting as it was to see if it would bother his ego. “Is there something that you need?” 

Yes, she suspected she wouldn’t like him, but he had yet to prove it. She’d have to at least try to give him a chance. She knew how biased children could be against their parents. She glanced briefly to Finn and decided to give him an escape, if he wanted it, “Go find out if any prisoners were taken.” 

~***~ 

Finn saved Hux. It was still difficult to believe, and hard to think of him as ‘Finn’. He was FN-2187. Phasma had watched him grow up. He had always been FN-2187. 

But now he’d be Finn, as Mira Ren would be Vallens. 

The cat was a bit humorous, and Phasma clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth when it tried to lick off the burn salve. It responded, and came to her almost immediately. She crouched down to pet it as Hux continued with his story. At the mention of the Jedi Guide, her hand stilled and she looked back up. ‘This is not safe.’ 

Hux had to know that. “I will not mention it, sir,” she indicated. “Will Vallens be returning to the First Order with us, then, or have such arrangements for Vallens been determined?” 

Where did she even fall now? It seemed likely she would return now—after all, how else was she going to read that book? And yet, it seemed equally likely that she would stay with the Resistance. 

~***~ 

Five people. Luke clenched his jaw. “Mira was one of them?” 

Leia turned an accusatory look to Luke. “She’s returned, Luke.” The implication was ‘unlike you’, as if he had gone away for good. 

Luke wasn’t winning this, and he knew it. But he couldn’t leave Leia like this. “Fine.” 

“Fine?” Leia repeated the word. 

“I’ll stay closer. In better contact. From now on.” 

Leia paused in her walking back towards the campus and the chaos of it, and stared at Luke as if he’d just spoken in a foreign language. 

~***~ 

Rey couldn’t keep the bemused smile from bubbling onto her lips as she watched Poe all but tackled by the girls, shaking her head in utter bewilderment at his fanclub. This was…insane. Intense. 

She listened as he calmed them, and then heard that odd question. ‘Popular, isn’t she?’ Rey was all the more curious about the Knight. Though, who wouldn’t be? Perhaps that was why she was so popular—she’d come back from the darkside. 

Perhaps that meant there was hope for Kylo Ren. Even if Rey didn’t want to think about it, still remembering how he had impaled his own father, she knew that would have to be tried. He was Luke’s nephew. He was Leia’s son. “Mira came back with us, yeah,” Poe said. 

“Where is she?” The girl asked, sounding oddly determined. “I need to speak with her.” 

“What is with everyone today?” Poe asked aloud, shaking his head, “She probably went to find coffee.”

KyloGlenn · Jul 7, 2016

"Hours? Wow. Okay." It's not like she had anything better to do, anyway. She felt she had the idea down and that she'd be able to apply it, it would just take a while. A crystal in a lightsaber was different than the glaive. Her only worry going forward was it exploding, but as long as she was careful. 

"I think I've got it." 'Don't jinx it.' She considered asking Gnaeus to sit and offer her encouraging words while she worked on the crystal. She didn't, instead offering him a smile. "Thank you, Gnaeus." He did his best to explain the process to her, anything that goes wrong from that point would be her own fault. 

Paquin stood then, handing Gnaeus back the glaive. If she was going to bed at this for a few hours, most likely not taking stretching breaks, she was going to move to a more comfortable place. And Paquin thought to practice with the Force a bit more, using it to move the crystal and the lightsaber parts to the bed. "I can do this," she was mostly assuring herself at that point. 

- 

The Commandant looked down on Mira. His eyes both tilted downwards to glare at her and also as though he was superior to her. Which, in his mind, he was. Especially when she knew his name. A glance was spared at Finn, but it lasted a split second. Finn was not his target. At that moment, anyway. 

Before Finn could agree to finding out about prisoners, which he was going to happily do to get away from Brendol, the ginger spoke. "You disgust me." His tone was expressed exactly that, as well as the glare he gave the blonde. 

"Hey!" Finn went to defend Mira. 

But Brendol just repeated what Mira had said to Finn, "Go on then. Find out about prisoners. This doesn't concern you." But Finn didn't move, instead looking to Mira to see if she would be alright without him. He wanted to leave and he knew Mira could take care of herself on any other occasion, but with the thing with Luke, he'd rather be safe. 

Finn's presence didn't stop Brendol from spewing hate in Mira's direction. "What kind of mind tricks did you use on my son? I refuse to believe he'd consciously be stupid enough to associate himself with the likes of you, a traitor." Brendol didn't fully believe his own words. He did believe his son could be that stupid, but he hoped not. 

- 

Hux was amused by Phasma's interaction with the cat while it lasted. And then there was Phasma's initial reaction to the news of the book. Thankfully, she didn't comment on the dangers of it or question his agreement to hold it. Hux was already well aware of the risks, had been when he tucked the book under his arm. 

She questioned whether Mira would be returning with them to the Order, something Hux had questioned himself. He hadn't spoken to her about it yet. She would certainly be welcome if she wanted to. "I'm not sure, it's not been discussed." He wasn't entirely sure how likely her return would be. 

She had Finn as a padawan now, from Hux's perspective. And Finn would not accompany her back to the Order, Hux was sure of that. He didn't mention that to Phasma, unsure how Mira wanted to go about Finn and all. 

And what would happen if an alliance failed to be forged? Where would she align then? "I'll talk to her about it. Either she'll come back with us, or I'll give her back the book once Luke and the girl make their leave." He'd hopefully have a chance to catch up with her later. "Other than my father potentially ruining things, everything else has been running smoothly?" 

- 

Leia's eyes narrowed at Luke, to which he became defensive. "What?" 

"You're serious? You better be, Luke, or I swear I will hit you up, down, side to side. Cut your good hand off, too." Leia wouldn't tolerate anymore running off. Not after this time. Not with what happened with Ben and Han. Which made Leia wonder how Luke took that. He certainly had to have felt it as well. 

This didn't help the fact that Luke would have to explain attachments to Rey and all, she'd be able to point out Luke and his sister, but he was serious. "Yes, I'm serious." Luke pulled his hands behind his back, almost protecting the 'good' one, as Leia put it. "You'll know where we are and you can reach me. But only you, Leia." And by that, he meant Mira couldn't know. 

- 

"Becki, you wanna come with me?" The girl asked her fellow club member, who still clung to Poe. Becki looked from Poe to her friend, conflicted. But she agreed. 

"We have to get our point across." And Becki was the best person to do that. 

"What? What point? My girls are leaving me for Mira?" Poe was almost teasing in his words, but also genuinely confused. 

"No! We're just protecting you." Poe wasn't sure what that meant, but the girls had already run off. The remaining two girls clung to Poe's arms. 

"So, what's up with Mira, then? She seems popular?" Rey thought to question. 

"She's new and a potential threat," the grip on Poe tightened then. "We've crossed everyone else off the list. Including you, Rey." Rey was very creeped out at that point. They knew her name and apparently she'd been crossed off a list of threats?

Lucyfer · Jul 8, 2016

Gnaeus knew when he was being dismissed. He would have sat and stayed with Paquin, if she had asked. After all, he was worried, too, about what could go wrong. If someone like Kylo, who was so skilled in the Force, could screw up his own lightsaber, what would happen with Paquin? 

Yet, he had to hope—hope that she wouldn’t, because she was a bit more emotionally stable than their leader. “You’re welcome,” he said as he pulled himself up from the ground to stand. 

He took the glaive back. He’d return it to Kevan’s room, too. ‘Wonder whatever happened to his lightsaber.’ It was an odd thought, but he did recall how proud the damned fool was of it—ridiculous thing, but it suited his style. Like this glaive would have. He imagined it must have been destroyed during the fight with Kylo, as Mira’s had been destroyed. 

Though, she had a new one, now. “You can,” he agreed and stepped back, “but if you need anything, any of us will help,” he volunteered Kylo and Ariel easily. 

After all, they did know things. They had their own ways of using lightsabers, too. And their own skills with the Force. 

Gnaeus then stepped out, and went to replace the glaive in Kevan’s room, sitting it nicely against the wall once more and taking a look down at the fallen plant once more. ‘…Voids.’ He cursed himself as he went to gather it up, thinking of replanting it or…something. It just felt wrong to let the innocent plant suffer for being owned by a traitor. 

~***~ 

Brendol’s blunt delivery was only softened by Finn’s jump to defend her. ‘At least someone likes me.’ Well, Finn and Hux. What an odd pair. 

She felt Finn’s stare on her as Brendol tried to dismiss him. Other eyes shifted to them, clearly expecting something to happen. Little did she know of the betting pools about him and Tarkin. “You should be grateful that I have a high enough respect for your son, that I have not used any mind tricks on him.” It was a cold delivery, blunt as well. 

Commandant Hux would not be grateful. That meant his son was speaking to her of his own free will, associating with her, “But if you would like, I can give you a taste of how it feels to be manipulated by the Force, so you’ll know what to look for.” It was a calm threat, but Mira could feel the pulse of his hate. 

To her, it made him an easy target. “Mira, we should go, we don’t have time for this waste of space.” He couldn’t keep back his own insult. 

“Find out about the prisoners first.” 

Finn bit the inside of his cheek, but then finally turned away to do so, figuring it would be the quickest way to get her out of there. He hoped. Either way, he didn’t want to stay near—but he didn’t leave the area. He was going to keep them in his sights. 

He approached another man with red hair, blissfully unaware of who he was, only that looked important as he leaned against the wall and sipped his coffee. “Uh, hey there, do you know the status of any prisoners?” 

“There are a few,” August Tarkin answered, keeping his voice purposefully soft. 

He had walked in on the scene and had little intention of leaving. He knew what kind of creature the Commandant was—now it was time to see what kind of creature the Knight was, before she knew him. “Edwin of the FOTC knows more, but he is out right now.” Busy elsewhere. 

~***~ 

Phasma answered, “I am pleased to report that everything else has run smoothly. The Resistance has worked well with us. The FOTC took some prisoners. Unfortunately, they have not been broken yet,” her failing, but it was difficult to break people who already accepted death. “However, with Mira back, we may be able to get the information from those that remain alive.” 

She straightened up, and the cat, realizing it would get no more affection from her, turned immediately back to Hux and wrapped around his leg, trying to get more affection out of him. 

“How would you like to proceed, sir?” 

There were many options. The conversation with Leia and Poe could be finished up. He could go to see the prisoners, if he felt so inclined. They could go to Mira to find her plans. He could visit August Tarkin immediately. He could check in on his father. 

There were likely options beyond, but those seemed the most likely options at the moment. 

~***~ 

Leia allowed a bit of hope to slip into her expression. She allowed a softening of her features, and sighed. “Well, I hope you keep your word,” she said. 

Luke was relieved with this reaction. With this Leia. “I will,” he answered. 

“Good. Now I need to reconnect with Mira and Poe,” she had unfinished business with them, first. Then she could go see Hux and Phasma and reopen the conversation that had been closed by the violence. “I believe Rey went with Poe, and I know where he would have gone,” if Luke wanted to follow to Poe, to get his padawan back. 

~***~ 

“Threat?” Poe didn’t think this meant threat to his life, in this case. He looked between the pair of girls, confused. “What do you mean by that?” 

“Becki told us how comfy you two got in that fighter!” One of them stated. 

“She’s not good for you, Poe.” The other added. 

Rey covered her lips with her hand, laughing into it as she realized what they meant, “Wait, you thought I would—no!” Rey laughed as she realized the girls had once thought she was a threat—to them. To their goals of seducing Poe. “Finn’s more a threat than I am!” 

“We thought of him, too,” the one to Poe’s left agreed. 

“We ruled him out.” 

Rey gave Poe a cheeky grin that asked, ‘Should I tell them?’

KyloGlenn · Jul 9, 2016

‘Wait no, I can’t do this.’ She was almost tempted to call him back as soon as he left, but she’d give it a shot on her own first. After all, he did say that any of them could help if she needed it. Hopefully they wouldn’t be helping her by removing shards of crystals from her body. Then again, she’d probably do that herself. 

With a deep breath, she settled herself on the bed. She wasted no time in starting the process of imbuing the crystal. It was a bit of a struggle, initially, trying to push into the crystal while keeping it levitated in the air. But once she got the hang of it, instinct seemed to take over. Her eyes closed and her hands found their way to hover under and above the crystal. 

She was aware of her surroundings, more so than she’d been before. She was aware of her three companions. She felt Ariel’s frustration in something, probably over the lack of alcohol. Gnaeus was fussing with a plant, which Paquin knew was barely alive. 

It didn’t seem as long as it was, the process of imbuing the crystal. She’d been at it for hours at that point. She felt the crystal pulsing, to which she opened her eyes. There was a soft glow coming from the crystal, a color behind it. It started out as a dark blue color, slowly shifting to a bright green. There was one more shift as it reverted back only slightly, the color a mixture of blue and green. ‘Cyan, maybe?’ Paquin didn’t know and as it seemed to settle on the color, she decided it was time to fit the crystal and the hilt together. 

Paquin was tediously slow with it, double checking every piece that floated together to make sure it was correct. Slowly but surely, it was assembled without an explosion and as far as Paquin knew, it wasn’t cracked. She let it fall to her lap, being left with a serene buzz as she took ahold of it. The activation button was pressed and a blade was revealed, the same color the crystal had settled on. “I did it!” Now that was something to get excited over, the bedding being mucked up once again by the Force. 

- 

Brendol’s jaw clenched. If his glare could intensify, it would have. But his eyes were already as hateful as they could be. He didn’t want to believe Mira’s claim, he wanted to believe that he taught his son better than that. This just meant that his son was as weak-willed as he’d been as a child. 

He’d thought he’d beaten that out of the boy long ago when he was a cadet. 

Then she threatened him. And he wanted to strangle the woman. His displeasure was apparent in the way his hands clenched behind his back, restraining himself from doing just that. But then he had a thought. Maybe strangling her would be the answer. With her gone, hopefully his son wouldn’t have such a bad influence. 

But he couldn’t do that himself, not in front of so many people. That didn’t mean it couldn’t be someone else that would get rid of her. 

Something to consider. “You should have enough respect to not threaten me, girl.” Maybe he didn’t need to consider whether she would be taken care of or not. More so consider which would be more beneficial, getting rid of her or dealing with his son. “Disrespect me again and you’ll regret it.” Just because he wouldn’t allow her to threaten him didn’t mean he wouldn’t threaten her. He kept his voice low, however, shuffling just a tad bit closer to her so only she’d hear. 

Finn couldn’t hear what the Commandant was saying, he just knew it wasn’t good. “I don’t know who Edwin is anyway.” He tore his gaze from Mira and the elder carrot top to face the other carrot top. 

He was not a man of the Resistance, Finn could tell. Too neat, not to mention he’d never seen him. But he wasn’t wearing an Order uniform, either. Maybe he was more affiliated with the school. The FOTC, maybe. “Do you know where they’re being held?” Then he could take that information to Mira and get her the hell away from the creepy Commandant. 

- 

Hux didn’t take it as Phasma failing. Anyone else, he would have. But if someone wouldn’t crack for Phasma, it was usually simply because they’d accepted their fate. Phasma didn’t fail often. She really deserved more than the title of Captain. Something he’d work on later, after he settled this thing with the Resistance. 

He bent down to scratch the cat when she came over, just a little before he stood up straight again. With the burn salve completely rubbed in and settled, he pulled his shirt back on, readjusting so he’d look as put together as he could. He ran his bare hand through his hair to try and slick it back the best he could. He wished he really had a spare pair of gloves laying around, to cover his still red hands but unfortunately he didn’t. 

“I’ll get Mira on the prisoner’s first,” talk about who she’d be going with, as well. “Then I’ll deal with Tarkin.” His father would be the last on his list. Literally anything else he’d do before having to deal with his father. “I’d appreciate if you could get someone to contact a veterinarian. For the cat.” He spared a glance at her. It would be easier to get one here than on a starship or any other base. 

- 

“I’ll follow after you.” Luke gestured with his robotic hand, which looked skeletal. Nothing new, though he was considering getting a little more. 

And Leia took the lead then. Poe was either heading towards his squad or his fangirls. Leia somehow figured the fangirls would have gotten to Poe and Rey first. And when Becki and Britney almost ran past Leia, she stopped them. “Hey girls, you know Poe is back right?” 

“Yep! He’s with the other girls. And Rey.” Becki answered, jogging in place. 

“Thank you,” and with that, the girls ran off again, Leia continuing on her march to Poe. 

- 

Poe gave Rey a look that said ‘don’t you dare.’ If the girls reacted this way with Mira, someone who had absolutely zero chance with him, then he didn’t want to know what they’d do to poor Finn. “Don’t worry, ladies. I know a bad influence when I see one. Besides, I’ve only got eyes for my number one fans.” 

Get them off the subject of Finn. 

The girls completely swooned at that, faces going red and their grips tightening. The two simultaneously laid their heads on Poe’s shoulders. Rey was clearly on the verge of breaking, noises coming from the back of her throat. She almost let the cuddle party he’d had with Finn slip, but Leia and Luke showed up just in time, with a shadow of their own. 

Jessika had caught wind of Luke, spotting him when he’d moved past their set up. Poe had nearly forgotten about her crush on Luke until she was trailing after him, wide-eyed. “Poe, leave the girls alone.” Leia held a small grin. She knew Poe well enough to know he wouldn’t take advantage of the girls, despite his flirtatiousness. 

“No! We’re fine!” One girl protested.

Lucyfer · Jul 10, 2016

Kylo Ren could feel the Force of Paquin’s practice, and it was then he decided he ought to get work on some of his own activities. 

He was slacking in a few areas. 

Not the Force. 

Not fighting. 

But, as he stepped down into the training grounds and saw all the wrecked things, he knew he had to get back in the habit of machines and repairing. ‘Because the Force can’t manipulate droids.’ It could, of course, destroy them. Obviously. 

But it couldn’t truly influence them, and they could overwhelm foes. ‘I wonder if Snoke has many droids in his army, too….’ Emperor Palpatine had. Droids and clones. It had worked out so well for him. 

Kylo set about working on repairing the ruined droids. He needed to make them better, to be even more Force and Lightsaber resistant. They needed to improve to stand up to their foes—to Luke. To Mira. 

If they could stand up to Jedi, they would have a better chance of destroying them. 

So, under the calming focus of Paquin’s building of a lightsaber, Kylo Ren began to repair the droids in solitude. He knew later, he would have to plot how to obtain the Sith book and its secrets, but his mind never wandered from his task. 

In some ways, mechanics had always been a meditative act. 

Perhaps it was the one thing he inherited from Han Solo. 

~***~ 

“I believe they were in the Foreign Language building, but I may be incorrect,” Tarkin offered, “I am not familiar with this campus, but it is the building that is four floors tall, red brick, and with a statue of a bird out front,” he offered to Finn, recalling all the details as his eyes never once left the scene. 

His own bird was trying to threaten, but Mira mirrored him exactly, stepping when he did, and holding his gaze in her own. In that moment, Commandant Hux seemed more a peacock, and Mira, a snake...and not one merely flaunting the colors of poison to protect itself. 

Tarkin couldn’t hear what was being said, but he knew it was threats. Only two things were spoken that close, facing another person—threats or declarations of love, and this was certainly not the latter. ‘Didn’t you ever learn not to threaten a Sith?’ 

She was not a Jedi. No matter what was being said, Tarkin did not believe she fit that at all. Perhaps not a Sith—she had far more restraint that Vader. Vader would have thrown Commandant Hux across the room by now. ‘A Force Sensitive without a code…interesting.’ Someone malleable then, though he knew that before. There was a look to her eyes, unlike Hux. Hux was a bird, a scavenger. Here was a predator released from a cage, testing to see if it still had any boundaries. And Tarkin was fascinated to see how this might play out. 

“My friend is going to take this too far,” August offered, turning Finn’s head back to the scene. 

“He’s your friend?” Finn sounded appalled. 

“Of a sort,” August shrugged, “I suggest interrupting.” 

Finn took that advice, despite the fact it came from a ‘friend’ of the Commandant, “Mira!” 

~***~ 

There was a look that Mira was familiar with—with someone who wanted to harm her. It reminded her a bit of Kylo Ren right then, and if she had read his mind she would have known why—strangling. When he stepped forward, Mira matched it, same length, head tilted up. 

They were too close for comfort, but old instinct let Mira feed off that hate to seem almost comfortable so close to the threat. 

He wouldn’t do a thing. 

He wasn’t Kylo Ren. He was stifled by his organization, and Mira was free of it. Free of them all. “Pity,” Mira answered the Commandant’s threat, “I did hope you’d take me up on that offer. I wanted to see if Hux got his strong mind from you, or from his mother.” A twitch of the lips indicated what she thought. ‘Not you.’ 

“Perhaps next time you’ll be willing to prove your mettle against the best telepath of the Knights,” Snoke wasn’t a Knight, so she wasn’t wrong. 

“Mira!” 

It was then that Finn interrupted, moving swiftly as he saw the subtle sway that he was familiar enough with to recognize as something of an attacker’s taunt. The sway of an opponent before they moved for a kill. He stepped quickly to her; he’d gleaned information from August, “Come on, I have an idea where that prisoner is,” he touched her shoulder to draw her away, and she stepped back to him with the gesture. 

“All right,” she accepted, and turned to walk with Finn as he led her towards the door, sipping at her coffee and feeling a new sort of awake. 

When she hit the doors, she and Finn were almost immediately confronted outside by a pack of girls. 

“Mira!” 

“Ren!” 

“It’s Vallens,” Finn was the one to correct as the pair of girls came forward. They looked at him a moment. 

“We need to talk to her.” 

“Alone,” added Becki. 

Mira shook her head, “No, my padawan is learning right now,” as in, she’d determine when he had to leave her—not these girls. She was overusing the term for a point; she wanted it well known now what Finn was. She’d likely reap hell for it later, from Leia or Luke, but by then it’d be far too late. 

~***~ 

“Very well, sir,” Phasma said, and moved towards the door, “I will reach out to contact a veterinarian immediately, unless you wish me to walk with you to assist you in locating areas or people,” Phasma would certainly accompany him for that much. 

However, he likely needed to get a feel of everything on his own, as well. Phasma could take care of the cat, their newest guest. It was such an odd thing for Hux to pick up, and yet, Phasma was pleased with it. 

Hux needed something like this. 

Changes were taking place, many of them, and he was going to need many forms of support through these changes. Something like a cat might be just what he needed, a form of non-verbal support and love. 

~***~ 

“Ladies,” Poe rolled his shoulders and calmly, gently, shifted the girls off him, “I think Leia is interrupting us for a reason,” he smiled, “General, do you need me?” 

“Yes. You and Mira.” The implication in her tone was not one that Poe liked, but he didn’t let that show. He just smiled. 

“All right, I think I have an idea of where she is,” and she was soon to be assaulted by the girls. It might be fun to walk in on that and see, “Ladies, this is Luke Skywalker,” he motioned to them, and then, “And Jessika, come here, meet Luke and Rey—Luke, this is your biggest fan,” he offered, and then stepped aside to Leia. 

She gave Luke a meaningful look, threatening him if he ran off with Rey right then, before she grabbed Poe’s arm to pull him away, though she’d let him lead to Mira.

KyloGlenn · Jul 11, 2016

After the initial excitement wore down and Paquin was simply gazing at the glowstick, the first thought that came to mind was to use it. But not in fighting, but rather on herself. She had the weapon and she knew she should learn how to fix such wounds better, Kylo wasn't her best work since she'd never worked on a lightsaber wound before. 

But that thought was quickly dismissed. They didn't have any resources to actually treat wounds like that in any sufficient way. 

'Maybe later,' for now, she was going to show off her successful lightsaber. Turning it off, she hopped off the bed and out the door. Her feet took her towards Kylo first, to show him. A 'look how far I've come', one step closer to becoming the Force-sensitive he wanted her to be. 

Though she didn't know exactly where he was. All she knew was down and the only down she knew was the training room. And the Force hadn't failed her, he was there. And while she hadn't gotten a good look at the room yesterday, she knew it hadn't been as clean as it was then, the ground droid free. 

She wasn't sure if he'd noticed her or not and she was tempted to make her presence known by turning on the lightsaber so it would emit the noise it made, but decided that probably wasn't smart. So, instead, she settled on, "You've been busy." And she was glad to see him doing something that wasn't destroying things. 

- 

Finn still felt a swell of glee every time Mira called him her padawan, even if she'd said it so many times already. It would never get old. Which reminded him, he still had yet to share his Force-sensitivity with Rey. He'd have to ask Mira about that first, see if she was okay with that. Rey might tell Luke and Finn didn't want to ask Rey to lie to her teacher. 

But first, these girls. 

"Padawan? Force-sensitive?" Becki turned to the other girl then, "Is that in his file?" 

"File?" Finn had a file? 

"No, should I add it?" 

"It couldn't hurt," Becki shrugged turning back to Mira and Finn. "Alright, he can stay," it didn't matter much. "Stay away from Poe, Vallens. We know all about you," or, at least, as much as they could know, "and we know you're no good for him. I swear, if I see you cozying up to him in an X-wing--" 

"--Or anywhere," the other girl added. 

"Or anywhere, I will not hesitate to fight for my man!" Becki didn't care that she was talking to a former Knight of Ren, a Force-sensitive who had just taken threats from the Commandant and thrown them right back in his face. 

This threat wasn't as serious as whatever the Commandant had said, or at least in Finn's opinion it wasn't. In fact, he had to bite back a laugh. Poe and Mira? In what world? 

Jessika didn't deny her status as Luke's biggest fan. "I've read all about you!" Poe heard as he was pulled away by the General 

"Jessika should keep those two busy for a while, General," Poe assured the General as he led her to where he'd figured Mira would be. Towards the coffee. That's where the two girls had run. 

And he was right, as they followed the scent of coffee the person they were looking for was there, along with Finn and the girls. "--I will not hesitate to fight for my man!" Was what was caught as they neared them. 

Poe laughed. These girls were great. But he knew he had to break it up, jogging over to them all. "Alright, alright! Break it up, ladies. Plenty of me to go around. I need to borrow blondie here, but it's not for what you might think. Important Resistance business and all, don't worry." 

- 

"I'll get a feel for the campus on my own," he wanted to see the destruction he'd inadvertently caused, feel out the campus and the people along the way. "Thank you, Phasma." He himself walked towards the door, the cat quickly leaping to follow after them, only to be stopped by Hux's foot. 

"Stay, cat." He ordered with a point of his finger. The cat simply stared at him, but that was good enough for Hux to start to take his leave once again. He almost felt bad for referring to her as 'cat' instead of a name. But he didn't want to get attached... 'Oh, damn it.' "I suppose I should name her, huh? For the veterinarian. Records and all." Sure, that's what he'd tell himself. 

'Not Princess,' not only did Mira say not to name her that, but he found the name ridiculous as well. 'Something classy.' The letter m spoke to Hux, 'M...Margaret...Mildred...Mil--' "Is Millicent an acceptable name?" He asked the cat for approval, leaning down to give her a final pet before he departed. She leaned into his hand, letting out a little mewl along with purrs. Not that the cat could really give her approval, but he'd take those actions as such.

Lucyfer · Jul 11, 2016

Kylo sensed when the charging of the lightsaber crystal stopped. 

He sensed when the flow of the Force altered, so he knew eventually Paquin would be moving. He had expected her to go to Gnaeus first, so he remained crossed legged on the ground, undoing parts of a droid that weren’t utterly destroyed by him to salvage them. 

The others he’d get melted down and put into molds to repair. He’d have to rewire everything as well. 

He was taken from the thoughts when he heard Paquin’s voice. He took in a breath to re-orient himself, and rose. He set the droid parts he’d been working on upon a table with the Force, oddly calm for Kylo. 

He gave a nod to her statement. “You were successful,” it wasn’t a question. All of them would have known if she wasn’t. That explosion wouldn’t just be noise; the Force would have been rattled. “Let’s see it,” Kylo gestured towards the unlit object, curious as to what color it would be. 

There was no wonder about that anymore with the lightsabers he and the Knights had. It was always red. Yet, Paquin had one of those crystals from Mira. He half-expected it would end up green—that was the color Mira’s had once been, and he knew no different; he hadn’t seen the new blade on Gnathion, only worms of death and snow. 

Still, there was always some excitement in the mystery of what the lightsaber would end up reflecting. 

~***~ 

Luke Skywalker didn’t really know how to deal with fans anymore. Once, he’d had some idea, even though he’d been in his own strange sort of seclusion with his Academy. He was supposed to be polite, wasn’t he? “Thank you,” he said, and then looked to Rey. “We need to talk.” 

“Only if it’s going to be about my family,” Rey was stubborn again. Always, really, Luke knew. 

“No,” Luke wouldn’t lie, “About another matter,” about Leia, and how they’d be sort of staying in touch now. 

“Then it can wait.” Rey stepped back, “I need to help with repairs here, with doing something that’s actually useful.” Rey stated, the hint clear that what she and Luke had been doing wasn’t exactly useful. 

It was, of course. Just to no one but them, but it would become more useful to the universe. Once Rey had learned to use the Force better. 

Luke was getting so tired of all these arguments all of a sudden. This was why he liked his islands. The rocks didn’t argue with him. Even Rey hadn’t argued with him as much once they got into her training. “Rey, you can go back and help.” 

Rey didn’t hide her confusion. She expected they would be leaving too soon for that, in reality. 

~***~ 

Mira met the threats with a dull stare. Any other day, she might have found them hilarious, but in that moment, she was paranoid about what the girls had found out. With the prisoner already on her mind, ripping thoughts one by one was also on her mind. 

Fortunately, Poe laughed, and it caused Mira to take a deep breath and gather herself, to remember where she was and what she shouldn’t do. She forced a smile to her lips as Poe came to steal her, with Leia. ‘I still owe you for the house, don’t I?’ Since her plan had failed, and he was clearly already familiar with these girls. 

“Don’t worry, I’d never steal anyone from Finn, girls,” Mira said, watching again as Finn grew flustered and Leia gaped for a moment. 

“What?!” Becki looked shocked. 

“But we ruled him out!” Britney cried. 

“Come here!” Becki grabbed Finn. 

“I’ll come rescue you later,” Mira told Finn with a laugh as Leia caught up and Poe scowled at Mira for revealing that. 

“What did I miss?” Leia seemed a little amused, letting the serious demeanor die for a moment. 

“There was one bed in the house on Jakku,” Poe said. 

“So we let the couple share, after they had kissed.” 

Leia just looked right to Poe in a, ‘Oh really?’ fashion, before shaking her head and dismissing it for the moment, “We’re going back to the ship to talk. Our ship,” for the sake of privacy. 

“All right, hold o—” Mira knew she’d need more coffee than this, and turned to head back into the dorms to acquire it—Commandant or no—but it was unnecessary. 

Another warm cup was placed in her hand and the nearly empty one lightly removed. The act was a bit too sudden for her mind to send words to her mouth to call after the strange red-head as he threw her old cup away and kept walking, but Leia’s lips tightened, not sure what interactions Mira may have already had with the Tarkin—she didn’t want Mira to become a Sith under those kinds of guidances. 

She’d save it for the ship. “You and red-heads, huh?” It was Poe’s poor attempt to get back at her. 

“I don’t even know who that was….” 

And Leia let out a relieved breath as she led them back. 

But August well knew. And he well knew the direction they were going. He was returning to his own ship. He had plans to intercept Mira before he met with Hux, if only to make sure he was on her good side when the time came. This was just the start. 

~***~ 

General Hux ordering cats around. Well, it wasn’t all that surprising. He had a lot to learn about the creatures, though. Phasma wouldn’t be surprised if this thing escaped the ship before the vet arrived, but Phasma would try to keep it here. First she had to find out about a vet, and she left the ship with Hux, after he named it. ‘Millicent.’ Good name. Or at least, Phasma liked it. 

She took an opposite turn than him, and began to immediately ask around about vets. Someone here had to have a pet. That meant someone here had to know about pet care. 

It didn’t take too long, and one of the students was calling on Phasma’s behalf to request a vet to the area for a cat. “I’ll come with you,” she said once she got off the phone, “I know him so I can wave him over to the ship—and I want to meet the kitty! Let’s get it some food and water, though!” 

And immediately they took a detour to steal a bowl from the breakfast line, and then some sausage, while the girl talked on about how cats were carnivores. A bottle of water was stolen, and when Phasma indicated the cat already had a bowl for that, the girl nodded. “I’ll write down some brands of cat food that will be good for her, when you have the luxury,” right now, they didn’t. There wasn’t cat food on the campus.

KyloGlenn · Jul 11, 2016

Paquin was more than happy to show off her lightsaber. Holding it out in front of her, she pressed the activation button. The cyan blade lit her face up, both with its glow and with happiness. If she could have, she would have spun it around or something, but considering she didn't know how and didn't want to injure herself in that current moment, she didn't. 

Gnaeus was next on her list of people to show. If Kylo wasn't around, she would have gone to Gnaeus first. He did teach her how to make the thing, after all. She owed him one, now. But, she wanted to show Kylo, who she'd known the longest. From the point of her never even witnessing the Force to now, he'd witnessed. 

She found herself seeking his approval with her weapon, even if he'd messed his own up. She felt she had something to prove. 

"Greenish-blue. I don't get the color," she wasn't sure what dictated it. There'd been some sort of battle between green and blue and she wasn't sure which one won. And red hadn't even been a factor, which concerned her since everyone else's was red. Maybe it had something to do with a synthetic crystal, she figured. "But I'm happy with it!" She looked from the bright weapon to Kylo's face, again searching for a sign that she hadn't screwed it up. 

- 

"We don't need to leave immediately. It's apart of the matter I wanted to discuss with you but, apparently, that can wait." Luke wasn't going to talk about Rey's family just yet, and if she decided to not talk to him until then, so be it. He wanted to speak with Obi-Wan before discussing it with her. 

He knew he wouldn't be able to ignore the subject for too much longer, he knew Rey. She would push. And if she didn't get it from Luke, she'd get it from Mira. Which he didn't want and hoped they'd be far away from her before that came to be. 

"We're not leaving?" That could give Rey a chance to talk to Mira after she is finished with Poe and Leia. 

"Not immediately," he made it clear. "Go help." Mira wasn't an issue at the moment, as she was with his sister. Hopefully he'd know when they were done with each other. 

Jessika was still standing behind Luke, not really listening to the conversation but she knew she shouldn't be apart of it, "I'll-I'll leave," as much as she wanted to question Luke about all his life experiences, "but I wanted to know if you could sign my helmet?" Jessika would settle with him just touching it, but she'd still ask. That would be the coolest thing to fly around in. 

- 

It was a poor attempt to get back at Mira, but it did seem to become a pattern for redheads to flock towards Mira. Or at least Hux and that guy. He almost advised her not to drink the coffee, in case it was poisoned or something. They didn't know that guy. But then Poe remembered it was Mira. 

She handled that strange cheese thing pretty well, she could handle a little poison. Besides, she told the girls about Finn, which he didn't want them to know about. Poor Finn. 

Leia led them back to their ship and as they entered, Poe had wished they'd never gotten off of it the morning before. Then there was the thought that if they hadn't Snoke might have still attacked the school. He got the information from Mira's dreams, after all. 

"So, what's up, General?" Poe asked as he leaned against pilot's chair. He figured since both he and Mira were here, it would have something to do with the First Order and the meeting. 

But first, Leia's mind went to Tarkin. "Mira, did you notice the redheaded man at all, before he gave you that coffee?" She probably hadn't had the chance to, she'd been on Cimarosa for a short time. Leia had an idea of Tarkin's game plan here or what she thought it was. Leia knew she couldn't keep Tarkin from Mira in case there was an alliance between the three people. But she also didn't want to make a huge deal about it, should Mira feel inclined to approach the man. 

Leia didn't want Mira to switch sides again. 

- 

Hux asked the first person he saw where coffee would be, something he should have thought to ask Phasma. But it wouldn't end up mattering, Mira wasn't where Hux thought she'd be. No, in place of Mira was his father. He immediately went to back out of the lobby, but his father spotted him. 

"Brendol!" 

And of course, he had to use Hux's first name. 'Damn.' 

Hux didn't stop walking away, just slowed to allow his father to join him. "Commandant," wasn't the way someone really should greet their father, but that's how Hux knew to do it. 

"You've been away," 

"You're observant." Hux was lucky he was General Hux, otherwise he probably would have been backhanded.

Lucyfer · Jul 12, 2016

Kylo took in the blade, quite pleased that it was not wholly green. “Mira’s energy may still have been in the crystal. Her first blade was green,” Kylo offered as an explanation for the odd color that manifested. Despite saying it, his lips curved up into a half-smile, the left side tilted crookedly up. “Still, it seems your own energy won out,” he was pleased with that. It’d make it harder for Mira to steal the blade from her hands. 

Harder, but not impossible. “I’ll have to teach you how to keep control over it. If we run into Mira, she will have an advantage.” 

The blade was stable, though. Simple, but that was expected of a first lightsaber. Well, except for Kevan, who had decided he had to have something ‘special’ like Kylo and Mira. “That will not be too difficult. It is naturally attuned to you.” She’d learn all about that soon enough. 

“Have you shown the others yet?” He inquired. He still imagined she had gone to Gnaeus first, since the training grounds were a bit out of the way. 

~***~ 

Rey’s hands fell down to her side. She hadn’t even realized she’d crossed them. 

Luke dismissed her concerns, again. He wouldn’t tell her anything, and now he wouldn’t even tell her what it was all about. She knew why—her stubbornness—but it was frustrating all the same that she wasn’t getting straight answers from him. He was supposed to be her teacher. She was supposed to trust him. 

Now it was clouded with doubts. “Fine.” 

Luke watched her stalk off, before his attention was again drawn to his ‘fan’. He should be kind, shouldn’t he? Yes, of course, and he did smile as his autograph was asked for on a helmet. Did she know him as a pilot or a Jedi? ‘Does it matter?’ Just a bit. 

“Sure,” Luke agreed, “I don’t have a marker, though,” he didn’t have much of anything, other than the clothes he wore and the lightsaber. 

Rey did go back to help Black Squad, but there was anger in her as she worked. 

She had to re-do a few things because of it, but she did eventually notice Finn being brought over to the area by a couple of girls. It looked like he was in need of rescuing, so Rey quickly set down the tools she was working with to go get him—and figure out if he’d gotten Mira to say anything just yet. 

She doubted it, but she could hope, right? 

“Finn!” 

Finn looked up to her, looking relieved as his eyes fell upon her. “Hey, uh, I really need to get back to Rey,” he tried to tell Becki. 

~***~ 

Mira was far beyond being concerned if the coffee was poisoned. So long as it had caffeine, she’d deal with the consequences. Fortunately for her, it wasn’t poisoned, and so she sipped at the warm liquid onto the ship, where Leia immediately asked about the man. 

“No,” Mira answered honestly, “The only other red-head I’ve met today was General Hux’s father,” she looked to Poe just as she saw his mouth opening, “He hates me, by the way,” far more hatred than she’d felt in a long time…perhaps ever. She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt such hatred from Kylo, though he’d be the closest rival. 

Leia decided to fill her in, “His name is August Tarkin,” she answered, and she saw the recognition pass through Mira’s eyes. “Yes, one of those Tarkins, related to Wilhuff.” 

“What is he doing here?” Poe asked, sounding quite wary. 

“Seeking an alliance with General Hux. Eriadu is in danger. That’s not important, Mira. He’s still stuck on the Empire and that way of things.” Leia’s warning was obvious before it left her lips, “I want you to be careful in taking advice from him, Mira. His family favored the Emperor and Vader….” 

Mira shook her head, “That’s not my path,” she told Leia. She wanted to tell her of Qui-Gon then, of the ‘Grey Jedi’, but wouldn’t. Not in front of Poe, and perhaps not before Finn. 

Leia gave a nod. Right now, she’d have to leave it at that, and observe how the interactions went, “Now, that’s not why I brought you two here. I need to know if either of you told anyone else about the meeting at this academy. Now’s not the time for hiding,” she looked accusingly at both of them, “Snoke figured it out” 

“Yeah,” Poe said, but then shook his head, “Not about telling anyone—we figured out how Snoke knew, already.” 

“Tell me!” 

“Mira, you wanna let her know?” 

Mira sipped the coffee again, a much longer drink, before the words were thrown together, “Snoke can still read my mind when I sleep.” They were spoken quickly, almost as a single word. 

“Fantastic, isn’t it?” Poe couldn’t hide both his irritation and genuine frustration—not at Mira, but at what this would inevitably mean. Mira couldn’t stay awake eternally. 

And they’d just met Luke again. Rey. Snoke could learn so much, so quick. 

~***~ 

Phasma and the stranger waited outside the First Order ship. She saw Leia, Poe, and Mira enter their ship, shortly after August had gone into his own. She wondered at what both parties were doing, but was taken from that when the stranger lifted up to wave. 

“Doctor Alema’fenn!” 

Alema’fenn was an alien rather than a human, and a blue twi’lek at that, which Phasma had not exactly been prepared for. She didn’t often see twi’leks in roles other than, well, dancer or sex object. It was disheartening. 

To see one in the white coat of a doctor was rather startling, and it must have shown on her face, for the twi’lek gave her a wink and then looked to the stranger, “This is Captain Phasma of the First Order. General Hux is the owner of the cat, Millicent.” 

Alema’fenn gave a nod, “May I enter to see the cat?” 

“Yes,” Phasma turned directly around and walked up the ramp to the ship, opening the door, and then watching as the cat dashed right out. 

Only to be scooped up by the twi’lek’s lightning quick reflexes. Millicent was taken up by the nape of her neck, and she let out a mewl of irritation, but didn’t fight when the twi’lek brought her close against her chest and walked up the ramp, humming a bit to herself. 

“Thank you,” Phasma told the stranger. 

“Sure thing!” And with that, she left them so the vet wouldn’t be too disturbed, and Phasma could answer any and all questions about the creature.

KyloGlenn · Jul 13, 2016

Paquin was surprised that Kylo actually smiled, half or not. She couldn’t recall if she’d actually seen that on his face before. It was more than she could have asked for as a sign that she hadn’t messed up, even if the explanation for the color of her lightsaber wasn’t the best one. 

Paquin wouldn’t let Mira get ahold of her lightsaber. She’d learn how to keep control over it, if only because of her newfound possessiveness over the weapon, instead of thinking about it fighting wise. 

Pride still written on her face, she quieted the steady hum of the lightsaber, deactivating it. She shook her head at Kylo’s query, holding the weapon close to her. “Not yet. Gnaeus is next, though.” She’d praise him for his techniques. Although Gnaeus had been unsure of his teaching methods, they’d worked out well for Paquin. 

She’d hoped the others would work out as well as Gnaeus, though she already had little hope for Kylo seeing as she’d already experienced some of his methods. “I’m sorry for interrupting,” she motioned towards his set up as she backed up towards the stairs. She’d been too excited to realize he’d been quite into something. 

- 

“That’s okay! I have one!” Jessika immediately shoved her hands into one of her jumpsuit pockets, pulling out a marker. It almost seemed like she’d carried a marker around, waiting for the moment she met Luke, but she’d actually been using it for work around the campus. 

She offered the marker and the helmet to Luke, the widest grin on her face as she stared at him. She admired him as both a pilot and a Jedi, wanting to have been just like him when she was younger. “I always pretended to use the Force when I was younger. I even had a stick that I painted green.” She wasn’t Force-sensitive, but she could dream. At least she could fly. 

- 

Becki ignored Finn, even as Rey approached them. “I can’t believe this! We ruled you out! We’re going to have to go through the entire list again, Brit. We’ll have to re-evaluate everyone.” 

“You should go do that, then.” Finn suggested, “I need to talk to Rey, it’s important Resistance business. I’m sure Poe wouldn’t appreciate you guys keeping us from doing our jobs.” 

Becki’s eyes narrowed at that. Finn was the biggest threat at that moment, but he had a point. Becki didn’t want Poe to be upset with them for interfering. “We’ll be back for you, Finn.” If Finn had a last name she would have used that, to be more threatening. With that, she locked arms with Britney and the two stalked away. 

Finn let out a relieved sigh, quickly joining Rey. “You have no clue how happy I am to see you. Those girls are insane.” Finn smiled at her. 

“I bet,” Rey chuckled, but quickly switched subjects. “I didn’t save you just because I felt bad for you. I wanted to know if you’ve spoken to Mira yet? About what she knows?” 

- 

“What?” Leia snapped, although she had caught what Mira had said. 

“Snoke can—“ 

“I know what she said,” Leia cut Poe off, harshness and irritation clear in her voice. A hand moved to rest on her hip and the other hand moved to smooth over her pulled back hair, messing up the style more and more. By the end of the day her hair would be completely pulled out, Leia guessed. 

Leia wasn’t upset with Mira and she hoped the blonde knew that. She was frustrated with the issue at hand and the fact that she didn’t know how to fix this. It meant Mira would be an issue to have around. And with Luke and Rey just returning, Luke saying that he wanted to train her out of sight of Snoke. Not only did it compromise that, but the entire organization. 

“Have you talked to Luke about this?” Leia pushed her pride aside, having just argued with Luke about this. But if asking Luke for help could fix this, she’d take all the ‘I told you so’s in the galaxy. Though, she wasn’t sure what Luke would be able to do to help. And that frustrated her even more. 

“No, she hasn’t,” Poe answered for her. 

“You need to speak to him,” Leia instructed. She wasn’t giving Mira a choice. And she hoped Luke would be able to help, even if he didn’t want to. If Luke couldn’t do anything to help, Mira would be a risk to keep around. And she couldn’t stay awake forever. “You can’t stay awake forever. You’ll start hallucinating and spiraling downwards. What’s to say Snoke can’t reach you then, either?” She’d be vulnerable. 

This was a sticky situation. 

- 

Hux saw his father’s jaw clench, “Where’ve you been, boy?” 

“I’ve been taking care of some business.” Hux wouldn’t say more than that as it was obvious his father hadn’t known he’d actually gone missing. No need to share that if it wasn’t needed. Not to mention Hux didn’t want to share anything with him. 

Brendol wanted to snap and ask about what business he’d had with the blonde, as he was sure that’s where he’d disappeared to. But he didn’t speak of Mira. If anything happened with her or to her, Brendol didn’t want to have any fingers pointed at him by his son. “August Tarkin is here. He wants to speak with you.” 

Instead of pushing his luck, Hux acted as though he didn’t know about that already. “What does he want now?” 

“Eriadu is being impacted negatively by the war,” 

“And what have you said to him?” Hux questioned as he led his father back to his ship. He was hoping that the veterinarian would be there and he could act as though it was the most important thing in the world, give him a reason to ditch his father. That and he already missed the almost therapeutic presence of Millicent. She couldn’t annoy the living daylights out of him.

Lucyfer · Jul 13, 2016

Gnaeus had taught her, and Kylo would have to thank him. Despite never having an apprentice, Gnaeus had done a good job. Of course, Paquin would not become an apprentice to any one of them. This time, they’d all pool together to teach her, to better her. 

It’d been a mistake in the past to leave someone in the hands of one teacher. 

He’d failed with Mira. 

Mira failed with Kevan. 

“This can wait,” he dismissed the pieces immediately with a wave of his hand. “Let’s go find Gnaeus and Ariel, and discuss what is next for us.” The Knights as a whole. The Knights and Paquin’s training, as well as their own. He and Ariel had reached something of a stalemate; it had been too early for such conversations, and she was clearly hung over. 

Perhaps now she’d be in a better state, though Kylo doubted it. She was likely going through withdrawals. 

~***~ 

Luke took the marker, and the smile remained, pleasant, as he listened to what she had to say about trying to use the Force, and making up a mock-lightsaber. He signed his name, though it was a bit sloppy. 

It’d been a while since he had to write anything. 

He wasn’t happy with it. “I’m glad I could be a good influence to you. I’m glad it led you to the Resistance,” the good fight. The good side. 

He offered the helmet back to her, and wondered briefly where his days of fighting had gone. He’d helped the Resistance without a second thought, ages ago, in a Tie fighter. It’d been so much simpler then, though. Before he knew who Darth Vader was. Before he understood the importance of the Force and the Jedi Order. 

He almost longed for those simple days. 

~***~ 

Finn let his disappointment show as he shook his head, “No, I didn’t,” he answered, and Rey looked like she might punch him. “I will! We just got sidetracked. Mira needed coffee, and then we had to find out about the prisoners, then Commandant Hux threatened her, then those girls came around and she had them drag me away, then Poe showed up…and then I was here.” 

Rey sighed. “Do you have any ideas?” 

Again, Finn shook his head, “No. But, I know we can catch up with her. She went off with Leia. I can wait for her there, and I’ll bring her right to you. You just stay busy—oh!” 

He realized, Mira had considered it, “Actually, there’s one thing I wanted to ask—for Mira. She’s…well you remember Kylo’s mind reading attempts, right?” 

Rey’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “Yes. Why would you bring that up?” it wasn’t a pleasant memory of being strapped to that chair, even if it was where she discovered her latent talents. 

“Snoke’s still able to do that to Mira, even from far away, when she’s sleeping,” he lowered his voice to almost inaudible, causing Rey to lean closer. Her eyes widened, and he quickly put a finger to his lips, then said, “She needs help. Has Luke taught you anything, or do you…know anything?” She had resisted Kylo Ren on her own. 

Poe couldn’t do that. 

~***~ ‘Okay, Poe, you win this round.’ Mira definitely couldn’t dig her way out of this hole. She knew she had to talk to Leia about this, but she hated that it immediately turned to Luke, and she bristled. Sparks danced over the white tunic, but they remained close. 

Yes, Mira would lose it, eventually. 

She didn’t know when that eventually was, though. “I’m not talking to Luke.” Mira met Leia’s stubbornness with her own. “Luke couldn’t help before, he can’t help now.” Bitterness was all she’d show. Not the guilt. Not the fear. 

But Leia saw through it, “You aren’t giving him a chance.” 

So she changed tactics, “It’s a Sith trick. Luke doesn’t know anything about telepathy, about how the…,” she frowned. She didn’t want to call it dark side of the Force, but she didn’t have another term yet. What else was it, but the Force? “He limits himself,” Mira said instead, “He doesn’t know this.” 

Leia just crossed her arms. “If you don’t ask, Mira, you will be a liability to all of us. And you will have to leave.” Leia hated saying it, but it was the truth, and she knew it might be enough to get Mira to consider it. 

She saw it, in the flare of sparks and then the quick way they all diminished. Leia had never been afraid of them from Mira. She had come to learn they were, often, not dangerous to those who kept a careful distance. Mira was never aiming that anyone. They just reacted to her emotional state, and Leia knew that was not good. The Force protected people in odd ways, and no—Luke hadn’t been able to crack how it worked with Mira—but he’d barely had time. 

“I’ll think about it.” 

Leia had expected Mira to cave then and there. When she didn’t, Leia was honestly surprised. How deep did the issues with Luke go, that she’d consider leaving them now? 

“I can talk to him. Broach the subject. Hypotheticals,” Poe offered, if only because he knew that Leia didn’t want Mira to go, and Poe was starting to understand, too, that this was a serious issue. Not Mira’s—the issue of Luke, and his ability to help. Leia wanted that. They were here about peace and unity in the first place, right? 

“Do that,” Leia gave him the order, rather than leave it in Mira’s hands. Before Mira could protest, or Leia add more, Poe spoke up again. 

“Okay. So, what else do we need to discuss.” 

Leia sighed and pulled her hands out of the bun. She did need to get to that. She would see about talking some sense into Mira once the business of the Resistance and the First Order was over with. Once Poe was gone. This was going to be an issue...and one that would likely need mediation between both Mira and Luke. 

Mira’s empty fist clenched at her side and she shut her mouth against the argument. She absolutely did not want Luke to know how weak she still was. She finished the rest of the coffee, even if it was far too hot to sanely finish at that point. She finished it and ignored the scalding pain that became her throat. 

~***~ 

Phasma had to help the vet in restraining the cat at some times during the check-up. The vet was thorough, though, Phasma had to give her that, and she explained everything she was doing to Phasma. 

Apparently the cat was a bit malnourished, but that was expected. Nothing severe, according to Alema’fenn. She wrote down more brands for cat food for Phasma, and for the suspected age of the cat. “She must have been well taken care of on Jakku, before…well, what did happen?” 

“I do not really know, she was brought here by General Hux with limited explanation,” except that Hux was clearly infatuated with the creature. 

“Well, we’ll need to get her some shots. Can you please hold her still again?” 

The cat let out a low yowl as Phasma again did as asked, while the veterinarian began to prepare the needle. She’d brought everything for a general yearly exam, just in case. 

The first shot was put in, just as the sound of footsteps reached the ramp. Millicent squirmed her way out of Phasma’s grip then, and ran to her savior.

KyloGlenn · Jul 14, 2016

Paquin nodded, turning back to the stairs and leading him up them. Ariel was the first one they’d come across, who was looking for Gnaeus. She was planning to take the keys to his ship and go and buy herself some alcohol. 

Ariel seemed to actually be trying to drown herself with the amount of water she was drinking when they came across her. She was sweating, but that looked to be all the symptoms of withdrawals she was having. Of course, on the inside she had a raging headache even with the pills she took earlier that morning. 

The redhead stopped upon coming across Kylo and Paquin, having not even realized Paquin finished building her lightsaber. “Lightsaber, cool. Hey, Kylo, there’s absolutely no chance I’m going to be able to get through any training without alcohol. Just a warning.” She’d been through worse withdrawals, but she simply didn’t want to go through them, period. She narrowly avoided them after hitting her head, as she was in Paquin’s medbay, attached to an IV and sleeping through them. Then later drugged up. 

Paquin frowned. She didn’t want Ariel to drink, but she knew it would be safer than her not drinking. Here they had absolutely no resources to help Ariel through withdrawals safely if they got worse. 

- 

Jessika didn’t care about Luke’s sloppy signature, she didn’t even notice the sloppiness. She was just happy she had Luke Skywalker’s signature! “I’m glad, too.” Jess did briefly wonder where she’d be if she hadn’t been a fan of Luke. Probably still be with the Resistance, somehow. 

She happily accepted her helmet back, marveling at it for a good few seconds before she squealed a little. She couldn’t help but throw her arms around Luke, “Thank you!” She pulled away, “Okay, sorry.” She used her helmetless hand to straighten out Luke’s clothes. She’d just touched Luke Skywalker, too! 

Jessika breathed, “Alright, thank you so much. I have to go back to work,” and leave Luke alone, “It was an honor to meet you.” She didn’t want to be too crazy, though she was sure she’d already weirded the Jedi out. 

- 

Rey frowned with this revelation. Rey didn’t know Mira—well, she did, apparently. But not very well. Or, at least she didn’t remember knowing Mira very well. It was confusing. But, Rey still wanted to help. Maybe it was because she wanted information from her, or maybe it was just because of Snoke’s involvement. 

And Rey wanted to do more than just stick it to Snoke. 

But, her knowledge was limited on how to help Mira. Her voice was low, just like Finn’s, “Luke hasn’t been teaching me anything about that. What I did with Kylo Ren, I just resisted. Pushed his Force out, I guess. Right back into his head.” She couldn’t help but feel that if Mira was an ex-Knight, she’d already know how to do that. 

Rey doubted Kylo Ren reserved his mind-invading for just the Resistance. 

Finn pointed out, “That might be hard to do when asleep,” and with Snoke. 

Rey sighed. “We’ll figure something out. Maybe there’s something in the Jedi Guide?” But then Mira couldn’t sleep until they found it. Even then, there might not be anything in there. ‘There has to be.’ 

- 

Leia’s other hand fell to her other hip as she willed herself to push the subject of Mira and Luke aside, for then. It wasn’t something that could wait long, it had to be resolved somehow and soon, but for now it would have to be delayed. “Right, well. The First Order and us have been working well together to fix up the campus.” 

“Does it seem likely that we’ll make an alliance?” Poe with great strength restrained from putting any attitude in his voice. Leia didn’t need it right now. Or ever. 

“It seems likely, but I don’t know how General Hux feels on the matter,” or how he would if he spoke to Tarkin before them. 

“Maybe you should ask his girlfriend,” that one slipped, Poe couldn’t help it. And he couldn’t see how Mira would take offense to it. Still, he apologized when Leia gave him a look for his inappropriately timed teasing. “Sorry, sorry.” 

“At this point, one needs to be made. At least a temporary one. Officially.” Snoke was a large threat and Leia had little confidence they could take him and his clone army on alone. Who knows how many he had. Maybe Mira did. Mira would be their best bet in figuring out what they’re up against. “Mira, would you mind organizing one more meeting?” The idea was to task Mira with something to keep her awake and give Poe a chance to approach Luke. 

- 

“I simply said that—“ Brendol was interrupted by the scream of some creature, which soon came into sight, the orange creature running straight to his son and rubbing against his leg. 

To Brendol’s surprise, Hux scooped the thing up by the scruff and pulled it into his arms. “Hello, Millicent.” He greeted, really meaning to say ‘thank you, Millicent.’ 

“What is that thing?” 

“A cat.” Hux’s focus was on Millicent as he walked her back into the ship. 

Alema’fenn’s hands were too occupied to have caught the cat, even with her reflexes. She set the items down and went to go after the cat, only for two gingers to come up the ramp and into the ship. 

“And why is a cat in your ship?” 

“For an appointment,” Hux nodded his head in the direction of Alema’fenn as a greeting. “Doctor, thank you for coming.” He didn’t know her name, but it was clear that she was the vet. He nodded to Phasma then, too, as a greeting and a thanks.

Lucyfer · Jul 14, 2016

“Then take Gnaeus’s ship and get some alcohol,” Kylo said, thinking the solution was easy, and not realizing Gnaeus hadn’t been found by Ariel. That such was her intention the entire time. “Where is he, anyway?” 

“Here,” Gnaeus had finally gotten the plant potted to his satisfaction, in an old Korriban ceramic vase. He moved by them and set the plant on the counter to grab some water to water it in. 

Kylo scowled at the plant. He knew it. “Why isn’t that thing dead?” 

“Because you failed?” 

Wrong answer. Gnaeus knew that when a cabinet door suddenly flew open and banged him square on the head. “Ow,” corner. Blood. Gnaeus pressed a hand idly to the wound, though, as if it were nothing, and brought the water he’d poured into a cup to the plant. He tried to pour it nicely over the soil. “My plant now, all right? Like the lightsaber and crystal are Paq’s—oh!” He realized she was there, and looked up from the act of saving the plant. “Did it work?” 

He saw a lightsaber, but that was just the shell. He needed to see it, to see the color and if it all worked out well. 

~***~ 

Luke was taken by surprise by the hug. He certainly hadn’t expected it from a random stranger. If anyone, maybe his sister, but that hadn’t come to pass. She was too angry with him. He managed to briefly return the hug, before the woman pulled away from him and spoke of work. 

Her hands smoothed down his robe though, and Luke followed their trail briefly before he looked back up to her. He gave a nod, “Yes. And an honor to meet you,” he said, and meant it. “For all the work you and all the others have done in protecting the galaxy and getting rid of Starkiller.” 

He had been so out of the loop, but it felt…nice…to be around civilization again. People. 

And that was not too good, either. He knew Rey’s training wasn’t completed, and it couldn’t be in this environment. He could not get attached to this again. 

~***~ 

“Maybe,” Finn said, “but we don’t know where the Jedi Guide is, or how long it’ll take to find it. Mira’s already been up a day,” which she was doing well, but Finn didn’t know how long that could last. Sure, she was insane, and she had the Force to help, but Finn knew eventually she’d tire. 

She’d have to sleep. 

And then Snoke would know everything…that he was Force sensitive, that Luke and Rey were around, the details of the alliance…everything. 

“You did that on the spur of the moment, then. Do you have any ideas for what could be done in sleep, maybe?” Finn wanted to be hopeful, but Rey just furrowed her brows. 

“I’ll have to think of it. Maybe talk to Luke.” 

“No!” Finn said immediately, shaking his head. 

“Why?” 

“Mira doesn’t want Luke to know,” Finn answered. 

“You’re rather protective of her, Finn,” Rey pointed out slyly, “Is there something else I should know, hm?” She teased, despite the serious situation of the Knight’s predicament. 

There was something else she should know, and Finn bit his bottom lip as he considered if he ought to tell. The act caused worry to spread over Rey's face. She had thought to just innocently tease him, but, "Finn?" 

~***~ 

Mira did shift a glare towards Poe as soon as he suggested she was Hux’s girlfriend, a moment before Leia offered her own look that silenced Poe. They weren’t, after all, seeing each other and that rumor needed to cease, for Hux’s sake. He did not need to be seen as some weak-willed human who stopped everything for a woman. Even if she played a role, it was not that role. ‘And Kylo Ren started it….’ 

At his apologies she just folded her arms over her chest and averted her gaze, even if they were spoken more to Leia than to her. “I can. How soon would you like it arranged.” 

“Soon.” 

Mira let out a sigh. There went plans to get information from a prisoner, for the moment. However, there went plans to talk to Luke. “Very well. If I may?” 

“You may not.” Soon, yes, but Leia had a feeling if she lost Mira then it might be a while before she could get in one place. “Poe, step outside. Do not go far.” She might need him to run down Luke if she did get Mira to agree, and she had all the trump cards right now. Alliances were being made between bitter enemies as it was. 

Mira would have to see the logic of it. “Aye, General,” Poe answered, though he did hesitate a few moments. Even if he’d be close, he didn’t like the idea of leaving Leia alone. Still, he did it, walking out of the ship and then placing his back to the door once it shut. 

~***~ 

Alema’fenn gave a smile to the two gingers, “You must be General Hux. I'm Alema'fenn,” the other she didn’t know, but suspected it didn’t matter much. “I am sorry about your cat running off like that, we are attempting to give her shots. Phasma, are you all right?” 

Phasma gave a mute nod, rising to move herself slightly in front of the black bundle with the Jedi Guide. Best for Commandant Hux not to notice that. 

There were scratches on her arms, of course, but she hardly held it against the cat. Strange place, strange people, strange language, and needles. Phasma would have murdered people in the cat’s situation. 

“If it is all right to proceed, Millicent has two more shots to receive,” Alema’fenn stated, “since we do not have the cat’s medical history, I thought it prudent to give her everything to protect her from all sorts of potential ills.”

KyloGlenn · Jul 15, 2016

Paquin let out a noise of surprise when the cabinet hit Gnaeus square in the head and frown still present when Gnaeus seemed to continue on as if nothing had happened. Sure, Gnaeus’ words weren’t the best idea, but he didn’t deserve that. Even Ariel didn’t mention it. Maybe if they did, Kylo wouldn’t be so violent towards them. 

Probably not. 

Gnaeus asked about her lightsaber, snapping Paquin’s attention back to the present. She nodded in response, “It did! Thanks to you, of course.” She held it a little bit in front of her, still rather close, though, and once again ignited it. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of the sound it made when it turned on. She waved one hand in front of it, presenting it. 

Ariel moved past them to take a seat upon the counter, glass of water in hand and ready to be refilled at any moment. She decided to wait until they were done chatting to ask for Gnaeus’ keys. She could wait that long, probably. “Anyways,” Paquin turned the lightsaber off after a moment, “Kylo?” He wanted to discuss things. 

- 

Jessika was beaming. Luke Skywalker appreciated her work. The others, too, but her more importantly. “All in a days work,” she shrugged, as if what he’d said was just a casual comment. 

Jess began to back away then, slowly, though. “If you ever need anything, look for Jessika Pava. That’s me.” She gave him the finger guns, “I’ll see you around, sir!” 

That’s what this meant, right? His presence? Surely he’d be around more often. That’s what Jess thought as she finally turned away, jogging back to work. They’d probably be upset that she’d just disappeared, but then she’d show everyone the helmet! 

- 

“There is one other thing you should know,” Finn was hesitant and he could see by Rey’s face that she was anxious to know. This was his friend, he figured, she should know. “As it turns out, I’m Force-sensitive.” It wasn’t terrible news, so he offered her a grin. He just wasn’t sure if it ought to be something to share. 

Too late. 

Rey’s eyes went as wide as saucers once again. “What? Oh, it all makes so much sense now!” 

“But don’t tell—wait, it does?” 

“Yes! I mean, remember the way you handled that lightsaber?” 

Finn grinned then, “Yeah, I guess it kinda does.” 

“This is great! We should tell Luke! We could train together! It’ll be awesome!” Rey dismissed the reason why Finn was was revealing this. 

Finn frowned, though, “Well…that’s the thing. Mira’s my teacher already. I’m her padawan. You can’t tell Luke, okay? Not yet.” He didn’t want Luke to try and persuade him away from Mira, or Mira to persuade him away from her. 

- 

Leia waited until a few moments after Poe left before she began, returning to the subject of Luke. “Mira,” by the way she began, Mira would had to have known where Leia was going with the conversation. If she hadn’t already figured it out by the dismissal of Poe. “You have to talk to Luke.” 

Leia’s goal wasn’t to set Mira off if only so she’d be able to see the reason in things. She hoped that conveyed in her gentler tone before she started her whole lecture. 

Of course, Mira was being stubborn about the whole things. How deep did things with Luke go? What did he do that was so bad in Mira’s eyes? Luke felt guilty about it, Leia knew. Even if it was under a mask of different emotions. But that didn’t matter, “Luke’s going to be in better contact now, there’s not going to be any avoiding him anyway.” Well, there could be but Mira didn’t need to know that. 

“Look what you’ve accomplished here, Mira. You’ve brought the Resistance and the First Order together—two very different organizations who have been fighting each other for years and years—for peace. Temporary or otherwise. And yet you refuse to talk about this very serious dilemma with Luke. Why not let there be an alliance between the two of you? Temporary, for this reason alone. You don’t have to like him or be nice.” 

Leia paused and took a breath, “Is this feud really worth potentially being exiled?” 

- 

‘My cat…’ Hux held back from correcting that, “Forgive me for interrupting,” instead, he carried Millicent back over to Alema’Fenn to continue the appointment. “I wish I could provide you with more on her medical background, but I only came across her yesterday on Jakku, on her own.” 

The action of picking the cat over their discussion very clearly displeased the Commandant. Even if what he was saying wasn’t important in Hux’s eyes, it was to Brendol. And then the talk of Jakku. What the hell was he doing on Jakku, picking up cats? “We were just in the middle of a conversation—“ 

“Yes, and it can wait. I assure you I’ll approach Tarkin when I have the opportunity.” Hux cut his father off, signaling with another nod of his head to Alema’fenn that it was alright to continue on with the shots. “I’ll hold her this time,” since he was there. Perhaps she’d be more comfortable with Hux. He was even risking getting his sunburn scratched. He’d picked her up, she was his responsibility. His cat. ‘For the time being.’ 

The look on Brendol’s face was very nearly murderous, but he said and did nothing.

Lucyfer · Jul 15, 2016

To Gnaeus, the color was just blue, and he nodded. “That’s going to look so weird in a line-up of us. People are going to think you’re the leader, since you have the different lightsaber, and Ky’s second in command.” 

Kylo looked bewildered by the idea, “Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out soon,” he waved his hand dismissively at the idea, but it was amusing. Paquin might one day be mistaken for their leader, and Gnaeus would laugh so hard on that day. “So, yeah, Ky?” 

“Ariel needs alcohol,” he gestured. 

“Um, are you sure you want Force Anakin back?” He dropped his hand then, and the blood started to move down his face, all ignored. Head wounds just bled more. It wasn't severe. 

Kylo ignored that, “So you two can head out for that. Paquin and I will work on some of the basics of the Force, then Ariel can take over for her physical training. We’ll get into a routine. Gnaeus, I want you mapping possible places for the book here on Korriban, and out of Korriban. We’ll start traveling here in a bit. Train and travel.” 

He’d done it before. He could do it again. 

“I doubt the book’s on Korriban,” Gnaeus said slowly, “but there might be some other Sith readings. I’ll look over the maps.” There were maps here, somewhere. If there were any important readings or holocrons, they’d all be in tombs. They’d have to go raid tombs. Great…. 

~***~ 

Luke committed the name to memory. Jessika Pava, Jessika Pava, Jessika Pava. He repeated it, and wondered if he ought to get to know the Black Squad. 

If he ought to find out who was leading his old squad. Then, when Jessika had turned away from him, he shook his head to rid himself of the idea. He looked out for Rey, and saw her off in the distance, talking with Finn. 

Mira changed the situation. He had always wanted Rey to know. He sighed, and turned away. “Obi-Wan, where are you?” he murmured. He wanted to talk to him, to seek his guidance again. 

“Oh, I’m sure he’s flitting around somewhere with Yoda.” 

This voice was unfamiliar, but Luke didn’t jump or act surprised. It spoke with the cadence of a Jedi, but he saw nothing—no one. He did not know Force Ghosts were capable of hiding their ghostly bodies. 

~***~ 

Rey’s mouth fell open. That explained his protectiveness, then. “How did that happen?” 

Finn chuckled, “Well, she figured it out,” he put a hand behind his head, “We were on Jakku, and I was talking about how I just knew they were in danger, and she put it all together, and figured out that I’m Force sensitive! She did talk about sending me to Luke….” 

Which made her reactions to Luke all the more confusing, but Finn gathered it was a very…confused situation in general. 

“But Luke hasn’t even figured it out yet,” and if he did, he wasn’t saying it, “and I want to stay with the Resistance, and help out. Mira’s going to be staying around now, so that’ll let me stay with her and help out.” 

“I wish Luke would,” Rey muttered, but looked back up to Finn as he put a hand on her shoulder. 

“He’s helping you, for Snoke, right?” 

Rey nodded. 

“Then you have to stay hidden, Rey. Especially now.” If nothing could be done about Mira, then Rey would have to stay far, far away from her, so that Snoke could never track her down. 

That, and Finn just wanted Rey safe and protected. 

~***~ 

Was the feud worth it? ‘No.’ 

Logically, Mira knew it. However, in exhaustion, she wasn’t as logical as she’d like to be. She tried to capture it in a breath. “Luke does not want an alliance between us,” Mira deadpanned it. 

“Luke is hurt as well. What you did….” 

“I know what I did,” Mira answered, “I’ve not forgiven myself and I do not expect Luke to,” Mira shook her head, “It is done, though. It doesn’t change that fact. It also does not change the fact that Luke gave up on us—Kylo and I.” 

Years and years ago, when they were more than just ‘too old’, but also ‘too difficult’. Mira, for how the Force acted around her, and Kylo for how he used the Force. “He could not help me then, he gave up then when Kylo never did, and now he will not want to help me after what I have done to him and the Universe.” 

“He will take some convincing,” Leia confessed, “but once he sees that you have changed your ways, he will.” She did not like the news that Kylo and Mira must have felt abandoned by Luke before their betrayal. She’d had conversations with Luke about him, while he was there, and she’d seen Luke’s growing frustration, but she’d never thought…she had always imagined it never showed to the kids. 

That was foolish. “I’ll help to mediate it, Mira.” 

“I have other means,” when Leia canted her head, she said, “A holocron. Maybe two,” if Hux hadn’t lost his and was willing to let her watch it. “There was a Jedi called Qui-Gon Jinn who thought…a lot like me. There might be something in his holocrons.” 

“We don’t have time to go searching for holocrons.” 

“No, but I have one already, and Hux has the other,” she looked up, “He was Obi-Wan Kenobi’s master.” Leia knew that name, of course, “You trusted him, and Luke let all the padawans die for his blood.” 

“What?” 

“Rey. Rey Kenobi.” Certainly Leia knew that much, who Rey was, but if not…well…now she knew. 

~***~ 

Alema’fenn smiled, “Phasma gave me the brief history that you did, General. These shots should still be safe for her, even if she has already had them. Though, on Jakku…well, I doubt it,” even if the owner had been great to the cat, it was still unlikely on that planet. 

Alema’fenn reached out to scratch the cat behind an ear, “You’re doing good, dear. Just two more,” she told the cat, who spotted the needle in the other hand and let out a low yowl again, but didn’t dig her claws in or even attempt to escape when Hux held her. 

Phasma found that absolutely fascinating as the shot was given, and the cat seemed to be fighting tensing up. ‘Yes. This is clearly your cat, Hux.’ Phasma managed not to so much as smile though. Not with the Commandant there. A part of her did want to laugh at how the cat responded so differently. “There, see, it isn’t so bad now? Now that your dad’s here, it’s going to be all good,” Alema’fenn cooed, which did seem to relax the cat a bit when the needle was taken out. 

She got the third, and followed the same procedure, then offered a cube-shaped treat, which the cat took to immediately, “That should help her with any parasites,” she told Hux with a wink, then began to pack up, “I’ve already left Phasma with some food samples, so you can get familiar with what food she’s going to like, all of them are of brands I’d recommend for her, too. She’ll need to get her shots again in another standard year. I’ll start a file for her, but I understand if you’ll want to take her elsewhere, as I know you’re not native to Cimarosa. I’ve left Phasma with my contact information, so if you need her records, just get in touch and I’ll send them over!”

KyloGlenn · Jul 16, 2016

Paquin mistaken as the leader? She nearly laughed at that. She was a peanut with a glowstick. And Kylo was Kylo. 

Her mind shifted at the mention of Anakin. She even contemplated having a sip or two of alcohol, before she shook that thought. A bit of eye candy wasn’t worth killing her body over. Besides, Kylo was a close enough substitute for Anakin. 

Ariel was beginning to regret suggesting this damn book to Kylo. Ariel was a bit tired of searching caves. She wanted to go back to screwing royalty. He’d have them searching the entire galaxy now. Whatever would get him back on his game. And hopefully they’d learn something. Good thing Ariel and Gnaeus were going to get alcohol. She was going to stock up. Maybe they’d get some coffee, too, for energy. “Well, we can get to maps and raids and this book after I get my alcohol.” She spoke as she hopped off the counter. 

“Hold on,” Paquin disappeared then, only to return with a bandage for Gnaeus’ head. He could clean the blood and put it on himself, so she only handed it to him. She wasn’t going to ignore it. 

- 

“You don’t need to hide,” Luke offered to the unfamiliar voice, glancing around for the appearance of the ghost. But nothing came. Instead, the voice just spoke again. 

“I’m not hiding. I’m speaking to you, am I not?” The voice held mild amusement. 

Luke was confused but didn’t question that aspect. “Who are you?” He asked instead. This voice knew Obi-Wan and Yoda, yet Luke didn’t know of this person. 

“Qui-Gin Jinn,” Luke knew that name. That was Obi-Wan’s master. He’d discovered his father’s Force-sensitivity. Obi-Wan had mentioned that Jinn had a different view of things, he would’ve been a part of the Council had he not had such views. How come he wouldn’t reveal himself, then? 

- 

“I know, but I want to help out here, too! It just feels like we’re doing nothing important.” Rey was seeing how much they were doing here with the Resistance and the First Order and compared to what she and Luke had been doing, it seemed like they weren’t doing enough. 

“What you’re doing is important! You’re training to defeat Snoke and the Knights! Once you do that, there won’t even need to be a resistance. Or a First Order.” Finn remained cheerful for Rey if only so she wouldn’t feel so bad being with Luke. Being safe and growing stronger. 

Rey sighed, but a smile did pull at her face. She pulled Finn into a hug, to make up for the one that was cut short back on Jakku. “I guess you’re right. Thank you, Finn.” 

“No problem,” he pulled away then, “Now, let’s at least find out about your family before you have to leave.” He nodded in the direction of the ships, leading Rey to Leia’s ship where Mira was sure to be. They could wait for her there if she wasn’t already finished talking with Leia. 

- 

Leia knew about Rey Kenobi. How could she not? Her son was named after Obi-Wan, after all. What she didn’t now was all about Luke letting the padawans die for Rey. Leia refused to believe that he just gave up on the other padawans for Rey. “He didn’t let them die, Mira. I don’t know if you’ve met yourself or…Kylo. If he could have saved more, he would have.” 

Leia wasn’t sure how true that was. She hadn’t been there. And she knew there was the possibility that she was in denial. Which she fully embraced. She couldn’t see that being who Luke was. 

“This is a time sensitive situation Mira. I’ll talk to Luke, try and get him to stick around for a little while longer,” And ask him about this whole ‘dying for his blood’ thing. “A day or two,” Mira could stay up that long, Leia would ask Poe if BB-8 could stick on her for that time. “That should give you some time to watch these holocrons you speak of. But no more time than that.” She didn’t actually want to give Mira that time, since they didn’t even have it and she wanted Mira to talk to Luke. But if the holocrons could solve this problem, then she could always talk to Luke after. 

“If you don’t find anything by then, you and I are talking to Luke. Otherwise,” Leia sighed, hesitating for a second. “You’ll have to go.” She didn’t want Mira to go. Especially not after she just got her back! But she had a military to think of, all they’d worked for. The war they were in that they had to win. She was the General and she couldn’t let her personal feelings get in the way. It would cost them. 

She knew that when it came to her son, as well. She’d try her damnedest to get him back, too, but she knew she’d have to make a choice. She’d cross that bride when she came to it, though. She didn’t want to think about that. 

- 

Hux stroked the cat throughout the procedure, glad that she wasn’t reacting badly. She was more comfortable with him and Hux held back a smile at that. His father, however, was the only one not holding back a smile. Unlike Alema’fenn, there wasn’t a smile to be had. He nearly scoffed at Hux being called the cat’s father, and he did hold that back. 

The procedure was over in no time and Millicent happily munched on her treat. Hux would pick some of those up at some point, as she clearly liked them. Hux offered the vet a tight-lipped smile, more off to one side. It was tight, but a smile nonetheless. “Thank you, Doctor. I’m sure Millicent will be seeing you in a standard year, then.” Millicent would, at least. Hux liked Alema’fenn and Millicent seemed alright with her. If he didn’t have Millicent in a year, he’d recommend Alema’fenn. 

It would be convenient to have a trusted vet on more than one planet, anyway. The First Order moved about quite a bit. “If payments not yet been taken care of, speak with Lieutenant Mitaka. He’s outside, dark hair. Likely trembling.” He would have tasked his father with it just to piss him off, but Alema’fenn didn’t deserve that. Plus, Mitaka needed socializing. And Alema’fenn was nice for the sensitive guy.

Lucyfer · Jul 16, 2016

Gnaeus was prepared to leave as soon as Ariel hopped off the counter, but Paquin told him to wait—so he did. 

She returned with a bandage, and he laughed a bit at it, shaking his head as he saw the annoyed look cross Kylo’s face. “What, I’m not the would-be Plagueis here, she is,” he reminded, then, “Thanks. Look after my plant, yeah? I’m going to name it when I get back.” 

“It’s a plant….” 

“A plant you hate. It is worthy of a name. I’m thinking Gnaeus 4.” 

The facepalm Kylo did was worth it, and he motioned for Ariel, “We’ll be back. We’re going to go get shitfaced in Cloud City first, where Force Ghosts can’t bother us.” They weren’t going to Cloud City. “We’ll say ‘hi’ to Lando.” Lando would have no idea who they were, and he sprinted as he saw Kylo’s hand lower from his face. ‘Lando….’ Kylo hadn’t thought of him in an age. He had actually liked Lando, if only because Lando was good at burning his father, and didn’t take shit from anyone. Not even Luke. Leia, yes, but he clearly had some infatuation with Leia. 

Gnaeus would cease sprinting once he was several yards away from Kylo, and out of sight. He’d slow so that Ariel could catch up easily, and then say, “We’re going to Cimarosa.” He needed an update. He was desperate to know more about what was going on with the First Order and Resistance. 

~***~ 

“You were Obi-Wan’s master,” Luke said aloud, starting to walk to a secluded area so he wouldn’t look like a complete weirdo out in public, talking to himself. 

Few people understood the Force. 

Fewer still even knew of Force ghosts. 

“Yes. He didn’t learn nearly enough from me,” he heard the sigh in his voice. 

“Why won’t you show yourself, Master Jinn?” He tried to be respectful, and he heard that chuckle. 

“That is not important at the moment, Luke,” Qui-Gon Jinn answered him. “My appearance is meaningless now, my body of no more use to me than it is to Obi-Wan,” he noted. “I am glad that you have returned to the world, Luke,” he wanted to say that much, before Obi-Wan did return, and did steer him wrong again, “It is much easier to protect it, when you know what is going on. When you are a part of it.” In the moment. 

The future was ever-shifting, after all. 

Luke’s focus on it would steer him poorly, again. He’d allowed Kylo and Mira to become what they were by not changing what he foresaw, but simply accepting it. If Qui-Gon could steer him in one way, it would be that way. To focus on the ‘now’. 

“Why are you only now coming to speak with me?” Luke had to ask. He wondered why now this message was coming to him. He’d been a part of the world before, with his Academy, but never heard Qui-Gon until now. ‘Well, I’m following someone else, and you showed up. Oh, and Anakin is stalking Kylo Ren like a fanboy, but….’ Qui-Gon wouldn’t say that. Even if the image of Anakin was hilarious, thinking of Dameron’s fangirls. 

~***~ ‘He wasn’t there, Leia.’ Mira wanted to say as she denied it. ‘He could have killed Kylo and I. We were young.’ Besides that, if Luke had enough foresight to save Rey, why not others? Why only Rey? 

Now, things had shifted. Mira did not know how the power balance would be now, but she did believe that Kylo Ren could kill Luke Skywalker if he tried. Perhaps Luke hadn’t wanted to kill them? Even so…he chose poorly, in Mira’s opinion, even if it saved her life. 

The smile that rested on her lips held that chastisement, but she didn’t speak it. “Thirty six hours, Leia. If I know nothing by then, I’ll speak with Luke.” Mira did not want to leave the Resistance, or the First Order, but she understood well that she was endangering them. She could likely manage to stay up much longer than that, but she didn’t know how vulnerable her mind would become over time. 

“Now, may I go arrange the meeting with Hux so you can make this alliance official?” 

Leia smiled, but it was wane, “Yes,” she answered. “I can meet with him here, unless he would like to meet elsewhere,” at this point, Leia doubted it mattered. 

Mira moved to the door then, and opened it. Poe jumped a bit, “Leia’s setting me free,” she said to Poe, who smirked just a bit. 

“Yeah? Should I go run down Luke now?” 

“No,” Leia’s voice, “We’re giving her thirty six hours. Come in here, Poe, she’s going to go see about arranging the meeting now.” 

Poe nodded, and stepped out of Mira’s path, just as Rey and Finn came jogging into the hangar. 

“Mira!” Finn called to her, receiving a glare from Poe before the shuttle door shut on him. Mira moved down the steps to meet Finn at the bottom. “Busy?” 

She put a hand on one hip. She knew what this was, with Rey present, “I just have to find Hux,” she answered, “You can walk with me.” First place to check was his ship, of course. Someone from the First Order was going to be there. 

~***~ 

Alema’fenn was pleased that Hux was considering returning to her, but she would not hold him to it. Not yet. “I shall go find Mitaka. I think I know which one he is,” she was pretty sure she’d seen the dark-haired officer stumbling over his words when she walked by him. 

Poor dear. 

“If you need any assistance, come find me,” Phasma offered, and Alema’fenn gave a nod to her, then quickly took all of her things away into her bag, gave a nod of farewell to the pair, and then one quickly to the glowering man, before she made her exit from the ship.

KyloGlenn · Jul 16, 2016

Paquin didn't comment on 'would be-Plagueis'. She felt the bar was being set too high for her. Of course, she'd try, she wanted to be that, but she didn't want them to expect that of her. She was far from that right then. 

Gnaeus ran off, Ariel following after taking a jug of water, and Paquin turned to Gnaeus' plant. She wasn't sure if Kylo would actual move to destroy, but to be safe she picked it up and began carrying it back to her room. "Don't mess with the plant, please. Plants are therapeutic. It would do Gnaeus some good." She had one as a kid. She just hoped Gnaeus would actually name it Gnaeus 4. 

It was placed upon the bedside table and left there, Paquin closing the door behind her. She would take her responsibility seriously, even if Gnaeus hadn't been so serious. 

She rejoined Kylo after that. "So, basics of the Force." 

- 

Ariel grabbed a jug of water for their trip and hurried after Gnaeus. She was actually excited about going to get shit-faced in a cantina, but then Gnaeus revealed that those weren't their plans. With a sigh, "Gnaeus, you fucker. You got me all excited." As long as she had her alcohol, she'd be fine. 

But something in the back of her head nagged her, telling her this was a bad idea. "I don't know, Gnaeus. What if we get in trouble for this? What if Snoke catches us? We might end up like Kylo." Ariel didn't want her head being touched, not like how Kylo had it. "Just for this, you're buying my alcohol supply." 

Ariel pulled the ramp to Gnaeus' ship down with the Force once they reached the tiny dock, forcing herself aboard and into the co-pilot's seat. No way was she gonna pilot the thing. 

- 

Qui-Gon didn't mention how it was simply because it was convenient to speak to him then, instead opting for a different truth. "I've made an attempt or two to come forth, but Obi-Wan and Yoda have always been there." It's not that Yoda and Obi-Wan wouldn't have wanted Jinn around, just that his message wouldn't have reached Luke if they were there. 

"Obi-Wan's only spoken fondly of you," Luke turned a corner, around some rubble. It would be good enough seclusion for then. 

There was that chuckle again. Qui-Gon knew better than that. "That's not the issue, my relationship with Obi-Wan. I'm sure he's told you of my different views that he and Master Yoda simply didn't accept." Luke nodded then. He wasn't sure where to look as he spoke, as there was no image of a person to speak to. "My advice wouldn't have been accepted with them around." He could hear Yoda dismissing his words with his way of speaking. At least he had the chance now to talk to Luke. He'd try to squeeze in a bit more before Obi-Wan showed up. Maybe if he was cut off Luke would become curious enough to research on his own. 

Luke was curious as to what advice that was, and he was ready to listen. "My ears are open, Master Jinn." 

- 

Finn felt a little guilty when he caught Poe's glare, but that didn't stop him. He nodded to Mira, although he didn't want to see Hux, and followed after her, Rey pulling up beside him. Hopefully she'd be able to squeeze some info in before they reached Hux, "You know what we're here for, right?" 

Rey didn't let Mira answer that question before she spoke up with her own question, not wanting to fuss around anymore. Who knew when Luke would come and stop them. "Who am I? Is my name even Rey?" There was desperateness in her tone, not even caring if whatever Mira would say would be a lie. 

Poe had asked her to try and press Luke and she did try. She hadn't broken that promise to him. Luke withheld information. She just wanted to know her family, where she'd come from. Why they left her on Jakku. She didn't even know if her name was Rey, it was simply what she'd always went by, what Unkar Plutt had called her. She wasn't sure where it originated. 

She'd at least get that before their hunt for Hux ended. 

- 

Once the door shut Hux let Millicent down and she immediately ran to her water bowl. "I appreciate you taking care of that for me, Phasma." He hoped she didn't feel demoted or anything because he'd asked her to deal with the cat. "Sorry for her scratching you." 

Meanwhile, Brendol grew agitated by being ignored. "Brendol," he went as far as to refer to Hux by his first name, which he knew his son wouldn't dismiss. "If you'd like to continue our previous conversation before we were interrupted by," Brendol Senior's gaze shifted to the ginger mass at the water bowl, "that--" 

And he was right, Hux's eyes narrowed into a glare at his father. He was more upset that his name was used in the presence of Phasma, but was a little miffed by the way he referred to Millicent. "I said I'd speak with Tarkin. If there's more you wish to say it can wait until after I've finished here on Cimarosa." He wasn't about to deal with his daddy issues in front of Phasma or with business to be done on Cimarosa. Mira was the center of most business: setting up with Leia, the prisoner, what to do about her book. Next step was to find her. Anything but deal with his father.

Lucyfer · Jul 16, 2016

‘Don’t mess with the plant, please.’ It was the ‘please’ that got Kylo, brought a bemused expression to his face. He shook his head when Paquin left his sight, wondering again at how odd she was. Her random health knowledge always seemed thrown in, too. 

When she returned, he let one arm rest on the kitchen counter and he leaned against it, “First,” he said, gesturing out, “I know you’ve clearly been using the Force a lot now, so tell me how you feel it. How far you are able to feel it. If you can feel it passively yet, or if you have to focus still.” 

All of these things would be important to figuring out where to begin. She had meditation down if she made a lightsaber, but focusing might still be the only way she noticed the Force. In which case, he’d have to teach her to acknowledge it passively. It was always important to do that, so one was always aware of others strong in the Force, and of any potential attacks that would be coming. 

~***~ 

“I know. I just wanted an excuse in case we take a while information gathering. I’ll get all the alcohol,” Gnaeus accepted. 

He wasn’t buying it, though. 

He was going to use the Force to get all of it for free, because they needed a lot. They still had no word from Snoke about how long they were supposed to stay on Korriban. 

He followed Ariel into the ship and took the pilot’s seat, starting his ship up and setting the coordinates for Cimarosa. Once the ship was into hyperdrive, he looked at his reflection in the window and sighed at the blood. His idea of ‘cleaning’ it involved wiping the blood off on his black sleeve, and then putting the bandage hurriedly over it. 

~***~ ‘Are they really?’ Qui-Gon supposed he would soon learn, though it seemed right now the only one he was reaching was the one who couldn’t hear him, thanks to Snoke and all the training. 

Briefly, he wondered if he could suggest to Luke to teach her to be more open to the ghosts—if that might help her own situation. 

Then it was dismissed. He knew that at the moment it was not his to meddle in. “My advice has always been simple: to be in the moment, with the Living Force. Yoda and Obi-Wan prefer to look ahead, and it has its uses, but I do not know if they ever told you about Sheev Palpatine.” 

“The Emperor? In what context?” 

“The Sith, and Snoke,” he’d lump him in, “have learned how to cloud the future so that its vision is not clear, or does not speak the truth,” Sheev Palpatine had hidden in plain sight for so long thanks to that trick. “He used to be a simple senator of Naboo, and then he rose, and rose…because we were too busy looking ahead. Eventually, Yoda did notice how clouded it was, but he still relied on it. Luke, your enemies will use those same tricks. Snoke already has.” 

If he had a hand, he would have gestured here, “Cimarosa’s tragedy was through his own look and manipulation of the future.” It could have been worse, fortunately, Mira saw what was going on as well. 

~***~ 

“Neither of you are subtle,” Mira had to point out to them when it was asked if she knew why they were there. 

She’d told Poe, she would tell Rey if she asked. 

It was going to make things difficult with Luke, but she wasn’t going to keep this from Rey. “Yes, your name is Rey. Rey Kenobi.” 

“Kenobi?” Of course Rey had heard the name before, “As in, Obi-Wan Kenobi?” 

“Yes. You are his granddaughter, through Satine of Mandalore, and a secret—Jedi aren’t allowed to have relationships,” she added to Finn’s confused look about the ‘relationships’ part. “Don’t worry about that.” 

Finn put on a bemused smile, but didn’t say anything since it was so clear that Rey wanted to know more, now that Mira was talking. “My parents—are they still alive? How do I know you?” 

“I don’t know about your parents—they were alive when I knew you,” but she knew nothing of now. Perhaps Snoke had them killed. She didn’t even know if Luke had told them what happened. “As for how I know you, you were one of the many padawan’s at Luke’s academy. You were always asking questions.” And gave Ben a flower crown, but Mira resisted mentioning that. 

Rey stopped dead after a smile crossed her lips. It faded immediately as the reality of what had happened set in. She had known them—Mira and Kylo, before everything. Which meant.... 

But Mira kept moving, more hurried now that it was said, to the ramp of Hux’s ship and to the door. When it all set in place in Rey's head, she did not want to end up the target of any anger. 

~***~ 

“I would have done worse,” Phasma simply stated to his apology for Millicent scratching her. The cat seemed pretty calm now, and Phasma was still amused with the fact it had been so calm with Hux. ‘You have to keep her.’ She wanted to say, but the Commandant was there. She could not say it in his presence. 

And the Commandant was finally fed up with being ignored. Phasma did not reach for any weapons, but she almost felt that she should. The Commandant was growing far too aggressive, and father of Hux or not, she wasn’t going to accept any physical abuse from him. She’d see him thrown on his ass out of the ship first. 

Then there was a knock at the door, and Phasma moved to answer it, figuring she could do that while the Hux pair argued about what it was, since the Commandant clearly didn’t think their conversation was over.

KyloGlenn · Jul 17, 2016

Paquin moved to take up the counter space next to Kylo. Ariel made it look easy, jumping onto counters. It took a bit of effort and some shimmying on Paquin’s part, but she settled herself upon it. ’Stupid tall counters.’ 

Paquin was happy with her recent uses of the Force. She was getting used to it, integrating it more and more. Still, she had a lot to learn. Like noticing the Force passively. There were times when she could, but it was so wildly inconsistent that she didn’t see it useful to mention. She’d have to learn it anyway. “I have to focus still.” 

But when she did focus, “I know that I can at least feel to the training grounds from the room I’ve been using.” She didn’t know how far or good that was, but it wasn’t an exceptional distance. Still, it was a huge improvement from her not being able to use the Force at all. Those thoughts would probably get her through the training. 

- 

Ariel took her water jug and dumped a little on her own sleeve and rubbed it around the bandage on Gnaeus’ head. She wasn’t gentle about it, but now he didn’t have any residual blood on his head. Afterward, Ariel took to downing a good bit of the water. She’d have to pee like crazy, but hopefully, they’d be back on Korriban by then. 

Cimarosa was ahead of them in no time. 

“You can get your information first, but we can’t spend a whole bunch of time here.” Ariel felt uneasy as they entered the atmosphere and she knew it wasn’t because of her withdrawals. She wasn’t sure what it was, maybe it was just her fear of getting into trouble with Snoke. All she knew was that she wanted to get her alcohol and go. 

- 

“If he manipulated the future, then how did he lose?” The connection between Mira, Snoke, and the mystery of how the Sith knew of the meeting not yet being formed, but gears were turning as he attempted to process Qui-Gon’s words. 

Qui-Gon debated telling him about Mira, but again, decided not to meddle. They’d figure it out. He hoped. 

“The future isn’t always manipulated, it shows the truth more often than not. It revealed Mira and Kylo Ren. My father foresaw the death of my mother and tried to change it, but she still died.” 

‘Your ears are closed, Luke.’ If Qui-Gon had a face, it would express that that was exactly what he was talking about. ‘What was it that Obi-Wan said? Geniuses aren’t recognized in their own time?’ Well, it wasn’t his time and he wasn’t being recognized. Well, at least Mira was on the path to recognizing him. 

“My point exactly. Your father focused so much on the future, he didn’t see what was going on right there in front of him, What was happening in the moment,” It would’ve been nice to explain that to Anakin then. “Like I said, it has its uses. Don’t ignore it, but don’t accept it either.” That was a bit of a nudge to the Mira and Kylo Ren situation. 

- 

It hit Rey then. It all made sense now. Kylo had recognized her. ‘It is you.’ Kylo’s words rang in her head. He’d known her at Luke’s academy. Then came the vision, the one she’d had at Maz’s when she discovered Luke’s lightsaber. The moment where she saw herself, calling back at a ship as it flew off. 

There could only have been one person on that ship. Not Kylo, not Mira. They’d wanted to kill her after all, if what Mira was saying was true. “Luke…he…” Finn’s arm came to rest around Rey’s shoulders, he too realizing what this meant. And he trusted Mira’s words to be true. 

Rey shrugged Finn’s arm off and quickly rushed after Mira even if she was already at Hux’s ship, “Luke left me? Luke left me on Jakku, didn’t he?” Rey was angry and upset. He’d been in hiding that whole time! He left her alone on Jakku for nearly twenty years! He could have kept her with him, could have taken care of her. No one would have found them. But he left her to fend for herself on the hellhole that was Jakku. 

“U-um, excuse me,” came the voice of a dark-haired man in a First Order uniform. 

Phasma greeted Mira at the door then and Rey wasn’t sure what to do. All she knew that Luke was going to have a handful soon enough. 

- 

The knock went unnoticed by Hux and his father, the two glaring at each other too intensely. “It can not wait. A discussion on your disgraceful behavior will be had now before you tarnish the Hux name any further.” 

“Disgraceful behavior? I’m not a cadet anymore, father, you can’t punish me for ‘disgraceful behavior’. And me? Tarnishing your precious name? If anything I’ve rebuilt it. After your fiasco with rejected cadet program. After you met a kitchen worker," he didn’t even know if his mother was a kitchen worker, “and couldn’t keep it in your neatly pressed trousers.” 

Not less than a second later did the back of Brendol’s hand meet Hux’s sunburnt face. “You will not speak to me that way again.” 

Hux’s jaw set as his face returned to look at his father. “Fine. I will not speak to you that way again. I would like to introduce you to a few people who can speak to you that way, and I sure hope they will. This is Lieutenant-General Phasma,” Hux looked to the open door then. He’d start from the back, “This is Colonel Mitaka. This is Admiral Vallens,” he knew that one would really piss his father off. She was a traitor, after all. And for her to be ranked above him? But Hux didn’t stop there, “And finally, this is Commodore Millicent.” A cat was above him at this point, “Because fuck you.” And that was the final nail in his father’s coffin. 

There was a breath before, “Get out.” And his father knew he had no choice in the matter. With his jaw clenched, wanting so badly to strangle his useless son just as much as that dreadful traitor, who he would never call Admiral, he turned to stalk past Phasma. “Wait, one more thing. The next time you put your hands on me, it’ll be that last time you ever have hands.” 

The Commandant, whose rank was pretty much as useless as Brendol thought his son to be, stalked out. Past Phasma, who earned a glare. Past Mira, who earned the hardest glare he could muster. It was then that Brendol wished looks could kill. 

Once his father was out of sight, Hux ran a hand over his displaced ginger hair. Millicent chose then to let out a small meow.

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

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

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

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

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