Fandom Star Wars

[Lucyfer]

Kylo gave her a look that was somewhere between exasperated and withering when she suggested they had gone off to have children. “Ariel would be a terrible mother,” worse than his own. “And Gnaeus won’t.” A perk of being the first – he knew the secrets of the others.


He knew of Gnaeus’s broken heart and inability to let it go. He knew how he’d been talked into joining the Knights, and what he’d done to hold that position.


Of course, he knew Mira, too, didn’t he? Better than anyone. And she was gone. Could he have missed something with Gnaeus. Had he moved on? Did he fall for Ariel? “Gnaeus has been making that joke about Ariel for years.” Was it true then? Kylo supposed he could miss something like that, it wasn’t as if he knew what ‘love’ felt like.


Or he told himself he didn’t, even as he recalled the agony of Leia, even as he thought of how Han and Leia would look at each other when they spoke across distances, or whenever Han returned home.


He frowned, looking ahead again, and realizing it could be something he was missing.


“Hangars aren’t difficult to find,” he said when he heard Paquin ask about if he knew where to land.


Of course he didn’t, but he knew how hangars looked, and he sought one out from high above the world, in its atmosphere. Eventually, he did locate one, but, “Is that the one we need?” He asked Paquin. He imagined that Ariel and Gnaeus would go to the same area to get food and liquor. Yet, he didn’t actually know where that was on this world, or if this was the hangar they needed.


~***~


Chewbacca greeted Luke in his own way, happy and angry all at once. Mourning, still. Luke could hear it in the roared greeting. He could see the singed fur, and knew who was responsible.


Yet still, he hadn’t killed anyone here.


Luke gave a nod to the ones who had greeted him, and let Leia speak, “Ben—he was here?”


“You just missed him,” Lando answered.


Chewbacca complained of what had happened, how Kylo had electrocuted him. He made a crude comparison to Palpatine that Luke showed his disgust with in a glare. Kylo was nothing like Palpatine, at least.


“He came with a woman.”


“Paquin Kent.”


“Kent?” Leia looked confused, “Not Ren?”


Lando shook his head, “No, but I think she was with the Knights,” he stated. “Must be fresh to the group—didn’t seem all that bad. Not yet.”


“And Ben? What was he here for?” Always right to business.


“He was looking for two of his knights,” Lando answered, “We don’t have them, obviously, I would have told you immediately if we did.”


~***~


August set his jaw tightly as Hux questioned his allies in the senate. There was the comment that could make him snap, that could make him flip the table and give up, but he grit his teeth and bore it. However, his blue eyes blazed with the threat of ending it all then and there.


But his world was in danger.


Julia.


And he knew he was desperate. “Consider for a moment if Snoke takes Eriadu, what that means for you. I took a neutral stance out of respect for some of my former allies who chose to side with you for the longest time, but I could have gone to war with you, especially after Hosnian Prime, or after Lady,” there was a laugh in his voice. He wondered if Hux had to deal with her incessant whining and crying after Leia was through with her. “Carise interfered in progress in the New Republic.”


He took a breath. He tried to level his tone. “If Snoke takes Eriadu, he takes Imperial technology and blueprints, things that Wilhuff Tarkin was preparing to see built. He takes wealth to fund these, and positions to take many other planets in the Outer Rim. You may be unwilling to help for my sake, but you should consider all that Snoke will gain if he succeeds. His position will be perfect to take several other, weaker, planets. He'll spread quickly through the Outer Rim.”


‘And if he doesn't succeed in taking Eriadu, then I'll be the first to take my army and turn it on you after I'm done thrashing him.’ But August didn’t say that. Threatening Hux was not the way to go, even if suggesting how important Eriadu was to the Outer Rim was sort of a threat in itself. In the wrong hands, the world had much to offer.


~***~


 Nope.


Immediately, nope. “No, you will never have to join the First Order,” Mira told him, and she meant it. The Grey Jedi would be separate from the First Order. She wasn’t sure how she’d make it work, but somehow, she would. There was a lot to consider, in both areas.


‘You barely know me.’ And yet Finn knew of some of the horrible things, and was still…here. Here, when she hadn’t hesitated to take Admiral. Here, when she was mean to Rey.


‘Don’t die.’


She wanted more donut, but there was no more donut, there was just a medic who wrinkled her nose at Finn. “We don’t have….” She was about to say the First Order didn’t have an ‘Admiral’, but she saw Mira in Hux’s coat, and recognized the face of the woman who had spent time in the med bay cleaning her helmet.


She knew her enough from rumor, if nothing else – and for the loss of Paquin. “I can take a look at it,” and she gestured Mira to a chair, which she took, and then slipped the coat off to fold over her lap.


The woman reached out to Mira’s shoulder and slipped the dress’s fabric off it, and then began to undo the wrap job. “How did you get wounded?”


“Vibroblade, I think.”


“You think?”


“There was a lot happening.”


The wound certainly looked like one a vibroblade would produce. It had stopped bleeding, of course. The skin was red around the wound, though, and not a sunburn.

 

[KyloGlenn]

“Well, of course, Ariel would be a terrible mother. That doesn’t mean she can’t have children.” Paquin couldn’t believe that she was arguing the fact that Ariel and Gnaeus would run off to have children together. “It’s just a theory, that’s all.” Paquin shrugged it off.


It was farfetched. Gnaeus had to be smart enough not to have a child with an alcoholic. But then again, love was love. It wasn’t impossible.


Paquin resisted the urge to roll her eyes when Kylo said hangars weren’t hard to find. ‘Obviously not,’ but he didn’t know which one they would need. That was confirmed when he asked as much. “Yes,” all the hangars on Hestria looked virtually the same, but she knew from the area around the hangar. Rhinnal and Hestria were the two planets she knew like the back of her hand.


“Just in case, I’m thinking maybe I should do the talking this time. Last time you were here, the people thought you were stealing from them,” of course, Gnaeus had paid for everything. But just in case they were not fond of him. “And if you could do me a favor and please not do what you did with Lando to anyone here.” Of course, Kylo must have had reason to believe Lando was lying. She didn’t think he would harm anyone. 


Then again, she hadn’t expected him to harm Lando. 


-


Kent sounded familiar to Luke. Despite it, he didn’t comment on it. Kent was an incredibly common and unoriginal name. He had to have met dozens of Kents. Before he ran off, of course.


“Yeah, you don’t have them because we have them. So he knows, then.” Kylo knew his Knights were missing. Why he thought they were on Cloud City, she had no clue.


“Wait, what?” Lando questioned.


“We have the Knights he’s looking for. Well, General Hux technically has them.”


“General Hux? As in First Order General Hux?” Lando knew about the split from Snoke but had heard nothing about whatever Leia was implying.


“Yes,” Leia confirmed with a nod as Chewbacca let out a groan of disbelief. “I suppose that inadvertently caused trouble here on Bespin.” Again, she didn’t know how.


-


Hux nearly groaned at the mention of Carise Sindian. She was someone his father had thought would make a great ally. He didn’t like the woman, originally because she was involved with Arkanis but later because she was a whiny, entitled brat. He hadn’t given her orders to do a single thing within the New Republic, but if she caused any slightest inconvenience, that was fine with him.


‘I could have gone to war with you as well.’ For denying the First Order. Not in the beginning, but at some point following that. When the Order grew. He’d have made something work. He very well could have destroyed Eriadu, had Starkiller remained operational. He’d be lying if that hadn’t crossed his mind a few times.


But that went unsaid to Tarkin.


“I’m well aware of what will happen if Snoke takes Eriadu.” Nothing good. Snoke would have all of Eriadu’s resources and be well ahead of the First Order and the Resistance combined. Of course, Hux still had a few Sith blueprints and with the Resistance he had access to the kyber crystal planet.


‘That wouldn’t be enough.’ Hux felt he knew where this would go. He almost didn’t want it to go that way, just in spite of Tarkin. But the passion that Hux held for what he did stemmed from the Outer Rim. He wouldn’t let it succumb to Snoke because he was bitter. Tarkin was coming to him now. He had to be a General, not a child. “I’ll listen to your terms that I’m sure you have,” He had some of his own. Like no more stalking Mira. ‘Spying on the Order,’ his mind corrected.


“But before I can agree to anything, I must see the situation Eriadu is in.” He still had his military to consider. He could very well lose it to Snoke while trying to get Eriadu back to August. 


-


Finn was more than relieved when Mira said he would never have to join the First Order. He never would, of course, but that still eased him. 


’Yeah, you bet you have an Admiral!’ Finn patted himself on the back, mentally of course, when the medic agreed to take a look at Mira.


“Well, I think you’re right.” The woman agreed, though there was also a bit of mocking in her voice. “I assume you’ve cleaned it with at least water but I’m going to clean it again.” She left Mira’s side then to gather what she needed. “It’s not too grossly deep. I’ve seen a lot worse today. Someone’s leg was nearly severed. That was fun to deal with. Not.” 


“She’s fun, huh?” Finn leaned in to whisper to Mira if only to make her chuckle.


“I’ll throw a stitch or two in there if you want. I’ll be honest, vibroblade wounds are a bitch to stitch. They’re jagged and gross and heal just so. So, hope you don’t mind scars.” The woman shrugged as she returned to Mira’s shoulder. “By the way, this’ll definitely sting a bit.” She said as she dumped disinfectant onto a cotton square. Though despite the woman’s less than gentle personality, she applied it carefully to Mira’s wound. 

 

[Lucyfer]

At least they were in agreement that Ariel would be a horrible mother, but that was it. Kylo just shook his head at the rest. Terrible mothers could have children. So could terrible fathers.


He was pretty sure Gnaeus, at least, was smarter than that.


Kylo did find the right hangars, at least. He turned the ship towards it, swerving in tightly and docking just as quick. “I’ll try to let you handle it,” he noted as he powered down the ship, “but that trick is useful. It always gets the truth of the situation out.” Yes, it hurt, but the truth was absolutely necessary. “If the people are not forthcoming here, I will use it.”


No, the one liked Paquin. He’d be honest if he knew anything.


Kylo sighed. He was starting to feel tired, even though he knew it was still early that day. The Knights were missing, though, and he’d just killed a clone trooper. He was going to have to face a reckoning for it, and he knew it. Even if he wanted to think he could get away with it, he knew there would be consequences.


Severe ones if Snoke ever thought that Luke or Leia had anything to do with Kylo running. It might have been the logical thing. “I don’t think they’ll lie here…,” he added, aloud. “You can lead the way.” He didn’t move to rise. He’d wait for Paquin.


~***~


“So, is it your spies that know Hux has the knights, or…?” Lando let it drag out, unable to actually speak the insinuation.


Leia held his gaze as she answered, “We’re aligned with the First Order.”


Lando lifted his eyebrows and folded his arms over his chest, as Chewbacca protested it completely, reminding them of Starkiller, of Han, of everything the Order had taken. “Yeah,” Lando said, “What he said.”


“General Hux may have been influenced by Snoke like Kylo was. In person, he does not seem that terrible. He wants similar things to the Resistance,” Leia stated. “You’re not changing what’s already happened, either. This alliance is going to work.”


“Working great, Leia. Brought Kylo—Ben, right to our doorstep!” Lando didn’t mask the sarcasm.


~***~


August could see the touch of agony on Hux’s face at the mention of Carise, and he was pleased with it. He hoped the woman was still a whining bitch.


There were threats written in both of their expressions. Words that went unspoken of their hatred for what the other had done in the past, but at least in this case, they managed to hold their tongues. August nodded to the request, and moved the wristband off his arm to toss it on the table, and then used it to call out.


A few moments later, Adelaide appeared on it, “August, what—” and she abruptly cut herself off when she saw General Hux on the screen on her side, her panic turning to a sneer of unhidden hatred. “General.”


“Grand General,” August spoke to her, using the term to remind her not to be so petty with an ‘inferior’, even if it was far from the truth. “General Hux has requested information on the situation of Eriadu.”


The sneer never left as she turned from her own screen, to everything outside. She walked to a console, and the image before them changed to that same view; the line of ships. Several Imperial ones were there, cutting through the sky like knives, but the ones that Snoke had were just as apparent. “His forces grew.” August heard Adelaide say.


‘Told you.’ He didn’t say as much.


“The count right now has us ahead so far as star destroyers go, but he has more screamers than us, and some of his ships have been noticed landing. No word on destruction, but there is no word at all.”


Of course there wasn’t. And no Imperatrix in the sky. He was setting up, taking the time he had to prepare for the inevitable. August let one arm rest on the table, leaning on it, leaning towards the image projected. “Ground troop-wise, I suspect he outnumbers us, not sure about your militia.”


August nodded, “3 billion ground troops, 1 billion aerial,” for a planet of 22 billion, that wasn’t much, but it was still rather large compared to most other planets. That was just active. There were veterans and others still with the training who could jump in. “Approximately.”


He didn’t like sharing his numbers before Hux, but he had no choice. He had to let Adelaide and Hux both know the situation.


“Well. He doesn’t outnumber that yet.” But the planet was large, and August’s troops were spread across the mass.


Yet was the key word, too.


~***~


‘No, we didn’t clean it.’ Mira didn’t say that, of course.


She did smirk a bit at the woman’s talking. Not exactly a good bedside manner, but not what Mira called bad, either. She’d been dealing with a lot that day, like someone who may have lost their leg. The smirk did become a slight chuckle at Finn’s whisper, and she gave a nod.


“Just do what’s necessary,” Mira said. Scars didn’t bother her, though she was always surprised she didn’t have more. She suspected the Force had something to do with that, but didn’t really care.


When the disinfectant touched the wound, she did wince. Her hands became fists under the coat, but Finn saw the look of pain. “You okay?”


“Yes.” Mira answered, tightly. She’d forgotten how much it would sting when she was this…well, weak. Everything hurt more when sick or in her state. And her stomach made a point then to grumble it’s complaint about the tease of food the donut had been. Mira just shut her eyes.


Finn considered running off to get food, but was almost certain he’d lose Mira that way. So, instead, he said, “You’re eating after this.”


“I have things to do.”


“I’ll get you food to go.”


There was no arguing with him. Mira just sighed, then winced again at the stinging.

 

[KyloGlenn]

‘If you use it, I will slap you.’ She decided. Of course, whether she succeeded in it or not would be determined if he used that trick on anyone. Thankfully, he seemed to feel that no one on Hestria would lie. Which Paquin believed, as well. They had no reason to.


And the old man, Seymour. Paquin was sure he had no idea how to lie. He’d certainly tell the truth if he’d seen Ariel and Gnaeus.


Paquin stood then and went to pass Kylo. She patted his arm as she did. He still seemed a little off to her. She said nothing of it, though, and continued off the ship. 


The warmth greeted her as she headed straight for Seymour. If he’d seen them, he’d surely remember. 


He greeted her just as warmly as the planet did, “Paquin! When I told you to visit again, I didn’t mean so soon. Do you really think I’m going to die that fast?”


Paquin grinned, “No. You remember my friends, right?”


At that, Seymour’s eyes narrowed at her current company. “Yes, I do. I hope you’re not into that one. You should date the other one, he was funny.”


-


Leia’s eyes narrowed into a glare, a bit at how Lando said Kylo before Ben. More so that he was questioning decisions she made for the organization she was struggling to run. “Well, I didn’t mean for it to! I don’t even know how it brought him here.” With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, she continued calmer, “I did what was best for the Resistance.”


“And joining forces with the enemy was what was best for the Resistance?” Lando questioned, genuinely curious.


“Yes! Hux separated the Order from Snoke, but the First Order was not all Snoke had. He has an entire army of clones. How many exactly, we’re not sure. But we agreed that without each other, Snoke would prevail. Which do you think is worse, teaming with Hux or Snoke taking over the galaxy?”


Lando sighed, hands resting on his hips. “Jeez, Leia. It would be nice if you kept me a little more updated. So I don’t have to wait until after your son has stormed through my city causing trouble to hear from you!” Chewbacca let out a noise of agreement then as well.


-


Hux didn’t bother to suppress rolling his eyes at Adelaide and August calling her ‘Grand General’, even if it clearly wasn’t out of respect. ‘As if the title means anything.’ The Galactic Empire was dead, just as Cassio Tagge was. 


He wondered what would have happened if he’d reached out to Adelaide and other Imperial families before he spoke with Tarkin. After all, they all seemed to follow after his lead. ‘No,’ Adelaide still would have disliked him all the same.


Well, obviously the Empire wasn’t all that dead.


Hux wasn’t all that surprised by Tarkin’s numbers. He was a Tarkin, after all. But as a man with a military himself, he understood how uncomfortable August probably was with discussing the numbers in front of him, to someone who had likely been considered an enemy until Snoke came to his planet.


The number of men you had wasn’t something you bragged about.


“Not yet,” Hux chimed in. “I’m not sure of his exact numbers, but Snoke’s had years and unlimited funds to develop this clone army, his weaponry.” Still, though, Hux observed the blockade. They had Star Destroyers, Imperial it seemed. He had his own as well, which were well equipped to take out smaller ships.


Combined with TIE fighters and Tarkin’s aerial forces, Hux could see them successfully taking what was up in the air. The ground, however. “I feel our chances of taking down the blockade would be good. Ground will be difficult, a joint effort of all our men.” Leia, his own, Tarkin’s and his allies. Some low-flying TIE fighters and X-wings spread across the planet, “It’s not impossible.” 


Johann was soaking all of it in. In some time, this could very well be him. Of course, the meeting wasn’t going as terrible as he thought it would. Yet. His father was doing quite well, also. 


-


“This your boyfriend?” The medic asked as she finished cleaning the wound and the area around it. She obviously didn’t recognize him as FN-2187. She’d probably seen him in his Stormtrooper armor at some point, maybe once out of it fleetingly. If she had, she didn’t remember. “He’s nice.”


“What? No, no. Oh, Force no.” Finn shook his head, but quickly added, “No offense, Mira. You’re very pretty.”


“No, I get. Younger man, older woman, different sides of the war. Keeping it low-key. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” The medic said as she moved on to stitching, “Brace for impact, sweetheart.” She warned Mira before she began to stitch the wound as best she could. She wasn’t lying when she said vibroblades were a bitch.


Finn just shrugged, unsure of what to say. Whatever, as long as this medic would finish patching Mira up.


And she did, re-bandaging the wound with clean wrappings in a much neater fashion than they had done previously. “And you’re good to go. Go on your lunch date and enjoy yourselves. Seriously, get out of here. I’ve got more work to do.” She dismissed as she moved the strap of Mira’s dress back in place.


“Um, thank you,” Finn said. That was an experience.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo followed after Paquin onto sunny Hestria, looking around the open market once again and catching the scents of all its food. If only he were hungry. Right now, he couldn’t think of much besides the next few seconds, and the worry of what would happen if Gnaeus and Ariel weren’t here.


He had no leads after this.


Soon enough, they were at the store with the old man, and Kylo offered him a quick glance, before he took in the shop. He knew he should let Paquin do the talking, but he couldn’t help but speak when he heard the insulting tone and the comment on Paquin and Gnaeus.


“The funny one is missing. So is the red-head,” Kylo said, deadpanning it before he lifted his gaze to meet Seymour’s. “We need to know if they were here. We need to find them. They could be in trouble.” If nothing else, Kylo Ren did care for them.


For all of them.


~***~


“There wasn’t much time,” Leia sighed, “Hux and I only formally agreed to the alliance today, and the Knights were only captured today, as well. I did not expect news to travel so quick.” But she underestimated Snoke. Underestimated the Force, perhaps.


“If you want to be more involved, you know how to be, Lando. You can join the effort openly,” but Bespin played at neutrality, as it always did. “We could use you, Lando.” He’d played a key role in the rebellion before, “And you, too, Chewy. We all miss you. Maz, too.” Leia put on a cheeky smile when she mentioned Maz.


Lando crossed his arms, “I don’t have an army, Leia.”


“I’d make you a leader again,” Leia offered, “I have an army.”


"Which, need I remind you, the Senate isn't all that happy about."


"They seemed pretty happy after Starkiller was destroyed." Leia noted.


Lando shook his head, a touch of a smile on his face. "Yeah. A bit."


She knew it was hard for Lando to do anything but try and protect his world. Try and play diplomat, and stay out of the messes the universe got in. It was admirable, but it was also cowardly.


“This won’t be the last time you see the Knights,” Luke spoke more softly. “This won’t be the last time Snoke looks at Bespin. You’re better with the others.” All of them were. Kylo would have more problems harming them if they were all together.


“Strange words from you,” Leia said, a bit of a snap in it. She was still annoyed that Luke planned to fly off again on his own, with Rey.


~***~


“I have additional troops,” Adelaide added, “I can’t land them, currently,” thanks to the blockade. She wasn’t the General for nothing, though. Ground combat was her forte, not this – but August always seemed to come to her, first. Perhaps because they were of similar age.


That, or because she was good at keeping the others in line. “I’m sure that Tennar has a good number as well,” she didn’t offer guesses, and didn’t add her own numbers, either. If this blew up, Hux would still have to worry about what she could provide, as well as Tennar. “The others brought more ships.”


They played to their strengths in their mutual agreements to support each other.


August was the jack of all trades. “Thank you, Adelaide. General Hux, is there more you need to know about the situation?” He inquired. It seemed Hux now thought it was possible – now the only question was if he’d make it possible.


~***~


Mira was quietly amused at the abrupt denial and the way the medic seemed inclined to keep pursuing it. ‘Force…am I going to get connected with every man I’m seen with now?’ Hux, Tarkin, Finn, Poe—it seemed the only one she was never tied to at this point was Kylo Ren, which was almost hilarious, considering…


Well, everything.


Mira didn’t say a thing, just winked to the medic when she said she’d keep it quiet, and braced for the stitches, managing to keep any agony contained. The stitching was less painful than the disinfectant, somehow. Perhaps she was just more used to being stabbed, though.


When all was said and done, she rose, “Thank you,” coat was put back in place, and she put a hand on Finn’s back to turn him right around, saying, “Don’t worry, you’re not my type, Finn,” and started walking, Finn falling in step, “So what do you want to eat?” She shifted the topic with ease, figuring they could find a place with something Finn would like and she’d get something to go.


“I could go for some bantha burgers,” Finn said. “I’m sure that can’t be too hard to find.”


‘There were probably some in the Union….’ Mira nodded, though. “Let’s find out where we can find some,” which meant back to the dorms, as that was the hub of student activity. Students knew where to find food.


Fortunately, it seemed there were bantha burgers and all manner of other grill-type food being served in the student cafeteria in the basement, and they were ushered in to grab a proper meal. “So what is your type, huh?” Finn dared to tease as he found himself waiting in the line with Mira.


Mira arched an eyebrow as if she’d forgotten the conversation. “Come on!”



“What’s yours?”
 


“Nuh uh, I asked first,” Finn stated.


“Yes,” Mira agreed, “But you’re the padawan.”


“That’s not fair! Or relevant.”


Mira just kept the grin on her face, eyebrows raised in anticipation. “Is it Poe? Rey?” She asked, watching him go through shades of red. “I support either. Probably Poe, more.”


~***~


Rey tagged along with the FOTC man to the school’s library, trying not to let herself be distracted by the multiplicity of datapads and even actual books. The electronics were far more common, of course. Books were a rarity, yet they were present. There were civilizations still that didn’t have the luxury of datapads and other electronic recording devices.


She was in awe at seeing all of it, in spite of herself, and wished the man would slow down so she could enjoy it.


Yet, he didn’t, so Rey didn’t. She followed along, BB-8 with her, all the way to the back where monitors glowed and a printer was.


“Excuse me,” Edwin spoke to the person at the printer, who quickly looked up, looked surprised, and then stepped away. “Thank you,” he took the stranger’s place, and set the book on top of the machine before running his finger over the settings. He wanted to both scan, and make a copy of the book. He quickly pulled out a data drive from a back pocket.


He always had it with him. Never knew when it would come in handy on campus.


He plugged it into the printer and set it to first scan the book and send it to him. Immediately the book was lifted, and the machine began to scan each page, starting with the cover, of course. Edwin observed it, and Rey watched in surprised.


“On Jakku, we had to scan each page one at a time…manually.”


“Cimarosa is a bit more advanced than Jakku,” Edwin noted. Not advanced enough. Not here, anyway, to get all the copies he wanted made, but he’d call the others just as soon as this first copy was made.


With the pages scanned, it then began to create a copy, each page printing out. It couldn’t imitate the cover, but it still crafted a cover page, and deftly bound it together when the process was finished. Edwin took that copy, and then handed Rey the original. “Here you are.” He said, and then pulled the data drive from the printer.

 

[KyloGlenn]

Paquin turned to give Kylo a look that said 'really?' What had she just said to him? Let her do the talking!


And Kylo chiming in certainly didn't help, Seymour glaring at Kylo as he rose a finger to point at him. "I don't like you. When I was your age--"


"Seymour!" Paquin interrupted, "Please. They weren't where they said they'd be and we're worried. The redhead isn't exactly stable." She felt that if Seymour continued speaking with Kylo, that whole Lando thing would recreate itself.


Seymour sighed as his eyes softened and returned to the smaller of the two. "Sorry, doll. Haven't seen them since you all were here last. I'll keep an eye out for them, though. Tell them you two were looking for 'em. For you. Not for tall, dark, and dickish here." Another glare for Kylo.


Paquin sighed. Not for the comment about Kylo, which was a little funny, but because now they had no clue where Gnaeus and Ariel were. And they couldn't exactly search every planet for them.


-


"Leia," Luke sighed but decided not to get into it then. He'd talk to her about that later.


Lando wasn't real sure what the whole thing between Luke and Leia was. He knew about Luke having disappeared for what, fifteen years? And now he was back. "You know, I do kind of miss the action. And we all were a pretty good team." Luke, Leia, him, Chewie. And Han. That caused Lando to sigh. 


"I do quite miss the action as well, Princess." C-3PO spoke up and R2 beeped out something along the lines of 'Yeah until you're in the action.'


"Listen, I'd love to get back into things like when we were younger. But I've still got to take care of things here, in case the Knights show up again. I need to take care of my people like you've taken care of yours."


"And you can with the Resistance. You could better protect Cloud City. Your time can be split between us and Bespin."


Chewie did let out a quiet little roar saying he would like to see Maz again. "Well, you can go see Maz then, furball." Then there was a defensive roar but then followed by a 'for Han'.


-


"I believe not." Hux had all the information he needed. He could assist with Eriadu without too major of a loss. But now it was just about figuring out how to work with August--


if he even could. They'd hear each other's terms. "It was nice to see you, Keil." Not really and he wasn't even pretending to be nice with the words.


"Hm," was all Adelaide said, the sour look still on her face. Even then, she knew when she was no longer needed. Her eyes moved to August then, "I'll keep you updated, August." If Snoke's forces advance or if the Imperatrix took to the sky, even if that seemed unlikely to happen at this point.


With that, she and the holograms of Eriadu disappeared.


"So. Your terms," Hux urged Tarkin to continue on as Millicent rubbed against his leg, almost reassuringly.


-


"Wait, you'd support Poe more? But you don't like each other?" Finn inquired before shaking his head, his face returning to burning. "That doesn't matter. Neither of them, they're just friends is all."


"What would you like?" The worker asked Finn as they'd somehow managed to reach the front of the line, interrupting them briefly.


Finn, flustered, responded quickly, "A bantha burger, please. One for her, too. And if we could get fries with that." He just as quickly returned to their conversation, though. Since Finn was actually fairly curious as to who Mira would potentially be interested in, he decided to confess. "I mean...Poe and Rey aren't far off, I guess. Funny and kind is attractive. Dark hair. Not First Order." Rey and Poe both were exactly what Finn thought of when describing his 'type'.


Then again, he couldn't be quite sure what he'd like. He'd never had a chance to really explore anything like relationships before. But now he and Mira both had the freedom to.


"Okay. I told you mine. Now you tell me yours. I see you hanging around with a lot of redheads. And they all seem to like you. Except for the Commandant, of course. But he's gross anyway." But what if Mira didn't want to explore relationships before? What if she had one previously with the Knights? Maybe that's part of the reason she left them..."Or do you like dark hair. Do you dig scars? Perhaps facial ones..." He was hinting at Kylo without saying Kylo.


It was then that a bag with their food was placed in front of them. "You two want any drinks?" 


-


"Thank you," Rey grumbled as the book was now back in her hands. But now Luke was nowhere to be found. "So, you're going to make the eleven copies, then?"


"Yes."


'Who were they for?' Rey wondered. "Well," she looked around then. Luke wasn't there, so she couldn't bring the book directly to him yet. It couldn't hurt to look around, could it? "I'll be looking around if you don't mind." And she could keep an eye on Edwin, she told herself. So he wouldn't share the book with anyone that it shouldn't be shared with.


Because she was sure not helping him make copies of the book.


"Alright. It's a library, so remember to be quiet and stay out of trouble." He brushed her off. He was fairly certain Jakku didn't really have a traditional library. With that, his hand raised to his ear piece, pressing on it so his voice would then broadcast to the rest of the FOTC. He could make the eleven on his own, but Admiral Vallens wanted so many more than eleven. So he wanted much more than eleven copies.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo shot a glare right back at Seymour for his insult, but kept his powers in check. The insult wasn’t worth upsetting Paquin for. It wasn’t worth anything. This man didn’t know anything about the situation, or him, or what was at stake.


He wanted to threaten him. Tell him if they died – but what? He didn’t know where they were, and Kylo believed it. “Do you have access to the HoloNet here?” Kylo asked. “There might be something on the news about them.”


They weren’t exactly subtle unknowns. If something had happened to them, if Coruscant or anyone got wind of it…it would end up on the news.


Perhaps there was something that might help to pinpoint where they’d gone. Mass destruction. An arrest. Anything.


Kylo had no other leads to follow.


~***~


Leia couldn’t help but smile more openly at Chewie’s reaction, “Maz is with us, Chewie. You can see her. Come back with us. We could use you in the action. Your piloting skills were amazing.”


Him and Han were a great team.


Chewie let out a softer roar, seeming to be considering it.


Lando put a hand to his head, shook it. “Lando, you know the place will always be open for you, but we need you now. A lot is changing, and it is changing fast. If you’re in the midst of it, you can relay it all back to Bespin. You must have been grooming a prodigy by now. You’re not as young as you used to be,” Leia joked.


Lando put a devilish little smirk, but then said, “Yeah. Yeah, I suppose I have been. Best to test them in the fire, eh?”


~***~


“Thank you,” August said, before reaching his hand out to shut the device off, leaving just him and Hux to talk.


And Johann.


Terms were demanded, and terms were given: “Eriadu remains sovereign, like the Resistance. We are not taken into the First Order, nor is the First Order taken into Eriadu. We assist militarily in every campaign against Snoke, no matter how far, from this point forward. Politically and financially, we remain separate. I’ll be blunt – I don’t know you from your father, nor from Palpatine.” One might expect August Tarkin to be a firm supporter of Emperor Palpatine.



He was not.


He liked the ideal of the Empire. He did not like who came to lead it, when all was said and done.


“I will assist in destroying and pushing back Snoke, but until I know you and your goals, I cannot guarantee assistance in any other form. What I expect from the First Order is solely military presence and military defense of my sector.” Which was, of course, where the other Imperials were. His sector.


‘And the Carrion Spike, and Terex and Carise’s heads.’


He refrained.


~***~


“I like Poe. Poe doesn’t like me,” Mira reminded Finn, patient on that fact. She did like Poe, even if he would hate her for all of time. He was one of the few brave souls in this universe, and she would respect and admire that. “I don’t know Rey all that much, but Poe does seem more easy-going about things,” Mira said.


Finn ordered for both of them, and she had no qualms with it. She wasn’t picky.


The topic came back to her, “Hot Tamale doesn’t like me much, either,” Mira pointed out, then nodded to the clerk, “Yes. Coffee for me, whatever Finn wants.”


“Coke!” He said immediately, and the order was taken, the price rung up.


“You don’t need to charge us for the meal,” Mira said casually, and the clerk just simply nodded, making up some reason on the spot to justify what he thought was his own reasoning – these two were heroes, right? Right.


"Here are your drink cups," he said and handed them off. Finn took the bag, and his cup. Mira took hers.


She walked to the coffee machine to fill her drink, Finn following expectantly all the while. “You’re not subtle hinting about Kylo, you know,” Mira said, but shook her head. “Kylo and I were close. I loved him, when he was Ben,” she admitted, but still wasn’t sure how she had loved Ben. And if she had loved Kylo - certainly she had, to some degree, for her to want to stay and try and hide what she'd done. As a brother? As a partner? It got confused when it wasn’t something she was even meant to consider, “but I’ve never considered such things. Jedi, then Knight…it was all forbidden.” It was her way of also trying to get Finn on another topic.


“Wait, does that mean it's going to be forbidden to Rey? Me?"


“Probably Rey, not you,” Mira said, “So that makes Poe your best bet.”


~***~


“This is Edwin speaking, anyone of the FOTC not busy at the moment?” He spoke into the earpiece.


Some voices began to answer back. The majority, of course, were busy tending to things, but plenty seemed willing to break away. “Admiral Vallens has a task for us. We need to make as many copies of a certain book as possible.” He didn’t broadcast the name over the network, just in case. “Anyone got any connections, or some free time to assist?”


There were usually connections.


If not, extra hands were useful.


And he could see how Rey was slowly getting lost in the vast wealth of knowledge before her, even if she was also trying to not-so stealthily spy on him and his activities, too.


But he had to be nice. She was a “jedi” and Admiral Vallens wanted them to play nice with the Jedi.

 

[KyloGlenn]

Seymour looked around before reaching under his counter and pulling out a datapad, handing it to Paquin as if she'd been the one to ask for HoloNet access. "Thank you," Paquin said. She didn't yet pass it to Kylo, but that was her goal.


"You know, your father threw that together for me. Set up my own HoloNet connection, too, so I don't have to share with any of the greedy plebs around here." Seymour informed Paquin, gesturing to the technology.


"That sounds like my father. He made one for me, too. Years ago." She'd used it for her studies and all. She wanted to ask if he'd been in contact with her parents at all recently but didn't. It wasn't important in that moment.


Instead, she looked to Kylo. "You know that there are approximately thirty-six thousand beings arrested every six hours on Coruscant alone, right?" Her point being that it might be difficult to find something on Gnaeus and Ariel. Of course, she knew that they had no other leads. So, she passed it to Kylo for him to search for whatever he was thinking of.


Seymour clearly didn't like that, but he said nothing. He must've understood that it was all in an effort to find Ariel and Gnaeus, the one that he approved of.


-


"I think so. I'm sure they'll do fine."


Lando's eyes rolled in a playful manner before they settled upon Leia again, "Alright, you got me, Princess. I'm in. I need to give this kid some experience. I won't be around forever. Especially if I keep helping you out." Lando pointed an accusing finger at Leia.


Leia did roll her eyes at being called Princess, but she was still thrilled that Lando had been convinced. She looked to Chewbacca then, eyebrows raised, "Well, Chewie?"


Chewbacca nodded furiously then, letting out a roar of agreement. Lando's decision had sealed the deal for the wookiee. He moved forward then and embraced Leia and Luke in a hug, likely under the impression that Luke would be sticking around, too.


And Leia was happy. Though, now the only one that needed to be convinced was Luke. 


-


Hux listened with a well-kept neutral expression, a single eyebrow arched. 


Tarkin's terms weren't outrageous. For the most part, Hux didn't feel the need to object to anything. The Order didn't need financial support from Eriadu, nor did it need any political support from Tarkin. Politics would, of course, come into play at a later date, but August wouldn't be needed then. Hux imagined this alliance would be temporary.


Purely military support on both ends was just fine with Hux.


But, "The only issue I have is with maintaining a military presence and defense of your entire sector. Not because it's impossible, but if you haven't noticed, there are quite a few people within the sector that aren't too fond of me. I have a hard enough time trusting you, which is a mutual feeling." Tarkin he could trust for the moment, his planet was desperate. But the others? Not so much. 


Adelaide hated him for whatever reason, Hux was sure she'd take a chance at dismantling him. What he wasn't sure of, was the kind of authority Tarkin held over those in the sector. "I need assurance that no harm will come to me or my organization at the hands of any of your allies within the sector."


-


Finn was still wholly curious as to what sort of relationship Mira had with Kylo Ren. At that point in time, his thoughts had come up with the idea that it had been a relationship that had been torn apart by the dark side, nevermind the forbidden-ness of it. Though, the forbidden part was what Finn's mind shifted to, as well as his words.


There was relief that Mira wouldn't restrict such things, but it was still a bummer about Rey. "Not that I want a relationship with her or anything," at least, he wasn't sure what he wanted, "But don't you think Luke would have maybe learned that those methods haven't quite...worked?" Finn didn't know all that much about the Force or Jedi, but he was fairly certain from stories that forbidden relationships was what spurred the birth of Darth Vader and the death of the old Jedi Order.


Of course, there was likely more to the story, but that couldn't have been where the evidence ended. 


Finn filled his cup with his beverage and grabbed a cap and a straw for him and a cap for Mira's coffee, handing the item to her. "No disrespect to him or anything, but..." Finn trailed off. Mira probably didn't care what he said about Luke, but Finn did feel a little bad. He was no Jedi Master, after all. Luke was. "Love could be a powerful tool, right? Not that I'm in love with Rey or Poe or anyone."


-


"My mom owns a manufacturing company. I can give her a call and see what she's got." One person chimed in over the connection.


"That's not bad. Alright, call her and see what you can get your hands on. The rest of you, whoever has their hands free, if you could get to the library so we can work on producing as many of these things as possible." Edwin instructed. 


"What book are we copying?" Another voice, Philip, spoke up.


"I'll share that information with everyone who shows up." He informed, starting on the first copy. He needed to get at least eleven done.


With that, voices came flooding in through the earpiece of those who agreed to come help out. 'Good enough.' He counted at least enough people to fill up a majority of the printers in the lab. He'd make it work. And hopefully that one's mom could help out in some way. Edwin spared a glance at the Jedi, to find her slowly filling her arms with books. She wouldn't be causing any trouble, he didn't think.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo accepted the datapad as soon as it was handed to him, ignoring what Paquin suggested about Coruscant. “We’re not looking for just any criminals.” He noted.


Anyone who had them, knew what they had. Kylo was certain of that.


He started to skim the HoloNet, utilizing the keywords he thought would bring him what he wanted.


It didn’t.


It did, however, bring him news that caused his eyes to widen, and caused him to exclaim, “What?!”


Looking for ‘Knights of Ren’ led him to news about Hux’s split, of course.


More than that, it led him to the aftermath of the split. Headings were commenting about a clandestine meeting between General Organa and General Hux on some Mid-Rim world called Cimarosa.


‘…interrupted by an attack of clone soldiers, per then-Lieutenant, now Colonel, Mitaka.’


‘Sources indicate a Jedi was on the scene and was a peacekeeper, but we have no name.’


‘-alliance between the First Order and the Resistance seems likely.’


‘August Tarkin has been seen on Cimarosa, as well, suggesting that….’


'Rumors are flying that Captain Phasma has been promoted, and that the First Order now has an Admiral-'


Kylo knew then he had severely messed up in letting Leia go.


She probably did know where the Knights were.


Kylo had to use all his willpower not to crack the datapad in his hand. Instead, he thrust it back towards Paquin.


~***~


Leia let Chewie embrace her, and returned it affectionately. Luke, she could see, was a bit taken by surprise.


That poor man – off running away from contact. It seemed he’d forgotten how to be human. Yet, he did relax, and he did return it with his good arm.


“All right kids,” Lando addressed them all, “Let me get things set up here and then we’ll all come to join you. Where did you say you were at now?”


“Cimarosa, Crim Academy,” Leia answered. “We won’t be there too long, but at least a day or two,” she knew Lando would have a bit of organizing to do to make sure everything ran smoothly in his absence.


“Chewie and I will join you soon.” Lando said. “You droids can go along if you want.”


R2-D2 beeped it out as a question to Luke – ever the loyal droid to his master.


“Oh, please! I would be most delighted to return to your service, General.” C-3PO added.


~***~


Tarkin nodded in understanding.


Yes, his sector didn’t trust Hux.


Nor would they, anytime soon. “I command respect in my sector, General. I may be governor of only Eriadu, but if I demand your troops and ships go unmolested, they will go unmolested,” there wasn’t even a waver in his voice.


He didn’t fuck up perfectly good Stormtroopers.


He didn’t inspire traitors in his ranks. “I spoke to my own council before coming to you. They were aware of my intentions, and they understood what could come to pass. Some were vocal in disagreement, but none have any plans of defecting. That does not mean they are going to enjoy your presence, but it will be tolerated, so long as your troops also show a similar toleration and respect for the worlds.”


Not the people. Just the worlds. “And if anything should happen in the sector that is caused by its residence, I assure you, it will be dealt with.”


Harshly.



So August did have some of Wilhuff’s traits. He wouldn’t destroy entire planets, but he would decimate groups, and in some cases, exterminate them. That was usually reserved for pirates, though.


~***~


Ah, beautiful. Finn’s mind was now completely occupied with this new subject. Mira just chuckled at Finn’s comment about a relationship with Rey. “Of course,” Mira couldn’t keep the words neutral.


Now she understood why Kevan liked teasing her and Kylo.


Finally.


“I’m fairly certain Luke hasn’t learned, but you are free to quiz him yourself,” Mira informed Finn, “After all, the methods worked for millennia with the original Jedi Order,” she tried hard not to roll her eyes, and somehow managed to succeed, “And everyone knows that nothing should ever change.” She took the cap and put it over her coffee.


“You sound bitter.”


“Three cups of coffee will do that,” she still sipped the beverage. “I am bitter.” She added after. “Jaded. But…I know what hate can do, as a tool,” Mira told Finn, “It’s possible love could be just as powerful,” she was walking out of the dorms. Finn dug out the burgers, handed one to her first, watched as she didn’t take it with her hand but the Force, watched as it was unwrapped with the Force, “I know anger, sorrow, and so many other emotions lend strength to those who can control and wield them. In theory, love, happiness, excitement, could do the same. I haven’t seen it, but I’d like to.”


Finn’s smile would have put most suns to shame as he heard that – the mere idea that these things could work. Then, he frowned. It sunk in that Mira didn’t know if these things worked and it made him wonder if they didn’t, or if she truly hadn’t seen anyone, ever, use the Force with positive emotions.


He determined he would figure it out, once he actually got to learn about the Force.


By then, they were out of the dorms, and Mira’s burger floating, wrapper thrown away. Mira did take a couple of bites into it, before noting, “You may want to go find Rey or someone.”


“Why?”


“I have to deal with the prisoners. I don’t think you’ll want to see that. I am sure Poe’s told you of his…experience.”


~***~


Edwin was able to make two copies before others of the FOTC started to show up. He waited until they were all gathered, and then he laid one copy on a table before them.


There were a few gasps, and more than one had their eyes widen.


Edwin didn’t even need to say what it was. “Admiral Vallens has requested we make at least 11 copies,” Edwin stated, “However, she eluded to wanting thousands. A tall order. If we cannot get a manufacturing company’s assistance, we will not be able to provide that, however…we can certainly get at least a hundred or two made, don’t you think?”


His easy mannerism in saying it, and raised eyebrows, seemed to spark the confidence in the others. It was a tedious and time-consuming task, but Admiral Vallens wanted it, and all of them knew what that could mean for their own futures.

 

[KyloGlenn]

Both Paquin and Seymour jumped when Kylo exclaimed, but said nothing. Paquin did let out a little noise of surprise when the device was thrusted back at her, to which she accepted it back into her hands. It was then that she took a look to see what had upset Kylo so greatly.


The first thing that went through her head was her surprise that the Knights of Ren had search results. The second thing was a congratulatory thought for Phasma and Mitaka, momentarily forgetting that she was no longer apart of the Order. ‘Good for them, bad for us.’ And then it finally registered with her.


The Resistance and the Order. ‘Cimarosa…’


Leia most definitely knew something about the Knights, then. But there were no ‘I told you so’s coming from Paquin. Not because she was sure Kylo would snap her neck, but because a wave of stupidity rolled over her. “Kylo, Cimarosa is where Gnaeus got those stupid cinnamon rolls.” The stupid cinnamon rolls that had made her so happy. How could she have forgotten that detail? ‘No more drinking.’ It had obviously killed too many of her brain cells.


It wasn’t until Seymour’s datapad was returned to him that he realized just who he was dealing with. Knights of Ren, Kylo, it all finally fit together. What that meant for Paquin, he wasn’t sure.


-


Luke had to admit, he missed them all. Leia, Lando, Chewie, of course R2. Even C-3PO. He had no complaints about the droids joining them.


Leia couldn’t say it had been hard to do work without the droids. R2-D2 sat around collecting dust for fifteen years. 3PO had his helpful times, though. She was going to bring them along, anyway. “Alright you two, let’s get loaded on the ship then.”


“Oh, fantastic! Thank you, Princess.” C-3PO was already shuffling past the twins then, while R2 spun happily before rolling to its master. 


Luke’s metal hand settled upon the top of R2, remembering the last time he’d done it was a dark time. Even when the droid and Chewie had dropped Rey on Ahch-To, he hadn’t managed to act very affectionately. 


“I’ll let Maz know you’re coming, Chewbacca.” Leia offered the wookiee a smile as he let out a timid roar, almost shy. With a look to Luke and a nod, they silently agreed to depart. “I’ll see you two soon, then. It’s good to have you both back.”


“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure it is.” Lando waved his hand dismissively but winked. “Now get lost, you two. I’ve got work to do.”


-


Hux felt he may have sensed some ridicule in Tarkin’s words, even if they were unwavering, but said nothing of it. It very well could have been his lack of fondness for August searching for something to reject him over. Or not.


“I’ll take your word for it.” He believed August. He was a Tarkin and all Imperials did seem to flock to that name. Of course, he wanted more proof, but that was simply not possible. Maybe he’d talk to Mira about seeing the future or something.


“The Order will treat your sector with nothing but respect, but if anything untoward is reported, I will not hesitate to pull any support from those planets until the issue is resolved.” That wasn’t negotiable. But Hux did believe August would deal with whatever issues that may or may not come up.


“If those are your terms, I’d like to add some of mine. Similarly to you, the First Order will provide nothing but military presence and support against Snoke. Nothing concerning the Order’s ventures will be relayed to you unless they relate to Snoke, and I’d greatly appreciate if you don’t attempt to involve you or your allies attempt to involve yourself in it.” He couldn’t outright tell August to stay away from Mira, for he didn’t know the real details of that. Just that Tarkin seemed to be around Mira quite a bit since they’d arrived. “The same courtesy will be extended to you.” 


He so badly wanted to add a request of him refraining from calling him and Mira ‘Palpatine’ or ‘Vader’, respectively.


-


“Oh, yeah,” Finn mumbled as he himself took a nibble out of his burger, the wrapper still around it so he didn’t make a mess of his hand. 


Kylo Ren’s invasion of Poe’s mind still haunted the pilot. While much rarer now, Poe did have a few nightmares about it previously. It was those nights that the two would sit together, not per Poe’s request, but because Finn wanted to help. 


If the prisoner’s were getting any similar treatment, he wouldn’t want to be there. “I’ll escort you the rest of the way,” then he’d go find Rey or Poe. Maybe he’d figure out where Luke and Leia went since he recalled Rey and Mira mentioning that they were no longer on the planet. Poe would be the best bet to find Leia.


“If you need any help or anything, you can find me. You know, with lifting a body or something.” Finn didn’t expect her to need any help at all, but he’d offer. Even if he wouldn’t be thrilled with it.


They were upon the Foreign Language building then, it clearly surrounded by Stormtroopers. Finn was all but prepared to follow Mira into the building and leave, but a Stormtrooper’s arm thrust out in front of him, nearly knocking the bantha burger and his Coke out of his grip. “You may not enter.” It was clear that the trooper was solely talking to him, as the Stormtrooper on Mira’s side made no effort to halt her.


It didn’t matter much, he wasn’t going to stick around anyway. But he felt the slightest need to sass the trooper. Maybe pull another rank drop. But, “I guess I wouldn’t have been able to stick around anyway, huh?” He was still playful with Mira.


-


With his fellow FOTC members confident, he pushed the one copy on the table toward a man, and handed out the other two copies, for them to scan and copy. “Let’s get to work.” 


And so they got to work. The scavenger had engrossed herself in the vast array of books, paying nearly no mind to the group that had formed before her. She even failed to notice the droid abandoning her side and coming to see what the FOTC was up to. It had somehow wound up with its robotic arms out, a stack of books piling onto them. 


The FOTC had made approximately twenty before one more man walked in to join them, with good news. “Edwin! My mom agreed to help out. She says if we send her a scan of the book she can work on getting some copies made and have them delivered in the morning.” How many copies hadn’t been specified. He’d told her a lot, a thousand maybe. It took a little convincing, and a few lies. 


He’d explained that because of the attack that they had lost many copies of this particular book. 


Edwin was pleased. “Good, send her a scan of the book and tell the company that we appreciate it.” They’d be able to get at least in some range of what Admiral Vallens was thinking now. But the assistance of this manufacturing company wouldn’t stop them from working on the copies here. 

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo understood several things as Paquin explained the cinnamon rolls were from Cimarosa. ‘He knew.’ Gnaeus knew about this situation. He had gone back to get alcohol there, and to try and get information.


He and Ariel must have been overwhelmed. Mira, Resistance, First Order.


Kylo was cocky, but suffering from losses, he knew that would be a fool’s errand. He’d seen a detail about the meeting being attacked, and surviving. So Snoke had already gone to try and disrupt it, too. ‘What does that mean for us…?’ Nothing good. Could they…actually lose this war?


Kylo shook the thought from his head. He had to speak to Snoke. Report. Do nothing but report. “Well, we know where they are.” Kylo gave a nod to Seymour, not a true word of gratitude, and then looked to Paquin, “We need to report this information.” If Snoke wanted them to go, they’d go.


If not…well, they wouldn’t go, but Kylo would be thinking of alternatives.


~***~


‘Get lost’, the twins and the droids, did. They walked in silence towards the ship. Well, mostly silence. 3PO kept commenting on things all the way there, and getting into an argument with R2-D2 about the chaos they were soon to rejoin.


Leia listened intently when R2-D2 brought up the most recent ‘acts of heroism’ by 3PO, involving the Knights. “I’ll have you know, I was able to retrieve Chewbacca’s bowcaster from a Knight!”


Leia inhaled sharply, but didn’t dare to ask if Chewbacca had tried to use that. Again. On her son.


It had been difficult to look at Chewie after that first time, until she truly understood how he felt about Han in that moment. The anger and the horror that had caused Chewbacca to shoot at someone who must have been like a stranger to him then, and not the kid he used to give piggyback rides to.


“Oh, Leia…where is Mirrorbright?” 3PO asked.


Leia shook her head, “I’m not flying that one anymore,” the white ship drew too much attention, and it wasn’t good for fighting, either. Mostly, the attention was the issue. She gestured towards a silvery ship, “That’s my ship now,” she informed him.


~***~


August arched an eyebrow at the statement, but then shrugged it off, “So you would like me to remove my spies from your Order. Will I be required to reveal their identities as well, or is simply removing them enough?” Hux said the same courtesy would be given, and August did know the identity of some of his spies. August hadn’t done much about it, it was better to know who the spies were.


Then he could control the information they were receiving.


August simply hadn’t cared much, either, he wasn’t taking action against the First Order. Hux’s spies could only ever relay that August was dissatisfied with the First Order, and had a disturbing amount of information on it, sometimes.


Perhaps they knew a few of his spies. He doubted they knew of Casterfo, though, and he wasn’t sure he would be able to pull Casterfo without calling in several favors – even if Casterfo owed him a life debt.


~***~


‘I have the Force. Don’t worry.’ Mira wanted to tell Finn that, but that’d be confessing that bodies were a possibility, and even Mira didn’t want to consider it. This was Ariel. This was Gnaeus.


Mira did not want to kill them, but it was a possibility. This was war, and she did not plan to make the same mistakes that Kylo Ren made. ‘They’re useful alive.’ Or at least, she tried to believe that as she stepped easily by the Troopers, only to hear Finn pushed back.


She stopped immediately and spun around, almost wanting to berate the Trooper. ‘No.’ She stopped herself, biting the inside of her cheek. ‘He’s not First Order.’ And this was most definitely First Order business. He was Resistance, and without permission. He was Gray Jedi, but no one knew that, yet. The universe was going to know, soon, though. ‘Because fuck you.’


She smiled at the thought of saying that to Snoke, recalling Hux’s explosion, and kept the smile on her lips for Finn.


“No, it seems not,” she agreed with him, “Go have fun then. When I get out of here, we’re going to get my ship.”


“You better not forget me.”


“I wouldn’t,” Mira said, and then turned from Finn as he did her, to enter the building.


It didn’t take long once she was inside for an officer to approach her, “Admiral Vallens, Lieutenant-General Phasma will see you first.” Phasma had requested it, to brief her on the situation, what had been taken from the Knights, and to assess Mira’s own situation. Phasma hadn’t explained what she meant by that, and it was no longer the Officer’s place to question her.


“Where is she?”


“She’s near the prisoners in the basement. She’s taken up a classroom,” research. He’d noticed she seemed to be studying the ranks of their pilots.


Mira nodded, “Thank you,” and then down the stairs it was.

 

[KyloGlenn]

Paquin nodded to Kylo before turning to Seymour. She voiced her appreciation, “Thanks for the help, Seymour.”


“No problem, Paquin.” Seymour reached over then, grabbing one of Paquin’s hands. “You stay safe now. Come back here if you ever need anything.” There was the briefest of glances to Kylo. He wasn’t sure if Paquin was aware of what exactly she was getting into, but he wanted to believe she did. “I hope you find your friends.” 


“Me too. I’ll come see you again, sometime.” Paquin smiled at Seymour, him squeezing her hand before letting go. No goodbye was offered to Kylo, the old man going back to what he was doing beforehand.


The hand that Seymour had grabbed moved to Kylo’s arm, turning him around to head back to the ship. “What do we say if Snoke asks about Cloud City or the clone?” She questioned. She was more than prepared to lie if that’s what Kylo wanted. She didn’t want him to get in trouble again. Hopefully Snoke would keep the conversation on retrieving Gnaeus and Ariel, however they’d go about that.


She wanted to just go and get them, they knew where they were. But she also knew that that was stupid. Ariel and Gnaeus had gone alone and were captured.


-


“Oh, well. Whatever is efficient!” 3PO commented as Luke brought the ramp down with the Force.


Efficient it was, especially in not drawing attention. It blended in well with the sea of other silvery ships in the hangar. 


Leia took up the pilot’s seat, Luke the co-pilot’s. R2 pushed past 3PO to settle in the space between them. With that, Leia raised the ramp and started up the ship, setting the coordinates back to Cimarosa. It was silent during that time as they took their leave until Luke spoke up.


“At least no one was hurt.” Well, aside from Chewbacca’s singed fur. No one was seriously hurt.


“At least no one was hurt,” Leia echoed. The trip hadn’t been in vain, either. They’d gotten Chewie, Lando, and the droids back in action. But Luke knew where Leia’s thoughts lingered. On that brief glimpse of her son. It’d been so long since she’d seen him and she still had only the vaguest idea of his face.


With that in mind, they hopped into hyper drive.


-


Hux wasn’t all that surprised by the spies. It hadn’t necessarily been what he was thinking of, but now he knew how August was getting information. Other than following Mira around.


Again, Hux wouldn’t directly bring that up. If it became a problem, he’d deal with it. But for now it seemed to be something that was simply bothering Hux. Mira was the one he’d talk to about it. Warn her to be careful around him or something.


“Revealing their identities is not necessary, simply removing them will be enough.” And now Hux had to remove his own, as he’d said he would. Tarkin wasn’t stupid, he’d likely had some idea of the spies Hux had within his ranks. He doubted he could get away with leaving them to their work of reporting Tarkin’s dislike for him.


“If there're any other terms you’d like to discuss, now would be the time. Otherwise, I’d like to finish this and I could gather Lieutenant-General Phasma and we could begin plotting how to take Eriadu back.” Because that’s definitely where this was going.


-


Phasma was seated in a classroom next to one of the Knights, Ariel. A datapad sat on a table in front of her, projecting the files of the pilots within the Order. Through the hologram, she spotted Mira and it was then that she rose, shutting the device of as a courtesy. “Admiral Vallens,” it was still strange to call her that, considering she’d been a traitor not too long ago.


Still, she said it.


Phasma observed the woman, she was clean and had changed her clothes. But the coffee gave away that she was not as refreshed as she looked, likely still battling sleep. “I’ll brief you on the situation before you see the Knights,” she assumed that was what she was there for. Most definitely directed to her by one of the officers upstairs.


She rounded the table to be on the same side as Mira. “Ariel Ren seems to be in good condition. She’s still unconscious, but the medics have stated that she will wake up. Gnaeus Ren, on the other hand,” no pun intended, “is not in the best condition. He went into shock. He seems to be stable now, but the medics advised it wouldn’t be best to touch him until they’ve deemed him to be out of the woods.”


Phasma then gestured behind her, to the items that’d been collected. “We’ve recovered Ariel’s lightsaber and her communicator, which someone’s been calling. Gnaeus’s lightsaber and communicator were not recovered, apart from pieces lodged in his…” she almost said hand, “stump.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo looked to Paquin as he felt her hand. He tried to be calmed by the gesture, and he answered her question. “The truth, but as little of it as possible,” he said. “Do not lie to Snoke.”


That was a rule. One he’d have to follow. He’d omit. He’d avoid. He’d do all he could to keep from making it apparent that they’d encountered Luke and Leia. That he had killed the clone. That anything the Supreme Leader would disapprove of had happened.


Kylo Ren’s trepidation didn’t fade. Snoke was intelligent; he’d pick up on every emotion. Every avoidance. And despite knowing this, Kylo also knew he was going to act that way.



There was no winning here.


There wasn’t even less losing.


“It might be better if you said nothing,” though Paquin told him to do just that, and he’d failed spectacularly.


He used the Force to open the ship once they were in the hangar and he could see it, and just as soon as his feet were upon it, he brought up his communicator and called out to Snoke.


It did not take long at all for the Supreme Leader to appear—quicker than Kylo expected, actually. “What news do you have?” He sounded rather annoyed, as if Kylo had already taken too long in getting back to him.


“Ariel Ren and Gnaeus Ren are likely on Cimarosa, and prisoners of either General Organa or General Hux. They’ve forged an alliance,” Kylo had a feeling that Snoke already knew that. “All reports indicate the world is swarming with forces of both parties. Staging a mission to rescue them would require more than just myself and Paquin.”


Which Snoke should know, considering he’d been sent to Korriban to train.


~***~


The journey back to Cimarosa did not take long, and fortunately, it looked like nothing too bad had happened. Leia saw Poe still in the hangars, the anxiety in his body language, but Finn was there with him and she could see that they were talking.


Luke’s frown deepened a bit, and Leia glanced over to him, a question in the cant of her head, “Something’s wrong with Rey,” an anxious energy that he could pick up on even from afar.


Leia sighed, but it was not a sigh of exasperation or even annoyance. She was glad Luke cared so much about something, “Go find her, then.”


R2-D2 beeped out an offer, and Luke again touched the droid as he rose, “Of course, R2,” he’d allow the droid to accompany him. Rey would likely be happy to see the astromech. “BB-8 may be with her,” for BB-8 was not, in fact, with Poe.


“Oh, sir, may I come, too?”


Of course it was BB-8 that would capture 3PO’s attention. “Yes,” Luke answered. He didn’t really want the huge entourage, but it seemed there was no escaping it here. Not on Cimarosa.


So out they went, and Poe quickly waved to Leia and Luke, and when Finn started to move away to escape, he grabbed Finn’s arm.


~***~


Honestly, if Hux had been surprised by spies, August would have laughed himself off the ship. A smart leader knew there were spies, and acted accordingly. “Simply removing them?” August let a sly smile come to his lips, a touch of mockery at that statement.


Could he leave one or two? Likely Ransolm, most thought Ransolm was dead. “Very well. I’ll take your word, General, but if I do uncover one, I will execute them.” He’d expect the same, but he’d do as promised and remove his spies, advise his allies to do similar, for the time being.


“If there are other terms we need to discuss, I suspect that will only arise if we decide to be more than military allies, and that is to be seen,” August stated, “Unless you have some other terms you’d like to propose, General, then I would prefer to have the matter of Eriadu’s freedom moved forward. I do not wish to wait long.”


And it was settled then.


Hux would talk to Phasma. Hopefully, he would also talk with his Admiral – even if the title was honorary more than anything, she knew Snoke. “If I may, I would like to request permission to have an audience with Admiral Vallens,” he decided that was something he wanted then, thinking on it, “She knows our enemy well, and I would like to be briefed on what to expect from him.”


~***~


Phasma was ever-serious. No mockery, no amusement, in saying the title. “Lieutenant-General,” Mira returned, wondering if they would ever become comfortable enough to speak without titles.


The situation was outlined. Gnaeus Ren would have to remain untouched for the time being. Ariel Ren, on the other hand, could be dealt with however Mira liked from the sounds of it. Ariel’s effects were also gathered. Communicator, lightsaber. There were a few other items, and Mira noticed the key missing. ‘Must still be dealing with hacking the ship.’


She approached the communicator silently and picked it up. She probably should have had some reaction to how poorly Gnaeus was, but emotion was starting to drain away with the exhaustion.


It blinked at her, and she turned it over, went to the call log. “Snoke,” every time. Every. Single. Time. And it was not just one call. Mira wasn’t sure if she ought to be afraid, or pleased, that Snoke was trying to desperately. “They’re not trackers,” she set the communicator down, picked up the lightsaber.


It should probably be destroyed, but Finn needed one, didn’t he? ‘Kevan’s….’ as Mira thought that, she realized she hadn’t explored that option. What happened to Kevan’s blade? To his ship? ‘Finn couldn’t use that.’ Or Mira doubted he could use Kevan’s blade. It was specialized for him.


She set the lightsaber down by the communicator. “I will deal with these objects when I have finished with Ariel Ren. Are there other prisoners?”


“Yes,” Phasma answered, “There was one prisoner captured that was identified as a soldier of rank within Snoke’s army. We have not made him talk, either.”


Mira nodded, “I’ll see to him as well.”


Phasma’s eyes went over her again. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if Mira was in any shape, but she did not do so. That was part of why she was here – if Mira wasn’t, she’d interrupt. “Have the troopers returned from Gnaeus’s ship yet?”


“No,” Phasma answered, “No one has returned with a report from Gnaeus’s ship. Speaking of,” a good enough excuse. She walked back to the desk where she had been, “I have dug through the files for the First Order. I have some suggestions prepared for you.” If nothing else, Phasma did find it easy to speak business with Mira, and Mira didn’t seem inclined to stray from the subject.


“All, or just some?”


“So far as potential officers go, all. I am still skimming the ranks of our TIE Fighters to refresh my memory as to the ones who seem to have good leadership skills.”


“Any stand-outs?” Mira knew she’d be looking at more than just the stand-outs, but she did want to hear Phasma’s opinion, see if any names jogged any memories.

 

[KyloGlenn]

Paquin raised an eyebrow when he said it would be better if she didn't say anything. 'Oh really? Would it now?' Though she did exactly as he told and said nothing. Speaking with people on Hestria was a lot different than speaking to Snoke. 


Snoke could do a better job of harming them than the villagers could.



There was a pause before the gravelly voice spoke again, “A majority of the clones are occupied with obtaining control of Eriadu, on the ground and in the form of a blockade. The remaining wouldn’t be enough to recover Ariel and Gnaeus Ren. The ship and the clone with you now were all I could confidently provide you with to search for them.”


Paquin wondered if Snoke was heading towards where she thought he was, which would be deeming Ariel and Gnaeus not important enough to rescue. 


No, Gnaeus and Ariel were important to Snoke. But with an alliance likely official at this point, they’d be difficult to rescue. He had more clones than what he’d sent to Cimarosa, but they had to be ready to push into Eriadu. Would the same amount of clones and the two Force-sensitives be enough to reclaim the remaining Knights? Perhaps not. “Return to Korriban.” Until he could figure out how to get the other Knights off of Cimarosa.


 If they were even on the planet. “You received this information from Calrissian, correct?” And by that, he was asking if he’d ripped it from his head and not trusted whatever words he said.


-


Leia was already suspicious. 


Leia’s feet moved in the direction of the pair, Luke following behind her, if only to find out if any of the two knew where Rey was. Poe looked the slightest bit more relaxed, likely because he could confirm that Leia had returned safely while Finn still looked rather anxious, looking past her to her brother and the pair of droids. 


“Alright, what’s wrong with you two?” Leia asked as she halted in front of the pair, arms crossing. Had Finn gotten in some sort of trouble? That seemed unlikely. He was Finn.


She turned to Luke then, “You want to go find Rey and I can speak with these two?” 


-


Rey hadn’t even noticed what the FOTC boys had done, not until she felt Luke again. That meant he was back. Her hand reached out and pulled the Jedi Guide from underneath the stack of books she’d gathered, her eyes finally catching sight of all the work that had been done.


Stacks upon stacks of the same book were built up next to the printers, BB-8 holding quite a few. When had the droid joined them? And books were still being made. She wasn’t sure what to think, just that she should find Luke. “Come on, BB-8.” She ushered the droid, who beeped out some words to a member, who then took the books from the droid.


Rey waited until the droid was following her and they were well away from the library and heading in the vague directions that the Force offered before she told the droid what was happening. “Luke’s back.” She clutched the book to her, speeding through campus.


-


Hux was unaffected by Tarkin’s mockery. He could deal with that all day. But what did bother Hux was Tarkin requesting to speak with Mira, even if his reasoning was sound.


Johann noticed. He spotted the briefest twitch of Hux’s lips and they were not about to form a smile. More of a snarl. Blink and it would have been missed. Which is why he looked to his father, to see if he’d seen the minuscule facial response.


Hux wasn’t sure if he should believe Tarkin’s supposed intentions in talking to Mira. Not after the evidence that seemed to be pointing towards him seemingly following Mira. Apparently flirting with her, but that was what Poe Dameron had said. Who knows what had actually happened.


“I’ll speak with her about it.” Yes, Hux could arrange for them to speak without even bringing it up to the new Admiral beforehand, and she would have to meet with Tarkin. But Hux was actually going to speak with the woman about it. 


Not to mention he wasn’t sure how much he wanted Mira to be involved in the Eriadu situation. Not only because he worried for her, having this information about her taking a knee. But also because she could become a liability, as much as Hux hated to admit. “You’ll have an answer as soon as I do.” He said as he rose to his feet, prepared to shake hands and escort August and August Jr. out of the ship.


-


“There were no previous Admirals before you,” Phasma informed as she pulled up the files she’d been looking at. Meaning Mira took no one's job, yet at the same time, there was no one with experience in the position. “But there are a handful of good officers who could be helpful, depending on what you’re looking for. There’s the former Lieutenant-General.”


Technically, she hadn’t stolen the job. He’d been demoted beforehand. For being a pushover. “Cowardly, but he has a decent enough grasp of the Order.” Then the next one that popped up made her sigh, “Then there’s…Agent Terex. Again, depending on your preference. He's a part of security, rather. Typically efficient, difficult to work with.” Knew too much somehow. Phasma would not recommend him to have an official position so high. “If all else fails, you can never go wrong with Mitaka.”


“TIE fighter pilots, RN-0003 is skilled, not only as a pilot. He’s been in the ranks for a while and has shown great promise.” He became the number one trooper to root for after FN-2187 betrayed the Order. “I’m sure you’ll be provided with a datapad soon enough,” those were vital, especially to someone of Mira’s rank, “and I’ll be able to send you much more in depth files of those I’d recommend and you may decide for yourself.” Phasma shut off the device once again.


“Until then, you can request the files of whoever you wish from either me or any other officer,” thanks to her Admiral title. “My advice is to go to the medics. They usually have the most up to date files.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Too much focus on Eriadu. Kylo knew the importance of securing worlds and positions. He had understood it with the Order. However, he was surprised at how much Snoke was going at Eriadu. He wanted to comment that it shouldn’t take that much effort. August Tarkin talked a big game, but he couldn’t back it up.


‘Never mind what Kevan or Hux think.’


Though Snoke would be taking his information on Tarkin’s abilities from them.


Kylo looked disappointed that he was asked to return to Korriban, but gave a singular nod before answering the query. “No, Supreme Leader. Calrissian knew nothing,” Kylo tried to sound disgusted.


Snoke’s expression, though small, made sure to show interest. “We retraced steps to Hestria, where we supplied before going to Korriban. We gained the use of the HoloNet, and from there discerned the location of Gnaeus and Ariel Ren.”


“It is public knowledge now?” Snoke seemed to be quite unhappy with that.


Kylo just shut his eyes and bowed his head, “Yes. As is the alliance between General Organa and General Hux, as well as our split from General Hux.” Was Snoke not following the HoloNet. “There was also a note about August Tarkin being on Cimarosa.” When Kylo opened his eyes, he saw the cold fury, and hoped it had been redirected at the Eriadu situation.


~***~


Luke was about to agree with Leia, when he heard the rush of footsteps and looked up to see Rey. “Seems I do not need to,” he told Leia, though this made the situation more interesting.


“I think Rey can tell you what’s up,” Finn decided. He had told Poe what had been going on, and Poe seemed to think it was a big enough deal that he had to keep Finn around to tell the Skywalker siblings.


Leia arched an eyebrow at that, but Poe nodded in confirmation when he saw she did, in fact, have a book pressed to her chest. Fine, he’d let Finn escape and not tell them.


When Rey caught up, she immediately held out the book to Luke. His eyes widened in shock, and he did take it. “Where did you—”


“Mira.”


BB-8 beeped out the rest, explaining that lots and lots of copies were being made. The droid was helping!


“That’s what’s up,” Poe stated to Leia, then, “And did you know Finn’s going to be Mira’s padawan?” He decided it was time to bring that up, too, though Finn looked quite annoyed with him at that point.


“She’s not a bad person!” Finn defended. BB-8 added its voice, too, even if it got a look from Poe.


~***~


August noticed, though he gave no reaction to even Johann’s look. ‘Interesting.’ August had so many questions, questions he couldn’t ask, and now questions he couldn’t have his spies look for.


Pity.


His suspicion that Mira was a key to the Order, though, was apparently on the right track.


“Thank you, General,” August rose as Hux did, satisfied with the way this had gone. Hux didn’t try to fight for anything more than a military alliance, and that shone favorably today. He glanced back to Johann then, a touch amused that he hadn’t spoken, and then walked to the door with Hux. “I will look forward to hearing from you soon so that we may better prepare the assault on Snoke’s forces at Eriadu. Until then, I shall be around unless I have a need to leave.”


Only one thing would make August leave.


He did offer his hand first to shake, while his mind thought of the need to call Ransolm afterwards and bring him here. His other spies he could break the news to by a simple radio communication. Not Ransolm.


~***~


Mira was not looking for a coward.


Mira needed someone who would stand up to her. ‘Mitaka, you’re great, but no.’ And that seemed to leave Terex and RN-0003. “I’ve heard of Terex,” she had never met him. Kylo liked him. Something about him being a good bloodhound if she recalled.


He’d been the one following the trail of Luke Skywalker.


That was as much as she remembered.


She knew nothing of this RN-0003, but she’d ask Finn about both. “I’ll certainly require the information on all you’ve mentioned, though you can safely assume anyone known for cowardice should not be recommended. I do not want someone flinching away from telling me off because I have the Force.”


Phasma nodded, just the hint of a smile on her lips at that. “Terex or RN-0003 may be your best options there. I will see to ordering you a datapad immediately.”


“I should have….” She was about to say in her room, “have my things already been disposed of?”


“No,” there hadn’t been enough time with other issues Kylo caused. “I will radio out. Where would it be?”


“Desk, top drawer.” It was filled with information on the worlds of Wild Space, but she could use it for this.


“I will inquire after it, and have it brought here.” People got attached to datapads.


“Thank you,” Mira said, asked, “Which room is Ariel in?” She’d go check her condition first, see if she would wake up soon.


“Right next door,” Phasma indicated, gesturing to the right.


Another nod, and Phasma held out a keycard, “You’ll need it,” Mira did take it, and Phasma walked out with her, let Mira swipe the keycard to get in, and then held out her hand. Mira returned the card, not even bothering to ask if she was locking herself in the room – she probably was – and entered the room with her former ally.

 

[KyloGlenn]

And that right there was why Snoke was going so hard at Eriadu. 


Snoke had known that Tarkin was not at his home. His wife had acted clueless to where he was. Snoke had figured he'd been somewhere on the planet, avoiding. How had he slipped past the blockade? 


And now he was coincidentally on Cimarosa, where Organa and Hux were now aligned. Snoke could figure out what could be going on then. But didn't Tarkin hate Hux? He didn't hate Leia, but allying with her meant joining Hux just as well. If that was the case... "He shouldn't be." This didn't mean the end, however. "Stay prepared. You may be needed at a moment's notice. Our plans must change."


It seemed Snoke would now be setting someone to keep a watch on the HoloNet.


'Our plans?' They were barely even being involved. "Maybe we should know a bit more about the situation," Paquin suggested. So much for not saying anything. Both she and Kylo failed at that. "Now that Ariel and Gnaeus are in the middle of this."


-


"Not a bad person?" Poe asked incredulously. "She's admitted to committing genocide!" 


"Well, I didn't say she didn't make bad choices! But she's changed! She's done nothing but try to help us since we found her on Coruscant."


"And having Hux hide this book from Luke and I is helping?" Rey chimed in. BB-8 beeped then, saying that the original book had been given back to her and if she really wanted to hide it, she wouldn't have shared it with Rey or Finn. "Quiet, BB-8."


The four bickered so fast Leia nor Luke had been able to get a word in. "Alright, that's enough." Leia pulled out the mother voice. But this was all very out of her range. The book, the Force, it was all Luke's area of expertise. So, "Um, Luke."


Luke wasn't sure where to begin either. "This book shouldn't be in the hands of just anyone. We should halt the manufacturing of the copies." Luke spoke to Rey before turning to Finn. "Finn. I understand that upon learning of your Force-sensitivity, you may flock to the first person you know to have any experience with it. I greatly advise against letting Mira teach you. You don't know her as well as I do. I can help you," while Luke was maintaining his cool on the outside, alarms were going off in his head. 


-


Hux took August's hand in his, firmly shaking it. He almost wanted to grip his hand too firmly, in some form of an intimidation tactic but did not do so. There was no solid evidence of ill intentions yet. Yet being the key word. 


Hux supposed they'd see soon enough.


Hux released the fellow ginger's hand. "I'll be sure to hurry the process along. Snoke can't obtain control over Eriadu." That they could agree on. "If something comes up, I'll likely be here or in the Foreign Language building." Hux wasn't sure how much longer they'd be on Cimarosa, but he imagined those would be the places he'd frequent. 


Johann offered Hux a nod instead of a hand, to which Hux did return. Hux would allow them to exit the ship first, using his foot to keep Millicent from escaping as he exited himself. He'd head towards Phasma then.


-


"We've got eyes on you," Phasma assured Mira, gesturing to a camera in the corner of the room. It was just access to what the school already had, but it was good enough. And Phasma would be watching her. 


And Mira was correct about being locked in the room. Phasma was fairly certain that the containment fields would do their job, but just as a precaution.


Mira couldn't have entered the room at a better time, as Ariel was just waking up.


It took her a moment to remember what was going on, thanks to the pounding headache being her first greeting. But then it came back to her, getting knocked out, fighting, the glass. 'The glass.' That's what stopped Ariel from opening her eyes, afraid that she'd see nothing. So, she let the Force feel around.


Or, she tried to. But it wasn't working. 'The Force just doesn't stop working.' But yet she couldn't feel anything. She began to panic then. 'Gnaeus.' She couldn't feel him. Hell, she couldn't even feel herself. Was he dead? Was she dead? 


It was Phasma's voice that made Ariel force her eyes open. She was greeted by brightness, too bright for her. Her eyes stung, both from the sudden light and because something was cut. Her eyes or eyelids or something. Her eyes started to adjust, but she still didn't feel very relieved.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo managed to keep his face expressionless when Paquin spoke, but he wanted to cringe, afraid of Snoke’s reaction. Snoke’s gaze shifted in the hologram to look at her, and he noted: “You seem to already have a firm understanding of what is occurring.”


However, he chose to elaborate. He could tell Kylo Ren was safely in his ship, “Our footing in the Outer Rim was shaken by the loss of our alliance with General Hux. We need to strengthen our hold. That is more important than retrieving Ariel and Gnaeus Ren at this time.”


There would be other Force sensitives. Ariel and Gnaeus didn’t know nearly as much as Kylo, and he was not sure either truly had a place of significance any longer. If Mira broke them…no, he would need to focus on that, as he kept his attention outwards, waiting. Eventually, Mira had to sleep, and then he’d know everything she did.


“Taking Eriadu will not be easy. I may require you, Kylo Ren. Paquin. You will return to Korriban. You will resume your training. And you will wait. I will update you on the situation as necessary.”


And no more.


“There won’t be a rescue sent for Ariel and Gnaeus?”


Hesitation.


Concern.



Snoke cared for neither of these things, and let his disgust show it, “Tarkin is forging an alliance with our enemies,” he was certain, “It may be possible to rescue them from Eriadu, if they are brought, or arrange a way to retrieve them.” Hostages. Which, it seemed, he’d need to move that step up and actually take action against Eriadu. Get Julia hostage. Take Eriadu City.


~***~


“No, Luke, you don’t know her!” Finn shot right back at Luke. It was going to be exhausting standing up for Mira, he realized, but he was going to. “Okay? And I don’t see why that book needs to be hidden, but I didn’t know why Rey’s parentage needed to be hidden, or why emotions need to be hidden, or any of that, okay? I had a look at the Jedi training, maybe butchered and wrong, but I’ve made my choice. I’m sticking with Mira.”


“Had a look at the Jedi training? What did Mira tell you?”


Finn said, “Not Mira. My training – the Stormtrooper training – was based off of it.” He knew that much. A way to get rid of emotions, he realized. Attachments. And Mira had told him he could have those, in her roundabout way of saying he could date. “We were supposed to be killing machines, loyal only to the First Order. It didn’t work. Didn’t stick. And I never recognized the Force through it, either.”


Luke’s eyes narrowed, just a bit, “So you’re going to take the Sith’s training and follow your emotions.”


Finn lifted his shoulders in a shrug, “Maybe.” He didn’t know how Mira was going to teach him. “It’s worked for me so far. My guilty conscious after Jakku led me to rebel against the First Order.”


“Isn’t Mira First Order now? Officially?”


“Yeah, but she said I didn’t have to join.”


“You’re a member by affiliation,” Rey said.


“Then we all are. We’re allies with them,” Finn said crossly. “Look, I’m not arguing about that anymore, and I’m not arguing about Mira anymore. She has some good ideas about the Jedi Guide and making copies. Maybe, you should talk with her first, Luke.” He knew that Mira didn’t want to talk to Luke, but they needed it.


Leia was still silent, listening to the arguments all around her, and remembering one of her early protests about honing her own Force abilities had hinged on the attachment. That emotional issue. It was another reason she’d been so hesitant with sending Ben to Luke, as well.


These were good things in her mind. Attachments helped a person to know what was important, what was worth fighting for, protecting…without passion, she never would have gotten far. She wouldn’t have been a good rebel leader, that was certain. Wouldn’t have loved Han as she did. None of it.


‘No, not Sith.' Leia remembered then, eyes lighting up. Mira had mentioned a Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn, who thought like her, but she hadn't explained exactly what that meant. They would need to find out, if Finn was going to be learning it, though. Leia was not going to let Finn get turned to the dark side. "It's not Sith teaching, Luke," Leia said softly, "She started to tell me earlier, but she's found holocrons relating to a Qui-Gon Jinn. A Jedi." She wanted to ease some of the tension and remove the idea that Mira would be teaching Finn how to be a Sith.


~***~


August returned the firm grip. “Thank you for your understanding of the time issue,” August said, before turning his head slightly at the raised voices, and sighing audibly. He let go of Hux’s hand. “And good luck with the Resistance.”


He respected Leia.


He didn’t like the chaos and disorder.


August nodded to Johann and started to walk, making way towards his ship, but walking close enough to the chaos to get the gist of what was going on. ‘Luke and the Jedi issue.’ When they started to establish order to the universe, August knew he was going to get dragged into so many senatorial meetings about the Jedi, and what place they had.


If any.


He wasn’t looking forward to that. “You may ask questions soon, but I have to call Ransolm first,” he said to Johann, before they hit the ramp of the ship and walked up into it. “I’d prefer you not be here when Ransolm arrives, for my own dignity,” a touch of a joke, but not completely.


Ransolm Casterfo was a family friend, and Ransolm had been ruined by the First Order.


August wouldn’t take offense if Ransolm punched him, but it wasn’t his way. He was, and always would be, diplomatic. Even if he could best some Imperial trained soldiers with a vibroblade and quarter staff. He’d seen it. Laughed.


He called out from the ship’s radio.


Ransolm did not take long to manifest, projected. His hair, once blonde, was now dyed black. He wore contacts. He no longer wore the silks and velvets he had as a senator, and his time away had made his appearance a bit more rugged. World-weary.


His arms were crossed. “You already know, don’t you?”


“I’d be a poor spy if I didn’t.”


August bowed his head before the image. “Please come to Cimarosa, Casterfo. General Organa will be happy to see you.”


“I can’t say the same.” They had been friends. Now that she had sided with the First Order…. “But I will arrive. It seems you have bad news to deliver.”


The radio broke up then. His image vanished.


August turned to Johann, some of that world-weariness now reflected on his own features as his silence opened the floor to Johann.


~***~


Mira saw the eyes opened, and understood that Ariel had some vision to her – perhaps not great, yet, but some. “Good morning, Ariel,” Mira greeted, leaning back against the door she’d come in through and folding her arms over her chest.


Eyes on her was good.


She wasn’t trusting in her skills completely. Not after what happened with Gnaeus. She was paranoid that Snoke was still attentive, still waiting and aware of her state. How, she didn’t know, but that’s what made Snoke terrifying.



She didn’t want to show any signs of that terror, though.


Or that hesitation.


“You’re in a containment field. You won’t be able to use or feel the Force there,” Mira explained the situation calmly, “but I can still feel you,” and she was almost surprised she could, but perhaps it was because the field didn’t cut her off from it.


She could still feel through it, too.


“You know what’s going to happen here.” No point beating around the bush. “Snoke will abandon you once I have the information,” an attempt to convince Ariel to just say it herself. She wasn’t sure if Snoke would abandon both Gnaeus and Ariel. “As he abandoned Kevan,” but it was worth a shot to try and convince them.


Get them to confess on their own, so they’d truly be forsaken by the Supreme Leader. “So tell me, where is Snoke residing now? Where is Kylo Ren?”

 

[KyloGlenn]

It sounded like Snoke was saying 'maybe'. Like he was saying, "So, if it's convenient." If it fits into his plans or whatever. Paquin knew she should've kept her mouth shut and probably should have at least attempted to disguise the displeased look on her face, but she didn't do either of those things. 


And Snoke was very clearly unhappy with that.  "Exactly," his voice had become more of a growl, his eyes challenging Paquin to say more. The only reason he wasn't lashing out right then was because Paquin was still fresh. Even then, she should know better. He wasn't going that patient. Hopefully she'd learn her lesson with the vague threat in his eyes. Because next time he'd make sure she would.


And Paquin was at least smart enough not to say anything more on the subject. She averted her eyes, but the expression remained on her face. "Forgive me, Supreme Leader." Even as she said that, she didn't feel sorry at all. For once. If anything, she was only saying it so Kylo wouldn't get in trouble because of her. Especially now with the captured Knights. Given the fact that Kylo was the 'Commander' of them, it seemed Snoke had made him responsible for them.


Snoke said nothing more to Paquin, instead turning back to Kylo Ren. "I have given orders. Show me that you can follow them."


-


Luke was surprised by Finn. Surprised by how vehemently he had defended Mira. Surprised he had argued with Rey and Poe, two people he'd known longer than Mira, even if not by much. Luke would have admired it, had it not been Mira they were talking about.


And Luke really didn't have much to say to Mira. And he figured Mira wouldn't have much to say to him, either. They were both still angry. 


Though, admittedly, Luke did wonder if he was angry at her because of her or because of himself. Because he didn't do better to teach Mira, make a better effort to help and protect her. Same with Kylo. 


Luke shook those thoughts from his head when Leia mentioned Qui-Gon Jinn. "Qui-Gon? Obi-Wan was his padawan." Jinn had just approached Luke not long ago. And now Mira had holocrons featuring the man? "I'm not sure if you could truly call him a Jedi."


Well, he certainly wasn't Sith.


"How bad could he be if he taught Obi-Wan?" Leia questioned. 


BB-8 beeped then, saying that Qui-Gon seemed nice, wise. Far from evil. From what the droid had seen from the holocron it'd watched with Mira, anyway.


-


Johann frowned ever so slightly at the expression on his father's face. In an effort to lighten the situation, Johann spoke, "That went better than expected. Surprisingly so," it wasn't a question, but he had to start with that. He expected...more. More mockery, bickering. Arguing over the terms his father had set. The whole time he was expecting it, thanks to the tension that was ever present.


But the situation went as well as it could have between to people that detest each other.  There was a touch of humor in his tone, "I applaud you." But he supposed his father was used to such situations. Dealing with people he hated. The Senate, for example.


Johann had only a few questions, some which were completely unimportant. Such as Hux had a cat, why, when, and how. And why did his father call it 'Commodore'?


Then some that might matter. Like what was up with Hux's twitch at the mention of his father wanting to talk to Admiral Vallens? But the one he asked was one he'd been wondering since his father invited him to join, "What do you expect for this alliance go after we take back Eriadu," and Johann knew they would, "After Snoke?" Would Hux be killed? Did his father think that far ahead? 


-


"Fuck you, Mira," were the first words out of Ariel's mouth, her voice a lot hoarser than usual. Her facial muscles assumed the position of a glare at the blurry figure that Ariel could at least identify as Mira. "There's a difference between me and Kevan. The Resistance didn't have anyone to pull the information from Kevan. He gave it up on his own."


Of course, that would likely mean nothing to Snoke. Once Mira had all the information, Ariel would not be useful to Snoke, apart from her Force-sensitivity. But even then, she was skilled but she wasn't sure she was skilled enough.  


"I really wish I'd been there to see him die. I should've asked Kylo about the details." Ariel was all for self-preservation. Except when it came to betrayal. She couldn't do that, not only for her own self, but because she couldn't do it to Gnaeus or Kylo. Hell, even Paquin at that point. Not to mention she'd be such a hypocrite. Being angry at Kevan, furious with Mira who had almost brought Ariel down with her. "I'm not gonna tell you shit, so let's get this whole mind raping over with."


Ariel, of course, would not just let Mira take what she wanted. She'd resist as much as she could. But not only was she not as skilled as Mira with mind tricks, she was weak. The lack of alcohol in her, being whacked over the head. She wouldn't last long.


She hoped Gnaeus was in a better situation.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Yes, Supreme Leader. We will return to Korriban immediately.” Kylo answered, keeping himself from looking at Paquin directly lest that show too much interest in her.


Snoke gave a slow nod, “Good. We will talk again, soon.” Sooner than Snoke would have planned, had the Knights just followed his simple instructions and stayed exiled on Korriban for a while.


With that, the communication dropped, and Kylo turned to Paquin, “That’s why you don’t talk to Snoke.” Unlike Seymour, he would hurt a person, “You are fortunate right now to be new to the Knights,” even Kylo could guess Snoke’s reason, why he didn’t lash out, “but he can, and he will, take disciplinary actions through a hologram.”


Kylo had seen it enough to know. Felt it, before he learned.


“I’m sure…Ariel and Gnaeus will be fine.”


Except he wasn’t.


It showed in his voice, which threatened to crack, either in anger or sorrow, not even Kylo could say.


They were gone. Ariel and Gnaeus were gone, even if they weren’t dead yet.


~***~


There was a part of Finn that understood he was defending Mira so vehemently, because he had always expected he would be in her shoes. He would be the one dealing with the accusations and the hatred for being a Stormtrooper. For not stopping the incident on Jakku. For so many other things, even if he killed no one on Jakku.


And so he was a bit relieved when the arguing did stop, because he didn’t want to think about how terrible Mira had been, or even what his nagging mind told him she was doing at that moment. It was for the greater good. They had to get information.


“When did you have a time to listen to a holocron, buddy?” Poe asked his droid as attention went to it.


BB-8 rolled a little awkwardly in place, as it said it was when Poe and Finn had been cuddling.


Leia arched an eyebrow, and that seemed to be the thing to make Poe actually blush. There was a bit of judgment, not for his choice, but for his not-so clean reputation with partners, a sort of 'don't you dare hurt Finn'. But he ignored that rush of emotion, ignored explaining it was innocent, as he focused on the droid to ask, “Did Mira get that holocron with us?”


The droid answered in the negative. It mentioned the holocron activating when she’d been sleeping before, on their base.


Luke wanted to comment that holocrons didn’t do that. However, he did not; he had a feeling he knew exactly what, or who, had turned it on. Either way, this was interesting. Holocrons of Qui-Gon Jinn? Perhaps he did need to speak to Mira, but first things first, “Rey, come with me,” he stepped aside. He still needed to check on the copies of these guides, and decide if this needed to stop.


~***~


There was something wry to the smile August gave his son when he said he ‘applauded’ him. He should be thankful he was putting on a good example to his son, one that his son liked. He’d done well by Johann.


And he was curious about the future, too. “That will depend on many factors. I will be assessing Hux through this alliance to defeat Snoke. There are only two ways it can go, of course,” he wasn’t sure if Hux had even thought that far ahead. “If Hux remains set on establishing the First Order as the universe’s only Order after this, we will have a second war with the General.”


Though, likely, the Resistance would become their allies in that. August wouldn’t protest.


“If, however, Hux’s separation from Snoke is indicative of something beyond a power struggle,” different philosophies, “then it may be possible to extend the alliance beyond Snoke’s defeat and work to better the galaxy.”


He added, “There is no option to ignore him after this,” not that August ever was, in preparing his militaries, “We will either have to destroy him afterwards, or accept him in some fashion as an ally, or as a political opponent.”


You didn’t just destroy political opponents, no matter how many snipers you could pay. That was showing loss of another sort to the world, through the inability to convince the opponents to see your side of things.  


~***~


Mira knew enough to appreciate the deadness the exhaustion was causing in her, because Ariel’s words did spark a touch of anger. Nothing more. The fury that might have been otherwise, at the talk of Kevan and his death, still raw, would not have helped her to focus on ripping thoughts from Ariel.


She monitored her breathing. Listened to Ariel rage about getting it over with. No, she should have felt angry. Should have felt guilty for what she was about to do. Sorry, regretful that it had to be this way, but she felt nothing. “As you wish, Ariel.”


At least Ariel was to the point.


And Mira didn’t so much as approach her. Didn’t leave her position leaning against the door, but simply fixed her gaze upon the trapped woman, and sent the equivalent of a javelin at her skull to break what guard Ariel might have quick, as well as to pierce the field around Ariel. If that wasn't enough to break into the mind, she was certain it would fracture it, and she'd pull at the weak points until the secrets came out. Mira would focus on the important things, first. Snoke's location, Snoke's forces, Kylo's location.


“Careful….” And this time, Qui-Gon noticed a flicker across Mira’s expression, as if she’d heard him, but nothing came of it and Qui-Gon did not speak to assess if it was true. This did require focus.


But he also knew what had happened last time. She needed to be wary for Snoke sensing her use of the Force like this, it left her quite vulnerable.  

 

[KyloGlenn]

‘I couldn’t care less about Snoke’s discipline.’ As long as it was aimed at her.


She managed not to say that, though.


Paquin caught the way his voice was close to cracking. “You don’t sound sure,” she wasn’t mocking him, her tone taking on a sad, sympathetic note. She reached out once again to touch Kylo’s arm in a comforting fashion. She didn’t know if it even helped, but he hadn’t slapped her hand away yet. Admittedly, it was a little to help her too.


She hadn’t known Ariel and Gnaeus long, but they were good to her. Good people. They didn’t deserve to be dismissed by Snoke like that. And it might’ve been selfish, but she needed the two of them to help her progress. Gnaeus had already taught her so much that Kylo wouldn’t have had the patience for. Ariel did slip in to help, as well.


“There has to be something we can do. With the Force or something?” But that wasn’t how it worked. She couldn’t just reach over a couple planets and bust Ariel and Gnaeus out of their prison using the Force. She knew that. “This isn’t fair.” But nothing was ever fair. Paquin knew that as well.


-


“Luke, if you could please talk to Mira before doing anything with the copies,” Leia asked of her brother, to avoid any conflict that would come between the two if Luke decided to halt the production.


And to encourage the two to talk again.


“Yeah, just hear her out!” Finn added, a little hope in his voice.


Luke sighed, “Maybe.” He definitely was considering talking to Mira. “Rey,”


Rey glanced to Finn then, “I’ll see you later,” neither of them wanted to be on bad terms, but right then they both probably wanted a breather from each other.


“Lead the way.” Luke gestured for Rey. She nodded and took the lead, back to the library. BB-8 began trailing behind them, the golden droid and the other astromech following the ball.


“Well, BB-8, you’ve been witness to quite a bit!” 3PO struck up a conversation.


-


So there’d be no sitting aside anymore. Not that his father had truly done that during this war. It made Johann the slightest bit nervous as to how this would progress.


“What do you want to play out?” Johann questioned, “Do you hope this is just a power struggle?” So that his father could then watch the other ginger be eliminated, maybe in the same fashion that August’s friends had been on Hosnian Prime. That’s why his father was so bitter towards Hux, after all. 


Apart from what they understood to be the Order’s goals, that is.


“Or do you want to work with Hux to fix things?” Johann wanted to truly understand just how his father saw Hux.


-


Ariel winced at the intrusion in her head. She knew Mira hadn’t fully cracked her open, no, Ariel knew what that felt like.


Ariel quickly learned that she couldn’t truly resist Mira. She tried to push Mira out in the same fashion that had been attempted before, in the past, in an effort to learn. But nothing. She could still feel Mira digging around.


She tried to muster up anything from inside of her. She was a living thing, after all. The Force moved through all living things. That meant the Force flowed through her, right? Nope. Not in the containment field, anyway. ‘This is bullshit.’


But Ariel had to do her best to resist somehow. But the only way that might work was by thinking. So, Ariel thought. Loudly. Or she tried to. Avoiding anything relating to Snoke or Kylo. Her thoughts consisted of expletives, images of Mira dying in brutal ways, images of Kevan dying in just as vicious scenarios. Anything to distract her, anger her. Ariel knew at the very least that Mira had trouble using her emotions to focus. She had little control.


She supposed that the containment field helped a little. If it weren’t there, Mira would have been done with her already. But that time was coming soon. Images popped up in Ariel’s head. Of water. Kamino. The cafeteria they’d shared with the clones. Shelves of alcohol on Hestria. Of her room on Korriban.


Would Mira make sense of it? Maybe. She was smart.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo wasn’t sure. The comforting gesture and her statement brought that to the surface, fully, and he grit his teeth to keep from commenting without thinking.


He shook his head. “There isn’t. Not that I can do.” Kylo Ren answered Paquin. He wasn’t sure if Snoke could do anything, either. He wanted to believe that Snoke would, if he could…


He tried to relax his posture. His jaw. His eyes moved briefly to her hand upon his arm, and he raised his opposite one to briefly lay over hers, though it was covered in his glove. “But they’re resourceful, and useful. Our enemies know this, which means they might be kept alive for a while. So long as they stay silent….”


He had to hope.


“They’ll rejoin us.”


He was hoping Snoke would call him to Eriadu.


He’d destroy everything to get Ariel and Gnaeus back from the ones who held them, and they would certainly go there, to save that world.


He pulled her hand away then, but gently, more so he could move, “Let’s return to Korriban.”


‘Where knowledge should be of what I could do.’ But it had never been found. Countless tombs investigated, only to lend nothing.


Absolutely nothing.


~***~


Luke and Rey listened in to the droids for a little while, as BB-8 started to talk of all its excitement recently. Like the worms. Like the cat. R2-D2 joined in the beeping, and eventually, C-3P0 started to talk about things on Bespin.


It was as the conversation shifted to how ‘dreadfully boring’ it had been, that Luke glanced to Rey, “Do you know why Mira is having so many copies made?”


“No,” Rey shook her head, “She wanted…thousands,” Rey noted, which caused Luke to furrow his brows. “I’m not sure if she told anyone why.” Rey wasn’t sure she saw the harm in it, “Why should it be kept secret?” She decided to ask, to try and understand.


Luke was all about secrets


He had reasons.


Even if they weren’t good reasons, but Rey was just bitter.


~***~


What did he want to play out?


There was a part of August that always craved war, and always would. He nourished it as necessary, but he knew the consequences of war too well. He had lost kin to it. He had seen Eriadu horribly weakened. It was only through his stubborn determination to not fall like so many other Outer Rim planets that Eriadu prospered in peace.


And in peace, it should.


“I do not know General Hux as I should, and I have judged him by who he appeared to listen to. When he became General, he instituted his father’s teaching. He was a product of it himself, and those ‘cadets’, overall, have no ability to lead. They were meant to be killing machines of the Empire,” and he still remembered what those who had started to create the First Order had whispered.


The Empire needs children.


Because they imagined they would be the shadow rulers of them. “When Supreme Leader Snoke aligned with the First Order, that was further evidence that General Hux had no capacity to think or lead. Yet,” and here was the important part, “General Hux has defected from Snoke, and it seems, may be capable of thinking. I have judged him based on what I knew influenced him, and our brief introduction to each other. Ideally, my judgments will prove wrong, or Hux has simply grown up.” After many years. “Ideally, we will have peace between Eriadu and the First Order.”


~***~


Thoughts came. The surface thoughts always came first, and they were mostly what Mira expected. Anger and expletives.


Ariel was a bit more creative than some, and Mira nearly broke the concentration to actually lash out, but held firm, even as the lightning crackled at her fists and her eyes narrowed into a harsh glare.


It was tempting to shove thoughts into Ariel’s head, too, to retaliate, but that would break her focus on the goal – and it was starting to have results. Calling to what she wanted forced Ariel to think of it, and it came.


‘Kamino. Of course.’


It should have been obvious with the amount of clones here, that Snoke would retreat to where his army was.


The other images were mostly nonsense to Mira. She did not know well the other rooms on Korriban, nor did Hestria make any sense to her. She tried to pull more, tried to follow those leads, but she would get no further.


Not because of Ariel’s defenses, though, but of the spiteful guardian.


Mira let out a cry as the green crystals turned orange again, focus immediately shattering as both hands flew to either side of her head. She didn’t have much time to think or refocus; Phasma had moved when she saw the lightning earlier, and unlocked the door when she heard Mira cry out.


She grabbed the ex-knight’s arm and pulled her out before it could get any further with Ariel, even if it didn’t seem to snap Mira back to reality. Lightning struck Phasma’s arm and she recoiled, involuntarily shoving Mira against the nearest wall to push her away.


Mira just slid down it, buried her head in her knees, and tried to breathe.


“What happened in there, Vallens?” Phasma demanded, trying not to sound chastising, and failing dismally.


No answer.

 

[KyloGlenn]

“I hope so.” Though, at this point, it didn’t seem very likely. With Kylo unsure whether or not Ariel and Gnaeus would be fine and Snoke seeming to put minimal effort into rescuing them. All the both of them could do was hope.


And return to Korriban.


Paquin pulled her hand from Kylo’s when he moved it, her arms crossing as she moved to take the co-pilot’s seat. It was the moment that she slumped into the seat that she really thought, “I don’t remember agreeing to this.” She laughed dryly. 


She didn’t sign up for this war to seemingly escalate, for Snoke, to lose her job. To get attached to Kylo and his band of punks. What she did agree to seemed to get mangled at some point along the way. “Oh well.” She sighed. She couldn’t go back, even if she wanted to. Which she wasn’t completely sure she wanted to.


She could really go for a bath. And some alcohol. Which wasn’t something she’d really craved before.


-


“The Jedi Guide has very valuable lessons within it. Secrets, things that some previous Jedi haven’t even learned. Notes from previous Jedi Masters. I was going to use it to further your teaching. I was planning to use it with my students at the Jedi academy, but…” He never had the chance to. 


He’d still been reading it himself when Kylo and Mira Ren were born. 


“My point is, is that it might contain something to give us an advantage against Snoke and his Knights. Something Snoke might not yet be privy to. And if Mira mass distributes this, it could end up in the wrong hands.”


“Snoke’s hands.”


“Or the Knights. And we’d lose whatever advantage that may be contained in that book.”


“But what if Snoke already knows all there is to know? The book is old. Snoke is old.” Rey questioned as the library was in sight.


-


“I’ll be honest, I’m a little surprised.” After all Hux had done. But of course, it seemed his father put Eriadu’s future first.


Johann knew that General Hux had been young when he became General. Twenty-four. Quite the accomplishment. But again, young. It was likely that he had grown up. His ideals, goals may have changed. Anything could happen in the time between Hux and August’s first meeting. “But peace we shall hope for.” 


Or it could all be a power struggle between Snoke and Hux. And Hux would become the next Palpatine. Vallens his Vader. 


Only time would tell. 


And Vallens led him to his next question. “You saw Hux’s twitch, right? When you brought up Vallens? Did something happen there?” Johann’s mind didn’t think the same thing as Hux’s. He didn’t think his father had some obsession with the woman, but maybe an argument of some sort that he didn’t know about had occurred.


-


Ariel would have slumped if she could have. Her head hurt even worse now, but at least she could see a bit better. She didn’t know how much of that made sense to Mira. She hoped none of it, but she knew that was a stretch. Ariel had tried the best she could without the Force. She hoped it was enough.


She wasn’t quite sure what had happened, though, when she felt Mira leave her head. Other than Phasma pulling Mira out of the room, of course. Had the thoughts Ariel projected actually work?


Meanwhile, Hux had been directed down the stairs by an officer. He said Phasma was down there and Mira had been by not long ago looking for the Lieutenant-General as well.


He’d been halfway down the steps when he heard Phasma’s chastising tone, directed at Mira. He felt a pang of something in his chest. Concern. He hurried down the rest of the steps and was greeted by the sight of a silent Mira on the ground, Phasma looking down at her.


“What happened?” He questioned, walking over to the two, glancing at Phasma.


“I warned you to be careful.” Qui-Gon’s words were gentle, just in case Mira did hear him again. And he knew she had to have heard him.


Hux crouched down to be level with Mira’s form, elbows resting on his knees. “Mira?”

 

[Lucyfer]

“I didn’t agree to this, either,” Kylo Ren stated as he started the ship and set the coordinates. “But I knew it was going to be a difficult road.”


He’d known from the outset he’d have to kill his parents. Luke. He’d agreed to that much.


Then suddenly they were allies with the First Order to succeed in the Universal domination dreams, of saving the universe from itself the way Vader should have. Balancing it. “I knew there would be war,” Paquin had to know that, too. “Changing the universe always requires war.” He knew what talking got.


Nothing. He’d seen the Senate. They accomplished literally nothing.


She was a part of the First Order, the group that destroyed the Hosnian System. She was a medic, but that was still a participant in war. “What were you expecting?” he decided to ask. He’d probably not explained it well.


Best to leave out the reality of getting towards dreams.


Getting to dreams, to end goals, was messy work. Terrible work. Hadn’t his mother always told him that, whenever she complained of the Senate or spoke of the Rebellion? She knew nothing but work towards her goals.


At least Kylo had gained that from her. That stubborn resilience.


~***~


Luke took a breath, “If Snoke already knows, I doubt Kylo does, and there may be things in there that we do not want him to know, either.” It was possible that Snoke already knew it all, but Luke doubted it.


Old though he was, Yoda had been old, too. Not even he knew everything there was about the Force.


“Couldn’t it help others who are Force sensitive, though?” Rey asked Luke as he took in all the copies, a mix of surprise and horror on his face. “Those who can’t reach you, or proper teachings…it could help them.”


‘It could.’ A slow thought rose in Luke’s head. Was this a benign act on Mira’s part, thinking to help others like herself?


He still couldn’t help but imagine maliciousness, especially seeing so many First Order would-bes acting on her behalf. He did want to destroy it all, but he didn’t know why it was being done, or where it was to be distributed.


“Luke?”


~***~


August let that wry smile return to his lips when his son commented on his surprise, “Good. Perhaps Hux will be as well.”


It’d be pleasant if they both ended up surprised by each other, in good ways. August was trying to keep an open mind. Hux’s actions had not been predicted.


At the mention of Vallens, that wry smile twisted and he laughed a bit, “Yes. General Hux seems wary of me around her. I was present with the Knight incident, as you know, and I happened upon her and a couple of others breaking into Hux’s ship, before I found you. I gave them donuts.” And noticed how Hux had appeared then. “He’s rather protective of his Vader, considering.”


~***~


There was a red rage in Mira that she knew all too well. She hadn’t lied to Finn when she told him hate was powerful – it was, and Mira felt it within as she heard Phasma’s voice, but couldn’t speak.


Her focus was scattered in the directions of her mind, shattered like a mirror when she felt Snoke’s presence as sharply as Ariel must have felt hers. She’d withdrawn immediately to muster what strength she could to keep him out, to keep him from everything.


Mantras.


Followed by hatred towards Snoke, surging and twisting and coiling within the depths.


And there was that voice again – one familiar but absolutely impossible. ‘Losing it.’ A splintered thought as it seems Snoke’s influence retreated, aware that at this distance he couldn’t crack her when she was focused on closing up.


Not yet.


That was the scary part. Not yet. And they both knew it. He was seizing every opportunity. The orange faded. The green returned, a gentle glow.


Phasma answered Hux, "I don't know, sir. Vallens was using the Force to take information, and then she seemed to lose her control over it, or perhaps Ariel struck back," it wasn't like Phasma could see the Force in action. She could only guess.


Hux’s voice then, and Mira felt the shame wash over her, destroying the anger and the hatred for the moment. Promoted, and she failed the task. Not completely, “Snoke is on Kamino,” that wasn’t what he asked, not by his tone or words. She didn’t look up. “I’m not sure where Kylo Ren is. I’ll find that out later.”


“Not any time soon. What happened in there, Vallens?” Phasma only knew it was ‘Force’ stuff.  


Mira grit her teeth. She knew she had to say it, knew she didn’t want to lie, but she hated every word as it was said: “Snoke is aware of my use of the Force, particularly, the fluctuations of my mind. It is the only explanation for him noticing when I sleep, and noticing when I try to invade other minds. My guards are down.”


Deep breath. She looked up. It didn’t need to be said that she was a liability. “I will go speak to Luke.” There was no getting around it now. She didn’t have the time to go read through the Guide and hope – though she would if Luke had no answers. “I’m sorry. If he can’t…if he doesn’t know anything I may have to take some personal time until I can find a way to get this sorted.”


Not exile. Not abandoning. But she’d be a liability and a risk if she stayed too close to things.


“Might want to speak with the Priestesses on the Force Planet.” Jinn mused, wondering if they would have this secret. They'd shared the secret of life after death with him.


Mira set her jaw, wanting to respond, but painfully aware there was nothing there to respond to, and she was losing it. “I used to be better at losing sleep.” Wild Space was unforgiving, but she hadn’t had to deal with Snoke.


~***~


Julia Tarkin knew it was inevitable.


It was why she’d called in much of the pilots and had the majority of TIEs prepped on the Imperatrix. The military was called in to Eriadu City at the first sign of actual clone soldiers moving about on the ground.


She could have been a narcissist, like Jova, and thought Eriadu would never fall to anyone else. The Tarkins had tamed it.


She was not that much of a narcissist, although she did humor the idea that Eriadu’s nature would take itself back from anyone weak-willed enough to underestimate it. The Tarkins never did. They knew the Carrion, what Eriadu had been before their arrival, and knew how to tame their world.


August was not that much of a fool, either.


It was why, when the diplomat for Snoke showed up, not Solo this time, Julia was no longer in her finery. Her hair was pulled up still, but not so elegantly. The bun was practical now. The outfit, a TIE pilot’s jumpsuit, black as pitch.


“Ms. Tarkin,” the diplomat began, “We know that you have been lying to us about your husband. He is no longer on this world, is he?”


The answer came in Julia smiling, appearing innocently confused, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


The diplomat just looked exasperated. “I am afraid I will have to ask you to come with me in order to outline the terms of Eriadu’s relationship with Supreme Leader Snoke.”


“Then ask.” Pedantic.


“Will you come with me?”


“No. Now leave.”


Both of them knew he wouldn’t. He was flanked by other soldiers, after all. “I’m afraid I will ot do that, Ms. Tarkin. You will come with me, and Eriadu’s surrender will be negotiated.”


“Surrender?” She let both of her dark eyebrows raise, a flash of mischief crossing her eyes. “Why would we surrender?”


“For the sake of your people. You do not have enough manpower to fight Supreme Leader Snoke.”


“You’re going to attack us?” She did enjoy this role too much, sometimes. Her eyes widened as if in horror, aghast, as if she couldn’t guess it was going to go this way.


While dressed as a TIE pilot.


It wasn’t as convincing as it could have been, and the diplomat made that obvious with his chuckle at her aghast statement, “Only if you won’t submit to the Supreme Leader.”


“I can’t make these arrangements,” she said, “Only August can. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”


“He’ll be back sooner if you are with us,” and with a gesture, the flanking guards moved.


Julia stepped backwards and whistled.


Three droidekas rolled forward and opened fire, letting Julia run the length of the hallway and turn, escaping the blaster fire that she could hear. ‘I’m getting too old for this.’


If only because she couldn’t run as fast as she once could. The exhilaration, though, hadn’t faded, and she almost laughed. She’d joined with the Empire to fight in their wars, but too late. The Empire was well and truly gone before she could aid it and so, she had to return to Eriadu.


The house led out to the shipyard, where men and women milled about, prepared and anxious.


When Julia stepped onto the scene, at the top of the stairs that led down into it, all eyes flew to her. “Move!”


Nothing else needed to be said. Julia practically leapt down the stairs in her haste to get into the waiting Imperatrix, which was soon loaded with a large portion of the Eriadu fleet to man it, and several TIE fighters. Others, of course, were already out and being loaded up quickly by their pilots to fly ahead.


“Tarkin,” one of the officers addressed her as she stepped into the command center, “It will be impossible to break through the blockade without initiating an attack.”


“Initiate an attack,” it had already started, “use the Imperatrix, not the TIEs. One shot to one of Snoke’s destroyers ought to make a good point.”


“Very good,” the commander put on a sly little smirk, “Preferences?”


“The largest one.” It might not be the most powerful, but it’d look pretty in pieces. “The laser is charged, isn’t it?” It wasn’t like it had been fired recently.


“Yes.”


“Good. We’ll clear a path. Our TIEs can do the rest."

 

[KyloGlenn]

Paquin shrugged as they ascended from Hestria, “I expected more of the same, I suppose. I’d keep working my medic job with a side of Force learning here and there. I expected to be exposed to a little more violence and war, but not so much,” and not so soon. “Then, at some point, the war would end and we’d all just go back to our lives.”


She sighed, leaning her head back to rest on the seat, “I suppose that’s just ignorance on my part. I don’t know if you’ve noticed by now, but war isn’t my…thing.” And yet she’d somehow ended up in the center of it. It did seem to be a habit of Paquin’s, getting into things she didn’t fully understand. 


“I didn’t expect Snoke to be so,” she struggled to find the right word that wouldn’t possibly get her in trouble, “involved. Or the Knights.” She had expected Mira to be around, but that didn’t work out. Though, Gnaeus and Ariel weren’t a bad thing. 


“What did you agree to?” Paquin was curious as to what Kylo had expected. Surely it couldn’t have been what things now were. But he seemed to have more understanding of how things change so quickly when it came to war.


-


Luke’s eyes roamed over the FOTC boys working on making copies, the copies they’d already made. Yes, he wanted to ruin it all, but Leia’s words echoed in his head, ‘Talk with Mira before you do anything.’ He sighed. There was a moment of thinking before he realized Rey had spoken to him.


He turned to her, “I need to talk to Mira. I have a few questions for her.” Luke turned back to where they’d entered, heading out after being in there barely five minutes. “Do you know where she’d be?”


“Um, Finn probably does.” 


“We’ll head to Finn, then.”


“Does this mean you’re not going to destroy the copies?” Rey questioned. She wasn’t sure if she should feel any particular way about whatever Luke’s decision would be.


-


Johann had many questions about Mira and a couple of other’s breaking into Hux’s ship, getting caught by his father and offered donuts, and then Hux showing up as that happened and what seemed like not doing anything about it. ‘What a mess.’ He thought, chuckling.


“I wonder if that’ll be an issue later,” if it hadn’t already. As his father said, Hux was wary of August around her. Time would tell, he supposed. But surely Hux had proven he wasn’t that childish, right?


It was at that moment that the radio on the ship sounded off, the source of the call being displayed. The Motti twins. 


Johann was familiar with the Motti twins. “That can’t be good,” he mumbled. Not only because they were the Motti twins, but because they were in on aiding Eriadu. And it seemed that Adelaide was mainly updating August on Eriadu’s situation. But Johann tried not to worry quite yet.


-


Hux didn’t acknowledge Mira and the potential of her taking some ‘personal time’. It wasn’t something he wanted, but at this point, it was definitely something that would have to come into consideration. He wanted to tell her that she hadn’t even yet earned any personal time,  as a joke of sorts, considering she’d been Admiral for a few hours at most.


But he didn’t say that.


Instead, “Me too.” he stood. He held out his hand for her, to help pull her to her feet. “I saw Luke in the hangars closest to the campus. It seemed like he was arguing with Leia, Dameron, and Finn. The scavenger and a trio of droids were there too.” He informed her of Luke’s current position or at least a position from not long ago. 


Hux hoped Luke knew something. If not, then Hux was going to search through that silly Jedi book himself. “We’ll fix this somehow.” He assured her. Who knew when or how, though.


He glanced to Phasma then, “I need to speak with you about Tarkin.” He was wary of saying more about the situation, due to Mira. He wasn’t real happy about that feeling, as he had previously wanted to speak with her about him. But now it seemed potentially too risky. In case Snoke managed to reach out again, somehow.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kylo Ren knew he shouldn’t fault her for being ignorant. The Knights were a small group, and what the First Order rank and file knew was that they were not to be questioned. They were outside the chain of command. There had been only a few who knew enough to understand the sort of special operations the Knights were involved in, and understood the hierarchy among the Knights besides Kylo Ren was commander.


Yet, somehow, he found her naivete almost impossible to believe.


“I was too young to really know what to expect,” Kylo answered honestly as they dropped out of hyperdrive. “I was told the broad strokes, that we were going to reshape the universe, that we were going to bring balance to the Force, and I would finally understand my own abilities. I knew it would be chaotic, but I was young…it was easy to adapt.”


He was malleable. He wasn’t naïve enough to question that much. It was perhaps why Kevan hadn’t worked out, perhaps how Kevan had influenced Mira – or maybe he just wanted to believe it. Kevan was brought in older. Of course, so was Gnaeus…but he didn’t want to think of that. “I signed up with the expectation of war on the grand scale of the empire,” he confessed. He had expected genocides like Alderaan. Like what he did to Endor, and Hosnian Prime. “I expected many problems and resistance…I did not anticipate these betrayals, which was foolish on my part.”


He would admit that. He should have expected betrayals.



He had betrayed others.


~***~


Luke offered the only honest answer that he could, “I don’t know, Rey,” he wasn’t sure if he’d return and see all the copies sliced to pieces by his lightsaber, or if he would let it slide. He was going to talk with Mira, and he would see.


He would allow ‘reason’ before going right to action.


As they entered the hangar, Finn was still there, with Leia. Poe, however, was now gone. Luke heard the maternal tone, but when he got close enough that he might be able to make out the words, Leia ceased and looked towards him and Rey.


She did seem a bit happy, aware Luke couldn’t have done anything in time he’d been away. “Well?”


Luke answered the question by asking Finn, “Where is Mira?”


“You…don’t want to see her right now,” Finn managed.


“Why?” Leia was the one to ask.


“She’s, uh, with the Knights.” He figured that answered it.


Another ship was landing in the hangar then, and Leia only looked up sharply when its rather reckless style drew her eyes, causing a momentary pang of heartache as she recalled Han.


~***~


August would have commented that it probably would be, but the ship lit up with the request. “No,” he agreed with Johann.


It was not good if the Mottis were reaching out. Not in the least.


He stepped towards the console, and as he did, he noticed a ship pulling in that he also recognized. ‘Damn the timing.’ “Johann, would you mind getting to Ransolm before the First Order does?”


This was about to be a clusterfuck, but August maintained his cool as he then answered the call to let the twins show up on the screen. He steeled himself for whatever it might, asked, “What is the situation, Admirals Motti?” And waited with quiet dread in the pit of his stomach.


~***~


Mira accepted the hand, the help back to her feet, and managed a weak smile at his comment about personal time. Vacation. As if they’d ever, truly, have the time to relax. “I’ll go check the hangars,” she said as her hand released his and she let it fall back to her side.


His attention went to Phasma, and she understood this was not a meeting she needed to be involved with. “I’ll leave you to it. Lieutentant-General, I am going to take the lightsaber and comm device with me,” she said.


“Understood, Admiral,” Phasma had no qualms with it, and let Mira walk first into the room she’d take up as her own, and then let her leave, before she motioned to Hux to follow her into that room so they would have some privacy to discussion the situation with August and Eriadu, whatever it was now.


Jinn remained with Mira, but did not yet speak again. He was curious as to how this meeting was going to play out.


~***~


A path was cleared in a glorious purple beam and a splintering of a large ship as the Imperatrix broke the atmosphere of Eriadu. The TIEs flew out immediately to cover, going after the other small fighters, and raining down hell on the larger ships to distract them, to allow the Imperatrix time and space to clear out of the blocked area to join with the Imperials surrounding the planet.


“Power to the shields, don’t bother charging for another shot now,” Julia instructed and watched as that translucent purple started to smooth itself over the ship. The first layer was established, a thin layer, but all that could be done while the ship reverted its power from the laser to the shields instead.


Re-routing took time.



Charges took time.


Shots were fired, and the Imperatrix certainly returned it from its lesser guns. ‘Damn this ship.’ It might be shaped like a wedge, but it was no knife. Not like the Carrion Spike. There’d be no ramming it through, and ships were moving to try and close off her path.


A radio signal came, on the channel that Julia knew was usually the emergency one. The radio officer knew, too, and answered, but Julia was already walking over.


“Tarkin, it’s—” he paused himself briefly when he saw Julia right besides him, just as he started to turn his head, “General Keil.”


Julia just gave a nod, and the officer removed himself, allowing Julia to bring up the actual image of the General.


A lazy smirk rested on Julia’s face, “Good to see you, Adelaide.”


Adelaide looked a bit tired. Bit frustrated. “What happened, Julia?”


“They know August is off planet, tried to capture me to hold me hostage.” She explained, “So I may or may not have had some droidekas kill the diplomat and his soldiers.”