• This section is for roleplays only.
    ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.

    Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.

Fandom Star Wars

Characters
Here
Lore
Here
Other
Here
Paquin’s anger increased, and Kylo did nothing to calm it. It was good that she was angry over this – cared so much to be angry over what happened to Gnaeus. Kylo was going to murder Mira the next time he saw her – Snoke could deal with it. She wasn’t coming back alive.


As Ariel told the story, though, he crossed his arms over his chest and listened. Tried to hold it all in, tried not to yell. It wasn’t her that he was angry at. It wasn’t even Gnaeus. They had gone to try and get information. Stupid, but a noble cause, at least. They should have known Mira would be there. The First Order. If that was what the rumors were about….


Kylo let out an agitated breath. “You should have told me.”


There was little trust here, wasn’t there? Probably his fault. Flying off the handle was what he was known for, wasn’t it?


But he was trying. He couldn’t just keep hurting messengers like Mitaka. Especially not when they were his knights. He had realized that now, so close to losing them all. Hearing that Ariel didn’t want to tell him about this.


Remembering how he’d let a cabinet knock Gnaeus’s head. “You should go show Paquin the bacta tanks. I’ll go wait for Gnaeus.” He wanted to make sure Gnaeus had someone out there to greet him, and Paquin was hurt…did need to get that taken care of, before they could consider what to do with Gnaeus.


~***~


The cuffs were absolutely useless. Gnaeus didn’t dare to comment on it, even if he felt like being a smartass when he was pushed out. Felt like letting it all be revealed before the Stormtroopers – but that wouldn’t get him back to Ariel.


Ariel, who was fortunately not blind.


He felt a twinge of jealousy at that.


Gnaeus didn’t know Terex – heard of him, but didn’t know him. Almost immediately didn’t like him, just from the sensations of his emotions. He grated him like sandpaper, but Gnaeus took his seat, moving his hands to the front immediately and then channeling the Force forward to twist and bend the one remaining on his wrist, letting it fall in a horribly bent shape to the floor of the Carrion Spike.



He wanted to go home. So he said nothing. Just glared down at the twisted metal and waited until the ship would stop and he’d be told to get off it.


~***~


August was pleased that nothing did try to disturb them as they stayed near the water. A few more herbivorous creatures did come by – or go running off – but no hunters. They came eventually to the falls, and August did turn them towards the trees.


Took some of the berries from a bush, popped them into his mouth, “Maybe to you,” he told his son. He quite liked the berries.


Ransolm made sure to grab a few, as well – from the same bush. He wasn’t trusting anything in the Carrion, either.


The peppers were passed, and snatched, as well. It was when August paused at a tree that Ransolm spoke up, “We really don’t need to get eggs….” The fruit was red, so he knew it wasn’t the aurilian fruit. That was yellow.


“Give me your stave.”


He did, “Why?”


A fruit was knocked down that was too high to reach. Then another. “What are these?” Ransolm asked, going to grab one.


“Poison.”


Immediately his hand retracted. “Might come in handy. Snoke’s troops don’t know what to eat, either.”


“And you’re going to convince them to eat this…?”


“No. They’ll convince themselves.” He was thinking ahead to hundreds of possible strategies. If Jova’s home was found occupied, one way to deal with them was to get caught. Have the fruit on him. They’d take it when they searched him, think it safe, and eat it.


Then die. “Maybe. We may not need them.” He’d prefer not to fake a capture. It would just depend on how many there were, and what ideas the four of them could come up with.


~***~


“Mm,” Mira agreed to the beeping. She liked Ada, as well. “My ship is at the hangar nearest the ruins of the Jedi Temple,” she told Finn.


“Hey, that’s the same one Poe and I were at!” He said, surprised but pleased. “That’s not too far from here.” Far enough away that no one would actually want to walk to it. He started to lift the ship up then, glancing out the window and seeing his mother still there, waiting.


Waving.


He waved back, grinning with delight. “Are the guides gonna stay in this ship?” He asked Mira.


“Yes,” too much of a hassle to move them. Not to mention, that hangar seemed to be one of the more…crowded ones. Near the Senate.


And Finn was starting to land now, at the other hangar. She sighed, “Stay in the ship when we land,” she did not want another fiasco. She hoped not to be recognized, but there weren’t any guarantees on Coruscant. “I’ll radio you when I’m in the other ship.”
 
Ariel wanted to be the one to be there when Gnaeus arrived. But maybe she could still be there if she hurried. She’d see him no matter what, but she wanted to be there initially. “Sorry, Kylo.” Ariel mumbled, turning to Paquin. “C’mon. Let’s get your leg fixed up.”


Paquin nodded, letting Ariel take the lead. Paquin felt awful. Her leg would heal. The nerves would heal, tissue would grow. It would never be the same as it once was, but she still had her leg. Could still walk. But Gnaeus. He couldn’t just stick his hand in bacta and pull out a new hand.


“Here’s the bacta tanks. There’s those totally fashionable garments you can wear in the tanks over there and you know where the showers are. That bacta crap is gross. Can you get in on your own?” Paquin nodded. She didn’t even need to completely submerge herself in bacta, either. It was just her leg after all. Maybe she’d put some in her hair. It always made it feel nice. “Okay. Anything else?”


Paquin could tell Ariel was anxious to see Gnaeus, but, “I do need some clothes.” Or new pants at least. Hers were too ripped. 


“Right, I’ll leave some in the showers and you can take yours to get stitched up.” Ariel imagined it would take them all a second to get regrouped. And with that she left Paquin.


-


“Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine.” Terex glanced at the cuffs, then back to Gnaeus. Terex supposed he wouldn’t be too happy either if his hand was blown of and he’d been captured by people who wanted to kill him either. But of course, that would never happen to Terex.


He was smarter than that.


Terex lifted the Spike again and exited the hangar, jumping into hyperdrive for the millionth time that day. As usual, they returned to Kamino in no time. They were not asked to stop, as the ship was familiar at this point. Terex lowered them onto the same platform as before. “Hurry up, I’ve got to get back to Phasma soon.” The only reason he was is because it would probably be a very inconvenient time for the woman. 


Brendol just gave Terex a look and once again pulled Gnaeus by his arm. “Out you go.”


-


Hux grabbed a few berries from the same bush as the others, throwing a couple in his mouth. Then they grabbed some peppers and came to the fruit that August claimed to be poisonous. ‘I know what I’m not eating.’


August spoke of using them against Snoke’s clones and Hux understood it to be apart of a plan that may or may not happen. It relied on many factors that were purely up to chance.


Good to think ahead, though. As they weren’t in the best position. August was injured, not one of them was really prepared physically for what may be at Jova’s home. Except for maybe Johann, but his hands were full of Nexu cub. Though, it would probably follow them if it was set down.


The only real way they’d know what to do was to be there, observing the situation.


Johann urged them to continue on, and would point out berries and peppers along the way for them to grab. Johann would grab some for himself, feeding some peppers to the nexu cub. Until they were getting closer to nearing Jova’s home. Johann suggested pausing, “We should stop, prepare ourselves a bit more.” So they weren’t walking into a mess of troops, with arms full of berries, peppers, and nexu. 


Eat, discuss, and continue on. One advantage was that August and Johann knew the layout of Jova’s home and the surrounding area. They had that, at least. “And then we can sneak closer to Jova’s.” They didn’t know, however, the set up that the troops had.


-


“Okay…” Finn would like to at least make sure she’d get safely to the ship, but he wouldn’t go if she told him not to. “Maybe you should take off the coat. Or turn it inside out.” A coat with a clear First Order insignia and the General’s rank on the sleeves probably wasn’t the best thing to wear. He recalled Mira saying that she and Hux were caught by journalists when they were here.


And it was around this area, which did seem quite popular. Of course, everywhere was busy on Coruscant, but this area did seem much more so. 


The ship landed and Finn lowered the ramp for Mira, but turned to BB-8. “You go with her, okay? We’ll meet back up on D’Qar.” And they’d still be speaking via the radio. “You can make sure she stays safe.” Safe and awake, since he wouldn’t be there to snap her out of anything.


The droid beeped in agreement, leaving Mira no room to argue as it rolled off the ramp.
 
Gnaeus rolled his shoulders when Brendol pulled him up, glaring at the Commandant and wishing all sorts of ill upon him. They might be working with him, but that didn’t mean Gnaeus Ren had to like him. He hadn’t liked General Hux, why like his father? Snoke would see them replaced.


‘Do you even like Snoke?’


He didn’t let that thought continue as the door to the Spike opened, and he was all but shoved out.


Kylo was there, and he noted the subtle restraint that the Commandant showed in taking him out of the ship. “Let him go,” Kylo said immediately.


“All yours,” Brendol let him go, and Kylo walked forward, gripping Gnaeus’s arm tight.


Too tight. He might have complained, but he could feel, more than he could see, the worry in Kylo. The deep concern, the fear, the sorrow. He hadn’t even looked to Gnaeus’s hand.


‘Ariel told him.’ He let his head fall in shame. He had failed. Kylo pulled him away from the door of the Carrion Spike as the Commandant stepped back in, and he walked with Kylo as it seemed to lift off rather quickly. The sky stormed. He barely felt the rain that battered him all the way to the door, and once he was inside, Kylo turned him to face him.


Kylo took both of his arms. His hands trailed up Gnaeus’s arms on both sides, one going to the hand, the other to the stump.


Gnaeus did not look up. “I’m sorry.” He apologized. “It was my idea to go to Cimarosa, to try and gather information on our enemies,” his voice felt dead. He felt dead. He was sure he was going to be punished for this. “I got Ariel and myself—”


“Shut up.”


When he looked up, tears were standing out in Kylo’s eyes, which were looking down at his stump.


~***~


The landscape before Jova’s home was clear. Once one got over the cliffs and broke through the trees, it was all plains up to the home on the hill. They paused while still in the safety of the greenery, and August finished what he had brought with him to eat, noting the nexu cub eat a pepper, “I don’t think that’s good for him, Johann.” He was almost positive they were obligate carnivores.


Though he supposed even cats ate grass now and then.


Well, “If it vomits in Jova’s house, you’re cleaning it up.”


“What exactly is the plan, August?”


August motioned out. “We’re going to break free of the trees soon. That is when we’ll be at a disadvantage.” Hux would understand. Their vision would improve, but so would their enemies, who had better technology at hand. “Jova’s house overlooks the Carrion Plateau, but it was positioned so it would be able to see much,” took a breath. “Under better circumstances, we’d have camouflage, but obviously, we don’t. Ideally, we’d find a herd of herbivores and herd them towards Jova’s home, but the nexu will complicate that.”


They’d smell it. They’d run.


“And we don’t have another route?”


“Jova’s home is near a cliffside. Do you want to find a way down it?”


“…no.”


~***~


Mira probably should take the coat off. She acknowledged it. She just didn’t want to, no matter how foolish it was. She’d still have it with her. “Okay,” she said when they finally landed and BB-8 was instructed to go along. She rose, slipped the coat off, and folded it up to try and hide the insignia of the First Order.


“See you on D’Qar,” she said, picking up her datapad. She then quickly followed after BB-8, slipping the keys to the ship into her hand. ‘Still have to find a way to get Hux’s ship back. And if they know where Kevan’s….’ She did not have enough pilots.


Needed to take a stop back at the Finalizer, then.


But people stopped. Some must have recognized her in spite of it all, but she moved swiftly ahead, ignoring it, BB-8 chirping about which ship.


“The skiff. That one,” Mira pointed when she could see it. Still there. It unlocked before she reached it. Ramp lowered, door opened – thank the Force.


Fortunately, she made it without being grabbed, and she shut the door on the flashes and the few who tried to call to her, wanting a name, wanting information, wanting to know about Hux. Then she let BB-8 instruct her on the radio to get them connected with Finn again.


“Finn?”


“Got ya, Admiral!” He joked through the radio, “We ready to go?”


“Yes.”


“All right. I’ll send the coordinates to you, just in case,” and soon enough, they were there, and she lifted the familiar skiff out of the docks to follow after Finn.


“You’re handling radio with the Resistance,” she informed him.


“I figured.” And then, lightspeed. Once they made the jump, Mira began to send messages to both Ada and Edwin, to make sure they could reach out to her when needed, as well. As promised to Edwin.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ariel hurried about to take care of that favor for Paquin, hoping to still be able to make it to the platform. She was worried that Kylo might not be the best person for Gnaeus to see first. He was Kylo. Enough said. But as she felt Gnaeus’s Force signature enter Kamino’s atmosphere, she accepted that she wouldn’t be the first person to see Gnaeus.


But that didn’t stop her from hurrying. Literally jogging through the bright halls of the facility, much brighter than the hall leading to Snoke’s throne room. Was that on purpose on Snoke’s part? To make the walk to him even more terrifying? ‘Whatever.’ She dismissed that thought.


Ariel didn’t mean to break apart Gnaeus and Kylo’s moment. If she knew Kylo’s eyes were tear-filled, she wouldn’t have approached in the way she did.


Upon spotting Gnaeus and Kylo, just inside, she picked up her pace. Her jog turned into a run and she slammed into Gnaeus, full force. Probably wasn’t a good idea with Gnaeus in the state that he was, but Ariel managed to keep them from falling over. This hug was much tighter, lasted longer than the one with Kylo. Snoke be damned, he didn’t know what had happened.


“Oh, Gnaeus.” Ariel could feel herself tearing up. She was happy. Happy that Gnaeus was finally safe with them. But she also felt a sadness in her gut. “I’m so sorry.”


-


Johann wasn’t too worried about the nexu throwing up. Surely the cub and its fellow felines had eaten much worse than a bell pepper. He made little kissy faces to the cub as Hux had to ponder.


This really was not a favorable situation. They could probably inch out, whatever radars they had could possibly just confuse them as small animals. Their blasters didn’t really have good scopes. Not that of a sniper rifle, but they could work. But he wasn’t sure how open this field leading to Jova’s home was. How high the grass was, what kind of advantage points the clones had.


And they had no camouflage.


Three out of four of them weren’t exactly subtle, with the bright red hair. And the nexu cub, the armor, nor the guns were casual.


“We could get captured.” Hux did suggest. “But we couldn’t be sure that they wouldn’t just kill us on site.” Maybe one of them could go ahead. Hux didn’t suggest it, or do anything to hint at it, but Ransolm was the one that came to mind with that thought. The three gingers had important roles. And everyone pretty much thought Ransolm was dead anyway. 


‘No. We’re in this together.’ Hux nearly rolled his eyes. Not to mention Casterfo and Tarkin were friends. 


Hux finished his final berry. “Would we be able to see Jova’s home from the tops of the trees?” Been a while since Hux climbed a tree. But he’d be able to gauge what they were going up against. If there were ships around the place, estimate how many soldiers there were. 


-


Finn slowed just outside of D’Qar, entering the planet at normal speed. The planet wasn’t full of the Resistance, but the coordinates brought him right to the base. It was as those inside the base reached out to Finn that Mira’s messages would be responded to. Ada would reply with a ‘Stay safe! xo’ while Edwin would reply with one word. That word being ‘Received.’ 


“You are entering restricted airspace, please state your name and purpose.” A voice came over the radio.


“It’s me! Finn!” Finn was glad that he now had a full name. So he would be able to offer more than a four letter name. Finn Windu would soon be how he’d introduce himself. “Mira Vallens is following behind me in the Skiff. We’re here to see Captain Henderson.”


“One second, Finn.” The line went quiet but not for long.


“Finn! I’ve been waiting for you! Kevan,” it was weird addressing Kevan as that, as Rollo knew him by the fake name of Sylus. He wouldn’t let his bitterness get in the way of Blondie going through this stuff, “That guy had a lot of stuff. You and Blondie come on down, I’m in Hangar B. “


“On our way.” Finn switched frequencies then, to speak with Mira. “Rollo’s waiting for us with Kevan’s stuff in Hangar B. Apparently there’s a lot.” 
 
Kylo sensed Ariel, saw her, and his eyes cut to her when she barreled forward, stepping back so he wouldn’t be caught by the brunt of it, watching the way she embraced Gnaeus, emotions spilling out of her. Gnaeus did nearly lose his footing, still taken by surprise to Kylo’s eyes, then Ariel.


Kylo watched as his attention moved to Ariel. As he tried to wrap his arms around her.


As he paused with the wounded one, the stump awkwardly over her back, realizing there was no hand there to caress it. To pull her close. Kylo felt that surge of panic, pain, and anger, as Gnaeus saw his own lack of hand, and Kylo watched the man’s heart break over again before he turned his back, and walked off to leave the two of them to their reunion.


Gnaeus tried to pull on Ariel’s joy to see him. He was happy to see her. Happy she wasn’t blinded, that she had worked something out to get them back here. He tried, but he felt like he was breaking with every move he made. When she pulled away, he couldn’t let his hand touch her waist. Well, one he could, but the realization still made him drop both arms to his side as he stared at her. Teary-eyed, too.


He hadn’t…realized…he meant so much to them. ‘To anyone.’


Not for a while. Not since…not since he abandoned his old self. “It wasn’t your fault,” he told her. “I’m glad you’re not blind,” and he was, sincerely.


~***~


Hux did seem to realize the gravity of the situation. August would applaud him for that. Though Johann knew the Carrion, he was young – and the young felt immortal. Ransolm and Hux were old enough to be jaded – and both were. Pessimistic.


August did hope.


“Why do you think I picked the fruit, Hux?” August smirked, “If we have to go with capture, I’ll go.”


“August—”


“Literally no one is going to believe you survived without me,” August interrupted Ransolm before he could say anything. “The clones don’t know what to eat out here. They’ll be hungry and assume what I have on me is good for them.” Because August knew the Carrion.


Johann wasn’t an option. Neither was Hux, for similar reasons to Ransolm.


The poison gift wouldn’t be as convincing.


“We can see it a bit, further up along the tree line,” he gestured. “It’d be better with a scope,” but no, he had to drop his, didn’t he? He could have sniped the entire army.


Or he liked to think that. He pushed away from a tree and started to walk, to get them to an area that would be easier to see Jova’s home and the long, long stretch of grass before it.


~***~


BB-8 beeped the messages to Mira as they broke out of lightspeed, since she didn’t reach over to check it. Mira smiled to both. Ada was warm, and Edwin, the appropriate soldier. It felt like normality was returning in some way. Things were…expected.


Until she remembered what was here, and she felt her heart sink into her stomach to melt in the acids.


‘I can’t do this.’ That crushing weight came back, the sorrow and the Force that always accompanied it. She tried to shrug it off, shake her head and get rid of it. Deep breaths. But it was there, lingering, a pressure both emotional and real that was weighing on her when Finn spoke over the radio. “Got it,” she responded back, hoping the radio altered her voice enough that he wouldn’t pick up on the break.


They moved to Hangar B, which was open for both of them to dock. “BB-8, if I do anything stupid, just shock me again, okay?”


BB-8 agreed. Then, rocking, seemed to ask if she was okay. “No.” Swallowed the lump. How could she be fine? She shouldn’t have done this, should have ignored it, should have just moved on without stepping back into the past. “I can’t….”


‘I can’t grieve without causing a scene. I can’t mourn and I can’t move on and I can’t….’ She’d nearly hurt Hux when she learned about what happened. May have hurt him, she didn’t really know, he covered his pain well. The constant 'can't' sparked that old anger, and she saw the lightning flicker around her hand. She removed it from touching the skiff's instruments, shook it out. “Just, don’t let me do anything stupid.”


The skiff was parked and Mira quickly got to her feet. Left the coat in the ship, but took her datapad and walked out to see Rollo was, indeed, there. And Finn was hopping out of his own ship then. “Good to see you, Captain!” He said cheerfully. He wanted to start spilling everything, but quickly composed himself when he saw Mira approaching.


He could chat about his mom when she started looking through things. Maybe.


BB-8 rolled forward to ask about Poe – if Rollo knew anything about him.


~***~


The night had been long for Phasma. Adelaide reported that August was seen going into the Carrion with Hux, and Phasma’s nerves were a bit rattled by that. Mostly because it seemed ¼ of the entire army of Snoke followed.


Given, it made cleaning up the ground easier. Julia and the Mottis seemed to do a fantastic job at cleaning up the air, allowing for General Organa’s ship to land. An impromptu meeting was called between the leaders in the early hours of morning, when it was still dark. Leia, Adelaide, Julia, and Phasma.


Phasma was still wrapping her head around all the women present. Not that she was complaining – but it actually made an impact on her as she participated in the conversation of organizing the troops, moving some to cities that had been taken by Snoke, and pressing back. For the most part, though, it was determined that they leave the Carrion Plateau alone.


‘They’ll be fine.’ She remembered Leia, as the woman looked wistfully off in that direction. ‘I have a…good feeling.’ Phasma knew it wasn’t exactly a feeling, more the Force. Something in the Carrion, or about the Carrion, gave the slightly Force-sensitive woman a good feeling. Phasma wasn’t willing to bet on it, but she would bet on the idea that none of those ginger fools had a source of communications on them, and more of her troops would die if she sent them to retrieve Hux.


August would return with him, or she would know the reason why.


It was in the midst of that meeting that they were interrupted by a Slicer, telling them that Snoke’s radio was cracked. Information poured in, then, about his own plans and movements.


The women adapted quickly, Adelaide laughing all the while as she managed to predict what would happen when she got the news of Snoke’s plans – and her predictions were starting to prove accurate when dawn broke, and their soldiers began to liberate some of the cities Snoke had snatched up.


Dawn truly looked bright. ‘Pandion will be showing up soon, as well.’ Reinforcements. Another ally of August who Adelaide had a yelling match with before he was verbally beaten into coming, reminded of his duties as an ally, and that she didn’t care how much he hated ‘Sloane and the First Order, Sloane isn’t ruling it so get your ass here you polluted pile of bantha shit’.


Phasma was, admittedly, starting to like Adelaide.


And then Lando showed up, with another bunch of reinforcements from Cloud City – not so many soldiers, but a few. More of them were into the techy stuff, and decided to wreak havoc on Snoke’s tech. And then cooks.


He brought cooks. Food. And Chewbacca, of course, with that bowcaster of death.


That alone seemed to send morale skyrocketing.


But Phasma still fretted. No sign of Hux. ‘I should contact Mira.’ But  just as it was thought, it was dismissed. Mira would be here if something happened…the Force…so Phasma had to believe that it was all good, and that if she acted too quickly, she’d ruin whatever August was up to in the Carrion.


But she was going to yell at the Governor when he returned.
 
And that’s when Ariel really let the tears fall. He said it wasn’t her fault but Ariel felt she could have done more. She hadn’t blown off his hand, but maybe if she had utilized the Force more…She didn’t know. And there was nothing they could do about it now.


Which didn’t help the tears.


Gnaeus was glad she wasn’t blind, at that was so painfully sincere. She wished she were. So she wouldn’t have to see Gnaeus like this. If she had the choice, she’d give up her eyesight for Gnaeus’s hand in a second. ‘But you can’t.’ And now she was frustrated.


But she pushed that away. She wanted to focus on Gnaeus being here and alive, that they could move forward. Ariel grabbed the sides of his face and kissed his cheek. He really didn’t deserve any of this. “C’mon. Did they feed you? Are you thirsty? Tired maybe?” She nearly moved to grab his stump, to pull him along as if it were his hand, but stopped herself. Other hand, then.


“We can get you settled and then we can talk to Paquin about what we can do. There’s all sorts of options nowadays.” She really put in an unusual effort to make Gnaeus feel somewhat better. He was supposed to be the optimistic one. The light hearted one. 


-


Hux followed after August as he led them closer to the home. The clearing became much more obvious as the moved through the trees. Hux stopped, well enough a ways back that they couldn’t be seen too terribly much. 


Hux would find a tree, and slowly begin to ascend it, too have a look above and be hidden by the various leaves and greenery growing on the trees. Watching for various creatures that may be looking, of course. He wouldn’t go to the very top. No, too high. Too obvious. But he’d stop, when he got a clear enough look through foliage.


‘Would be much better with a scope.’ Hux agreed. 


But they didn’t have one. So Hux noted what he could.


Three ships. Two TIEs and one small freighter. He counted spot five clones, pacing along the home. He watched for a few minutes, as they guarded. He noted the pattern. There was at least a minute in between that the clones seemed to not be looking in their direction. Switching positions, one side of the home went completely unmanned during that time. Briefly.


Then there was that long, long stretch of grass. It wasn’t short, obviously not taken care of. But not tall enough for them to walk through. Maybe crawl. But Hux couldn’t tell what kind of advantage the clones had.


He climbed back down, rejoining the three. He relayed the information, “Three ships, one a small freight. Five clones stationed outside of it. They have a pattern. Probably more in the home and possibly some in the freighter. We could try crawling. Or August can get captured.” Either way was dangerous, had the same likely hood of them living.


-


“Good to see you too, Finn!” Rollo greeted with a bright smile. His hair was pulled back, and he was dressed casually. Still walking with a limp, so obviously he wasn’t really doing too much heavy lifting. Definitely wasn’t good for battle.


He stopped when BB-8 rolled in front of him, the Captain looking down upon the droid. “Poe’s just fine, as far as I know. He checked in through the radio about an hour ago. Said things were settling down on Eriadu, though he did say he was doing a few sweeps over the planet to look for Hux and the other three he was with.” Rollo, of course, wasn’t aware that Finn, Mira, and BB-8 were kept in the dark on the situation.


And then his attention turned to Mira. “Blondie! I was almost beginning to miss you. Now that the First Order and the Resistance are working together, do you think I can file a complaint about Hux? I really want to get an apology for getting shot in the leg.” And his friend dying. 


The past was the past, he supposed.


“Anyway, I’ve got Sy-Kevan’s stuff waiting for you. Hoarder if I’ve ever seen one.” He gestured them to follow him.


-


Eriadu City was in the clear. Snoke’s forces either retreated, followed after the gingers and their somewhat mysterious companion, or were killed. The situation was similar in surrounding areas, just as well.


While most were working on liberating other cites on the planet, keeping tabs on Snoke’s communications, there were some working on cleaning up the clones. When people returned, left their homes, no one really wanted to see dead bodies lying about.


Terex, however, did not care.


Terex dropped off the Commandant back on the Finalizer beforehand. So nothing suspicious arose just yet.


The man was glad that Phasma, as well as most of the First Order, were well aware that he had his sources of information. So there’d be no need in wondering how he found out about Eriadu or the former Captain’s position.


He was initially going to call, find out what the hell she wanted. But that wasn’t inconvenient enough for the woman. And he felt there was nothing more that she wanted to see in that moment than his wonderful face. 


And there was a part of him that also wanted to show off the fact that he had the Carrion Spike and he had no intention of giving it up.


Communicator strapped to his wrist now, he exited his ship. But he wouldn’t go far. He knew Phasma would head his way, as he spread his request to a trooper that he was looking for her.


And she would catch wind of him, as a Stormtrooper would inform her, just after one of Lando’s techs informed the temporary General that supposedly orders were being given for the clones to fall back.


“Lieutenant-General, Agent Terex is here. He came in regards to a message you sent to him.” The trooper relayed the clean version. Terex wasn’t so nice in his words when he requested the tall blonde.
 
Gnaeus didn’t want Ariel to be crying. He didn’t know how to stop it, no joke came up. He just knew it made him feel worse to see her like that, even if it was over his injury. He was surprised when she grabbed the sides of his face, though, and he felt the kiss on one cheek. He tried to blink away the confusion at the gesture. ‘Do I look that bad?’


Maybe. Kylo had started tearing up. And where did he go to?


He couldn’t recall Ariel kissing anyone unless she was drunk. There was alcohol on her breath, but he wouldn’t call this drunk as he was pulled along by his remaining hand, the barrage of questions just starting to sink in. “Um. No.” He hadn’t been fed. He wasn’t thirsty. He wasn’t tired either. No covered it. He wasn’t really sure…what he was.


She spoke of options. He glanced to his real hand. ‘That’s all I want.’ But he knew it wasn’t possible.


He’d have to talk to Paquin. Have to decide what would be…best. Even if he didn’t want to think of replacements. No, he really wasn’t sure what he wanted, or what he felt, just…an emptiness within.  


“I…probably need water.” He assumed. Something to get her to stop pulling him around, to let him sit down and just…absorb everything. Maybe that was what he needed. He felt shocked, still. Uncertain.


~***~


“We’re not doing the latter,” Ransolm said, denying it before August could volunteer. “We can split up, to make sure not all of us get caught again. You can go with Hux,” Ransolm volunteered.


Better not to put the injured ones in the same group again. If Hux and August got found early, then Johann and Ransolm might have time to figure something out.


If he and Johann got caught, well – he knew August would figure something out.


August decided to consent to that, nodding. “Hux and I will move further up, and make a diagonal path down to the home,” he said, took out one of the fruits and tossed it to Johann, “Just in case.” It would still be useful. They’d believe what Johann had, as well.


The nexu tried to bat at the thrown fruit. It got caught in the claws.


~***~


BB-8 shouldn’t have asked about Poe. Mira immediately wished she had covered her ears, when Rollo went on. She tensed when he mentioned Hux was missing, but bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep from asking. Didn’t shoot the accusative glance to Finn that she wanted to.


‘He’s not all right.’


But if she went to Eriadu while Snoke’s forces were there…no, she had to trust Hux had it handled. He'd be more upset if she showed up, just because he was 'missing'. She tried to convince herself she'd know if anything was wrong.


She let her thoughts disrupt when he addressed her, smirked at the ‘Blondie’ title. “I’m sure you could try, but I do not think you’ll win any apology for the complaint. It did happen pre-alliance, after all.” Not to mention he had nearly poisoned her and Hux.


Mira followed after, “Yes…he was,” she agreed. Kevan had liked the lux of the life. Most of it would probably not be important. The datapad, the lightsaber, and the keys to his ship were the main things she wanted. The rest would be looked through, of course. Force only knew what oddities Kevan had.


“Hoarder like, trash, or…?”


“No,” Mira answered first, “He was sort of our…diplomat. He got attached to the material wealth that came with.” Which meant he bought whatever he wanted, whenever the fancy struck him.


~***~


Bad news followed the good. Phasma was glad for her mask as she gave the Trooper a dull stare at the words he said. She didn’t even question how or why Terex was there. She honestly hadn’t expected him to answer the call for weeks, and then Mira would have the other trooper as her assistant.


She never should have invoked Terex.


“I will go see him.” Better than trying to order him here, and that might end badly as well with Adelaide around. And Julia.


Mostly Julia.


Phasma walked off from the room of monitors, maps, and plots, to find Terex – so near his beloved Carrion Spike. Good thing August was gone, as well. She couldn’t imagine this would go well if the Tarkin were present. She’d probably find one or both of them with blaster wounds. Or worse.


“Agent Terex,” she addressed him in that formal, authoritative voice. She didn’t waste any time with him, or the message. “The First Order has a new Admiral – Admiral Vallens,” she informed him, “The Admiral indicated an interest in your particular set of skills. Unfortunately, she is not present right now.”


And Phasma didn’t know where she was, either. This complicated things, didn’t it? Yet, Phasma decided, this would be an easy way to get rid of Terex, “Her location is on a need-to-know basis for the time being, but I can call you again when she has checked in, if you have an interest in a promotion.” Certainly he wouldn’t be prepared to answer a message again and come for a promotion. He’d be so annoyed he came out here for nothing.


If only she could be so lucky.
 
She wiped at her eyes with her free hand. “Water, right. I can do water. This whole planets made of water.” Ariel had alcohol, but she couldn’t help but think that she hadn’t had enough. She needed to be well and intoxicated to be handling this situation. Yet, she’d make no move to obtain anymore liquor. Not at that moment, anyway.


She did wonder where Kylo had run off to, as she switched directions. She wondered what was going through his head at the moment. Was he angry at them? Disappointed? She didn’t know.


Ariel’s hand still gripped Gnaeus’s remaining one, pulling him along to ‘their rooms’. It wasn’t like on Korriban, where the dorm rooms were littered with personal items. Just beds, and a few knick knacks. The door to Gnaeus’s room slid open and she dropped his hand. “Just relax, and I’ll be back with some water.” She was a little hesitant to leave him alone again, but she did turn to go get the drink anyway.


Meanwhile, Paquin’s leg felt better after sitting in bacta for a while. She didn’t want to take too long, especially once she felt Gnaeus on Kamino. With news of his hand, she was anxious to see how he was doing.


She showered, washing the slimy substance off of her and changed. The clothes didn’t fit quite right, too long, too tight. She wasn’t about to complain, though. Now she had to find the others.


-


Johann chuckled at the nexu, pulling the fruit off of his claws, and slipped it in his pocket. He wiped at the nexu’s claws to get whatever bit of the poisonous fruit was on there, just for safety.


“Each clone his a three minute shift, pacing back and forth. There’s fifteen seconds when the clones aren’t looking in our direction, a solid thirty when one side of the home is left unmanned. You and use that time to try and run, to make better distance, but other than that, for those other three minutes, I’d remain crawling or crouching.” Hux informed the three.


Forty five seconds of running could certainly give them some distance, but there were dangers that came with that. It was up to Ransolm and Johann, what they wanted to do. 


“That cycle should be restarting about…now.” If Hux counted right.


Johann nodded, “Stay safe, you two. Don’t get too reckless now,” mostly directed at his father, though all four of them could probably stand to heed that advice. Johann turned to Ransolm, “Stick close.” With a salute to his father and Hux, Johann turned.


Hux gestured for August to lead them down. He wasn’t too convinced that putting the two “important” ones together was a good idea. The clones could just pick them both off at once and would be done, but Hux didn’t see the need to protest it. Two injured or two importants, either one could end as well as the other.


-


“I’m hoping you could explain some of the stories behind these things because there’s just some odd stuff in there.” Rollo commented. There were pretty obvious things, like artifacts, clothes, little bits and bobs. Then some questionable things. Like shirts with weird sayings, odd knick knacks. 


There were things Rollo wouldn’t question. Like the copious amount of ‘protection’ they;d found. They still collected them, but they were shoved in their own boxes. No one wanted to touch those, unopened or not.


Diplomacy got wild, apparently.


Rollo led them out of the hangar, off into a storage room. It was fairly empty for the most part, Rollo thought it best for the amount of stuff and to allow Mira privacy as she went through the stuff. He could only imagine what Mira would feel going through everything. After all she’d went through to get him back. Betraying the Order and all. Which as it turned out, Hux didn’t end up being too angry about that.


“Here we are. This is everything, shoved in boxes and labeled for your convenience. Well, ours, but you get what I’m saying. Any questions?”


-


“Vallens. The chick Hux ran off to Coruscant with, right? Wonder what really happened on their little vacation.” Terex drug out their encounter, knowing Phasma was annoyed with him, even before he opened his mouth.


“Well, either way. I need to know her location, so if you could give it to me, that would be great. As much as I know you’d love to see me again, I don’t have time to wait around for her to check in and get another call and come back.” His tone dragged, as if he was complaining. Truth is, he worked on his own schedule. He’d make time.


If he wanted to.


Which he didn’t.


“Unless of course, you’re looking to make this difficult for me. You know I could figure out where she is anyway. It’d just be a little inconvenient for me. Just give me her coordinates and I’ll be out of your hair.” His hands raised. As if.


Phasma would never be lucky enough to so easily get rid of Terex. "If you even know where she's at, that is."
 
There was not truly an escape on Kamino, but Kylo needed to be away. He walked the halls, uncertain of where to go, what to do. He couldn’t do anything for Gnaeus, and it was quite infuriating. Seeing the loss of his hand had upset Kylo more than he expected it to, despite being forewarned.


How could it happen to him?


His path took him unconsciously by the medbay, as Paquin was slipping out in the not-quite tailored clothing. He paused, glanced down to the covered leg, then looked back up to her face, “Are you better now?” he inquired, hoping then the signs of his tearing up were gone.


If only it could be so easy for Gnaeus. Just a drop in a bacta tank. Alas, it didn’t really do the whole regrowing body parts thing well.


~***~


Gnaeus let himself be pulled along, not at all protesting or trying to drag his hand away. He just followed as Ariel made an effort, promised him water.


Perhaps he should have asked for vodka.


That might help a hell of a lot more than water. ‘You’re dehydrated. Probably.’ He didn’t really know. He didn’t feel well enough to really assess himself, so he probably wasn’t well enough to drink vodka.


They were taken to the hall of rooms and his own opened, bland. He stepped into the doorway, not understanding he was going to be left here until Ariel told him to stay. Relax. “No.” It came before he could think through it rationally, and the hand that was released reached out for hers again. “No, I can come get the water.”


He didn’t want to be alone. Not again. Didn’t want to be wondering what was going on without him.


~***~


August just smirked at the comment about recklessness, but said nothing. It was more probable from him than Hux, he’d guess. His mind was already counting though, as they wasted time with goodbyes, and he turned to lead as Hux seemed to indicate he ought to.


Counting.


He crouched down a second before his mind reached the final second, but didn’t quite crawl. He took his blaster into hand first, and then began to crawl along, slow, ignoring how his arm absolutely did not like to do this.


Deep breathes.


Counting.


It seemed Johann and Ransolm were also sticking to the plan. Ransolm could be rash, but he would keep to the plan until it was necessary to break it. Hopefully, they wouldn’t need to. Not that they’d truly set a plan when they got close to the home, but they’d be able to see the situation better. The number in the home.


He and Johann would be able to communicate if they needed to press forward or retreat, at the very least.


~***~


The storage space held a good number of boxes when they walked into it, and Mira glanced over it all. ‘So this is all that remains.’ No death had ever truly…gotten to her before. She’d never seen the results after. How everything went into boxes, the people and their things.


A life, condensed to several brown cubes.


It felt surreal. “No,” she said to his comment about ‘any questions’, “Well, yes. Did anyone slice Kevan’s datapad?” She asked it as she walked to the box labeled ‘effects’, opening it with the Force and pulling items out. Lightsaber, of course. She grabbed that without thought and added it to her inner coat pocket. Kevan’s armor. Kevan’s mask. Kevan’s communicator. She strapped that to her wrist.


Might come in handy. ‘Draw Snoke off Hux….’ She pushed the crazy thought back as BB-8 rolled forward, examining the labels on the boxes. That'd probably be something the droid would shock her for thinking.


It rolled to the ‘protection’ box, asked why Kevan’s armor wasn’t there. Mira glanced over, noted the quotes around the title. “Not that kind of protection, BB-8.” She knew her apprentice well enough. Took the datapad out of the box last. The armor and mask were returned, but she planned to take it with her. The mask, at least.


BB-8 rolled to another oddly titled box. Mira looked to it when he asked about the ‘sassy tanks’, averted her path from the artifacts box to that one and again opened it with the Force, only to pull out what was probably an exercise tank for normal people.


Silver letters that shimmered spelled out ‘Captain Phantasy’, and Mira lost it to a sudden fit of laughter, covering her lips as she doubled over, realizing exactly what would be in the box.


~***~


Captain Phasma almost wished Terex could see her face as he commented on ‘what else’ happened on Hux and Mira’s adventure. Her look was dull. Utterly done with Terex’s implications.


She did smirk under the helmet as he asked for the location, quietly pleased she didn’t know, and hoping somehow that Mira would give Terex one hell of a run.


“As I said,” Phasma told him, enjoying it a bit much without admitting that she didn’t know Mira’s location, “Admiral Vallens’s location is need to know, and you are not need to know.” Neither was she. Nor Hux. Not currently, anyway. Not until Mira got that small issue worked out. Hopefully she’d have it figured out before Terex found her….


“If you would like to go and find her, of course, you may – if it does not get in the way of your other business.” He did have duties. He did usually tend to them, too, or else he wouldn’t still be employed. He was competent. Phasma would give him that, if nothing else.
 
Paquin was surprised to encounter Kylo, figuring he’d be with Gnaeus. She glanced down to her covered leg as he did, questioning if she was better now. Underneath the cloth was a large scar, the bacta couldn’t fix that. Paquin didn’t really mind it.  She nodded as an answer to his question, looking back to him.


“How’s Gnaeus doing?” She queried. She then really got to look at his face.


There was no evidence that he’d been teary-eyed moments ago. Actually nothing on his face really gave up what he was feeling. He did look pouty, but that wasn’t even unusual. Still, she felt something was off. Knew something wasn’t quite right. She wasn’t surprised. She’d be more concerned if he was feeling just dandy.


What, with the tomb, Snoke's strange behavior, and now Gnaeus. “And how are you?” She questioned, eyebrows furrowing. She expected the usual ‘fine’ or some other dismissive answer, but she still remained open to anything.


-


Ariel was caught off guard by his protest, by him grabbing her hand. She turned back to him, however, eyes flooded with concern. She didn’t argue, instead nodding. “Okay. I just figured you’d want to rest for a minute.” Maybe not sleep, but just not do anything for a while.


Either way, “Come on, then.” She’d lead him by his hand again.


She could’ve just grabbed a cup and filled it with water from the bathroom tap, but she led him all the way to the canteen. Not only was there purified water there, but there was food. Gnaeus liked food. Especially the gross kind they had.


The redhead was hoping it would spark something. Maybe give her a glimpse of her usual Gnaeus.


If anything, maybe she’d be able to get him to munch on something or bring it back to his room for later.


-


Hux followed August’s lead, pulling out his blaster before dropping into a crawl. Fingers were kept off the trigger so he wouldn’t accidentally fire it, but he wouldn’t have time to get it out should they be caught off guard.


The crawling made his mind flashback to his time training as a cadet. Of course, that wasn’t too out of the ordinary for training. But his father liked to make things intense, terrifying for the cadets. It certainly helped weed out the ‘weak’ ones.


He shook that from his head. He’d been reflecting on the past a lot during this escapade. He’d no longer let it distract him.


Hux would peak his head up, every other time he calculated it to be safe. To check how far they’d made it, if anything had changed. But it was clear. And he and August managed to get close to the home without being spotted or worse.


Hux led them then, to behind the small freighter. They could stand here, and peak around while being covered. 


Hux saw Johann peak his head up, with a questioning look, but Hux made a motion for them to stay put, let the two gingers scope the place first.


There were the five clones outside. Then there were the ones inside the home, which looked like a lot more than on the outside. They didn’t seem to be looking outside, but it looked like many of them were searching the place, every nook and cranny. Too many for the four of them to take on all at once. “I think we should get in the freighter, first.” He whispered, it was almost inaudible. “Take whoever might be in there out.” And maybe find something useful.  Hux crossed his finger for a sniper rifle.


“We have to be quiet with taking the ones in the freighter and on the outside out.” If they tipped off those inside, they’d quickly be overwhelmed. But taking them out quietly, shouldn’t alert the clones inside. 


-


“Nah, no one’s cracked Kevan’s datapad yet. Haven’t had the time with all that’s been going on.’ The whole point was to get information on the Order. Though, he supposed the information could still be used against Snoke and the Knights. “Wouldn’t be that hard, I don’t think. We can get it cracked for you.” And they could get the information off of it then, too.


But he wouldn’t bring up business when Mira was going through her lost friend’s things.


Rollo nearly laughed at Mira being unsurprised by the “protection” box. Apparently that was normal.


And then she stumbled upon the real box of gems, and Rollo did laugh along with her.


Finn smiled, enjoying hearing Mira’s laugh, and moved to get a better look at exactly what she was looking at. “Captain Phantasy? As in Phasma?” Finn reached into the sassy tank box to pull out another one. A black tank top, but written across the chest in blue glittery letters was, “VenAriel?” 


-


Terex’s jaw set, but his smug smirk remained on his face. Terex took it as Phasma not knowing where the new Admiral was. No matter. “You know I always get my business taken care of.” He was a good soldier for the Empire and just as good of an Agent for the First Order. They didn’t really deserve him, if he was honest with himself.


He took pleasure in the fact that if Phasma couldn’t fire him. Or if she did, the only reason she could cite was him being obnoxious. Perhaps now she could with her new position, but Terex knew that ‘the good of the Order’ always came first.


“I’ll find the Admiral on my own, then. I’ll see you later, Lieutenant-General,” He winked to the woman, turning to retreat into the Carrion Spike. But he paused turning back to her, “I was hoping I’d see one of the Tarkins lurking around. If you could tell the Tarkins I said hi, from the Carrion Spike, I’d really appreciate it. I’m sure they’re curious about this ship.”


He doubted she would, but surely the Tarkins would catch wind of the ship anyway.


“Toodles.” Finding the woman that the Commandant hated was up there on his list. This promotion could be useful in this new alliance with Snoke. It would get him pretty close to the target man, Hux.
 
Kylo felt uneasy under the assessing gaze of Paquin, and did avert his eyes as she asked about Gnaeus, “He’s…not himself,” that much was easy to tell. “I’m not sure if he is still in shock or if he’s…I don’t know.” Kylo wasn’t the medical professional here. He just knew that Gnaeus wasn’t the same as when Kylo last saw him, and that was problematic. He wanted Gnaeus to be himself. He was like the one ball of sunshine.


‘Like Kevan.’


Bit down on the thought. Again. He didn’t want that man haunting him.


“I’m fine,” dismissive as ever. He couldn’t say anything else with Snoke’s presence over them, but he absolutely was not okay. He was okay in every way that mattered, though. “Let’s…get you to see Gnaeus,” he suspected she would want to. He ought to go back, too, now that his vision was clear again.


~***~


Gnaeus again let himself be led, into the familiar cantina. He avoided the looks of the few clones there, but he felt them as they lingered on him. Lingered on what was missing. None dared to speak to him, which was probably for the best. He didn't want to speak to them. Didn't want to answer any questions about how he lost his hand.


He did smell the food, but it wasn’t really appealing to him. He didn’t even want the water, he just needed it.


Or he had convinced himself he needed it.


“Thank you,” he said as he dropped her hand to get a cup for himself, and fill it with water.


~***~


Shifts in movement and leadership weren’t argued. It flowed almost naturally. Hux didn’t know the Carrion, perhaps, but August knew when to step back, and that was when they got close to the soldiers themselves.


August would always explain that he wasn’t a General, because he didn’t organize his mind or his troops in that way. He could fight. He could absolutely fuck someone up, but his tactics were generally guerilla, better for small groups. This could be considered a small group, but they were still outnumbered by more than a comfortable amount.


And he couldn’t quite engage in guerilla tactics here, either. They weren’t moving into the Carrion.


August gave a barely perceptible nod to Hux’s ideas. Quiet was necessary. He wished he had Ransolm’s staff then, but he could manage without it. Put the blaster back in the holster. That’d make too much noise.


He moved to the freighter carefully, glanced around, then shifted to the handle at the bottom and slid it up quickly, expecting Hux to follow and shut it as a clone turned to see August.


August’s steel-toed boot met his covered head and he stumbled but didn’t follow. August stepped forward, grabbed the helmeted head with one hand, and rammed it down on his knee, holding the trooper up when he felt the weight suddenly increase as it lost consciousness from the shock, more than the pain.


August would then set it down gently so as not to make excess noise with the fall.


~***~


Mira planned to try cracking it on her own – she had an idea of some of the passwords Kevan might use. If she couldn’t get it in the first few tries, though, she’d likely take Rollo up on the offer. She was going to need it.


But those thoughts were gone at the sight of the tanks in the box. “Yes,” she answered Finn, trying desperately to stifle the laughter as the conversation flooded her mind. “I can’t believe him….” Tears. Happy and sad, tears started to fill her eyes as Finn brought out the VenAriel one. “Damn him.”


He was damned. In the Void.


“What are these?” Finn asked, bringing up another one. “General Suxxx?” And Mira bit down more laughter, “Sir Fuxx?” Black tanks, of course. General Suxxx was stylized with red lettering and stars. As was Sir Fuxxx, of course. He was still a ‘Star Killer’.


BB-8 was now curious, rolling to get a closer looker, beeping out questions. “So,” Mira was trying to find the words, “Well. Kevan was…Kevan. And he forced all of us together through holovids and such, and during one of these conversations, we started talking about stripper names. It started with Hux, since according to Kevan, his name was the easiest. Kevan always threatened to get us shirts with the names….”


And so he did. That son of a bitch.


~***~


Yes, Terex did always get his business taken care of. It was very much the reason Phasma wouldn’t fire him. There were plenty of people to dislike, but Terex got the job done. For the good of the Order she would, indeed, deal with him. And hope that perhaps having a Jedi watching him might help.


It wouldn’t. It would give Mira one hell of an introduction to things, though. It wasn’t as if Mira was truly, formally, in the chain of command, except as ‘under Hux’.


Phasma would not be telling any of the Tarkins anything about Terex. Only, “Don’t press your luck. Julia is in the Imperatrix,” and she would probably shoot Terex down if she saw him – if only on the logic that if they didn’t have the Carrion Spike, than no one should have it. Blame it on friendly fire.


No one would believe her.


It wouldn’t matter.


She folded her arms as he left before formal dismissal with that irksome ‘toodles’. Glared until he was out of sight in his ship, then turned away to get back to more important things. ‘Good luck, Vallens.’


She was going to need it.   
 
“If you say so,” Paquin didn’t press, even if Kylo clearly was not alright. ’I’ll get something out of you. One day.’ She vowed. She was starting to feel as though she’d heard ‘I’m fine’ too many times.


For now, Gnaeus.


A hand was placed on Kylo’s arm, urging him to move. “I don’t think Gnaeus will be himself for a while.” Paquin wasn’t looking forward to to seeing Gnaeus. Not in the state she’d imagine him to be in. Experiencing the numb, lifeless feeling that came with shock. It seemed to be the typical initial reaction amongst troopers that lost limbs. “And unfortunately, we can’t do much to help except being there for him.” 


And get him a ‘replacement’. But that was something he’d have to adjust to as well. Paquin was hoping she could somehow make it easier on him. Maybe a few calls to see what was out there. Paquin really wished she was a miracle worker, but she wasn’t. “It’s a big change. Something only he can come to terms with. It’ll be frustrating to have to watch him go through, but we all have to be patient with him.” 


-


Ariel stuck by Gnaeus as he filled his cup with water. She’d give dirty looks to the clones when she caught them staring, a look telling them to knock it off. She wasn’t sure if Gnaeus knew they were staring or if he was oblivious, but either way she didn’t want anything bringing him down any further.


“You sure you’re not hungry?” She questioned, even if it was obvious that he wasn’t terribly interested in food at all. 


Either way, she snagged an orange out of a basket. Just in case it would be wanted at some point.


It was then that Ariel spotted Paquin and Kylo, relief flooding through her. ‘Please have something good to tell Gnaeus.’


-


August took down the clone pretty quietly. Still Hux felt that it could’ve been quieter. ‘No matter,’ it was done now. Hux glanced around to make sure no one else had noticed them before shutting them into the freighter.


Everything outside was silenced in the freighter and it seemed every noise they made, even breathing, was amplified. 


Looking around, they were just in the entrance of the ship, where things were usually stored. No clones. The freighter was small, but it still branched out from there. Hux’s steps were cautious and slow as he led August. Didn’t suggest splitting up. That would be stupid.


Taking the first right led them down a short hall, bringing them to crossway. The not so subtle shifting of armor caused Hux to pause, step backwards, waiting for the clone to get closer, reach the corner.


It passed right by them, probably not seeing well through the helmet. Hux’s arm wrapped around the clone’s throat tight, pulling it back. It was an odd angle, getting his arm between the chest plate and the helmet, but he did it successfully. The clone struggled, but Hux caught it off guard and it quickly lost consciousness. Hux held on for a few seconds longer, to finish it off. It didn’t need to live anyway.


Hux finally got to strangle someone dead, and it was oddly satisfying.


Hux drug the clone back a bit, to a door they’d passed. Pressing a button, the door slid open, revealing a storage closet. ‘Perfect.’ The body was stuffed there, instead of being left in the open. “Moving on.” Hux mumbled, turning where the trooper had come from.


-


“Kevan sounds like he was fun.” Finn had to admit that. Knight or not. He didn't realize until then that there entire existence didn’t solely revolve around being evil. They had personalities. Mira had one. Kevan clearly had one. The others probably did as well. Hot Tamale. ’Kylo Ren.’ That was hard to imagine. That he wasn’t just insane.


“He was quite the character. Certainly charming in his ways.” Rollo did confirm that, as his own laughter calmed down. Kevan certainly wasn’t miserable to be around. If anything, that made Rollo even angrier upon discovering his true identity.


BB-8 beeped, pulling out another one. This one was gray, though, with black letters, sparkly just as well as the others. This one read ‘Darth Star’ with a star in between the two words.


Finn’s eyebrows furrowed. “I don’t get that one?”


Rollo got it. “Yikes.” He was not going to be the one to make Finn truly see it with his own two eyes. 


“Mira?” Finn looked to get an answer from her. If not, he’d just ask Poe when he got back.
 
Kylo moved with the pressure, sensing for Gnaeus as they walked, and catching an idea of his location. ‘Cantina.’ He determined. It was the only logical place, besides a shower. He suspected Gnaeus might want that soon.


Kylo gave a nod as Paquin offered him advice. To just…endure it. Be besides Gnaeus. “But you’ll be able to help with that adjustment, won’t you?” He wanted to hope that Paquin would make it easier for Gnaeus, somehow. He wanted hope that Paquin knew enough to make the transition easier, for him.


Kylo didn’t do patient very well…but he’d have to try.


His impatience kept getting them in trouble. His temper caused them to hide things from him. He had to improve…or something like this would happen again. Because they couldn’t trust him.


Gnaeus and Ariel were in the cantina. Gnaeus had water, Ariel was holding an orange. Kylo saw Gnaeus shaking his head in answer to something Ariel must have said. He sipped at the water he held. He made a beeline to where Gnaeus and Ariel were.


He spoke first, “Paquin can take a look at you, Gnaeus. She’ll get a replacement figured out.”


Gnaeus gave a mute nod. Asked, “Is that where you went?” To find Paquin? It sounded rational enough. Perhaps he’d imagined the teary eyes…


Kylo just gave a quick, sharp nod.


~***~


Hux turned out to be quite capable with hand-to-hand, as well. August would admit some impression as Hux managed to choke the life out of a Trooper in armor – no easy feat, but someone with Cadet training should be capable.


At least that was one good thing from the Commandant’s trainings.


The body was hidden. August realized he probably should have hid the Trooper he dealt with, but, they’d moved on now.


Naturally, as they continued down the path that the Trooper came from, they did come to the equipment storage. It was open, since items needed to be retrieved at a moment’s notice, and guarded by two.


August was able to glance over the corner to understand the situation. They were much further down the long hall that he and Hux were about to enter. There was a hall that branched off before them. August reached into his coat’s pocket, took out the fruit, and immediately tossed it, curving it enough so it clattered into the hall that they weren’t in.


It was a classic move that always seemed to work. The clones looked to each other, and amusingly enough, both moved to go after the sound, rather than just one.


~***~


“Kevan was,” Mira agreed, wanted to comment that he seemed to be the only ‘human’ one, sometimes. She didn’t, though.


Couldn’t, since she was put on the spot to answer an awkward question about one of the shirts. Finn…so innocent. Mira blushed, remembering, “That one is Kylo’s,” she said, “It’s a play on words. Dark star.”


BB-8 seemed to get it then. BB-8 dropped it.  


Finn still looked confused, “Dark Star?” Glanced between the three of them. “I don’t get it.” Mira was certain at that point she couldn’t get more red.


“Kevan had a pet theory that Kylo Ren liked Hux,” Mira offered, noted, “and Dark Star is another term for the, ah…backside.”


It dawned on Finn then. He reacted, cringed, laughed, “Wait, he thought Ren liked Hux?” Finn asked as he began to pick up the tank that BB-8 dropped.


“He had a lot of weird theories about their supposed hatred of each other,” Mira said, shaking her head as BB-8 continued to pull them out, and Finn just started to fold them back up nicely. “That one’s mine,” she noted when she saw the ‘White Cherry’ on a black background, words in red.


Okay, apparently her face could get more red.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Kylo asked if she’d make the transition easier and all she could really promise was, “I’ll try my best.” And she really would. 


A beeline was made straight to Gnaeus and Ariel. Gnaeus asked if Kylo had left to find Paquin and she couldn’t help but think that was fake, but she said nothing against it. Instead, she offered Gnaeus a small smile, a sympathetic one.


Her eyes moved from Gnaeus to Ariel, who’s face showed anxiety, as did the act of her tossing that orange between her hands. 


Back to Gnaeus and down, to the stump. Paquin took in a breath through her nose, her jaw clenching, but she tried not to let that anger that returned reflect outwards anymore. “If I may,” she asked softly as she reached for his his forearm, to pull the stump clearer into view.


She took a minute to examine it, to note if she needed to do any restitching. She knew that there were times when some didn’t bother to completely treat a wound on a prisoner, considering they would usually be killed soon after, anyway. But fortunately, he’d been treated well. 


“When you’re ready, we can start fitting you for a prosthetic. We’ll need to discuss what exactly you want from it. For it to look and feel more like a natural, or if you want something sturdier, enhanced.” Paquin didn’t want to overwhelm Gnaeus. She wasn’t sure if what she’d say now would stick. “I can get you whatever you want, really.”


It was one of those times that Paquin was glad she’d gone to school on Rhinnal. They had their own cybernetic manufacturer, and advancements were always being made.  


Of course, she couldn’t get him his actual hand back. 


-


Hux couldn’t believe how simple these clones were. They must not have been clones of anyone smart. Certainly not Jango Fett. Unless of course, there was something wrong with the cloning system.


That made this easy for them, though.


They were stupid, so Hux wasn’t concerned with taking them out. They turned down the other hall, anyway, out of sight. Hux looked around again, before hurrying to the equipment storage. As he moved down the hall he heard one of the clones ask, “Do you think TI-918 dropped this?”


“Probably.”


“Well, his loss. I’m hungry.” 


Hux rolled his eyes. They were going to take themselves out, then.


Hux slipped in to the equipment storage, shutting the door after August. The room was filled with exactly what one would expect. Equipment. Spare armor. Climbing gear, even. Ship parts. And, fortunately, guns. ‘Well, this got easier.’ Hux looked around. If they had a sniper rifle, they could just go back a ways and pick off the clones. Easy and done. Of course, August would have to replace Jova's windows.


But if not, "Grab what you think might be useful." In case they had to switch tactics.


-


Finn was glad he didn’t ask Poe then. But once again, he didn’t get the ‘White Cherry’. “I don’t know if I really want to know what that one means.”


“That one’s not as bad as Darth Star.” Rollo commented.


“What is it?”


“You ever heard of popping someone’s cherry?”


“Um, no.”


“Oh, you poor thing. What did they teach you in the First Order? It means…you know…doing it for the first time. Cherry is the symbol of virginity.” Rollo felt weird, like he was explaining it all to a child that did not need to know what sex was. He also a bit bad, like he was exposing Mira. Who knew, maybe things have changed since the shirts were made.


One look at Mira, and Rollo didn't think it was likely.


“But…why is that Mira’s then?” But before Rollo could explain. “Wait…oh.” That explained why Mira's skin color turned completely red.


BB-8 continued to look through the shirts then, beeping out names like Gluteus Maxiren, Terekt-it-up. BB-8 didn’t know what that one meant, but before the droid could ask. Finn took the shirts to fold them. “I think that’s enough of the sassy tanks, yeah?”
 
Gnaeus bit down when Paquin asked if she could see, and he nodded. He could feel the anger in her, almost wished he could feel it himself. He still felt queerly numbed, shocked, now that he knew Ariel was all right. Now that the situation was settling, he couldn’t feel the anger that he should. He knew he should be wroth with Mira, but it just wasn’t there.


Perhaps, later.


She moved his arm to make it easier, almost thought to reach for Paquin’s arm before he reminded himself of why she wanted to look. No fingers. Nothing to flex or grab with.


He took in a shuddering breath. “Just…something like it once was.” He wanted his real hand, of course. He wanted to ask her for that. However, he refrained.


She wasn’t that skilled. No Darth Plagueis. ‘And she never will be. You’ll never get our hand.’


No. No, she could be, but he wouldn’t say it there. For some reason, he felt it should be a secret. Get the prosthetic, then try to convince her to use him – experiment on him, to see if they could get him properly fixed. He wouldn't want to get the hopes of the others up, when his own were so low.


Kylo nodded, “Whatever it costs, we can get it,” he told Paquin, so she knew not to let cost detour her.


~***~


August smirked as he walked after Hux, hearing the conversation as well and desperately trying not to laugh. No, he just let that smirk stay on his lips like a permanent fixture as he walked into the room.


His eyes immediately fell to the sniper rifle, and he walked to the one that looked the most like his own, weighing it in his hand and then sighing in contentment. “Get me on a good cliff and I can kill all of them.” He stated, not at all humble.



He was the best damn sniper at the Academy. He was still the best damn sniper of his own military, too. It was a challenge to beat him that many young ones tried hard to perform.


This time, he also grabbed a small vibrodagger ,which he stuffed into boot and hid under his pant leg.


He grabbed a couple of explosives, as well. If it came to it, he’d destroy Jova’s home. It could be rebuilt. Better to kill them all before they found what was in there, than let them continue to hold it.


~***~


Mira was certain her face was going to be red for a while as Rollo tried to explain what it was to Finn. She managed not to cover her face, though it took immense willpower, not realizing how embarrassing it seemed until just that moment…around normal people.


It was never a conversation with normal people. Just an inside joke with Kevan, and a fact of life with Kylo. “Yes,” Mira agreed with Finn decided he was done with the sassy tanks, “I can’t believe him,” leaving her with these. What was she going to do with these? A part of her felt it was her duty to get the shirts to everyone. ‘Wait, did he make Snoke’s…?’ Brighter red. She went to put the tanks in the box once Finn had them folded.


“It’s okay, Mira,” he said, as if it would help her embarrassment, putting a hand on her shoulder, “I’m a virgin, too.”


Mira just laughed, not sure how else to respond, then shook her head. She had guessed that much about Finn, even if he took the dare to kiss Poe so well, “Thanks,” she said, closing the box, “Anyway…voids,” not sure how to go from here. At least now she wasn’t going to be crying, she supposed that was a mixed blessing from this. “I…the artifacts,” refocused, “how many of those is the Resistance wanting, or have you had much time to examine them?”


She could see how that might be debatable territory.
 
Paquin nodded. She wasn't too worried about cost. Yes, good prosthetics weren't cheap. But she did have acquaintances, she could pull a few strings. If anything, she had a pool of money in a bank account that she hadn't really ever touched. The First Order paid well.


With a gentle pat to Gnaeus's forearm, she released him. "I'll take your measurements." Just needed a measuring tape. "I'll reach out to some people. I can do that here, right?" She asked Kylo. She wasn't sure if there were any restrictions on that aspect.


"Either way, I want you to know what to expect. Prosthetics will essentially be just like a regular hand, but there are some differences. Sense of touch, the way you feel impact, movement and strength will be something to get used to. It'll be a change at first, but after a while you'll get used to it." She could at least assure him of that.


"For now, you should rest." Losing a limb wasn't something you just bounced back from, mentally or physically. "Are you feeling any pain?" They likely gave him something while he was captured. Or it was shock. Shock was one hell of a drug.


-


'Well, if you say so.' Hux didn't doubt August's abilities. His skills with sniper rifles were raved about. August had managed to shoot the unseen kyber crystal in Gnaeus Ren's lightsaber, thus blowing off his hand.


Surely unhidden clones would be easy.


"We'll take you back up the hill, then. Johann and Ransolm should remain by Jova's home, however." In case some of them took cover, left the sight of August's scope. Johann and Ransolm could take them out, hopefully before the clones could call for back up. Given who they were, Hux imagined it'd be priority to kill or capture them.


Hux had his weapons, had his armor. Hux did grab some explosives, as August did. One could never have too many explosives. 


"We'll go back out into the field, alert the other two of the plan and find a good spot to snipe from." Hux then nodded towards the door they'd came from, opening it. He was cautious in exiting, but followed the way they'd came from. He did glance in the direction the clones had gone, and spotted a hand on the ground, just peaking out the corner. Motionless. "Idiots."


-


Finn was adorable and Mira struggled to change the topic. But she did, and Rollo let the conversation shift towards the artifacts.


"We haven't had the chance to check any of them out, but General Organa wants to. We're not quite sure what any of them are or what they're for. If anything, we were considering selling them for some extra credits." The Resistance was in desperate need of funds. It really had been thrown together once the Order formed.


The Order was clearly better in the financial department than they were. 


"I think General Organ would want them to stick around here, but if you know what any of them are or know where we can find out, feel free to share." Rollo shrugged.


They were all working together now, right? Mira wasn't looking to steal from them or give anything to Snoke and the Knights of Ren. He didn't think so, anyway. Surely Leia wouldn't mind Mira checking them out.


BB-8 beeped then, reminding them of Ada, just in case. "Who's Ada?" Rollo questioned.
 
“Probably not,” Kylo shook his head, “We can take a ship out from here and let you make some calls, though,” Kylo offered. He didn’t want to go ask permission, but he had a feeling Snoke wouldn’t want them to try communicating with others from Kamino itself. Better to be safe than sorry right now, mostly because he didn’t want to go ask permission.


Gnaeus listened to the rest of what Paquin had to say. He hesitated a moment, then asked, “Are they easy to remove?” Sipped the water. He wanted one that would be easy to remove. That way, it’d be easier to let Paquin work on it. He completely ignored the question about pain. He wasn't feeling any, after all. Seemed insignificant. He almost wished that he was. Just so it felt more...wrong.


Kylo frowned, “Luke’s wasn’t,” last he knew, anyway. He didn’t think they were meant to be easy to remove. “Why?”


Gnaeus said, “I don’t know…it doesn’t seem like something I’d want to sleep in.” He answered lamely. Yes, shock was a hell of a drug.


~***~


August would consent to that plan. The Clones would likely start to move and panic once they were being shot at. Johann and Ransolm would be in a position to handle them in that chaotic state, if necessary.


He took note of what Hux grabbed, nothing truly surprising him in the General’s choices.


They definitely had enough explosives between them, though.


He followed Hux out, smirked at the fallen hand, and raised his injured arm up to cover his lips with that hand, muffle the short laughter that escaped and hide the smile. That malicious look that came into his eyes went unhidden, though. Pleased.


‘They were idiots.’ Clones deteriorated. It was a known fact of the aging process. Of taking away their will, stripping them to submissive servants. Wilhuff had written about his irritation with the ‘older troopers’ constantly enough for August to suspect the cloning process wasn’t good.


On out, then.


The Trooper that August had downed was still in place, making it apparent no one had come by to see it. He hesitated momentarily at the door, then let it slide open, and darted right into the hidden areas again, hoping not to be spotted.


~***~


“Oh,” Mira recalled then, looked to Rollo, “We met Finn’s mom. Ada Zain,” mentioned nothing about his father. “She works with a museum and this might actually be her area. I could have her examine them, and report to both of us.”


BB-8 chirped its agreement with the idea.


“Yeah! I can give her contact info for you, Rollo, so you can get the news first,” since he was here to show them to everything. “I’m sure Leia wouldn’t mind that. My mom’s on Coruscant – I can provide Leia with all the information when I see her, too!” And then his smile widened, “I know my name now, too. I mean, I’m still Finn – but she was gonna call me Adley. Adley Windu! So I’m going by Finn Adley Windu now,” he offered, still thrilled to bits to have a full name.


BB-8 added a bit about Windu being a Jedi.  
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Paquin nodded to Kylo's answer. That was fine, though it could become an issue when it came time to actually receive the prosthetic. 'Cross that bridge when we come to it.'


 It was with Gnaeus's question that her eyebrows furrowed, even more so at his explanation for it.


"Well, no. They're not really meant to be removed, after all. They're really not all that uncomfortable," she attempted to assure, "but if that's what you want then I'll see what can be done." She did say that she could get whatever he wanted, and so she would. Surely there were others out in the galaxy that wanted a removable cybernetic. "We can work up to a more permanent one."


Maybe it was just apart of not wanting to accept the loss of his hand. As Paquin had advised Kylo, they just had to be patient with Gnaeus as he worked through this. Paquin did wish that she could help him mentally as she could the rest of him.


-


Hux slipped out right after August and they made it without being spotted. Hux did spot Ransolm and Johann, however, and subtly waved them over as he reassumed the crouched position, inching his way back into the field of grass.


Johann followed into the field a ways, though he no longer held the nexu in his arms. He discovered that the nexu followed him happily and listened to him when he called for it. Johann still wouldn't trust the nexu when fire broke out, which Johann knew would happen when he saw the sniper rifle his father had, but for now it was fine. 


"What's the plan?" The young Tarkin asked as they united, far enough away from the home to speak.


"You and Casterfo stay here. We found a sniper rifle, which August will use. So, we're going back up to find a decent position. You two will take out anyone who scatters out of our sight."


Johann nodded. "Got it." He picked up the Nexu then, and handed it to Hux. "He'll be safer with you, then."


Hux held the creature just as he would Millicent. This was fine, he supposed. The thing was small. 


-


Rollo had to grin at Finn's enthusiasm. If not that, then the fact that he found his mom. "A Jedi, huh?" Well, he didn't know much about the Jedi. Except for Luke, Obi-Wan, Leia, and Anakin. The basics. "You know, I knew that there was definitely more to you than just the Order! Well, Poe did, but he convinced me of it! That's awesome, Finn! Or should I say Finn Adley Windu?"


Finn nearly squealed out of joy at someone using his full name, but held it in. "Finn's just fine. The whole thing might be a little much. I can't wait to update all the files and fill everything out with my full name."


"Well, I'm sure the General would be just fine with sending the artificats to someone related to you." Finn had to get his trustworthiness from somewhere, right? And if both of them trusted her, Rollo didn't see the big deal. 


"Great! Mira's got all of my mom's information in her datapad," He had to get a datapad of his own to put all the info on. "I'll get it to you straight away!" And Finn had a feeling his mom wouldn't complain. She had said she'd be there if he needed anything, not to mention it involved something she was passionate about.
 
Gnaeus nodded, “Yes, I would want one that is easier to remove,” he told her. Again, reminded himself to mention nothing else, no other reason. He wasn’t willing to commit to a prosthetic yet. He wasn’t willing to accept that his hand was gone, and it couldn’t be fixed. Stranger things had happened. He wanted to believe in that.


Kylo bit down on a comment on it, just said, “All right,” and then, “Now you should go rest, like Paquin said. Or eat.” He guessed that Gnaeus hadn’t eaten, seeing just the cup he held. “Maybe shower….” He was trying to get a joke out of him.


But Gnaeus just lifted his arm, sniffed, nodded. “Shower.” Determined immediately, without the usual joking mannerism. That was going to be another thing to get used to…showering with one hand. He liked using two hands to lather up his hair. And there were going to be places difficult to reach now in cleaning his body.


He didn’t let his thoughts dwell there long. “I’ll eat…when I wake up,” he said, and then set the empty glass on the nearest flat surface. Didn’t say goodbye. Started to walk off, briefly remembered he was moving alone. ‘What, you want Kylo Ren to go with you to the shower?’ Realized he couldn’t grab Kylo for this, and forced himself on.


"Gnaeus."


He paused, looked back, "You should get your measurements taken first."


"Oh." He blinked, looked to Paquin, then to Kylo, "I don't see measuring tape...."


~***~


Casterfo eyed the sniper rifle with growing understanding. He’d seen August at target practice, but never in the actual field. He was curious if the man was as much a marksman as he liked to boast about. Still couldn’t quite believe some of the stories of it – not even the most recent.


Ransolm did tense when the nexu was passed, half-expecting it to claw Hux, but fortunately, it didn’t.


“All right. After me,” he told Hux, and kept in mind the seconds they had to move, after glancing through the scope to calculate where the clones were in their movement.


A comment was made on the way back. “The nexu seems to like you. Good sign,” good sign of what, he couldn’t say – but he did consider it good. Briefly wondered if the Carrion was mistaking Hux for a Tarkin for the same reason anyone would - red hair and blue eyes. He shook that off. The Carrion wasn't so easily tricked. But, at least the nexu wasn't maiming him. It might maim Ransolm...he liked Ransolm, but he had a feeling it would maim him if given half the chance.


The trip back to the hill was made, crawling and running, but once they were there, August quickly found a good position at a tree stump. He used it to set up, then looked through the scope, took in the figures he saw, looking for the marking of a commander.


‘There we go.’


Aimed.


Fired.


~***~


Mira also couldn’t help but allow herself a slight chuckle as she lifted the box of sassy tanks with the Force, over to the box of ‘Kevan’s effects’ and then lifted the artifact box to join them. She walked over to the effects box, crouched down, and dug through it for the keys to the Nymph.


Not there.


Frowned, and stood back up, looked to the other boxes of miscellaneous things. The Knights did live on their ships, really. So there was one of just general items it seemed – ‘bedroom’, ‘hygiene’, things of that nature. Some might be interesting, bedroom probably included some interesting decorations, and so she moved that over to the pile with the artifacts, but moved ‘hygiene’ to the ‘protection’ box area.


“You can keep those – and here,” she took her datapad out of the interior pocket and offered it to Rollo, “Ada’s information.”


She would take out Kevan’s pad when Rollo accepted hers, to bring up the security screen, and immediately start trying out a few passwords.


Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. ‘Come on, Kevan.’ Wrong.


Irritated breath. She knew him, she should be able to figure this out.
 
“We’ll find one.” Paquin said, “I need to drop some clothes off to get fixed, they’ll have measuring tape there. It’ll take two seconds, then you can shower.” She moved to catch up to Gnaeus.


She wondered if they’d even be able to save those pants. 


She paused when she reached Gnaeus, turning back to Kylo. “We’ll call some people when I get back.” Well, she’d call. Kylo would fly. She placed a gentle hand on Gnaeus’s back to urge him forward, but Ariel spoke up.


“Hey, if you need me, you know…I’ll be around.” She spoke to Gnaeus. He hadn’t wanted to be alone long enough for her to get him water. And she knew that showering on his own would be difficult to adjust to with one hand. But she also knew she couldn’t follow him around everywhere, as much as she wanted to. Especially not into the showers. 


Even though she probably needed to shower, too. But she’d wait until after Gnaeus did.


-


‘Well, isn’t that special.’ The nexu cub tolerating him was apparently a good sign. A good sign for what? He didn’t know. Just accepted it. Maybe it was something only a Tarkin would understand.


Then came the cycle of running and crawling, which was made a little more inconvenient by the nexu, but they made it. Wordlessly, August set up to snipe. Hux could see Ransolm and Johann, waiting out of sight, behind the freighter that he and August had been in not long ago. Obviously they were waiting for their time to step in.


Hux almost sensed when August was about to fire. Held his breath and counted, as if he was the one doing it.


 ‘So far he’s living up to the legends.’ The first clone dropped and the pattern of the clones was disrupted. They were so lost, looking for the source, Hux could tell that without a scope. Then they began to move out, likely to start looking for the source.


It was then that Johann gestured Ransolm around the ship, to start taking out who they could, likely banking on August to take out the majority.


-


“Oh, thanks. We’ll find great use in those.” Rollo was sarcastic, but had a small smirk on his face as he took the datapad from Mira. They’d probably end up throwing out the hygiene products and the box full of condoms after this. He doubted there were secret messages in each individual package.


Rollo forwarded Ada’s information from Mira’s datapad to his own, thus giving the blonde his information, as well. He held onto the device while Mira tried to crack Kevan’s. Hearing the irritated sigh, he knew she was having trouble getting in. He wasn’t sure what the password would be. And he was more likely to have an idea than Finn was. 


And just as he was about to offer to take it to be cracked, BB-8 spoke up. Well, beeped.


A mechanical arm darted out of a compartment as the droid offered to give bypassing the datapad’s password a go. BB-8 wasn’t a super computer or a specialized droid, but all astromech droids came with some sort of computer system so they could assist during flights where a pilot, like Poe, couldn’t get a grip on the ship’s systems. Maybe that could extend to datapads.


So, the droid waved the little arm around.
 
Gnaeus gave a small smile to Ariel. This one wasn’t forced, but sincere, as she offered to be around. “Okay,” his answer, lame as ever. Not ‘thank you’. Not anything appropriate. And then he was following Paquin out for her to get her pants fixed, and to get measuring tape.


Wait, why did her pants need fixed? “What happened to you?” He managed to ask when they were outside of the cantina, leaving behind Ariel and Kylo Ren.


Kylo accepted he should probably stay in the cantina so that Paquin knew where to find him, so they could make the calls. He glanced to Ariel and her orange, “You should eat,” he calmly advised. Her situation appeared better, but no doubt she hadn’t had time to eat or drink much.


Well, drink.


But not as she should.


He moved towards the buffet of food laid out for the clones to have his pick, but even he wasn’t sure what he wanted. He wanted the day to end, but he knew it wouldn’t that quickly. He’d have to take Paquin up to order a hand. They’d have to figure out how to get the hand. He hated focusing on this ‘hand’ issue.


And somehow in the midst of all that his mind decided on a comfort food of sorts: cereal and blue milk.


~***~


‘Good luck with finding the source.’ August just adjusted his aim a bit, the flow of chaos like a familiar pattern. One had gone to examine the fallen one, and August fired again, shortly after the first shot, to take out that one when they rose from the examination.


No one would go to that spot any longer, of course. He let his scope shift then to take in the door that was opening, and fired into the first one, spilling the Trooper backwards onto the foes that wanted to come out. Naturally, they avoided that option at first, not realizing it was the smart one when their compatriot fell on them.


Instinct was in humans, too. They acted like herded prey, moved back away, but now tried to figure out where to hide. What wall to move against so they wouldn’t be seen while they figured out where the shots were coming from.  


Johann and Ransolm would have the ones outside to deal with, for the most part. And those that left the freighter, for the time being.


Deep breath. He saw one from the outside, taken down swiftly by Ransolm’s blaster, as the freighter doors were opening.


Someone inside moved to a window, hearing Ransolm’s blaster.


August shot that one, of course.


~***~


Mira just chuckled at Rollo’s comment of finding great use in what was left. Didn’t make a joke about Poe – refused to make a joke about Poe right then.


But the password still didn’t come to her, and she knew she was going to have to ask for help. Fortunately, BB-8 offered…and she still trusted the droid well enough to crouch down and hold out the pad, “Just be gentle with it, all right? If you can’t do it, we’ll get a professional to.”


But BB-8 was eager to try, and it quickly plugged in. Mira watched the screen as BB-8 tried to talk to the machine and convince it to grant them access.


And then, it did. The screen had gone right to a password change one, with a password pre-filled. Mira quickly typed in a new one, and the datapad opened up. “Thank you, BB!” She said, quite happy it didn’t need to go to a professional as the droid disconnected itself. She rose, immediately opening up some of the more curious folders on the first screen.


Contact information.


Places where he had residences.


Allies.


Except Allies wasn’t as straight forward as it should have been. It was tabbed. ‘First Order. Snoke. Resistance. Tarkins. Dulchellon?’ Then Mira remembered. His name. ‘So you didn’t….’ He had been arranging his move away for a while…preparing his plan b. She swallowed it down, noted that Snoke and the First Order were separated. ‘And so was Snoke….’ This needed to get sent right to Hux.


She opened that tab first. “Can I see?” Finn asked. He hadn’t walked around behind Mira yet, not sure what she was looking at, or if he was allowed to see. But he was eager. Curious. Mira nodded.


BB-8 was too short, so it had to ask what was so interesting. “Kevan had many identities. He kept a list of allies, though…a list of Snoke’s allies.” A hit list.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Paquin shrugged, “Just had a bit of an accident in a tomb is all. No big deal, just a little tear.” She didn’t feel the need to inform him of the whole leg ordeal. If only because she felt bad. She could dip her leg in bacta and pull it out, good as new. Gnaeus couldn’t do that, and she didn’t want him thinking about it.


Though what happened in the tomb was a big deal. All of it, not just her leg. Kylo disobeying Snoke was huge. And the holocron. She wasn’t sure what exactly would come of it, but it would apparently be useful.


Paquin had to stop at the medbay to grab the pants and then they had to find whoever the tailor was. Signs were few and far between and everything looked the same, but eventually they stumbled into a room full of clone armor and the protective clothes that went under the armor. A Kaminoan greeted them in that voice of theres, and Paquin explained the pants situation.


The clothing was handed over and Paquin asked to borrow a measuring tape. “Hold your arms out, please.” She instructed Gnaeus when she had the tape in her grasp. She was careful to say arms and not hands.


-


Ariel wasn’t going to complain about the okay she received. It came with a smile.


Kylo said she should eat and she sighed, slumping. “This sucks.” 


Ariel didn’t want to eat. She needed to, the noises coming from her stomach told her that. But eating didn’t seem appealing. ‘Probably how Gnaeus feels.’ Either way, she began to peel the orange in her hands, simultaneously using the Force to get her her own cup of water. 


She plopped herself down on a table near the buffet line and pulled apart her orange. She looked to Kylo as he got himself cereal and blue milk. “Kylo, I’m really sorry. We should’ve told you.”


-


Glass shattered and the one inside went down. It was then that the clones really started to panic, one clone even bothering to make sure the one that was shot by August was dead, setting itself up to be shot. ‘Simple minded.’ And that’s why Hux had refused a clone army.


Others weren’t as dumb, and one of the clones inside attempted to set up it’s own sniping position. As if it would be able to spot them in the greenery. As if it wouldn’t be shot. 


Johann and Ransolm were taking care of the clones that had been guarding the home. They were easy. 


The ones in the freighter were easy.


Johann could shoot most of them as they blindly pooled out. There weren’t many filing out, anyway.


Their numbers dwindle rapidly on the outside. It was those in the house that would be difficult as they moved behind walls to hide. Johann and Ransolm would likely have to move into the home, but they’d wait for the number of living clones to decrease.


And Hux felt useless. Watching, holding the nexu. His blaster nor would the explosives reach that far.


-


Rollo took an interest in the list of allies, moving around to stand on the other side of Mira, opposite Finn. His eyes barely scanned over the list, but he knew it was important.  He stepped back, “You should send this to Leia. All of it, probably, but definitely that tab.” 


Apparently Kevan really was a good diplomat. Probably had something to do with the box of condoms.


Finn nodded in agreement. “Hux, too.” He looked over the names, to see if he recognized any of them. Shaking his head, they must have been solely Snoke’s contacts, unrelated to the Order. “This is good, though! Right? This is an advantage on Snoke?”


"If any of these names are still relevant. That's why we should get it to Leia, so we can make plans."


BB-8 beeped, asking if Mira recognized any of the names on the list. Also asking what the names on the list were. As it couldn't see.
 
Bit of an accident in a tomb? ‘What were you doing in a tomb without Ariel or me?’ Given, Ariel was more the expert on them, but Gnaeus had done his fair share of tomb-raiding, too. Mostly Jedis. Not that trapped.


Why not Ariel? What was Kylo thinking? ‘Nothing.’


Soon enough, they stumbled into the right area of the base. Gnaeus was starting to wonder if he knew this one – it all seemed different. Darker. Deeper. He didn’t feel oriented. ‘Probably lots of bases on Kamino.’ It would make finding Snoke difficult. Well, for anyone not Force sensitive. Anyone Force sensitive would feel him from miles away.


He blinked out of his thoughts when Paquin addressed him, the pants handed off, “Right,” he held out his arms, and then tried not to be too affected by the image of her…measuring…to replace what was no longer there. But his eyes moved over the stump, the way the flesh had melted to close up the wound.


~***~


It did suck. Kylo could agree with that as he went to sit with Ariel.


Milk and sugar were devoured too quickly. He was sure his stomach would not be happy with him later. He gave an agitated sigh when Ariel apologized, again. “It’s okay. Just…don’t do it again,” he glanced up, “We could have prepared, or had an idea, of what happened if you two went missing.”


Rather than just think they might be taking a while getting food or something. “Or stopped you.” Because that would have been the smart thing.


Would Kylo have done it? No, probably not – he wanted information, too. He wanted to know what was going on out there. He felt so…useless here. And he’d been useless to Snoke, in a tomb. He hadn’t gone to help Eriadu, and now they lost it. Lost.


~***~


August sniped the sniper once he recognized what he was doing, and as the other clones began to figure out where August couldn’t get them in the house, he moved on to assist with those outside, those daring to bother his son and Ransolm.


Shot, after shot, after shot.


August didn’t tire. He rarely got such satisfaction so quickly – usually, sniping was a waiting game, after all, but this was like shooting fish in a barrel.


But then the Freighter started to move, and August cursed under his breath, got up and slung the sniper rifle over his shoulder.


No, he could not lodge an explosive at it from this far. Not with his wounded arm. He grabbed the nexu and instead placed an explosive in Hux’s hand, even though he had plenty of his own. “Get it down, now.” But he was already moving to find a way to do so himself, running with the nexu cub in his arms towards the house, heedless of the still-active clones.


The freighter had guns.


A freighter could mow them all down.


~***~


“Yes,” Mira agreed, “BB-8, you have Leia’s information, don’t you?”


BB-8 chirped that it did, and Mira lowered herself again so BB-8 could add it to the datapad. She had Hux’s in there – First Order datapad, after all. And her own. She’d have to forward it to herself, as well. “Some of the names are familiar to me,” she told them then, “Grakkus.”


BB-8 immediately reacted to that one, apparently recalling an incident at a prison. “Really? I heard of him from Luke…I guess he tried to preserve Luke for his collection,” a story that was a bit amusing, once. That was how he got into that prison. He was free now, of course. “I think we should pay him a visit.” Perhaps calling Snoke himself would be a lesson in futility, but Mira could give him reason to scatter and weaken. Start picking off his allies, one by one.


“Why would we want to do that…?” Finn asked.


“He’s an ally of Snoke, and an enemy of the First Order. Looks like he owns a casino on Tatooine. Be nice to bankrupt a mutual enemy of the Resistance and First Order,” she was smiling. Added, as an afterthought, "He also collects Jedi things," so maybe it could help.


Dice was a fantastic game with the Force, “You’re going to need a suit, Finn.” Once the information was on the datapad, she immediately forwarded it to Leia, Hux, Phasma, and herself. And then Poe, when she realized BB-8 had also added his information to it.


Enjoy.


-Mira


It was the only message to accompany it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Paquin measured around the stump for width, from the elbow to where the stump ended for length. She moved onto his other arm, the one with the hand, measuring from his wrist to the tips of his fingers, so the replacement would be proportionate. 


As she mumbled the numbers under her breath in an effort to remember them, she couldn’t help but wish that she could do more to help him. He’d done so much to help her and all she could do was order him a fake hand. ‘Stupid Mira.’ This was all her fault.


She took in a deep breath and released it in a sigh, she pushed a small smile onto her face as she finished. “All done. You can go shower and what not.” She gave the measuring tape back to the alien. “I’ll go make some calls and see how soon we can get you the prosthetic.” And figure out how to get it. “We’ll get this all set straight soon enough.”


She hoped they’d see some glimpse of the goofy, lighthearted Gnaeus. But she remember she needed to follow her own advice to Kylo and be patient. This was weird. She wasn’t just the doctor anymore. This was on a more personal level, this was someone she cared about. She cared about the Stormtroopers, of course, but not like she did Gnaeus or Ariel or Kylo.


-


Ariel avoided looking at Kylo after that, instead taking an incredible interest in her orange. “Yeah, I don’t think we’ll be doing anything like that again.” Not after Gnaeus’s hand. Maybe if it had just been the glass in Ariel’s eyes, or just getting captured would she consider doing it again.


That wasn’t unusual. Getting captured or injured wasn’t traumatic anymore. But after seeing the stump and the effect the loss of the hand had on Gnaeus?


She didn’t think she’d have any desire to run off again, especially without telling someone. 


“As long as you and Paquin don’t run off into tombs without me again.” Almost a joke. She was curious as to what the hell Kylo was thinking during that. She was pretty certain he didn’t even know how to read most of what adorned the Sith tombs. Maybe Paquin was right with the whole communication thing. They definitely needed to work on it. Especially when it was clear that they needed to be a team. 


-


Well, now Hux wasn’t so useless. With an explosive in hand and August tasking him with getting the freighter down. He wondered what Tarkin expected him to do with it. Throw it? At this far?


Well, that’s what he did.


The fact that he was uphill definitely helped the explosive in reaching anywhere near the freighter. He knew it wouldn’t take down the freighter, but he hoped it would at least offer a distraction while he really figured out how to take it down. He had more explosives, anyway. It would help if he had something to propel it, such as bowcaster he could attach it to. 


The explosive made it surprisingly far. The freighter had to swerve to avoid the explosion as it hit the ground beneath it. But it didn’t hit the freighter, and it would recover quickly. 


Then Hux’s eyes moved to the two TIE fighters near the home. Those had a good chance of taking a freighter down. But he had to make a run for them, just as August was running towards the home. He wished he could communicate with the three near the home, for them to take up the TIE fighters and he could provide a distraction with explosives. 


Johann was moving in towards the home, to take out those within it, even with some remaining outside. He was hoping the numbers were small, and he’d be able to get in contact with someone. Hopefully the Imperatrix, his mother would know where to direct back up. Or someone to find their bodies.


-


Rollo wasn’t going to object to paying Grakkus a visit. Jedi things and taking some money from an enemy’s ally? Sounded just fine to him. The only downside he could see was it giving away that the Resistance and the First Order knew something. But that wasn’t even guaranteed, so he let it be.


“A suit? Like, a flight suit?” Finn questioned, unsure of why he would need that if they were going to a casino.


Rollo snorted. “No, Finn. I think she means a dress suit. Like a tux.”


“Oh. I don’t have one of those.” Nor had he ever worn one. BB-8 beeped, asking if there were any left over credits from getting Mira’s dress. “I think so.” Then the droid suggested they pick him up a suit on the way. A comment on how fancy of a pair he and Mira would make. 


“Okay. I guess we can do this." Finn nodded along with the plan. "But how are we going to bankrupt Grakkus? Have you lived a secret gambler’s life or something?” Finn questioned Mira, a playful grin on his face. 
 
Gnaeus felt his nerves trying to send messages to fingers that weren’t there as she took her measurements of his actual hand. He tried to prevent it, but still they tried to run up and give signals. Nothing moved, of course. Just that sensation of failure. Of no movement. He stared despondently at the wrist, that ended, as Paquin took away the measuring tape and told him he was free to go. “Ah. Right.”


He lifted his gaze from the wrist, to meet Paquin’s eyes then. “I do want a removable one,” he said, reminding her. Reminding himself. “I want you…that is…the Force brings life.” It was what he was always told. A hand was a part of him, full of life and living cells, “We don’t have to tell the others…not get their hopes up…but you can try to…figure out how to heal with it, on me.”


He could be an experiment.


He didn’t want to hear her deny it, or tell him that she was inexperienced, so he turned quickly to leave the room and go take his shower. Rest.


~***~


Kylo allowed a wry grin at Ariel’s statement, then shook his head, “No,” he wouldn’t do something that stupid again, “My…senses weren’t honed enough,” he said. He’d thought he could rely solely on the Force, but apparently, he couldn’t. “For some reason, the tomb was built upside down. Everything was in the basement, not the top,” he shook his head, still annoyed by that.


Sith. Sith were annoying.


“At least we made a decent discovery,” which kept the Supreme Leader from eviscerating him or Paquin. Or so it seemed, anyway. “We may be getting closer to completing the prophecy,” they were five, in a way. Snoke, Kylo, Ariel, Paquin, Gnaeus. Perhaps that was how it was always meant to be.


~***~


August had noticed the TIEs, but that was not his prerogative. No, the house had shields, and he intended to get those up and running, fast. Before everything was run down. He threw the nexu at the first clone he came near in running up to the home, heard the clone let out a shout before its throat was ripped out by the far-too-cheerful cat.


He continued on. Up, as he saw Johann also moving for the house.


Ransolm was dealing with those outside, conscious of Johann’s back and blindspots.


August had to make a decision. “Ransolm, TIE – now!” He ordered as he kicked the door open with enough force to move the body that had been in the way of it before.


Ransolm moved on the order, and August shot the first clone he saw with his blaster, and moved on, wanting to get back to the bedroom where he could find the shields.


~***~


Mira chuckled a bit at Finn’s question about a suit, was a bit disappointed that he didn’t have one. “We will have to get you one,” she wasn’t sure if she had enough in credits. Glanced again at Kevan’s datapad, searched through it, “Might be able to use some of his funds if I can get to them…did he have any loose credits that the Resistance hasn’t already used?” She had to ask, before looking up at Finn.


She lifted up the lightsaber of Kevan’s, drawing it out of her pocket with the Force and twisting it in the air, “Finn. Just imagine this was a die. Or a roulette ball,” she said, letting it turn in the air before them, “I can cheat. I could also play poker and read minds,” she reminded him, “I am good at gambling.”


Or, she could be.


And she at least understood the environment they were about to be in, so that was going to make it easier, too.  
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)

Similar threads

muchmorethanmuses
Fandom Inquisitionis || 1x1 Star Wars RP || Muchmorethanmuses && Lucyfer
Replies
5
Views
112
Lucyfer
Lucyfer
EmilySmith
Fantasy Serial Killer Roleplay w/ @starpaintswithword
Replies
11
Views
83
EmilySmith
EmilySmith
Lucyfer
Realistic or Modern Wages of Sin [Closed]
2
Replies
29
Views
149
cleopat
cleopat
hellomydear
Realistic or Modern Lavender Caught In Thorns w/ sappho_ 1x1
Replies
4
Views
72
hellomydear
hellomydear
KilljoyConstruct
Fandom Look Alive, Sunshine [Killjoys: California 1x1 with Inquieta]
danger days oc and cc oc and oc
Replies
2
Views
51
Inquieta
Inquieta
Back
Top