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“Gnaeus, I—“ She tried to deny it. She wasn’t experienced. She didn’t know how. He spoke of not getting the other’s hopes up, but she didn’t want to get his hopes up. But he had turned and rushed off, Paquin unable to say she couldn’t do it.


Paquin sighed again, shoulder’s slumping. She shuffled out of the room, to head back to the cantina where she’d last seen Kylo. So she could at least get him that removable prosthetic.


 ‘Is that why he wanted a removable one? So we can take it off to try and heal his hand?’ Maybe.


Thankfully, Kylo and Ariel were still in the cantina. When she approached, she caught some of what Ariel was saying. 


The redhead commented on how unusual it was that the tomb was upside down. But she also figured that something on the walls must have hinted to it, and that Kylo just couldn’t read it. 


And then the prophecy, “We still need to figure out what the hell the Three Sisters are.” She’d never heard of them. And she wasn’t terribly sure if they were the prophecy. It just didn’t seem right, “And I can’t make sense of the five of us fitting the roles.” 


-


This worked, Hux thought. He wasn’t sure what August’s plan was, throwing the nexu and moving towards the house, but he saw Ransolm moving towards the TIEs. ‘Move forward.’ He told himself. He’d be in the open field, but he could begin making his way towards the home, having a better shot at hitting the freighter with explosives.


If anything, he could serve as a distraction while Ransolm got the TIE in the air.


Explosives were thrown again, to pull attention away from Ransolm.


Inside the home, Johann shot at a remaining clone while his father pushed his way in, heading towards the bedroom.. Johann then made it his job to watch his father’s back as he made his way towards the bedroom, backing up as he shot a clone that attempted to follow his father.


Explosions coming from outside made him nervous, but he knew what his father was doing. The home would be a safe spot soon enough. 'Where's the nexu?" Did Hux still have it?


-


It made sense to Finn then. "Oh! Right! That's cool. And kind of bad. But cool!" Useful. Finn would feel guilty if he were the one doing it, but it could come in handy. 'The Force is awesome.' He hadn't even begun to figure out how the Force worked. That thought made him think of Han. 'Ow.' Finn wondered if Han would be proud of them if he were here.


Rollo waited until Mira's explanation was finished before he answered her question. "He had a couple on him, they're in the effects box. Somewhere." Unless someone swiped them. :We haven't checked his clothes or anything for credits or otherwise, either." He shrugged. 


"Well, we don't need a real fancy suit. I'll probably only wear it this once." They could probably get one cheap at a thrift store or something.


"Aren't you the Admiral of the First Order now?" Rollo was almost teasing with that. "They're loaded." He remembered when Poe came back and had told them just how equipped the First Order was. It was terrifying. "Can't you tap into some of those funds?"
 
Gnaeus could have told her that his hopes couldn’t rise. He was prepared for Paquin’s failure – he had lost his hand, after all. No one ever had a hand replaced. But, it was Kylo’s hope for Paquin, wasn’t it? She wasn’t going to learn anything on healthy people. She shouldn’t practice on those near death, either.


He could be a start.


If nothing else, maybe she’d learn to be better with using the Force to heal in general. Save a life with quick actions. He might not get a hand, but if it kept Kylo or Ariel from bleeding out on the field, he’d take it.


And so he walked on, not looking back as he heard the protest in her tone, and went to the showers. Grabbing a towel, and then walking in to get himself cleaned up…and keep fighting back the need to run both of his hands through his hair to lather in.


Ended up with a forehead pressed to the wall as the water ran down.


Cried.


Finally.


~***~


Kylo looked to Paquin when she returned to the cantina, and started to rise. He was mostly done with his cereal. He wanted to make sure to get Gnaeus's hand ordered as soon as possible. Maybe it would help to make Gnaeus feel...normal again. Kylo could hope, though he doubted it, what with Gnaeus wanting a removable one. "We'll figure it out," he said, and then shrugged at the mention of how they all 'fit in'. "I'm sure the Supreme Leader would understand it better than us," he was the one who basically agreed to let them into the Knights.


Somehow, they all fit into his idea. In some way. Never mind that he had clearly been wrong about Mira and Kevan. Prophecy was difficult.


It wasn't for Kylo to question right then. He didn't want to do much questioning of the Supreme Leader at all, right then. He still felt like he had avoided quite a bit of trouble recently and didn't want to chance getting into more with a stupid question. So, he looked to Paquin then, "Are you ready?" He asked, figuring she must be if she was back. He would be ready to leave and get them up in the ship, so she could start contacting others to get the proper prosthetic for Gnaeus.


~***~


Ransolm was better in a ship and he knew it – he could fight, but his recklessness was better when it was protected by shields and metal. He managed to jump in the TIE and close himself up in it before he got hit again. ‘Deep breath.’ Had to hope no one came by who was a part of the ‘good guys’. Getting not shot out of the air would be difficult, then.


He lifted it up as the freighter seemed consistently distracted by the explosions, but it was starting to get its bearings.


It knew to try and turn back around towards the home, to destroy it. If they couldn’t capture the Tarkins, it was better to kill them. Sound logic, of course.


Ransolm felt a moment of defeat as all of his systems were still powering up, and the freighter had turned itself around. Unleashed a barrage of red shots right at the house.


Only for each one to be spread out over a translucent green shield, that seemed to cover the home, and the area around it – forming from the tip of the stone memorial and doming over it.


Ransolm laughed, relief exiting in the sound, before he drove forward to mow down the freighter before it could take him seriously as a target. He unloaded, hard and fast, to bring it down.


Meanwhile, August had also laughed, getting into the bedroom and bringing up the systems that the Stormtroopers had just started to reveal hidden amidst the otherwise ‘natural’ decorations. Skulls, furs, wood – they all hid the mechanics beneath them. He knew all the passwords, and was quick at unlocking them as he heard Johann near, dealing with his threats.


He also heard the rushed steps of the nexu before he ever needed to explain it, maw bloody, as it came into the home and let out a confused, intrigued, high-pitched sound. It warbled, before it walked towards the bedroom, tail flicking, looking for more targets in the home itself.


“And there!”


The shields went up.


Just in time, too. August heard the shots deflected by it. Hux had bought them just enough time, it seemed.


~***~


Mira laughed a bit at the ‘kind of bad’. ‘Well, I’m not a Jedi.’


Mira could never go back to that. Could never believe there wasn’t a use for the ‘dark side’ after what she’d been through. She could justify things like this easily, too easily, perhaps.


Fortunately, Kevan’s funds were going to make it easier to bankroll this. Get Finn dressed up nicely. She wanted to tell Finn the odds of that weren’t good – he was going to need to look nice. Perhaps not ‘suit nice’, but when they had time to start getting the Gray Order figured out, he’d be en route to being a leading member of it.



He’d have to look nice.


“I am,” Mira smirked at his teasing, “but it was a bit of a…rush job,” wait, was she getting paid for this? Why didn’t that even cross her mind? “I don’t have access to the First Order accounts,” that she knew of. She also probably shouldn’t gamble with those. She couldn’t imagine Phasma or Hux would approve. “And I’m not exactly considering this First Order business.”


“What are we considering it, then?”


“Gray Jedi business. Jedi artifacts and such,” maybe there’d be something to help, assuming she could get the Hutt to bet it. Probably couldn’t. “Anyway, do you have the key to the Nymph – Kevan’s ship? And know where it is?” She was going to need to pick that up, too. After Grakkus, but still…needed it. “I think that’s all I need here…then I can get on my way to getting Finn a suit and dealing with Grakkus.”  
 
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Ariel didn’t bother pressing further on the subject of the Three Sisters or how they fit into the prophecy. She’d let Snoke deal with his prophecy. Besides, Paquin showed up and Ariel wanted them to get the prosthetic as soon as possible.


Kylo asked Paquin if she was ready and she simply nodded.


She wouldn’t mention what Gnaeus had suggested, not only as to not to get anyones hopes up, but because she wasn’t even considering it as an option. She didn’t want others to, either. And she knew that it was something Kylo was hoping for her to learn. But she had no clue how to do it, and they had no clue if they’d even find something to help her. If she could learn how to do it, great. But she wasn’t counting on it.


Ariel picked up her glass of water, “I’m going to go back to the rooms and wait for Gnaeus.” She informed them. Make sure he was okay, getting some rest. Then she’d shower and go to bed herself. She felt she earned a nice long sleep.


-


Hux felt that same disappointment when he saw the freighter turning to the house. The explosions hadn’t been enough was a thought of his for a brief moment. Until the shields spread over the home and Hux let out a breath of relief.


Just yards away from the home and the freighter, Hux held one last explosive in his hands. He paused, and chucked the explosive as hard as he could at the freighter. Hux moved quickly to get away from the explosion that would happen just above him.


Combined with the shots from Ransolm and the explosion, the freighter had no time to get its own shields up. The explosive threw the freighter off balance, nearly colliding into the shields of the home, but it wasn’t the explosives that brought it down, but rather Ransolm’s rapid firing.


The freighter hit the ground hard, causing the ground to shake. It hadn’t been high in the air, but it still managed to crush itself into the ground, flames slowly beginning to creep out of it.


Hux hurried to the entrance of the house, where one remaining clone was coming from the opposite direction. The clone paused, realizing its fate as Hux drew his blaster and shot the last clone. And then that’s when Hux really felt relief.


The rumbling of the freighter was heard inside the house, seen through the windows. Johann couldn’t help but fist pump the air in victory, turning his attention to the little nexu, covered in blood. 


He crouched down to the little nexu and picked it up. “So young and already a man killing machine.” The creature was going to fit in well with the Tarkins.


-


“Well, about Kevan’s ship,” Rollo began, Finn immediately thinking ‘oh no’. “We don’t have it. Or the keys to it. We emptied it, got information off of it, and then we left it with a friend of the Resistance’s. We figured she could sell it or she sometimes gives parts and equipment to smugglers and pirates who pass through her place. We didn’t want it to lead back to the base on Naboo.”


Though, ultimately, it didn’t matter. Rollo ended up leading Mira to it anyway. And then the alliance happened.


“Maybe she hasn’t torn it apart, or given it away yet and you can get it back. You know Maz, right?”


“Maz? I know Maz.” Finn confirmed. Yeah, he certainly knew Maz. “On Takodana.” A lot of people moved through there, trading and buying all sorts of stuff. He didn’t think the chances of getting Kevan’s ship back were the greatest. But who knew what Maz would do with it? He turned to Mira, “Do you know Maz Kanata?” 


Maz used to have Luke’s lightsaber, Mira used to be one of Luke’s padawan. Who knew?
 
Kylo lifted the bowl with the Force when Paquin said she was ready, levitating it back to the dishes drop-off to get cleaned up, rather than walk to put it away. Why waste the time? He nodded to confirm he heard Ariel’s idea, added, “Don’t…worry him too much,” Kylo wasn’t sure if it was good to hang on to Gnaeus in his pain or let him deal with it alone. Kylo knew how he’d prefer to deal with things, and he wouldn’t want someone waiting for him at every second.


But, Gnaeus wasn’t him.


And it probably did feel kind of nice to know someone cared that much. But it also added a burden – a need to start getting better to stop the other person from worrying. He didn’t want Gnaeus to feel that pressure. He’d felt it so often.


“All right, let’s get back to the ship,” he’d just go to the ship they brought here. He doubted it had been moved off of the pad yet. He still had the keys – not that it would matter. It wasn’t a special ship, after all. There was probably a copy of it somewhere.


Kylo began to walk then, to take Paquin back through the winding halls to return to the ship. The storm seemed to have calmed some, from the looks of the rain. Though, lightning kept lighting up the sky – the thunder followed, a constant roar that was as familiar as the birds that Kylo still wasn’t certain were real.


The ship was, indeed, still on the pad. “How did he seem?” Kylo asked before they would venture outside, “Will it be difficult to find a hand for him?” Unsure how odd his hands might be. It wasn’t a thing one thought of.


~***~


August heard the explosion, but didn’t go to look outside. Heard a few more shots from the TIE. Heard one from something much closer, before the heavier steps of the General entered the house, after his son’s declaration about the nexu, “You shouldn’t coddle it. It’s been killing since a month old, at least,” if not earlier.


August had known that when he threw it. Its instincts were as well honed as his own, even so young. The adults taught the young what was needed, and in the Carrion, as a nexu, that was the ability to hunt. To kill. To eat.


By the time Hux would find August, the man would have multiple screens pulled up from where pictures had been, flipped over to reveal their dual nature. The Carrion was mapped out, a radar pulsing now from the house to signify the movements within it. Most of it was unimportant or insignificant, and likely some of that was Trooper movement. What it detected and beeped about were the crashed ships and other pockets of large activity within.


The TIE was starting to land then, and August assumed everything was taken care of as he finally picked up on the radio.


Put himself right into the communications that were buzzing.


He listened for a few seconds. Snoke was retreating – apparently someone had sliced Snoke’s communications. He was listening for code words that would reveal their own network was sliced, and they knew it, but he picked up none.


So, he interrupted the flow, “Don’t tell me the battle is over already?”


“Alpha!” One of his own laughed, and he heard Julia growl into her own radio, likely quite frustrated with him. “If you get your ass back to civilization, we got a couple cities still showing resistance. I guess they didn’t get Snoke’s memo to pull out! Couldn’t imagine why.” Joking. He could see the look on Omega’s face.


“Tarkin. Is Hux with you?” Phasma’s voice then.


August would just glance back.


~***~


Mira clenched her fists, made sure not to shout, but the thought of Kevan’s ship being parted out hurt. She put time into making that ship alongside him. There were so many memories of it – so much she learned, that she added to Echo, since he had his own set of skills for ship-making that were more in line with things she wanted.


Nymph had been a gorgeous ship, a smuggler’s delight with its speed and hopping abilities – so quick at jumping in and out of lightspeed. It was still a wonder he could get caught if he was near his ship.


Finn at least knew Maz. Mira heard the name. Knew of Takodana. It wasn’t a place she ever went, and so she could only shake her head. “No,” Kevan had talked of it. Talked of Maz. He used to go there when he was Dulchellon, he had said. Him and the other ‘unwanted’, left to the winds after the Rebel Alliance liberated people from those Imperial Academies.


“We can check there, though. After Grakkus.” But Mira found she didn’t have much faith that the ship would still be there. Still, it might do good for Finn to see another familiar face – and Mira should probably know this Maz, since she’d heard of it.
 
Ariel didn’t want to be too overbearing, or put any sort of strain on Gnaeus. She wanted things to be easy for him. She’d try not to hover. But she was worried and she didn’t know what to do in this situation. She hoped Gnaeus would approach her if he ever needed her.


Paquin followed Kylo through the dark halls and back to the pad. Paquin knew it would be humid outside, but she had given up on worrying about her hair being frizzy. Nothing could prevent it at this point. ‘Maybe I should start investing in my usual products.’ The ones left behind with the First Order. But there was some sort of commitment that came with that, which made Paquin hesitant.


She sighed and Kylo asked how Gnaeus seemed. “Not…like himself. Spacey. How someone who just lost their hand would be, I suppose.” They stepped into the cold, loud outdoors. “A normal hand wouldn’t be difficult. They’re usual made per person. But he wants a removable one, which may be difficult to obtain.” She didn’t really know of anyone who did that.


Onto the ramp, then. “You’re doing good, you know. With Gnaeus. Being patient.” There wasn’t much interaction, but she knew there were times where any one of them could have been frustrated. And he even advised Ariel.


-


‘Yeah, yeah.’ Johann thought when his father spoke about coddling it. Sure, it could easily kill a man and could since the wee age of one month and was already following the Tarkins around. But the young Tarkin already considered the thing a pet. And people were protective of pets.


And he’d be holding the thing until it was too big to hold.


He made sure to stay out of any possible sight when his father finally interrupted the radio traffic, and was glad because, with the growl from his mother, she was sure she’d immediately shut down any form of pet that would be brought up. Especially a nexu.


Phasma spoke, and Hux walked in just as she questioned if he was there.


It was virtually undetectable, but Hux was sure that Phasma was worried. “Yes, Lieutenant-General. We’re all fine here. Well,” There was August’s arm, but he’d let the man himself explain that. If he could see her face, it would be one of relief. But he felt as though he’d be scolded. Specifically for running off with the Tarkins and the mysterious Casterfo, into the Carrion, with no form of communication on him and a good chunk of Snoke’s army following after them.


“See, Alexander. I told you they wouldn’t die.” Caius Motti and his brother popped in then.


“I knew August and Johann wouldn’t die! I was hoping Hux would.” Alexander was almost a little disappointed. 


Caius rolled his eyes. “Do you four need transportation?” He asked.


“No,” Hux answered. “There’s two TIE fighters here.” They would fit two people in each. “They’re enemy TIEs, however.”


-


“Hey, sorry, Blondie. Didn’t think we’d need the ship. Or end up in this situation.” Rollo apologized, genuinely. Even if there was no possible way he could have known anything like this would happen. He knew it probably felt pretty lame for her, either way.


“Don’t worry, Captain.” Finn said, even if Rollo had been talking to Mira. “Maybe Maz will still have the ship, we don’t know.” Finn brushed his shoulder against Mira’s. He didn’t want to get her hopes up, but at the same time he wanted her to feel better.


“Hey, Captain,” a new person poked their head in the storage room. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s news about Eriadu.”


“Right, I’ll be right there.” The person nodded and retreated and Rollo turned back to Mira. “Gotta go see what’s up. I wish you luck with Grakkus. Stay safe, yeah? And seriously, sorry about the ship. Hope you can set that straight.”


“We should probably get going, too.” Finn commented, to keep Mira from hearing too much. Or in case there was news about Hux that happened to be not good. Finn had been sure Hux would be alright, but then came the whole missing thing.


 BB-8 beeped its own goodbye to Rollo as the man backed away, waving, before turning and making his exit.
 
Kylo let out a long breath as Paquin mentioned that he was doing good. Told him getting a removable hand would be difficult. ‘And no one thinks of the Force in these things.’ Science and the Force didn’t mix as well as they should. The Jedi didn’t do that. The only one rumored to have done it was Plagueis, but all of that was lost to them. “I wouldn’t want someone fussing over me too much,” he said, as if to explain why he was being…good. Patient.


The ramp let them both up into the ship, and he shut it behind them, “Take the time you need. We’ll just go up and out of Kamino’s atmosphere,” that should be enough to satisfy. Kylo hoped so, at least, as he moved to the pilot’s seat and began to shift the ship up. “I can leave if you don’t want me around when you make your calls,” or did whatever she needed to do to acquire the hand.


He wasn’t sure how it would work, considering the special request Gnaeus had. Wasn’t sure how difficult this was going to be, how long they’d need to be in the sky, but he’d allow it. For however long was necessary. ‘Unless Snoke calls.’


Well. Obviously.


~***~


Gnaeus waited until he was pretty sure he had pulled his composure back in, and the redness would be out of his face. The water was cold by then – he hadn’t even thought that was possible. Fingers wrinkled. Flesh felt far too moist. Toweling off didn’t quite fix that feeling, and it still felt like his head was swimming. Moreso, now. ‘Just rest.’ He had to tell himself as he struggled into the clothes.


Undressing was always easier.



Getting into pants with just one hand was ridiculously difficult. He had to sit to do it, in the end, and the humiliation he felt at how this affected so much – even though he could have used the Force to help – bothered him. ‘The Force didn’t help me.’ He remembered the confinement field. How he’d been cut off.


He couldn’t even depend on the Force, could he?


Nothing.


When he finally came out of the shower, the towel was just tossed haphazardly over his head, like a hood, and his clothes didn’t seem to hang on him right.


~***~


Faces appeared in the images, cut smaller and smaller as others directly joined the conversation. The Mottis. Julia. Phasma. Leia, even, popped in. Adelaide, as well, and then a familiar face – Lando. “Don’t wish death on my allies, Alexander,” August said dryly, but the amusement was there.


Always, a little amused with him. A little pleased.


Alexander said the things he wanted to say, most of the time.


“What are you doing here, Lando?”


“Leia,” he smirked, “Got a message from you from the Senate, too. I think I’ll let Pandion tell you, though. Rather he get punched in the face then have you messing up mine.”


Pandion was also among them, August noted then. He just made a disgusted face at Lando, but didn't speak to him. August's gaze lingered on him for a few seconds longer, taking note of something...familiar in his posture, and not a familiarity he liked. 'Snake.' The word came back to his mind. 'Grand Moff.'


August shifted his glance to Adelaide, who rolled her eyes, then to Julia, “Coruscant news has been interesting,” she told him, not wanting to speak of it over the network. Just in case.


Phasma noted, “We can be on the lookout for two enemy TIEs in Eriadu city. Most have cleared the air here. Just keep up a hailing signal and we’ll know not to shoot.” There was quite a bit to discuss with Hux, as well. Interesting arrivals from Mira that he’d need to look at – the woman clearly was not sleeping. And hadn’t stayed off the radar…interesting news from Coruscant indeed.


~***~


Mira shook her head, trying to dispel the anger. It wasn’t fine, so she didn’t say that, only, “I understand,” in his situation, she’d do the same. Heck, she planned to part out Gnaeus’s ship and use what she could, so she was just as bad. Still….


‘Still have his lightsaber.’ Which was now moved back to her pocket.


That would have to be sufficient. It did have his feel to it.


Mira did smile at Finn’s bump, the hope, but didn’t allow her own to rise. Looked, as Rollo was called over, and felt her heart ache as Rollo was called off to get news of Eriadu. She did, desperately, want to eavesdrop on it. “Yes,” she agreed with Finn. Knew it was necessary. “See you around, Captain,” she said, offering a wave before levitating the boxes with the Force and starting to walk back towards the ship with Finn and BB-8.


BB-8, of course, had to wonder about Eriadu aloud.


“I’m sure everyone’s all right,” Finn said to the droid, “Especially Poe. He got through Jakku without you, he’ll get through Eriadu. You’ll see him again soon.”


BB-8 hoped.


They reached the ships, and she shifted Kevan’s things into her own skiff. “When I get everything on Kevan’s pad transferred to mine, I’ll let you have it,” she told Finn then. It was as good as any. Probably better than most. “Let’s get on to Tatooine. We can pick you up something at one of their shops before going into the casino,” they had ‘rich’ districts, where the hedonistic criminals played.


Finn could get his suit there, and then they’d head off to the casino.
 
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Whatever the reason, Paquin gave Kylo a gentle ’good job’ pat  to his shoulder as she took her usual seat in the copilot’s chair. He explained where they were going as he started up the ship, saying he could leave if she wanted him to. With a wave of her hand she said, “You can…do whatever.” Take a nap or something. Who knew how long it would take for her to get someone who would make a removable hand.


As they went up, through the stormy clouds and entering the quiet outer space, she hoped they wouldn’t get in trouble. They didn’t ask if they could or anything. ‘Oh well.’


Paquin didn’t waste time once they were off of Kamino. She wasn’t sure who to call first. She couldn’t call anyone apart of the Order. ‘Just call someone.’ She supposed it didn’t matter with their situation. And so, she did.


“Paquin!” Yara’s surprised voice was heard before she was seen, likely not wanting to be seen until she knew who was calling her. Yara was actually a pretty good friend of Paquin’s. Possibly the only close friend she made on Rhinnal. They didn’t talk often, but every time they did, they managed to speak as if no time had passed at all. “How are things?”


Paquin couldn’t help but smile. “Fine. Unfortunately I didn’t call to catch up." But she did want to. "I’m looking for something a little strange, and I figured you could help.” Yara was the outgoing type, knew pretty much everyone. She could at least lead her someplace. “I need a hand prosthetic, but an easily removable one.”


Yara was silent for a second, “If I didn’t know you, I’d ask what kind of drugs you’re on. Prosthetics aren’t meant to be mixed and matched.”


“I know, but I need one. Is there anyone you know who would be willing to humor me?”


“Well, remember that old professor, Scoresby?” Paquin nodded. He wasn’t a bad professor. He had a very strange son who had some sort of crush on Paquin. It wouldn’t have been significant if he hadn’t been so inappropriate. If he hadn’t been thirty when she was barely eighteen. “Well, he now provides medical care and cybernetics and stuff to the less fortunate or whatever. He’s made all sorts of replacements for non-humans. Maybe he could help with your twist off hand.”


-


Ariel tried not to be too obvious that she’d been waiting for Gnaeus. She tried to ease up, be less anxious.


She sat in ‘her room’, with the door left wide open. Glass of water was abandoned on the table next to the bed. She’d poke her head out the door to look in the hall every time she heard a noise, even if she could tell it wasn’t Gnaeus based on his Force signature.


He took a long time, but she didn’t blame him.


When he finally finished and returned to the rooms, Ariel grabbed fresh clothes to sleep in after her own shower, and she poked her head out of her door as she had when she was waiting. She had to resist the urge to fix the towel on his head, adjust his clothes that didn’t look quite right. But she didn’t. She knew boundaries. Sort of. That would be too embarrassing for him.


Instead she asked him in a playful tone to mask the concern, the pity, “You didn’t use all the hot water, did you?” It was a way to see how he was, if he felt any better without asking if he was okay.


-


Hux was unaffected by the death wished upon him. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard that. Wouldn’t be the last. Maybe it was a quality of the Huxs. A lot of people wanted them to die, but they simply wouldn’t. Hux knew. He’d been waiting for his father to kick the bucket.


Faces popped up. Leia, Lando Calrissian, surprisingly, and, unfortunately Adelaide. And someone he had yet to see, until then, Pandion. Who seemed to be unliked. He didn’t seem thrilled to be there, either. And something he was affected by with the supposed news on Coruscant. An eyebrow quirked and he wondered what happened there. If it would even apply to him.


He didn’t ask then. If it was to be said over the radio, it would have been by then.


Phasma spoke of keeping up a hailing signal. Hux nodded, “We’ll reach out with our direction when we near.” What would be the odds that another two TIE fighters would fly by from some other direction?


“We’re not finished here yet, but we might as well count this as a win. We’ll be coming down to join you lot,” Caius spoke. 


“We’ll all talk more when you four return.” Adelaide added. In person.


It was then that Hux stepped out of sight and looked to August, that eyebrow still rose in question if he was ready to leave or not. 


And Johann remained silent and out of frame. Not even going to mention the nexu, not until they were with his mother. He was banking on her not wanting them to go back into the Carrion to return the cub.


-


Finn’s eyes lit up at the mention of getting Kevan’s pad. He did need one. “Thanks, Mira!” But, “ Are you sure? There’s not any personal attachment to the device or anything?” What was really important was the data on the pad. The device itself wasn’t really personalized. Not like a lightsaber. Or a ship.


But he’d be happy to have it if she was sure. He’d be able to call his mom on his own. Poe when he was away. If Rey got one, her too. And of course business things, like the Resistance and the Order.


 He figured he’d be around Mira a lot, so he wasn’t too concerned with communicating with her.


BB-8 rolled into the ship after Kevan’s things and Finn moved to go up the ramp, too. First, he fished the keys to Gnaeus’s ship out of his pocket—didn’t think they’d need to bring it with, it was safe in the hangar—and handed them to Mira. “We should match if we can! A green suit could be fun! It could be like our padawan and teacher thing.” Finn’s smile was bright as he suggested it.


He closed Mira’s hand around the keys before he moved onto the ship. He wasn’t sure if he should take the pilot’s seat or not. He almost wanted to, even if Mira seemed okay for the moment. 


They still needed to figure that out.


His grin faltered a little before he shook his head. ‘Everything will work out, I know it.’
 
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Kylo was starting to get used to these small touches. Starting to like them, even, as Paquin again touched his arm in a way that was so strangely reassuring. It was in his mind, the way hugs were comforting to some – the gesture was just touch, but it was starting to take meaning. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to take a nap, though.


When they were up, and Paquin started to make her call, Kylo rose and gave a nod to her, deciding to give her privacy to conduct her business. He set the ship to hover, and went to the back, hearing what he could until he was out of range. He didn’t know the voice he heard, so he assumed it wasn’t anyone with the First Order.


Good.


And she was trying to order Gnaeus’s thrice damned removable prosthetic. ‘Professor Scoresby….’ And then he was out of range, back in a back room. He curled his legs underneath himself and bowed his head, figuring he would just meditate. It would pass the time just as well, and it felt like he hadn’t done that in a while. Hadn’t tried to center himself in a while, and with all these warring emotions, it felt…necessary.


So with a deep breath, he shut his eyes, slowed his eyes, and focused on that. And not trying to eavesdrop on the continuing conversation.


~***~


Ariel was there, waiting for him, it seemed. Or the shower. He noticed she looked prepared for that as his eyes looked over what she was holding, before lifting to her face. “Ah. Yeah.” Really hadn’t thought it was possible. Any other day he might have bragged about it. “Sorry, Ariel.” Didn’t know how long it took to replenish, either.


He’d just inconvenienced her, though, hadn’t he? Damn it. He hadn’t thought she’d be wanting to hit the showers right after him. Now she was going to have to wait even longer to take a shower, and he’d just taken an eternity to finish his. “There might be some now…I don’t know.” Took a while for him to get dressed, after all.


His eyes fell from her face, down to the ground.


~***~


“Understood,” August stated to Adelaide, glanced to Caius, “It will be good to see you and Alexander in person,” they always seemed to talk over holograms. It felt like it’d been years since he’d seen them, though he knew it hadn’t been that long. “Omega, get down as well.” Still in his ship.


“Kay!”


He didn’t need to ask Julia. She’d be down. “We’ll be there soon,” he said, and then hit the button to turn it all off, before he let out a long sigh and bowed himself a bit over the console.


This wasn’t going to go well. He knew that. Whatever the Senate wanted, wasn’t good. And Pandion…something was off about Pandion…very off. He suddenly felt tired with the thought of returning – but didn’t he always? He chuckled to himself and shook his head, straightening up, “I always hate leaving.” He told Hux’s look, “You’re with me.” He stated, walked to Johann, “Beast,” hands out for it.


And it did squirm in Johann’s arms as if it was totally okay with this, too.


He wasn’t having the beast in the same TIE as Ransolm, who was finally walking in.


~***~


Mira shook her head at Finn’s question. “Just information,” the pad wasn’t really personalized. It was just what was in it. She was a bit surprised when Finn went up the ramp to the skiff, “What about…,” the question was answered when the keys were offered.


Here, then. She glanced towards it, frowned, then nodded. “Fine.” She wanted it with her. Planned to take it back to the Finalizer later, but it could still be done – later. Kevan’s ship was more important if it was around.


She did laugh at his suggestion, “We’ll see if we can find you one, Finn,” couldn’t believing she was humoring this matching thing, but sure. It could be…fun, as he said. Certainly at the casino they’d know they were a matched pair that way, which would make things quite interesting.


She saw Finn’s hesitation when they moved to the cockpit, and she took the skiff keys out, handed them to him, “Don’t crash.” She slipped into the co-pilot’s seat, took out both datapads. She might as well get everything transferred over. “I think I hit a third wind or something,” she suggested with a shrug. “Or your mom’s coffee is that good.” One or the other.


Finn grinned at that, slipped into the pilot’s seat, “I bet it’s the coffee,” he said as he put the key to the ignition to get them started. He could drive to Tatooine, and then ask Mira for directions for where they needed to be on the planet.
 
“I’ll get you the information, one sec.” Yara disappeared for a moment before returning with her datapad. She questioned if Paquin was ready before she began to rattle off the information. Paquin had to remember a lot. Yara finished reading it off and just stared at Paquin for a second. “Hey, Paquin, are you doing okay?”


Paquin’s eyebrows furrowed, and she nodded. And, for the most part, it was true. “We’ll catch up later, okay? I want to know how the family expanding is going.” Subject change.


Yara rolled her eyes, “It’s taking too long. I feel like we’re never going to have a kid. Anyway, I’ll leave you to it! Bye, girl!” And she was gone before Paquin could say goodbye.


A sigh, and she moved on to call Professor Scoresby. He didn’t take long at all to answer surprisingly. He didn’t look much different than he did ten years ago. Apart from more wrinkles, and his dark curly afro was now littered with gray. His eyes squinted at her. “Miss Kent? I’d recognize you anywhere! To what do I owe the pleasure?”


“I was told you could help me with something. I’m looking for a removable hand prosthetic. Strange, I know, but—“


“I can do it. I just need the measurements and a place to send it to.”


“I-um,” Paquin rattled off Gnaeus’s measurements, Scoresby taking them down. “But I don’t really…have anywhere you can send it to.”


“Well…I know! You can meet me. I’m meeting a few people on Takodana, to sell my art,” Paquin remembered his art. She could describe it best as erotic anatomy, Weird. “I can kill many birds with one stone!”


“Oh, uh, okay.” Would Snoke even allow them to leave? “I’ll have to talk—“


“Great! I must get to work then! I’ll send you the coordinates and time!” And before Paquin could object, he was gone. Why would no one let her say goodbye?


She sighed, exhaustion of the day catching up with her. But she had somehow found someone who would make a removable hand. How? She didn’t know. But now she had to worry about getting permission to leave. She rested her head in her hands for a second, before getting up to grab Kylo.


-


He wasn’t doing any better.


She shook her head, even though his eyes were cast downwards, “Don’t worry about it, Gnaeus. I was just messing with you is all.” She couldn’t care less if there was any hot water left or not. And she felt bad that he seemed to be genuinely sorry about it. It wasn’t like him.


She exhaled, “I should let you rest. You’ve had a long day.” Maybe some sleep would help. Ariel really wished she could do something to cheer him up. But so far nothing that would was working. Food, jokes, a shower. What did she need to do?


“And I smell bad, so. Kylo and Paquin are getting you your hand, so they’ll be back later.” She hoped he could look forward to that. And that Paquin could actually pull something. Give him good news Especially since Ariel couldn’t. “Do you, uh, need anything before I hop in the shower?” ‘Don’t lay it on too thick, Ariel.’ 


-


Always hate leaving? Hux was thrilled to get out of the Carrion. Return to civilization. There was always the odd thrill that came with fighting, trying to survive. But that was gone, now that they were ‘safe’. Either way, Hux nodded when August made the two of them TIE buddies.


Johann surrendered the squirming nexu. It was for the best. Ransolm in a cramped space with the nexu? Not the best seating arrangements. Ransolm would be too on edge. And the nexu liked swatting at the dark haired man. Didn’t mind Hux, though. Maybe it was a redhead thing.


“Beast. Is that its new name?” Johann joked. Well, it wouldn’t be wrong. Kind of a obvious, though. Ransolm entered then, “We’re a pair, still.” He told him.


Hux wasn’t going to waste too much time in the home, brushing past Ransolm to head outside.


There was no damage to the home, other than the windows. The freighter was still on fire and there were still bodies. Would August want that cleaned up? The ship would need to be taken care of, but the dead bodies could probably be consumed by some of the Carrion’s creatures.


Hux took up the pilot seat of the TIE fighter. August could hold the nexu while Hux did something for once. August would be the one who would know where they were going, but Hux accepted the cost of backseat driving.


Hux took the moments he was waiting for the others to observe the TIE fighter. It was exactly the same as the Order’s, in terms of the model. Hux found himself annoyed by that. Whether there was anything special about them, he’d soon find out. He’d have as much of Snoke’s equipment and ships dissected as possible. So the Order could be better prepared.


If they even needed to be.


-


Random coordinates were entered, just to get them to the planet while in lightspeed.


Finn lifted them up and out of the hangar, off of D’Qar. Right out of the atmosphere, Finn shifted the ship into hyperdrive. Since Mira seemed temporarily energized, he’d roll with it. Didn’t fly around for a bit like he had when she was meditating.


They slowed outside of Tatooine in no time and Finn could almost swear he could feel the difference in the temperature as soon as they entered the atmosphere. “This place is just like Jakku.” And Finn hated Jakku.


But this time they had a ship and they could leave whenever they wanted. He felt at ease with that, at least. “Where to from here, Mira?” He asked just as he planned to. Finn flew low to the ground, so she could tell where they were.


Finn had no idea. Everything looked the same. ‘Just. Like. Jakku.’
 
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It hadn’t taken as long as Kylo thought it would. Somehow, he thought Paquin would have to go through several dead ends before she figured out where to get Gnaeus the kind of hand he wanted. That wasn’t the case though. Soon, her steps disturbed his meditation, and he shook his head slowly to bring himself out of it.


Deep breath.


His eyes opened to look up at her as she entered the area, and he rose, “What did you get figured out?” He was curious as to the details. Who she found to make this hand for Gnaeus. How much it was going to cost. ‘How are we getting it?’ Though Kylo was pretty sure that Snoke would let them leave for Gnaeus’s hand.


He couldn’t have a handicapped knight, after all. It wouldn’t be sentiment, just practical. Gnaeus needed a hand. Paquin would have found him one, and they’d retrieve it, and get it fit to him. Then it could be customized from there. ‘Maybe.’ Maybe.


Just so long as it lifted Gnaeus’s spirits a bit.


~***~


Gnaeus tried to curve his lips up in a smile. The left side twitched as Ariel dismissed the concern about hot water, but didn’t truly rise. Didn’t stay lifted. So he let it fall back into the somber expression, listening as she dismissed him to rest.


Needed, like water. Like the shower. Dismissing herself to it as well with a comment of smelling bad. She didn’t – the alcohol on her breath did, so maybe a little. But not that bad.


He shook his head. He didn’t need anything. Yet, he did walk forward and used his good arm to pull her into an embrace. He could feel the worry, even though she seemed to be trying not to overreact. He had felt it when she first showed up and nearly toppled him with her hug, and he felt it now as she tried to remain calm. He sighed in the hold, “Just stay you.” This Ariel was weird. Panicky, flighty, worried.


He knew he needed to be himself, too.


Wanted to be…but he couldn’t be. And maybe Ariel couldn’t be, either. Maybe this was her, a facet he hadn’t seen before.


And if so…well, he’d accept it. Accept her concern, as he pulled away, “Night.” And off to his bed. To rest.


~***~


“No,” August denied the name as beast, “We’ll figure something better for it,” since apparently they were keeping it. Julia was not going to be happy. Not immediately. She’d end up happy about it, though, otherwise August wouldn’t even humor this ‘pet’ thing.


August looked to Ransolm when he entered, just as Hux passed him by. Just as Ransolm gave Johann a curious look about his statement. The obvious question was asked, “Do the TIEs have anything to extinguish a fire?”


“No, they do not,” not that it was expected. TIEs were suicide fighters.


August sighed. The fire would probably burn through the fields then. He’d see about having the Revenant do a fly-by to extinguish that. Cleaning the Carrion Plateau itself would be a much longer process that he and a few others would have to go through, piece by piece.


He followed Hux out then, as did Ransolm, and they went to their respective TIEs, August strapping in, “Just follow Johann,” he advised, figuring Johann would be the one piloting the other TIE. August wasn’t used to not piloting, but with the nexu, he understood he had to give that up as he strapped himself in, and tried to keep the creature from moving about too much, or hitting any buttons.


Force forbid it hit the ejector button.


~***~


Transferring data was easy enough. Deleting it and sorting through it would be the longer process. Mira didn’t get to finish that before the heat of Tatooine struck her, and she looked up, out, at the scenery.


Here she left Kevan.


Here she met with Ariel for the last time on friendly terms.


‘Here Anakin was found. Here Luke was raised.’


Tatooine was a planet of changes. She should have known. “Quite a bit like Jakku.” There Rey was raised. There Finn rebelled. Perhaps deserts were good for change. “Go west,” she directed, and would continue to direct until the glint of fountains made it obvious where they were going. Aliens of several species milled about in the rich district, made apparent by the waste of water all around it. “Here,” she realized then as she rose, when Finn landed, that she couldn’t go out there wearing her coat.


She took the two lightsabers. Her datapad, and Kevan’s, and handed them to Finn. “I’ll get a purse where we go, just hold on to these right now.”


“Where am I gonna put all this?” Finn said, taking them.



“Jacket?” It looked like it was big enough.


Finn started trying. The lightsabers found spaces, but after that, there was no room for the datapads. Mira sighed, took them, and decided she’d just hold onto them into the store.


The weapons were masked, that was the point right now. No way were they going anywhere without them. Not on Tatooine.


Out they went into the beating sun, and quickly into a glittering opalescently decorated store, BB-8 trailing quickly after them, sticking very close.
 
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When she found him, he was on the ground. “Sorry for interrupting.” She squeezed in before answering his question. He probably though she’d take long. To be fair, she didn’t think they’d even find someone to do it, let alone two calls in. She hoped it worked out.


“My friend directed me to one of our old professors, Professor Scoresby. I didn’t get the chance to explain much, other than I wanted a removable hand, before he agreed to do it. He didn’t explain how or anything.” Scoresby was creative, at least. Paquin had some hope he’d figure it out. “I told him he couldn’t send it directly to us and he said that we could meet him on Takodana.”


Paquin wanted to run it by Kylo first, to see if they could even go and get it. Snoke had to allow it, surely. He didn’t have to be happy about it, but he had to allow it.


“He’s selling his art there, apparently. Anyway, he’s sending when and where, so we should get a notification soon.”


-


Ariel was surprised when Gnaeus pulled her into a hug but nevertheless, she wrapped her free arm around him, letting her chin rest on his shoulder. She felt herself relax into the embrace as Gnaeus spoke.


‘Just stay you.’ She’d try. But things were changing. Her people were changing. She needed more alcohol.


But it was the most Gnaeus thing he’d done so far and she’d take it.


He pulled away and she let him go. “Goodnight.”


She stood still for a few moments after Gnaeus left her before she left to take a shower. And it didn’t even matter that the water was cold, as Gnaeus’s hug left Ariel feeling warm.


-


Hux nodded to August’s instructions, and Johann did end up piloting the other TIE.


Hux ignited the ship, lights flashing and talk coming in over the radio. Snoke’s forces, not his. Talk about pulling back, returning to their base. Hux turned the volume down instead of turning it off for two reasons. One, he hoped for one of them to give away their bases, and two so that communications were kept on. So he could communicate to Phasma when they neared.


Hux strapped himself in and Johann lifted the other TIE fighter just before him.


Hux followed August’s instructions and followed the young Tarkin’s lead in silence, all the way back to Eriadu City.


There were sights along the way. Some signs of smoke in the Carrion. Then that long stretch of field they’d been in just before running off into the wilderness, now covered in downed ships and dead people, but he could see that some were working on cleaning it up.


It was then that a voice came over the radio, as expected. “Stop your—“


“It’s General Hux and Governor Tarkin.” Hux interrupted, ready to land.


“Sorry, sir. You’re free to land.” 


And so he did, right after Johann.


-


Lightsabers were stuffed awkwardly into his jacket, but they were concealed. Finn would deal with the awkwardness of carrying them for the time being. Until Mira got herself a purse. 


He followed after Mira into a glitzy, colorful store, looking around in awe. The place was full of dresses, suits, shoes, and sparkling little things. BB-8 beeped, saying this place was so much fancier than the dress shop on Cimarosa.


“That’s what I was just thinking,” Finn agreed with the droid.


A twi’lek woman approached them then. She was dressed in black clothing, much different from what someone would expect a twi’lek woman to wear. Based on the jobs they usually ended up in. Jobs which Tatooine was full of. Though Finn would use the term job loosely. On planets like these, it wasn’t so much a career choice that was chosen, but rather that they were forced into.


“Welcome! I’m Dasha,” The woman, Dasha, greeted the three. “Is there anything I can help you with today? Would you like a glass of water or champagne?”


Finn’s eyes widened, “Champagne,” Finn whispered to Mira. “This place really is fancy.” Would they be able to afford anything in this place?
 
It sounded like Paquin did have good connections, and he was hoping this friend wasn’t First Order. The professor didn’t sound like he would be. Not that Kylo knew the professors in the Academy’s – but usually they liked to use military ranks instead of ‘professor’. Like Commandant and such. So he assumed this would be a normal one. “Takodana?” Kylo wasn’t too sure about that. Last time he was there, he’d sort of…destroyed it.


Still, for Gnaeus, he’d have to endure it. ‘Besides, isn’t Maz always flaunting that ‘everyone is welcome’ thing?’ He gave a nod. “We’ll go when he’s going to be there. No sooner.” He wouldn’t be thrilled to see Maz again, and he was pretty sure she wouldn’t want to see him, either. “We’ll have to ask Snoke when you get the time. Make sure he will allow it. Otherwise, we’ll just have to set another time to meet this Professor of yours.”


Art and hands?


Well, sculpting could go hand in hand with this, right? ‘Terrible pun.’ Do not tell that to Gnaeus.


~***~


Others were landing in the area. August recognized his wife’s cruiser, the Revenant, the Mottis – so this was the victory, then. The meetings that would follow would discuss how to push back, to make sure they weren’t the ones on the defensive again. Yet, that would depend on where Snoke was. And it sounded like Snoke’s clones at least knew enough to use codes.


Adelaide and Phasma were waiting, alongside Leia, Lando, and Pandion. August got out of the TIE before Hux, keeping a firm hold on the nexu. It wasn’t unkind, but he didn’t want it to go rushing around and scaring people, or getting lost amongst the chaos. Adelaide arched a single eyebrow at it.


“Ooo, new mascot?” Bertrand said, hopping out of the Revenant first, “I was wondering when we’d get a new one since Johann grew up.”


“You weren’t even around when Johann was the mascot,” wry smirk touched his lips. He looked to Lando then as the smile faded, noted Chewbacca standing right behind him. “Senator Chewbacca, Senator Calrissian,” Chewbacca had come to represent Kashyyyk for a while – though he was no longer an active member, it felt odd to address him without the title.


Chewbacca gave a response, though, telling him to knock it off. He just smiled, “Senate or War first?”


“Senate,” Jarrod said, brown eyes resting upon August easily.


“The war has basically wrapped up here,” Adelaide said, “We’re going to do the final push, and then talk of offensive tactics.”


“There is something you need to see first,” Phasma was the one to interrupt, and August looked towards her. Noticed that Adelaide looked a little miffed. Saw how she mouthed ‘so you keep saying’ and understood this was something Phasma hadn’t, in fact, shared with Adelaide.


Interesting.


“Very well.”


“General,” she looked to Hux, “I would like to discuss it with you as well.” There were some interesting overlaps in the information she had received from Mira. One, notably, was Pandion – listed under both Snoke and Tarkin, which was the very reason Phasma wanted to speak with August first. There were other overlaps, of course, but that one seemed pressing.


Julia was out of the ship then, and looked very annoyed when she saw the nexu in August’s arms, but she saw the movements being made and understood that would have to be addressed later. Like the blood matted in her husband’s hair. His arm. ‘You all better be taking him to a bacta tank.’ She sprinted, touching Johann’s arm on the way, to throw an arm around August’s shoulders. She was going to join August for whatever Phasma had to share, and she wanted to make sure he knew that.


It didn’t startle him – though he did appear surprised she’d so willingly put herself besides him and the dangerous creature. Who was staring at her hair like it wanted to bat at it, too.


It reached a paw up.


Julia looked right down and hissed at it.


It pressed itself against August, squirming as if trying to get away. “Adelaide,” he offered the nexu down for Johann, “set up two rooms. Show the Senators to one, the war council to the other. You can begin leading the war council, I’ll join you soon for it.”


~***~


This was certainly one of the more fancier places Mira had been – perhaps the fanciest. She didn’t really keep track. She did glance around, before her eyes fell to Dasha. She felt underdressed being in here, which was certainly an unusual feeling. Darn it. Was she going to need to dress up more than this?


“Water, please.”


“Water, yeah,” Finn agreed quickly.


“We are here to just get a new suit for my friend Finn, and,” Mira did catch sight then of a rather gorgeous red dress then. Well, she had Kevan’s shell company accounts now, didn’t she? Any one of those ought to work. If they didn’t, last she knew, twi’leks weren’t immune to the ‘Jedi Mind Trick’.


How did the Jedi ever justify that trick as good, anyway? “a new dress for myself. Something red, with a purse to go along with it.” She was starting to understand how easily Kevan fell into the lifestyle.


Dasha assessed both of them. They didn’t look like they had the money, but then again, with the strange clientele she had walking in here – criminals – she didn’t question it. They could have quite a bit of wealth hidden under those ordinary clothes. Or it could be a special occasion. That’s the angle she usually played. “Red?” A flash of sharp teeth, but not an unkind smile, “How daring – is this for a special occasion?”


“Yes,” Mira consented as the twi’lek poured the water into crystalline glasses, and handed them to the pair.


“We’ll need to take your measurements, then, to see what we can fit to you both.”
 
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Paquin picked up on the uncertainty, eyebrows furrowing at the ‘no sooner’, and why he felt it was necessary to emphasize that. And then she remembered. ‘Takodana, they destroyed a bit of that.’ They being the Order, Kylo. 


That had been during her hazy time, after Hosnian Prime. She’d been running on autopilot. She remembered some things, bits and pieces. But others were fuzzy.


Would Snoke even allow them on Takodana after that? Well, they had to ask. Which Paquin wasn’t looking forward to. Still, she nodded, running a hand through her hair, fingers catching in some tangled curls. “Scoresby is quite the character. And he’s…imaginative. I’m sure if he says he can do something, he’ll figure it out.” In reference to Gnaeus’s hand. She hoped they’d be able to deliver some good news to him. 


It was then that a beep came from the front of the ship. “I think that’s the time,” she hoped. Sooner they got it, the sooner they could get asking Snoke over with.


-


Hux exited the TIE after August, taking in the faces of those among them. Everyone from the call, apart from Julia and the Mottis, was there with the added face of Chewbacca. The wookiee was another being Hux would have to push aside bitterness for, for the sake of alliance. He felt as though the wookiee wouldn’t do the same.


Offensive tactics were mentioned and Hux could already see a major flaw in that already. They had no clue where Snoke was. Maybe with his plan of dissecting Snoke’s equipment would earn them something. Pull as much information as they could from TIEs.


And then Phasma drew in his attention. Something he needed to see along with Tarkin. An eyebrow rose at that.


The Mottis exited their ship just as Julia came rushing to reunite with August. Johann was passed the nexu and he decided that it would get a leash. So it could walk, expel energy without terrorizing those around it. 


The twins approached Hux and Alexander opened his mouth. “I apologize for wishing death upon you.” Sounded forced. “Though I wouldn’t be wishing for your death if you were a competent leader.” That was definitely not forced. And it was off script as Caius stepped on his brother’s foot. This all was about being on decent terms to work together, even if Caius agreed with his brother on Hux’s questionable choices. Particularly with his admiral, which just came to light with this Coruscant sighting.


But apparently Alexander didn’t care so much about being easy to work with.


But Hux wasn’t affected either way. Life was all about working with people you didn’t want to. “Apology accepted. Though last I checked, I was a competent leader.” And then the division of those for the Senate and those for war council came, Adelaide nodded to August's instructions, disappearing into her ship for a moment, probably calling ahead. Then she popped back out to tell those to follow her back into the city. 


As the Mottis receded back to their ships, Hux would stick behind a moment with Phasma, to allow her the chance to show him whatever was so important. If it was meant to be mentioned in front of the others, it would have been already. 


-


Finn took the fancy glass from the twi’lek woman, mumbling a thank you before he sipped on the water. “Follow me, please.” Dasha turned on her heels to lead the two through the store.


BB-8 kept close to Finn’s legs, looking around at all the sparkly things they passed. As they found themselves towards the back of the store, Dasha tapped on the shoulder of another woman—an older human this time—and nodded in the direction of the dressing rooms. 


The second woman followed them as Dasha hung signs on two dressing room doors. The signs had the word ‘occupied’ written in a handful of different languages. Dasha pushed the doors open for them, and even the dressing rooms were fancy. They were large, pristine white. Even had small, but definitely expensive couches in them. “We can take your measurements in here.”


“And if you could possibly tie in some red with my suit, that would be fantastic,” Finn requested, shooting a wink in Mira’s direction before disappearing into his dressing room. Maybe red was better than a bright green suit. 


“Jacket off, please.” The older woman requested of Finn, reminding him that he’d have to be without it while in the casino. He placed the water down and removed the jacket making sure to keep the weapons concealed before he stood straight, letting the woman move him around and instruct him to take his measurements.
 
Kylo gave a nod as Paquin spoke of her faith in this Scoresby character. He was just going to have to trust it, and then trust that he could convince Snoke to let them go. He’d have to play the practical angle. Gnaeus needed a hand. There was no question on that. If he was going to be useful to the Knights, he needed to have both hands – even if one had to be mechanical. They’d find a way to make it work.


Darth Vader was mostly mechanical.


Then there was the beep. “Let’s hope,” he said, and turned towards it, walking back to the front of the ship. He saw only that it wasn’t from Snoke, so he did no more prying. He would let Paquin open the message that was blinking at them so they could get the time. ‘Soon. Please be soon.’


Even if ‘soon’ might not work with Snoke. It would work with Gnaeus. ‘Perhaps Gnaeus should go with her, and not I.’ They wouldn’t recognize Gnaeus as easily on Takodana. Or Ariel. Or anyone, besides him. He was the known figure there. Maz would have known him, even if hadn’t gone to destroy it. ‘Stop overthinking it.’


Just act. He was good at that much.


~***~


August had to cover his lips to hide the smile when Alexander spoke. When Caius stepped on his foot. Not to mention, Hux’s easy response, stating he was a competent leader. ‘Though where is your Admiral?’ He found it curious that she was not among the many that landed, nor anywhere near the others. Something to ask Hux about, but not just yet.


People moved. Leia stepped up to Adelaide, and August heard her whisper something about wanting to be a part of both councils.


“He’ll meet with the Senate one first,” Adelaide was saying, and Phasma motioned Hux and August forward, to put them further from the separating groups.


When they were out of earshot, Phasma said, “Admiral Vallens has been in correspondence since she left.”


“Shouldn’t an Admiral have been here?” August was questioning that.


“She had other matters to attend to,” Phasma stated, “and you should be grateful. She uncovered information regarding Snoke’s allies and forwarded it to us.”


August was now, admittedly, interested. He folded his arms over his chest. “Let me guess. Pandion’s listed as one of Snoke’s.”


“And one of yours.” Phasma answered, trying not to show her own surprise at how easily he had guessed it. “There are…overlaps, and some symbols without a key. They came from Kevan Ren’s datapad,” Phasma offered to Hux, then.


“Ah, him,” August hadn’t forgotten him at all. “May I see?”


Phasma gave a nod, and offered her own datapad, but watched August carefully to make sure he didn’t leave the tabs shown to him. “Hm.” It was…interesting. Mostly that somehow Pandion was the only overlap for him, and there was “(p)” besides his name under the ‘Tarkin’ list. “I should feel flattered I was thought of enough to have my own list. That ‘p’ has no explanation, does it?”


“No,” Phasma said.


“Priority,” Julia guessed. August gave a nod, agreeing, “but he was difficult to get to come here.”


“What’s the situation on his homeworld?” He asked, handing the datapad back to Phasma, who only offered it to Hux. He had his own, somewhere – but he’d want to look through their own overlaps and consider.


“I don’t know,” hadn’t considered it.


“Love?”


“I’ll go check now,” slid her arm off of his shoulders and moved back towards her cruiser to get her own datapad, to start checking information.  


~***~


Finn, it seemed, got to be tended to by an older woman. Mira laughed at his wink and the comment on ‘red’ – he was just making the rumors worse. Or, he would, if anyone saw them. The nurse would have a fit. ‘Should take a picture for her.’ Perhaps fuel those rumors over others, until Poe had a fit of jealousy.


She wasn’t sure why that thought amused her so much as she moved into the room offered to her with Dasha, who gave her a once-over. “Are you wearing a push-up?”


Mira shook her head, understood the point of the question from all the times she’d been measured and remeasured with Snoke. Had to make sure everything fit just right. She set the water down, and then let Dasha take the measurements, predicting some of the necessary movements to get them properly taken. “This isn’t your first time, is it?”


“I could have told you my measurements within a few centimeters of accuracy,” Mira confessed. Not much ever changed.


“If this is for a special occasion, you should consider getting new shoes, as well,” a glance at the rather…practical boots that didn’t go with the green dress. “Were you thinking more of a bright red, a dark red, a burgundy…?”


“Ah, bright,” Mira answered. “Bright-dark.”


Dasha gave a nod, “A few moments then, please,” and out she went.


Caught the older woman who had been tending to Finn, to make sure to show her the hues of red that she was going to be considering, so the woman could make sure to grab the appropriate splashes of color, from ties, to pocket squares, stripes in the suit, and other such things. There would be variety for him, as well as Mira.


Plenty was brought back for Finn, as well. A suit of mainly black, with the thin, red stripes. A black suit. Shades of gray. A darker maroon suit. Then, of course, an assortment of ties and pocket squares ranging in hues of red, and even black or silver. Cufflinks with rubies and similar stones were also brought for him, and the woman would sort them out by what she believed would look best together, for Finn to try on himself, noting that any of the suits brought could be quickly tailored to fit his form.


Finn was staring at all of them when they were brought, trying to take it in. BB-8 let out a low whistle, "You said it," he agreed, then, "Uh, where should I begin?" He asked the droid, figuring he'd have it help him with this process.
 
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Paquin followed to the front of the ship, moving past Kylo to cease the beeping of the message. It was in fact the time and thankfully not Snoke. “We can head back down now.” She informed, sitting back in the copilot’s seat.


Kylo had to be just as tired as she was, ready to get things over with. She felt a little bad, dragging him to be her pilot. If only she wasn't awful at piloting. And she wondered if Snoke would even trust her enough to leave on her own. She was a little surprised that they were even allowed to leave, been away as long as they had--even though it wasn't that long. 


And hopefully Gnaeus and Ariel were getting some much needed rest. They had it harder than she and Kylo did.


“He sent coordinates. Said he’ll be there not tomorrow morning, but the next. He says he’ll be there all day.” It was soon, which Paquin was happy about. Paquin would have liked things to happen immediately, but she knew that wasn’t possible. Now Snoke just had to let them go.


Paquin yawned, barely recovering from it before she began talking again, “That’s Takodana time, though,” that was something to consider. That could mean it was sooner or later.  “I have no clue what time it is there.” She’d never been and it wasn’t an important enough place for her to keep track of with the Order. 


-


General Hux did not appreciate August inquiring about Mira, how she should have been there. He had to bite the inside of his cheek from making some sort of comment. Phasma put it much more gracefully than he would have. ‘Other matters to attend to.’ Sure, that worked.


But Mira was getting things done even when she wasn’t in on what was happening. And Hux’s teeth kept his cheek in his mouth, this time to keep from grinning at the ‘you should be grateful’.


Though he did wonder how Mira was fairing. Obviously she wasn’t sleeping. And then his attention was drawn back to what Phasma wanted to share. A list. Of Snoke’s allies. A kill list, was Hux’s first thought. But he knew it would require much more thinking than that. Overlaps were spoken of, August taking a look first.


A mysterious “(p)” that may or may not have meant priority. Maybe a talk with Mira would get them more information on it. Mira was familiar with Kevan, obviously. Though, he imagined if Mira knew, she’d make note of it when it was forwarded.


The pad was offered to him and he took it, beginning to scroll through the lists. There were overlaps, but more than that, there were Snoke’s allies that the Order did not share. That they knew nothing of. Until then.


He scrolled all the way to the bottom, catching sight of the note Mira did leave. ‘Enjoy.’ He did allow a small smirk at that, but quickly sobered up, handing the datapad back to Phasma.


“For now, we do nothing. No killing, no contacting. I’ll study this later, sort out who will need to be eliminated and who’s worth speaking to, to try and sway away from Snoke. However, I don’t want Snoke knowing we have this information yet.” Though, if Mira fell asleep at all before they figured out that problem, he’d know they had the info.


Hux briefly considered telling August of that issue, since it could concern him. ‘No. Not yet.’ Maybe after it was fixed. ‘Which I hope it will be.’


He turned to the man. “Pandion will need to be discussed between the two of us.” Someone of the Order found the information that they now shared, Snoke was a mutual enemy. Even if Pandion was an overlap between Tarkin and Snoke. Though, Hux imagined he’d let how Pandion will be dealt with up to August, given it wouldn’t interfere with the Order or have consequences that would be shared with the Order.


-


BB-8 beeped, rolling back to take a look at the options. A contemplative noise, before it rolled forward, its half-sphere head pointing to a striped suit, black and red. “Alright, buddy. Good start.”


BB-8 rolled back as Finn stripped and the older woman began to help him into the striped suit. The shape was flattering, hugged his muscles. It made him look much bigger than the jacket did. But there was still something not quite right with the suit. The stripes made it look too…mob boss. And on Tatooine, that wasn’t the look he was going for.


BB-8 seemed to agree, as it rolled back, as if offended, and shook its head. A beep of ‘no’ came, and Finn nodded. “Yeah, I agree.”


“Next one, then.” The older woman then helped him get out of it.


The choices were narrowed, eventually, to two. To a black suit, white undershirt. Red was tied in by a nice, silk, red tie and ruby cufflinks. Even the shoes tied in some red, being black but had red bottoms. Those shoes were present in all the options. Another option was the maroon suit with black accents. 


What was picked would be based on what Mira chose. Because Finn was set on matching.


And Dasha brought Mira quite a variety. The blonde hadn’t specified which shape, so Dasha went wild with the reds. Bringing back dresses ranging from short, tight, and low cut in the front to long and flowy, low in the back. Long sleeved, short sleeved, strapless, and halter. Various shades of red from bright to dark. Shoes ranging from the same to black. She even grabbed a few accessories, for some of the more plain dresses.


Anything she could imagine, and all could tie in with whatever Finn chose, in one way or the other.
 
“He couldn’t just use Galactic Standard time?” Kylo sounded annoyed, but sighed. No, of course he couldn’t. He didn’t know much about professors, but the word ‘eccentric’ usually followed them around. He didn’t move the ship down immediately, but brought up a map to query the times on each planet.


Only to realize a few seconds later that, of course, Takodana itself used Galactic Standard time.


He glared at the little planet of green on the screen as it reflected the same time that the ship itself was programmed to follow. Even if they were in open war with the New Republic, Galactic Standard Time made everything easier. It was the most convenient way of keeping people on worlds in touch.


Ren had gotten used to it thanks to Leia, of course. A politician’s life revolved around being able to make accommodations and compromises with others, so they all used Galactic Standard. “Never mind. It seems Takodana itself follows it,” he shook his head, irked with himself, and brought all the little holoplanets down and out of sight. Then he turned the ship back towards Kamino and began to lower it back down into the atmosphere, which was not raging with a terrible storm.


It was still dreary.


“I’ll go speak with Snoke.” Not ‘we’. “You should rest.” He did not want Paquin saying too much again and getting in trouble with Snoke. Besides, he and Snoke probably needed a few…moments. At least, he got that sense. A gut feeling, that he should go and see Snoke on his own. He’d overstepped many lines that way, and Snoke let him get away with it. This was rare and unusual, and it made him anxious.


The ship was set down then, easily, upon the landing pad.


~***~


Phasma took the datapad back, and wondered if she ought to shoot Mira a message about privacy. Decided she should – Mira was clearly not terribly concerned with that, considering the Jedi Guide. That might be another matter to her…still, it couldn’t hurt. So when Hux turned to August, Phasma typed a quick message.


Don’t send this to anyone else, Admiral. Hux does not want Snoke to know.


August did assess Hux as he involved himself in the issue of Pandion. He considered denying him. Pandion was something of a personal issue – but, he could see the need. Understood this information was shared by an operative of the Order, even if Hux didn’t share that. That made it, partially, his business.


He didn’t say anything on the matter, but lifted his gaze to Julia as she returned. She shook her head, “Nothing notable on Lothal,” she told him, folding her arms over her chest.


August’s eyes were stormy, and Julia knew he was fighting with years of wrath and years of work. “I do think it means priority,” she added.


“I think I’m going to get a bolt through my temple.” He brought his hands there, as if feeling it, before he sighed, “Go to the war council. I’ll be there.”


“You need to go to a bacta tank.”


“Later,” lowered his hand then, “was there any other news of note?” He looked between Julia and Phasma.


“Assassination attempt on the Senator of Chandrila was reported on Coruscant. The Jedi Guide may be the next best seller. Oh, and Nav may be dating Eraz!” Opera stars. She shipped them. August cared about only one of those things immediately, and it was visible in the tension that spread over him.


“Thank you.” Stiff. Curt. “Tell Casterfo about your opera stars so he can die of jealousy, and remove him from the Senate room.” August was going to empty that room of everyone but Pandion. And apparently Hux. “Hux and I will walk.” Time to talk.


~***~


There were so many dresses. Mira hadn’t realized there could be so many styles of the same colors, and she tried not to be overwhelmed as she saw all the gorgeous dresses and tried to decide just which ones were going to work in a casino. She began to sort through them, making sure not to use the Force, even though she wanted to – to hold them, to examine them more closely.



She couldn’t reveal that now, though.


She had narrowed it down to three when BB-8 came in, beeping out about how it came to help Finn decide which suit to select, and noticing the dresses Mira had were more of the darker red variety. The bright red just felt too…attention drawing. She wanted to draw attention, but not that much.


“You can help me pick between these, then,” she told the droid, who agreed with a fiery thumbs up, and watched Mira try on first a long and sleek one that hugged her figure tightly. There was a nice, long slit up the left side of the dress, and some black lace decoration where the slit began, near the hip. BB-8 denied it – not fancy enough, even with accessories.


The second dress had something of a high-low design, the skirt stopping above the knees at the front, but trailing at the back, in a transparent fabric. The back made up for it by being low cut, though. The front was a modest v – the shoulders not fully covered by the straps that went over them.


BB-8 agreed with that one immediately, but insisted on at least a necklace and that Mira put most of her hair up since what was the point of a backless dress otherwise? Mira was starting to have questions about BB-8, but consented, as the droid selected a pair of black shoes to go with the dress, and then went to go tell Finn.


It immediately greeted Finn by explaining that the bright red would clash. “Huh, okay. So she went with a darker dress?”


BB-8 agreed, and noted the style a bit to Finn as he put on the maroon suit one more time to look it over on himself, before laughing a bit at all of this fuss, just to get into a casino, to cheat a Hutt out of his probably ill-gotten gains. “Is everything okay?” the older woman wasn’t sure how to take the laugh.


“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Finn said quickly. “I’ve never worn a suit to match someone before,” he said, knowing how foolish he must sound. Look. “It’s kind of exciting.” He straightened out the collar of the jacket, and tried to give a serious look in the mirror. It fell apart, but into a large smile. “Yeah, I think we’ll go with this! Right, BB-8?”
 
Kylo checked the time and hearing the irritation, Paquin mumbled an apology. The ship was turned around, back towards Kamino. Kylo said that he’d speak with Snoke. Not ‘we’ll’. Said she should rest. 


Paquin turned to him, eyebrows furrowed. She leaned away from him, as if she was offended. Not that she actually was offended. But she didn’t really want Kylo talking to Snoke on his own. She felt something bad would happen. Maybe without herself and Ariel around, Snoke would be…unrestricted. Though, their presence hadn’t stopped him before.


Paquin shook her head as she stood, “Are you sure? I can stay awake a little longer.” Maybe he didn’t want her there. It wouldn’t do good to convince Snoke to let them leave. She imagined she wasn’t Snoke’s favorite at this point, after speaking out of turn on Hestria, after the tomb. She hadn’t really done anything in the tomb, except for get injured. 


But that had led to Kylo sticking with her, losing Eriadu. ‘Maybe it’s best if I’m not there.’ “Well, if you’re sure. You know where to find me,” should he need her. “And you need rest, too. Goodnight, Kylo.” And she’d leave him to it. Though, she should of asked him where the rooms were, as she had to search for them. But she did find them, though she was exhausted by that time. Paquin wouldn’t even remember finding her room in the morning. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out.


-


‘Assassination attempt. Couldn’t have succeeded?’ Hux had to remember then that his goals were no longer to destroy the New Republic. Well, for the time, anyway.  ‘Hm. Jedi Guide?’ That intrigued him. Yes, Mira certainly had been busy. Busy enough for the Jedi Guide to suddenly blow up? Apparently. He remembered smuggling it off Jakku, past Luke, how long ago was it now? Not long at all.  Either way, he almost wanted to rub Mira’s accomplishments in August’s face for questioning where she was.


But he didn’t. For one, it wasn’t professional. Second, August’s intentions for Mira were still questionable, reasons for inquiring why she wasn’t on Eriadu. Hux nearly rolled his eyes at himself. Why was he so concerned with that? Maybe one day it would matter, but for now, it didn’t.


And Hux had no clue who these Nav and Eraz were, nor was he concerned with them. Hux wasn’t an opera fan, didn’t have time for it, certainly didn’t keep up with it or its stars.


And now he and August were walking, apparently. Wasn’t that far, he supposed. He’d been through worse treks. Like the one through Eriadu. Jakku. He still had traces of sunburn.


And then he could sit. Given this Pandion issue would allow it. 


A nod to Phasma, “If you could have my datapad brought from the Finalizer.” Hux rarely ever said it, but there was always a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to his tone. At least with Phasma. “I’ll meet you at Tarkin’s.” After dealing with Pandion.


Which made Hux turn to August, once they were left by Phasma and Julia. “I don’t know what your situation with Pandion is,” he just knew that the two clearly did not like each other. And the only way Hux would care about why, is if it would affect how this issue was dealt with. “Ultimately, I’ll let you decide what happens to him, so long as there’s no chance of it leading back to the list.” The “(p)” had Hux concerned. 


“As of right now, it’s the only advantage we have over Snoke.” Yes, Eriadu was won. Snoke had lost men. But so had they. And they had no clue where Snoke was based. And if the next move was to be offensive, they needed that and more. They were on even grounds, as far as Hux was concerned. But with the list, that gave them an advantage.


It couldn’t stay a secret forever. Who would need to be dealt with first would be discussed. Who to speak with. And after that, Snoke would know. Hopefully not before they could get a few good hits in.


-


BB-8 beeped excitedly, it’s little flaming thumbs up flew out, but briefly. The droid didn’t want to set the place on fire.


The older woman smiled, and nodded. “Good choice,” She said, laugh already forgotten. She’d experienced stranger things in this job. Though, the fashion forward droid was new. Droids really were going to take over. Let me just make a few adjustments and you’ll be done.”


Finn had nice measurements, the suits fit him well. 


“And there,” the woman straightened out the last wrinkles. “You two will make a stunning couple.”


Finn should’ve expected that would happen.


“Oh, we’re not—“ But Finn didn’t finish. It was a strange thing to explain, and it didn’t seem necessary. Though, Finn did feel some sort of guilt for not denying the relationship. Maybe it was because he wasn’t being honest. ‘Sure, that’s it.’ Either way, he wasn’t going to let it ruin the color coordinated experience.


The woman left him then, letting Dasha take up the task of ringing them up. Finn gathered up his clothes and folded them neatly. “Let’s go see what Mira's looking like now!” He was excited to see what she picked out and to see the two of them next to each other, as a pair. Hopefully BB-8 hadn't led them astray, and they looked cohesive.


BB-8 beeped, just as excited, rolling out of Finn’s dressing room to knock on Mira’s, asking if she was good to go. Yes, pictures definitely had to be taken.
 
Kylo was sure that he wanted to go see Snoke alone, and he nodded to let Paquin know that when she asked. He needed to see him alone, rather. “I’ll be fine,” of that much, he was certain. Even if he didn’t walk out unharmed, he would be fine. Snoke had the best intentions for him – sometimes it just required a bit more thought for him to understand. A bit more discipline.


He let Paquin separate from him once they were inside, and then he made his way down the ever-darkening path towards Snoke. Deeper and deeper under the rough waters of Kamino. He listened to their ebb and flow, always expecting to hear the building itself creak or squeak from the pressures around it, but it never did. Never gave the hint of giving out. No leaks at all.


Eventually he came to the doors, and before he could consider how to announce himself, he heard Snoke’s voice, “Enter, Ren.”


He was expected, then. It shouldn’t surprise him, but it did, just a little. He walked in and gave a bow – just because they were alone didn’t mean he should forget his manners. “Supreme Leader,” he began, “Paquin has reached out to find a hand for Gnaeus fitting his specifications. With your permission, we would like to leave for Takodana in two days.”


There was a flick of Snoke’s wrist that Kylo saw as he brought himself to standing again, “You may.” He didn’t need crippled knights. It was tempting to tell Kylo to kill Maz – the man did need to prove himself again. However, Maz was too important to be killed. A target that Snoke would have captured, one day, to pick through her mind – one that would hold plenty of secrets, no doubt. She was quite old.


“Thank you, Supreme Leader.”


“You care for Gnaeus,” he said. The words were drawn out, “Paquin. Ariel.” Each name said, before the Supreme Leader’s lips twisted, “It is making you weaker, Kylo Ren.”


Kylo looked a bit startled by the accusation. Then, quickly, covered it enough to say, “I do care for them,” he agreed, “They are my Knights.” As if that was defense enough – reason enough.


~***~


Phasma agreed to Hux’s request, before leaving the pair of gingers to themselves, to walk. August let Hux express his concerns regarding Pandion, or rather, the list. He didn’t want anything leading back to it. “No need to mention the list to Pandion. There were enough of Snoke's soldiers in the Carrion.” If they had to explain themselves.


He walked, “The Grand Moff is another of your many enemies,” not his. “Though his reasons go back to the founding of the Order. Something about Admiral Sloane and his father,” dismissive of the topic, “He’s a coward at heart. An ambitious coward, but a coward. He was easy enough to talk into joining the New Republic.” Once upon a time, when August had been the one converting Imperialists to the New Republic.


“If he’s acting on Snoke’s behalf, then Snoke has something on him.” Did he want to believe that, or did he believe that? If it was Pandion’s ambition alone, he didn’t think it would be enough. “I’d rather arrest him and hold him until we know his reasons for even joining with Snoke in the first place.”


‘But that steps over New Republic law. I can’t just arrest a damn senator.’


He could accuse him of being behind the Chandrila assassination. There was a likelihood that he was, in some ways. Still, he’d have to relinquish him to the New Republic, and that would not go well. ‘Or you can say fuck the senate.’ Or lie. ‘Or if he does shoot you, then you won’t need to worry much about galactic law.’ Or lie that he shot. ‘Stop trying to lie to the senate.’ Well it was better than getting shot.


“And if his loyalties to Snoke continue at all. I’ll have to dispatch a few agents to Lothal.” That was where the answers would be. He let his attention shift then, “I suppose you know little of Lothal, and little of those allies you didn’t share with Snoke?” Then, he had to ask, “What was it that finally separated you from your Sith Overlord?” He didn’t know if it could be useful with Pandion, but it was information worth having.


~***~


Accessories were difficult. Mira had played with her hair a bit to figure out the look she wanted, per BB-8’s instructions, putting it into a braided updo – two braids on either side that could have been a crown, but ended up coiling into a bun at the back. It gave her that lovely crown look, though, and she had always liked that – always wore something like it under the helmet. It was easier to manage that way. Unlike Kylo who somehow kept his hair pristine under his helmet.


‘Don’t think of him right now.’


BB-8’s knock caused Mira to decide to just go with what she was looking at in the mirror – a simple black gem on a black chain, a teardrop. Pretty enough, pendant sized to be enough on its own, or that was what Mira told herself, and it certainly hung low enough. “Yes, BB-8, ready!” Took the black purse as well, quickly put the datapads into it.


She had found her balance in the heels easily, thanks to the Force. One good thing about it, she supposed, as Dasha had already neatly folded her dress and set it in a bag with her boots in a box. “Thank you,” she said as she took it, and then followed Dasha out to see Finn.


Paused.


“Wow, Finn,” her eyes looked him over twice, not expecting he’d clean up nearly so well, nor manage to rock a maroon suit so well. She usually thought of suit colors as black, gray, or dark blue, with few exceptions. Maroon was definitely not on that list. “You do look good. I thought BB-8 was joking about that maroon suit.”


“Hey!” Finn laughed, “I can clean up good,” he said, pulling a bit at the collar of the jacket for emphasis. “and you were right about red.” He said, walking with her then to check out. “You look nice, Mira.”


“Thank you.” The prices were rung up quickly, and Mira produced her own datapad. She had transferred the information there, after all. Pulled up one of the shell accounts to flash, hoping that would work. That was how Kevan seemed to do things. A flash of an account, and out the door he went.


BB-8 was beeping about pictures then, of course.
 
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Snoke wanted Kylo Ren to have the perfect blend of the light and the dark in him. Never dark enough to be Sith, but never light enough to be a Jedi. In the middle. But now, Ren was being pulled toward the light too much. Snoke could sense it. It needed to be stopped. Kylo Ren and the Knights were still useful to him. 


“Hm,” Snoke leaned back into his throne, displeasure obvious in his tone. Kylo Ren cared too much. Of course, Snoke couldn’t say that outright and expect results. “You shouldn’t coddle them.” Snoke knew he couldn’t force his ideals onto Kylo as he usually would. It had the risk of pushing him too far into the light. But so did Ren’s current path.


It was an interesting situation, but Snoke felt he had the solution to it.


“They think you’re their friend, not their Commander. They believe that they can withhold things from you, lie to you. And they can. You've allowed it without any consequences. It is making you weaker. It’s making them weaker. It will get you all killed. I’ve seen it.”


-


An ambitious coward. And while August was right about him knowing little of Lothal and of unshared allies, Hux knew many of those. They were easy to deal with. Cared more about their own livelihood, had tendencies to blurt information to go free. Especially when their lives were threatened. 


Pandion would have to know it would end only one of two ways, even with agents sent to Lothal. Pandion would either end up on their side or dead, even if death didn’t come for a while.


This would all be much easier if Mira was there, if they could utilize her. But she wasn’t, and Hux wouldn’t allow it anyhow. Not after what happened with Ariel Ren. Too dangerous, for the Order and Mira.


Speaking of Mira, she was the first thing that came to Hux’s mind when August questioned what made him finally snap. But no, it wasn’t totally Mira that had led to breaking from his ‘Sith Overlord’, though her part was significant. She’d planted the idea of it being even possible in his head. But the deciding factor. “Conflicting agendas,” he supposed. 


“I had plans for the Order when I became General. I had goals, changes to make. Those became lost when I allied with Snoke.” He was young and had too much power than he knew how to handle and he was easily influenced by his father, who was still obsessed with ideals of the Empire. “But I remembered the purpose of the First Order and Snoke was taking it in the opposite direction. The Order was mine before Snoke came along, I needed to take responsibility for it.”


That summed it up as August’s home came into sight.


-


“Pictures? What for?” Finn grinned, shaking his head. The occasion wasn’t that special, going to a casino to rob a Hutt, and they’d have the outfits to remember them. Mira would probably wear her get up again, unless she was one to believe in that faux pas. 


BB-8 beeped about showing them to Poe, who would love to see Finn in a suit. And suggested that Hux would like to see Mira was doing okay, the red dress being a bonus. With those suggestions, the droid implied that it was sure that both Poe and Hux would be fine. And Finn had to blush at BB-8’s mention of Poe. The droid added then that at the very least, Ada would love to see the two of them dressed up.


Moms loved those kinds of things, didn’t they?


“Well, I guess taking some pictures won’t cause any harm. Could be fun." Why not? "We could do cool poses, like we're spies or something!" It could add to the matching experience.


BB-8 beeped its excitement as Dasha looked up to Mira. “All set! Thank you for coming, and you’re welcome back any time.” A receipt was handed to the blonde. Kevan’s account worked and they were rung up without a hitch. All the while, Dasha told herself that that’s why she shouldn’t judge books by their covers. They’d rung up one pretty bill.
 
Coddling was not something that Kylo wanted to do. He did want the Knights to be strong and capable. Of course, they weren’t. Gnaeus had gotten himself seriously wounded. Ariel had gotten captured alongside him. Two knights, against one – against Mira, and some Troopers. Kylo could have cut through that on his own.


He did clench his jaw a bit. Wanted to ask if he couldn’t be both, but he knew the answer to that. No, he could not. If he was their friend, they would not respect him as a Commander. There was evidence of that now, as Snoke noted. Gnaeus and Ariel went behind his back. He did not have their respect.


But what concerned him most of that, was that Snoke had seen their deaths. And it was because he was weakening them. Coddling them. His death, too, was seen, because of this attachment. It was making him weaker.


He could care for them. But he had to care enough to prevent them from dying. Had to make them see that he was their Commander, again, so they knew to tell him things. This way he would be able to keep them alive, keep them from making stupid decisions. Teach them how to be stronger, so that the next time…someone like Mira wouldn’t be enough to stop even one of them. Not even with a whole squadron of Stormtroopers at her back. That was how strong they used to be.


Well…the three of them.


“I…understand,” that much, he did understand. “I will improve. I will create distance between us so that they learn I am their Commander and do not think they can get away with withholding information again. There will be consequences next time.” He did not like the idea, that was evident in his tone, but he was committing himself to it. “We will not fail you. We will not perish.”


He felt Snoke’s eyes searching his expression. “I hope you do not,” he said, easily. Added the suggestion, “You should turn your eyes to the future, Ren. You will see what I have seen, and perhaps…more,” he did not often encourage it, but this time, he felt he would be able to guide what Kylo saw. The way he guided what Mira saw.


With her it had the unfortunate consequence of her running from sleep right now, but in time, she’d slip. And then he’d have her. “You will see what needs to be prevented.”


“Yes, Supreme Leader.”


~***~


‘Take responsibility…good.’ August did like to hear those words, no matter the circumstances. People who owned up to what was done, were always good. He was glad that Hux was turning things in the direction he meant for them to go in, since it seemed…better. More like the Order he would have actually invited to speak at the Senate in better times. “Do let me try to handle Pandion first,” he said, soft. “We may not be friends, but we have…history.”


A history of trading punches.


A rivalry.


Of saving each other. August pulled Lothal out of an economic downshift. Pandion had pulled him back on Liberation Day. Lothal would be protected from Snoke. From the First Order. From any enemy, so long as Pandion remained an ally.


As he hoped, when they entered the home, droids were moving about. Julia was outside the Senate Room with Casterfo, who immediately raised a brow at August. “They’ve all figured me out.”


“Well, you are pretty, even with dark hair. It was only a matter of time.”


“Riosa—”


“We’ll deal with it,” glanced to Hux. They would have to talk about it. Hux’s agents set Casterfo up for the fall, “We’ll get rid of the death sentence. Trust me. Now, just wait here until you hear the blasters.” Smirked.


“You’re not going to kill the messenger, are you?”


August didn’t answer. He stepped into the Senate room, interrupting a conversation between Leia and Lando, “…dead, he is wanted for assassina—August, what is Casterfo doing here?”


“He’s a friend, who happens to owe me quite a bit,” the words were pointed as his gaze fell on Pandion.


Cowards. Hux knew how to deal with them, and so did August. “I need to speak to Pandion alone, first.”


A silence. It was brief, but August knew what filled it. That cold fear rose into Pandion’s face, as he understood only one thing – August knew. He knew all about August’s history of board room executions in his early years. He’d be a fool to think those were done with. Rather than wait for it to happen, he thought to act first, and took the blaster from his hip.


“What—” Lando.


Leia was the one to actually act, nearest. She grabbed Pandion’s hand and the first shot hit a portrait on the wall near August’s head. He didn’t so much as flinch. That was when Chewbacca moved and actually restrained him.


“What is going on?” Leia demanded, looking between both of them as if they were children, rather than planetary leaders. “What are you doing?” She knew their rather volatile history, if only because she knew about the trade deal between them.



She hadn’t had time to actually examine the message sent by Mira, though she’d seen it, glanced over the ‘Resistance’ list just to see how accurate it was. Cursed Sylus, just a little, after seeing it.


August couldn't find the words to speak. He was doing his utmost to swallow his fury and not scream right then. And Pandion, well, "He's going to kill me! He always does that when he clears out rooms!"


"Why would he?" Leia asked, insisting, glancing at Tarkin and Hux, and then back to Pandion, "What reason would he have?" Door opened - Julia and Casterfo entered. There was a blaster shot, after all.


~***~


Red dress being a bonus. Hux. ‘Droid, I will end you.’ Mira didn’t say that, of course, distracted herself with Finn’s blush and waiting for Kevan’s account to work. Hoping it would work. Thankfully, it did, as BB-8 beeped on about what the occasion could also be good for. She watched Dasha to see if she understood what the droid was saying – wondering if she’d recognize Hux’s name and think anything of it.


If she understood, she didn’t let on. Just let them pay, and thankfully, it worked. “We’re not spies,” Mira chuckled a bit at Finn’s idea, but she supposed she could…humor it. ‘What are you doing to me?’


She took back the pad, “Thank you,” smiled for Dasha and then turned Finn around. “Come on, Finn, we have to get back to the ship.” Put things up. Get her lightsabers into the purse. “We can take pictures there, okay?”


“Okay!” Finn grinned, and walked on out with her, BB-8 rolling along after them. Soon enough, they were back in the ship, their old clothing deposited in it, and Mira’s lightsabers added to the bag. “So, BB-8, can you take pictures?”


The droid indicated it could, but it couldn’t send them. It rocked awkwardly under its head, sounding disappointed in itself for that. If it had been that easy, it would have just transferred the coordinates to Leia, after all. “That’s okay! You can transfer the pictures to a datapad, right? Then we just send them on!”


“Kevan’s,” Mira said. Absolutely was not coming from her datapad. “Or Finn’s. Once I’m done sorting through everything.” Removing things, mostly. Things Kevan wouldn’t have wanted others to see.


BB-8 seemed to like this idea immensely, and directed them to pose and look ‘nice’. Mira rolled her eyes, but Finn threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, grinning. Mira smiled, too, hoping she didn’t look too tired before BB-8 indicated it had the picture – and now they had to do spies.


“Okay!” Finn crouched, holding his fingers like a gun. Mira laughed. “Come on, Mira!”



“I don’t even…fine, fine,” she shook her head, didn’t kneel like Finn, just turned to be in profile, and also made a finger gun. Leaned back a bit. This one didn’t need to go to Hux. Ever.


BB-8 snapped it, and then said they needed an actual goofy one. Finn stood, and immediately made a face, crossing his eyes. Mira just arched a brow. BB-8 encouraged. “No, it’s better with a straight man. Or woman.” Whatever.



She put bunny ears right by Finn’s head just before the picture was snapped. “Hey!”


BB-8 chirped its delight, and Mira handed Finn the datapad, “Password is Cora.”


Finn gave a nod, went to BB-8 to have the droid transfer it.


And then, of course, BB-8 said he sent it…to all who were included in the last message sent from the pad, and Ada. Of course. It didn’t indicate that, though, just said it was done sending off the pictures. It included a flaming thumb emote at the end. Poe would understand. The others, probably not.


“Okay then, let’s go,” Mira took up the datapad. That account was going to do her well for getting funds in the casino. And then tripling them. Or more. She slipped the pad along her other one in the purse, and led the way out, towards the glistening casino with its fountains.
 
Good. This was already going well. Yes, there was hesitance in Kylo Ren. But once Snoke got his hands on the man’s head, on what he sees, he’d have Ren right where he wanted him, and thus the other three Knights as well.


As displeased as he was with the close relationship Kylo Ren and the Knights had, it was that deep attachment that would really cement Snoke’s resolution. Kylo Ren didn’t feel things lightly, Snoke’d come to understand that much. And after the scare the man had of almost losing all three of the remaining Knights and then actually losing two of them, there was no way he wouldn’t do all he could to keep them alive. Even if that meant distancing himself. 


And that attachment was mutual, Snoke knew. The Knights would follow Kylo Ren wherever he went, even when given the cold shoulder, through punishment. Or at least, he knew Gnaeus and Ariel would.


“If there’s nothing else, you may leave,” Snoke made a gesture towards the door. “Rest. In the morning, I want all of you to train. Work yourselves.” Snoke hadn’t been lying when he said they were weak. Gnaeus and Ariel should have been strong enough, both physically and through the Force, to have kept themselves out of danger. And Paquin was painfully untrained, clearly not strong in any shape or form.


-


The Senate room was cleared out and Ransolm was discovered. Hux hadn’t realized his identity was a big deal until Riosa was brought up, August glancing at him. Casterfo’s death sentence. ‘I’m going to have to take care of that, aren’t I?’ Well, he’d have to reach out to Carise, then. Have this settled. He added it to his list of things to do.


The following moments happened rather rapidly, but the General oddly expected it. Pandion attempting to shoot Tarkin. Failed, thanks to Leia. That solidified Pandion status as a coward.


Leia looked between them as if they were children and Hux couldn’t help but compare the man to a child as he spoke. It sounded like he was tattling on his sibling, Leia the mother. 


August didn’t move to explain, it seemed, and it wasn’t clear if Pandion knew the real reason August had the room emptied. So, Hux took up the task of explaining what was going on to Leia. Though, it was adjusted just a tad. “Other than their apparent distaste for each other, some of Snoke’s clones we came across in the Carrion had some interesting information about Pandion,” the lie rolled off of his tongue easily.  He didn’t know if Leia had seen the list, or who all in the room had, but he wasn’t going to mention it. Just in case.


And especially not in front of Pandion, since he had contact with Snoke.


“Pandion is working with Snoke for whatever reason. What we all want to figure out is what he’s been sharing and why.” Hux concluded. 


-


Finn reluctantly abandoned his jacket—Poe’s jacket. It felt weird being without it, like he was naked. It was like a comfort blanket. He didn’t know how he’d went without it. But matching with Mira oddly made him feel more comfortable. And the fact that the suit did make him feel confident.


Mira led the way to the casino, Finn and BB-8 trailing behind. Finn stared in awe at the place, how it seemed to glitter. It was clean, surprising for the planet, and large. There was probably a hotel above the actual casino. And those fountains! “I wonder how much those cost to keep running.” He mumbled to his companions. It was Tatooine, after all. Water wasn’t common.


Finn walked ahead to open the doors for Mira and as soon as he did, he was welcomed by the stench of various types of cigarettes, cigars. The smell of alcohol mingled in with it, all accompanied by the loud chatter and cheers of the rather diverse patrons. 


The inside was dimly lit, most light coming from slot machines and mood lighting. It was full of people, scantily dressed woman and finely dressed men of all species. Gathered around all sorts of gambling machines. As they entered the floor of slots, a Toydarian wearing a vest, in its hands was a tray of martini and champagne glasses. “Drinks?” It questioned.


Finn couldn’t help it, he grabbed a martini glass. “To blend in.” He whispered to Mira, taking a sip of it. His face scrunched up. ‘Don’t like it.’ Well, now he’d hold it. To look cool. “So, what’s the plan? Find Grakkus and challenge him to a game with dice?” He spoke quietly to Mira, even if no one would probably hear them over the loud chatter. Just in case someone did hear them.
 
There was nothing else. Kylo Ren understood the command. He needed to train them all, and he solidified a plan in his mind to show them just how weak they all were – three on one. Then they’d start listening to him. He would set Gnaeus and Paquin more to Force training. Gnaeus was going to be handicapped with a lightsaber so he needed it, and so did Paquin since it was so new to her. Ariel, however, needed more lightsaber training since when it came to dealing with Mira, they would need to be the ones to deal with her.


And her preferred style, 2, was all about lightsaber dueling. Style 7 could outmatch it any day, but Ariel would be sticking closer to Gnaeus. When and if they split up, Ariel needed to be able to hold her own. “There is nothing else,” Kylo said, and bowed his head, put a hand over his heart. “Your will shall be carried out.”


For it was his own – to protect the Knights. To see Snoke’s visions manifested.


He left then, to rest. To look ahead. It did not take him long to reach the rooms, and he decided he could tell Paquin the good news of Snoke’s agreement in the morning. He wanted to go ahead and look forward, see what he could see based off of what Snoke said was ahead. He needed to prevent it, and if it could come as soon as Takodana….


He slipped out of his attire and let himself lay on the bed, but his first step wasn’t into sleep. It was into meditation, a restful trance that would eventually turn to sleep – but first, he needed his mind to enter the right state to be receptive to visions.


And then, he slipped under.


~***~


Julia calmly pulled a blaster into sight and leveled it at Pandion as Hux spoke of his alliance with Snoke. The clones. “Just say when,” she told August, even though she knew he wouldn’t. He was chomping at the bit to, and she was very familiar with that look. That hatred. That disappointment.


Leia eyed the blaster, but noted how Julia kept her fingers far from the trigger. Chewbacca didn’t seem perturbed. Leia looked to Pandion to answer the accusations before him. “I didn’t want to come,” he spoke to August instead, “I didn’t want to get between….”


“I hope you understand where this leads, Grand Moff,” he spat the title like poison. “After all of this…I saved you from the New Republic and the First Order!” Ungrateful bastard. “Do you think that this unified effort can’t stand up to Snoke?”


“No.”


He didn’t like the way Pandion said it. This wasn’t about ambition – at all. “Snoke may have an army, and some Force Sensitives, but once we reach him—”


“You’ll lose your minds.” Pandion was relaxing. Perhaps, accepting his fate. “Kill me, August. I’m as good as dead as it is. At least this way he’ll spare Lothal…I tried.” He had known it was suicide since he pulled the trigger.


“We can defend Lothal, Pandion.”


“Yeah?” The smile that came was tired, “Can you defend it from itself? Like all those prisoners from the Lock?”


August’s anger evaporated. Understanding flashed through his head immediately, even before Pandion said it, “Sloane had nothing to do with Liberation Day. I…know that now.”


Liberation Day. Julia knew of it, but fortunately, had not been there. August spoke of it as a nightmare. “How long have you kept that from me?” August asked.


To that, Pandion was silent. Answer enough. “Chewbacca, if you’d take him outside and hand him to one of my droids…I don’t want to see him any longer.” Or he would kill him.


~***~


BB-8 beeped an estimated amount in credits, then gave a low whistle after a moment’s thought of how much that was. “You said it,” Finn muttered. Though, the place clearly had funds to blow, as indicated by the glittering sights, lights, and well dressed people.


Mira took a glass after Finn, but didn’t drink from the sparkling beverage. She could hold it. Find a way to get rid of it later, surely. Mira shook her head at Finn’s question, “No, no, we have to draw him out first,” she didn’t see any hutts around. “Start a winning streak. Get his attention.” The owner of a casino would eventually get paranoid about someone winning and try to talk them into deals.


Figure out an arrangement before they lost it, or figure out how they were gaming the system. “Come on, we need to get some chips,” she walked towards a window for turning currency to credits. A falleen was in the window, another race that couldn’t be affected by the mind trick. At least Grakkus knew what he was up against – somewhat. “I need 4 million credits converted to chips,” she was pretty sure that would be easy to accomplish.


Hoped she wasn’t draining an account linked to the First Order.


The falleen reached for the pad and scanned it without question, noted the approval, and immediately cashed her in, offering her the chips as 100,000 ones, which she quickly split with Finn – only giving him 1 million.


“Go test out some of your own luck,” she suggested with a wink.


“Really?” Finn did look excited.


“Mm. Try it with the slots,” she suggested. That way he wouldn’t be too obvious with it, around others. The slots seemed rigged to accept chips, “Come find me when you’ve lost it all or hit a jackpot.” The droid followed along after Finn when they split.


With that, she made her way to one of the tables where some dice game was being played. She’d have to watch it first to figure out the rules – but people quickly made way for her to move closer to watch, and soon enough found herself quite near one of the players.


It was a zabrak man who turned to her with a smile and a wink and offered the dice out to her, “A kiss for luck?”


Mira complied – and when the dice rolled, the zabrak got exactly what he asked for. The only problem came when he toasted her immediately following the success, and Mira had to drink, which she did. 'Not bad....' She thought it would burn more than it did.
 
Those birds were being loud again. It’s almost as if they specifically located the Knights, positioned themselves above them, and screamed their little hearts out first thing in the morning.


Paquin was the first to be woken by them. She groaned, using the pillow to cover her face. Though, she was surprised she hadn’t woken up to something earlier, as that’s what typically would happen. She supposed she must have been especially exhausted. But she was the first one awake, and that was the most normal thing that had happened in a while.


But she was still in a foreign place as she exited the room. She could hear Ariel’s snoring from the hallway. Her hair was a mess, she could just feel it on top of her head. ‘I need to remember to put it up before going to bed.’ She thought as she shuffled her way to find the cantina. 


A few clones were awake, eating breakfast in the cantina. Paquin got herself a cup of coffee, black as she refused to put anything else in it. She was hungry, not having eaten much since the cinnamon rolls. She grabbed herself a fruit cup, but she knew she couldn’t just eat that. Reluctantly she added on a muffin. She hoped it was the same as the First Order’s. She knew what was in those. 


-


Oh yes, a coward indeed. But Hux could tell when there was ambition involved, but there was obviously none in Pandion. It was almost depressing to see the man so tired, so accepting of death,


‘Liberation Day.’ Hux’s eyebrows furrowed. He’d heard of it. He’d been very young when that happened. He had no memories of it, just things he’d heard. Mon Mothma was shot during some mysterious uproar. Rae Sloane had claimed that she had nothing to do with it, but no one really believed her. What else would explain it? But then it hit Hux. Snoke…Pandion’s fear, his words.


Chewbacca roared in agreement, the sound followed by the Wookiee shoving Pandion out of the room.


Hux’s thoughts went to Mira, the dreams Snoke had put into her head. What had happened when she had tried to invade Ariel Ren’s mind. Hux wasn’t planning on sharing that with August. Or anyone outside of the few who knew. But now it seemed like he had to. This wasn’t just an isolated case anymore, he realized. Now Pandion, August, they all were involved.


Hux had a feeling Mira would be wanted to be involved eventually. Not just because she was the Admiral, but now because of this. She knew Snoke’s abilities the best. And it would grow difficult to make a point to keep her uninvolved. When it came to the more important things, she could be kept in the dark, right? ‘Fuck it.’ Maybe he should have discussed it with Mira first, but, “I think it’s time I share something with the few of you.” This would not go to the others, Adelaide, the Mottis. He really didn’t want to share it in front of Lando, either, but he’d keep his mouth shut if Leia told him to.


Chewbacca joined them again, just then. “It doesn’t leave this room, yet.” maybe after it was discussed and though through Hux would allow it to be shared. “Understood?”


-


Finn and BB-8 managed to find themselves a vacant slot machine, to which they sat at. Finn loaded the machine with chips and pulled the lever a few times, getting so close to a perfect row of three, only to get nothing. It was rather boring, but then Finn got an idea. He felt a little shameful for thinking it, but he turned to the droid to explain.


“Okay, BB-8. I have an idea. It’s kind of bad, kinda like Mira’s mind trick bad, but not that bad. And it might not work either…” BB-8 beeped it’s encouragement for Finn to continue. “I was thinking, why not use the Force to hit a jackpot? We can make any three in a row that we want! That’s not too bad right? Casinos make a lot of money. And Grakkus isn’t a great person is he?”


BB-8 made it’s equivalent of a shrug, but let out a little meep. Try it, the droid said.


“Okay. I’m not quite sure how, but let’s give it a shot.” Finn tried to think back to when he resisted Mira. Rey had managed to use the Force without having used it before, she told him about calling Luke’s lightsaber to her. He could do it with the slot machine. Totally. Finn took a deep breath and pulled the lever. He watched as the first one stopped on the cherry symbol. As the second one began to slow down, he focused on that feeling on Jakku. The second one stopped on the cherry. Then came the third one, and Finn’s hand was just barely held up towards the machine.


It wasn’t going to land on the cherry.


Except it did. And bells went off and coins started pouring out of the machine.


Finn’s eyes widened and he couldn’t seem to pay attention to anything but the slot machine. Even is BB-8 let out an alarmed beep.


Terex had started out by going to Coruscant after Eriadu. The Admiral had been spotted there, apparently. From there, he picked up her scent. She’d been there with that ex-Stormtrooper and Dameron’s damn droid visiting Ada Zain. Terex didn’t pay that woman a visit, but instead called in some favors from the working in the hangars, along trade routes.


And that led him all the way to Jakku.


To a clothing store. To Grakkus’ casino. ‘Oh goodie.’


But he’d found that woman and he was going to introduce himself.


Terex didn’t have to take much of a look around before he spotted her, dressed in red and downing a drink. He made a beeline for her, even as his ears caught wind of that stupid droid. 


The man slipped in behind Mira, just as a new game was starting. “Now that’s my kind of woman.” He smirked as he spoke into her ear, expecting her to either turn around and slap him or keep her cool. 
 
One day, Kylo Ren was going to find those birds, and shoot them out of the sky. He hadn’t slept well, at all, and the birds drew him from what little rest he seemed to be getting. His dark eyes opened at their sound, and he stared at the ceiling for several long moments. This was one of the reasons he preferred Korriban.


Still, he settled his breathing. Settled his mind. He was soaked in sweat, and he knew why. He was grasping at those memories, those dreams, and trying to put them back in order. He had watched Paquin die in his dreams. That came back to him, first. Her terror – Mira, with Kevan’s blade. He knew it was that man’s, when that old trick was played. The way it lengthened, and impaled. It went right through Paquin’s throat.


And she dropped. Limp.


Because she had been looking to him for direction. ‘Would they doubt…?’


Then Ariel. Ariel he saw die surrounded by Troopers, Finn among them, for some reason holding a lightsaber. Why? He seemed to even be commanding them….


And then, Gnaeus…dying in space. Unable to steer properly dependent on what he had lost and not trusting in the Force. The ships of the Resistance, the X-Wings, overcame him and he faltered, was shot down.


It felt like he had seen more, but those were the ones that stuck out to him then, the ones he tried to shake off as he pulled himself out of the bed and dressed, putting on another set of armor rather than anything casual. He cleaned himself up and then went on to the cantina, expecting to be alone except for the clones.


But no, Paquin was there, muffin and fruit. Kylo pulled himself a plate of more hearty food, biscuits and gravy, with strips of sausage and toast to the side, before he joined her. His earlier thoughts of teaching her the Force shifted. No, she needed to learn to use a lightsaber, to avoid that future he saw.


He didn’t greet her familiarly, but with direction instead, “Since we have a day before we leave for Takodana, I want to teach you how to fight with a lightsaber.”


His voice didn’t allow much room for argument.


~***~


Julia stepped briefly out into the hall to call to a few droids, who immediately went to take Pandion from them, to lock him up in a cell for more interrogation, later. Then, she stepped back into the room, and put a hand on August’s back. He sighed with the touch, but didn’t dismiss it. His eyes shifted suspiciously to Hux, but he didn’t say what came to mind.


He’d let him speak his piece.


Leia seemed to have some idea. She had followed his own thoughts well. She hadn’t been present for Liberation Day. She was busy with Kashyyyk – as were Chewie and Han. “Are you sure, General?” Leia asked, uncertain how Mira would feel. At least, if she was following things right, then he meant to speak of that.


Lando glanced to her, then to Hux, “Yeah, we understand,” if only because of Leia’s worry. “What’s going on?” Senate stuff could wait. He knew August wasn’t that eager to get to it. And he wasn’t that eager to be the messenger, either.


~***~


The coins just kept flowing! Finn felt a growing panic, as well as happiness, start to fill him. He had done it! He’d used the Force and he’d gotten a jackpot! “BB-8, can you—huh? What is it?” The droid seemed quite agitated, so he tried to pull his thoughts out of his own excitement.


BB-8 beeped a familiar name. He’d heard Poe complain about it before. “Terex?” First Order. He looked up to where BB-8 wanted him to look, and saw Mira, and then the strange man stepping up behind her. He frowned. This could be bad. ‘But Mira’s First Order.’ He had to remind himself. Maybe BB-8 needed that reminder, “Mira’s with them, remember?”


The droid knew that. It still insisted that Terex was bad news. “All right, all right, well she did say to go join her when I hit a jackpot,” he said, “Um. I need a bag or something for the winnings….” Which had finally stopped pouring out of the machine.


That…was a rush to the head Mira was not expecting. One drink, and already she was feeling it. ‘Lightweight. As expected.’ Okay. No more drinking. She could still manage this sanely if she didn’t have another one, right? ‘What was in that…?’


The zabrak invited her forward to play then, as an ethereal server was bringing around more drinks. The zabrak wanted another round after his victory, after all. She was going to step up to take the dice from his hand, but paused with the voice at her ear. She glanced over her shoulder – the voice wasn’t familiar.


The face was. Not from anyone she’d seen in person, but she knew who it was from glancing at his file on the datapad. She hadn’t had time to do much more than that. The mark on his forehead was what clued her in most, and she matched his smirk. Well, this was a surprise, indeed. She hadn’t planned to meet him like this. “You haven’t seen anything yet,” she winked and stepped forward, collecting the dice.


She set half of her chips down, “Pass,” she bet, looked to the back wall and threw the dice as a new drink was set down for her.


The dice hit the back wall, and she guided both into a pass win. ‘Time to get things rolling.’ Literally.


She wasn’t really planning to be all that subtle. Once she built up a good few wins here, she’d go break the bank at roulette.


Her chips increased and she pulled them back to herself, before offering the dice out to Terex, “Bet on don’t pass,” she advised him.


Then she’d start to go easy again, build on the pass line some, points, before ruining it with a seven out.
 
Paquin hadn’t managed to get out a good morning before Kylo spoke with direction for the day. “You want to teach me how to fight with a lightsaber?” She asked, hoping he’d end up passing it off to Ariel or something. Or hopefully she wouldn’t actually be fighting him. Maybe he’d have her attacking a training dummy.


Gnaeus had tried and she struggled enough with that as it was. And she was certain he was taking it easy on her. And Kylo's teaching methods so far hadn't been built on patience or taking it easy. Or building up to anything.


She was hoping for the dummy as she nodded her head, “Okay.” He didn’t exactly leave room for argument and that wasn’t her intent. She was just wary of actually fighting with the glorified glow stick.


And then she registered that they had a day before they left for Takodana. “Snoke said it was okay, then?” Well, that would be something good for Gnaeus to wake up to. But then her thoughts drifted back to her hesitance with leaving Kylo alone last night. “And everything went…well?” She asked as she picked off bits of muffin to eat.


It was then the Ariel wordlessy sauntered in, feet dragging as she loaded her plate with just about all she could, some coffee as well, before slumping down between the two. No greeting other than a groan came from her as she began to eat.


-


General Hux nodded in response to Leia, yes he was sure. He couldn’t guarantee that Mira would like it, but he’d at least get her to understand. He really would have preferred to shoot her a warning first. Later, he supposed.


Lando asked what was going on and Hux moved to lean against the table in the center of the room, facing everyone else. “The only reason we survived the attack on Cimarosa was because Mira foresaw it. And the only reason there was an attack on Cimarosa was because Snoke pulled information of the meeting from Mira’s head.” He wasn’t saying it wasn’t her fault, though. He knew Mira wouldn’t share that information willingly. 


Not at that time anyway.


“And he pulled it from her head when she was planets away, asleep. But it’s not only when she’s asleep that he can get into her head, it happened again when she attempted to interrogate Ariel Ren,” And then there was an instance of taking a knee when fighting Gnaeus, but he wasn’t positive if they were connected or if it was just her lack of sleep. So, during times when she was more vulnerable.


Which made him worry now, as she went longer without sleep.


“Which is why she hasn’t been involved. Part of the reason she isn’t here now.” 


-


“Um,” Finn looked around for anything to shove the coins in when BB-8 just beeped rolling away. “Wait!” But the droid didn’t go far, just to where it spotted a small black trash can. But, of course, it was full of trash. Two of the droid’s handy little arms popped out of their compartments and gripped the trash can, flipping it over so all the trash fell out and onto the floor.


A mixture of various smoking items and accessories dumped out, along with food and some small bottles of alcohol. And a little bit of vomit. 


They weren’t trying to be subtle, right? So BB-8 didn’t worry about the mess.


‘That’ll work.’ Finn supposed as BB-8 rejoined him and handed him the trash can. The can smelled bad, but it held the winnings. BB-8 beeped out a plan and Finn held the trash can in place on its side as BB-8 switched arms and instead used one to shovel all the winnings into the trash can.


All while it plowed the coins into the trash bucket, it’s little droid head was on an anxious swivel. BB-8 didn’t trust Terex and his ‘stupid mustache’.


“Yeah, Poe doesn’t like his mustache, either.” Like owner, like droid. “Alright, good to go.” And Finn stood straight and BB-8 rolled off.


“Whatever you say, Admiral.” Terex shrugged as he accepted the dice from the woman. He took some of her chips and tossed them out as the bet, he didn’t come here to gamble himself, after all. “Don’t pass.” He called out before shaking the dice in his hands for a second. “You know, somehow this isn’t the strangest job interview I’ve ever had.” He kept the smirk on his face as he tossed the little squares, the things bouncing off the back wall as that droid rolled up, Finn not far behind with that heavy trash can of winnings.


The droid softly bumped into Mira’s legs to get her attention before it quietly began to meep some harsh words about Terex. “Well, hello to you too, ball.” Terex's greeting wasn't playful.
 
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