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Sharp like a needle. Thin as a thread. No, Kylo hadn’t really gotten it. Truly, medical things seemed like they ought to remain a careful science, not ad-libbed like the Force was. Perhaps this would give Paquin an advantage, one day, if she could think creatively enough to figure out how to handle wounds without the ‘proper’ materials, like needle and thread.


“Okay, okay, I’ll try, but don’t let me ruin your arm,” Kylo said, listening to the instructions and wondering if it’d be better to try it with the Force and not his hand. His hand always seemed clumsier for these delicate things ‘Just do it. Other people do it.’ And so he took Paquin’s arm in one hand, wrapping his fingers around her wrist to hold it steady.


“Ariel is not doing it on me,” Kylo refused, before he found what he considered the center of the wound, and did push the needle through one half of it, glanced to Paquin, and then continued on with pulling the thread through. It was only at that point he called on the Force, to move the skin as he wanted – towards the other bit of flesh.


And once used, his usage of it only continued. He was able to push the needle through the flesh and pull the thread through as well, but when it came time to knot it, that was also done with the Force. It was such a thin bit of string. The Force did it easily enough, double-knotting it without Kylo touching it.


Cutting it was the next step. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t have scissors on the field. He was also pretty sure a lightsaber would just disintegrate the string. He was about to ask Paquin what the hell he was supposed to do at this point. He didn’t want to tug on it in an effort to break it, lest he damage the wound more, but then he got an idea. He used to use his teeth for these things when he was a kid.


So, Kylo leaned down slightly, caught the string in his teeth, and made sure it was between two of them just right, and tugged. The string broke where his teeth met, but when he straightened back up, he did look to Paquin, “Unless you have a better idea, that’s how it’d have to be done on the field.” They carried lightsabers not swords or knives after all.


~***~


Once they were loaded up in the ship, Finn did decide he ought to give his mother a head’s up. He didn’t know if she’d be working, or what he might be interrupting, so he should be polite and let her know that he would need her, soon. He did it just as he settled into the pilot’s seat, and Mace looked around the cockpit, “This is your ship?” He asked Finn.


“This is Mira’s ship.” She had a lot of ships now. Gnaeus’s ship, Kevan’s ship, this…ship. And she was going to Hoth to get another ship. Well, an Admiral needed ships, right? She had ships…, “I sent mom a message,” Finn said then, setting aside his pad and starting the ship up.


Mace took a hurried seat, uncertain how good a pilot his son was, “Tell her I was with you?”


“Yes.”


“…maybe she’ll have time to think before she slaps me.”


Probably wouldn’t change a thing. Finn didn’t mention that, but went about the procedures of getting the ship up in the air. “How’d this all…how are you a Gray Jedi?”


“Padawan.”


“Why are you choosing it?”


“Well…,” ship was put into hyperdrive, “My friend Rey—”


“Rey Kenobi.” Qui-Gon interjected.


“—is a Jedi.”


“Wait, Kenobi? Kenobi had a kid? Oh!” He threw his hands up.


“Yeah…um…she’s his granddaughter. And she’s a Jedi. But I don’t agree with some of it, and it seems like…well, I might get a say here in the direction of the Grey Jedi.” Though he knew Mira was going to lead it, the thought that he’d have a say and input in the direction and shaping of something new was…exciting.


Mace arched a brow then. “So you’re gonna be a Master and have a Gray Jedi council then, too, huh?”


“Maybe.”


Mace smirked.


~***~


Mira was alone at last, and felt like she could breathe. As much as she liked Finn, knowing she was being watched and worried over meant that there was a pressure on her. Now that she was here, in Kevan’s ship, she did not have to worry about it. She was still tired, still exhausted and weak, but she felt content.


Her hands moved over the familiar furnishings, even though the ship was stripped of so much. She tried to imagine how it must have gone down, as she walked on to the cockpit.


She started to take the co-pilot’s seat, when she remembered. ‘Right.’


She heaved a heavy sigh and moved into the pilot’s seat, and looking at it from that perspective broke her. A sob parted her lips and the tears flowed, even though she forced her hands to move over the controls, to bring it to life once she put the keys in to turn it on. ‘Just get into hyperdrive, set the coordinates, and you can….’


A pause of thought.


She could cry without worrying, couldn’t she? She had thought of going back to the storage room, but…she didn’t need to, did she? Except, the thought almost abolished itself as the radio came to life. Apparently, they hadn’t searched that.


-look like it's magic


'Cause I see nobody, nobody but you, you, you


I'm never confused


Hey, hey


But I'm so used to being used


“You had a problem, Kevan,” she grumbled, but let it play, smiling a bit and remembering, letting the tears fall peacefully.


~***~


August smirked a bit at Hux’s quick comment on the handcuffs. No, that was not to be allowed then. No throwing her in a cell. No containment fields. His eyes drifted from Hux as he saw Lares preparing to jump up after Millicent. “Noh.” Not Galactic Basic, but the word would be easy to guess, even if Hux didn’t speak Old Corellian. Not many did. August made a point to learn it – pirates and smugglers favored it.


The number of times he’d surprised them with it still amused him.


Lares seemed annoyed, but the tone said enough. It sat, tail swishing, and watched Millicent’s tail as it swished above him.


August addressed Hux then, horribly defensive of Mira. He did appreciate the honesty, “If you are unable to handle it, I can,” he informed, “It’s never fun dealing with friends who are acting against your interests – even if they cannot help.” He would likely have to kill Pandion. Quietly. He still wanted to delay it, the way he had clung to Jova though he knew the end was near.


Different situations, but in the end, August was the end of them. Jova died of too many drugs in his system. They couldn’t kill the pain anymore, so August plunged him in darkness. Sometimes, he wondered if he had known what he was doing…if he knew it would kill him, or if he was truly just trying to stop the pain for his father. For his mother, there had only been a plug, and the knowledge she was never waking up.


For Pandion, there would be a blaster.


“No one can be tough forever.” Not Jova. Not Pandion. Not him. “It is curious that it is the Force sensitive one suffering, though,” noticed Lares move, start to get into a crouch again. “Noh!” He snapped, and it settled once more, glowering up at Millicent. He lifted his blue eyes to meet Hux’s. “Regardless. Is she to be coming to see Carise as well?” Curious, “I would like her on Coruscant. In the senate. If she is herself.”  
 
“Hey, I need to learn how to stitch, too!” Ariel complained when Kylo refused to let her test on him, whenever it would be when he got injured. “Maybe one day we’ll get stuck somewhere, and you’ve got a gaping wound. But guess what? I can’t help you. Because you never let me practice on you.” To be fair, if she were Kylo she wouldn’t let herself test on him either.


The stitches didn’t hurt Paquin. It was the wound itself that hurt, but the stitches were nothing compared to that. “You’ll learn, don’t worry. It’ll either be on me or medical dummies.” Paquin watched Kylo stitch the wound as she answered Ariel. She hadn’t really expected him to use the Force, and while it wasn’t really how she wanted him to learn, it worked. And he wasn’t doing horribly, either.


But as soon as he lowered his head and his teeth tore the thread, her eyes widened. Partly in horror. ‘How unsanitary…’ “You could use a sharp rock…or something…other than your mouth.”


“Kinky.” Ariel shot a wink at the two.


Paquin ignored the redhead and reached for some scissors, which she should’ve given to Kylo in the first place. “Good idea, but not necessary. Keep that in mind for when you…need to do that. You have scissors here. Use them. Please.” She held them out for him. The rest of that thread still had to go through her wound again. “You’re doing good.” She encouraged.


-


Ada absolutely loved getting a message from Finn, saying that he would need her. That was a great feeling, something she’d wanted all this time. Even if it wasn’t necessarily for anything parental. She still loved having some use to her son.


But then there was that little tidbit of who he was bringing with him. Not Mira, who she didn’t hate. The woman was growing on her a little bit, as she settled on the thought of her and her son and their resurrection of the Gray Jedi. No, Ada couldn’t decide if Mace was better or worse. Her stomach dropped and her heart soared at the same time. On one hand, she was angry. And that hand was her right hand. That she’d drag across Mace’s face.


She sent Finn a message back.


 I’m home. I’ll get some hot chocolate on the stove.


The message was followed by ‘- Mom’ and a heart. She said nothing of Mace. She wasn’t sure what to say. And he wouldn’t be getting any hot chocolate.


And Finn did smile when he read the message but recognized the lack of anything referring to Mace for what it was. He set the device down again. “Right now, we’re just getting started.” Finn still had to learn the Force. He and Mira still had to form what exactly the Gray Jedi were. But he hoped one day they’d become the new Jedi Order. But better.


“Master Windu,” Mace mused. The same name he used to go by, but this time it was in reference to his newfound son. He could certainly tell what the man had gotten from him and what he’d gotten from his mother. Even though it seemed Finn hadn’t grown up around either of them.


“2.0.” Qui-Gon commented. 


They entered realspace again, as Coruscant came into sight. The planet always twinkling.


-


Terex didn’t wait to lift the Carrion Spike off the planet. Since the Admiral hadn’t given him a specific spot or coordinates to meet her at, he just set the coordinates to Hoth, jumping into lightspeed to head to a planet that was quite the opposite in environment and weather. There were only so many places on Hoth that she could go, after all. 


Stealth kept him off of scanners when he did find himself on the white planet. While the Carrion wasn’t necessarily First Order, it still wasn’t a Resistance ship. And even if it was a First Order ship, Terex wouldn’t put faith in anybody on Hoth being informed of it yet.  


He didn’t want to be shot at.


Though the Resistance never did seem to be a shoot first, ask questions later sort of business.


Terex remembered that Admiral Vallens had her datapad now. And that contact information wasn’t at all hard to get. He found himself docking in a random hangar before he wrote her a message, giving her his coordinates. 


I’ll wait for you before I start knocking heads and taking names.


If it were up to him, he would already have Hux’s ship before she arrived.Well actually, if it were up to him, he wouldn’t even be on the frosty planet. ‘Hell froze over and was renamed Hoth.’


-


Hux frowned when August offered to ‘take care’ of Mira if it came to that point. He didn’t like that. Wouldn’t allow that. It never was fun dealing with friends going against your wishes, but it was a personal thing. August had to understand that in the situation of Pandion.


And Hux knew no one could be tough forever. But there were varying degrees of tough. And Mira would be tough for as long as she could when it came to Snoke.


Hux no longer wanted to think of having to take care of Mira. His friend. One of the few, it seemed. It was an odd thing to admit, that he had friends. But he valued them greatly.


 The General did not speak Old Corellian, but it was easy enough to guess what August was saying. Even Millicent seemed to understand, the green orbs moving from Lares to the older ginger that spoke. She pulled her tail back up as she stood, walking on the counter, sniffing things along the way. 


Hux hadn’t thought of Mira coming along to the meeting with Carise. “If she is herself, it’s up to her,” dependent on how she feels. She hadn’t slept in however long. He wasn’t going to force her to go. He had a feeling she would like to join them, as well.


 But Hux was suspicious. Why did August want her along? “Is there any particular reason you want her with us?” He did his best to hide any accusatory tone in his voice. 


It was then that Millicent began to bat at a stethoscope that was sat on the counter, to knock it down for Lares. Hux’s eyes found her, and he hissed at her. She paused, looking right at him. Her eyes didn’t leave his as she knocked the tool right off the counter. She followed right after it. Hux breathed in and rolled his eyes, his gaze landing back on August. He’d pick up after his cat in a minute.
 
‘Then you can learn to stitch on Gnaeus or Paquin!’ Kylo wanted to say, but Paquin spoke up before that, letting Ariel know that she could use her. He still didn’t like that, though. Maybe just Gnaeus, or medical dummies. Were medical dummies expensive? Kylo probably should have gotten familiar with the costs of things…he never had. Never needed to. He had enough credits if he ever needed to buy something, and the majority of the time, he didn’t.


Why didn’t they have medical dummies in here, anyway? They had mannequins for making armor. He’d seen those before. Did the Kaminoans not need to practice healing people, either? ‘Maybe they’re in another room.’ Possible. He might ask about it later, when he was fairly certain it wouldn’t upset Snoke. When Snoke might think of it more in terms of Paquin preparing herself to learn Darth Plagueis-esque skills.


Which, apparently, did not involve biting thread.


Paquin was clearly quite uncomfortable with it, and Kylo wasn’t sure why – didn’t even think of how unsanitary it was, and he shot Ariel a glare for her comment. ‘Only you.’ Probably not true, still his thoughts preferred it that way and he took the scissors from Paquin, “I’ll keep it in mind,” he told Paquin, “and consider rocks or other things, as well.” Though he wasn’t counting on being anywhere near obviously sharp rocks, either.


He kept the scissors near, and continued with the stitching then. He mixed his own hands with the Force, and slowly got an idea of how to also use his fingers for some of the things he’d been using the Force for. Like, actually tying the knot and not using the Force for the delicate process. He utilized the scissors for cutting the thread each time, though. He wouldn’t use his teeth again.


He got to one end of the wound, since he started at the center as Paquin suggested, and then looked back up to her, uncertain how to proceed. “Is there a special way for tying off an end?” He inquired, trying to think of what he’d seen before on himself, or what he’d gleaned from watching himself be treated, but he really couldn’t think of noticing anything special.


Better to ask, though. Just in case.


~***~


“So, Jinn, what is this Forcekiller that Mira has?” Mace thought to ask, even if he doubted Qui-Gon had any idea. Finn glanced to Mace, and wondered exactly how he could learn to hear Qui-Gon, but didn’t ask. His attention focused on landing the ship. This one was much smaller than the one they’d taken to get here, and quicker. He had to be careful with its movements or he’d be too jerky with it.


In a docking bay like Coruscant, he didn’t want to do that.


“Something she took from Grakkus the Hutt. It was confined then, some stone, but I did not recognize it.”


“Hm.” Well, at least now Mace knew what to look for. The ship docked, and Mace looked out. “It’s changed,” he murmured, more to himself than Finn. It hadn’t, really, but it felt like it had. The world itself felt so…different. There used to be a great presence of the Force here, and there still was, but it felt different to him now.


Warped. Decaying, or healing, he wasn’t sure, but he knew it wasn’t how it used to. Powerful and pulsing with life. Perhaps that was because of the absence of the Jedi, though. The absence of their temple, the kybers, the many things that made the Force so strong here.


“Yes…Palpatine damaged this world.” Beyond what could be seen. “But it is healing.” Qui-Gon could feel that better, connected deeper to the Force.


“How did it used to be?” Finn asked, curious, as he rose from the seat.


Mace wasn’t sure how to explain, honestly. It was just as busy as before. Just as tall as before. “How it felt.” He told Finn, getting out of his own seat, as well. “Hard to explain since you weren’t around when the Jedi were at their peak, but this world felt alive. It feels like it’s decaying now.” Even if Jinn said it was healing. “Work of Palpatine, no doubt.” And Anakin. Fucking Anakin.


“Well, come on. We’re gonna go see my mom at her home, then we’ll get these items out.” He didn’t mention the hot chocolate. He was pretty sure that wasn’t an offer to Mace. He didn’t want to disappoint him…just in case.


~***~


Lightspeed and solitude were welcomed. It almost reminded Mira of when things were…well, not good, but…peaceful. She did slip into a moment’s meditative trance, until the ship shook and exited hyperspace. Her datapad lit up almost at the same time, and she picked it up, noted the message from Terex, and followed him down.


It was convenient enough – he was close to the same cantina she’d stopped at with Hux, and she could see Hux’s ship still there, though she wasn’t sure if it hadn’t been partially parted out, or had its contents already gone through. Either way, she’d bring back what she could. She slid the Nymph in besides it, and sent back a simple message.


Here. Going to the cantina.

-Mira


She was going to freeze when she stepped outside the ship in this dress. She knew there weren’t any extra bits of clothes here, though, so she’d have to freeze. She did take the stone out of her pocket and set it under the pilot’s chair. It seemed to have a range, and she might need Force tricks.


Besides, she could use the Force to stay warm.


Though she did bundle the coat more closely around herself when she stepped out into the frigid temperatures and looked around for where Terex was, though she kept walking. She told him she was going to the cantina, after all. ‘His name started with an A….’ Well, she’d recognize the one she traded the ship to.


He’d probably recognize her, too. And his friend wasn’t apt to forget being strangled by Hux.


~***~


August was pleased to hear Hux say it was ‘up to her’. That meant there was room for him to try and convince her. He had guessed that much anyway, but hearing confirmation of it, after Hux did seem so protective, was still good news to have that day. He laid the datapad down besides him then, crossed an arm over his knee.


He was probably more comfortable on the ground than he was in most chairs.


He was about to answer Hux, but Millicent interrupted. The stare she gave Hux as she knocked the stethoscope down almost made August lose it to laughter, but he managed to just smirk and shake his head as Lares went to get the stethoscope. “Noh.” He said again, stopping Lares short from snatching it up in his mouth. It looked at August, started to reach out its paw for it, and August pushed himself to stand.


It jolted away then, even as Millicent jumped down. “Good luck with your cat,” he told Hux. He was pretty sure a cat would even defy him, but Lares wasn’t a cat.


It was a pack animal. A feline.


But not a cat.


“Anyway,” he looked back to Hux then, “The reason is fairly simple. I want her present at the Senate when it meets. The Senate once had a place for the Jedi, and we’re waging a war on at least six fronts.” Military, Political, ‘Force’, Public Opinion, Economical, and Information, “The more we can have covered, the better,” he let his back hit the wall, “I want Master Vallens in the Senate.” Didn’t care about her role as Admiral Vallens for it. “Better her than Luke Skywalker, or Force forbid, Snoke. It won’t be immediate,” he reassured, mostly because of how the senate worked. He doubted it would even be brought up that session – but he’d start to set it up. Build familiarity. “She’s set the foundation already in bringing the Jedi Guide into mass production.”


Consciously or not, Mira understood the war was one on many fronts, and she needed to stand opposite Snoke in the realm of the Force and set herself apart. “Only if she wants to be there, of course,” August added. It was all good in theory, but the Senate was as brutal as any battleground. Mira had secrets. Coming into the open would find those revealed, especially as Snoke sought to tear her down. “It’d be one more voice for your cause,” he thought to add, but really, he didn’t care about that.


He wanted the Jedi out. He wanted the Sith out. Both had failed. Palpatine was a liar, and the Jedi were elitists with too many secrets.


A sly smirk came to his lips then as Lares started to try and stalk Millicent again, since she was on the ground once more. Tried to jump her. “Does that clarify my intentions, General Hux?”
 
Ariel grinned when she received the glare from Kylo. “Prude.” She mumbled, playfully of course. Since Paquin had ignored her comment, Kylo was Ariel’s prime target for teasing. He really did make it easy to mess with him. It was all a matter if it would end up worth it. The cinnamon buns were an example of it. She had fun with that, but was almost Force choked.

Paquin couldn’t help but think Ariel and a friend of hers, Yara, would get along well. They had similar senses of humor. If it could really be called humor. She could even imagine them getting completely hammered together. That is if Yara hadn’t sworn off of alcohol until she’d had a child. If Yara and Ariel had known each other when the former was in Rhinnal, they’d be friends.

It was then that Paquin almost ached to spend time with Yara again. Or at least, speak with her longer than the few minutes she did to acquire someone to make Gnaeus’s hand. They had a lot of catching up to do.

Paquin let out a sigh and was then snapped out of her thoughts by Kylo. She examined the stitching he’d done, pleasantly surprised. After the whole biting thing, he managed to stay rather consistent. She could see areas for improvement, but he’d gotten the job done. “No, no special way,” she shook her head. “Tie it off like the rest of them.” She offered him a smile, a crooked one at that. “I’m surprised, you’re doing better than I thought you would.”

As he was paused, she took a moment to give him a pat on his arm.

“Look what you’ve done, Kylo, now she’ll have high expectations for me.” Ariel jokingly complained.

“No I won’t.”

-

“Right, wouldn’t want to get slapped with armfuls of precious artifacts.” Mace mumbled, under the illusion that he’d be fully prepared for the beating to come, as Finn stood.

“Sure.” Finn didn’t want to say ‘exactly’. That wasn’t the whole reason. One of the many. Didn’t want to get mugged, didn’t want to haul them all the way up there. But also because Mace would be slapped. It was so built up at this point.

BB-8 beeped, saying it would lead the way. Then it asked if Mace knew the way to Ada’s apartment. Had Ada lived there when the two of them were together?

“If she’s still living on the what was it, 87th floor? 21st floor? One of those, in an apartment building, then the answer is yes.”

Ada had been living there a while.

BB-8 did as it announced, weaved through groups of humanoids and aliens alike. No one spared the father and son duo a second glance. Mace was well and forgotten at this point.

The walk to Ada’s apartment was short from the dock. That same woman at the front desk all but ignored them when they walked in. ‘Good to know security is tight around here,’ Finn couldn’t help but think. But it seemed his mother had remained safe in this apartment building. He supposed he had been safe too, considering he wasn’t taken from this building.

Mace couldn’t help but feel a teensy bit of anxiety as Finn paused in front of Ada’s door. Even Finn felt anxious. This was the first time he’d have both his parents at the same time. Together. Like a family. Even if it was far from a perfect one.

There was barely any time between Finn knocking on the door and Ada pulling it open. At first, Ada completely ignored Mace. She pulled her son into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you again. I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too, Mom, but I saw you not that long ago.” Finn chuckled as he enjoyed his mother’s embrace.

“I know,” she almost told him to think about how long she’d gone without seeing him, but wouldn’t remind him of that. She pulled away to place a kiss on his cheek before pulling away completely. It was then that Ada’s eyes connected with Mace’s

For a moment it was just her staring at him. Mace almost thought he wasn’t going to be slapped. He was wrong.

Ada’s hand raised, and it really had to raise considering she was a tiny thing and Mace was not. Finn barely had time to register what she was doing before her hand connected with his father’s face, the sound echoing through the hallways. It looked like it hurt.

-

The cantina.

Terex wasted little time in getting up and leaving his ship. He locked up his baby. No one was going to put there hands on it. And he imagined if there was anyone here that would recognize it as the Carrion Spike, they’d be smart enough not to touch it.

Terex hoped to catch up with Mira before the cantina. Luck seemed to be on his side, as he spotted her form making her way through the hangar.

He jogged to catch up, careful as no one seemed to have taken care of the ice in parts of the hangar. No salt laid down or anything. How were there not any accidents happening right at that moment.

“Admiral,” he greeted as he slowed, falling into step beside her. His eyes moved over her, landing on her bare legs. Partly covered by boots, it seemed, but she was still wearing a dress. He figured she would have changed or something, considering she must have known what the weather on Hoth was like. “Do you not own pants or something, is that the case? I’m sure I’ve got some pants laying around if you want them.” He offered.

If not, he hoped the Force prevented frostbite. And hopefully they wouldn’t be stuck here over night, when it got much worse.

But when they stumbled into the cantina, it was noticeably warmer. The place was packed, the extra degrees of warmth generated by the bodies of the drunks crowded into the small place. “What are we looking for exactly? If it’s here, it would be in the hangar. In which we could just steal it back, easy.” Though, maybe Terex could use a drink. Didn’t imagine anything here would be of exceptional quality. Not that he minded.

-

Was August’s reasoning really that simple? Hux didn’t know, and didn’t dismiss it as such. Was it that Vader comment that started Hux down this path? The protectiveness over Mira, especially when it came to Tarkin? Not to mention, he was a Tarkin. That had something to do with Hux’s suspicion.

But he wouldn’t let that be the deciding factor on whether Mira would go or not. Given she was herself, she could make her own decisions. And while he was worried she’d be much more pliable in her state, if she could withstand Snoke, she would have a mind of her own to listen to August or not. He hoped.

He’d still talk to her about trusting August. He had one word on the matter. Don’t.

Maybe he was being dramatic, hypocritical. Here he was, trusting Tarkin. Somewhat, anyway.

But this was an opportunity for her. He didn’t much care about her voice being for his cause. He didn’t quite think that would win many favors. But she was paving the way for her Gray Jedi. If she wanted it to amount to anything the Jedi once were, this was a stepping stone. If anything, it would give her more experience that she needed. He couldn’t imagine her getting too much diplomatic experience in Wild Space.

The Senate would give her more than she would ever want.

August did have a point. Better her than Luke or Snoke.

Did this clarify August’s intentions. Hux pondered on his answer as Millicent allowed herself to be jumped by the much bigger feline. For some reason, she trusted it enough that it was just playing. She rolled onto her back, her back feet pushing at the beast, her front paw raising to swat at Lares’s face. “Somewhat.” Hux still couldn’t shake that there was something else…

‘You’re paranoid.’ Or was it jealous, The galaxy may never know.

“Neither of you should get too comfortable,” Hux meant August and Mira, as he moved to pick up the medical equipment Millicent had knocked down, but leaving the two creatures undisturbed. “The goal is and always has been to abolish the New Republic, and with that the Senate.” Maybe not in the same fashion as previously, and hopefully August would pick up on that. But something needed to change.
 
‘Slut.’

Kylo could almost hear Kevan saying it right back to Ariel, and it grated on his nerves. Why did he keep coming to mind? ‘Because he’s dead, and because Mira’s going to die, and because you miss them, and you don’t want to lose what you have.’ That was…a bit more than he expected his own mind to produce as an answer to the question, but there was no denying any of it as he tied the knot off like the others and cut off the excess thread.

Ariel would probably find this a bit difficult…but eventually. She had gotten better at the Force over the years. Figured out how to do the Sith temples. She had learned a lot. She’d learn this, too.

“I have always been good with my hands,” Kylo answered Paquin, and almost hated himself for it as he imagined Ariel’s comment. He continued quickly, “Mechanical. I built my ship,” that was now destroyed, “completely.” He wouldn’t have time to build another, would he? Not from scrap, anyway. “This isn’t…that hard. It’s just the thought of actually hurting someone or making the wound worse that does.”

‘You.’

He’d worry of Ariel and Gnaeus, too, of course. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to explain why he was good with this. Before he could say more, he heard the woosh of the bacta tank, and saw the fluid beginning to lower, letting Gnaeus open his eyes and stir awake. He hadn’t been in there long, but his wounds weren’t terrible – so he hadn’t set it for long. He pulled himself up after the top slid off and he had removed his mask. The knight crawled half-over the rim, before he slipped to the floor.

Kylo hit his forehead as Gnaeus let out a grunt on hitting the floor.

Everything was easier with two hands. Still, he took in a deep breath and pulled himself back up, went to his clothes, “Who trusted Kylo with scissors?” He had to ask, to break the tension of his slip.

Humor. He’d try to get back into humor.

~***~

It hurt.

Mace almost thought it hurt more than the Force lightning, but he knew that logically, it didn’t. The force of it, paired with the fire that seemed to come into her eyes, however, made it seem that way. Mace could feel the anger rolling off of her then, as his head moved with the slap and he bent his knees a bit.

He shut his eyes. “I deserved that,” he grumbled.

“Mom—please don’t hit him again.” She probably would, but not then, Finn hoped, as he reached for her shoulders to pull her back and offer comfort. She got her one hit in. “I found him at Takodana by chance,” he offered, “He agreed to come. Free will.” Wasn’t forced into it or anything. Finn wasn’t sure if that made it better.

Mace lifted a hand to his cheek as he straightened back up, held his face and opened his eyes. He wanted to ask her if she had known, while he was still with her, if she was pregnant. He didn’t – he would wait to ask when he was inside, and hoped she’d reserve any yelling for inside the apartment, as well. He didn’t want to think of arguing out here, in the hallway, in public.

“Come on,” Finn urged, “I’ll catch you up with everything!” He offered, “You got the pictures, right?” Distract her with good things.

~***~

Mira sighed, “All of Kevan’s things were ransacked from his ship, and all of that is in the skiff. I didn’t think that far ahead to the climate of Hoth before we left Takodana.” Bad habit picked up from Wild Space exploration, no doubt. And abuse of the Force, which didn’t seem to be kicking in fast enough – but once it did, she flooded her system with heat. “If Hux’s ship doesn’t have any clothes either, I’m taking you up on that offer – and we’re going to try to get it…legally…first.” How weren’t there laws regulating Force usage?

She knew she could get into Hux’s clothes well enough.

She needed a new wardrobe. She needed her armor. She needed her Jedi tunics. ‘Too many roles to play.’ Which, she had to play Admiral now, didn’t she? Yes. She was sober enough and away from Finn and the Droid. So, she skimmed the bar, didn’t see ‘A’-man, but saw the poor one Hux strangled.

She didn’t want to waste any time. “We’re looking for people. Him.” She made a simple gesture towards the one she meant.

She walked right to where he was, and as he started to rise, recognizing her in spite of the red dress, she spoke, “Stay,” intoning it with the Force to make him stay where he was, and not do anything stupid. “You remember me, so you know why I’m here. Would you please get your friend who I traded Hux’s ship with? I’d like to buy it back.” It wasn’t really a question.

“I’ll go get my friend,” he said, “and let him know you want to buy back the Cruiser.”

“Thank you,” Mira said, and he left them, of course. Mira took his seat, and gestured Terex to take another, “That should take a few minutes, which gives me enough time to decide if I like you or not, and decent odds they come here with blasters and more people if it takes longer than five.” So far, she did like him, in spite of the others. He was First Order, so it was expected that Resistance wouldn’t like him.

But Phasma had hesitated.

But he had the Carrion Spike. And, “How did Kevan know you?” he had a shirt, that Kevan made, which meant there was a tie here, too.

~***~

Hux was fun. A new game, a new toy, for August – when he would think of it later, laughing at the absurdity of making it so simple. He was silent, mulling it all over in his head, no doubt thinking of what was best for him, as well as what was best for her. August did wonder if Hux knew how bad this could go, what advice he might have for Mira. No doubt, he’d bring it up first – have his chat with her, and let his opinion be known.

They swayed each other in that way. The question was, how much?

“Ah yes, because you know I love the senate and wouldn’t want anything to happen to it. Force forbid those of a like-mind get together to create a system that gets things done faster than a year, if at all!” August didn’t even attempt to hide the sarcasm as Hux went to pick up the equipment that Millicent had knocked over, while Lares had it pinned.

Lares could endure it. Millicent’s claws were quite weak compared to what it was used to, but it still stared down in bafflement at the creature scratching away at its underbelly and that had batted its face. His head turned, canted, tried to figure out just where the neck was. It tried to lean closer, lips pulling away to reveal its fangs, but its mouth didn’t open as it tried to bring its nose closer to sniff Millicent.

It would usually bite the neck of its playmate at this time, but…well…her neck was so tiny….

“I’m still a Tarkin, General. I still dislike the system in place. It’s useless,” and the entire reason he didn’t care about being called to answer for his actions. It wouldn’t go anywhere. It would just waste his time. He knew how to play this system, though. He’d miss that advantage. “I just don’t approve of destroying the New Republic. I’m rather fond of it, even if it is…noisy.” It was the only way he knew to put it.

The word he’s used on Chandrilla, all those years ago.

The word that still seemed perfect. Noisy. “Speaking of, will you be at the Spiked this evening?”
 
Too. Damn. Easy.

“With hands that big, I bet,” Ariel mumbled to Paquin, over Kylo as he tried to continue. No way was she letting him get away with that one. He was practically begging her to say something. And hey, it was a compliment almost.

And Paquin’s eyes widened, her face turning the slightest bit red as she attempted to ignore Ariel. Why did she have to be included in this? At least she managed to listen to what Kylo said. And felt really bad about it.

She hadn’t realized Kylo had built that weird ship completely. And then he had to leave it in Wild Space. Well, if the glass had broken they would have died, so they had too. But still, he was leaving something important behind. And it’s not like he could build another one. She wondered how long it took him to build his other one. Did it have a name? Like Mira’s? She just knew everyone in the Order called it the Command Shuttle.

The frown that came from the information on his ship quirked up into a small grin. Hearing that he cared about hurting them or making wounds worse sounded good, after how much he cared was questioned earlier. She almost wanted to call him a gentle giant, but that wasn’t really right. He was gentle when he wanted to be.

Paquin’s attention was torn away, her head whipping around at the sound of Gnaeus hitting the ground. Both she and Ariel cringed. Paquin went to hop off the counter to help him up, but Ariel beat her to it. Of course, he got himself up before Ariel got to him. ‘He’s fine, don’t hover.’ Ariel told herself, not getting back up on the counter, but leaning against it.

Gnaeus tried at humor and Ariel couldn’t tell if it was forced or not. “Paquin did. She’s teaching us how to stitch. Kylo, why don’t you tell Gnaeus why you have the scissors in the first place? I think he’ll get a kick out of it.”

-

“Yeah, you did,” Ada grumbled. At least Mace admitted it.

She let her son grab her, distract her. No, Mace agreeing to come did not make anything better. In fact, she found herself even further agitated that he came willingly. ‘Couldn’t have done that earlier?’ She knew she was being petty. She certainly had every right to be angry with him, but not with that. She wouldn’t hit him again. In front of Finn.

She pulled her glaring eyes away from Mace, and they easily lit up when they met Finn’s despite the fact that Mace and Finn had the same eyes. Finn was a good boy. The same couldn’t be said for Mace.

Her lips pulled into a smile, her hands coming to rest on his cheeks again. “I did! You two looked so cute. You were so handsome in that suit! Did you send those pictures to Poe?” Ada gently pinched Finn’s cheeks. “Come, the hot chocolate’s getting cold. How’s Mira doing? She get any sleep yet?” Ada let go of Finn’s cheeks and instead reached for his hand.

“I don’t suppose I get any hot chocolate, do I?” Mace inquired, although not seriously. He doubted Ada would even offer him dishwater.

Without looking at Mace, Ada continued to lead Finn to the living room. “I’m sure there’s still some of your tea laying around. Feel free to make yourself some. I’m sure you remember where everything is.”

-

Terex didn’t want to wait five minutes. Didn’t want to give anyone a chance to gather more people or blasters. He wanted to tell Mira that he could easily hotwire the ship and they’d be gone in less than that five minutes. But whatever. If she insisted on doing this ‘legally’.

Gave him a moment to drink, though.

He sat next to Mira, raising his hand to call the attention of the bartender. “I think I’m likable. I can be fun. Resourceful. I’m sure your boy Finn, his boyfriend Poe, and their kid droid mean well, but we were all enemies for a while, weren’t we? And Phasma just doesn’t like the way I follow orders, even if it gets things done.” Most of the time. “Whisky,” he told the bartender as the alien approached, not even giving it a chance to ask.

Terex gestured to Mira. “You want anything to drink? It’s on me. No alcohol for you, though. You’re on the job. Boring, but understandable.” Girl couldn’t handle her liquor all that well.

He’d give her a moment to order before starting on the subject of Kevan.

“Ah, Kevan. Kevan, Kevan, Fun guy.” A guy who happened not to like him either. Terex fucked things up, according to Kevan. “We worked together, through the Order.” Terex shrugged. “Shame about him. Sorry to see him go.” Eh. Not really.

It was then that Atlas joined them. "You again, huh? Your ginger pal isn't here to strangle anyone else, is he?"

-

Hux could have rolled his eyes at August’s sarcasm. Could’ve snorted at ‘noisy’. He withheld, to maintain some sort of professionalism. He withheld, let it go. As badly as he wanted to object to keeping the New Republic in play. The fate of the system wouldn’t be decided for a while. Things could change. Though Hux was absolutely positive, no way, was he going to let the Senate stay the way it was.

Not when it was the whole thing this war was over. What his war was over.

Whether the New Republic would stay or not didn’t matter at the moment. What did was keeping Snoke and the Knights out of power.

“Spiked?” Him? At Spiked?

Millicent’s ears went back as the nexu’s mouth neared her neck. So far it was just sniffing but…she still latched her teeth onto Lares’ lip, her claws moving to wrap around his head, her back legs scratching furiously at his underbelly. Her teeth weren’t biting hard, and her claws weren’t digging too hard. She twisted, trying to switch positions so she had the upper hand. But Lares was so much bigger than her…

“No. I’ve still got work to do.” Better things than going to celebrate in what he assumed was a bar. What did he have to work on? All he really had to do was make some more calls…

‘Sleep, feed Millicent…wait for Mira.’ That was about all he’d really do. Still better than doing nothing in a bar. It wasn’t like he’d drink anything. He didn’t want to be hungover the following morning. Not when he had to be up early, deal with Carise. ‘Ugh.’
 
Kylo glowered at Ariel for her comments, but said nothing. Gnaeus. Something about the man now bothered him. Reminded him of what Snoke said, far more than the other two could. He could not be so kind. ‘This was not kind.’ He reminded himself. ‘This was learning.’ A skill they needed, even if Ariel wanted to introduce it that way.

Scissors. “To cut thread. She was teaching us to stitch wounds,” Kylo stated. He knew what Ariel wanted him to say. He wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. “Now that you’re back with us,” and starting to get back to his feet and find his clothes. Kylo didn’t really concern himself with the fact that Gnaeus was all but naked. “You and Paquin are going to pair up to train in the Force.”

Because even right then Kylo was reminded how infrequently Gnaeus used it, trying to pull his clothes on without the Force to assist. He held his tongue on it. “Ariel and I are going to improve our martial skills,” because neither of them really needed the improvement, but they had to make up for their counterparts…who would be better staying in the background and using the Force.

“You sure?” Gnaeus asked, finally tugging his pants back on, “I’m not too great with the fighting thing right now, either.”

“And it’ll take too long to improve you on it,” cold, but true. “We need to prepare for immediate engagements, so it’s better if you improve your abilities with the Force. Same with Paquin,” and he knew Gnaeus would be…gentler with the Force than he would be, in the end. Gnaeus would know how to teach her. He helped her with the lightsaber. “In the future we’ll get you trained up with a weapon again.”

Glanced to Ariel, “You need a new lightsaber. You should see the Supreme Leader about it.” Probably the last thing she wanted to do, but she needed one. “Ask for Gnaeus as well.”

~***~

Finn glanced to BB-8 and the droid confirmed that the pictures were sent to Poe, “Yeah, I guess so,” why did everyone want to bring him and Poe together? His mother didn’t even know Poe and she was already doing this.

In they walked, and he answered the other questions, as Mace did go to the kitchen. He did remember where things were. “She got a bit of a nap on the ship, when we went to Takodana,” he answered, “She had to go to Hoth,” he noted, “that’s why she’s not here. Then we’re all going to Eriadu – I guess the First Order managed to win.”

He didn’t know for sure, but he was pretty sure that’s what it meant. Mira hadn’t acted as if anything bad had happened. “I think she’s okay.” Pretty sure she was okay, “She found him. Sorry.” Added. Mace upset her. Expected, but still…, “We got a lot of new Jedi things from Grakkus that she wanted to leave you with, and from her old, um, apprentice,” he had noticed she used that word, rather than padawan. “I understand if you don’t want to take Grakkus’s things.”

Might get her in trouble.

Meanwhile, Mace had found his tea, smirked a bit at the name of it. Get Your Shit Together tea. Yeah…he drank a lot of that, once upon a time. He went about making it, finding the loose leaf infuser and the old cup he used to use, too. It brought back so many memories…painted with anger, painted with sorrow, painted with…happiness. Contentment.

~***~

Mira understood why Poe and Finn and the droid did not like Terex. They had been enemies. Finn didn’t exactly like Hux, but the distaste here from the droid, certainly, had seemed more intense. Phasma disliked him…yet he was still in the Order. ‘Wonder if Phasma is going to hate my methods, too.’ She didn’t exactly do things the normal way.

Green tinted the crystals. “I don’t like him. I also don’t like your new toy.”

Didn’t exactly know what it was. She wasn’t raised First Order. She was raised in chaos. Order was always the dream of chaos, though.

Did she want anything? “More coffee.” If she was going to overdose, she might as well do it well, “Thank you.”

“Are you ignoring me now? He knows you’re Force sensitive.” Pretty sure Mira mentioned Jinn to Terex, too. Mira didn’t remember. Grakkus’s was a bit more of a blur than she wanted to admit.

Kevan – he did know him. Yet the way he talked, Mira could tell they hadn’t gotten on, “You’re not as good a liar as you think you are,” without the alcohol in her system and with the stone gone, she did feel she could read him a bit easier. He spoke too much, but not of anything important. No details, ever. “Or perhaps it’s better said, you’re not good at telling the truth.” He wasn’t lying, per say.

She couldn’t bother him for more. Atlas returned, and Mira stood, “No, General Hux isn’t here this time. Just me, and him – he probably strangles people,” she gestured to Terex, and offered her hand, “I didn’t mean for it to go that way, I didn’t want anyone harmed,” just a trade.

Atlas took her hand, not quite buying it, but not willing to doubt or become openly hostile just yet, either. “What are you back here for?” He asked as he released her hand, and moved to join them at the table.

“I need to buy the ship back.”

“Do you have any idea how much it’s worth?” Atlas knew he made a good deal, in spite of it all.

“No, but I know I don’t care. Name your price.” She would try to pull the funds from any one of Snoke’s allies accounts. Kamino sounded fun. Sure, Snoke would know fairly quickly, but she was now in the business of pissing him off until he realized he should close these accounts.

~***~

Lares let out something between a yowl and a growl as it pulled back, only pulling Millicent up with him, and tried to reach to remove Millicent. It was larger, stronger, but her claws had dug in near sensitive parts of his face and he wanted her off of him, immediately. He still kept his claws retracted and tried to push her off.

August walked towards them, speaking to Hux, “If you change your mind, I will be there until at least midnight.” Tarkins partied hard. Or rather, he would be forced to stay there for appearances sake, end up drinking too much whiskey, and then stay there before he realized what time it was.

Then he’d go home, probably enjoy his time with Julia for too long, and wake up to a very loud alarm and have to go do his meditative morning stretches while hungover.

Good times.

He reached down to pull Millicent off of Lares as the cat seemed to get around his head. “Is there anything else we need to discuss before tomorrow?”
 
Paquin wasn’t mad with the arrangement. In fact, she was a bit relieved. Not only would she be free from combat training, but she knew Gnaeus was much more patient than Kylo. Wasn’t as aggressive in his methods as Kylo was. As much as she somehow enjoyed Kylo’s presence and appreciated his attempts to teach her, she felt she may benefit more from training with Gnaeus.

The only downside she could see is if he tried to get her to practice Force healing. She had no idea where to begin with that and really didn’t want to get anyone's hopes up. Hopefully, he’d slept on it and realized it couldn’t be that simple. Right? “I actually like that. We work well together, right Gnaeus?” Didn’t think he secretly hated her.

Ariel was happy with the deal, too. Ariel didn’t mind working on her martial skills, even if it was with Kylo. She’d been missing her workouts anyway. Not to mention, Gnaeus would be left alone. She didn’t know how much help Paquin would be to Gnaeus’s own improvement, but at least she’d be nice to him. And hopefully, he’d grow adjusted to a prosthetic hand during that time. Be more prepared for combat training.

What Ariel was not happy about, was having to talk to Snoke. If it were just her she was asking about, she wouldn’t bother for a while. She could live with a vibroblade or whatever until she either got her old one back, which she really wanted to rip from someone’s hands, or came across materials to build a new one. But since Gnaeus was grouped in there too, she supposed she had to talk to Snoke.

“Fine. After I eat. I hear you’re supposed to wait thirty minutes after eating to talk to Snoke. But I’m going to be safe and wait an hour.” She needed to get it done…but she didn’t want to. “Speaking of eating, if you try to take away my food again, I will bite your ear off.” One could feed a village with one of Kylo’s ears.

-

“Well, good for them, I guess,” Ada mumbled. Just because she was on okay terms with Mira for now, she still didn’t like the First Order. Never would. They took her baby from her. She lightly shook her head. She had her baby back, so nothing else mattered. “At least Mira got a nap.” That girl was tired. Hopefully, she’d get some more sleep.

Ada was born to be a mother with her instincts. Even someone she didn’t even initially liked was getting a motherly treatment.

Ada waved off Finn’s concerns of not taking Grakkus’s artifacts as she walked to the kitchen herself. “Don’t be silly, of course I’ll take them.” If Grakkus wanted to steal them back he could try. “I’ve gotten artifacts from sources a lot worse than him.” Ada was adventurous when she was younger. Not so much anymore, but before Mace. Before Finn. She was all about scoring all sorts of things.

Ada gave a brief glance to Mace, the mug in his hands. That thing had sat in the cupboard for years. She never used it, but at the same time, she didn’t want to throw it away. The cup brought back nice memories. But it had also reminded her that Mace had left, never to return again. Or so she thought.

She said nothing, instead returning to the living room and handing Finn the warm drink. “Who was her old apprentice?” She couldn’t help but question. What happened to him? Why was he the old one? Had the student become the master or had something else that would concern Ada happened.

-

Terex didn’t have a chance to comment on him being bad at lying—or rather being bad at telling the truth. He’d say he was exceptional at avoiding the truth, but not lying.

He shot Atlas a wink when Mira said he probably strangles people. Well, she wasn’t wrong. Sometimes he did. Sometimes he killed people, sometimes it was in bed.

Three drinks were brought back, Terex’s alcohol, Mira’s coffee, and a pint for Atlas. He didn’t even have to ask. He was a regular here, after all. Atlas mumbled a thanks to the server, taking a sip, contemplating the price he’d give her. The ship was definitely a luxurious one, the interior alone had to be more than the price of his old skiff alone. Not to mention the add-ons, guns, state of the art computers. The exterior. The fact that it was not only a First Order ship, but General Hux’s ship.

Atlas wasn’t too terribly attached to the First Order ship in the first place. He wouldn’t mind selling it. For the right price.

An eyebrow raised as he decided on what it was worth. “3.5 million credits.”

Terex choked on his drink, not because he was surprised, but because he was holding back a laugh. Should have stole it back. Much better deal. The price of zero credits. Terex had to trust that Mira was smarter than to use First Order money for that, at least. He hoped she wasn’t that silly. She had moments where she certainly seemed smart, but had her questionable moments in Terex’s eyes.

Atlas glanced to the so far unnamed man, then back to Mira for her response. “Give or take. Still want to buy it back?” He almost wanted to know how much she’d thought she’d pay for it.

-

Until midnight? At least? Hux rose an eyebrow at that, but didn’t verbally question August. ‘If you think that’s wise.’ Hux supposed August had been drinking and partying long enough to decide if it was with it for him or not. It wasn’t Hux’s problem if August had trouble waking up the following morning.

Millicent squirmed as soon as August pulled her off of Lares, wiggling free of the strange gingers grip and darting as fast as she could away. She stopped behind Hux and turned around, her tail puffy as she looked back at Lares and the Tarkin. She shook her head and sat down, beginning to lick her paw and drag it over her head, cleaning herself. As if she’d never attacked Lares, as if she never spazzed out.

“Not that I can think of, no. If I do, I’ll only disturb you if it’s urgent.” Let August get his drinking on, he supposed. “I’ll see you in the morning, Tarkin.” Hux nodded his head in goodbye, sure that the next time he’d see August would be in the morning.

The Hux’s did not party hard. Every time Hux tried, he got hit. By his father. The closest to partying hard he ever did was celebrating his new position as General with an incredibly expensive bottle of wine and himself in his quarters, where his father had no power over him.

With that, Hux clicked his tongue to attract Millicent’s attention, maneuvering his way to the exit. Millicent perked up and followed behind him, but not before coming in contact with Lares again, this time brushing her head against the side of his, and along his body. Her kitty apology. Almost. She couldn’t help the swish of her tail in his face one final time before trotting after her ginger.
 
Gnaeus could live with this. Paquin did have a lot of developing to do, and teaching her would likely help to refresh his own memory of things with the Force. He would get back into the habit of relying on it, which he needed to do without his arm. Of course, he’d also get to encourage her to try and heal more with it, as well. Help her with regrowing his own arm.

He wouldn’t say that aloud, though. Paquin had seemed hesitant about that, after all. He couldn’t get the hopes up of the others, either. Paquin didn’t need that pressure. He’d be bad enough.

Gnaeus was also grateful he wasn’t being told to go to Snoke. He felt bad for Ariel, of course, but she was in a far better state to deal with Snoke and figure out how they could get new lightsabers. Even if he was wary of it…his own had blown off his hand, after all. Given, that was caused by another…but it could happen again. It didn’t seem like a possibility with a vibroblade.

He hoped not, anyway.

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes at Ariel’s words. At least Snoke wasn’t waiting for them. So she wasn’t keeping him waiting…still, “I do not intend to prevent you from eating this time,” didn’t say anything about the future. If it made her angry, it would make her a better fighter, after all. She could use the emotions and the Force to increase her abilities.

He gestured them out, “Go eat,” he told Ariel, “I’m going to go see Snoke,” he had felt his spike of anger earlier, and felt that he needed to check on the situation…just in case. Snoke hadn’t sent for them, but it still seemed that he ought to check in, to be able to brief the knights on any changes that would be up coming. “Gnaeus, Paquin, you two should begin training soon.”

He didn’t know if they needed to eat again, or anything, but he would let them figure it out. Kylo walked out.

Gnaeus pulled himself to Paquin’s side, dressed again, and glanced at the arm Kylo had stitched up, before he asked, “Are you ready?” There was a good meditation room here, lower, dark. All the life of the sea seemed to flow around it – easy to pick up on and use.

~***~

I guess indeed. Finn did want them to win, because it meant the Resistance won, too. Eriadu. They stood against Snoke, and that was good but he wasn’t thrilled about it. He’d just be happy for Mira, there.

Finn beamed as his mother said she would take the artifacts, “Thank you!” That got them off their hands, and into better ones. Ones that could examine them, and figure out what they did, and show them to the world. That seemed to be what Mira wanted – a thing different from the Jedi. Fewer secrets about the Force. If he was catching on right. She had the Jedi Guide mass produced. She didn’t want the artifacts for herself.

Finn was down with that.

When Ada spoke of worse, he wanted to ask who, or what, or when, and get the stories, but she redirected and asked about the apprentice. “Oh. Kevan. Or we – the Resistance – knew him as Sylus.”

“Also Ivan Dulchellon,” Mace said. He had seen him around Maz’s before. That’s what he was always called there, though he had heard him use Kevan with some. Sylus with others. He did have a range of names. Maz never outed him.

“He had a lot of aliases, from what we could tell,” Finn said, “He, um, died. He went against the First Order and the Knights of Ren.” When they were together. “That’s where we had to go after you – to go get his things from the Resistance, and then to go get his ship.” After the casino thing, when Mira decided to follow Kevan’s leads in his datapad.

~***~

Considering Mira had just come from a casino where she technically lost (but won) more than that amount, she didn’t even bat an eye when Atlas asked for that price. She didn’t say it was too little either, simply, “Done. Do you have a datapad? I can transfer the funds now.” Terex was the one who reacted visibly.

She wanted to tell him she had Snoke’s money, but that could wait until they were leaving. Then he might understand how she also afforded enough to nearly bankrupt a casino. She wasn’t playing with First Order money.

‘And if Kevan got away with his lifestyle, I doubt Snoke has noticed yet.’

She had to get this back to Hux. See if he could just drain the accounts before Snoke did notice. Leave him destitute.

“Yeah,” Atlas was actually surprised. He took the seat at the table, and dug out his pad, as Mira drew out hers, still with all of Kevan’s information, “How are you paying for this?” He had to ask then.

“Well, I am Admiral of the First Order.” He glanced at the coat. The stripes. “It’s not a lie anymore.”

“Uh huh…didn’t you have Hux as a prisoner?” This seemed an odd turnabout.

“It’s amazing what happens when you know how to use handcuffs right,” Mira joked. She’d seen Terex’s wink to Atlas. Atlas offered the datapad to her, and Mira had the screen up for Kamino’s account on her own pad. ‘Work, damn you.’

She held the code out to transfer the amount, and he scanned it.

Seconds.

Then, Approved.

Mira managed not to laugh as she drew it back. “Keys?” Snoke was going to murder her. Better than the alternatives. If she pissed him off enough with all her antics, he’d just murder her. Something to shoot for.

~***~

August saw the look on Hux’s face and almost laughed. Yes, Tarkins partied hard. Even Wilhuff. He just kept that smile on his face, even as the cat ran from him to go hide behind Hux, and Lares walked up to his side. “Have a pleasant evening, Hux,” Tarkin said, and let him leave, watching as Millicent flaunted herself by Lares.

Brushed up against him, and then swished her tail.

Lares tried to bite the poofy tail. He might have bit some of the hair, but not the tail. Millicent got away easily.

With them gone, August let the smile fade from his lips and he went right back to his pad. Before he could draw his knees up, Lares pounced his legs and laid himself flat over them. August glared at it, but didn’t correct him. He just went back to typing, as the nexu decided his legs were the most comfortable bed. The most comfortable bad that he needed to constantly adjust himself upon, until he was lying over both, head at the boots, and chewing on them.

If he put a single hole in them, August was pushing the nexu off of him. Those things were expensive.
 
Paquin couldn’t help but feel concerned that Kylo was going to go talk to Snoke. That first disaster with Snoke that had Kylo literally speechless ruined any kind of ease she may have had. She found it difficult to trust Snoke. With any of them, but especially Kylo. But Kylo had been dealing with Snoke for many, many years it seemed. Dealt with punishment that long, too. Which was sad.

And she didn’t think they’d done anything wrong this time…

“If you’re going to talk to Snoke, why are you making me go?” Ariel called after Kylo, but he was already gone. And in the end, it probably was better that she go. Not only would she take some responsibility, but it would probably sound better from her. Too much negative had come from Kylo’s mouth already. Ariel sighed as Gnaeus questioned if Paquin was ready.

“Mhm,” Paquin nodded in response and wiggled off of the counter.

“Have fun you two. I’ll likely be in the cantina if you need me.” Hoped they wouldn’t be hungry because she was going to eat all the food. She gave Paquin a pat on her head and Gnaeus a squeeze on the shoulder before she made her leave.

With Ariel’s redhead disappearing out the door, Paquin turned to Gnaeus. She pulled her hair out of its ponytail. figuring she wouldn’t need it out of her face. “So, is there a…lesson plan?” Paquin wasn’t sure how anyone would go about the extensive training she would need. She supposed most skills came naturally to Force sensitive people. She wasn’t sure how she skipped out on that. She almost felt bad then, that Gnaeus had the task. She supposed he was the best to have it, though.

-

Even Mace knew this kid. ‘What have you been doing in the last twenty years?’ She wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know what he’d left her to do.“So, Mira didn’t kill him or anything?”

“Mom! That’s why you asked?”

“Yes! I’m sure Mira’s intentions are good now, but what if she has a tendency to get bored or frustrated with her apprentices and decides to…get rid of them?” Ada hadn’t seen Mira do anything bad, she’d just been a little awkward. But she still didn’t know the woman. And Ada would put her son’s safety first. As she always tried to do.

“No, Mom. She didn’t. She wouldn’t. She really loved Kevan.” That was so easy to pick up on. And Finn hoped that he and Mira would be able to develop some sort of relationship like that. He knew it would never be quite like that, and he and Kevan were most definitely weren’t the same person. But he hoped they’d hold each other as highly.

“Okay. Just making sure. Don’t tell her I said that. I don’t want to offend her.” Unless of course, it was true.

“I don’t think you would have, Mom.” Ada didn’t know Mira. Finn figured it might cause a pang in Mira, but he didn’t think she’d blame his mom for thinking it. Either way, she wasn’t here. Finn took a sip of his hot chocolate.

“Alright, well, when you finish your drink, I’d like to see the artifacts.” Ada switched the subjects, offering Finn a grin.

-

Well, for one, Terex totally wanted to spread the information that she fucked Hux. Even if it wasn’t true. But at this point, he wouldn’t even put it past them. He was pretty certain everyone knew it was a rumor. He just wanted to ‘confirm’ it. If only he wasn’t aiming for this whole right-hand position. He had to be some what respectful towards her. ‘But she did it to herself!’

Maybe he’d tell Snoke and Brendol. That could be funny.

And for two, Mira was so not paying with First Order money. 3.5 mil? Mira had to know that was a waste. Not that Terex really cared how she spent First Order money. So the question was, what was she paying with? She may have won a bunch of money at Grakkus’s, but she didn’t get to keep any of it. ‘Hm. Curious.’

Atlas’s eyes widened. She just had 3.5 million on hand? The First Order did? Well, he wasn’t complaining. He was a millionaire. Out a ship, but he could easily buy one just as good, exactly what he wanted with all that money. He got a little excited. Hopefully this wouldn’t be ripped away from him…“Alright,” he mumbled, digging into his pockets and fishing out the keys. “It’s all yours, Admiral Vallens.”

Terex couldn’t help but think that was easy. Would it really be that easy? That Vince character could still cause problems. Terex downed the rest of his drink. “We should probably hook your lover’s ship up and get back to Eriadu before he gets too worried.” He was teasing a little bit. What was new? He wasn’t that respectful.

-

Hux went straight back to the ship from the medbay, Millicent happily following along. And once arriving in the ship, he was completely prepared to fall into one of the uncomfortable chairs and fall asleep until someone or something woke him up.

But Millicent had other plans as she jumped onto her carrier and meowed. Loud. “What?” Millicent meowed again. “Hungry?” Another meow. He took that as a yes. He grabbed her bowl from the carrier. He was fairly certain he had food on this ship, probably stored in some compartment.

He dug through a couple before finding the food the vet, Alema’fenn, had given them. As he scooped some into the bowl, he couldn’t help but think he wanted to see August drunk. He wondered if Phasma was going. He’d never seen her celebrate anything, not even victory. Well, if she was, he might have to ask her to record it for him. Or someone else, as he was fairly set that he wasn’t going, even if he had nothing better to do.

‘Maybe it could be fun…no.’

As Millicent ate, Hux plopped down into the co-pilot’s chair, adjusting it so it was lying back. It didn’t take long for him to pass out, he needed the sleep. And after Millicent finished her munching, she joined Hux in his nap. She got comfy on his chest, that puffy tail swooshing in his face until she fell asleep herself.
 
There was still anger roiling from Snoke, but Kylo doubted the others noticed it much. He followed the long and dark underwater halls to find himself before Snoke’s room. He stood at the door without knocking, until the doors opened before him – when Snoke was ready to see him. The alien was in his chair, arms over the chair arms, hands gripping either end.

He did seem quite perturbed, and when Kylo walked in and dropped to a bow, the first words out of his lips were, “You will all be returning to Korriban.” Kylo lifted his head to question it, and was told, “Mira knows where I am.” He would need to evacuate much. He knew Kamino would end up a target – Mira knew of it anyway.

He would soon tell the Kaminoans. “How—” Kylo started to rise and was cut off.

“Ariel or Gnaeus, I suspect,” not of their own will. He had intruded on her games before that. “There is more.” And Kylo was silent, standing before his Master, “The Jedi Guide is now in mass production.” Kylo looked confused by that. “Mira.” Again. Mira.

“Where is she?” Kylo demanded. “I will finish what I should have finished back on Coruscant,” before then. Back on the Finalizer. Before Mira could become the menace that she was becoming now. Jedi Guide? How did she even find it? And how soon were the First Order or the Resistance going to show up at their doorsteps?

Snoke didn’t seem that perturbed by it – not as if it were an immediate threat, and he seemed agitated enough to let that show.

~***~

Gnaeus’s eyes followed Ariel out, before he let his attention shift back to Paquin. Agenda? “Not…really,” he said, shaking his head. He was kind of thrust into this teacher role, too. “C’mon, let’s at least get to a good area to practice,” the medbay didn’t seem like the best room for it.

There shouldn’t be any injuries from this. The key word was probably ‘shouldn’t’. He intended to lead her a bit deeper into the base, to where the Force had always felt particularly strong to him. Which gave him a thought of where to begin.

No one was teaching her to meditate. He was fairly certain of that.

“Are you able to sort of…feel the Force itself any better yet?” He asked, “Like, do you feel it being any stronger or weaker as we walk?” Because she should feel it getting stronger, “Or did you feel Snoke’s anger earlier?” That might help explain why Kylo felt he had to go see the Supreme Leader.

Snoke had news.

Whether or not it was news for them yet, Kylo would find out. Either way, it wasn’t good news, that was certain.

~***~

“I can go at any time,” Mace said as he sipped at his tea. He knew Ada wasn’t talking to him. It was more for Finn, so he didn’t try to wait or hold up anything.

Finn took another long drink from his cup. It was warm, not too hot. He could drink it all down fast, if he wanted to, but he didn’t really want to leave so soon, either. He knew that once he took his mom down to the artifacts and she took them, he’d have to go on to Eriadu.

“Mm,” that was his sound of understanding. Then, he decided to ask, “What do you know about the Tarkins?” He knew the question must have sounded strange, “I think I’m going to have to get to know them,” from the way August hung around now, and how he’d acted towards Mira.

Ada would know something, right? This was now the seat of the Senate…and she was around during the Empire, and Grand Moff Tarkin.

“They’re power hungry megalomaniacs,” Mace stated. It wasn’t wholly true and he knew it, but he knew he wasn’t far from the truth, either. Grand Moff Tarkin he had met during the Clone Wars. Tarkin had commended him and Skywalker as some of the few Jedi worth their salt. He’d taken offense to the comment on behalf of other Jedi, but he understood a bit more, now, of what Tarkin had seen.

They weren’t Force sensitive. Not like the Jedi. But Wilhuff had heard the death cries of the Republic long before he had…their instincts were as honed as an animal’s. They recognized disaster before it struck, and learned how to come out on top.

~***~

Mira took the keys and flashed Atlas a grin as she stood up, deciding she didn’t need to finish the rest of her coffee. “Thank you, now just forget we ever met,” she suggested. Probably for the best, honestly. She rolled her eyes at Terex’s comment. All right, that’s where play had to end. “General,” she clarified what Hux was to her.

‘Friend.’ More importantly.

Out of the cantina they went, and back into the freezing temperatures of Hoth. That was when she finally spoke a bit about what happened, “I’m sure you know I didn’t use First Order money,” she told him, offering Terex a sidelong glance. Much as she was sure he knew that she and Hux were not actually anything. “I have Snoke’s money.”

For the time being. Hopefully forever, if she was able to actually get it all transferred to a safe account. The problem was, she didn’t know which of Kevan’s were safe, if any of them.

“So, if you ever need anything…I really don’t mind using it,” she said, then, “But first things first, let’s get the ship hooked up to the Nymph.” Which was besides Hux’s ship anyways, and so she led the way towards it.
 
“No, you won’t,” Snoke shut that idea down quite quickly for a number of reasons. “Not yet, anyway. I…do not know where she is.” Snoke hated admitting that, but it was something that would be important for all the Knight’s to know. “She’s done something. She’s somewhere that I can’t feel her through the Force.” The Supreme Leader couldn’t explain it, and that angered him greatly.

His hand clenched tighter around the armrests before he continued on. “None of you are strong enough to kill her.” Ariel was a drunk, Gnaeus only had one hand and was far from strong enough with the Force. Kylo was physically strong enough and strong in the Force, but was he emotionally ready to kill her? He claimed to be angry, hateful, and while Snoke could sense it, he also knew Kylo Ren didn’t completely loathe her. Yet.

“Her last known location was Grakkus the Hutt’s casino on Tatooine. She swindled him out of billions, lost it, and then stole artifacts of his. Following the retrieval of Gnaeus Ren’s prosthetic hand, your next mission is to pay him a visit under the guise of reassurance. While you’re there I want you to find out what Mira stole and look for anything useful Grakkus may have.” The price of ‘protection’. Grakkus would deal with it.

He wouldn’t be stupid enough to argue.

-

Paquin thought that the medbay would be a perfectly fine place to practice. It was empty apart from them. She thought it was nice. But Gnaeus was her new teacher she supposed, and if he had a better place to go, she supposed she had to follow him. And so follow him she did.

But Paquin quickly understood the reason for the move, as she did, in fact, feel the Force growing stronger, she supposed. The air didn’t feel heavier or anything, the area just seemed to feel, magnetic. ‘Yeah, magnetic.’ She guessed that worked. She wasn’t sure why this specific area felt that way. It was dark and seemed more dead, but it felt quite the opposite.

“Stronger,” she answered Gnaeus. “And yes,” unfortunately. She didn’t like it. It made her uncomfortable. And even more concerned that Kylo and then Ariel had to talk to him. Again, even if they didn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t think they did, anyway.

Gnaeus had made a comment earlier about them getting a new mission soon. She wasn’t sure how accurate that was. And she wasn’t sure if she should hope that was all it was.

“How did you learn of the Force, Gnaeus? Did you know of it before you became a Knight, how to use it?” Was she the only one that was suddenly Force-sensitive. She felt like it was something that was supposed to show up when you were born or something and not suddenly come to light so late in life.

-

“The Tarkins? Well, Mace isn’t wrong.” Ada didn’t really have a good relationship with the Tarkins, if any relationship at all. “At least, Wilhuff was. He was a giant asshole.” Finn had to chuckle at his mother’s use of a curse word.

Ada hadn’t met Wilhuff personally, like Mace had. But she had once been tasked with creating a mini-exhibit around the man, since he was such a prominent figure not only during the Galatic Empire. And boy, did she find out how much of an asshole he was.

He was good at playing a charming, tolerable character, but it was just that. A character.

“I’d imagine August isn’t much unlike Wilhuff. Maybe not as much of an asshole.” She’d had a few interactions, considering the Senate was stationed on Coruscant once again. And she’d tried to get something of Wilhuff’s to display in the museum. A uniform or something rather that was likely his family had. “All of them are scarily intellectual. And they probably have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. If I were you, I’d be cautious around them.”

Nothing that Finn wouldn’t have picked up on himself.

“It depends on what you want to know specifically. Personally, I don’t know them that well. I most definitely could dig some stuff up, though. Why do you need to get to know them?” Ada knew that they all seemed to be allies now. Was Finn a bigger deal in the Resistance than she realized?

-

‘General,’ Terex mocked her words in his head. Sure, that’s what he really was to her. ‘Probably what she calls him in bed.’ No, both of them were definitely virgins and neither had realized how much they really affected each other.

Either way, he dropped it. He knew when to stop. It’s just a matter of if he wanted to stop.

Mira explained she wasn’t using First Order money, “I figured.” He imagined how happy Hux would be that his Admiral spent over three million on his ship without asking. Not at all. But then she told him whose money it was. ‘Oh, shit.’

Now, that was something he was probably supposed to tell Snoke as soon as possible, right? But she said if he ever needed anything…He knew he should tell Snoke, but maybe he could have some fun first. Yeah, technically he was on Snoke’s side…but wasn’t he supposed to play along until Brendol took over or whatever the plan was?

‘I’ll tell Snoke whenever he calls me.’ Who knew when that would be.

“You're a crafty little thing, aren't you? I'm really torn between you being really smart, or really stupid." He was great at flattery. "Either way, I might take you up on that offer.” Hooking the ships up would be easy. All ships had some hauling mechanism on them. And then on to Eriadu where he would continue to taunt the Tarkins with the Carrion Spike.
 
‘You don’t know where she is?’

Kylo felt a chill move through him at that, not because it was necessarily abnormal, but because of the hesitance that had been in Snoke’s voice as he said it. Mira could certainly fight Snoke from afar, and she would try, but it was inevitable that Snoke would figure it out and know where she was and what she was up to. Only, he couldn’t.

If there was anything that was going to make Kylo actually afraid, it was that Snoke couldn’t do something, and didn’t know why. His Master, bested?

No. No, this was a fluke.

He grit down on his teeth though, anger flaring over the fear. “I beat her before!” Back on the Finalizer. He hadn’t killed her. They needed information, then. He could have, though. Would have, he told himself, but it was still shot down. Instead, he was going to go see Grakkus the Hutt, after getting the prosthetic for Gnaeus. “Allow me to take Gnaeus and Ariel to Grakkus. They are more familiar with these items.”

Snoke nodded his consent, “You will,” he would have ordered it anyway.

“Thank you, Supreme Leader,” he was still annoyed that Snoke thought he couldn’t handle Mira, but right now he’d focus on the mission given. They needed to know if what Mira stole, had any connection to why Snoke couldn’t feel her through the Force any longer. “Is there anything else, Supreme Leader?”

~***~

Good, Paquin felt it. That allowed Gnaeus to let out a sigh of relief. She was improving, then. He could clearly remember a time when he couldn’t feel it, and then the shift. It had to be pointed out to him, at first, that he was feeling it. It was now much like background noise to him, noticeable only once there was a significant shift in the Force. Or a ‘disturbance’, as Kylo called those kinds of shifts.

Even as it gradually grew stronger, he didn’t truly notice it. He was used to this shift.

“Kevan taught me.” Gnaeus answered her. Difficult to think about, then. Kevan had shown him the way, met him when he was seventeen. “I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t even know I was Force sensitive, but he felt it in me and dragged me away from my life to come learn the ways of the Force with the Knights of Ren. Then I was sent off to find other things relating to the Force. Artifacts and the like.”

He could feel them, after all. He wasn’t trained long as a fighter or manipulator. That was more for Kylo and Kevan to deal with, since he, Mira, and Ariel were all sent off on hunting missions of a sort. Kevan was all diplomacy. Kylo was their connection to the First Order. Now all of that was fucked, of course, and so was Gnaeus’s missions.

They came to what Gnaeus considered something of a meditation chamber, and he moved to take a seat in the center of it, and motioned for Paquin to sit with him, “I was seventeen when I was taught. I didn’t really get the hang of it for a while, either.” He still didn’t feel that he had the hang of it, sometimes, as he crossed his legs underneath himself, “But we all agree that the Jedi had one thing right – meditation is useful. You can start to truly feel how the Force flows in yourself, and around you, so you’re going to meditate until you’re so connected with the Force that you just…levitate.”

The first time it happened to him, Kevan startled him. On purpose. He fell right back to the ground and his head rather hard.

~***~

Scarily intellectual was definitely something Finn picked up on, as well as ‘character’. Trickster. Definitely needed to be cautious, and his reason for asking was just that – the need to be cautious and also to protect. “Well, I met Tarkin, and he seems to have an interest in Mira, so I wanted to know what you knew. Leia doesn’t trust him, but I know she’s biased,” much as it pained him to say it, “because of Wilhuff, so I thought I’d ask you, too.”

“August Tarkin likes Mira?”

“I’m not sure, but I think so.”

“Oh hell no,” Mace grumbled, sipped the tea almost furiously. If one could sip furiously. “I am not dealing with another Grand Moff Tarkin and Sith, and Emperor. No.”

“I…she’s not a Sith.” Finn said, “I’m not a Sith. It’s not happening that way.”

“Says you,” Mace sighed. Wilhuff had liked him, too, he recalled. Militant minded. He also didn’t turn out to be the best Jedi, did he?

“I’m going to make sure of it.” Finn said, more determined, before he set his cup aside. He was done. “And I’ll need to get back to her soon.” Eriadu. Tarkins. Had to make sure she wasn’t alone too much with August, couldn’t let this become what Mace feared – a new triumvirate of the dark side.

~***~

Mira really wasn’t certain if she liked Terex or didn’t. She enjoyed the bluntness he spoke with, even the insulting bluntness. It gave her the hope he’d be like Phasma – not as tactful – or Poe, and be able to call her on her shit. He might, one day, even be able to convince her when something was stupid, though not yet. They didn’t have enough rapport for it, yet.

On the other hand, she did not like the way that he could speak around the truth and never quite say it, on some subjects. She wasn’t at all bothered by his joking, somehow – not even the jab about Hux. She was being paired up with people as it was. The nurse thought she was with Finn. Poe made a joke about August. It was natural they were going to think of her and Hux, as well.

One day, she’d learn to run with that joke better, when it was stated bluntly and not just like…handcuff jokes. Though she was probably going to regret that if it ever got to Hux.

“And I can’t tell yet if I like you or dislike you, so I think we’re even.” Mira stated, added, “I think I’ll keep you around, probationally, though. You seem able to run with me,” and not question it. Just run with it. Make the best of it. Better than some could do.

When they came to the ship, Mira reached up her hand to pull at the Force, to bring down the cords to hook up the ship…and nothing. ‘For fuck’s sake.’ This stone was going to make her vulgar when she forgot about it. She lowered her hand and shook her head. “I’ll get the cords down.” Had to go in the ship to do it now. “I’ll come help you get them attached once I’ve got them released.”
 
Snoke knew Kylo Ren would take offense to his words. But there was truth to them. It had taken years to build as much anger and hatred toward Han Solo, enough for the Knight to pull the trigger. But until the very end of Han Solo’s life, even beyond, Snoke knew Ren felt confliction.

Now take Mira, someone he’d been close to since he was young and had only just been declared an enemy. Kylo couldn’t kill her, as much as he claimed he could. Not yet.

Maybe Snoke’s words would give him some incentive. In addition, the ‘visions’ would aid in the process. The images Snoke was instilling in Kylo’s head could have more than one purpose. At once, it would make him hate Mira and the rest of the Order for killing people he was so close to. But at the same time, it would push the Knights farther from each other, given Kylo Ren stayed on the path Snoke wanted him to.

Because Snoke realized, they were all too close to be efficient. It showed truly when Kylo defied him on Korriban.

Was there anything else? “No. You have your orders. Follow through with them. I’ll be leaving soon,” while not in a panic, he did not want to stick around if he couldn’t sense Mira. And this time, his location would remain a secret. “You may go.” With a gesture of one hand, the doors opened for the Knight.

-

Knowing that Gnaeus hadn’t discovered his Force-sensitivity until later and that it took him a while to get the hang of it, she would have felt so much better. If only it hadn’t been prefaced by ‘Kevan taught me'.

Kevan. Always Kevan. Everyone seemed to have some special thing with Kevan. Except for Ariel, as far as Paquin knew. But then again, she didn’t know about Gnaeus and Kevan until just that moment. She was sure if she waited, she’d discover something.

She felt sick to her stomach. She was never planning on telling anyone that she’d been the one to officially kill Kevan, but now she definitely couldn’t. She was really starting to regret aiding in Kevan’s death. ‘Should’ve let Kylo handle it…’ He could’ve taken care of it, she believed. ‘Too late now.’ Paquin held back a sigh.

Besides regretting Kevan’s death, Paquin realized another thing. She didn’t know anything about Gnaeus or Ariel, or even much about Kylo for that matter. Where they were from or their real names or anything. But at the same time, she didn’t think that was a very welcomed thing. After all, the only reason she knew Kylo’s real name was because she overheard it from Hux and Mira. Didn’t stop her from being curious?

“Levitate?” Paquin had sat down across from Gnaeus, her legs under her until she shifted to mirror Gnaeus. A more fitting ‘meditation’ stance, she supposed. She’d sort of meditated before. On her kyber crystal. Then there were those times when she’d done yoga, but was that really meditating? She knew she didn’t have to hum or anything. But, “How am I supposed to connect with the Force to the point of unconscious levitation exactly?” She supposed she could close her eyes and try to focus like she did on the kyber crystal, or how she did with Kylo when learning that super useful jump trick.

-

Ada could tell Mace was sipping his tea furiously. She wasn’t sure how that was possible, but she knew Mace somehow managed to do it. She recognized it. And she rolled her eyes.

Yes, Ada too was concerned about August Tarkin apparently liking Mira. She thought it was most likely because of her Force-sensitivity and not the fact that he was attracted to her or anything. He seemed much too invested in his wife. She wondered if he was aware how much that radiated off the two of them.

Not important. “You didn’t really deal with it, though, did you Mace? You ran when things got tough, didn’t you?” Yes, there was before Anakin became officially Darth Vader, when Mace lost his hand. When Palpatine was suspected of being Darth Sidious. But after he lost his hand? When the Jedi were needed the most? Where was he?

‘You’re just being bitter.’ Yes, she was.

But she let her bitterness be overthrown by pride at Finn. Defending Mira and himself as not being Sith, that determination in his voice. She couldn’t say she raised him well. She didn’t get the chance to raise him. But that didn’t matter, as he had made himself exactly the person she’d want him to be. “Well then, let’s go get those artifacts.” She knew it would cut her time with Finn, as he’d have to leave afterward.

But she knew she’d seem him again.

She couldn’t say the same for Mace.

-

Terex couldn’t help but smirk at Mira’s response, “Yeah, I get that a lot.” But he got the dislike more often. A probational run, “Fair enough. I’ve been told I’m an acquired taste.”

They came to the ships and Mira reached her hand up. Terex figured what she was doing but…no Force. And so she had to go into the ship. “Yes, you do that. Go inside and get your little legs warm while you’re at it.” Since she had no Force to keep them warm. He was only teasing, though. Her comfort didn’t matter much. At the moment anyway. “How do you function without your little Force magic?” He questioned.

The answer was she didn’t. Not really anyway. Her drunken, tired state was proof of that.

Terex figured once the cords were released he could easy enough pull them down and hook the ships up to each other without Mira. He’d done it about a million times with other ships. He bet he could get it done before she even came out to join him. Maybe that was a little quicker than possible…Maybe he would time himself. Make a game out of it.

Yeah, that’s exactly what he’d do.

Of course, he had to wait for Mira to actually get the cords free first.
 
Nothing else. The Knight inclined his dark head slightly to Snoke, “Very well. I will be sure to deliver the orders to the rest,” and he would not mention that Snoke couldn’t sense Mira. That was…simply too troubling. They did not need to worry about that, right then. They only needed to know the next steps.

They would get the hand for Gnaeus.

They would go to Grakkus.

They would set up in Korriban again, because someone let it slip that Snoke was on Kamino. ‘And we’re not killing them….’ An idle thought that he shook off. Kevan told willingly enough. Mira forced it out. Torture was nothing compared to what one could get by using the Force – it was why Poe would not be removed from the Resistance, either. There was a difference.

“Thank you, Supreme Leader,” Kylo inclined his head, and turned quickly around to leave. Now to find Ariel. He might have to send her here sooner, if Snoke was planning on leaving them soon. The need of a lightsaber was great. ‘Or just steal one from Grakkus.’ Those would be useful, after all. It would get them out of the mess of Ariel going to talk to Snoke, as well.

Assuming he had any. ‘He will.’ And if he didn’t, well…they’d figure something out. Unless Ariel wanted to see Snoke, of course. He needed to go find her. ‘Cantina.’ Obviously.

So, he traced his steps back to the cantina to find her.

~***~

“Yes,” Gnaeus said as she spoke the word ‘levitate’. It was an easy way to know when one had established that initial connection with the Force. They became sort of…buoyant, catching the flow of the Force around them and just lifting, as if they had become a part of it. It was still difficult, of course, but once mastered, it became easier to work with the Force in any situation.

Knowing how it felt to let the Force just…move through you, always made it easier. Perhaps Gnaeus hadn’t been meditating enough.

“Well, you have to relax and meditate normally first.”

‘Allow yourself to be lifted by the very best parts of you, leaving all the flightless shitbirds behind. Where they fucking belong.’

Kevan. Of course. Kevan always came to mind when he remembered learning about all of this, and he couldn’t help the smile that bubbled to his lips as he remembered how Kevan had tried to teach it to him. “Sorry,” he said, shaking his head, “Kevan was…Kevan was a weird teacher.” To say the very least. Which made him wonder if Mira had been a weird teacher.

When she helped, it was mostly with psionics, because Snoke would fuck them up far worse than she would. “If it helps, whenever a thought pops up in your head that tries to distract you, tell it to fuck off with the other flightless shitbirds.” Again, another bit of laughter.

Kevan was gone. He would miss Kevan, but he knew, he was gone. Like so much else. He’d turned on them – and Gnaeus was angry for that, as he was angry with Mira…but he hadn’t been directly affected by Kevan as he was Mira, so his anger was far less with him. “Eventually the inanity of it will help you relax. Or it seemed to work with me. Then you’ll start to just feel the Force all around you, and the more you relax, the more it will just start to flow through you, until it lifts you up.”

‘And then you’re not a flightless shitbird.’

Fuck Kevan and his weird ass methods.

~***~

Mace grit his teeth at Ada’s words, but he couldn’t contradict her. He had run, and hidden, when the Empire rose. He let them all think he was dead. He abandoned Yoda. He abandoned Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now Qui-Gon Jinn came to haunt him, although, Qui-Gon wasn’t there. “Because I alone could have done anything,” the lie he’d been telling himself. Among others.

He could have done something, perhaps, if he was more politically minded. If he wasn’t so angry and so lost in regret. He had nearly killed Palpatine – gone against the code.

There were so many things he’d done wrong, that he had started to question the entire code. He still did. Another reason he needed to get back to Eriadu, to find out just what was going to rise up from the ashes of the Jedi. Just what his son was going to be, if not a Sith, and not a Jedi. Perhaps this time, if it was wrong, he’d be able to cut it off early…and perhaps not literally, though that was how his thoughts ran first.

“All right,” Finn slurped up the rest of his hot chocolate quickly, not wanting any to go to waste, “We’re in the same hangar as before,” when she had walked him and Mira off, “Different ship now, though.” Her skiff, rather than Gnaeus’s ship. “I can help you take the things anywhere you need them,” he offered.

There was a lot. He had the Force, and so did Mace, so he’d end up helping, too.

Mace finished his tea as well, and set the cup down. It was here to stay, even if he wasn’t, and so he followed after his son, empty hands.

~***~

Like. Dislike. Funny how those two things could go together so well. Mira absolutely admired Terex’s cavalier attitude, his bravado and audacity, the same way she quite liked those traits in Poe. Yet, she also absolutely detested how easily he used it, without one hint of worry or nervousness – unlike Poe. It made her want to find what could make him crack, what got under that front of his.

Because then she’d know if he would actually be a worthy lieutenant-admiral.

For now, she’d just deal with him. “Not very well,” Mira called back as he asked how she was dealing without the Force. “Obviously.” But it was necessary. This was how she was going to avoid Snoke, and not risk the First Order. With this, Snoke’s threat to her, was hampered.

She found the key to the ship and had it open soon enough, enjoying the warmer environment. The door shut behind her to keep the cold air out and she went right on to the cockpit and quickly had the cords released from there.

She hurried out of the ship then, bundling the coat around herself to steel herself against the cold, but it still bit into her legs. She walked around to see Terex already working on getting it all set up, so she nodded, “I’ll go prep Hux’s ship,” she indicated, deciding he clearly knew what he was doing, so she wouldn’t waste any time assisting when she could just make sure Hux’s ship synced with hers so it would jump at the same time.

~***~

The entry was written, left on the question that had one obvious, leading answer to it. It would be completed, but only after the fact. August Tarkin rose from the floor to tend to the last loose string. He made multiple calls to Coruscant, until he had figured out how to go about it. He spoke with the now-conscious senator of Chandrila, and explained what he would be doing, calmly, even if so much of him felt like broken glass, glued to a mirror. The pieces were in all the right places, but every nerve was revealed.

The same hospital that the senator was at, would seem to be where Jarrod Pandion was. It was where he would be, soon enough.

Dead.

August poured himself a shot of whiskey before he grabbed two bottles of wine and went down to Pandion’s cell, taking two glasses on the way. Lares followed him to the floor, but waited at the stairs. August went in alone, and Jarrod lifted his head. He saw the bottles, and the tears came immediately to his eyes, “Just shoot me.”

“This is painless.” August said. “Shooting you would also mess up the plans the hospital on Coruscant has for the lie of you dying in their hospital from gunshot wounds.” They would fake it. He’d arrive in tact, though. “I know you did not mean to do this. You did not want to be here. We both know what follows if I let you live.”

“August, I, I swear—”

“Snoke will get into your head,” August opened one bottle, “He will know you spoke. Lothal will be lost to us. To all of us. If I kill you, Snoke never knows. Never verifies it. You seem as if you never intended to betray him. Perhaps he still uses your world,” August lifted one shoulder in a shrug before he poured the liquor, “Regardless. Snoke will use you if you live, and I cannot have that.” The tears were falling from Jarrod’s eyes now, easily, as August offered him the glass of wine. “I do not hate you, nor do I want to do this, but my hand is forced. For Lothal…for your family, Pandion.”

And here Jarrod thought that August wouldn’t care. Perhaps, he didn’t – not about the world, so much as the numbers that would be turned against him. This was his way of preventing needing to destroy a world. Jarrod hesitantly took the wine, and saw August open the other bottle, pour his own glass, and then sit with his back to the wall, near the door, and drink. “Do you remember Jakku?”

“Do you really want to talk about Jakku?”

“No,” he said, “but all I can think about in these situations is Jova, and Livia.” They were old, of course, but August made the decisions that ended them all the same. “I thought I would put you out with a blaster,” he said, “but there was no way the hospital could explain a dart to your head, and I would not make you suffer to satisfy the lie.” Another long drink of wine. “So do you want to talk about death, or do you want to talk about Jakku?”

“Are you going to stay here until I…?”

“Yes.” Pandion didn’t deserve to die alone.

“Can I call my wife?”

“No.”

“And you won’t ever tell her the truth, will you?”

“No.”

“Fuck you, Tarkin.” But he drank. He drank deep and he drank fast, of what he knew was a poisonous wine.
 
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Ariel was in the cantina, as expected. She hadn’t been kidding when she said she’d eat the entire cantina. Well, almost. She had about two of everything. She had to use the Force to help carry it all to a table. She wasn’t sure if she would eat everything around her, like the vegetable or anything, but better safe than sorry.

It had been lunch time when she came to eat, and so when Kylo entered the cantina she was munching on one of her burgers that she’d gathered, washing it down with some juice she’d already refilled twice. This was why she needed to start working out again.

She potted Kylo and waved him over, “Kylo! Come, sit, don’t touch any of my food unless you want to lose a hand!” She invited him but wanted to make sure he knew she was serious about biting his ear off next time he came between her and her food. Her blue eyes examined him to see if there was anything particularly wrong with him. Any tension or something worse. Like him being brainless again.

“How’d speaking with the Supreme Leader go? What was he angry about?” Ariel inquired, offering him some french fries even after she told him not to touch her food. She just meant not to deprive he of it.

Ariel knew that questioning meetings between Snoke and Kylo were sometimes a no-go. Anything Snoke related was touch and go, and she knew she often pushed it with jokes and comments, but he had gone to see if there were any new missions to come from Snoke’s anger, so she figured it was safe to ask. If not, she’d probably understand real quick.

-

Paquin forced a grin at the mention of Kevan being a strange teacher. It obviously brought back fond memories for Gnaeus. But Paquin felt very awkward, to say the least. It was no one’s fault but her own, she couldn’t blame Gnaeus for thinking of Kevan. Nor would she tell him to stop. She’d endure whatever mention of Kevan came about.

She took comfort that her natural awkwardness would disguise any additional awkwardness she felt.

That grin stayed on her face, but her eyebrows furrowed. “Flightless shitbirds?” If Kevan had come up with that, then he truly was a weird teacher. “Okay. I guess all I can do is try.” She shrugged. Maybe Kevan had been on to something.

So, she closed her eyes, kept her back straight, but relaxed. She had to meditate normally first, so that’s why she’d do. She couldn’t help but feel a little awkward with someone sitting in front of her, watching. ‘Fuck off with the other flightless shitbirds.’ She told the thought. She couldn’t help but chuckle at that. It really was ridiculous.

But she did relax. And she felt much more connected with the things around her. The Force. She could feel Gnaeus, and she could feel the little fishes swimming around outside. It was like a switch. She supposed that the whole point of meditating, training, was so that there wasn’t a switch. So she was that connected all the time.

She wasn’t sure how long to meditate for. Until she levitated? She guessed she’d stay like that until Gnaeus said so. Either way, meditating was relaxing in itself. Maybe she’d start meditating before bed.

-

Ada hooked her arm through her son’s, letting him lead the way to the hangar even though she knew where it was. Hey, new ship, so she didn’t exactly know where to go. “We’ll just bring them back to my place. I’ll sort through them.” See what to keep for her museum and what to sell, probably to other museums. “Grakkus the Hutt probably likes to think he has an extensive collection, but really the Galactic Museum has quite the exhibit.” Thousands of years of collecting Jedi artifacts. She was quite proud of it.

“Really, you need to come see it sometime. Mira, too. I can give you guys an exclusive tour.” She nudged her son. She really wanted to get him into some things she was into, so they had an excuse to spend more time together. “I know you’ll probably busy doing Gray Jedi things…”

“One of these days, when things calm down,” he promised his mom as they weaved their way through the crowds of people in the streets to the hangar.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Finn led his mom to the skiff, Mace and BB-8 trailing behind. He reached into the pocket of his jacket for the keys to unlock the ship and lower the ramp. He gestured for his mom to go first. “Everything’s in boxes to the left.” Well, some things were scattered about. But some were in boxes

And so Ada was the first to walk up the ramp, looking where her son had instructed. “Oh, wow. You brought me a lot.” Might as well start grabbing stuff, sort through it at home. Ada stacked a couple boxes and picked them up. BB-8 went and grabbed a few stray bits and bobs to carry.

-

Terex finished hooking the ships up in no time. He didn’t make any personal record, but he got it done quick. Everything else was up to Mira to take care of. He gave the cords a final pull to make sure they were secure, they’d make it through space.

With that done, he dipped into Hux’s ship after Mira. He leaned against the frame of the entrance and looked around. It looked like it belonged to General Hux. Other than the luxurious interior, it was bland. No odd personal items. Little to no personality. ‘Just like Hux.’ Terex snorted at his own thoughts, shaking his head a bit. It was true though, wasn’t it.

“Admiral, I’m heading back to my ship. I’ll wait for you to leave first,” So she’d arrive first, to her precious Hux. And he’d follow behind. Probably slip in before the Tarkins had any time to decide to shoot him down. Though, in the Carrion Spike, he doubted they would. He knew they wanted the ship back. Over his dead body.

“You need anything else before I go?” He asked as he pushed off from the frame, hoping she didn’t. Still, he supposed it would be the right thing to offer.

Doing things when people asked was really lame. He was reminded of why he always used his own schedule. Did things when he wanted.

-

Jarrod was done with the bottle in a matter of seconds, only hoping that having drank all of it would make this end quicker. He hated all this waiting. Hated waiting for August to come and kill him. And now he had to wait until the poison killed him. Have it weighing on his mind.

“Can you at least do one thing for me?” Pandion asked, not waiting for August to say yes or no. “Don’t hurt my girls. Don’t…let anything happen to them. Please. They don’t know what they’re doing. Not like I do.” Or did. He was well aware of how bad he’d fucked up. But he’d done it for his wife, his daughter. For Lothal.

General Hux had said he’d try his best not to let anything happen to them. Pandion had no clue why. It’s not like he’d ever done anything for him. He supposed now he would never know the reason. And he wasn’t sure how much he could trust Hux to do as he claimed. It was funny. Hux had said he’d do his best to help Lothal’s people, but he couldn’t do anything about Pandion himself.

It hurt to think about that. Nothing could be done now.

Jarrod didn’t know if August would say yes or no. Or if he did say yes, if he’d actually follow through. But he at least wanted some peace of mind. Like he wasn’t leaving his family to fend for themselves.

“And then we can talk about whatever the fuck you want.” Until he drifted into a peaceful sleep he wouldn’t wake up from. Or at least he hoped it would be peaceful. He wouldn’t feel a thing.

Pandion had always envisioned himself dying, his family by his side. He didn’t know if he’d be old or slowly dying from an assassination attempt. Something. Some scenario where he’d be with his wife and kid. Not with August Tarkin, the man who gave him the wine to kill himself with.. A seemingly life long enemy. Maybe enemy wasn’t the right word. But frenemy wasn’t right, either.
 
There was far too much food around Ariel. That was the first thing Kylo noticed, as he wondered if there was even space for himself to sit. Still, when she spotted him and motioned him over, he did move to join her, looking over the mess on the table. This was absolutely not healthy behavior. She didn’t need to eat this much.

She couldn’t eat this much.

He took a seat across from her and held her gaze as she examined him, calm and poised. He wasn’t brainless like last time. Snoke hadn’t damaged him at all this time. He had been angry, but not with them. No, it all fell to one person, “Mira.” It was like a curse now. They needed to get rid of her.

Snoke wouldn’t let him, though. Didn’t know where she was, and wouldn’t let him hunt her down, either. He was still stung by that. “He stated that we would be returning to Korriban tomorrow, because Mira knows where he is,” here, in other words. “She was also at Grakkus’s casino, so once we get Gnaeus’s hand tomorrow, he wants us to check it out. You and Gnaeus are to come and take a look.”

Obviously, those two were. They were the ones who understood this stuff better than he did, and certainly, better than Paquin. “We’re supposed to find out what Mira stole, and then if anything looks useful, take it.” Grakkus wouldn’t fight them. Not if he wanted to keep all that he had, and stay protected from the arms of the New Republic.

He added, “So, assuming he has some kyber crystals…you don’t need to speak with Snoke,” the only bit of mercy she was going to get. “You and Gnaeus can just find some there,” no need to disturb Snoke again, when he might be on his way out the door.

That’s all the information he would give to her. It seemed relevant enough. It told her they were leaving, the lead they were following for Mira, and that she didn’t need to speak with Snoke.

~***~

There was a strain to Paquin’s smile that Gnaeus noted then, and it only dawned on him at that moment that Paquin had been there to see Kevan die. It might bother her that he spoke of the ex-knight with a certain fondness. Yes, he had been a traitor…but that didn’t remove all the good he had done. Or perhaps it was just because Gnaeus had faced him at the end.

Still, he showed Gnaeus the way.

He was happy when she agreed to at least try, “Yeah – weird methods, but you have to do what works for you. If it doesn’t work, we’ll figure something else out,” Gnaeus agreed. He wondered if that was how Mira taught Kevan.

Unlikely – he knew her mantra was the codes. Jedi. Sith. She was too serious for that kind of humor. It made him wonder why she seemed to flip over him. It made him wonder how they were ever actually friends.

As Paquin took a meditative posture, Gnaeus started to follow suit. When she shut her eyes, he did as well, and he focused on sinking into the Force, knowing it would make him rise. Float. It had been a while since he did it, after all. Old mantras returned. Everyone had their own method. Still, he smiled as he heard Paquin’s chuckle, and knew she was trying the ‘flightless shitbird’ method.

He could feel himself start to melt into the pulse of life around him. Paquin, the fishes, Snoke, Kylo, Ariel, the clones, the Kaminoans – everything. He felt it, and his breathing slowed, stretched him out. He had to tell some thoughts to fuck off – mostly those related to Snoke and his irritation. Kylo’s emotions, too, he dismissed from intruding into his peace, until it all started to blur together as just a pulse.

Like a heart.

Life itself.

His own heart beat to meet it, and he forgot Paquin was there, that any individual was there, and each beat seemed to rise his body up, though he didn’t notice it. He eventually was hovering peacefully, about a foot off the ground.

~***~

They did have an extensive collection, for one day of adventures, it sounded like. Mace wanted to go through it himself, but he knew he wasn’t going to be allowed. ‘These should be in temples.’ He thought, irritated. ‘These should be with the Jedi.’ But Mira and Finn wanted them to be shared, in museums, it seemed.

Well, at least they weren’t weaponizing them.

The little droid went about trying to carry things, and Mace had to laugh a bit at it trying to help, “Here,” he lifted a hand, and up went the boxes. “Can you do this, yet?” He asked Finn, who sadly shook his head, still a bit awed by it all.

That one day, he could do this.

Mace pointed to one of the objects that wasn’t in a box, “See about that.”

“What do I do?”

‘Oh voids.’ Kids were easy to teach. Adults? No. That was why teaching Anakin was stupid. Too late. He shouldn’t teach Finn. His own law would have prevented it, but, well…he shirked that a long time ago, didn’t he? His mind couldn’t come up with much more than ‘pick it up’. Will it up. He’d been out of teaching for years now.

Yoda would have known what to do. He liked the younglings best. “Pick it up with your hands, and then just try levitating it above your hands,” he told Finn, sighing, “Just focus your will of wanting it to rise into your hands and try to push that thought through to your fingers, but without moving your fingers.” It was such a natural impulse to Mace now. It was like his own nerves, his own veins – which reminded him of his unnatural separation.

“Ada,” hesitation, a moment, as Finn went to grab the object. “Mira had something on her that…it swallowed the Force,” or that’s how it felt. “Called it something that wasn’t its name. Ever hear of something like that?”

Finn had the object in his hand, and he’d walk along with them back to Ada’s, trying to levitate it. Thinking of what Mira had done, trying to lower his hands with the Force, and how he’d resisted. He tried to remember how that felt as he’d walk with them with the cubical thing.

~***~

Mira heard Terex’s steps as the ship came to life around her, and recognized the cords attached to it. She ran through the program to sync it up with the Nymph, though it required a bit more work than it ought to. Apparently, Hux did not want his ship linked up to another easily.

She didn’t glance back immediately to Terex, but nodded to his words. He would follow her to Eriadu. “No, I don’t need anything,” the ship finally agreed to sync, which meant it would be able to enter lightspeed when her own did. No hiccups. She turned around, “I’ll see you on Eriadu. Try not to get killed by the Tarkins.”

Mira would walk out, and when Terex exited the ship, she’d shut the door behind him and then sprint back to her own ship, cursing her actual, non-enhanced speed. ‘I do not do this not-Force thing well.’ She didn’t do the Force thing well, either, but she was starting to think she did that better.

Back in the warmth of the Nymph, she finished the connection to Hux’s ship and made sure the link was strong, before she’d lift the ship off from Hoth, and as soon as she was clear of the planet, input the coordinates for Eriadu.

All the while enjoying the songs that Nymph decided to play at any given second, and wonder if she actually liked them.

~***~

‘Do one thing.’

August sighed as the words parted his lips. Deathbed request. ‘How can I refuse?’ But when Pandion spoke it, August gave him a hint of a smile, “Why do you think I’m killing you?” He asked Jarrod, fully aware he apparently hadn’t grasped that. August didn’t really care about them as individuals, but he saw their innocence.

The innocence of Lothal. “I am trying to protect your world and your family,” he told him then. “Snoke would destroy them if he knew you betrayed him, and eventually, he’d get into your head and know that.” Likely not satisfying enough, “But…I’ll make an effort to save them, in particular, if I can. I’m sure you wouldn’t have harmed Johann or Julia.”

“No,” Jarrod said, almost too quick. There was a hesitation, and then, silence.

Talk about whatever the fuck he wanted – the horrible thing was, August didn’t want to talk about anything. The majority of his memories with Pandion weren’t exactly good. Some were downright bad. They weren’t friends, nor enemies, but August wasn’t sure there was a word for it. Frenemies, no. They were too honest for that. Too resentful, as well.

He sipped his wine in the silence, until it became too much for Pandion. “Jakku. That’s our only good memory, isn’t it?”

“We chased them out. The so-called Empire, on Jakku.”

“They came back as this. The First Order.” Bitter. “And Snoke.”

“Yes.”

Another silence. August shut his eyes. He saw how Jarrod’s skin had flushed, and he knew he would be warm, as if wrapped in blankets on a winter’s night. With hot chocolate in his stomach and down his throat. It was a comfortable death. August had felt it, just once, to know – he had an antidote quick enough to turn it.

“What will you tell them? My girls?”

“That we could not have won without Lothal’s reinforcements. That you died a hero, sought out because of your aid in the war.”

“Bullshit lie.”

“Empires are built on bullshit lies.”

“How many lies make your throne?”

August opened his eyes. There was an unnatural glisten to them – or perhaps they were just wet. “No one gave me the numbers before I took the throne.” The Tarkin throne was built on so many lies, it was truly ridiculous. “I suspect it’s far over a billion,” considering how long the Tarkins had been around.

Pandion shook his head, but slipped back against the wall. He could feel the soothing warmth taking its effect, and he was starting to get drowsy. “So you’ll make me a hero…when I’m a coward and a traitor….”

“Yes,” simple. Maybe his family wouldn’t believe it. Maybe they’d know better. The universe would, though.

His gaze lingered on Tarkin. Not how he wanted to go, but…this was new, “You didn’t cry when Wilhuff died.”

“I was in shock,” he said, “There’s no shock with you.” It was planned and performed. Acted upon. Perhaps that should make it an event he didn’t cry on. He pulled the trigger, basically. “I’m still not sorry for punching you at the Academy.”

A light smirk, “And you’re still not fit to wear Wilhuff’s boots. Crying….” Implication was, he wouldn’t cry over August. Wilhuff wouldn’t cry over anyone. It was pathetic and weak to show to an enemy…a friend…even a dying one.

“Never wanted to,” he said, and lingered in the silence then. No comment followed from Pandion. August was there until no breath followed either. No heartbeat. That was when he rose, took the bottles, wiped his eyes, and left to tell his staff what to do, with a bitter taste still in his mouth that had nothing to do with the wine.

‘If we aren’t willing to do whatever is required, then we risk losing what we have been mandated to protect.’
 
Ariel immediately knew how Mira knew where Snoke was. It had to be because of her. Snoke probably knew that too. He’d interrupted. ‘Thank the Force.’ It relieved Ariel to know she didn’t have to see Snoke about kyber crystals anymore. And hopefully, Grakkus had some so she wouldn’t ever have to ask Snoke.

“Well, at least we get to be useful.” Finally, something Ariel and Gnaeus were better at than Kylo. “Tell me, why aren’t we flat out killing Mira yet?” Kylo could so take Mira out on his own. Ariel could still help. Gnaeus, too, even without his hand. Paquin could probably help in some way, too. But no, they needed to train. And Snoke was running from Mira.

It seemed like that anyway.

“Y’know, Grakkus’ casino is on Tatooine. You know what else is on Tatooine? We could get my stuff, given no one’s stolen my ship yet.” It didn’t take long for things to get jacked around there. “It’s better than the ships Snoke’s making us use.” Because everyone else’s ships were lost somehow. “And I have a huge stash of alcohol on Tatooine.” She needed it there. She also had spare armor and other miscellaneous items, including her helmet. But Ariel hated that thing.

Not to mention it seemed to be going out of fashion.

But they could kill a lot of birds with one stone.

-

The shitbird method managed to relax Paquin. But not enough. She was hoping that when she opened her eyes, she’d be floating. But when she opened them, she wasn’t the one that was floating, Gnaeus was. She tilted her head slightly to look at him. ‘How do you do that?’

She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes again. She didn’t want to disturb Gnaeus, as he needed to do this stuff too. So, she brainstormed. What relaxed her? Sleep…baths. Baths. Kamino was like a large, never-ending, angry bathtub. Water. And what does the body do in water? Floats.

She was really going to emphasize on the floating bit.

She released her breath, feeling that reconnection with the Force. The buzzing of life. She inhaled again. She’d think of the Force like it was water. The pulse of different lives around her like waves—gentle, rhythmic ones. Unlike the angry waves actually going on outside. ‘Fuck off,’ those thoughts weren’t relevant…

Let it move her. Flow around her. Through her.

She released her breath again and along with it all the tension in her body. The many waves—pulses—formed into one. Like she was floating on the surface, with the waves moving her. And it meshed together until she felt like she was apart of the wave itself. And the idea of the wave was replaced only be the Force beating like a heart, in unison.

‘How long have I been doing this?’ The thought intruded in on her peace, forced her to open her eyes. And when she opened them, she was eye level with Gnaeus. For a second. And then she dropped. She didn’t drop far, but she still let out and ‘oof’ when her butt hit the ground. ‘Did I do it?’

-

“How do you know it wasn’t its name if you don’t—“ Ada stopped herself from finishing that sentence. Not only would it get them nowhere, but Ada didn’t want to pick a fight. It took a lot of energy. And she had to think about Finn. Listening to Mace attempting to teach him a trick with the Force reminded her that they were his parents. And this was his first time with both of them together. And all Ada had done was be bitter.

‘Not to mention you missed him, too.’ And didn’t want this whole thing to be an awful experience.

Didn’t mean Ada was going to stop being bitter, she had that right to be bitter and angry for as long as she wanted. But she’d lighten up on it. Mace had simply asked her for some help.

“Swallowed the Force? I mean, I’ve heard of something like that…a void stone, I believe they called it. Some piece of meteorite connected to the Force that happened to disconnect everyone else from the Force. But that’s just a story. I’ve never seen it, or heard of any proof of it.” Unless this was proof. “It could be something else.” Ada shrugged.

Finn wasn’t even half listening to the conversation, his concentration on the box. He focused on the feeling of pushing back, up on Mira’s hands. How he’d pushed that little slot machine to get those cherries…the feeling of using the Force to push something and “Woo!” the box jumped up at him and stayed in the air, exciting him rather than startling him. He did it! ‘Awesome.’

-

Terex followed right behind Mira, coordinates ready once leaving the chilly atmosphere of Hoth. And into the cold depths of space. But thankfully he wouldn’t be dwelling too long in space, as he entered lightspeed and it pushed him closer to a warmer climate.

Terex slowed after the Admiral when they came to Eriadu. Their ships were immediately picked up by scanners once they entered the atmosphere. Though, the Nymph was recognized, as was Hux’s ship. The Carrion Spike was obviously recognized, so nothing was done to stop them from entering. Though, there was a message sent back to the Tarkins, alerting them of the Carrion Spike and whoever was in Kevan Ren’s ship, hauling Generel Huc’s behind it—maybe they should have asked who was in it.

But Hux would immediately recognize who was in the ships, even if he didn’t see her. After Millicent, of course, who was the one to wake him up by using his chest as a trampoline.

Hux groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. “Really, Millicent?” He still felt tired, even more so than when he fell asleep. He leaned his elbows onto the dash as he woke up, eyes blinking to clear his vision. And right in his vision, was ‘his’ ships scanner. Picking up his other ship. His good one. And who was the last person to have that ship? That Atlas guy. But who had given him that ship? Mira.

And who would’ve thought to bring that ship to Eriadu? Mira.

That woke him up. And he felt a great relief, his shoulders felt lighter.

And so Hux stood up, eager to see Mira, hopefully in one piece. Millicent seemed eager, too, waiting at the door. But he wouldn’t bring her along just yet. “Stay. Millicent.” He told her as he slipped out. She only meowed at him.
 
‘Snoke doesn’t know where she is and Snoke won’t let us. Me.’ Kylo would not tell her those things. If the thought of Snoke not knowing where Mira was unnerved him, he couldn’t imagine how it might affect Ariel or the rest. “Snoke has not made that our priority,” Kylo answered Ariel instead, evasive. “Unless you want to ask Snoke why…,” which, he knew that she wouldn’t, “I suggest you not question the judgment of the Supreme Leader.”

They would kill her, eventually, just as one day they would kill Hux and all of those who betrayed them. One day, they would all be nothing more than ashes, failures in history, as the Knights of Ren stood tall.

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’s place? Anakin’s home? Luke’s home?’ Kylo did not say any of those things when Ariel mentioned Tatooine, but let her continue her thought. Her ship. Her things. His eyes lit up – they would have the last of the Knight ships to use! They were far superior to anything else Snoke had to offer. This was turning up in their favor, then. “We have to go to Takodana first to get the hand, but then…yes. We can retrieve your ship.”

The alcohol though? Maybe not. Maybe they could find a way to leave that or get rid of all of it. Ariel had a problem. She needed to quit drinking for her own sake. Not to mention the fact it brought around Anakin’s ghost.

Of course, he didn’t say that. If he did, he’d not have a chance to see about having the alcohol get left. Or destroyed. She’d be too vigilant. “If someone’s stolen your ship we should be able to track it down. The criminals there will tell us.” Too confident in that, but why he shouldn’t he be? “Either way, it’s not until tomorrow – and you need to hurry up and eat,” Kylo hadn’t reached for any of the food.

“Still have training to do today.”

~***~

Gnaeus wasn’t disturbed from his own relaxation until he heard the thud, and the oof. He opened his eyes, his own focus breaking, and he hit the ground, too. “Ow,” he couldn’t help but rub his backside a bit as he straightened back up on his knees, then managed a smile at Paquin. “You did it, didn’t you?” He hadn’t seen of course, but her oof could only mean that. “It’s still pretty difficult to maintain.”

Well, it was for him. When his focus broke, he lost control of the levitating and fell back down. He couldn’t maintain that kind of focus or connection at all times – otherwise he would be floating at all times.

He added, “You want to work on establishing a connection to the Force like that, but not that strong. If it makes any sense. I mean, unless you want to go around levitating everywhere…which I guess would be pretty cool,” okay, maybe he should work on that, but how did he maintain it if he succeeded? Could he still choke people when he was levitating, or would he be too connected to everything to pull such feats of violence off?

The thought was never one he considered until just then, as he realized he’d feel their pain almost as if it was his own in that sort of connected state.

“Scratch that, no, bad idea,” he told her, then asked, “So how did you get there? What helped?” he folded his legs back under himself, curious as to how Paquin had managed it so quickly. He doubted it was only the shitbirds.

~***~

‘Because I’m pretty sure Forcekiller is not what people in the past called it, and it’s just her sense of humor.’ Which was apparently pretty damn dark, but Mace wasn’t here to argue about that, and fortunately, Ada didn’t press it, either. Instead, she gave him an answer, telling him about a ‘void stone’. He racked his brain.

“Jinn, you ever hear of this thing?” He asked, clearly unperturbed to speak to Jinn within Coruscant. It was somehow…acceptable, even as they moved out of the hangar with all the floating boxes and his son trying to levitate one himself.

A droid following.

“Wasn’t that something the Charon had? The Death Cult that Master Yoda advised us to avoid?”

“How the hell did Mira get it then?”

“More, how did Grakkus get it?”

“Grakkus had it?”

“That was where I lost my connection to her. It did look a bit like a meteorite, but it was under some sort of protective glass when I saw it…then she broke it.”

“Well of course she did.” Reckless. “Well if it’s part of some holy death cult, it can’t be good,” Mace determined, before he was distracted by Finn’s outburst and the sight of the box flying up high. A smile lit his face. Pride. “Easy there,” he told him, “You don’t want it up that high while you’re still learning. Draw it back now.”

“Uh…right!” Finn tried to lessen the constant pressure that was rising up from his hand, thinking again of the few things he knew. He tried to add imagery to it, and bubbles came to mind. Jets of bubbles, and so he imagined the Force as that rising up from his hand. So he just had to lessen the pressure of the bubbles that were shooting up from his hand.

It was still a bit of a balancing act. He started to bring it down, but it wobbled as he walked, and then, seemed to break from his carefully formed stream of imaginary Force-bubbles, and fall towards the ground. “Shoot!” He managed to catch it with his own hands before it hit the ground, anyway.

~***~

Mira was also surprised that she wasn’t hailed for identity of anything. She was allowed to land, and her eyes sought the location of other First Order ships to place her own ship amongst them, and Hux’s. It took a little bit to find a space large enough for both ships, and she was grateful then that the Nymph was a relatively small ship.

Still able to bring Hux’s ship along, of course, but it wasn’t through its size.

The violence seemed to have stopped. ‘Find Hux, wait for Finn to get back with the skiff.’ Probably give him the skiff at this point, she had the Nymph. Let him figure out how to design a ship and have some fun with it. Poe would probably be a better teacher, there.

She took the datapad and hoped Eriadu wouldn’t be as cold as Hoth as she stepped out. Fortunately, it wasn’t, so it made wearing the dress far more comfortable. She started to type a message to let Hux know she’d returned, and to get a message sent off to Finn as well, but before the one to Hux could be sent, she saw him there.

Still in one piece.

She was relieved to see him well - and, admittedly, to see him at all. She sent the message to Finn first, instead, before putting the datapad in the coat’s inner pocket and taking the keys to his own ship out, “I got it back for you,” she offered the keys out to him, “And I shouldn’t have any more issues with sleeping,” the two bits of good news that needed to be said first, “I’m glad to see you’re all right. Is everyone else…?” Phasma, Poe, Leia, August – she wanted to hear they were okay. Even the Tarkin.

~***~

Julia Tarkin had returned to the manor to find August and let him know everything was taken care of. What she found out from staff instead was that he’d gone below with two bottles of wine. So, rather than follow him there, Julia went to wait besides the entrance to the staircase until the man resurfaced with his nexu at his heels, looking stoic and defeated all at once.

It was, perhaps, the thing that most people would never believe of their relationship, and a secret Julia treasured. August was the strong one in public, but he tired of the persona and craved security more than he’d ever confess. Craved a place where it was safe not to be strong , and where he didn't have to make all the decisions all the time– and Julia provided.

So as soon as his feet were on the landing, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and turned him to the wall, pressed him to it and kissed him, hard, fierce, stealing the breath from him in his surprise before he melted into it and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.

Her kiss did not linger, but was as quick and sudden as it had been initiated, letting him relax into the hold instead. They didn’t speak. There was no need for Julia to reassure him that he had done what was right – they both knew it. What was right, was not always easy. And so they lingered, August closing his eyes and Julia pressing her head against his chest, until he finally took a deep breath and moved.

She tilted her head up and ran her fingers back through his red hair, “I love you,” she reminded him.

“I love you,” he echoed the sentiment, before they pulled apart to walk alongside each other, “Unfortunately I heard news that Pandion died in the hospital. His wounds were too severe.”

“What a pity,” Julia would repeat the lie. “And after Lothal’s forces were the reason we were able to push back against Snoke.” Knew the game. Jarrod was still dear enough to August.

He gave a simple nod. “He’ll be remembered fondly in the Spiked tonight, I’m sure. All of that’s been arranged,” she added.

“Thank you,” more might have been said, but one of the staff approached them.

“The Carrion Spike has landed on Eriadu…and a First Order ship attached to Kevan’s ship?” That’s how they knew the Nymph.

August canted his head. This was…an odd grouping. “Where?” August sighed.
 
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Ariel did want to ask Snoke what the deal was, but did that mean she would? Fuck no.

She had to suppress rolling her eyes at Kylo and his ‘I suggest you not question the judgment of the Supreme Leader’. If Ariel didn’t know any better, she’d ask how long he’d been sucking Snoke’s dick. But telling that joke would mean she’d crossed the line about a mile ago and was now running so Kylo didn’t choke her.

But she forgot all about that when she could have sworn she saw Kylo’s eyes light up at the mention of her ship. She figured he’d like that. She knew she’d probably end up handing over her ship to Kylo, whether he’d keep it or just use it until it was either destroyed or he managed to build one of his own. But she was happy with that as long as she could sit in the backseat and sip on her alcohol.

It would be nice to have a big supply so she wouldn’t have to worry about not having any and possibly dying. She was aware of how unhealthy that was, that if she continued she’d probably not make it past the age of forty-five. If she somehow wasn’t killed by then.

“Oh, you asshole.” Ariel groaned at the mention of more training. She wasn’t sure what was worse, training on a full stomach or on an empty one. She took one last bite of her burger and drank the rest of her drink before using the Force to lift it all and throw it away. “Come on, let’s get this over with.” She complained as she stood, already regretting eating so much food.

-

Paquin had done it, didn’t she? She was pretty proud of herself, she hadn’t expected to do it. And she didn’t feel bad for not maintaining it very long. But she did it!

She shifted, pulling one leg towards her chest and resting her chin on her knee. The other leg was pulled in, but not to her chest. It was almost comfortable.

Paquin couldn’t help but think that levitating everywhere would be pretty convenient. She was short, had very little skills as far as fighting went. She could totally see herself floating out of trouble…until Gnaeus said it was a bad idea.

She furrowed her eyebrows, pouted a little, but moved on. Gnaeus asked what got her there and the words ‘large, never-ending bathtub’ were what rang through her head. Okay, maybe what got her there was a little stupid. “Well, the…shitbirds—“ it felt weird to actually say ‘shitbirds’, “—helped.” Kevan had been onto something, as much as she hated to admit it. But that hadn’t been what got her in the air.

“But I suppose what did it was thinking of what relaxed me. And that led to thinking of baths,” She felt silly that that was what aided in lifting off the ground, “which led to thinking of the Force as water. The little pulsating like waves. And you float in water. And then everything meshed together and then I suppose I started floating—levitating—sometime during it.” She didn’t know when, just that she’d gotten impatient and opened her eyes, breaking her focus.

-

Ada wanted to say something about the holy death cult and the stone not being good. That surely its past didn’t mean Mira’s intentions would be bad. But she was distracted by her son using the Force. She saw Mace’s grin. And she wasn’t sure if it was because there was another Force sensitive that he’d conjure up a plan for or if it was fatherly pride, but either way, it made her feel something.

A grin broke out onto her face and her heart swelled. “Good job, baby!” She didn’t care much if the box flew away or fell to the ground, her son had used the Force! And even if it wasn’t the first time, she was still there to witness it.

“You did it! I’d hug you if I could!” She was still carrying those boxes. She’d hug him once they got back to her apartment.

BB-8 beeped, commenting on how it would be cool to show Mira when they got back.

And Finn was beaming. Even if he’d almost dropped it, he was proud of himself too. He was so in awe of the Force and to think that he could use it. That one day he’d be able to do more. It excited him. And he was excited to tell Mira. She’d probably be proud of him too. “I can’t wait to show her.” Finn agreed with the droid. “Thanks for the help, Mace.” He didn’t think he could call him dad.

Mace probably didn’t want to be called dad.

-

Hux accepted the keys, and couldn’t help the smallest smirk that tugged at his lips. “Thank you.” He wondered how she got it back. He also wondered how she managed to solve her sleeping problem. But first, she asked a question. “Everyone’s fine.” He answered, thinking of all the people that mattered. Phasma, Poe, Leia. However, he certainly wasn’t thinking of Tarkin.

But of course, Tarkin was okay, too.

Hux couldn’t help but notice that Finn and BB-8 weren’t following along with her. However, the Carrion Spike did seem to be the ship to land after her. So much for being able to trust in Finn and BB-8 to watch out for her. Terex wasn’t really someone he’d consider trustworthy with her.

His eyes moved back to her. “Come on,” He nodded his head back to his other ship that he’d be using. And soon be ditching for his old one. Lots of great memories in that one. “I want to hear about what you’ve been up to, and how you’ve somehow solved your sleeping issue. And I have a lot to catch you up on, as well.”

He wanted to tell her that she’d told August and the others about her issue with Snoke. He wanted to tell her about Pandion and Lothal. He wanted to tell her that August wanted her to tag along to the Senate meeting in the morning. And he wanted to warn her about the man, finally. She could never be too wary around him. She’d missed a lot. And it seemed like he missed a lot, too.

She somehow left Finn and the droid and picked up Terex.

“And Millicent wants to see you.” Which was totally true. Hux knew she got excited because of Mira. Had to be.
 
Kylo Ren smirked a bit as he was called an asshole, but shook his head at the commentary. He rose, all the same, “That’s the wrong attitude for this,” he reminded her. “Not the anger,” obviously, but her going about it begrudgingly. She needed to learn to be a better fighter, in all circumstances. “Do you want to be able to prevent Gnaeus from getting hurt more?”

That was his purpose in this, in dividing them up this way. Perhaps he would have wanted to work more closely with Paquin, but he was aware of some of his own failings, and aware it would be better for Gnaeus to do so. They would improve themselves, together. That left him with Ariel, the only one who could easily become a capable fighter.

Focusing on her failure would help her to focus her anger, as well.

Of course, he took her back towards the same training ground they left earlier, “No Force – beyond what’s needed for the vibroblade, and increasing your physical attributes,” Kylo told Ariel then. “I want you better with the blade before we start adding in more of the extras,” keep it focused, and build from what she mastered. Kylo was able to split his focus in combat well enough, but it seemed something that all of the others needed to work on.

‘Except.’

He stopped the thought. “We need to think of ourselves as the shields for Paquin and Gnaeus, for now.” Because they both had to acknowledge the other two were far weaker than these two. The one with anger issues and the drunk.

No wonder they were having issues….

~***~

Shitbirds still made Gnaeus chuckle. It was immature, but that had been the entire purpose. To remove one from their senses with the inanity of it. He did smile at the logic that eventually got her there. Water. He gave a nod, “Kylo prefers to think of it like fire, but water works. Anything that is sort of…all-consuming, works.”

Which was how fire worked for Kylo, and he suspected, Mira as well, in spite of her calm demeanor. Water and fire were two sides of the same coin, but fire was known more for its volatile nature than water – even if water could be just as volatile. “Though, maybe don’t think of it as the vacuum of space, or the void.”

He didn’t want to know what paths that would take someone down. Kylo and Mira spoke of the howling of the void as if they knew it, and he was pretty sure that both of them did…Paquin did not need to know that. Gnaeus had no inclination of learning what that hell sounded like. He honestly didn’t want to believe it was real. How could a void exist? How could non-life exist in such a way?

Nope. He wouldn’t accept it. “You’re going to want to try and access a feeling close to that, in the future. That kind of…connection is going to make using the Force easier, so when you go to sleep, and when you wake up, you should try meditating again. Really, whenever you get a free moment, until that connection is just second-nature, or always on.”

Then using the Force became easier. Want something? Feel it through the Force and pull it towards you. It was like an arm…and yet he still only wanted his physical one. “Then maybe you’ll be able to feel the Force in others, and learn to manipulate it….” Bring his arm back. Make the cells of his body create a new one.

~***~

It was a bit awkward to have a ‘student’ so old, who was also his son. And Finn wasn’t really his student…he was Mira’s. With the Grey Jedi. ‘What in the void am I supposed to do?’ Well, that was part of why he needed to see Mira again, and speak with her. Figure out just what she was up to, figure out Luke Skywalker a bit, too. The First Order. The universe.

He didn’t want to get engaged again, but…

‘But….’

He had knowledge. He had skills. He had an understanding of why the Jedi failed, and he wanted to see the Jedi return…but did he want it the same way, or did he want it new? That was, he supposed, what he needed to figure out. Did he prefer to help Luke, the son of that bastard Anakin, or would he want to see how this ‘Gray’ thing shaped out that his son was in? There was lots of room for molding it…and his son was going to be a Master of it, one day.

He couldn’t stop that swell of pride. “You’re welcome,” he said at last to Finn. A device beeped, and Finn was startled, but he didn’t reach for it. Not until they were back safely in the apartment, after earning some weird looks from passerbys, as well as some awed ones. ‘Probably gonna be on the HoloNet now….’ Finn had no idea how fast this was all about to blow up.

He set the box neatly down in Ada’s apartment, then reached for his device to see a message from Mira. She was back on Eriadu.

Be there soon.

He typed it back, spoke, “Mira’s back to Eriadu safely,” his mom would want to know, at least.

~***~

Everyone was fine, and it relieved Mira to hear it. That meant at least Phasma and Leia – she wasn’t sure if it meant anyone else, but those two were fine. That was important. Terex started to land his ship and Mira glanced back at the sound of it, but her attention was drawn forward again by Hux and his gesture.

Mira gave a nod, “We have a bit to catch up on,” on both sides. She did need to tell him about the stone, which fortunately she’d slipped into her pocket. She would want to show it to Hux, so he would know it. Then there was the Grakkus incident…which he should probably know of. Ada and Mace, as well, would be necessary to mention. And the funds that Snoke had, which he should probably steal from Snoke as soon as possible.

She smirked a bit at the thought that Millicent missed her. The cat barely knew her. “Shouldn’t she be on the Finalizer?” and not a war zone. Well, no matter…she liked the cat. The cat helped all of them out on Jakku. Then, her heart sank at the possibility that the cat would react negatively to her without the Force surrounding her.

The dog had definitely not liked her, and it made others uneasy. That much was clear. Millicent might react the same. Still, she decided not to mention it. If Millicent did react that way, she’d explain it to Hux, as best she could. So, she followed Hux back to his ship – the one with Millicent.

~***~

August Tarkin was told the ‘where’, and he made sure to head out that way. The blaster left its holster. Everyone would believe him if that was how he said he and Terex greeted one another. It wasn’t like it was a lie…they were just technically allies now. It didn’t have to change the way he greeted Terex at all.

And if Terex got hit…his own fault.

August and Julia went together, and missed meeting Hux and Mira while they were around, but they were briefly in the radius of the stone – not that they knew, but August paused, and Lares bristled, when it seemed like the oxygen was taken out of the air. It was the only way August knew to describe the odd moment, before Julia pulled on his arm and he continued on.

Lares went off in another direction, though, deciding to follow the oddity and hunt it down.

Of course, he did make it to the area where the Knight ship was. The FO ship.

The Carrion Spike.

His heart ached at the sight of it, and his eyes did seek Terex – and if he saw him, he was absolutely sending him his regular ‘greeting’. Alliance or not. Fuck Terex. But just one shot – he knew it was all he could really get away with, and still ‘joke’ with Terex about it. One day, though, he was going to kill that man. He’d prefer to do it with a candle holder and just bludgeon the life out of him.

It’d been far too long since he had a good fight...and he knew Terex would give him a good fight. Perhaps his last, but one hell of a good and dirty fight.
 
Ariel would have told Kylo to bite her if it weren’t for the Gnaeus guilt trip which made her purse her lipsThat was exactly why she was completely okay with this setup. Or at least, not complaining as much. She wanted to be able to protect Gnaeus. She obviously couldn’t before, and she definitely needed to now.

So she mumbled a ‘yes’, but that wouldn’t stop her from going about it begrudgingly.

She sauntered behind Kylo, all the way to the training grounds they’d left earlier that day. Her vibroblade still laid on the ground where she’d abandoned it. Kylo brought attention to the fact that Paquin and Gnaeus were the weaker of the four. “We’ve done a great job with that so far, haven’t we?” Ariel mumbled, more upset with herself, but that was the whole reason they were doing all this training wasn’t it?

She walked to the fallen vibroblade, feeling just how full of food she was when she bent to pick it up. She twirled it in her hand a couple times, testing it. She missed her lightsaber. It was almost as if she’d lost a part of her—she wasn’t gonna finish that though. Gnaeus. He actually had lost a part of his arm.

Ariel shook her red head. “So, no Force? Does that mean you’re not using it either?” Not that it would give Ariel any more of a chance at beating Kylo as she did with the Force, but it meant one less thing to worry about. Yes, all she had to worry about was the brick shithouse that was Kylo Ren.

-

Paquin wasn’t surprised at all by the fact that Kylo like to think of the Force as fire. “That’s…fitting.” Though she wondered if he thought of it like that while meditating. Meditation didn’t seem much like a Kylo thing.

Paquin wasn’t going to think of the vacuum of space, nor did she know what the Void would even be like. She didn’t want to know either. She’d stick with the water because it worked for her. At the moment, at least.

She nodded along to Gnaeus telling her to meditate before bed, when she woke up. Whenever she wasn’t doing something to establish that second-nature connection. Luckily, she’d already thought about doing that. It wasn’t like meditating was hard to do. And up until she’d interrupted herself, she’d been completely relaxed. She didn’t witness anything distracting until her own thoughts did.

And then she stopped nodding along, as she registered the last part of what Gnaeus was saying. Feel the Force in others…manipulate it. What else would he, Gnaeus without a hand, mean. She sighed, “Gnaeus,” she wanted to approach the subject gently, “I know you want your actual hand back. And as much as I’d love too, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to…do that. I mean, is there any proof that it’s actually a thing? That Darth Plagueis was real other than what Kylo says and wherever he got that from?” She imagined Snoke.

“Once you get the prosthetic and get adjusted to it, you’ll realize it’s just as functional as a real hand,” She assured. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up for something that might not ever happen.”

-

Ada was setting her own boxes down as Finn relayed some information on Mira. Ada was glad to hear she was safe on Eriadu. Ada wasn’t sure how safe anyone was on Eriadu, though. Between the Carrion and the Tarkins. “Good. Tell her that I said hi and to be careful with August.” Ada straightened. “Is it just me, or do you think August Tarkin and General Fuckhead—” Hux. She may have warmed up to Mira, but she would never warm up to that ginger rat. He’d been around when her son was taken and he still hadn’t disbanded the whole Stormtrooper program.

And that was just the items at the top of her ‘Reasons I Hate General Hux’ list. It went on for a while. Him and his father. “—could be related?”

Finn chuckled. “I don’t think they are, but I see it.” He shook his head. “I’ll relay your message to Mira.” It honestly warmed Finn’s heart a bit. He wasn’t used to such a motherly figure like Ada.

“Okay. Does this mean you have to go?” Ada was a little sad, but she’d see Finn again. She didn’t want him to ever leave.

Finn offered a small smile, “Yeah. But I’ll see you soon. I’ll probably need you here again at some point,” Finn knew that would cheer his mom up.

“Come here, give me a hug.” She pulled the boy—man—into a hug. “I want more pictures like the ones of you and Mira.” She told him, squeezing him tight before releasing him.

Finn nodded. “Done.” He’d figure out how to get fun pictures like those.

And then Ada turned to Mace. She was bitter and angry and wanted to yell at him all the misery she went through. Blame it on him knocking her up and leaving. She didn’t do any of that though. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Mace, hugging him too. Not caring much if he hugged back or not. She knew affection wasn’t much his thing. “I don’t want this to be the last time I see you. I’ll calm down and then we have a lot of talking to do.”

-

Hux took the lead in taking Mira back to his other ship and snickered at Mira’s wondering of where Millicent should be, thinking of Mitaka showing up with the cat “Yes, she should be. But Colonel Mitaka didn’t think it was right to leave her on the Finalizer.” Hux didn’t have much of a problem with it. She’d have had food, water, plenty of space to roam. Probably a lot of attention. But he didn’t mind her being on Eriadu.

Hux opened the door to his ship, but stepped aside to let Mira in first. And as soon as she would walk in, she’d be greeted by the loudest meow Millicent could produce.

It quickly became apparent that Millicent didn’t care about Mira lacking the Force in that moment, though she did bristle just a bit at the sudden lack of feeling. She simply mewed, rubbing herself against the woman’s leg.

‘Cute.’ Hux thought, but quickly became cynical and internally laughed at himself. Shaking his head, he continued into the ship, making sure the door was shut behind him. He didn’t doubt that Millicent would try to escape once she became bored of Mira. “I’m sure we both have more than just a bit to catch each other up on,” Hux had a nice list and he wondered what Mira had been up to.

Hux would have started with catching her up first, as he believed his news held some importance. But not nearly as important as the fact that Mira had supposedly solved her sleeping issue. Which meant she solved the Snoke problem. It was not only a relief to the General, but from there Hux was curious as to if it would do anything for those on Lothal. “So. What’s this about you being able to sleep again?”

-

Terex most definitely saw the Admiral and the General talking as he landed, running off before he was completely docked. If only he’d been out there, he would have sent Mira a nice, teasing wink after all that talk on Hoth. But he’d catch up with her later.

Terex’s beloved ship settled onto the ground, and took a relaxing moment to shut his baby down before he went out into the world of Eriadu. Before he’d be ‘greeted’ by hopefully August.

And he didn’t have to hope for long. Shortly after he’d exited the Carrion Spike, Terex heard blaster fire whizz right by him. He saw it out of the corner of his eye before he even spotted the ginger and his wife heading towards him.

Outwardly unaffected by being shot at, he had been anticipating it after all, he broke out into a grin. “August!” Terex wasn’t afraid of meeting Tarkin half way. He was well aware of how much August hated him, wanted to kill him. And if it were any other time, had he come sometime sooner than the past few days, August very well may have actually attempted to murder him. But with this truce between the FO and him? Unlikely to happen any time soon.

“Good to see you again! Unfortunately, I missed you when I visited earlier. Shame.” His gaze shifted to the man’s brunette companion. “Julia! Don’t you look lovely today.” Terex shot her a wink, even if he was wholly uninterested in her. He just wanted to piss of August. Lay it on as thick as he could. Almost wondered if he could get the man to break and forgo the alliance.

If only. That would be some good entertainment.
 
Ariel seemed to resist everything, every step of the way. Kylo was irked with her agitation with this. Sure, it was a change from what she signed up for, but she knew this was always a possibility – even with the First Order. They were the Knights of Ren – they were an elite Force Sensitive group designed to take down the Jedi.

The Jedi were rising. Mira had betrayed them. They needed to be stronger to take on those that opposed them, now that they did not have the backing of the First Order, and Hux sought out allies quickly. The Resistance. Mira. Eriadu and all of their allies. Who knew what would follow, and if they weren’t strong enough, they’d fall.

They had been taken by surprise.

“No, we haven’t,” he answered her bitter words with his own bitterness. He knew his anger would be useful, even if he wasn’t using the Force beyond what was necessary. “And yes, the Force rule includes me, as well,” he said as he drew his lightsaber into his hands once more, and flicked it on.

He couldn’t wait for Ariel to get one. It felt…unfair to fight her, without one. Sure, a vibroblade could stand up to a lightsaber, but it still wasn’t really a match for one. Not that he really needed it against her. He knew that, physically, they were all weaker than him. It wasn’t much of a competition, but he could still test her, train her.

“When you’re ready,” he’d urge her to come forward, and stay on the defensive a while to try and see the flaws to her method.

~***~

Gnaeus Ren saw that Paquin was listening to him, well up until the moment he spoke of her learning to manipulate the Force in others. Of course, she knew what he was really asking her. He appreciated that she didn’t want him to get his hopes up, but it was far too late for that. He leaned forward, not rising, not lifting his gaze from hers.

“No, there’s no evidence of anything Darth Plagueis did,” Gnaeus said, “That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There was a time before people traveled the stars – before Coruscant was a city. You are a Force sensitive who understands the human body through medical science…you are in a position to advance our ability with the Force, Paquin.”

She was in a position to save his arm.

“Even if I adjust to a fake hand, I’ll always want my real one. I am willing to be an experiment. I’m willing to trust you, so that we can advance the Force – and so I can get my hand back, of course, but I…I won’t hate you, if you fail, or make it worse. I promise, I won’t.”

He was putting her up to this. “When you get to know the Force better…then you can try.” She had to try. She would get better, and then she’d help them all learn how to live and survive devastating wounds. Survive death, even.

Then they would be unstoppable.

Yet, most of all…he just wanted his hand.

~***~

When Ada released him, Finn sent the quick little message to Mira as well – his mother’s words, part to keep from staring at his mother and Mace, embracing. Still couldn’t quite tie the title ‘father’ to him. It wasn’t as easy as tying it to his mom. She acted exactly as, he supposed, he would have expected…even if he hadn’t known what to expect.

Mace did, hesitantly, wrap his arms around her. He listened to her words, and held her lightly in his arms, as if afraid he might break her. Or perhaps, just break the brief moment where she decided to be gentle and not slap him.

“I will see you again,” he sighed out, agreeing. He wanted to. He supposed they did have…a lot to discuss. Finn, of course. His running off. The future – perhaps not theirs, perhaps theirs. But the future, nonetheless. Then, he let her go, and stepped back, looked to Finn who was hesitating, but prepared to leave all the same.

BB-8 beeped out its sad farewell, and promise to come back and introduce her to Poe. It resisted adding to the running joke that maybe Poe and Finn would be a thing right then, tempting as it was.

Finn gave a nod, “We’ll come back soon, promise.” He said, but had started to walk to the door. If he stayed, he’d linger, and then he’d never get out…not for several more minutes.

~***~

Mira did step in, and heard Millicent’s meow. The cat came up to her immediately, and she smiled down at it. She had noticed its bristling, but it seemed to get over that, to recognize her and still approach. ‘One animal not trying to kill me.’ She knelt down, and reached out for Millicent, to scratch the cat under her chin. “Good to see you again, too, Commodore.”

Mira rose again soon enough and went after Hux, ignoring the sound of something outside – she convinced herself it was the wind, even if a part of her mind was pretty sure that was a nexu’s call.

There was more than ‘just a bit’.

Hux’s question was probably the most important of those things, and Mira took the black stone out of the interior pocket, and held it out for him to take and examine at his leisure, “That is how,” she told him, “I found it at Grakkus’s casino. I stole it from him after a few too many drinks and too much good luck,” that was…going to be a story. “It swallows the Force,” it was still the only word for the feeling. “I can’t use it while it’s around me…but I can’t be effected by it, either.”

A curse. A blessing. “I made sure Snoke couldn’t reach me, either,” she did glance away. She wasn’t embarrassed by it, but she knew Hux wouldn’t approve of the rash act, “I may have called him on Kevan’s communicator to test it.” And he couldn’t do anything.

~***~

‘Damn it.’ August grimaced. He had missed Terex. Pity. Next time he’d hit him. For all his training as a sniper, he was still surprised that he always seemed to miss Terex. The man was either insanely lucky, or quick enough, and he wasn’t sure which he’d prefer.

“You should have come to join me in the Carrion, Terex. There’s a lot I could have shown you,” August said, putting his blaster back in its holster. He wouldn’t get away with a second attempt. He wished he could. Wished to just snap and shoot him again – but the alliance did hinder him. Pity he couldn’t demand his ship in all of this.

Julia smiled to Terex, “Thank you,” she said to the compliment, not at all perturbed by the likely falseness of his tone. She did look lovely, of course – but she knew he wasn’t saying it because it held any truth to him. “Are you going to be staying for the festivities at the Spiked, Terex? The First Order is invited. Even you.”

Maybe she could poison him.

No, that would probably not go well for them. Tempting as it was. “Or do you have an official purpose for your visit?” Julia asked, keeping her demeanor polite and calm.
 
Ariel wasn’t…trying to resist Kylo. And it wasn’t that this wasn’t what she signed up for. Training was a part of the gig, and she knew that. But they shouldn’t have been this bad. Shouldn’t have allowed themselves to get this bad. They were supposed to be some badass band of warriors for fuck’s sake! And what were they?

Kylo was the only real badass of them all. Left, anyway. The rest of them? A midget, a handicap, and a drunk.

Speaking of drunk. Ariel wasn’t drunk enough for this. She hadn’t nearly enough alcohol in her system and she felt completely sober. She wasn’t, of course, otherwise she’d be going through withdrawals. But she wasn’t drunk enough to the point where she wouldn’t mind any of this.

Kylo left starting the fight—training, whatever—up to her. Her initial instinct was to use the Force in some way to throw Kylo off so she could charge at him, but she couldn’t use the Force now could she? She slowly began to circle as she thought how to start. She could go for a general approach and go for the head or torso. But to throw him off guard, maybe she should go for his legs.

Before she allowed her head to try and attempt any reverse psychology, she charged him, swinging downwards to throw him off balance. That was the plan, anyway.

-

Paquin let go of her leg and let it drop to the side, a hand coming up to move across her face and run through the mess of her hair. Gnaeus seemed convinced that she was going to do this. Or at least try to do this. It didn’t seem like he was leaving her with a choice, either.

She sighed, her hand dropping into her lap. “Gnaeus, it’s not you hating me that I’m worried about.” Though that was a factor. “I know you want your hand back. But you just lost yours. It’s a traumatic experience and not something you recover from overnight.” He already wasn’t quite the same Gnaeus. “My point is, I don’t want you to expect this from me and be disappointed when I don’t deliver.”

And by disappointed, she meant fall into a deep dark depression. “I’m not a psychiatrist, but I’ve seen what losing something could do to someone.” And with this incredibly unrealistic expectations—hopes—already in place. She didn’t want anything worse to happen to Gnaeus.

“If I get better at the Force and if I think you’re in the right state of mind, maybe I’ll try.” In the end, she couldn’t see herself getting out of trying, at least. If anything, she said it just to please Gnaeus for the moment. Maybe make him feel a little better.

And hopefully it wouldn’t bite her in the ass down the road.

-

Ada was oddly thrilled when Mace hugged her back. While she was still very upset, she had missed him. And was glad he agreed to see her again, talk. Ada had plenty of things for them to discuss. But that would all wait until next time.

She released the man when he let go of her, and stepped back as BB-8 beeped. She grinned at the thought of meeting Poe. Even if he and her son weren’t a thing. She leaned down and patted the droid on the head. She straightened again as he son began to leave. “You better. Stay safe, you three.” She instructed, smiling despite her not ever wanting Finn to leave again.

But at least this time she knew he’d be okay. And this time she also knew when Mace was leaving. Unlike when he snuck out at some point in the night.

“Call me if you need anything, all of you!” She’d usher them out the door, and wait until they disappeared down the hall before she let herself be shut in with all the artifacts to go through.

And Finn didn’t say much the whole walk back. Not until they reached the hangars once again. “Well, that was kind of nice, right?” Not as bad as Mace thought? It wasn’t as bad as Finn thought, anyway.

-

Commodore. Hux had almost forgotten about the fact that he ranked his cat higher than his father.

Great decision.

Hux’s red brows furrowed at the sight of the small black stone, taking it from Mira as it was offered to him. He examined the thing as Mira explained it. This little thing could swallow the Force? How? Hux found it hard to believe, but he supposed he wasn’t knowledgable in the great big Force. He wasn’t going to complain. It was a big relief, for both him and Mira.

Before he had the chance to ask how she knew it would work against Snoke, she already told him how. His head snapped up to look at her, his eyes narrowing on her. “Really, Mira? And you somehow thought that was a smart decision?” Obviously nothing happened, and it proved it worked. But what if it hadn’t? Hux didn’t even think of how it could’ve backfired onto the Order, but rather how Snoke could’ve killed her. Or worse, from what Hux recently learned. Which was a good segue…

Either way, Mira was right. Hux did not approve of the action.

General Hux heard then something scratch at the door to the ship, but he ignored it. Millicent, however, did not, and walked to the door and began to scratch on it as well.

Hux held the stone vacuum out for Mira to take back. “You have to be more cautious than that, Mira. If the stone hadn’t worked, a lot worse could’ve happened than Snoke killing you or finding out about the First Order’s location. Apparently he’s got the entire planet of Lothal under his control.” Mind control. And he implied that could have happened to Mira.

The scratching from outside the door turned into some sort of whine. Or growl. Something between the two. Hux inwardly groaned, knowing it could be one of two things. August Tarkin’s new pet. Or something that left the Carrion to find them, which Hux didn’t deem very likely.

-

“Carrion? Hm, not really my thing. Maybe we can plan a different camping trip, yeah? We could even work on some target skills” Terex smirked at the ginger, teasing about how August always seemed to miss him. Terex considered himself to be incredibly lucky. Even he knew how good of a shot August was.

Terex turned to the man’s wife who accepted the fake compliment. “Festivities? At Spiked? Well, I do love a good drink. And entertainment.” Because that would certainly be an entertaining crowd. “Since I’m invited, I might have to stop in for a drink or two.”

But that wasn’t his purpose here. He did have an official purpose, which he’d use as an excuse so he could bother the Tarkins. “I do, however, have a job to do here. I do actually do some work for the First Order,” a little snark, “I’ve been assisting General Hux’s new favorite, Admiral Vallens. I’m going for a permanent assistant position.” Because that’s really what Lieutenants of any sort ever were.

Technically, Terex had two jobs around here. There was following Mira around and striving for the position of her right hand, and then there was the big plan. Keeping an eye on things for Supreme Leader Snoke. For whenever that old bastard would call upon him.

Terex was still amazed that there’d been no word on the missing Knights yet. How they just up and walked out. One would think that two Knights of Ren in captivity would be a much bigger deal than it was being passed off to be. That they’d have a much tighter security detail. Well, that was Hux’s problem, not Terex’s. In fact, it made his job a lot easier.

“Maybe you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.” And shooting at him a lot less.
 
Starting a fight, when someone knew it was about to begin, was always difficult. The first move could rarely be deceptive, because the opponent was watching, carefully. Kylo watched Ariel carefully as she circled, turning at her pace, examining her as she examined her options and considered what she could do, before she finally moved.

A charge, of course. No one started off walking, or with a languid approach, in these things. Kylo knew to expect that, and he watched her arm to see where she would aim. Low. It was obvious before it happened, and Kylo took a step back as the strike started, and turned with the move back.

He realized briefly he probably should have gotten a training saber. Too late now, he’d just have to make sure to still only make non-lethal strikes. Maybe next time he’d figure out training sabers again, because with the style he used, it wasn’t really made for…not murdering. Without the Force, that became all the more apparent.

He would move through the turn, and attempt to use that momentum to step forward again as Ariel would be recovering from her missed swing, to try and slash down, from her shoulder, diagonally towards her hip. He’d keep it far enough away to be shallow, so that if it did connect, it wouldn’t be murdering to her.

Well…if she didn’t step any more into it. If she did, he would obviously have to break the no-Force rule to make sure that she didn’t die from the strike.

~***~

Gnaeus put on a half-hearted smile at her words. Not to be disappointed, “I’m only going to be disappointed if you don’t try, Paquin,” he told her plainly. He would, of course, face disappointed with her failures, but that was to be expected. Everyone faced disappointment at failures. He would not let that get in the way of encouraging her, and he wouldn’t let it get in the way of his hopes.

He had failed at things.

He got better at things. So, too, would Paquin, and he would have to make sure he didn’t deter her from it when she started, because he only wanted his hand back. “You have to at least try, Paquin. Everyone here wants you to learn how to better your skill with healing and the Force, and it’s not something any of us can teach you – but we want it.” Kylo saw that in her. Gnaeus wanted it from her.

They were all meant to have a role. None could fill Mira or Kevan’s shoes, and certainly not Paquin, so she had to cut her own, unique path. She couldn’t be either of them. She would never replace Kevan’s humor, his charisma, or his apparent ability to cause trouble. She’d also never be Mira – not able to go out into the unknown and adapt like Mira, which was probably how she was still alive right now.

They had their things. Kylo was the badass. Kevan had been the charm. Mira was the adaptable one. Gnaeus had been the thief, in truth, and Ariel was more of a researcher, in truth. She had learned all those languages to be able to figure out Sith tombs. One wouldn’t know it from looking at her, and Gnaeus certainly questioned her intelligence at times…a lot of times…but he knew she had a good head on her shoulders.

If only she could stop drinking….

Paquin could be their healer, could advance the Force beyond what they knew. They were all technically supposed to do that…but they weren’t all good at it. He smiled a bit, at the fact she would try. “I know. I’m probably in a really fucked up state now – and maybe I’ll get used to the prosthetic, but just getting used to it shouldn’t be reason enough for you to stop trying to advance Force healing. Actually…,” now that he thought of it, “Maybe you can manipulate bacta or…let’s go see.” He rose then.

Might be good to see if she could even start to commune with them. Or manipulate them. If she could figure out how they worked on the Force level, that could be a step in the right direction.

~***~

Mace was also silent on the way back, letting his thoughts linger and drift back. They kept returning to the embrace, to how his entire world seemed to be turning upside down, in the span of a few hours. He had a son. There was a goddamn Grey Jedi out there, and Qui-Gon was talking to him. He met Ada again.

He was…he was going to Eriadu, home of the Tarkins, to see a Grey Jedi. Probably, would see others – maybe figure out about this Skywalker kid. The urge to run was still there, because he had been out of this for so long, and it felt like he shouldn’t be here.

Yet, when Finn looked at him, asked his question in that hopeful voice, with that hopeful smile lingering on the corners of his lips, Mace let out a hmph, and turned his gaze away to hide some of his own…hope. He hadn’t felt it in a while, but he felt it then. Future. Hope. It had all seemed dead. He had seemed dead, a relic still living and breathing.

Running.

“No,” he agreed, “not as bad as I thought it would go,” though absently, his hand reached up to where he had been slapped. The ship was in sight, and he looked back to Finn, “Let’s get back to Eriadu. I think we have a lot to talk about with Master Vallens.” Still wasn’t sure about that. Or Tarkin. Or the Order.

Or literally any of them.

~***~

‘No, I knew it was a stupid decision.’ Mira didn’t say that aloud, but she did shake her head when Hux asked if she thought it was a good idea. No, it wasn’t – but it was the only way she could ever be certain. ‘To be fair, I was drunk, and I think I’m drugged from whatever I drank at Maz’s.’ She should be in a lot more pain than she was from her leg.

Maybe the headache had worn off from being hungover, but she was pretty sure her leg was not healed. Whatever Maz gave her was strong.

She took the stone back, “I suppose telling you I had BB-8 with me at the time won’t help matters,” a touch of a smile as she slipped the stone back into the coat pocket, and then looked back up to him, only for the smirk to falter at the way he spoke of Lothal. Of control. Or rather, her expression froze as the implication of it dawned on her.

“That’s not possible.” Stated as if it were fact. As if it had to be fact, perhaps, not that it was fact – that Mira wanted it to be fact. “Snoke clai—” Mira bit down, realizing what she was about to say.

Snoke said absolute control wasn’t possible, because of course he would tell her that, like Force ghosts weren’t real, and Mira had to fight the urge to scream at her own stupidity for believing that as the fears suddenly engulfed her once more. “He’s controlling people? Literally, dictating every action, not just…not just the mind trick?” Mira didn’t care about the sound outside, at all, this made her decision to turn on Snoke suddenly the stupidest thing she’d ever done.

The fear was apparent, but nothing came of it – no Force pushing away, nor trying to push inwards. No lightning. The fear was sincere, but the stone held it all in check.

~***~

“Name the place and time,” August stated to Terex’s idea of a camping trip. Somehow, he was almost positive Terex never would. He might be good, but he wasn’t ‘survive like a motherfucking Tarkin’ good. “I enjoy exploring new places,” his smile was anything but friendly, and he wasn’t even trying to hide it. He could be open about his animosity, all while playing his façade.

He supposed it was the only thing he enjoyed about his interactions with Terex.

It was how he understood Wilhuff liked his interactions with Krennic. There was a certain honesty in every lie, in the tone and the play, and that made it…highly amusing to Wilhuff. Not to Krennic. Krennic was never up to par with them, which was why he got decapitated by a radar disc that Tarkin had aimed the Death Star laser at.

Pettiness ran in the family.

“We’ll be happy to see you,” Julia said when Terex accepted, and then he spoke of his official reason for being there.

It took a lot of willpower for August to not facepalm. And he thought he liked the Admiral. Damn it. “She likes coffee,” August offered, as a ‘tip’ for him being an assistant, “I suggest you learn how to be a good retriever of it,” if only because the image of Terex being nothing more than a glorified coffee-boy amused him.

“Speaking of her, where is she? I wanted to invite her to the Spiked, as well,” and make sure she wasn’t possessed by Snoke, but Terex didn’t need to know that part.

“Probably where Lares is,” Julia commented, noticing it was gone. August glanced down, and looked a bit disappointed that Lares was not around.

It should have murdered Terex on sight. Though, to be fair…Terex would have probably killed it first.
 
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