Star Wars: Defying the Morai

[Re-interest]

Authors Note: This my first so please don't judge too harshly.

Did proofreading myself. Would like a Beta Reader but I don't know how.

Don't expect smart tactical battles in space or too much of quality written fight scenes.

Cannot believe no one has written this type of idea.

Prologue: One Step

In Greek mythology, the Moirai (the Fates) were three sisters who controlled human destiny.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025


A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.

Those are the first words of a story that touched untold numbers of people, and riveted entire generations to the screen and to dream of adventure, of romance, of wonder and of greatness. To see singular planets of life coming all colors, mechanical droids speaking in binary, countless different alien races carousing in any marketplace, the braying of unique animals in the fields, deserts, jungles, forest, frozen tundra's and even planets made of refuse, cities, oceans and worlds that defy natural law itself yet still being coherent.

The starships lifting off and entering the blue wormholes of hyperspace, the majestic luminescent aquas that glided over the craft as it went from one end of the galaxy to to the other. Asteroid fields, planetary stations, hyperlanes, blackholes, storms and creatures that exist in the deep dark cold listlessly waiting for the unwary traveler.

Then there are the battles, the ship to ship fight of lasers and cannon fire, torpedoes and starfighters engaging in a storm nexus of ionized fire. The sentient beings with blasters and hulking mechs delivering payloads of blue to orange-red lights belying death. The swords of many colors in the hands of robed persons against one singular crimson blade wreathed in shadow. Conflict.

Then there is the Force. An energy field that binds and surrounds every being. Life, Death, All is the Force.

A jedi would say The Force is My Ally.

A sith would say The Force is My Tool.

I would say The Force is My Obstacle.

And thus mine and Ben Solo's eyes opened.

_

The shuttle carousing through the atmosphere onto the planet's surface emulated the helicopter experience of disembarking troops straight from the movie. The cold area was somehow warm to the touch that I could swear if I had come in naked I wouldn't even need the spare clothes.

Going down into the darkness to deliver ill intent in the buff with mockeries of OG Space Fascist in a ship sounds like the start of a porno. Which honestly sounds more cool and.. Stop it. If I keep making jokes about that I know I'd be truly damned by the aura of this place. Focus on the seriousness of the cold silence inundated with the pumping of the rifles and affirmations of the pilot. Thank you Ben for shared co-existence and bringing out our wordsmithing for a genuine experience. Taking a breath and exhaling softly due to our jedi training I surveyed the situation and made the most poignant observation as the Tie Fighter Escort dispersed to make a sweeping cover upon the planet below.

I couldn't stand the whole red light glass and cursed edgy teens' need for choosing edginess over practicality. A disgruntled snarl echoed in the corners of my mind that I tactfully did not engage in. Ben can take a chillout going through my memories of adolescence and see the wonders of what being a chuunyibou in real life is actually like. Happy days.

Focus. The craft landed and out came in steam and fog were the First Order Stormtroopers followed by yours truly in a magnificent cape and dark attire like that of the Witch King. A Bad Ass appearance that our souls co-aligned and gave a stamp of approval. We love congratulating ourselves for healthy self care.

On to a planet that is Not-Tatooine (But it's distant cousin covered in scrap) my boots treaded the ground amid the horrified yells of civilians and loud yet curt orders of the troops to surround and capture with blue blast of stun rounds. Seeing oncoming red lights I wave my hand and call on the force halting them in mid-air. Sending a message and avoiding needless casualties.

Bad guy appearance giving it a four and a half which Ben in the back of head groused but couldn't deny Megamind's sage advice between a villain and supervillain.

Presentation!

Passing by the one trooper who had found the sage of whoever the fuck because who needs precise names when you can be mysterious. Seeing him stand out in the open putting on a brave front as martyr to the cause. I simply walked up to him as the fire went down as it finally dawned on them there were no casualties and thus confusion, trepidation and calming words from the elder relaying this was not what was expected.

Confusion, relief and a little undercurrent of hope was in the air. The Force tells all.

Jackshit...

So I walked to the man in front of me like it was a regular day in the neighborhood and I was here for brunch.

We stared at him, wondering if like the audience he was wondering what was behind the mask and how it would sound like.

"Would you happen to have Cassius?"

"...What?" He just avoided the slightest sputter.

"I feel like Cassius this time of day."

Pitch black darkness on an unoriginal desert planet.

And wouldn't you know it the man blinked and was getting back a bit of composure with cautious bemusement and curiosity. Kudos to him, no fear at all.

"You are here for something" Straight to the point.

Ohh I could feel like this was a telltale game choice of interaction. The only recourse was to reply.

"Oh yes, I am here to pick daisies, prance and sing lad-di-di-di-da what do you think I am here for" In the driest tone possible.

In a slow blink he just stared as if his whiskers were just pulled. In the distance I could hear a shocked laugh that tried to escape the mouth of a man in the darkness.

"...what has happened to you?" He tried to keep his tone bland with a quivering of emotions.

"Life. But time is short and we must all be merry for it." Laying my hand to the side. "Flyboy with his undersized joystick is certainly vigorous for his inadequacies."

A startled what before my hand pulled and Poe Dameron came flying out of the dune shadow and at my feet. "Oh good. I'm taking you home" Motioning my fingers two stormtroopers took the rebel pilot up front and I walked to the shuttle with them in the trail.

"Be-"

"I made my choice." I stopped. A moment.

"You can't deny the truth of your family."

I laughed.

"My Family is a Shadow of Itself."

I marched.

Captain Phasma was at my side, curious.

"Sir, what shall we do with them?"

"Leave them. Waste of a blaster."

We entered the shuttle. The ships moved and left.

_

Breathing. That is what Ben or rather my new memories were sorting it out as we traveled through space and onto the Star Destroyer. Never bothered with the name as it would be deemed irrelevant in due time. Breathing. Like an echo of a far off cave that was the cortex of our shared existence coming to placate us to focus into the perspective we needed. Walk while breathing. The way of wolves.

We had the beginnings of one as we entered the interrogation chamber, took a seat and interviewed a fighter pilot.

"Comfortable?"

The face of Oscar Isaac had his famous shivered pulled lip slightly to mark his disposition.

"Why am I here?"

"Hot shot starfighter rebel vs masked scary man in a dark room in a mental verbal fight for the fate of the galaxy. The usual drama."

That got a confused shocked chortle of a half chuckle.

"I..hehe, didn't know the First Order had a sense of humor."

"Join us, we have cookies."

That got a laugh. A genuine laugh out of him.

"If this how you interrogate someone it certainly is an improvement over usual methods or am I just special"

I simply raised my head.

"You are her Favorite."

That got him to still. Confusion and…concern hidden in those emotions.

"Excuse me?"

"You are Poe Dameron, hero of the Resistance and the legacy of Rogue Squadron," A brief dramatic pause. "You are a good man fighting against despotism while learning the burdens of command in a mostly uncaring and vapid galaxy that is undeserving of you, your comrades and lineage of valiant honor in a deluge of the vulgarism of contradicting melancholic tomfoolery."

Silence.

Then.

"I have no idea what to say to any of that"

I shrugged.

"Fake it till you make it"

Poe Dameron gave a shocked laugh.

"This has to be the weirdest interrogation I have ever experienced"

"Life has its surprises until it doesn't."

Sensing the mood was taking a more somber note with my expression of feelings into the force making the room slightly colder Poe just looked curiously at me.

"I know about the map, you know about the map and who it leads to. The question is whether that person is who you think it is."

Poe adopted a more defiant look with a bit of curiosity. Props to him he had training in these sorts of things but not against force mind pushes. Thank you Leia.

"The map is beyond your reach, it has come into contact with the Resistance and your plan will fail."

"Good." He did his best to look nonchalant but there was a hint of fear due to my glibness. "Will you ask for the Jedi or the Pilot?"

Poe Dameron blinked. Blinked again. Yeah there were some gaps in the training because thank you JJ for being overindulgent with nostalgic blundering.

"I'm sorry what?"

I immediately clammed down on the obvious response as I inwardly sucked in my breath. Focus. Indulgence for curious plot prodding entanglements will do no good as that way leads to the call.

"Advice for the future, if you have one"

Poe straightened up.

"Such a shame," He drawled as though we were on the starting familiar ground "We were having such a fun conversation." Bravado in the face of torture. Classic Hero.

"Can you act broken?"

Wonderment replaced the defiant gaze.

"Can I do what?"

I stood up and came over to him like it was a day in the park.

"A brief improvisation that I will provide and apologies in advance" My gloved hand went over his head.

"Wait what-"

_

Exiting the Interrogation room while a dazed drained face looking rebel pilot held up by two stormtroopers escorted him to the cell-blocks gave no positive or negative expression to form on the adjutant face as he stood at my attention.

"Report" A command, a polite request and certainty of a weather report.

"Our men have successfully acquired the droid alongside the object and person you requested my lord,"

"Did the plan work?"

The adjutant had a curious look of slight bewilderment that was flecked in the eyes that only a very observant person could see. This man was certainly wasted in this reality.

"Yes"

"You have my permission to give voice to any concern you may have."

The man blinked and the slight impulse to learn his name was crushed by my pragmatism and Ben's leftover darkness of not disdain per say but disinterest in non-force people. I will put off talking to him about fantastic ableism when we get out of this.

"The..unorthodoxy of your approach confounds me with respect sir"

"The fact that I suggested or that against all logical reasons it worked?"

This is the problem when you have competing writers with big egos in the room where it happens. Reality is a zig-zag yo-yo in a triage with a slinky and a broken kaleidoscope torch that people living here cannot decide what is sensible or not sensible and only when said reality bends over backwards to accommodate you then it is sensible.

To explain in layman's terms: Last Jedi Anyone?

To his credit the adjutant continued.

_

Rey expected a normal day, a normal day of hauling scrap out of dead machines of destruction to sell for sustenance of her life here. She hadn't expected a quirky and quite cute ball of a droid to follow her where she went. She had expected the usual dreg of go out, get scrap, sell scrap for food, watch an old lady being downtrodden with the terrible thought that would be her one day, if only someone would come. If only her par..

No, stop it, no point discussing that. Got to get back to work. Maybe someone will pick up the droid and to her inner shame she had wished no-one would come. Then she would be alo– no can't think that now. Got to-

Stormtroopers. The First Order. Alarmed beats that caused concern.

And then..the most curious thing happened to her on the second most strangest out of the ordinary day.

One Stormtrooper went forward, blaster sheathed and gave an open hand signal of peace. He stopped one foot from her, raised his hands and lifted his helmut off his face.

And that was how she met FN-2817 who invited her and her droid with all protections under the law of rights and ownership. Giving insurance and the word that rang in her head.

The Word of Solo

_

I could scarcely believe it myself, I had coached the guy on using certain words and had thought about going myself once again but thinking of time dilation made our head hurt as the plot made a hash of this reality's planet time system and I didn't want to deal with it. I made a plan based on sentimentality and am surprised that it worked.

But I guess the First Order had no need to lie and BB must have certain confidence to get out of any situation. A conversation with him wouldn't trouble either of us at all.

Then again from memories Ben had good rapport with droids growing up.

The ones that were ignored and had remained true.

Still one could hardly be remiss in thinking of maudlin subjects as we stood in the hang way. My command of overseeing in person the deliberation of…what, hope, desire that I pulled every ounce of will to slam it down that shocked the wary part of Ben within us and then placed a hand to soothe the injured voice with compassion and forgiveness.

We will not be tethered.

I directed our eyes to the main attraction.

A squadron of Tie Fighters bringing a YT-1300 into the Star Destroyer.

Tenderness. Longing and Wistfulness filled our heart at the sight of the Millenium Falcon.

_

The thing about being a high level leader in the structure of a quasi Fascist Insurgent Group is that no one asks stupid questions when you give a warning wave and curt yet polite fuck off to whoever is asking except Supreme Leader. General Hux on the other hand..

"What possible use is this…whatever this is?" As we sat at the table of the Command Room where several underlings prepared dishes and meal.

"Theatre. Power Play and Being A Good Host." I shrugged my shoulders which somehow unnerved him slightly. "I believe it was obvious"

"I..can understand that" He said slowly, "I am just trying to ascertain as to whether..?"

"A point to be elucidate my vanity and ego trying to emulate my grandfather?"

The man who bore the face of Domhall Gleeson blinked from About Time blinked stupidly. I waved my hand to head off further words.

"Our guests are about to arrive."

A whoosh and in they came. I rose in greeting.

"We would be honored if you could join us"

The look on Han Solo's face was absolutely priceless.

_

I then took off my helmet. Breathed in and out. Opening our eyes to stare at a stilled yet hopeful smugglers face and the slightly mourn whine of Chewbacca. The frightened but mostly nervous Rey coming beside them with a certain stormtrooper and droid with him.

Honestly the suspense…

"Well, the food is not getting warmer" With a raised hand I motioned to empty seats, "Please sit."

It was surreal as they all sat down slowly, Solo more robotically as if he was relieving a little trauma experience which to be fair due to how the last time he was invited to a surprise meal by a tall dark metal man it didn't end well.

"Don't worry the food won't hurt you. Only poor company."

There, poignant and precise.

There was slight hesitation then Rey was the first to start eating and drinking, her eyes bright in curiosity and wonder like a child trying new things. It warmed our heart to bring such joy..

No, that path only leads to a pathetic ruin. She must've sensed something off as her head swirled lightly at the emotions and I breathed in to Centre ourselves in the force yet again.

"Ben" A question, both hopeful and pleading, longing and regret all tied up into that one word spoken from a father.

I turn towards him. He and Chewbacca were not touching their food.

"I prefer to be called by the name given to me by the Supreme Leader"

"That," the old man grounded his teeth. "Is not the name I gave you"

"The name I failed to live up to"

He recoiled and Chewie grunted.

"Don't patronize me uncle. I am well aware the sins I have accumulated since my inception into the dark side have disqualified me from the nobility of that august of titles," I paused briefly like the greatest of Orators.

"That Is. Hope." I enunciated at the end.

Everyone blinked at this. I took a glass.

"I am working on wordplay" Then I drank and set it down and ate food.

They were still processing the absurdity of the moment but before anyone can continue I turned to Rey.

"How is the food?" I spoke gently. She looked up with just a slight bit of mixture on her cheek and I pointed my finger on my face so that she would know. Blushing she wiped it off.

"It's good..it's wonderful" She nodded. "I never had this before." She stared at it as though it was the wonder of the universe.

"There is a lot more in the galaxy just like it, all waiting for someone who is curious".

"I'm sorry, who is this?" The captain asked. He still had the temerity. Let it never be said that Han Solo when faced with the bizarre didn't stop asking the serious questions.

"She is sitting opposite you Captain, has old age taken your manners this early?"

Chewbacca barked a shocked laugh while Han looked affronted, his face scrunched but before he could retort I said to her.

"Please excuse this scruffy looking nerfherder for his lack of tact," Han had a shocked, reminiscent look at that reminder and Chewie just sniggered slightly. "You think him being the partner of the Great Chewbacca would've given him better homeschooling in manners."

They both spluttered. The girl's face scrunched in confusion before going glazed eyed wonder.

"Your Captain Han Solo!"

The aforementioned man halted his confused, wrangled face of emotion then emoted a tired sigh.

"I was.."

I put down my utensils, the sound echoing in the chamber.

"My father." A statement.

All heads turned towards me, some in confusion, surprise then wonder while one was suddenly overwhelmed by an ocean of hope that swept over me in the force.

I was unmoved.

"When he wanted to be" I said flatly.

The old smuggler wilted. Wilted.

"I never meant to.."

"Life doesn't care what you meant, only what you do with the consequences when it arrives: intended or not."

This he could not stand and slammed his fist on the table. "We only tried to protect you"

"Too much Vader."

He had no words.

"How..?"

"Forceful revelations, curiosity and the path of Enlightenment. Take your pick and just say "The Force," I snarled. "Seems to be the default answer in our family"

Rey fidgeted and I pushed calming emotions over to the Force. She was most receptive. I gave a sad smile at her confusion.

"I apologize for that display and the discourtesy towards your persona," I laid my hand towards her. "Would you accept?"

She nodded, quite quickly at that. Didn't say a word though because I believe rightly that she was just confused to be swept up in a family drama she had no part in.

Slightly.

"Might I ask the name of my guest."

"Rey."

"Rey who?" If there was a sudden pop up I will rage qui-

"Just Rey."

"Well Just Rey," A little giggle from her and the old captain had the most befuddled expression. "I am known as Kylo Ren of the First Order, the name I was given at birth was Ben Solo and now…?" I waved my hands to the side.

"I am just me".

There was a pause in the room, the tables utensils half used and half not lay as silent as the thought process of an impactful moment.

It didn't last three seconds.

General Hux couldn't help but snort uncontrollably which garnered my interest because I wondered what was going through that man's head. He always seemed to be the guy who takes himself too seriously but then this was the first phase of time so what would I know.

It seemed to be the most opportune time for Solo to deflate, chuckle and rubbed his head to alleviate pressure. And opened his mouth.

"Heck of a time to get a sense of humor kid"

I shrugged.

"Too much Solo or Skywalker I wonder?"

That gave the old captain a bit of a pause to digest that statement. I turned towards the curious girl.

"Back to you now, the big question a lot of people throughout the galaxy and beyond have asked in their lives: are we defined by our choices or circumstances?"

She blinked then gave a thoughtful expression.

I prodded. With sound and the calm of the Force.

"You don't have to give me the answer I want, only the one that feels right to you"

"I guess..what a person chooses in those circumstances" She blinked and I felt…relief and disappointment in my thought experiment. In myself and…

She was laying her hand on mine.

I stared at it unblinkingly before with the greatest hesitation softly pulling away. I muted the spark that connects and steepled my hands together. Closing my eyes to the confused and the two hopefuls of the guest I breathed in and out. I opened my eyes to stare directly at her.

"That is an extremely wise euphemism that should be applied to all sentient beings in this plane of existence. Some more than others." I directed a gaze at Solo who looked pained, confused and a little bit angry at many things that I didn't want to delve into. I turned my gaze to Rey.

"Your father was a clone"

Silence…

"What?"

The doors opened and a medical droid came in with a datapad. Taking it I passed the tablet around the table, first to Hux who had gone white as pasty snow, Chewbacca who gawped, Han who was gob smacked as pucker fish and pale as a ghost and then to Rey. Who looked at it worryingly and blinked.

"Who is Palpatine?"

Silence…

Seriously?

_

It was an immediate command for everyone to return to chambers and cells as well as sequestering a girl in my private chambers with lights on that I had to explain to her in detail who Palpatine was.

Shock, denial, anguish, rage. The whole works and then…

"Remember what we discussed about circumstances and the choices we make in them" That cut into her emotional tantrum as she suddenly looked abashed with tints of shame.

"Sorry…Its just a lot to take in."

I waved a hand briefly. "It's not really that important in the long run and you are not in the vicinity of my grandfathers shadow"

She blinked uncertainty.

"Your grandfather..Darth Vader?"
I shrugged.

"People, mainly the common folk don't remember the aged, grandfatherly evil-looking, scarred, scary looking mother-kriffer who we all cannot believe he was allowed to kiss babies for public spectacle, took over the galaxy and then ran as the most evil overlord," I took a breath.

"Rather they believe my grandfather who was dressed as a black leather-bound death tractor action figure in the shape of an oversized mean looking dad joking pepper shaker as the scariest and most evil enforcer of said evil overlord and thus far more memorable to pin all the blame on."

Rey Palp-no she was immediately refusing that name! Cracked her mouth open, bawled over and laughed. Stress and a good joke really did a number on her. Either it was the force or sheer stubborn will she steadily got up. While she was busy I had procured myself water from the waiting droid I had summoned to the chamber.

I held a glass to her and she took it, drank it all in one gulp, coughed a little then stumbled a bit.

"Please sit, it's been a big day for all of us."

Taking my advice she sat on the bed as I took my seating position with a chair. I laid back and stretched my legs outwards and took in her state. I wondered if my actions bended the force or the confused writers behind the tapestry of reality were pulling their hair out at this utter trashfire the script was going through.

Scowling inwardly I put those thoughts away, not important for long..

"Its just…How am I supposed to make sense of this?" She looked up, eyes beseeching at me. "What is my place in the Galaxy"

"Do you need others to tell you what your place is, or do you make your own?" I queried. She blinked at that.

"Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole Galaxy to find it. Others, to find in a person or people." I said with the greatest gravitas. I held my knees and steepled my hands together. "Remember these words: You are never alone for the Force is with you, always"

She stared at me for a long time. She blinked slowly.

"What is the Force?"

I smiled and spoke words that tutored an entire generation.

"The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the Galaxy together."

She looked..more calm now and I could feel the emotions were like ice water in a humid day. Bringing life and sustenance to a person dying of thirst.

She was also looking like a drought looking Tantuan.

"Youre tired." I nodded sympathetically.

"I'm..not.." A yawn moved out of her.

"Rest here," I stood up. "It's been a long day for all of us and we both need recovery." I went to the door and it slid open. "Attendants will provide for you when requested as we land."

Rey had seemingly lost all strength in sitting up and just slouched down, tiredness and eagerness to sleep generated from her form.

"Where?"

I stilled just outside the doorway.

"Destiny"

The doors slid shut behind me as I walked to my personal Meditation Room aka the Idol Shrine. There to lament and speak to ruined helmet of a skull.

Might as well as do the Yorick Joke while I am here.

_

Authors Note: Semi Crack with Seriousness.

 

[Re-interest]

_

If the table won't turn, flip them the f***over

Chapter One: The Force Aborted?

The dark quiet of space permeated my personal cone of silence in the abyss that is my sanctuary. I will remember to write that down and workshop it as I stared at Vaders Helmet. Kept staring at its burned skull corpse like that of an archaeological find of a deep and solemn past.

For this reason I did not joke about it. There were too many jokes already.

"Are you going to say anything?"

Silence..

"It was never you, was it? The voice behind every thought inside your head"

I could almost hear the theme of a throne but the moribund feelings had pushed it away, as though it was a soft buffer keeping nightmares at bay. Kylo was as silent as I was in listening to the majesty of silence. The cold hums of vacant steel corridors was like rain on a lonely house in the middle of nowhere.

Poetry. What a beautiful thing.

"A talk. A conversation, even a single word of warning could have averted everything that came after." I paused.

"I needed you…no..we all needed you to light the way. But you deserved your rest…and you weren't the only one that could have shed light on the darkness."

We stared at Darth Vader's mask. No sound, no voice, not even the mechanical breathing we feel instilled in us by memory and a strange warmth like white noise. No words.

Just the silence.

And so we put whatever belongings in a bag. Not a wasted moment as we put the mask in a container. Then we stopped dramatically briefly to put on our own helmet. Theatre.

We keyed in instructions for our service droid. We opened the door and went forward.

Never looking back.

_
At the helm of the ship. Overseeing an Ice Cold world. We see with both eyes through a helm a static yet smooth red haze that was like a separation from ones sense of self and the material world.

Our combined knowledge was like two hoses filtering information in a pool of a blue light illumination onto a near hollow abyss. Like most things our newfound sense of self recoiled inwardly at the desecration of something beautiful for something utterly trite and wasteful.

Kylo Ren would have appreciated its power. I would have rolled my eyes at the Electric Boogaloo 2.

We both saw it as everything wrong that was written into this reality.

An officer walked up to our side. Reading him he felt oddly at ease with the silent solitary figure that more and more was seemingly reasonable. Benefits of acting like a sane rational commander than a tantrum throwing child.

"Sir, approaching Starkiller Base"

"And the proceedings?"

"They are placing the scaffold as we speak sir."

"Good. And the Leadership"

"They are enroute sir."

"Good. Very good. And the guest?"

"All accounted for. Escort is at the highest readiness and ready to disembark."

I nodded. We were entering the atmosphere.

"Thank you. Dismissed."

He saluted and walked away. Passing by a very confused feeling but trying to remain placidly terse General Hux who went to my other side. He looked as though he was about to say something but decided to hold it in. Then suddenly,

"The Supreme Leader wants a word."

Now the real test could begin.

_
The design of the cavernous audience chamber had the same frustratingly tacky blue light as the rest of this planet which thankfully was kept at bay by our visor's light. The treading of steps across a walkway that held no physical danger falling off was less bothersome than I thought and by all the force did the Andy Serkis Reskinned Gollum have to look that big and ominous. Actually it just radiated the cool intriguing mystery curiosity feeling that sparked our inner gooey kid insides. The disappointment came later for most, but for those who watched closely they could see the shallow emptiness of a pretty looking mystery box.

That last sentence really needed workshopping.



"Supreme Leader/Supreme Leader." We announced at the same time as Hux as he straightened to attention. The tightly screwed awe and reverence behind his stolid facade belied the right amount of seriousness for this scene. I lament this was the exception rather than the rule to this man. I simply stood in shadow-clad.

"General Hux," Snoke spoke slurring grandly (if such a phrase could be said with dignity in the language of Basic) from his throne in the dark midnight like frost coldness of the over-large chamber. What further insights from our shared knowledge gleaned was that this room used to be a library. So of course the First Order's Leadership turned it into his personal Zoom Port.

We let no anger rise to be pushed beneath the trapdoor so carefully sealed on our emotions. We filtered them into the singular purpose.

The trial.

"Such great and wonderful tidings you have presented to me, on this day of judgement." He said in wonder, dark shadows wreathed around his visage like something of an art studio attempting to be mysterious and foreboding. Honestly I wonder if Palpatine was adjusting a headset in his crippled state if he couldn't see the absolute poor-man's mimicry of his iconic presence. Best not think too deeply on the sheer confounding impact of the whole debacle.

"It is with great respect that Kylo Ren was the one who was instrumental in capturing the map to Skywalker," Modesty? From General Hux? Then again even a moron wouldn't be stupid enough to steal credit straight to the boss's face and make a bold-face lie. Miracles do happen. "We have not only seized the Resistance's last hope for Skywalker but also the great rebel Solo" Remarkable deference to an enemy, ironic that it was more than he got from the Galaxy at large.

At this Snoke turned his head towards me and I felt all my innermost fears melt away and a cold determination took root in me. Fear stops being real when you know it inside and out.

A brief silence.

"Explain"

We tilted our heads.

"The Day of our Triumph would only be emboldened by our first act."

The Supreme Leader blinked. General Hux blinked. I continued like the great orators of old.

"I believe General Hux is right to use this weapon in destroying the effete government that supports the Resistance." There was bemused curiosity from both of them. A bit of confusion on Hux's part as he tried to think what game plan I was trying to do. "I believe the message of our will can only be inflamed and engraved upon the Galaxy by the destruction of even more symbols."

There was a darkness that salivated on the prospect of my false intentions. The Supreme Leader was really prideful that it was almost sickening.

"...And what does my apprentice desire in this…theatre."

Hux wanted to speak out, realizing where I was going.

"To be the blade that swings on flesh and metal. To be the wraith that preys on the light. To be the destroyer of Hope."

And then…

Snoke laughed.

It was a loud booming sound that echoed like a ringing of transmuted Afrikaner diagrams revealing the shadows. With a pinch of Gollum in there. He curled his right hand like a claw measure of a rich man.

"Proceed General."

Said red-head kept his cool, turning away and leaving the room. I remained isolated as a small gnat under the gaze of something large and dark.

I will not give more fancy words to this scenario any more than necessary now.

"There has been an awakening." The strand-cast leaned forwards. "What has happened to you my boy?"

"Illumination."

He raised an eyebrow. Did he have eyebrows? "And the girl?"

"She will choose the Dark."

The Supreme Leader steepled his fingers and the light finally revealed his full face.

"And how can you be so certain?"

"Dyad."

This stilled the Supreme Leader.

"There has not been one in millennia?" He uttered so softly. The further reaches of my mind coiled and I forced them to relax. This was the danger.

"And Solo? What use is he to you?"

"The half of my true weakness."

"Such as..?"

"...The end of my parents' love."

He stared at me. Buzzing with anticipation. Like a school teacher having an eureka of his favorite pupil mastering a grand art that was being taught throughout many years.

"And how will you rectify this weakness?"

"By being that which shall end it."

Snoke smiled in pride.

"Go Knight of Ren, upon the eve of this victory we shall complete your training."

So I left.

_

I marched. no prowled to my personal chambers on Starkiller Base. No one interfered with me and everyone quickened their steps as I reached my room, seeing a wide awake Rey getting dressed differently than normal was not in my peripheral mental vision as I sat on my bed, took off my helmet and cradled my hands on our head.

I took a breath and exhaled, putting hands on the bed to stable myself. I let myself fall down on soft covers and finally release the tension in ourselves.

"Oh vey…" I muttered.

Hearing only silence I turned over to the curious yet dumbfounded girl dressed in a simple set of dark blue overalls suit that looked familiar.

"How was shopping?"

Rey in the first time getting here on this wild ride was quick to respond.

"FN-2187 was kind enough to show me the spare uniforms and collectibles in the confiscated section." She spoke softly. "Everyone seems so..kind to me?"

I nodded at that.

"They don't know what to do with you, having you as my personal guest means something in the organization and they know well enough that dealing with you wrongly means dealing with me wrongly," A brief pause for my next sequence. "They know not to deal wrongly with me."

She gave a queried look at me. "That seems. Unhealthy for a life."

I waved my hand.

"Trust me when I say this is an especially good day for them and when I say that the usual response is fear and loathing every second, every minute, every hour and every day you cannot, cannot stress enough how healthy it is to have a pause from being an asshole. Great for improving work-hazard environments."

She giggled suddenly at the glibness.

"That is.." She mustered up the courage. "Why are you doing this?"

I opened one eye to stare at her.

"Specifically?"

"Why are you helping me? Why do you work for the First Order and…" She stilled. "Why do you want to leave?" She said the last part in confusion…and a little bit of strange hope.

I got up, sighed and looked at her.

"Can I have some water please? Had a tense conversation with my boss."

She somehow had a glass and jug in hand that I could swear was not there. Must be the connection. Damm Snoke and his shipping manipulations.
I took the glass gently, drank gingerly and then the rest in one gulp. Using the force I levitated it back to a table. She was looking in wonder at the spectacle and I could not help but snort slightly as I thought about the score of Yoda and the Starfighter in this moment. I felt a slight pang of sorrow at how she would never know that wonderful music.

I noticed that she seemed oddly curious and I.. No, I made my choice and will commit to the path. I pressed on.

"In order. I want to give you the tools and guidance to make your own choices in life, I want you to be free." I smiled at her. She seemed pleased.. I allow this bit of empathic touchy-feeling. "Fair warning I am going to be a bit of a dick about it so.." I shrugged. "There's that"

"Why do you need to be a bit of a dick about that?" She actually asked that question, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I'm evil"

She mulled over that and I continued.

"The second one in hindsight doesn't make much sense until you realize your past self was an ignorant emotional manchild who thought law, order and respect came from the power of brute force was preferable over ceaseless squabbling, though" At this I turned to the side slightly with a snarl. "I can't say I still do not have the same emotional outrage over others shortcomings." At her inquiring look I waved a hand. "Ask my mother about shared broken dreams and people that should've acted with the better angels in mind." I shook my head. "Which leads to the final question. Why do I want to leave?"

She listened with intent.

I smiled.

"Listen carefully and see for the wonder that I am." Then I pulled out a blaster for her.

"To begin, remember to make sure the safety's off".

I then explained what would happen.

_

It was a clear morning. The sun was up and all the hyenas were marching, full stop, turn and clang. The white morass of slaves under stark grey and black coated men on a grey podium and sizzling offenses of tingling power. Force I needed to work on inner narration as General Hux made his speech that was almost word for word. With the addition of a struggling Solo and roaring Chewbacca in handcuffs at the final change in the last verses.

"For this will be the Last Day of the Republic. This is the beginning of the end!" Hux turned to Solo's direction.

"Bring Forth the Prisoner!"

They dragged him to something that was not there in the script. A block of Carbon. Two Stormtroopers pushed him down, neck on the edge. He showed no fear or sweat. Only determined he would not go quietly.

The drums.

I walked past the men. We strode forward.

He looked at me and despaired.

A brief pall in the moment.

"Here is one of the greatest terrorists in the Galaxy. Thief, Smuggler, Murderer. SCUM!" Hux roared and the Army gave another triumphant yell.

I continued to stride. My gloved hand came to the hilt. A pull and it came to me like a magnet calling metal. We had our visor on, staring down on the man. He tried to muster words, something that could change the outcome. Not for himself, but for us.

_

"You will die by my hand."

Han could only stare mournfully at use behind red laser holding cells. Chewbacca was in another cell.

"...I want to see the face of my son."

"...That depends."

He looked straight at us, somehow seeing our eyes.

"..On what..?"

"Do you want to die as Han Solo or a failure?"

I turned around and walked away. His and Chewbacca's shouts became muted as the darkness surrounded me. And up I go to Destiny's embrace.

_

The present…

I could feel things so stifling. We breathed silently as the drums continued. We pressed a button and the Cross-Guard Blade ignited. Red Straight sword and Side Pikes Welcomed our hand. Its malevolence blighting a stilled air.

The Drums stopped.

They all watched. They all waited.

"Han Solo. You have been charged with the most egregious of crimes against the only lawful government of the Empire. You have helped brought ruin and chaos across the Galaxy. You have aided and abated the unlawful attacks against The First Order under the Rebellion, you have murdered tens of thousands of loyal and patriotic man, women and children of our great State. You have blighted Civilization since the day you were born, NO MORE!." Hux breathed in and looked magnanimously at him.

"Does the criminal have any last words to recant his great list of evil deeds"

The old man closed his eyes, breathed in and out, turned towards General Hux and opened his mouth.

"Go kiss a Sarlacc you mother-kriffer"

Hux merely snorted at that. He looked back over the crowd. Still, silent and watching. The parade of battalions of slave soldiers.

"He has given his last rites. Now we shall do ours." He straightened. "I sentence you to death but.." At this he tried to hide his mulish disgruntlement. "We do leave you the choice." He gestured at a droid that showed a hologram.

The Captain's eyes were drawn to it. His form still.

"Would you like to go first, or your ship or.." He gestured at the raving Wookie which took more than two gangs of Stormtroopers. "Your co-pilot."

There were other sounds, surely. But for me it was only the breathing. The crimson screen that casted a stilled hateful gaze on the world outside of me.

The sweat on the old captain's face as his face twisted in several directions at once. The sheer pain and confusion that searched everywhere. Yet it all came back to me. Beseeching. The slight tinges of wet sorrow in the corner of his eyes.
Chink!

Such a sound should've been drowned in the noise. Something that pierced the dread cacophony of evil guffaws.

Kylo Ren's father looked at the stringed chest on our belt. Clinking with a nonexistent wind.

Bump!

We breathed and harmonized. The shouting order of Hux is meaningless to us at this moment.

Bump!

We stretched out into the force. Into everything. And we felt it.

Bump!

BB chirped.

Bump!

Rey bopped her head up in the crowd. Her hand grasping her blaster on the belt. (Why she wasn't under guard. No an asked because of my command)

Bump!

Han Solo grinned. Deliriously happy. So very deliriously happy. Both eyes on me.

Bump!

I raised my hand to give a two finger salute to a confused looking Hux!

Bump!

I raised my blade… then with my right pulled out my fathers heavily modified version of the BlasTech DL-44.

"For Bylsma you son of a bitch."

A blasting PHEW. The red got him in the chest.

I.SHOT. FIRST!

In half a second you could feel in the microcosm of absolute silence the sheer white noise that permeated the air. Until…
SHOWTIME!

An explosion tumbled the building and the ground beneath it as fire went up behind us like a volcanic burst. The shield went static like bad television before dissipating into the air.

"WE HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!" I roared like a lion. I turned on my comms.

"ALL TROOPERS ARE TO DETAIN ALL UPPER COMMAND ABOVE SQUADRON LEADER INCLUDING CAPTAIN PHASMA ON SUSPICION OF TREASON!"

Thank god for Blind Obedience as they all went from stupidly stunned to righteous indignation and set forth in all directions. I turned my hand and pointed at the two handlers.

"RELEASE THE PRISONERS!" And they did. Thank the fucking force that this reality let me get away with this shit. "THEY ARE ALLIES!" Not leaving things to chance so I hammered their minds with temerity, booming voice and the force.

Force. It does everything.

As Han Solo dusted himself off I yelled catch and he caught his pistol in a cat-like reflex. I could hear the sheer howling rage and fury of a freed pissed walking carpet of death barreling into the First Order leadership in a frenzy of screams under pawed clawed wrecking balls.

Did I just see an arm..?

No PG-13 in this place apparently.

Han had half a second to appreciate the weapon in hand before looking to me. He was about to say something before klaxon alarms bombarded our ears and I felt a presence before I saw the ships. As if by second nature he started shooting at scared running black coated leaders.

It was her. In the planet's atmosphere. The entirety of the Resistance Fleet all going in.

Leia Organa.

I turned and raised my blade.

"ALL TROOPERS! WITH ME!" And this I made the most desperate gamble. The entirety of emotions going into the force. To touch and connect everyone.

"FREEDOM!"

I went forth into the chaos.

_

The battle was short, colorful and minimal casualties.

On the First Orders side that is.

Leia walked along the snow covered tarmac. Hundreds of thousands of white-clad soldiers..no, slaves. That is what they ultimately were in the end. Children. All looking listless and huddled by her mere hundreds.

Her friends had advised her not to go too far out of reach but she had to see, see what type of strange yet wondrous day it was.

She was attended to by C-3PO and an aide pulling a comatose R2D2 with them and wondered the contrast when her brother was with two droids on a desert planet with two suns to her and them on a spoiled frozen world.

Illum.

A planet of the Jedi. A planet that was used to train Padawans and guide them into making their own lightsabers.

A planet hollowed out to make A Super Death Star.

Another sacred place torn inside out and used as a weapon of war by an enemy she thought long dead. It would take years to fix the ecosystem and bring life back to this planet.

She was very glad the intel allowed them this operation to take over. She didn't want to think they had to destroy an actual planet to win. She would need to correct Poe on the difference between An Orbital Death Machine Battle Station compared to one inside a place still having life.

It would've been a regrettable loss. Thankfully averted. One small victory in her battered life.

She received the reports, the files downloaded into discs that could prove everything she ever said. The sheer noise and clamor occurring on Hosnian Prime seemed as distant to her as the actual distance between this broken world and the New Republic government.

Can't focus on that now. Got to hurry. Got to find..

"You've changed your hair"

Han.

They had reached the disabled core upon the railway. She wasn't thinking as she was feeling out to find her other quarry.

"Same jacket." She spoke kindly.

"No, new jacket"

And of course Chewbacca came to hug her.

"Han Solo. Good to see you" and C-3PO chose this moment to introduce which was better than expected.

Han could only grouse with his eye rolling to the sides.

"You may not recognize me by the new arm I have" He showed his red one. Moving around himself to showcase his new wares and talk about foibles. Classic 3-PO. Han had only eyes for her and they couldn't help but feel good again.

They were missing just one final person in this group. BB-8 had gone over to the blue Astromech droid.

"I saw our son"

Leia looked clearly at him.

"Where is he?"

Han looked down the gangway. Did the First Order really had to copy the Empire that much in aesthetic? Big, grand and overly dramatic in scope to cause fear of heights in everyone. She wondered how Luke bounced back from dropping that far in Bespin. Something she would press on him no matter what.

No matter what. She would hold onto him, Han, Ben and Chewie and never let them go again.

Han twisted his head to the far off darkness of the rampart and her son stood there. Silent, helmetless since the last time she saw him. His gaze on the helmet that she so detested and wanted to smash and burn it in a bonfire. She knew he felt her and looked up at last. Determination and a weary sadness on his features.

He walked to her. A sedate pace, heavy with guilt.

He continued walking, the thrum sounds of the iron echoing in the void. She felt as though it was a dream. It was no dream. Her knees told her so.

She would make sure they received better care for now on.

"Mom," he said.

She ran.

Her knees were going to kill her for this later but she didn't care.

She embraced him and refused to let go. She felt him shuffle and he couldn't help but huff.

"Careful I need my lungs to breathe." A joke. Had he ever told one? She couldn't remember. His arms circled her and they just stood there. Hand had also come in, Chewbacca wrapped them up in a bear hug.

"You can join in too C-3PO" Ben gasped out.

"Oh my! Master Ben Solo I don't believe there is room on the walkway. If Chewbacca perhaps could scoot a little."

"Wait your turn Goldenrod" Muttered Han, grief filled happiness laced in her tongue. Leia giggled a little.

"As good as this feels, I feel we should focus on what's important," Ben said.

"It can wait" Leia didn't want this to stop. She was too happy.

"You need to get Jake"

Jake?

Who the kriffing hell was Jake!

"The man you've been looking for"

…What the hell was this?

"You mean Luke?"

At this Ben growled and they took a step back. Seeing his face in a mix of disgruntlement, pity and sadness.

"What happened?" She asked.

She knew it was too much to ask for in this most precious moment but her son. Her Son. Her Child looked squarely at her.

"Do you know what happens to someone who cuts themselves off from the Force?"

Oh she did not like where this was going.

"I'll tell you on the way there."

_

The Millennium Falcon.

The blue whirling kaleidoscope that is Lightspeed greeted our eyes through iron grating. It's soothing and humming like the mating of a refrigerator and hummingbird mixed together to cool our senses in a loving sleep.

I love staring out into that void. Something me and Ren both shared. We could get lost into it forever sitting in this place and time.

It was as though I was a little kid again. How small I felt. In the cinema, in a lounge, in a reshowing in the cinema again. How large and wondrous the Galaxy felt. How thrilling it was, how peaceful it was. How I am glad to be alive to live it.

The leather seats were more smooth and warmer than expected.

Han was at the front, Chewbacca next to him with Mother sitting beside me in seats. Her hand never left my own as though I would somehow disappear.

She had a protective bubble of the Force over Us. Comfortable and Nurturing. Snarling at any of the Darkness that came near us.

Snoke was quite a screamer. His howling was like a distant echo ebbing off into static as Leia pushed him out. Imagine a small elderly lady sucker-punching a puissant ex-boss boss from haranguing her young at Christmastime.

She would like that image.

"We've arrived." Han said softly, turning the levers which never got old to me. With a thoomp! sound we arrived above a blue planet's atmosphere and descended. I could imagine the engine exhaust's blue fire brightly from outside and I had to breathe in for the moment. To savor the singular second that was existence.

Our extra guests had arrived to see the outside. Rey, FN-2817 Dubbed Finn, Poe Dameron in his orange jumpsuit, BB-8, C-3PO, R2D2 and Rey. She preferred just Rey at the moment.

Gods this was fanservice galore. It only needed Lando and Luke to complete the picture.

If that…man could even be called Luke.

Ach-to was as mysterious and peaceful when it was on that big screen. More so in real life. The Falcon going over the ocean with its hurl of an orbiting sound cascading through the waves. I was thinking of Hawi or some other archipelago for this visual feast for the eyes.

"Picking up life signs" A tremor in Han's voice. I leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked at me in gladness, nervousness and hope in that gaze.

"Go over the peaks, there is a hovel of stone huts," I then said with my most serious tone.

"Fly low altitude violation".

A pause.

"..Pardon?" Han Solo said with the most straight face.

"Because if we land at the coast, we have to go up the hills and stairs and meet Jake where he is being all mysterious and broody when he's actually sad and high strung and honestly.." I gripped his shoulder slightly tight.

"He left you for over six years and you are just too" I looked at Leia briefly who raised her eyebrow. "Too done with this Oh Wise Jedi Bantha shit to go trekking up mountains for some grand epic moment he loves to do. And.."

I smiled savagely.

"It'll get him to walk down to us."

….

Han Solo smiled.

"You are definitely our kid."

"Han!" Leia protested.

"You know he's right"

"I thought you came back to the light." She turned towards me.

"Putting a pin in that discussion later..You know I'm right." I shrugged my shoulders.

Leia pondered for the slightest of moments before giving an exasperated resigned look at Us.

"You win this round."

"Will wonders never cease, I won an argument against my mother"

"Don't push it" Leia warned. I smiled sheepishly.

Chewbacca chortled and hummed in agreement.

"Oh My!" C-3PO wailed in concern at this incoming breach of good manners and flight safety.

"Are we seriously going to buzz Luke Skywalker?" Poe said in horrified curiosity.

"Yes" I answered promptly as the ship hovered over the mountains, seeing the inlet the ship moved down through the cracks because Han Solo is that good of a pilot.

And a one…

"This is wrong," Rey beseeched sanity and kindness at this intended cruelty.

And a two. Another flyby, definitely feeling the wind gust aren't you old man.

"Why am I here?" Finn said. Something I am going to help with your self-actualization: even if it kills me, you/and me

Oh to hell with it: especially If it kills you.

Then a three and look, there is an angry weather beaten looking robed man shaking his hands at us.

"Three more should do it. Six for six"

"BEN!" Leia gasped.

"One more should do it." Han said as though it was the end of the discussion.

At this the old man jumped to the ground and the top of his hovel was blown off like a tempest to stone.

"I Think he got the message" Han was grinning ear to ear. I could feel he hadn't done that in a long time. I felt warm inside because of that.

"This is seriously the most messed up and coolest thing I have ever been a part of." Oh Poe you deserve so much more than what they gave you.

Then me, parents, Rey and Finn felt a loud scream in the force. Huh, so he did had a limit on how he much he can put up with without using the Force.

YOU SONS OF A….

The following could not be said as every insult to parentage, our lineage, our choice in sexual partner and all of it was in Basic, Huttese and I think even in Ancient Sith word of dingus.

,,,Language. Was all Leia could send in the Force at that response.
And the offended party had feelings of absolute mortification that I would forever savor in the Kylo Ren part of the soul.

Han had veered the ship to a smooth curve towards the coast. He noticed the gaping mouthed and mortified looks the Force sensitive members of our party. Except Leia who had a teasing smile at wickedness in play. She was really a terrifying figure at the moment.

"Well what did he say?"

I slowly turned my head at him.

"Shit."

"That sums it up."

I could feel in the force my dad's inner voice was kind of disappointed in his other brother for life was so lacking in curse words.

"That ends after…"

"Ben.." Leia patted my hand and gave me a terrifying smile. "We'll tell him later."

Han Solo and Chewbacca chuckled in anticipation as we landed.

And in the distance a huffing and puffing Jedi Master trudged downhill. Through greenery, rocks, stairs. A total reversal of some reverent trip up.

Now he just wanted to get down to meet unwanted yet absolutely wanted but was in conflict with himself because he was such a self-pitying masochist. Rather than risk being a casualty of low airborne manslaughter.

But he would've walked it off. So it doesn't matter.

Now cometh the Skywalker Drama.

Joy. We both thought.


_

This took a lot to make. Next one will probably have to wait longer.

Yes our SI bullshitted his way to victory. Was it the plot, bad writing or simply too many contradictory laws in motion that clashed against each. And went up in an explosion the size of a 10080 Death Stars. (Dimmed down to Star Destroyers but what do I know about physics.)

Speedrun to the finish line.

The SI hasn't forgotten about Maz and the Lightsaber. He just didn't care at the moment and this was brought up in a video on youtube by Full Fat Video. Anakins Lightsaber killed hundreds of children so why is it treated as though it's Excalibur?

He would air this and other complaints next chapter.

 

[Re-interest]

In which The SI-Merged kinda axed the emotional pacing and leaving no room or time for everyone to collect their shit.

_
Chapter Two: Jedi Found and Exposition Dump
_

The wind was blowing harshly, yet cool and invigorating as spritely sea air like that of England's Northern Coast. The chirping of tiny orange critters spliced with puffins that are Porgs. The ones you want to keep and cuddle as pets and mayhaps eat them like delicious chicken. Like Guinea Pigs.

I have never eaten Guinea Pigs. I would consider that a path no one would follow me down with. Yet I have wondered what building a raft to travel on the seas would be like. Perhaps I should find a special fruit that is on the Island so I can dub it a papou fruit and..

"Ben?"

My musings on childhood fantasies were ending as the old fearful voice of a scraggy man in rags was looking at me in..all kinds of emotions on his face.

I decided to remain on the ramp as the rest of the crew went out to greet him, both for his sake and mine (Kylo was strangely muted on the matter as he took in my memories, theories, thoughts and what not in my subconscious) though I eventually moved out of line of sight to stare at the horizon. My back to him.

I didn't turn back.

I had my hands crossed behind my back, savoring a dramatic moment. I smelled the salted and clean air and allowed the wind to sweep my face in a clear blue caress.

The old man stared. Then turned away, hunched and defeated. I could feel the concern and apprehension in the air, the thickness of an old scab wound separating us all. We wondered how much we can savor the poignancy of it all. It wasn't revenge, it wasn't the lashing hurt feelings of a confused and lost teen in this position.

"I don't blame you."

He stopped and looked back in shock.

"My decisions were my own" I spoke with no intonation. Then I turned back to him. Seeing him.

"I blame you for not stopping me"

The man who called himself a Jedi wilted in shame.

I sighed and walked past him. Up towards the hills.
_

I was left to my own devices as I surveyed the prime real estate that was a shepherd's hut on this land. My hands drift to measure the rock and feel the sturdiness of the minerals inside. The Force was strong here, a shelter in the storm that buffeted outside noise from intruding on inner peace and solitude.

An ideal place to contemplate oneself, and to hide.

Oh look I could see a Thala-siren, the space cow with green milk. Time to go try different things.

I went inside the old mans hut, saw a bottle, took the bottle and went down the cliffside and approached it calmly.

Using the Force I stroke the creature calmly. It let out a whine and relaxed under my administration. The female's cooing as I massaged the hesitation into relaxation at the sight of a stranger, perhaps its snorting was it's way of figuring out my scent and found it familiar.

I hmmphd at this and with a dispenser I drained the green liquid out of her…yeah not finishing that thought.

Turning around I was beset by curious and befuddled teenagers.

Raising the metal attachment I said glibly.

"Want to try out Green Milk? It's not blue, but it's low fat"

_

Finn, now adorned in simple scavenger clothes was looking at his cup as though it was something from a different planet and god was that an oxymoron if there was one in this situation. We were camped around outside the hut in the two hours we were here and the awkwardness was finally starting to erode due to being placed on menial duties. Fixing the Falcon, preparing home steading, contacts with the New Republic (a nauseous hope) surveying the land and the peace da la resistance.

The Old Books.

Under A Big Tree.

In a cave.

That was having a heated argument that I did not want to touch within a Hutts Tail.

I simply sipped the drink, being the first to volunteer for new experiences.

"...Peppermint"

"Peppermint" Poe spoke curiously.

"Peppermint." I said finally.

He drank, then Finn took his cues. He was getting a bit of bravery and then Rey drank it. In open wonder.

"Is this what Master Skywalker has been drinking for five years?"

"Well there is Water, and Bacta, and Porgs"

She blinked then looked a bit disturbed and horrified that Finn amplified with his eyes going full moon.

Poe just drank heartily.

"..Can you drink them?"

"Ask Chewbacca, he was the first to get out of whatever the current family drama is"

He was always the smarter of that group.

Rey set her cup down and decided she wanted a different course in conversation other than thinking about eating cute-looking beakless floppy birds.

"..What happened between you two?"

Putting down my cup I sighed and folded my hands together. The three of them leaned in closer in curiosity.

"I have….or Had BPD and some of NPD sprinkled with PTSD"

Rey looked blank while Finn frowned as if trying to think up information from his minimal studies that was First Order Grade School while Poe looked at me in concern and..sympathy.

"Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Post Traumatic Disorder." Poe said in order. The other two (and me in morbid curiosity) He noticed their looks "You pick up stuff when fighting bad guys who want to conquer the galaxy"

I blinked at that.
"In life there is always a lesson," I said.

Poe nodded. "It was encouraged by the General to learn all we can so we can do better"

"Then why did you bait.." I poached the subject then retracted. "Never mind, can't go into what ifs at this moment"

There was a slightly curious look from all three campfire attendees. I put my hand to my forehead and sighed. The Force whispering within the echoes of the wind. Within it's currents I felt caution, curiosity and apprehension all mixed into one. And not coming from in front of me.

Yeah sure the more the merrier.

"Back to the main discussion…" I let my hand fall to the side and hoped that my expression was a forlorn look for the ages. "Have you ever woke up one day and realise what an absolute loser you've turned into"

At this I felt sorrow and self-regret and not just behind me. I wondered what Finn was going through right now. Then I remembered he was a Stormtrooper not long ago and was slowly getting self-realised in comparison to the knee-jerk that was the previous timeline.

Poe and Rey looked with attentive sympathy and wow does this mean our face was a hear on sleeve expression? No wonder us and Grandfather had masks. Point to fanfic writers.

"I..had this idea about myself as a kid destined for glory and great things…" I chuckled mockingly. "A Jedi.." A flinch. "Son of a Scoundrel and a Princess.." Puzzlement and feeling prideful at the same time in both parents. "And I thought deeply on what I wanted to be only.." I shrugged.

"I don't think I put much effort into asking if this is what I wanted in the first place."

Silence. I pressed on. Everyone needs to hear this or otherwise we will never get a full explanation of Ben Solo's fall in this trilogy.

To hell with your sloppy handling directors. I'm giving the audience and good storytelling an ACTUAL REASON FOR BEING!

"Then I turned into a teenager and all the mood swings and emotional dramas maximised by the Force and aforementioned hangups"

They all blinked at that.

"So..you're telling me" Poe began slowly. "That you fell because.."

"Halfway" I grumbled then let all my self pity, recrimination and the self hated that was Kylo out. "A punk acting out because he felt darkness was cool and edgy, plus being drunk on the darkside and listening to an evil old bastard who told and promised everything I wanted to hear and.." I sighed. "I was too dumb to even begin to trust him though to be fair.." I was not going to hold back on this.

"I didn't have the best navigator of emotional and metaphorical wisdom"

I heard a silence and yet I felt pain behind me.

I closed my eyes. Briefly. I opened them and they continued to stare.

"What..does that mean?" Asks Finn. A good question.

"My teacher on the path of light..wasn't the best teacher for me though to be fair he was probably winging it most of the time as he was kind of a greenhorn at the whole Jedi business."

An outraged squark. A Chuckle and a bit of a little smirk I felt.

Kylo/Ben approved of the roasting.

"Wait a minute" Poe raised a hand with eyes closed as if to reorient his query nature that took a pounding by the non-sequiter. "You're telling me Luke Skywalker was your teacher."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Was there any adult Jedi I was unaware o…?"

He raised a finger and was about to speak until his brows furrowed in confusion. Closed his mouth and then dropped his finger.

"I..think..?"

"Don't worry about it. At this juncture we should just drop the whole thing and just leave it all behind" I said flatly.

"There were other Jedi?" Rey spoke up in eager curiosity.

"I have no idea," I groaned. "There was the massacre I might've done or anyone dead or just missing or just trapped in world between worlds I just don't care anymore" I put my hands to the head.

"Everything is fucked up and nothing seems to matter anymore."

They all tried to absorb this and the one that managed to break free of this heavy cloud of confusion and turmoil was Finn.

"The Jedi Temple"

I looked at him.

"How do you know that?"

He folded on himself.

"It wasn't talked around much, only praises at the Jedi extinction. They only talk about vanquishing an enemy when they are not considering the next attack or destroying the New Republic."

Poe and Rey put their hands on his shoulders. I wanted to do it as well but then I withhold myself. Don't be too attached.

It would make us stay.

We will not.

"When you say Massacre you might've done..?" Poe asked hesitantly.

I folded my arms and steepled my hands in soft lecture mode.

"When..I started using the darkside..it uses my most passionate emotions for strength and well.." I sighed. "I had plenty of that"

I have no idea what was going through the old man's head. Nor did I care much.

"The Darkside of course clouds your vision, your memories and even your very soul" Then in my best Yoda voice. "For once you start down the dark path forever it would dominate your destiny."

A hiccup. Jake can laugh good humorly. Who knew there was a tiny spick of optimism in the cycnical ass.

Rey was the one who scoohched..oh by the Force how was she so close now?

Bloody Dyad.

"But you turned back, like your Grandfather"

I started all of them by throwing my head back and letting a bellyful of mocking laughter. It hurted us and by all the gods Ben did you never laugh! Inside felt like a pulled muscle.

I had to throw myself forward in a heave of pain and jolts. A quick agony of twisting the body it wasn't used to. Damn your acrobatics Kylo did you always stew on your hate all the goddamn time!

He was whistling a familiar tune oh you cheeky..

You still need teaching at the right time and the right reference for the occasion.

Do not raspberry me you petulant…

CLAP! CLAP!

The beating of a hand on my back with a cup of water to my face that I took and drank it all heartily. Oh look Jake, Han and Leia were here.

Parental hand. Got to love them.

I sputtered and spat out water to the left catching a concerned looking scruffy old man. He didn't look at all perturbed but his eyes told all. He knew what I was doing.

"Sorry I.." I shrugged them off and tried to recompose myself. The first three listeners were looking as though a frog went up with a cane, hat and started singing and dancing

I chuckled at the image.

"Well, might as well be warm while having an emotional exorcism of the soul." I was about to expound until I noticed an odd image to my side.

The old man looked more disheveled than most but he looked more clean up somehow. Without his robes. And..

"Great Suns of Tatooine what happened to you?" I blurted out.

Skywalker without his beard grumbled with his mole and straight down eyes. Han looked cheery while Leia looked non-plused.

"Your mother thought he could do with some tidying up."

"Translation: After ripping him a new asshole she tore another to be at least presentable," Going on without interruption I barreled on "The fact there is any pride or self worth left is commendable Jake"
There was an assortment of feelings; mirth, exasperation, confusion, annoyance and..The old man stared at me.

"Why do you call me Jake?"

My smile dropped and went back to the previous three listeners. I kept my silence and it was Leia who asked.

"Ben.."

"I don't want that responsibility Mother"

Han put a hand on Leia's shoulder who didn't know what to feel about that statement. She was quick to recuperate however.

"Disregarding your name doesn't.."

"What. Wipe away the past and pretend it doesn't affect us today. Look how well that turned out for us all." I said in the flattest tone possible.

"Hey" Han put his finger up warningly as Leia stepped back as though I slapped her. Tough but necessary.

"Han.." Jake spoke tiredly but even I could feel there was anger alongside self-recrimination. His eyes searched mine looking for something. "You haven't answered my question."

I slapped my knees, head bowed. Our emotions were rising up to the surface. My snarling indignation and Kylos' hurt rage spiraling into a volatile cocktail.

I felt Rey's hand on mine.

I saw her caring eyes and wondered why we could not stay like this fore..

No. We will not let destiny rule us.

I patted hers gently. The others looked curiously. Leia for obvious reasons was more than intrigued disturbingly. I remember what our goal was and turned my head to meet the Jedi's gaze.

"...My Uncle would never have given up on me especially…" At this I ground out in the harshest tone. "In such an asinine and lazy way."

The old man also wilted back. Shock and outrage on his face.

"Lazy…" he said softly. The undercurrent effectiveness of scandalised outrage. "I.."

"Five seconds." I stopped him in his tracks. "Is not equal to an instinct in the lead-up to your decision" He gasped and the other two family members looked at him worryingly and in dawning horror. But I wasn't going to let this end in that kind of way. That would've been too cruel.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Do you sense the darkness in me?" I said tiredly. He blinked at that. "Do you see me as the end of everything you love and cherish?" I spat.

There was a tense silence.

Han turned towards the old man fully yet slowly.

"What are you talking about kid?" As slow as a whisper.

The old man's face cracked and I felt walls come up.

"Stop that!" I shouted, kicking myself up to hold him by the shoulders.

The absence cleared and Leia looked for all the world like someone had cutted her arm off and reattached in one go.

"Never do that" I growled. He looked at me in fear and befuddlement. "I don't care for you but I would never let that happen to my worst enemy."

There was some hopeful caution and joy to that statement from both parents yet little coming from him. I let my hands flop to my sides and sighed.

"Of course you cut yourself off. Otherwise you would've remembered you cared" I left that placid judgement for him and turned around to sit down to three frightened yet curious seated members of an audience to a good tense live-action stage production.

"..care.."

"What? Speak up" I didn't turn around.

"I do care…" He said.

I still didn't turn around.

But I wasn't going to leave him alone.

"Maybe one day you will actually believe that.." I lowered my head slightly, feeling his gaze on my back.

"Until that day..stop hurting the ones who love you" I turned to give him one look of sadness. "There has been enough blame..and not enough forgiveness."

Leia wanted to say something but Han gave her a look. What that look meant could mean a lot of things but it would be a heck of a conversation later. What the old teacher felt couldn't be put into words.

"..I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but for all that is within my heart.." He sobbed. "I'm sorry, more sorry than you could ever belive"

We smiled.

"I'm sorry too," He looked forlorn at that, "For destroying all you built, for the students you had" Thankfully he wasn't pressing on the unknown facts of who the fuck were the students because neither of us could answer that, "I'm sorry. For everything."

None of us could speak. Then I continued

"Forgiveness is not about deserving Jedi," I said with soft warmth, the force coming out like a blanket after a nightmare. "It is about Hope." I turned my eyes towards the fire. Focusing.

The words seem to do an odd thing to the Jedi. A hiccup. A chortle and sob at the same time.

"You don't make things easy do you?" He grumbled good naturally. I grinned.

"Then you would never learn would you?"

"..When did you become such a wise one?"

"Since you got off on the-"

"Son!" Han warned. Though not for impropriety as..

Oh.

Leia.

We have erred.

'Actually you did,' piped Kylo, throwing me under the bus. There is hope for us all yet.

I tried to focus on the fire but the ahem sound craned my head, my neck protesting through the friction of corded steel to meet the eyes of my very scary tense looking mother.

Her arms folded and looked at me.

"...I expect a full explanation later"

I thanked the force there was a small part of mercy in her cold grizzled soul to not immediately excoriate my entire self-esteem in front of the whole main cast. Where the hell did Chewie come from?

"Yes…Mother" I meekly said.

And then..

Shocked laughter.

Everywhere.

Around me and through me.

Binding us all together.

Here lies Kylo Ren, second in command of the hopefully gutted First Order. So great the fall. Until…

"Palpatine taught me"

Then like a record screech, broke then exploded. Everyone stopped.

"..Come again?"

"Kidding but seriously: Dear old Sheeve transferred his consciousness into a clone. Completely separate from her," I pointed to Rey who looked google eyed. "One horrific bullshit Sith ritual science later up pops out a strandcast that we all know as Supreme Leader Snoke alongside a commissioned fleet of portable Death Star Super Star Destroyers in Outer Regions that we could all find by gathering Sith Wayfinders like the greatest glorified fetch quest ever." I paused for dramatic effect. "So it's not really like 'somehow he returned' just…" I paused for another dramatic effect.

"It was Palapatine all along…" I sang.

Silence.

"..Can you please repeat that?" Said Poe.

"Yes In simple terms: A wizard did it" I finished with a flat statement… A pause for everything to fall upon their heads until..

I noticed a hand on my shoulder. A light touch. Yet so very fucking scary.

I refuse to gulp.

I turned towards Ben's mother. In the eyes.

"..And that wasn't the first thing you told us why..?" She was wording it like an exasperated parent and a cold numb person who realised their entire life's work was undone by the same man she thought dead.

I blinked at her.

"I thought I should leave it to the last moment. Make it impactful after the emotional healing and..." I raised my finger and then put it down as I thought it was too much like a certain auteur storyteller trying to be cute rather than just mean-spirited. "I wanted you to be people that could like themselves in the mirror before pushing it back because the Galaxy is in danger". I said solemnly.

A silence.

Somehow very far away yet extremely close I heard what sounded like an aye carumba sound. Five credits to who can guess.

"..We are going to have a very. very long talk about this."

"Somewhere where I am far far away" I muttered.

"Pardon" She said as though intoning the Creator.

"Nothing!" I stood up and gestured to everyone. "Let's go save the Galaxy!"

_

I think I might've gotten a little too greedy with the speedrunning

Sadly We think the world is edging closer to Johnsons feel at the moment. Oh well

_

Authors note: the quote about forgiveness comes from the Star Wars fanfic Of Queens, Knights and Pawns by chancercraz