Well, I was not expecting them to show the season 2 premiere at Celebration! I'm also surprised it hasn't been leaked online yet! So, I guess this chapter takes place before the premiere. I can't decide if I want to spoil it by summarizing it or just writing how I think it's gonna go down.

So, this takes place before the premiere. The Sequel Trio all had their low points in TLJ...it's Kaz's turn.

Kaz slowly moved around his fruit with his fork. He couldn't get his mind off Poe and Beebee-Ate. He was so unfocused, he didn't notice Synara sit across from him. Synara cleared her throat to get Kaz's attention.

"Oh. Hey, Synara." Kaz greeted.

"Torra told me everything." Synara said calmly.

"Oh..." Kaz sagged his shoulders.

"So, poor kid from Coruscant, huh?" Synara raised an eyebrow.

Kaz scoffed lightly. "Well, I'm poor now."

"Yeah, I heard about the Hosnian Cataclysm. I'm so sorry." Synara said sincerely.

"Thanks. I'm sorry I deceived you." Kaz replied.

"I forgive you. I'm also the last person who should cast stones." Synara replied. "I'm sorry I also deceived you."

"I forgive you." Kaz replied.

"So, the Resistance pilots who rescued me from that freighter...that was you, wasn't it?" Synara asked.

Kaz nodded. "Me and Poe Dameron."

"I see." Synara nodded. "Well, thank you, Kaz for saving my life."

"You're welcome." Kaz smiled.

"I suppose I owe you a life debt." Synara said.

"You don't owe me anything." Kaz shook his head.

"Just my life." Synara pointed out. "Torra also told me about Tam joining the First Order."

Kaz sighed sadly. "Yeah. It's all my fault. I should have told her the truth sooner."

"You shouldn't blame yourself for that. Our choices are our own." Synara shrugged and also sighed sadly. "Tam could have chosen to understand why you and Yeager lied. After all, Neeku, Torra, and I do."

"I know, but...still. She was one of my best friends. I feel terrible for ruining her life like that." Kaz said. Synara looked at him in surprise. "What? What? You don't think I'm capable of feeling terrible for something I've caused?"

"No, that's...that's not what I'm surprised at." Synara replied. "I'm surprised you consider Tam one of your best friends."

Kaz scoffed lightly. "Well, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but..." Synara hesitated. She wasn't sure if Kaz is in the right frame of mind to hear this.

"What?" Kaz asked. "Synara, whatever it is, it can't be worse than what I'm feeling right now."

Synara exhaled slowly. "Okay. Just remember: you asked. Tam doesn't really like you all that much. She doesn't trust you at all."

Kaz was thrown. He thought Tam at least considered him a friend towards the end. He exhaled slowly. "I know I've lied to her and kept taking the Fireball and was a bit lazy when it came to work, but...really? "Does she consider Neeku a friend?"

"Yeah, he's one of her best friends, actually." Synara said.

"Oh. I see." Kaz replied. Anger bubbled up inside him. "So, in order for Tam to consider you a friend, you have to start rumors about her, sign her up for a race which ends up almost getting her killed,"

Synara's eyes widened when she saw Neeku walking towards them. "Um, Kaz..."

Kaz ignored her and continued. "...telling strangers- especially the First Order- everything, and I mean literally everything about her, take everything way too literally, change their opinions about everything every five seconds, be rude and selfish, does not think things through..."

"Kaz!" Synara snapped.

"What?!" Kaz snapped back. Synara pointed behind him. Kaz turned around and gasped in surprise when he saw Neeku standing behind him looking both hurt and angry.

"Wow, Kaz. I had no idea you had such low opinions of me." Neeku said. "I was going to be kind and unselfish, and let you know I'm here for you, since you lost all your friends and your family. It appears I would just be wasting my time." Neeku stormed off.

Kaz exhaled sharply and put his hand to his forehead. "Nice work, Xiono." He stood up. "Be right back." Kaz raced after Neeku, who was storming down the corridor. "Neeku, wait! I'm sorry." Kaz said sincerely. "I didn't mean what I said. I was just angry."

"Really? 'Cause it sure sounded like you meant it." Neeku said without turning around.

Kaz gently grabbed his wrist to get him to stop walking. "I didn't. Look, I was just angry. People say stupid things when they're angry."

"I understand. I'm still angry at you, so just...leave me alone for now." Neeku pulled out of Kaz's grasp and continued down the corridor.

Kaz sighed heavily and headed back to his table. "Well, I just keep losing friends all over the place."

"May I suggest you think before you speak, then?" Synara raised an eyebrow.

"You may." Kaz deadpanned. "I really didn't mean everything I said. I was just venting and..."

"I understand." Synara assured him. "Hey...why don't we change the subject?"

"That's a good idea." Kaz replied, relieved.

"So, Torra told me you were spying on the First Order for the Resistance." Synara said.

"Yeah. I was supposed to find out who the First Order spy is." Kaz replied. "Apparently someone on Castilon is...was helping them. I thought it was Doza at first, but he turned out to be a red herring."

Synara felt a sense of dread creeping up on her. "Did your source say that someone on the Colossus was the First Order spy or someone on Castilon?"

"Well, Castilon, but the Colossus was the only civilization above the surface, wasn't it?" Kaz asked.

"Um, no. Actually...the pirates also lived on Castilon in our ship." Synara admitted. "We were the ones who were hired by the First Order."

Kaz's left eye started twitching. "Really?"

"I'm not sure if we're the spies you're looking for exactly, but...we were hired to cause trouble at the Colossus in order for Doza to turn to the First Order for help." Synara said.

"Are. You. Kriffing. Kidding me?" Kaz said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry." Synara said sincerely.

"So, that...that freighter...that was a setup, wasn't it?" Kaz asked, his voice shaking with rage.

"No!" Synara exclaimed. "We had no idea you and your friend would be nearby."

"And Starkiller Base?" Kaz clenched his fists and felt his face flush with anger. "Did you know about that and what they were going to do with it?"

"No. I knew they were planning something, but I had no idea the nature of it." Synara insisted. "Kaz, I swear to you, if I had known, I would have told you- or at least told someone."

Kaz calmed down a little. They both heard Kragen and a few pirates enter the tavern talking and laughing. Kaz turned around and glared at the pirates with purest hatred. "He knew." Kaz jumped up and started storming towards them.

Synara jumped up to follow him. "Kaz, wait! You don't know that for sure."

Kaz marched up to Kragen and punched him in the jaw.

"Oh, what the hell?!" Kragen exclaimed. Before he could hit Kaz back, Kaz grabbed his throat.

"You bantha crap shoveling, nerf-herding nerko! You knew about Starkiller Base!" Kaz yelled angrily.

Synara rushed over and pulled Kaz off of Kragen. "Kaz, stop!"

"Let go of me!" Kaz struggled against Synara as she dragged him off towards the exit.

Synara turned her back to Kragen and the pirates and set Kaz down and grabbed his shoulders. "Kaz, stop it! This isn't helping things."

"He knew. He needs to pay." Kaz seethed.

"Again, we don't know that for sure." Synara replied. "And you are not in the right frame of mind to investigate this. So, do yourself a favor: take a walk, calm down."

Kaz huffed, shook his head, and stormed out of the tavern. Synara sighed and turned back to Kragen, who was already plotting Kaz's demise.

XXX

Kaz took deep breaths as he walked through the station, which seemed to calm him down some.

"Hey, Kaz. Kaz!"

Kaz turned around to see Rucklin walking towards him. "Oh, no, no, no, no. You do not want to fight me right now. You do not."

"Easy. I didn't come here to fight. I came here to talk." Rucklin raised his hands to calm him. Kaz calmed down and nodded. "I heard about the Hosnian System. That was your home, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." Kaz answered warily.

"I see. So, your entire life, everything you've worked for, all your savings exploded right in front of you." Rucklin mused. He nodded. "Not fun when that happens, is it?"

Kaz was stunned. "What?"

"You know, I was going to get you back for destroying my racer, but it looks like the First Order did that for me." Rucklin said, smugly. He smiled. "So I guess we're even now."

Kaz couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you...seriously comparing losing your home, your family, and friends to losing a racer?"

"No, I suppose losing your home, your friends, and your family is a lot worse than losing a racer; which makes this so much better." Rucklin chuckled with glee. "'Cause you totally deserved that."

Something snapped within Kaz. He angrily kicked Rucklin in the groin. Rucklin doubled over in pain, and Kaz threw him against the opposite wall. Rucklin crumpled to the ground. Kaz turned him over on his back and started relentlessly punching him.