"How dare he. I can't believe it." Ben could hear through the door. Even though his mother closed the door to her room, leaning his ear up against it, and staying perfectly quiet, he could just barely hear her hushed shouts. "Why would you leave our son alone like that?"
"Leia-" He heard his father, but only for a moment.
"What if he did something to Ben?" She continued on.
"They were just talking. What harm could it do?"
"What harm?" She was nearing hysteria. "What harm? Snoke was talking to our son Han. Our son. He implied that Ben has another grandfather. What if..." Leia calmed herself slightly and her voice became even more hushed. So much so, Ben knew he had to imagine hearing the words. "What if he told Ben that Darth Vader was his grandfather?"
"Well, Darth Vader is technically-" Han's right arm throbbed in pain from the punch Leia threw and he instinctively grabbed it.
"Bail Organa is his grandfather." She snapped but kept her whispering tone. "Imagine what he could have told Ben. What Ben could have asked. It's safer if he knows nothing of it."
"Ben is fine. Nothing happened." Han pressed. "Besides, it's not like Snoke is going to come to every senate meeting. I doubt they will ever see each other again."
"I don't trust his followers, this rumored First Order. And I definitely do not trust Snoke. They are hiding something. If only I could prove it."
"Leia. You did it. We did it. The Empire was defeated. Just because what's left of it fled to Snoke, doesn't mean he is plotting to overthrow the New Republic you helped form."
"And what makes you so sure that he isn't doing just that-"
Ben backed away from the door and headed back to his room. It was the same old story every time his dad was home. How his parents were even married, was beyond Ben's comprehension. It seemed like they fought with each other at every chance they had. Not that they had many. His dad was gone more than he was home. When he was not competing in or training racing pilots, he supposedly, was working side jobs as a freighter. Moving spice legally, as opposed to when he did it during his smuggling day. That it was being used for medicinal purposes as opposed to recreational. But Ben thought his dad came home with one too many nicks and bruises for just a simple transporter for a medical organization. He was still smuggling. There was no doubt about it.
"Master Ben." Ben groaned as he heard the irksome mechanical voice. He could hear the clicking of the scuffled walking and dreaded to turn around to see the annoying golden droid. Why his mom kept the protocol droid was beyond him. C-3PO always butted in at the most inopportune time, and somehow always found a way to override his programming. The only thing he was good for was translating. Especially when his mother was meeting visitors from other planets, but that rarely happened these days. She would have to be daft to allow strangers a peek at her not so perfect family. "Master Ben." He repeated again as he finally spotted the young teenager. "It is nearly time for your lessons. Today we will be continuing your recitation in Shyriiwook."
Lessons. Of course. More pointless schooling. Learning about the different political leaders and histories of neighboring systems. Language classes. In depth study of the senate and the various laws they passed. His classes on circuitry and programming were interesting depending on the project. And he loved starship repair; especially when he got to work on the old X-Wing his uncle gave him. But the worst of all of his classes was etiquette. Learning how to walk, sit, eat, talk, greet guests, various bows and gestures used throughout the galaxy. His mother was doing to him, what was forced upon her when she was his age. How could she see not see it? She was becoming what she once despised. And it drove him mad.
He wasn't even royalty. While many still addressed his mother as princess, Alderaan no longer existed, besides as space debris, that is. Sure, like her, there were some Alderaanians who were not on the planet when the Empire destroyed it, but there were not enough to restore their people to what they were. Thus making her title null and void, so that's what Ben thought his lessons should be. Never will he nor his mother ever truly obtain such a title. And by no means will he ever become a senator. So all this was was a waste of time.
Ben closed his eyes and breathed like how his uncle had taught him. "Lift 3PO in the air." He thought quietly before clearing his mind.
"Oh no, not again." The protocol droid shrieked as it began to float in the air.
Ben slowly opened his left eye, as he attempted to keep his concentration, and saw his good work. The droid was nearly touching the ceiling as it floated a good eight feet above ground. Now was his chance. He just needed to make a run for it and lock himself in his room.
"Ben Solo, put 3PO down this instant."
His focus was lost. The droid crashed to the floor and Ben winced from the sight and noise.
"If you must rebel and go against my wishes, then at least have the decency to do it on inanimate objects of no value." Leia scolded.
"Relax Leia. It's only 3PO." Han said coming out of their room. "Besides, if the boy breaks him, then he'll be forced to fix him as punishment."
"Han." She snapped at her husband, but she quickly turned her attention back to her son. "Ben, these abilities you have are powerful and special. So few possess the ability to use the Force. That is why you must use it wisely. Lashing out childishly, like you just did only proves that you are not ready to train with your uncle. If you want to go down this path, against my better judgement, then show maturity and restraint.
"Even if I showed maturity and restraint, as you put it, you would just find another reason to deny me the only thing I want in life. You don't want a son, just a politician to carry on your legacy-"
"Don't you dare talk to your mother that way." Han interrupted. His voice boomed forcefully and he looked sternly at his son. "Apologize to her now."
"You have no right to lecture me." Ben's hand was curled in a trembling fist. Why was it that it always ended up this way? His anger got the better of him and he snapped. What was it about his parents that triggered it? Maybe it was their constant arguing. Ever since he was small, he always heard his parents shouting matches behind closed doors. But there were good times too. Their trips to Cloud City. Once he got to go to Endor and visit the Ewok village that helped defeat the Empire. They were invited to Naboo by the Queen herself and they stayed there for a month. But those days of serenity were few and far between. "You don't get to pick and choose when you want to be a father. You leave me and mom for weeks, months on end, with not so much as a transmission asking how we are. You may be my father by blood, but that's all you will ever be." Ben then turned around and stalked off to his room, so the argument could not escalate any further.
He hopped on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Stars and distant planets were shimmering through the small window on his ceiling and he wondered where in the galaxy his uncle was. Uncle Luke. He could use him right about now.
He could ask him about Snoke. If it was possible that other people know or remember Anakin Skywalker. Remember him before he became Vader. And most of all, knew that little factoid; that they were the same person. All the public databases that contained information about the Jedi and the Clone Wars were wiped clean by the Empire. And most of what his parents generation was taught was propaganda. Only people who would be his grandparent's age knew the truth of what happened back then. But they were dead and those who still survived seldom talked of it. He did find one entry about his grandfather in a database though. It was the private archives on Naboo. During his last visit he snuck into the room, but it was not a fruitful venture. All it said was that Anakin Skywalker a Jedi and general during the Clone Wars died with the rest of the Jedi Order during the attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.
So how did this man know so much? And if he was being honest, why keep it a secret? The power that could come from making that knowledge known. Ben didn't think even he could pass it up, that was if it didn't directly affect him. If he could become someone else though. Cut all ties from the Organa and Solo name. Then he would be tempted to share the truth of his not so perfect family across the galaxy.
Ben grabbed one of his pillows and used it to cover his face. What was he thinking. As much as he disliked his parents, could he really betray them in such a way. They may always argue and not understand him. But they are his parents. That has to count for something? Doesn't it? Most days he didn't feel like it did. But wasn't the logical thing to say yes?
There was a knocking at his door, and Ben knew his parents argument was over, for now. He pressed the pillow harder on his face and didn't move a centimeter.
"Ben." His mother knocked on the door again. "I'm coming in."
The door hissed softly, but not even that made him waver.
"Ben." The weight on his bed shifted and he knew his mother was sitting at the foot of the bed. "I know you don't want to talk to me now, so just listen. I know all you want in life is to be a Jedi like your uncle and namesake, but you are still a child. I know it sounds hypocritical of me. When I was your age I was aiding rebels and secretly trying to take down the Empire, but it was a different time. The galaxy was not a safe place under Vader's and the Emperor's rule. All beings equally feared for their lives. Considering the circumstances, I was forced to grow up. But you. You have a chance to be a child. To dream. You don't have to live in fear like so many did. So do that. And in a few years time, when you are older and finish your schooling we can discuss the possibility of you training under your uncle. But for now, enjoy your life as a normal child."
Ben listened, but didn't acknowledge his mother. His arms were firmly wrapped around the pillow and breathing was becoming more difficult through the fabric, but he was resolute in his stance.
His mom patted his leg and the weight on the bed lifted. "I told 3PO that your lessons were cancelled for today. You had a long day at the Senate. If you want to join your father and I for dinner, it will be ready in a few minutes. You're father is cooking so if you want to skip I won't blame you. Everything he cooks tastes only of Tigmary. He needs to stop cooking for Wookies and start cooking for humans." He heard her footsteps as she headed towards the door, but he didn't hear the hiss of it opening. " I know you're mad now Ben, but remember I love you and have your best interest in mind." He finally heard the hiss of the door and his mother left the room.
Ben counted to sixty before lifting the pillow off his face. He sat up in his bed and leaned his head against the wall. The wall facing him had a few built in shelves, with knick knacks from various planets that his father and uncle have given him. He focused on a small silver box and summoned it to him. It rose from its place and floated right to him. He waved his hand over the top of it and it opened. But it was not the force that allowed him to open the box, but a sensor that he programed to only respond to him. He pulled out the small small chip and began inspecting it again.
Five days. He could get real answers. But what about that chill he felt around Smoke? His uncle taught him to trust his feelings. To feel, not think. Every bone in his body told him not to trust him and yet he was compelled to believe him. No one, unless they were absolutely certain, would make that accusation so lightly. He had to make a decision now. Despite Snoke giving him five days, he had less than that to make a decision.
Ben rolled out of bed much more chipper than he normally would. His stomach was rumbling since he skipped dinner and he had a million things to do.
He ran down the stairs, darted past C-3PO before he could even mention today's itinerary. He didn't even flinch when the droid shrieked "Master Ben," in his wake. Ben made it to the kitchen where the cook, thankfully no parents cooking, was preparing breakfast. Hotcakes and scrambled gartro eggs. Ben eagerly dug in, not caring about etiquette.
"You're in a better mood." Leia enter the kitchen and sat across from her son.
"Can I work on Uncle Luke's old X-wing today?" Ben asked between bites. He knew the probability of his mom saying yes was slim, but he hoped if he was polite, and acted the exact opposite as he did yesterday, the chance of him being allowed to skip lessons increased, even if it was only by decimals. "I need to figure out if I need to go into town and get some parts."
Leia silently pushed her food around its plate. She was debating and that gave Ben a sliver of hope. "I don't know Ben..." She trailed off, still weighing the pros and cons in her head.
"I promise that I won't complain about my lessons. Or pick on 3PO. Or shout at dad-"
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She smiled ruefully.
"Does that mean-"
"You can work on the X-wing until lunch time." She saw her son's face fall since he knew not much work could be done in only a few hours. "For the next three days."
His face lite up for the first time in a long while, and that made Leia happy. It had been weeks since she saw the typically sullen teenager smile. And her choice made it worth it.
Ben crammed his last few bites of food in his mouth before excusing himself and running outside to the private hanger.
Besides his X-wing, the only other ship present was his mom's. The millennium falcon was gone, which meant so was his dad. A few speeders, both land and air were parked in the corner, but with the Falcon gone, the space looked nearly desolate.
LE-934, an old Imperial droid he bought off a junker and restored when he was seven, came out from behind his mother's ship. The silver-blue metal was stained from its work and Ben thought he noticed a few new nicks and dents on the droids thin hands. That would be something he would have to fix. Sooner rather than later. But the X-wing, that had to come first, for now.
His father never trusted the droid with the Falcon. And he claimed it wasn't just because it was programed with copies of both C-3PO and R2-D2 programming. Ben did make several changes to the droids behavior so it would be subservient unlike the ones he mother and uncle possessed. He didn't enjoy how humanistic the pair was. Droid are metal and machine. Nothing more than that. So he eradicated such tainted programming from his own.
"Master Ben." It was programmed to have a soft, feminine voice, it was the complete opposite of 3PO in every way. And that was exactly what Ben wanted. "What can I assist you with today."
"We will be continuing where we left off on fixing up the X-wing" Ben gently touched one of the wings and let his fingertips caress the different pieces metal he used to repair it. All and different colors and textures, but the appearance mattered little. In fact, the less is looked like a Rebel X-wing the better. But it would fly. That he was sure of.
"Of course." The droid approached him but stayed a few steps behind him. "We have finished all the external repairs, so now we can focus on the internal parts."
"Let's not worry about the shield generator or weapons just yet. I don't see me getting into any battles anytime soon."
"What about the astromech socket? We do not have a droid to test and make sure that is still operational."
"Seeing as how I don't have 4000 credits to buy one, I was thinking of going to a junker and just buying one that would be internally mounted in the socket. It wouldn't be able to make repairs, but so long as it can do everything else, I could care less about being able to fix the ship."
"Yes sir, that should be easy enough to do once we have an astromech."
"El," Ben finally turned around to face the droid. His face sobered up and his eye darted around the room before he spoke. "I only have 3 days to make these repairs, but you have four. If we cannot finish the repairs together, will you be able to do it for me."
"Of course I could." The droid spoke as apathetic as it always did. Ben wouldn't allow his to have as extensive of a range of emotions as 3PO. That would cause more headaches than it's worth.
Ben's lips parted into a smile and he nodded his head. "Good. Now let's get to work."