chapter ten
"Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal."

From Canto Bight advertisements:

...and enjoy rare delicacies from around the galaxy as you roll the dice in the Guppen Casino! This ninth night cycle features Kybertica! Once solely for religious practice by the Guardians of the Whills, this delightful and delectable drink is sure to add sparkle to your evening! Contact our registration desks to reserve…

Noted on the bottom of the Kybertica recipe recovered by Guppen Casino:

*not recommended for Cereans, gestating Utapauns, or Jedi.

Red palm bloom. Red palm bloom. Red palm bloom.

Rey didn't feel right.

There was entirely too much happening in this casino. Talking, cheering, laughter that was exactly the polite level of loud, coins passed back and forth along velvet tables - Rey knew perfectly well that those coins could buy and sell her in a heartbeat, but they still didn't quite mean anything, you couldn't eat a coin...

And the people - the people were, were sharp, and glinted brighter than their money.

She had to find… what?

Red palm bloom. Red palm bloom.

Right.

Yes.

Red palm bloom… why?

Ben?

Rey didn't know why she reached out, or even really how she reached out. But she knew Ben Solo was there, outside the casino. She could see him, literally see him beyond the gold walls, crackling like summer lightning. Ben, I can't find a bloom.

The words strolled right over that bridge connecting their minds. They shimmied through the air, crawled over the ceiling, and climbed into a ventilation shaft.

The bright outline of Ben startled a moment later. She saw him looking around, she saw him checking the comm on his wrist.

Ben, I don't like it here, the floors are eating my shoes.

No words came back through the ventilation shaft, but Rey could feel Ben's dismay in his… what? His soul?

Rey took a few steps. Her feet moved just fine, but the tile was climbing up her shins. It had horrible, dark plans. She knew it. Come to think of it, everything beneath her just stank of evil. Suffering was happening right now, below the floors, terrible suffering, and the floor was in on it-

Something chattered on her wrist like a steelpecker. Annoying. Rey pulled it off and dropped the buzzard to the ground.

Red palm bloom.

Rey made sure to carefully pick up her feet with each step. A red palm bloom. How big was it? Was it the size of a human? The size of a luggabeast? It was supposed to be playing with the games, but how could a bloom roll dice? Did it use its petals?

Some of the people shone brighter than others. Some were barely a glint. Some could light the inside of her AT-AT. And all of them were as dirty as their clothes and faces were clean; black jackets, white dresses-

Red palm bloom!

There it was! The size of her fist, right by the closest table! Hooray!

Rey reached for the bloom. She was supposed to… ask it something…

"I beg your pardon!"

The man attached to the bloom (oh, there was a man attached to it) stumbled just as he released the dice in his hand. They skittered happily along the table, coming to a halt in front of a tiny quadruped shrouded in a sickly green glimmer.

The bloom man jerked his fist in triumph. The quadruped pushed a large stack of coins in his direction. Everyone cheered.

The bloom man spun to Rey, a broad smile showing off flawless white teeth beneath a perfectly-manicured black mustache. The color contrasts made her wince. "But that was marvelous!" he exclaimed. "You'll be my new good luck charm!"

"Huh?" Rey said, bewildered. "I'm- I'm supposed to-"

Too late. Bloom Man had already taken her arm and pulled her towards the table. "Goodbye, lovey," he said to the woman at his right, dismissing her with a wave. (The woman gave Rey a dirty look as she left, before growing eight feet taller and popping her head through a mirror.) "Now-" he put a hand at Rey's waist and pulled her in "-stand here, little charm. You're going to do splendidly."

"Do what?"

But either Bloom Man didn't get Rey's confusion or he didn't care. Rey nearly choked as he lifted his own glass to her lips, then, as she swallowed and sputtered, pressed a sweaty pair of dice to her lips. "That's the ticket, little charm. Do you know the rules of Hazard Toss?"

"No-"

"Double stars, now."

Double stars. Without thinking, Rey saw them in her mind as Bloom Man cast the dice onto the table.

The dice rolled - wavered - did anyone else see? - and, yes, came up double stars.

Another round of technicolor cheers.

"You're going to help me!" Rey shouted at the man. He was, right? Wasn't that what- "I need you to help me!"

"You are glorious!" Turning from his winnings, Bloom Man took both of Rey's hands and brought them to his mouth, kissing the inside of each wrist. It itched. "Believe me, my gorgeous one, I will fulfill all your desires just as soon as we're done here. This time-"

-an arm wrapped around Rey's middle, and then she was most decidedly not held by Bloom Man.

Rey looked up to see a very displeased Ben Solo staring down at her, his body surrounded by a wide, shimmering halo of silvers and blues. They lit up his face even under his cowl. Wow. "You're beautiful," she said blankly.

A blink. "You're drunk."

"Am I?" Was she? "No, I don't think- I didn't- look, I found the red palm bloom!"

Ben took the glass from the sputtering Bloom Man's hand, glaring at him. He swirled the liquid, narrowed his eyes, and took a drink. "It's not even that strong," he said to Rey, sounding disgusted. "I came in because I thought you were-"

Then he stopped. And coughed. And choked. And peered around, looking suddenly dazed, pupils visibly dilating.

"Oh!" said Rey, watching Ben's halo. It crowded out everything else in the room. "You're brighter now."

Ben shook his head several times, then focused on Bloom Man. "What was that?" he demanded.

"Kyberetica," Bloom Man replied. He showed Ben the dice (they wriggled in his palm like little square snakes as Rey stared at them). "The best thing for a little game of chance."

"K- Kybertica."

"Yes, it's a luck serum from Jedha-"

"I know where it's from!"

Rey tried to step forward, to free herself from where the tile was licking again at her shoes, and smacked her face right into Ben's chest. At least his lights felt soothing. "This is a bad place," she said, rising up on her tiptoes to speak in his ear. "Can we go? The chandelier is looking at me funny."

"Rey, how many glasses did you drink?"

She thought hard. "Two? And a half?"

He groaned. "We have to get out of here. Now."

"Oh, good."

"And you-" Ben grabbed Bloom Man by his, well, bloom "-you're coming with us."

In his quest to control the galaxy, Emperor Palpatine had made many mistakes.

One of them - arguably the largest - was basing his rule on an over-reliance on the Force. In the waning years of the Empire, Palpatine disappeared from his own government, not crafting strategy but instead obsessing over esoteric monkish nonsense. The Emperor believed, as all Sith did, that the Dark Side would be all he needed.

And look what happened to him.

Yes, the Emperor had made many mistakes.

Supreme Leader Snoke did not intend to repeat them.

Sith had been foolish, of course. The Force did not give one purpose, and should never have been the basis for religion. The Force was a tool, one of several, suited to some situations, but not all.

But, nevertheless, certain practical sacrifices to this tool must be made. Snoke would just as soon be giving orders to his generals or overseeing invasion preparations, but to maintain his connection to the Force, time must be set aside to meditate and commune. No different than daily training with a blaster or a blade: dull and irksome, but necessary.

Once in awhile, though, something interesting would happen during meditation. Visions, sometimes. Unique insight. Lessons of the past, possibilities for the future. And-

-the occasional pleasant surprise.

Hello, Ben.

Rey watched as Ben slammed Bloom Man against the alley wall. "Maz Katana said you would know this design," he snarled, holding up his drawing of the Millennium Falcon's hidden tracker. "Who made it? Where did it come from?"

"Maz Katana has deplorable taste in friends," Bloom Man sniped back. "You've interrupted my evening and ruined my coat. I don't believe I'll help you."

Ben pushed his hood back, revealing his face. "Do you know who I am?"

"I do," offered Rey. "You're-"

"-Kylo Ren." For a moment the Bloom Man seemed a little thrown. Even his mustache drooped. But then he recovered, smiled jauntily, and said: "Anyone who gambles knows the Hutts, and anyone who knows the Hutts knows you."

"Then you know what I do to people who don't give me what I want."

"I know Iveati the Hutt has plans for you. They're disgusting."

"Tell me about the beacon."

"No."

It was quieter out here, but now the stones were trying to eat Rey's feet. She scuffed her shoes against the street as Ben bared his teeth, raised his fingers to the man's temple-

-it's in there I know it's in there and now you'll give it to me-

-and she saw his bright, crackling, blue-white aura thread through with something black and sticky.

The Bloom Man made a terrible noise.

Snoke allowed himself a small smile. Ben Solo was searching through someone's mind - clumsily, yes, but with innate, inborn skill. Yes. Good. You know you can take whatever you want. Given the right training, this brute force could be honed to a keen weapon. What right has anyone to refuse you?

The boy dug deeper. The shields that nearly always kept Snoke at bay were oddly soft and porous; today, for some reason, the boy used the Force with reckless abandon. Delightful. Just what are you looking for, Ben? I can help you. You are strong, but I can make you so much stronger.

Just a little push of power, a gentle nudge of direction. Yes. That's it.

Something about a beacon.

"Ben?"

Maybe he couldn't hear her over the Bloom Man's whimpering. Rey tried again: "Ben, stop this, don't hurt him." She didn't like the Bloom Man or the sick feeling of corruption that covered this whole town, but this wasn't- "Ben, there's something on you." The oozing, tarry darkness was creeping up his shoulders, didn't he feel it?

The darkness spread spider strands over the back of Ben's neck. "No," he gasped. "It can't be." His hand closed into a shaking fist next to Bloom Man's head. "You're wrong. It can't have been that easy. This whole time-"

Ugh, fine, she would do it herself. Rey reached up and started brushing at the foul muck clouding up Ben's brightness. His skin felt damp and sticky under her fingertips. "Off. Get off."

Yes, that was it. Snoke could see it, the information Ben Solo sought, spooling from the mind of his victim.

A location.

Yes, Ben. That's where you must go. Travel there and fulfill your-

Off. Get off.

Snoke's grip on Ben Solo wavered unexpectedly. Another source of power - as strong as the boy's, but even more raw and unstable - pushed against his own. Young Rey, is that you?

You're getting him dirty. Go away.

Snoke felt himself being pried loose. He fought it, digging in deeper. Ben Solo had only opened himself up like this a handful of times in the last decade; such a precious opportunity couldn't be wasted. Foolish child, now look here-

Get off. Go.

One more scourging swipe, and Snoke opened his eyes. Disconnected. Alone.

Well.

The girl may be a problem.

The Bloom Man slumped to the ground, unconscious.

"He's going to be eaten," Rey informed Ben.

Ben was shaking, sweating, and that lightning-flash haze shivered and trembled, but at least it wasn't coated in muck now. "He's not going to be eaten."

"The floor is evil."

"It's not the floor." He ran a hand over his face. "There's racing animals and slaves in the lower levels of the city. You're oversensitive and feeling their emotions. There's always someone being hurt in a place like this."

"I know what I see."

"No, you don't. Neither of us do. Kybertica isn't for Force-sensitives, it's-"

"I see you." She frowned and brushed the back of his neck again. "I know I see you."

Ben resolutely refused to turn towards her touch. He opened his mouth, and Rey saw half-words forming on the tip of his tongue, just hoping to come out - then felt their despair as they were swallowed. They squirmed on their way down his esophagus. "We're not safe here like this," Ben said. "We have what we need, and we have to go."

"Don't you see me? I'm not invisible, am I?"

(Distraction, she hears in her head.)

He coughs out something like a laugh. "Rey, you're so bright, it hurts me to look at you."

A beat.

"Oh," she said, comprehension dawning at last. "I've turned into a sun."

And she threw up on his shoes.

Standing on the bridge of the Finalizer, General Hux tried not to show shock when Snoke's holographic face appeared before him ten feet high. Even though he hated when that happened. "Supreme Leader. We're in the midst of a decisive battle against-"

"Yes. I know."

Of course he did. "Then you know it's going well."

"Indeed. I am pleased with your efforts, General Hux."

Hux tried not to preen in front of the other officers. It was unbecoming of his rank. "Thank you, Supreme Leader."

"Now pull back."

"I- I beg your pardon?"

"Pull back, I said." A pause, and Leader Snoke's gaze pierced his from across light years. "Ah. You question my wisdom."

Hux swallowed. "No, Supreme Leader. I merely-"

"It's all right. You feel my decision unwise." Snoke's voice took on a paternal tone. "I do not seek mindless obedience in my ranks, General Hux. What I do ask for is trust. If you trust your leader, all will be revealed."

"But- yes. Of course, Supreme Leader."

"Destroy any ships that are left; give no quarter. Leave your quarry to die alone. We no longer need them."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"I will be transmitting coordinates. Send your most trusted captain and her best team-" there could be no doubt who the most trusted captain was "-to that location to await my instructions. And you, General Hux: to you, I shall grant your greatest wish. It is time. Ready the weapon."

Yes. At last.

"As you command, Supreme Leader."

"Do not fail me, General Hux."

"I shan't, Supreme Leader."

Leia spends two standard hours trying to contact her brother before she gives up on reaching him by holo. "'Trust in the Force'," she mocks beneath her breath, moving into a cross-legged position. Her hips pop in protest. "The Force doesn't have message storage, farmboy."

Comm lines are dangerous right now. She's not quite under house arrest, but the revelation that the progeny of Darth Vader nearly became First Senator has sparked a witch hunt. She resigned her position, but everything Leia Organa has ever done is suspect. Everything she built, questionable. She is literally the fruit of the poisoned tree.

Nevertheless, she would prefer to use a comm. Because the scrutiny she is receiving (she spent ten hours in hearings yesterday, relentlessly attacked by those she knew were her enemies and those she thought were her friends) is nothing compared to what Luke now faces. This is not the best time for the two of them to be conspiring via the Force.

(More and more headlines:

SENATE REQUESTS DISBANDMENT OF TRAINING TEMPLE

JEDI MASTER WITHHOLDS ACADEMY REGISTRATION FROM INVESTIGATION TEAM

LUKE SKYWALKER: WAR HERO, OR SITH TIMEBOMB?

Not to mention the comment threads.)

"Luke," whispers Leia. She closes her eyes and stretches out with her feelings. It feels soothing, reaching for her brother, even across light years. It feels right. "Luke."

"Leia."

"Luke, you're an idiot."

"I know."

Leia doesn't open her eyes - not precisely - but her brother's face is solid and clear. He looks tired. She probably looks the same. "This isn't helping," she tells him. "Stonewalling only makes you look more like a threat."

"You know the Senators on that committee. Do they really think I'm secretly training Darksiders out here, just because I'm Darth Vader's son?"

"They're certainly suspicious."

Luke's mouth twitches into a smile beneath his beard. "How many Death Stars do we have to blow up to earn the benefit of the doubt in this galaxy?"

Leia can't help but smile back. "More than two, apparently."

For a moment, they are silent. For a moment, memories, made soft by time, drift back and forth between them. For a moment, the past doesn't hurt.

But only for a moment.

"They're coming, Luke," says Leia. "Mothma sent word. There's a group of First Order sympathizers on their way to take you and the students into custody."

"I know. I felt them. We're going to be 'questioned', right?"

"Or worse. The best thing to do is get on a transport and go to the Senate before they arrive. It'll give you protection and look like you're cooperating of your own accord."

"No."

"Then go into hiding."

"No."

Leia's vision of her brother wavers as her anger spikes. "You know why they're doing this. The sympathizers want the names of everyone you've trained so they can pass the list to the First Order. They'll hunt you all down and no one in the Republic will lift a finger to help. Even after everything we've done, they-"

"Leia. Leia, it's okay. I won't let anyone find Ben."

She can't help but laugh. "Luke, I'm not worried about that. It's been years. If you and I can't track him down, how can anyone else?"

(Her baby. Her dark-eyed, dark-haired baby, named for her only hope, who took his first steps around a Coruscanti conference table and wouldn't return her hug when she took him to Luke's temple for the last time.)

"I'm worried about you," she makes herself continue. "Come back here so we can talk face to face. Saving your temple requires strategy." Leia smiles again. "It's not like you can stand there with a laser sword and face down everyone who..."

This time, Luke doesn't smile back.

A feeling - hard, resolute, resigned, sad - bleeds across the galaxy from one twin's heart to the other's.

Leia's stomach drops. "No," she says.

"I'm sorry, Leia."

"Luke, you can't do this."

"It's the only way. I've destroyed all the records. The students are already gone. The longer I distract the sympathizers, the longer they'll have to escape."

"Your students just left you?"

"They thought I saved a ship for myself."

"But you didn't."

"No. I didn't. I'm the last record, you see."

Leia has not cried since the day Ben was born. She does not cry now. "Luke. I'm fighting alone here. Everything I've worked for, everything we've done, it's all being erased- you know what's coming next, don't make me go through another war without-"

Through the Force, she feels his hand cover hers. "I would never leave you if I didn't have to, Leia." Chapped lips, brushing her forehead. "I have loved you my whole life."

"I can't take any more loss."

"Sure you can. We both can. Aunt Beru told me I was the fussiest newborn she'd ever met. She said it was colic, but I think I was trying to find you. We were born into loss."

She smells smoke. Something is burning, worlds upon worlds away.

"Luke-"

"I'm sorry, Leia. For everything. But you'll be okay. I promise."

"Luke!"

He vanishes.

When shown video of Luke Skywalker's temple burning, Leia Organa does not cry.

When told the Jedi apprentices had turned their transports around and rushed to avenge their master, only to be obliterated in a 'misfire' from nearby mercenary ships, rendering her twin's sacrifice meaningless, Leia Organa does not cry.

Instead of crying, Leia Organa gathers her remaining allies, leaves the Republic, and begins the Resistance.

And when Leia Organa watched the Cobalt Squadron's call signals vanish one by one from her viewscreen-

"General? General, the squadron is taking heavy losses, Admiral Ackbar's ship is gone, the bombers have all been destroyed. We've had no communication from the ground. What are your orders?"

-Leia Organa did not cry.

"Abort the rescue. Bring back whoever's left."

"Yes, General. But… what about Commander Dameron?"

Leia sank into a chair. Her bones ached more and more with each passing war. "There's nothing we can do now," she murmured. "May the Force be with him."