"I can do it," Sam said when Nellith explained the situation in whispers. He looked to a sleepy Amilyn. "We can work together on the deactivation process. Helps to have two hands."

"Agreed," Nellith said.

"I can protect the rest of you, since I'm not as good with the fancy stuff," Tallis said.

"And Miri and I can make sure we keep the Second Order off of us," Amilyn finished. "It sounds like we've got a plan."

"Then we should execute it," Sam said, looking to Miri. "Lead the way."

After a few corridors and stairwells, Miri revealed a secret passageway into the boiler and computer rooms hidden within the prisms. The metal and durosteel that was typical in places such as the Imperial Palace looked strange how, after three days in the Rainbow Palace, with no other place to really go.

"Come on," Miri whispered as they continued into the durosteel labyrinth beneath the palace.

They winded through the glimmering control boards until they entered a complex with gridded exits showing the meadow as the sun began to show the faintest sign of life over the meadow's horizon.

"We need to hurry," Miri said. "Once morning comes, and the conference has assembled, we're out of time, and if we're close when these things go off. . ."

"We know," Amilyn said, her voice hollow.

"How many bombs are we dealing with?" Nellith asked.

Miri bit her lip. "Two centers, one under the New Republic table, one under the First Order. There are big bombs, and several land mines guarding those, and some small bombs too, to help exaggerate the firepower."

"Good thing we've got two mechanics," Nellith said. "And a third one, if things get dicey."

Tallis looked at her, blinking in surprise.

"You built your own speeder out of junk, and tons of lightsabers— you clearly have the know-how," Nellith said. "And we need that."

"How do we start?" Sam asked.

"Let me show you to the New Republic section," Miri said. "It would be more devastating if the galaxy lost them."

Nellith nodded, swallowing back her own panic at the possibilities of the loss of her parents, aunt, and everyone she'd truly known. Miri led them to a large room, with several land mines laid out, with very little room to step. . .

"Follow me," Nellith said to Sam. "Some of these aren't activated. I can sense it."

She reached out in the Force, searching for the signature of electricity in the Force. Trusting in the Force, and in her own ability, she stepped forward, eyes closed. One step. Then two. Then three.

The Force was a map, truer than her own eyes would have told her. Seeing everything like this wasn't overwhelming like it usually was. It was in fact, soothing, and she felt alert and alive like she did when she had just awakened in the morning, and not from nightmares.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing in front of the bombs, and Sam was right behind her.

"We'd better get to work," Nellith said. "Do you recognize the type?"

"I know the schematics," Sam said, kneeling beside her and opening up the panel on one. "We want to cut the blue wires. It'll cut all the power without making it blow us up."

"Good," Nellith said, as she watched his demonstration. "We've got this."

As the sun rose over the meadow, they worked on taking out all of the bombs. They also began to hear a ticking down when the sun had risen high enough to be seen, an eerie technological chant that reminded them of how close their deaths were.

They were thorough, and checked every bomb. Finally, they crossed over the minefield and to Miri. Nellith looked out at a gridded exit.

"That took too long, the sun is almost completely in the sky," Nellith said.

"We'll have to hurry on the next one, then," Sam said, as they started toward the second chamber. It was a repeat, but quicker, now that they had gotten practiced. It was a simple routine now, but it was one that made their hearts pound out of their chests and made Nellith afraid for how long it would be until she went up in flames trying to save her parents.

It'll only hurt a second, she told herself as she kept cutting wires, not even reattaching panes anymore. She had to save them, this time it truly counted. This was her chance to redeem herself after the incident on Yavin IV.

"I got it!" Sam yelled as he cut the last wire. "Let's get out of here!"

It was only after they crossed when they realized they heard more ticking.

"I thought we got all of them," Nellith said confused, looking to Miri.

"So did I. . ." Miri said, and then they realized where the ticking was coming from. Miri pounded the side of the wall in a strange pattern, revealing a hidden door into another passage, where the ticking was louder.

"I don't believe it," Miri said. "They were going to kill my father, too."

"All their enemies dead in one swoop," Amilyn said. "We need to warn them."

"But we also need to disable the bomb," Sam said.

Nellith looked out the gridded exit. "And we're running out of time. The sun's over the horizon— they must be gathering by now."

"I'll do it," Tallis said suddenly. "I'll disable the bomb, you get the conference room cleared out."

"No," Nellith whispered, shaking her head. "I'll do it, I can do it, I-"

Tallis took her face into his calloused hand. "I'm less important to the galaxy if I fail, Your Highness. It'll be okay, we'll see each other again in a few minutes."

Nevertheless, he kissed her, then disappeared like a ghost.

"Come on," Miri said. "We can't waste this."

Nellith burst into the chamber room, and stared down Andromeda Hux. She vaulted over the New Republic table, and activated her magenta lightsaber.

"I have new evidence," Nellith said as she approached Andromeda Hux. "She's planted bombs underneath this room— we have to leave!"

"Miranda! You didn't!" King Ambrose sounded disappointed and afraid for his daughter.

"I did, and we have to go," Miri said, climbing over the table herself. "Everyone needs to leave the room, there's still a bomb that's going to kill us—"

BOOM.

Underneath the table for the Artorian nobility, a much weaker bomb than expected went off. Bodies went flying, and people ran out of the conference room. Nellith could feel everything, the pain and fury—

"FATHER!" Miri screamed and ran to her father, who was badly burnt and clearly about to die. She dove to her knees, sobbing as she cradled her father's head in her lap. He reached a trembling, scorched hand to her cheek, and as soon as it touched her cheek, it fell away.

Nellith could feel his heartbeat stagger then die all at once. She reached a hand to her heart, and felt desolation and devastation take place, drowning out all noise and all else. She would have completely lost herself to it, if she hadn't felt a hand on her shoulder, returning her to the present.

She whirled around to see a panicked Galen Palpatine.

"Where's Tallis?" he demanded, clapping his hands to Nellith's shoulders.

"I don't know, he was supposed to defuse the final bomb," Nellith said, her voice high and panicky. She realized abstractly that tears were falling down her cheeks. Nothing about this felt real. "I don't know where he is!"

"We need to get out of here," Galen said. He looked past her to Miri. "Leave your father, we need to leave before the flames engulf the palace!"

Miri shook her head. Nellith rushed to Miri's side, and took her hand, willing the feelings of urgency Miri had once inspired in her into Miri. Miri blinked, shuddered, and then rose to her feet as they followed Galen out of the planet. Firefighters ran in past them as they ran out to the open airstrip.

Nellith ran out to see Second Order ships leaving. Overwhelmed by pain, fear, and desolation, Nellith dropped to her knees and screamed like she did on Yavin IV— but to no effect this time.

She felt as cracked as the Rainbow Palace now was.