Things are getting better, but still Rey exists under a thin veil of grief and depression. She's not sure how to pull herself out of it.
The initial shock of regaining her memory is over. The very thought of her beloved Sheev is no longer utterly debilitating. And, yes, there are still tears. But Rey has thought about Kylo's betrayal enough, and sufficient time has passed, that some days she can even begin to look at her situation somewhat objectively. The distance helps.
Activity helps too, for Rey is doing more these days. More outings with Shan, more appearances as Empress and, of course, her visits to Bast. Rey now goes home four times a week to see her boys.
At a year and a half, the twins are at an adorable but challenging age. Hego and Bane have dropped their morning nap, so they are ready to play nonstop until lunch. Exploring their world and discovering new skills week to week. And, they are discovering the Force. None of the nannies know what to make of this. But Rey does. Because she did this once before.
Rey remembers the never-ending tantrums, the Force visions disguised as nightmares, and the obsessive urges to repeat skills over and over again. She remembers how Sheev would watch his father closely, mimicking him any time he used the Force, sometimes to disastrous results. She understands now that her boys view babyproofing and locked doors as challenges rather than deterrents. She knows that her children's heightened senses make them prone to extreme reactions to minor things. And like their father and their long gone brother, the twins are quick to anger, fast to frustration and heedless in the face of danger.
These are not normal children, and Rey knows not to expect normal behavior from them.
So when the Empress walks in to find a purple faced and screaming Hego in the arms of a frustrated nanny, Rey knows to take him aside and hand him a blue holochron. Just holding the Jedi relic used to calm Sheev, and it works with similar success for the twins. And when things get really bad and Bane is so worked up that he can't calm down, Rey will just whisk him away to the hidden room in the castle basement that hides the holochrons. There, in the small room filled with mostly blue cubes, but also red pyramids, her overwhelmed little boy can feel the Force resonate and find his own emotional equilibrium.
One well-meaning but artless day-shift nanny comments on how much it helps the twins to see their mother more often these days. You must be looking forward to when your work on Coruscant is finished, she tells Rey, because then you will be home again full time. That leads Rey to wonder what exactly the Bast staff thinks she is doing on Coruscant, for she had just assumed that the entire household knew of her rift with Kylo. How Milo has managed to keep their separation under wraps is a mystery.
But however awkward and guilt-inducing these observations are, at their core they are accurate, Rey knows. For Kylo is right—her boys need her. Rey is in a unique position to understand their struggles. And their need for her will only grow with time as the twins continue to develop in the Force. Already, her four days a week is not enough.
Rey knows that she needs to go home. And that's why she ends up sitting on Cresta Cole's purple couch again.
The old lady purses her boldly painted lips as Rey speaks of her situation. Then the secret Lady Sidious starts imparting her no-nonsense wisdom. "You need to figure out what you want. You don't have to justify it to anyone else, but you will need to justify it to yourself. Only two people ever really know what goes on in a marriage. So don't let other people's expectations sway you. And for Gods' sake, don't start reading the haters on the holonet." Madame Cole peers closely at Rey now. "Are you one of those girls who cares what other people think?" She says this like it's a bad thing. Then, with a haughty wave and a sniff Coruscant's Underworld queen adds, "I was never one of those girls."
Well, of course not, Rey thinks, because she is Cresta Cole. You don't become a legendary Madame and care about your reputation.
But figuring out what you want in life is easier said than done. "I just want to be happy," Rey sputters out. Desperately, she wants to be happy again. For once Rey had thought that the loneliness and insecurities of Jakku were behind her as Empress. But they bedevil her still, only now for completely different reasons.
"Okay, then when was the last time you were happy?" Pragmatic Cresta Cole seems bound and determined to solve this problem for Rey. It's easy to see how this woman built a business empire of her own. She has an innate pragmatism that resonates with ever practical Rey.
"I was happy before when I didn't know about Sheev. When I didn't know the truth of the past. And before I . . . before Snoke," Rey finishes lamely. She doesn't want to talk about what she did with Snoke.
"Well, then, there's your solution. Get the Muun to wipe your brain again. And then it will be like none of it ever happened." Her hostess smiles brightly at this eureka moment.
"What?" That is NOT the solution Rey had envisioned.
Lady Sidious just shrugs her dainty shoulders. "Well, why not? It worked last time," she reasons.
"But it was all a lie! I don't want to live a lie!"
Her ancient hostess calls her on this with a challenging look. "Look, girl, you yourself are a lie. Fancy Empress Rey rescued from Jakku into a perfect marriage is a lie. And unless the Sith have changed in the last thirty years, much of what they are and what they do is a lie. Oh, I've heard their bullshit about how truth depends on your point of view. But the truth of life with a Sith is pretty ugly. You know that as well as I do. So you don't want to live a lie? I can respect that. But then you will have to accept the ugly truth."
Now the plain spoken Madame Cole gets personal. "When we first met, my Sheev would tell me how I reminded him of his sister." She snorts and frowns. "How's that for romantic? It took me years to learn that his sister was dead. Dead because Sheev had killed her along with the rest of his family. How's that for an ugly truth?" Lady Sidious shakes her head. "Killing your kin is some twisted rite of passage for the Sith. Sheev did it. And I know your Ren did it. Only it was couched as a military victory over his mother and his uncle." The old dowager scoffs. "I saw it for what it was all along."
"Kylo killed his father too," Rey whispers.
"Yes, you know where all the bodies are buried, I'll bet. Just like I did. That matters, Rey. You know his secrets, he knows yours. That in itself has value. It's a twisted kind of intimacy." And then Madame Cole says what Rey remembers Snoke once telling her. "Power can be very lonely. Your Emperor will become increasingly isolated. And so will you. It might be better to be allied together than to be lonely apart. For over time, you will need each other more than ever. And not just for fucking your magical Light Side pussy or whatever you call it."
Her magical what? Rey blinks at this language. But Cresta Cole just brays out a loud laugh at Rey's shocked expression.
"Oh, come on, I worked in whorehouses. I know all about pussy, Empress. I made good credits off pussy." Lady Sidious is beaming and proud as she says this, if you can believe it. Then she looks at Rey with an expression of respect as she muses, "I was good in bed but not that good. Sheev never saw the Force when I fucked him."
Then abruptly, the old lady is serious again. Her demeanor shifts from outrageous to motherly in an instant. "Look, sometimes you win by just surviving. If you get through this and you stay together, then you kids will be fine. And it will all be okay in the end. That's how Sheev and I did it. We were far from a perfect couple. But he wouldn't give up and I mostly hung around and we ended up married almost sixty years."
"Sixty years?" Wow, is all Rey can think.
"Yeah, sixty years with a Sith." The Lady Sidious grins. "They ought to put my name on their temple wall. Because that is an accomplishment." And now, she switches topics. "How is Shan?"
"Actually, she's great," Rey admits with some jealousy. "She's very adaptable, really. Nothing much seems to phase her." And suddenly it dawns on Rey that, all in all, Shan Damask is amazingly chill about being risen from the dead almost a century later.
"That's the Jedi in her that you're seeing. The Jedi were always very Zen about stuff. They prided themselves in keeping their cool. They're nothing like the volatile Sith. My Sheev would get worked up in an instant and start shooting lightning. And then five minutes later he was fine." The old dowager shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "He could be worse than a teenaged girl with all his drama. So high maintenance."
"Yeah," Rey says as insight flashes up to her. "I guess that's how it works for Snoke and Shan. She's very low maintenance."
"I knew Shan briefly and I only knew Snoke through Sheev for the most part. But I never saw the attraction," her hostess remarks. "Him a Sith so Dark, her a Jedi girl so Light. I have no idea what those two had in common. Sheev didn't see it either. But then, he would never have fucked a Jedi. He hated the Jedi after what happened." The old dame purses her cherry red painted lips. "You know, the Muun treated Shan like a queen as far as I could tell. Well, except for that whole Sith honor killing business. That didn't go over so well with Shan, as you can imagine." Madame Cole looks to Rey now. "Shan's a woman who knows a thing or two about a difficult Sith. Have you asked her for advice?"
Well, not really, and the few times Shan Damask has tried to talk to Rey, Rey has shut the conversation down. She and Shan are companionable friends, but not true confidantes. Rey can't help but be suspicious of Shan's motives given her marriage to Snoke. And the one time Rey and Shan had spoken of the separation, Shan had seemed to urge Rey to make the best of it. And really, that's the advice Madame Cole has given her too. But somehow it comes out as a lot less 'stand by your man' when it comes out of the foul mouth of this sassy old dame. And that makes the advice much more palatable to Rey.
"Shan can be sort of . . . docile." Rey can't think of any other word to describe it. "For a Jedi, she seems awfully accommodating of Snoke," the Empress confides. "Honestly, I expected there to be a lot more conflict between them."
"Oh, she was never the heroine type. Shan was a perky librarian or something like that. But, yeah, come to think of it, she turned out very traditional for a Jedi girl. She wasn't your typical high-minded, ball-breaking, saber-swinging Jedi woman." Lady Sidious gives a wry smile and speaks with something that sounds like begrudging respect. "Back in the day, some of those Jedi bitches were fierce."
And this gives Madame Cole pause for a moment. Then, she starts to muse. "There are different kinds of strength. You don't have to rule the galaxy and swing a lightsaber to be strong. Or run a business or command an army. There's a strength that doesn't come with impressive titles and big accomplishments. But don't overlook it. Shan's got that strength. Lots of women do." The old lady settles back in her chair and fixes Rey with a firm look. "I'm talking about people who persevere and endure. They hold families together, they find a way to make rent each month, and they deal with the setbacks of life day in, day out. I saw it all the time with the girls who worked for me." She gives Rey an appraising look now. "Yeah . . . you're one of those women. The type who will bend but not break. Don't forget that I know your story. You are very resilient, Rey."
"That's what Kylo says."
Cresta Cole nods. "He knows you well, then."
"Yeah, I suppose he does." Rey's datapad starts buzzing loudly on the table beside her. She forgot to mute it. It must be a message from Kylo. And now Rey has the urge to update Cresta Cole on what's changed between her and Kylo since they last spoke. "Kylo and I still live apart. But I see him pretty often now."
Old Lady Sidious doesn't miss a beat. "See him like you talk to each other? Or see him like you fuck him?"
Rey blushes.
"So you fuck him." Cresta Cole grins ear to ear.
"Yes."
The first Empress just shrugs this off. "Okay, then. Whatever works for you, girl. You do you."
There goes her datapad again. It buzzes loudly. "I'm sorry. I should have muted it," Rey sheepishly tells her hostess. She picks it up to set it on vibrate and checks to see who is sending her an urgent message. Did something happened to one of her boys?
The message is not from her husband or Milo. It's from Shan and it's marked urgent. It's blinking, flashing, screaming URGENT. "Excuse me a moment," Rey frowns and opens it.
Snoke knows. Trust no one.
What? Rey reads the message again. Then a third time. She has no idea what it means other than it is a warning. And, oh Gods, Rey has a bad feeling about this.
"What is it?" Lady Sidious demands. "You look white as a sheet."
"I don't know," Rey confesses. "I don't understand it."
"Hmmph. You understood it enough to look scared," Madame Cole observes tartly.
"Here," Rey hands over the datapad.
Lady Sidious reads the message and then sighs. "Nice of her to give you a head's up. Shan always was a nice girl."
"What does it mean?" What's going on, Rey wonders. Suddenly, she's very afraid of what she doesn't know.
"If I had to guess, I'd say it means your man is plotting against the Muun. And he got caught." Cresta Cole states the obvious inference. "The Apprentice always makes a move against his Master. That is the way of the Sith. And your man certainly has ample reason."
"What do I do?" Rey whispers.
Cresta Cole looks her in the eye. She's experienced in this sort of thing. "If I'm right, then this is a coup attempt. You flee and you hope your man wins."
Rey swallows hard.
"Go!" Old Lady Sidious commands her and Rey needs no further urging. She's on her feet and out the door, yanking the hood of her long black cape down over her features. The pair of stormtroopers waiting in the hallway are hot on her heels and nothing seems out of the ordinary as Rey climbs into the waiting speeder and instructs them to take her back to Snoke's apartment. But as the speeder approaches the rooftop landing platform, Rey sees that a First Order shuttle is idling next to her red TIE. A uniformed officer awaits her arrival in front of a squad of troopers. They have their guns drawn.
Going to back the apartment might have been a big mistake, Rey realizes. But there's no turning back now. She takes a deep breath and summons the Force. The Force never fails Rey when she is desperate. She is going to talk her way out of this, if she can.
So the Empress alights from the speeder as if nothing is amiss. She marches straight up to the waiting First Order officer. He bows slightly at her approach, then tells her lies in clipped tones, "There is a credible threat against you, Empress. We are here to keep you safe." He gestures to the shuttle ramp. "If you will get onboard the shuttle, we will take you to a secure location."
The Empress nods and then stares deeply into the officer's eyes from beneath her hood. "You don't need to take me to a secure location." Her voice is thick with suggestion in the Force. The officer blinks back at her and Rey repeats, "You don't need to take me to a secure location."
"I don't need to take you to a secure location."
"Very good," she approves and the man smiles automatically. "You will personally accompany me to Bast Castle in my TIE." Again, the man blinks at her with blank eyes. So Rey repeats once more the heavy mental urging, "Lieutenant, you will personally accompany me to Bast Castle in my TIE."
"I will personally accompany you to Bast Castle in your TIE."
"And you will dismiss your men."
"I will dismiss my men."
Five minutes later, Rey is prepping the TIE for takeoff with the hapless lieutenant at her side. Her prototype TIE is a two-seater, so there is no ability to carry any troopers with them. Which is just as well.
As soon as her TIE breaks Coruscant's orbit and makes the jump to lightspeed on course for Naboo, Rey stands and turns away from her conscripted co-pilot. Ostensibly, she discretely adjusts the now muddled long skirt of her dress. TIE cockpits were not designed with elegant red day gowns in mind as attire for pilots. The lieutenant respectfully averts his gaze so he misses the flash of lean thigh as Rey reaches for her hidden snub blaster. Stealthily, she adjusts it to maximum stun. Then the Empress turns and calmly fires.
Rey doesn't know what Kylo is up to or how it will turn out. But she knows that her two little boys are alone and defenseless at Bast Castle. The little princes in Vader's tower might be innocent children, but they are the next Skywalkers in line for succession as Sith. And that makes them very vulnerable to a vengeful Darth Plagueis who might just decide to vent his rage on what's left of his doomed clan. Normally, the Jakku survivor Rey would run from danger. She long ago learned that's how you live to fight another day. But this is different. Rey is bound and determined to run headlong towards danger today.
Rey has already lost one boy to the Sith. She's not going to lose another.
As soon as her ship enters the Naboo system, it's clear that Rey has been found out. A squadron of regular short range TIEs surround her ship as their commander sternly informs Rey that they will escort her directly to Bast. Rey doesn't bother to reply over the comlink channel, but she doesn't resist either. Once at Bast, Rey sets her ship down in its usual spot right up front.
Climbing out of her prototype TIE in her best dress and Sith cloak isn't exactly graceful, but Rey manages. At least the voluminous fabric hides the snub blaster that's still clutched in her hand. That's key because a squad of troopers has formed a wide perimeter around her ship. Rey calmly ignores this and strides forward to the castle entrance.
Milo awaits her there, as usual. But the presence of the frowning First Order officer waiting at his side is anything but typical.
"Welcome home, Empress." Milo gives her his standard bow and greeting. But his demeanor lacks all of his usual warmth. His kindly, wrinkled eyes are warning her.
The officer at his side waves Milo away dismissively and rudely steps in front of him. "You are under arrest, Empress," he announces.
"On whose authority?" Rey demands.
The officer looks caught off guard by this question. Apparently, like the rest of the First Order, he's not used to accounting for his actions where arrests are concerned. The Sixth Amendment and Due Process are not big in Kylo's Empire. He thinks for a minute and then settles on, "By my authority as a Major in the First Order."
Rey coolly raises an eyebrow at this. "For what charge?"
Again, this Major seems annoyed at having to explain himself. "It's for your own protection, my lady."
Rey draws herself up to her full height and stares haughtily at her would-be captor. She might be trash from Jakku, but she's in full Sith Empress attire and demeanor now. Noli me tangere, fuckers. "The last man who tried to arrest me was General Phelps on the Finalizer," Rey informs this obnoxious officer. "Did you know Phelps, Major? He was my husband's second-in-command at the end of the war. Phelps arrested me for treason and two hours later Kylo cleaved him in two with his lightsaber."
"Lady—" the Major tries unsuccessfully to interrupt.
But Rey is emboldened by her need to get to her sons. All mother bear rushing to their rescue. No one is going to stand in her way. "Only two people in this galaxy have authority over me, Major. The Supreme Leader and the Emperor. I do not answer to you."
"Lady—" Again, the Major tries to break in.
But she speaks over him with a glare. "I am accountable only to the Sith."
The Major steps forward and Rey's right hand flashes up to reveal her snub blaster. Once again, Rey fires. The stun bolt hits the Major flush in the chest and he drops to the ground.
The Empress neatly sweeps over him as the assembled troopers stand in stunned confusion over what to do next. Do they fire on the Empress? Arrest her? No one seems to know how to handle this situation.
Milo doesn't raise an eyebrow. He simply offers Rey his arm and together they enter the castle. "I'm here to see the boys," she leans in to tell the castlekeeper. Milo is Snoke's man through and through, but still Rey trusts him. She probably shouldn't, but she does. "Milo, what's going on?"
"The Sith are settling their differences," he replies ominously. "Nestor Ren has been arrested for treason."
Rey looks sharply at Milo. "Oh, no."
He continues revealing bad news. "Anyone connected with the Ren is under suspicion, my lady. Yourself included." The old retainer halts and looks Rey squarely in the eye. "Do not attempt to flee, my lady. It will only make things worse."
Rey nods her understanding. Yes, she knows. Snoke himself has told her that there is no sanctuary from the Sith. There is nowhere to hide from Darth Plagueis. But damn it, Snoke owes her. For healing him and for healing Shan.
Rey takes a deep, ragged breath. Whatever is really going on and however this turns out, she will stand by her children to the end. "I'm here to protect my boys. I'm not running away, Milo. I'm through running away."
Behind her, Rey hears the feet of many stormtroopers. She glances back to see most of the squad now following her and Milo into the castle. Maybe she should be more frightened, but it's not the first time Rey has been a prisoner at Bast Castle.
As she and Milo enter, Hego comes bounding up to her first. He happily slams his little body into her leg. "Mama!" he squeals as she bends to lift him high above her head. Unlike Sheev who was the picture of his father with pale skin, black hair and dark eyes, the twins are a mix of her and Kylo. But of the two, Hego looks the most like the famous Lord Ren.
As Rey hugs the little boy tightly, she can't help but wonder where Kylo is and what's happening to him now. Is she already a widow? Rey knows that in the high stakes game of power of the Sith, you don't just lose, you die. And that thought fills Rey with regrets. She bites her lip. Oh, Kylo, she thinks. Come home to me.