A/N Aw thanks to all my reviewers! You made my day! X0
Poe is twitchy as he stands next to Laherra, looking out the viewscreen of the old First Order Command Shuttle, possibly the same one that he was staring down at the battle of Crait. The armoured doors of the Hutt fortress are coming into view across the canyon and Poe feels his adrenaline pumping up as the AT-HH's pull the Seige Cannon into place. Resistance fighters hover on the right side of his command shuttle and TIE fighters on the left, as legions ground troops flood the single dirt road leading to the doors.
"I hope Rey's in place."
Laherra grunts in agreement but is focused in front of them as Poe glances over his shoulder at Finn.
"You ready to do this?"
Finn takes a deep breath and slides Kylo Ren's mask down over his face, locking it place and turning to his friend. The haunting, mechanical voice gives Poe shivers down his spine.
"Escape is futile." Finn says cryptically, clenching a fist in front of him for effect, before an uncharacteristic laugh comes from the mask and Finn holds out his hands in question.
"That felt right, but how did it look?" He asks and Poe winces at the image of Kylo Ren before him.
"It was very convincing until you laughed. Remember, you're in charge and pissed off about absolutely everything. All you have to do is make a few appearances here and there, so they think Ben is calling the shots out here." He says with a smirk.
Laherra interrupts them with his usual stoicism.
"We are in position. Do we proceed?"
Poe grins at Laherra with bedroom eyes and gestures towards the fortress.
"By all means, Captain."
Laherra nods at Finn and watches with Poe as he walks away towards the lowering pad of the shuttle.
"Is this going to work?" Laherra asks in a low voice for Poe only and Poe darts a glance around before lifting a hand to caress Laherra's cheek.
"It has to. Hopefully Finn can keep them fooled so they don't suspect anything." Poe says with his most charming smile and Laherra cracks a smirk as he turns back to the viewscreen.
"You wanted to wear the mask, didn't you?"
Poe faces forward as well with a resigned huff.
"Apparently I don't have the height to pull it off."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She has always hated this dank, filthy room.
Even more when its spinning.
Leia tries to focus on the plate of slop that one of her guards has shoved in front of her but to no avail. Shaking off some of the fog from her brain, she blearily starts realizing that something is going on inside Jabba's old palace.
"What's going on?" She asks no one in particular and is surprised when a slightly smug voice from beside her, answers.
"Your son may have taken offense to your kidnapping and ransom."
Leia turns her head and when it stops spinning again, she sees one of the Knights of Ren leaning against the elevated platform that she has (once again) been chained to.
At least she has her clothes on this time and there's no giant slug yanking on the end of her chains.
"My son… is here?" She croaks with a dry throat and the Knight immediately hands her the waterskin from his belt. She eyes it warily and can sense the man's amusement.
"It won't sedate you, General."
Leia decides that it doesn't make much difference if it does or not, and she takes a long drink to slake her powerful thirst. She immediately tastes something in the water but, after a moment of panic, she feels her mind start to clear and her vision steadies.
She raises an eyebrow at the Knight and hears a quiet chuckle from under his helmet.
"I guess I know where Kylo got that look from." He mumbles and then stands straighter as the Master Knight sashays into the room. Her fair hair and pale skin may have been beautiful once but the hateful look on her face skewed Zara Ren's features into harshness.
Leia feigns confusion and drowsiness as Zara approaches her and sneers.
"He came for her. The kriffing idiot has all of the First Order AND the Resistance forces ready to break down the front door."
Zara leans over and rattles Leia's chain with a grin.
"And I'm guessing that the child has been left behind, safe and sound, on Takodana."
Zara laughs gleefully as she turns back to the other Knight and ignores Leia.
"All the Acolytes have left and will meet up with us at the rendezvous, my spy is ready to intercept the child on my signal and by the time Kylo gets that door open, we will all be long gone."
Leia keeps up the charade of being under the effects of sedation, but can't help the fear that runs through her at the mention of Hanna.
Zara smiles sweetly at the other Knight as she starts walking away again.
"Looks like you'll get that little sister you always wanted, Kato." She teases with a laugh.
"Get that prisoner ready to move." She says over her shoulder and then she's gone.
Leia waits a couple more minutes before sitting up and giving 'Kato Ren' a hard look.
He removes his helmet and returns her look.
"To be clear, I think your granddaughter should stay exactly where she is, and I hope Kylo blasts Zara off the face of the planet." He says as he moves to unlock Leia's chains.
Leia mentally takes the Knight's measure and decides she doesn't have much choice in friends at the moment.
She sighs heavily.
"What's the plan then?"