Capture and interrogation was quick and almost painless. The Force made it much easier to retrieve information. I reveled in the ease it gave me. Ben was quite good at breaking the slaver's will. He quickly gave up the name and location of the overseer. The man slumped over, unconscious once Ben removed his influence.
He won't remember anything, I was assured.
It took some locating but the overseen was also captured, interrogated and released handily like a sport fish. I led the questioning and Ben merely opened the men's mind.
"Kadavo," the man slurred, "The Kiroans are on Kadavo."
"Who is going to buy them?" I put my hands behind my back and paced like Poseidon when he was presenting his debate.
"They are not for sale, they are going to be used to mine for spice," the man replied dully.
We pulled the location from him then I nodded to Ben and sat down to think.
We are going to pull this off at the auction. 3 days, I had 3 days to save an entire race.
Xxxxxxxxxx
I contacted the Pleione and the Scorpio and commanded them to bring my entire fleet. We will go to Kadavo and free the Kiroans on the day of the auction. I was ready.
With nothing to do but wait and no one to see, Ben and I were left to our devices. Since we had nothing to occupy ourselves, we argued loudly and unceasingly.
"You cheated!" Ben complained one night as I threw down a straight flush. The cards landed with a satisfying clatter. "Don't accuse me when you're just plain awful at baccarat!" I laughed.
I had stripped him to his skivvies. "Come on fold, you know you can't beat me."
Ben glowered from under a stormy brow. I smirked smugly. He looked pretty in the light from the flickering lamps. Candlelight was kind to him, I thought. It softened his harsh edges, smoothing out the planes of his body and faded the scars on his pale skin. His dark hair reflected the warm orange-red light.
Ben's raven brows drew together and threw the cards at me. "Deal," he growled.
"What else do you have to gamble with?" I expertly cut the deck. Fool, little did he know how right he was. I've been cheating on the last 7 turns. Hey, you don't live with perpetual gamblers and con men like Dionysus and Hermes without picking up a trick or two. I paused, ready to deal if I liked his offer. Ben ran his long fingers through his hair, ruffling it. I watched as he struggled with his pride.
I pursed my lips. "How about this, you win this round, you can sleep in the bed again." His eyes lit up, it's been a couple of days since he has been in the bed again. "If you lose, you sleep on the couch for a week." Ben narrowed his eyes at me. "Deal."
I dealt the cards and played a mean game. Though I cheated, he held the upper hand. Keeping my face completely blank, I surveyed my last hand. It was awful, all useless cards; the only option was to fold or to try to bluff my way out of it. Folding was basically losing so I chose to bluff.
Throwing the cards down confidently, I leaned back smugly. Ben's eyebrow twitched and he looked nervous. "Come on, you know you lost again, just fold," I taunted.
Ben looked up and a slow smile crept across his lips. He put his cards down and I felt a hot flush crawl through me. I looked down at his hand. Royal flush. A large pale hand turned over my cards and saw my losing hand.
"I guess I win," he smirked. "Don't be so cocky," I sniffed, "Left side is still mine." He waved his hand in agreement. Finishing my drink, I got ready for bed. Even though Ben hasn't shared the bed with me for a couple days, I was still so used to his routine, I didn't blink as he slid into bed. I lifted my data pad automatically as he pulled the covers over his chest. I moved my elbow without thought as he turned to face me. "You're too close to me," I said automatically, less of a complaint but more out of reflex.
"So, how long have you been fencing?" He settled down comfortably
"25 years, why?" I sent a message and composed another.
"That time, when we were fighting the nexu, you were right."
I didn't look up and said smugly, "I'm always right."
"You know what you're doing." He said after a pause.
"Of course I do, I don't spend 25 years learning a skill to be subpar at it." I frowned at my computer and pulled my hair over my shoulder to braid it.
"Can you teach me?"
I paused my dancing fingers, turning to him. He had my full attention, I studied his face scanning for any signs of mockery or sarcasm but Ben's face was open and sincere.
"Why?" I slowly began to finish the braid. Over, under, my fingers wove my hair neatly.
Ben bit his lip, his gaze fixed on my fingers. "Why?" I emphasized. "Well that girl I've been seeing in my visions? She's back. She's been back since you've kicked me out of the bed and I see that she's being trained by my uncle."
"The uncle that is a Master of meditation? So? How is that a threat?" I tied the end of my hair off.
Ben sighed. "He's not just a master of meditation. He's a Jedi master and I never completed my training under him."
I tucked that revelation away for another day to analyze. "What about Snoke? Isn't he teaching you?"
Ben turned onto his back and put his hands under his head. "No. he's holding back, he's teaching me just enough to keep me from straying but like you said, I'm a brute."
At last I put my computer aside and turned to face him. Ben fingered the end of my long braid meditatively. "I've seen you practice, you're incredible. The way you move…" he trailed off.
"You're not so bad yourself," I cocked my head. "You lack finesse but the basic skillset is there."
Ben heaved a sigh. "Yeah but it's not enough. I got my ass handed to me the day Starkiller base went down. An untrained scavenger girl beat me and gave me this," he gestured vaguely at his face. I leaned over him for a better look. Tracing the light scar that bisected his face with my fingers I remarked, "It's not bad, it's much better than before." Ben's warm breath touched my fingers as he exhaled.
"It's not the scar. Most of my scars have faded since that day." We left the subject of the scars on his back unsaid. He never talked about them and I never asked. I would sometimes see it when he came out of the refresher or when he dressed but Ben was always meticulous about keeping out of my sight. Not that I minded, they were horrific; I did not enjoy looking upon them. Scar tissue stretched from his lower back to his shoulder, branching like a tree. Sometimes I would feel their ridges when we would brush against one another. It took quite a bit of self control not to shudder from the feeling of such monstrous wounds
"I was cocky and distracted, she was untrained and yet she defeated me," he muttered. "Was she cute?" I quirked a brow. "Jealous?" he gave me a sidelong glance.
"Please, no one is as pretty as I," I shook my hair pridefully. One side of Ben's mouth lifted in a smile. "No. No one is," he reached forward and tucked my hair behind my ear.
He stared at me then cleared his throat. "Well there were so many voices in my head telling me to kill her, let her go, capture her, have mercy. There was too much and now with my uncle training her, she's going to be a threat and I need to have an edge. " I laid down and tucked my cold feet into his warm side. "Why you-" Ben squirmed away. I let out an uncharacteristic giggle that surprised the both of us. "Fine, I'll teach you, I have nothing else to do." Ben gave me a wry smile. "Well?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "No thank you?" I mock glared. Ben wrapped an arm around my body and pulled me close. "Thank you," he murmured. Sleepiness overtook me before I could even question him and I settled down in his hold.
xxxxxxxxx
"You can't just use a double handed overhead grip every single time!" I jabbed the training sword hard into his unguarded abdomen. Ben brought his arms down too late to deflect a painful blow. "Dead!" I planted my feet and used both hands on the hilt and with a physical explosion of violence, rapped him none too gently on the head, right shoulder, left hip and finally placed a knee right at his groin. We glared at each other, shoulders heaving with exertion, sweat cooling on our skin. I put my knee down and backed away. It's been 3 days and in those 3 days, Ben had progressed in leaps and bounds. He was far from my level, nowhere near my proficiency in skill and technique but I taught him to the best of my ability how to refine his skills, to fight with his head, not just with his arms. I was a harsh teacher, rarely giving praise and he rarely earned it. Nonetheless, he was learning to fight like a hunter. To observe the prey's weaknesses and strengths before going into a blinding offense.
"That won't overwhelm a smaller, faster opponent," I warned. "Let's take a break," I went to sit next to my bottle of water. Ben nodded and followed.
A call from my com make us stiffen. It was time, my fleet was here. A quick shower and then we made our way to the docks. I was greeted by my officers and went quickly into my ship. After being away from my ship and space for so long, the shadows from the harsh white fluorescent lights caressed me, taking away the heat from my skin, bathing me in its cool comforting darkness. I stepped onto the bridge, the breeze from the automatic doors blew strands of my hair back with a pneumatic hiss. I was home.
The crew saluted as I walked onto the bridge and I summoned all of my officers to the meeting room. They came greeting me politely, asking about my health and settling in their seats to look at me expectantly.
"Gentlemen, ladies, I have discovered that the Kiroans are kept on the mining moon of Kadavo. It will take 2 days to get to Kadavo and I want a planetary invasion."
I elaborated on my plan. Luna and a Hunter was going to pose as Ben and I for the auction to provide us with a solid alibi. Luna was chose since she was similar in build so the hologram and disguise would be seamless. Ben's match would be harder, he was very tall, most of my hunters were a few inches shorter. We could only hope that no one would notice that my husband shrank.
The day passed quickly, I attended to the affairs of my ships and various systems. My assistants had managed quite well in my stead but there some things only the Lady Galaxia Tarkin can do. After a full day of holo distance meetings, I was exhausted. I kicked off my stilettos and fell into bed. Elara went to me and I relaxed in a somewhat painful massage. Elara pinched, pulled, and kneaded the knots out of my body. When she was dismissed I could finally turn my neck without stiffness. I was very happy to sleep in my own bed. At long last I was alone. I stretched out selfishly. I didn't like it. The room was too silent, I had no one to rib or argue with. I sat up silk sheets in disarray around me, mussed from where I lay restlessly. I threw them off and they slid off the bed to pool onto the ground in a whisper of disapproval. Pouring myself a drink, I worked on some reports until I staggered into bed and fell asleep.
Rinse and repeat. The next day was as draining as the day before. I went to bed alone again but still suffered from insomnia. I was exhausted but couldn't sleep, I haven't for days. Every time I lie down I would just stay awake. I didn't want to take sleeping supplements but without sleep, I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be. Tired and annoyed, I dressed for bed, brushed my teeth and washed my face. Done, I slipped into bed bumping into a familiar figure. I smiled sleepily and curled up against his broad back. With a groggy murmur he turned over and draped an arm over. Satisfied I had the best sleep I had in days.
Waking up to a familiar weight around my waist I cracked an eye open and croaked, "Stop stealing the covers, I'm cold." Ben pulled the covers up over me and I settled in his hold again. Then I sat up, the realization hitting me like cold water to the face. "What are you doing here?!" I hissed slapping his arm. "I can't sleep without you and you can't either don't deny it. You've been exhausted for days." He said sleepily trying to pull me back down into bed. "Stop that!" I hit him again. "What if you were caught?! Get out!" I demanded. "I won't, you'll be fine."
He said flippantly. I hit him yet again trying to get through to that thick head of his. "If the Commander of the Knights of Ren is caught in the Grand Admiral's bed it spells disaster for the both of us understood?" I prodded him hard. "This." Poke. "Cannot." Poke. "Happen." Poke. "Again. Understood?"
"I understand," he said, giving me a look that made me highly uncomfortable.
xxxxxxx
I didn't meet Ben's eye as Kadavo came into view. I commanded a full planetary bombardment, targeting large structures. Buildings and cliffs once mightily defying the slaves' efforts to escape, disintegrated into ash. While confusion reigned and klaxons screamed I sent my landing crafts and fighter planes. Watching in deep satisfaction, I waited until they contacted me. In the meantime, I instructed Ben to find my Togrutas.
Once the battle was fully underway, I commanded a transport for bring me down to the surface. I wanted to supervise everything since an overseer called for a parley. Something went wrong the minute I left my flagship. The transport rocked from the explosions, it roiled onto its side throwing me and the storm troopers together in a tangle. I bit my lip as the men's sharp armor slammed into me. I gripped the transport handle so hard my knuckles went white as the pilot fought to control the craft and avoid more fire.
"Hold on, Admiral! We're close to the surface!" The pilot shouted. The transport shuddered from another explosion and suddenly went into a steep nose dive, leaving my stomach 1000 feet behind.
"Find out what is going on!" I commanded. The troopers shouted my instructions and I waited for the information to be relayed to me.
"The pilot's dead!" my commander shouted. "Admiral, what do we do?"
"Send someone to pilot the ship and stable it. I command everyone to evacuate the ship!" I instructed. My men leapt to follow my orders. With a jerk that made us stagger, the craft stabilized itself long enough for the doors to open.
"Sorry, Admiral," my Commander apologized before looping a cable around me and clipping it to his belt. Putting his arm around me, he held me firmly to his side while activating his jetpack with the other hand. He grabbed a blaster from his holster and jumped out.
I managed a gasp before descending into chaos. Fire and debris rained down like divine punishment. Dust obscured the landscape with deadly blaster fire cutting through it. The noise was unbearable, I could hardly think. The explosions were deafening, leaving tinnitus in my ears and making my head ring unpleasantly. The screech of tearing metal and screams of the injured filled the air. The trooper wove through the dangers expertly while I held on tightly to his neck.
He reached a squadron of clones clustered around Hux. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Kiros is under your command, the Rebels were routed. Your politicians are left behind to govern until the Kiroans return." He replied.
"Where are the Rebels?" I asked, growing concerned. "I had them followed but there were left in the Vorrveep cloud. But judging from their route, I would guess that they were headed to Mandalore." I froze. How was this happening? How were they keeping up with me?! A loud eruption made us duck instinctively. This was not a place to ponder.
"Galaxia, this isn't a place for an Admiral, you need to return to the Pleione. You can return when we have this colony under control," Hux shouted over the noise. I nodded and commed a starfighter to retrieve me. A blue and white fighter swooped down in minutes and my men covered me with blaster fire as I scrambled into the cockpit. Crawling into planes in heeled boots is difficult alright?
Xxxxxxx
Back in the infirmary I sat on the bed trying to apply the bacta one handed on my shoulder. It was hard, my body was sore and the constant twisting was bothering my back. I dismissed the droids and medics, there were far many more storm troopers and officers that needed their expertise far more than I. I only had superficial cuts and scrapes that an application of ointment would heal.
Ben walked in and went to me, helping himself to the bacta as well. "Have you found the Kiroans?" I asked hopefully. He shook his head and I sighed.
"Let me do that," he gestured to my back and I grudgingly turned to allow him access.
"Ouch!" I hissed while Ben dabbed bacta on my shoulder and elbow. "Sorry," he muttered and daubed more gently. "You can't help it, just do it faster," I gritted my teeth. I caught a glimpse at myself in the mirror and stifled a gasp. My pale skin was mottled with angry red purple bruises that were blooming along my shoulder all the way to my arm. My knuckles were bruised and bloody too.
I blinked away tears as I applied the stinging solution to my own hands.
"I never knew how much it hurts," I began.
"What hurts?" Ben looked into my eyes intensely.
"The bacta, I apply it to you all the time and you don't flinch."
Ben looked away and returned to his task, "I'm used to it."
"Done." He grasped my hand and I bit my lip from the pain.
"I won't let anyone touch you. No one will ever hurt you, as long as I live." He said confidently. I gave him a tired smile and let him wrap his arms around me. I leaned into his hold and closed my eyes. Resting my head on his broad chest I focused on the rough linen of his shirt under my cheek and the sound of his heartbeats. I felt him hesitate before putting his hands on my back. I wanted to stay in his hold for a long time but I had to think and his presence was distracting. Pushing away, I felt him reluctantly let go. I put a hand on his face, rubbing my thumb across his cheek for a quick moment and then distanced myself.
"Find my people."