The bright lights of the luxurious living quarters on Hosnian Prime feel garish and clinical to the young Ben Solo. His mother's spacious condominium is befitting of a Senator, but it's hardly a home. Various colored crystal ornaments decorate every surface, some even hanging from the ceiling. The furniture is also brightly colored, with lime green cushion chairs and a thin, scarlet red oval table. The maids keep everything meticulous, nothing ever out of place. Not that the Senator was home a lot anyway, always off-world on diplomatic business.
"You just need to focus, Ben. The force is with you, it is strong," Uncle Luke's words echo in his mind, the words he'd drill during Jedi training.
It's true, the Force is strong with Ben, that much he's sure of. But he couldn't focus, couldn't clear his mind of everything. All the storm and turmoil of his life.
He lies down on a peony purple couch, swirling his hand, using the Force to control two toy figurines of Rebel and Imperial ships to chase each other around the room. However, the two toys start to shake, and then they zip faster than they did in Ben's control towards the front door of the living quarters. A wrinkled, gentle hand catches the figurines. Ben stands up from the couch.
"Mom!"
Senator Leia Organa Solo, in her senatorial flowing white robes, smiles at her son, "Ben."
Running over and embracing his mother, Ben looks up at her, "I thought you weren't scheduled to return until-"
"Ben, I have some exciting news for you."
Leia steps to the side to reveal Uncle Luke, dressed in rustic Jedi robes. His hair and beard are neatly trimmed, although they're starting to gray at the edges.
"Ben, I'm taking you and the other students to form a Jedi Temple, the first ever since the end of the Clone Wars-"
"But…what?" completely blindsided, Ben stumbles over his words.
Luke gets down on one knee, so that he's eye-level with Ben, "Ben, I need you in this, you're the strongest Force-user of the students, and with your help we can restore the Jedi Order-"
"But…what if I don't want to. Mom, I want to stay with you."
Both Luke and Leia turn towards him, neither of them knowing how to respond. Finally, Luke speaks.
"Ben, you're gonna get to explore the galaxy, see all different kinds of planets and creatures. I would've killed to have done that at your age! You're gonna have a great time Ben…"
Ben stands up straight, his fists tightening, the power of the Force building within him. But for the first time he was drawing his power from a different place, an angrier place, a place of hatred and resentment, not just of his parents, or Uncle Luke, but of everything.
"No!" He throws his hand out at Luke and Leia, the full power of his Force powers careening right towards them-
Kylo Ren awakens in a sweat. He's still fully dressed in his armor and Knight of Ren robes. As his head snaps around in every direction, he realizes that he's been moved to a bedchamber in the Bardottan palace. The bedpost has been painted an ornate gold, the bedsheets are made of gold and emerald green silks, even the cold stone floors contain bright tiles made softer in the dim lantern light.
The door opens, and still wearing her armor but unmasked, Pates enters the room.
"Commander? I…I thought you'd prefer if I check in on you…before any of the Bardottan servants came in…"
Kylo Ren needs a couple moments before he can respond, "Yes…yes, that…mph…come in…come in."
Closing the door behind her, Pates takes a few steps closer towards him, "You passed out, the power of the Frangawl altar was beginning to overtake you and I…well, I don't really know what I did-"
"That…amulet you used…show me…"
Pates pulls out the pendant, handing it to him. Clutching it through gloved fingers, he tightens his grip on the necklace as he briefly closes his eyes. The air around him becomes dense until he opens his eyes again.
"This artifact appears to neutralize imbalanced Force energies," he explains, gazing intently at the pendant, "…who gave this to you?"
"A woman in the village. She said, 'may the Force be with you'-"
"This artifact is a trick of the Light. It decreases our power by neutralizing our anger, our hatred, the source of our-"
"You were getting out of control, you were about to attack me. I'm not a Force-user, what was I supposed to do?!"
Kylo Ren pauses, his eyes wide and, almost a little shocked. His voice comes out hushed, his expression getting close to childlike, "I wasn't going to hurt you."
Just then, the door swings open, and Queen Phoebe enters. Neither Kylo Ren nor Pates knows what to say to her.
She speaks first, with an almost exasperated breath, "…Commander Ren, glad to see you're feeling better."
He only nods, not saying a word. The queen doesn't wait very long for a response.
"If it's not too much, I'd like to steal your Inquisitor for a moment."
Pates turns towards her, then looking back at Kylo Ren with confusion, and worry. Queen Phoebe takes her by the hand.
"It'll only be a moment, Commander, I assure you."
She takes Pates out of the room in a hurry, the door closing behind them. With Kylo Ren now alone in the bedchamber, he slouches into the soft pillows, contemplating taking off his armor and going back to bed. Until, that is, he senses something-
He calls upon the Force and choking sounds can be heard from inside the wardrobe adjacent from the bed. Its double doors come flying open and a Bardottan guard is carried out by the power of the Force. In one hand he holds a slender dagger.
"Assassin," Kylo Ren hisses, and with a flick of his wrist the Bardottan's neck is snapped, and he falls to the ground.
Pates and Queen Phoebe come rushing back in.
"Commander Ren, what was the noise-" Pates stops in her tracks as she spots the dead Bardottan on the floor.
"That thing was hiding in the closet, waiting to assassinate me," Kylo Ren hisses, getting up from the bed and putting his helmet on.
"I don't understand this…you've just murdered one of my own, in my own palace!" the queen argues, taking an offensive stance towards Kylo Ren.
Pates gets down on her knees to examine the corpse, "He was armed, and wears the armor of your guard, your majesty."
Kylo Ren scrunches his fist, sending Queen Phoebe up into the air and into a Force choke, "I killed your pitiful assassin and I can dispatch you just as easily…your majesty."
"Commander Ren, killing the queen will ruin our chances at procuring the Bardottan silk! The planet would riot!"
Hearing her words, he only chokes the queen for a moment longer before throwing her down onto the ground, the queen's back slamming against the wall.
"Still…that animal could have killed me. I will go and fetch Hux, every inch of this palace will be searched," more calm now, Kylo Ren begins to exit the room, before turning back to look at Queen Phoebe, "…watch your step…your majesty."
Pates helps the queen to her feet, "It couldn't have been one of my guards who tried to kill Kylo Ren. This must be the work of the Resistance, I'm sure of it."
Shaking her head, Pates crosses the room to fetch a towel and bandage for the queen, "I understand, your majesty. But Kylo Ren's right, there was an assassination attempt under your guard's watch. Not to mention our transport was attacked by a Bardottan ship on our way here. I'm willing to bet Commander Ren thinks they're connected."
"Your ship…was attacked?" the queen looks at her with confusion, "…the Force did not inform me, I'm sorry."
Pates's expression hardens, "You didn't see it, in your Force visions?"
"The Force works in mysterious ways," she explains, lifting up her hair so Pates can begin to wash where she'd hit her head.
Just then, First Order Stormtroopers burst into the room, blasters trained on the queen.
"You're under arrest! By order of the First Order!"
They grab Queen Phoebe by both arms and begin mercilessly dragging her out of the room. She reaches out towards Pates with a grave expression,
"Remember Pates, how I claimed you were strong with the Light-"
"Your majesty, if I may, how is that relevant to what's happening now? You're being accused of treason-"
"Your strength with the Light side is needed now, more than ever!" she calls out as the Stormtroopers force her out into the corridor, "For these are dark times!"
Stormtroopers escort a handcuffed Queen Phoebe to the palace dungeons as General Hux looks on with an amused expression. Kylo Ren is mysteriously absent.
"I'm not sure if the Force has given the queen clairvoyance…or if its influence has driven her mad," Pates tells him, as the two of them stroll along the palace's long corridors.
Hux keeps a stern expression as he observes the droves of Stormtroopers that've begun storming the palace, searching its contents, "You shouldn't take the queen so seriously. After all, she's a figurehead at best. The First Order is the true ruler of Bardotta. She holds no sway, can't you see? She's trying to manipulate you, fill your head with ideas of ancient mysticisms-"
"We can't deny the Force is a real, and powerful thing," Pates argues back, "Commander Ren has confessed himself that he sees visions similar to that of the queen. If Commander Ren, who hails from a completely separate branch of Force-users, has a grasp on this power, who knows what the queen is capable of."
"You've never taken these old religions so seriously before. The primitive mood of the planet is affecting you as much as it is Ren," General Hux dismisses her concern, "come, walk with me."
Pates and General Hux make their way to the palace entrance. The main doors have been propped open, and Stormtroopers guard the entrance in place of the Bardottan guard. From the high-up view of the front steps of the palace, the increased presence of the First Order is made clear. The Bardottan flags have been replaced by the black and red colors of the First Order, and Stormtroopers parade in platoons in the palace plaza and in the villages below. Tie-fighters fly overhead, the roar of their engine echoing against the mountaintops.
"I have plans for this planet. Surely the queen could never survive an accusation of treason against the bloodthirsty Ren. This planet will come under the complete control of the First Order. No need for the veneer and bureaucracy of a regional government. The law is dictated straight from the top, from the Supreme Leader."
"What do you have in mind?" Pates asks.
"The ruins below the palace shall be excavated, the artifacts sent to the Imperial Museum in Corusant. Then the chamber should be demolished and converted into a laboratory for experiments. No use in keeping the relics of old religions active and putting pesky superstitions into peoples' minds. In fact, all religious traditions should be banned on Bardotta-"
"But Commander Ren seems to believe that this religion, or at least the power that it affords him, has some value-"
"Are you seriously siding with Ren on this issue?"
Pates stops, looking up at the general. His military veneer has slipped, even for just a mere moment to something more personal, but fueled with an equal anger behind it.
"I just don't think you should be so hasty. The queen's fate hasn't been decided yet. And the Supreme Leader may favor Commander Ren's opinion over yours…as he's been inclined to do."
His anger growls, but General Hux stops himself, before placing a hand on Pates's shoulder, "But, you believe me, don't you?"
She smiles, "I've never doubted your ability to lead, Armitage. But no man is effective in leading alone."
"You're always filled with strange thoughts, Pates," the hand on her shoulder digs into her, "I don't understand your mind, and yet I'm always fascinated."
A small group of Stormtroopers come through, carrying a large variety of artifacts from the palace. Vases, paintings, and other trinkets have been piled into metal crates to be carried off to places unknown.
"Ah! A moment, I need to inspect this contraband," Hux stops one of the Stormtroopers carrying a crate of treasures. The Stormtrooper sets it down and silently continues with his platoon.
Kneeling down, Hux begins rifling through the items, picking each and every one up and examining them with a narrow hawkishness.
"Pre-Old Republic gold and brass…and what I believe is clay pigments from the mountains. They embalm the pigments in a protective dust that preserves them through time," he explains, as he scans one of them with his datapad.
"Do the symbols mean anything?" Pates asks.
"It's not the symbols I'm concerned about," Hux glances up at her, "it's the protective dustings. The dust is made from Kyber crystals."
"Kyber crystals?" she kneels down to his level, "So you're saying that there are Kyber crystals on this planet?"
"If there were Kyber crystals on this planet we'd of discovered them long ago. But it must mean a nearby planet has a supply of Kyber crystals, perhaps on one of its moons," Hux explains, "the only other known source of Kyber crystals was the planet Ilum, and it belonged to the Jedi before the Empire seized it and we converted it into Starkiller Base. So the Dagoyan Order wouldn't have had access to it."
"Another source of Kyber crystals?" Pates whispers to herself, "…which means-"
"More weapons. If we found another source of Kyber crystals, we could produce another technological terror that would solidify our place as rulers of the galaxy."
Pates's eyes widen, as her breath stops in her throat. However, before she can react further, an elderly Bardottan starts running towards them.
"Those are priceless artifacts of the Bardottan people! Pieces of art that've been passed down for generations!" the Bardottan starts scooping up the artifacts, checking them for marks and scratches.
With an annoyed raise of an eyebrow, Hux turns his body only slightly towards the Bardottan, "You and your people have no authority over these objects. They are property of the First Order-"
"These artifacts need to be transported in air-locked chambers, otherwise they'll deteriorate!" the Bardottan explains, "I am the Royal Overseer of Bardottan Culture, please, you must listen to me!"
General Hux gives him a skeptical glare, but with his chin lifted high, he acquiesces, "Fine. I'll instruct the Stormtroopers the proper method as to transport the items."
The Royal Overseer drops to his knees, "Thank you! Bless you!"
He reaches to grab Hux's boot, but Hux flinches away from the Bardottan in disgust, and walks off.
Pates continues walking down the palace corridors when pounding footsteps echo along the long chamber. An unmasked Devil rounds the corner, "Pates!"
He nearly runs into her with how fast he's running, and since he's nearly a head taller, Pates has to brace herself so she doesn't fall over from the impact.
"Pates! Pates, have you been down to the secret underground levels of the palace?" he asks, frantic and full of energy.
Pates nods, a little confused, "Yes, I have. DV-283…they aren't sending Stormtroopers down there, are they?"
Sweat coming down his forehead, Devil nods in return, "Yes, they are. Supreme Leader Snoke wants to test the temple's Dark side abilities…whatever that means. I don't know, call it treason, but I couldn't stand another second in there, Pates! They filed a bunch of us in there and soon as I knew it, Stormtroopers were firing at each other-"
"DV-283, calm down, remember your training," Pates places a hand on his shoulder, "you have no connection to these other Stormtroopers. Your allegiance is to the First Order."
Even as he takes in deep breaths, Devil still can't completely compose himself, "I know…my training, but Pates, you gotta understand. Something isn't right about that place. And I don't think blindly putting Stormtroopers in there is gonna help."
"I see what you mean, DV-283. I'll investigate these experiments for myself. I'll also see if I can strike your name from the list of subjects so you won't have to go down there again," Pates promises him.
"Really? You could do that?! That'd be great!" Devil cheers, "Man, Pates, you've gotten all official since your promotion. I'm liking it!"
With a chuckle, Pates starts walking back down the corridor. She makes her way towards the entrance to the Frangawl Temple, and finds it mysteriously unguarded. She steps down into the temple, a cold chill rushing over her as soon as she crosses the threshold. As she descends the stairs, the bottom floor of the temple comes into view, and Pates freezes when she sees the pile of dead Stormtroopers in the middle of the temple.
At that moment, the distant voice she'd heard before in the temple returns, more clearly this time.
"Pates…sweet, sweet child, you don't belong here. The Dark side is too powerful for you."
Pates activates her lightfoil, "I can take anything you throw at me."
"Oh really?"
Pates whips around to find Kylo Ren, standing a few steps above her. He ignites his lightsaber.
Missing the beam of his blade by inches, Pates dodges out of the way.
"You are nothing compared to the power of the Force. By my right of birth I am far superior to you," Kylo Ren is harsh and cold, even for him, as he charges forth, weapon at the ready.
Pates blocks the oncoming attack, his red lightsaber clashing with her purple lightfoil to create a bright magenta.
"You have always been nothing but a slave to those more powerful than yourself. Whatever semblance of power you thought you had is nothing more than a longer leash your superiors used to lure you into a false sense of security."
With his lightsaber raised upward, Kylo Ren slashes at Pates until one of his wild blows cuts deep into her shoulder, pain searing with the crackle of the laser sword.
Kylo Ren takes a calculated step closer towards her, "You can't change anything. Force-wielders will always be the ones to rule the galaxy."
With both hands, Kylo Ren grasps the hilt of his lightsaber and pushes the laser farther into her shoulder, and Pates screams out in pain.
"The Force chose me. And it deemed you…unworthy."
Eyes brimming with tears, Pates looks into the blazing red light, when suddenly a realization comes to her, "This…this isn't real."
Kylo Ren and his lightsaber disappear, and Pates's body descends into free fall, as if she's fallen down a hole in the temple floor. Her deep brown hair comes undone from its bun as the world around her shifts to complete darkness in an instant.
"What is real to you, we can make manifest," the voice calls out again, this time more clear, and beginning to take on a feminine tone.
Pates is unsure when the falling sensation stopped, but she never feels the impact of falling as the floor underneath her turns dark, metallic, and cold. The mechanical whirrings of the Finalizer play in her ear as she struggles to find her bearings, and regain her senses.
"Grand Admiral Sloane, the New Republic is still largely unaware of our presence, as well as our increasing influence in the Centrist party within the New Republic Senate," it's Pates's own voice. She remembers saying these words exactly.
"Perfect," the deep, commanding tones of her mentor, Grand Admiral Sloane respond as the two of them look out the window together, "with the Centrists denying our existence and spreading misinformation throughout the Core Systems, we will be able to continue constructing our fleet here in the Unknown Regions undetected."
"Grand Admiral…how long do you intend to keep the First Order a secret-"
"As far as I'm concerned, the rest of the galaxy will have no need to ever discover the First Order unless absolutely necessary. Through the Centrists we will elect a Chancellor that will serve our needs as we begin exerting our influence through the figurehead."
Pates stops herself, "If I may-…Grand Admiral, why are you telling me this?"
She turns to her, a bright, confident smile on her lips, "The New Republic Senate has been in an eternal gridlock ever since we had Populists Tai-Lin Garr assassinated and Senator Organa exiled from political life. The Centrists will soon seize the majority, and when they do, I want a strong figurehead to lead them."
Grand Admiral Sloane places a hand on Pates's shoulder, still smiling at the young captain, "Both the Shadow Council and I want that to be you."
Pates smiles back up at her mentor, "I'm truly honored, Grand Admiral. But, even when your plan comes to pass, you will always be the true leader of the First Order."
The grays the of the Finalizer bleed into the deep red hues of Supreme Leader Snoke's throne room, Grand Admiral Sloane disappearing into a pool red as blood.
"Awe…that never did happen, did it?" the voices return, beginning to coalesce into one singular voice.
"Supreme Leader Snoke overthrew the Shadow Council. He changed everything, dismantled First Order Intelligence," Pates explains, "instead we would mount a full-scale military invasion, build a superweapon."
"A superweapon? They thought that would work again?" the voice laughs, taking on a syrupy, dry quality, "That is the way of the Dark side. Power, dominance, and control at all costs. It seems for a third generation, the Dark side will only succeed in destroying itself from within."
Around Snoke's throne, green mists swirl around it, solidifying into the form of a pale, bald woman in a long, dark purple dress. She sits, regal in the throne, the detached sleeves of her dress barely covering her thin, spidery arms, "I am Ventress, and you have trespassed onto one of the graves of my people."
"'Your people'? You don't look like a Bardottan," Pates comments with a raised eyebrow.
"I am a Nightsister. After the Confederacy invaded my home world of Dathomir during the Clone Wars, a few of my sisters sought refuge in neutral systems like this one. That was, until the Empire," Ventress rises from the throne, "wherever my sisters are buried, the ground becomes imbued with their dark power, and the Bardottan Frangawl cult learned to harness it."
"The Nightsisters?" Pates nearly gasps in awe, "But the Nightsisters are extinct."
A knowing smile crosses Ventress's lips, "Indeed, child. But you would learn well from our ways…I sense…you wish to have the power to overtake a Force-user. I can teach you."
Just then, Ventress disappears, as does Snoke's throne room. Pates is once again plunged into darkness, as a distant voice begins to call out to her.
"Pates! …Pates!"