I love you with every piece of me.

I will love, and love, and love,

Until I have nothing left, and then

I will make more out of the nothing

That lives where everything once did

I would dismantle me

To put you back together again

Allana's POV

Star Home

"Something strange happened. The tomb called to me, but something was there. A presence. Whatever it was, I think it used me to release it, and it was gone when Kier found me. I woke back here on Star Home." I explained to my father, whom I called after the battle and the disruption over the twins. Honestly, I didn't care that they came to save their friend. I had no interest in killing children. Even if they were teenagers now, they were still just kids in my mind. They weren't strong enough to pose a real threat, and I don't think they even knew what was going on. But Kier was furious about it.

His power had ballooned in the last few weeks, but so had his bloodlust and aggression. Did he really intend to kill his entire family? I couldn't reason out his logic. Lumiya was… intense. She left no room for question. Her influence was deep and impossible to fight, she conditioned through pain. My father said it was the Sith way and to embrace pain, that growth and power came from it. But, she must've inflicted a lot on Kier to drive him to this point. It wasn't much of a secret that Lumiya's focus was Kier, and she knew I deeply resented it.

Yes, I was stronger. But overall, a bit jaded with the whole experience. I was starting to see that the benefits for me, and the role I was expected to play, weren't much. As many Queen Mothers before me though, I would wait it out and do whatever benefitted my people the most in the end. Things wouldn't carry on this way for long. Lumiya had already called Kier away for some mission she said they had to complete together, leaving me alone again to absorb the Hutt forces. "It doesn't surprise me, many Sith have found ways to cling to the world of the living and influence it. At least it didn't possess you... The talisman can wait. Press on to Naboo."

He ended the call abruptly, and I fumed. To treat me so rudely, so coldly. Why did he choose a path like this? He scoured the galaxy for me, so he said, for this? With no one around, I could afford an honest thought to myself. I missed Master Ben. Maybe it was weak, but I didn't care. He treated me with love and respect, the way a father should in my opinion. But, I was much too far down this path. There was no turning back, I knew that. No sense dwelling on it. I returned to my quarters and changed for bed, catching up on some datapads I needed to review before sleeping.

My doors opened suddenly, and my brow furrowed. No one was there. My guards outside peered in, looking questioningly at the door, wondering as I did why it had opened. I was very sure I had locked it too. I shook my head in annoyance, "Have someone look at it tomorrow." I said firmly, and they closed the door. I kept reading for a few moments, until I felt an enormously powerful dark presence in the room suddenly. My head snapped up, I looked around cautiously, reaching for my saber with the Force. "I don't plan to harm you." I startled at the masculine voice, noticing a human man suddenly visible feet from the end of my bed.

What the hell was it with Sith men showing up when I was in bed? "Who the kriff are you? And why the hell are you in my bedroom?" His eyebrows raised in amusement. "Feisty, I like that. You're easy on the eyes too." He said in a sultry tone, earning an irritated growl from me. He chuckled, "You can call me Bane. I came to thank you, for helping me out with that pesky tomb situation. And-" He paused to look at his hand as he flexed it casually, "To tell you what really happened to your mother, if you happened to want to know." He said with a flippant attitude.

He knew he'd caught me off guard with that, my mouth popped open in surprise before I could stop it. He grinned. "So, you're dead?" I asked, my brows pressing together in confusion. "Hmm? Well, I was, but now I've got a new body and I intend to get many years of use out of it." He replied, fiddling with his clothing as if appraising the body itself. That didn't clear up my confusion in the slightest. Did that mean he'd figured out essence transfer? "What about my mother? What do you know?" I asked, wondering how he knew anything about it at all, having been dead apparently. Did he encounter her in some kind of afterlife?

"I think you already suspected deep down, but she was murdered. By your father and Lumiya. They put her into a Force induced coma and drained the life right out of her while she was helpless to stop them. A decently tidy way to handle it honestly, so they could get their teeth into you. A great blunt object you've become in their arsenal right? How does it feel to be so lowly and manipulated?" His voice was even, but the venom was there, cutting me to the quick with the crude honesty of it. Somehow, the news really didn't shock me. But I was angry, my body vibrated with the Force of my darkness surging.

"Anyway, since you've been a great help and clearly have underutilized potential here, I thought I'd offer you a different path. Just the two of us. You'll be my only apprentice, and I'll sharpen you into the fine blade you and I both know you can be." He was alluring, a good looking man to be sure, but instinctively, I felt the danger just under the surface. He was extremely powerful, he was much stronger than Lumiya. The idea of vengeance for my mother was compelling. I wasn't impressed with my father, and to discover he had her killed to draw me out and use me, even less so.

The fact she'd sent me away into hiding and left me behind had left me bitter and susceptible, but I knew I couldn't forgive my father's transgression and deceit. No matter how conflicted my feelings toward her were, she didn't deserve to be murdered. Certainly not for this. Perhaps, in the end, I'd only be trading a wolf for a lion. But somehow, it was immensely flattering to be chosen and put first. Not second to Kier for once. "Well, make a decision then. I don't have all night, there are things I need to do and waiting around here isn't on that list." He said pointedly, but I could feel no real threat behind them.

It was nice to be given a choice instead of mentally or physically beat into submission. My heart beat wildly in anticipation, this was a risky gamble. They'd come after me. But, he could kill them easily, I was sure of that. "Yes. I'll come with you." I'd said the words before I recalled consciously deciding. He grinned. "Good. Get dressed."

Kier's POV

En route to Moraband

I'd only left the Hapian mothership half a day, rendezvousing with Lumiya on the Corellian Dreadnought, Tempest, in orbit above Kashyyyk, then departing shortly after on a smaller craft. We were headed to Moraband for something crucial to my training, according to Lumiya. She didn't elaborate. Not long after departure, Lumiya was hailed by Tahiri. "What is it?" Lumiya was clearly irritated by the interruption. "I just arrived to Star Home and was refused permission to board. I demanded to speak to Allana, but they said she was not on board and gave explicit instructions that none of us were to board any Hapian ship." I could feel Lumiya's fury spike.

"Where is she then?" Lumiya ground out. "Jet relented, because she says she's worried about the fellow. Said Allana left with a yellow eyed man she'd never seen before in the middle of the night cycle." Lumiya let out a frustrated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, before replying. "Clearly someone else has sprung from the chaos seeing it as an opportunity and that fool fell for it. Find her, and bring her back. I'll deal with her disobedience. Kill the man." Tahiri acknowledged and the transmission ended. But, her headache was far from over, because Caedus was not far behind, calling about Allana also.

"Speak." She said flippantly, completely uninterested in whatever he had to say. "I cannot reach Allana. What's happened?" Lumiya heaved another sigh, "She took off in the night with an unknown Sith, according to Tahiri's report. I've sent Tahiri to deal with it. I'll see Supreme Commander Phennir deal with the siege of Naboo in Allana's absence. It's a trivial setback. Remain focused on your mission." Her tone was apathetic at best. "And you didn't think to tell me?! She's my daughter for kriff's sake! I'm much more powerful than Tahiri, you should've sent me after her!" Caedus raged, a rare emotional outburst. I'd never seen him upset.

But then, who cared? Allana was a means to an end, and I thought he'd known that all along. Yet, he was surprisingly put off by this unexpected situation. "Indeed, Tahiri is weaker in comparison. She's turned out to be quite a disappointment really, so maybe she'll die in the process and save me some trouble." Caedus was only further enraged by Lumiya's indifference. "However you feel about Tahiri is another matter entirely. Allana is too important, I won't abide by this!" He cut the transmission, and Lumiya chuckled.

"Amusing, the sense of self importance he's always had. The reality is, all of them are expendable. I thought they'd learned that by now." She shrugged casually and returned to her seat. Her eyes met mine, sharp and cold. "Now you'll face your greatest test, and if you prove to me that you're worthy, you will ascend and bring the galaxy to heel." I bristled, not liking the implication that I would be unworthy if I didn't pass whatever test she laid out. "What is it?" I asked evenly.

Ben's POV

Somewhere in the Outer Rim

As I left the interference of space around the Maw and skirted Hutt Space, staying away from many battleships that were accumulating in the area, I received an encrypted message notification from hours prior that had finally gotten through. It was from Poe. Something had to be wrong. The sound quality was terrible, there was heavy interference. He was rushed, urgently saying "Kashyyyk overrun", "alliance retreating", "avoid area", "kids Dantooine" and "meet them there". Something about "Jabiim, Corporate Sector hostile" and the implication was I should avoid them. A garbled "May the Force be with you" and it ended.

What? When had they attacked Kashyyyk? I knew tensions had been boiling, but it seemed that a full out war had broken out while I'd been distracted. My heart clenched uncomfortably. It was probably why Rene had died. Something happened on Coruscant, causing the temple to have fled. A sharp vein of worry shot through me. Where was Rey? Jaina? The twins? For kriff's sake, I needed them all in one place so I could protect them. I couldn't bear any more losses. I tried the twins, their commlinks were still shut off. Frustrating. I tried Jaina, and to my shock, she answered.

"Daddy? Where are you?" Her voice was tense. Tears of utter relief pricked at my eyes, I gulped in a breath to steady myself. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so happy to hear your voice. I'm on my way, I got Poe's message. Are you there with everyone? Are you safe?" I couldn't risk revealing the location on an unencrypted channel, there was no telling who might be listening. I didn't know why they had fled to begin with. "We've been trying to call, but couldn't get through. I'm so glad you're alright. Everyone is here except the twins, we still can't reach them. We're safe." My worry over the twins was amplified, but my heart was slightly eased that Jaina was home.

"I'll be a few more days before I reach you, just hunker down and stay safe. We'll talk more then. I love you, Jaina." I was immensely grateful to be able to tell her that again. "I love you too daddy, please be careful." She replied softly, then ended the call. I closed my eyes and took a series of deep breaths, trying to center myself again. My emotions threatened my focus, and I needed to stay clear headed. I needed to refuel soon, and I decided to stop by an old outpost I knew well from many missions past and see an old friend.

Only, when I entered the atmosphere, there was destruction. A battle must've occurred here. But why? Jho's place had seen better days. Though, he'd said before sometimes fights broke out here with mercenaries, pirates, smugglers, and bounty hunters frequenting the area. Probably nothing to worry about. I asked the droid for fuel and provisions, then headed inside to pay up. The droids had seen me many times, they didn't hesitate at my request. However, once inside, there was no sign of Jho. There was evidence of blaster fire behind the bar. A cold feeling settled over me as I realized I didn't sense Jho's life force at all. He wasn't here.

"I take it you were expecting old Jho. Unfortunately, he was killed in a skirmish recently over fugitives the Hutt were here after. Big bounty on those kids now. Anyway, I've taken over the place. Name's Bau." The red skinned Kessurian told me casually. I was sad to hear it, Jho was very kind. Wait, kids? "Do you happen to have any footage of the incident in case I come across them?" Bau eyed me skeptically. "You don't look like much of a bounty hunter, I wouldn't recommend it. They really did a number on the place, as you can see." I shrugged, "Who knows, maybe I'd get some credits for locating them." He also shrugged, decent logic.

He pulled out a tablet from under the counter and fiddled around with it for a few moments, then handed it to me. I steeled my features, very careful not to give away my surprise and interest. It was the twins! And Cearu! How?! And why the hell was there a bounty on their heads? Where was the Queen of Naboo they'd allegedly run off with? I nodded and handed it back to Bau. Unfortunately this only raised more questions, and didn't quell my worries. "So, any idea where they were headed?" I asked, trying to appear cool and only vaguely interested.

"Mmm, no I don't think so. I know a mercenary hired by the Hutt mentioned when the bounty was posted that the Hutt captured them and gave them to the Hapians, then the Hapians turned on the Hutt, and a large battle ensued so they must've escaped in the chaos." Well, that was news too. Must've been why I saw all those battleships in Hutt Space. "I didn't hear about that." I mentioned, knowing this fellow liked to talk. "Oh, yeah, it was outside Nal Hutta a few days ago. Big to do, I wouldn't go anywhere near there if I was you though." I smiled and paid for my services, deciding to get on my way before I drew any unwanted attention.

I set a route carefully avoiding hostile areas and though it would take longer than cutting through the Mid Rim on a trade route hyperlane, it was probably better to play it safe. I dared to hope that they would head back to Dantooine, but nobody had been able to get in touch with them. Surely Poe or Kaydel would head them off if they went back to Coruscant and keep them out of trouble until I could figure out what was going on and settle things down. I still couldn't get over the shock of seeing Cearu. How had they figured that out, yet we hadn't? I felt oddly proud though. They were very clever, probably more so than any of us really gave them credit for.

They were much like their mother in such aspects. Though we were both stubborn, Rey was always the one who broke through when odds were stacked against her. No matter the challenge or the problem, she'd find a way. Not to mention, once she decided what she was going to do, she'd do it regardless of any caution or opposition. Even if it meant secrecy or running off alone. In my mind, they were still much too young to be off wandering the galaxy alone, but I found comfort in knowing Cearu was with them now. I was acutely aware of the ache forming in my chest, wanting desperately to hold my children in my arms again.

It had been two days, I estimated another two before I'd reach Dantooine. I passed Raxus and tried to stay a bit coreward, away from Corporate Sector. There was a lot of movement of ships that I didn't want to tangle with, so I tried my best to avoid any close encounters at all. But the further spinward I went, I started to notice a strange pull getting stronger and stronger. It was the darkness in me, and something was tugging at it. In a way I'd not felt in decades. I pulled up the star chart again, figuring out exactly where I was. Then, it dawned on me. Moraband. I'd purposefully avoided many of the planets known to be steeped in Sith magic and darkness.

Even with that realization though, I knew that wasn't what was drawing me there. At least, not the primary influence. It took my breath away for a moment when the truth of it washed over me. It was Kieran. His Force signature was always a bit murky, but there was much light in it. Now, it felt like a black hole, furiously consuming everything around it. The little stars of remaining light in him were steadily being sucked in and destroyed. His power had grown exponentially, and a chill shot down my spine at the recognition of what I had to do next. I had to confront him. Han's last moments flashed behind my eyes.

I knew now, the way he'd felt when he recklessly pursued me. A compulsion. I had to go. Even if he wouldn't hear a word I had to say, I had to try. I loved him, desperately. I'd give everything, anything, to turn him away from this path he was taking. The one I had tread myself once, trailing a scarred and broken heart behind me, covering everything in blood and pain. I couldn't grasp the blight I'd cast on his heart, but then, I don't think Han understood what he'd done either. I'd tear up every wretched piece of my heart if it would somehow heal his. I couldn't undo my past, and he was right to be angry. I'd hidden it from him. After all, I was angry about Vader.

But there was so much more he didn't understand, just like I hadn't understood back then. Forefront among those things, that the lies I told came from a place of love. To shield their innocence, to preserve the fragile peace of our lives. Mine was shattered around me, and perhaps his was crumpled, but I could still save his peace. If only he would not become his own undoing. I worried over that. Such stubbornness. Such power. Such strength. Such anger. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I headed for Moraband anyway.

Anakin's POV

Dantooine

Constantly sifting through the memories and feelings of another person was a lot like trying to run in quicksand. He hated sand... Ah, there it was again. Little blips of him and his personality would bleed into my consciousness throughout the day when triggered by certain stimuli. It didn't change my choices, it was more of a nuisance than anything really. A lot like an oppressive voice interrupting my own thoughts. I could tell the difference, but now I understood what the droid meant, I was sure it could definitely feel maddening over a long period of time.

I'd been sparring with Jaina for the better part of the afternoon, taking a conscious note of what my body knew instinctively. While it was certainly advantageous to just know at such a deep level I wasn't aware of, I needed to understand as myself. While my original's memories were indeed still there from his Jedi training, everything prior to his fall to the dark side felt... blurry. Fuzzy at best. Like a really poor quality holofilm. Even his feelings from that time felt muted. It was hard to connect with those memories, and right now, they were very important to me to understand.

I wanted to solidify my presence here among these people, and I felt a constant pressure to be good and I needed a clearer perspective on what exactly good was. I didn't personally really have a concept of light and dark, except the people I was with, and Jaina specifically, appeared to align with "the light side". Though, Jaina had explained the basic differences between their Grey Order and the Jedi Order that I saw in my memories. It sounded like something I would choose for myself, with the given philosophies explained.

I didn't know a whole lot about what I wanted overall out of life, but I knew for now, I wanted to be here and that I liked these people. Maybe not Master Finn so much, he wasn't always very kind to me for some reason, but I loved playing with the children and training with Alice and Jaina. Harley had been distant, her Force signature heavy and turbulent. Often when I saw her she appeared to have been crying. Alice told me she witnessed Rene's death. Everyone else was amicable, though I noted Ezmera was a bit cautious. I chalked that up to the apparent romantic involvement she had with Jaina and being protective, which was understandable.

We were taking a brief pause in training, Alice had gone inside and Jaina was having a conversation with Ezmera. It was just the three of us on the lawn. I felt something on the edge of my senses that drew my attention, and I was about to disregard it, but then it grew stronger rapidly. A very dark, oppressive energy pushing down on me. I started to panic a little internally, wondering if something within me had been triggered and I was the unwilling cause. But when I looked at the girls, the concern on Jaina's features alluded that she'd experienced this before.

"Jaina?" I asked, not knowing exactly how to verbalize what I was feeling. Her worried eyes met mine. "You can feel it too?" Ezmera was confused, looking between us. It felt like cold little claws under my skin, poking and pulling at the muscle. Jaina was openly trembling. "He's calling me again... If I follow it, it'll lead me to him. But I don't know if I'm brave enough to face him again." I saw the tears building in her eyes as she tried to blink them back and even out her breathing. Ezmera seemed to understand what she meant, but I didn't.

"Who?" Jaina faltered, her eyes cast down to my boots. "Kier." Oh. The one who's aligned with the Sith. Her brother. She didn't want to hurt him, and I took it that more had happened between them that I was unaware of. "I'll go with you and protect you." I answered before I'd even really thought it through. I had no idea how we would go to Kieran or what he was capable of truly, but I felt a deep need to protect her. If I died, so be it. What did I really have to lose? "You need to tell Master Finn, you should take him and Alice or Harley, you can't face him alone." Ezmera sounded distressed, she clearly didn't like the idea of Jaina going.

If what Jaina said was true, Kieran might be too far gone to save, and he'd bring immeasurable misery and destruction under the teachings of the Sith. I knew that all too well from the memories I was imprinted with. Her love for him might prevent her from stopping him, and possibly at her own peril. And I sensed Ezmera thought the same. "No, Ez. I can't take them. Master Finn is very knowledgeable and tenacious, but Kier far outmatches him in power. Harley is still stricken and struggling over Rene's death. Alice is far too young. He'd kill any of them with ease. He's already destroyed our family, I won't let him destroy theirs too."

I felt Jaina's resolve, she was steeling her emotions, presumably for the battle yet ahead. Her heart was admirable, she felt some kind of responsibility for what happened with her family and wanted to protect the rest of the temple from the fallout. "She won't be alone, she has me." I inserted, leaving Ezmera hesitating trying to come up with another excuse. Jaina's eyes found mine again, and despite her strength, a glimmer of vulnerability laid beneath them. "Don't betray me." She said seriously, turning her body to face mine. Ezmera's brows pushed together in worry as I responded without hesitation, "How could I? You are all I know."

Jaina sighed, then smiled softly. She offered her hand outstretched to me, and I grasped it firmly.

Ben's POV

Moraband

It was time. He didn't shrink or conceal himself from me. The Valley of the Dark Lords was cool and seductive with shadow. The wind brought up sand scratching my face as I closed the distance between us. I knew this moment would come, but I was no more prepared for it now than I was when I first discovered the rift between us. It struck me again, how he took after me in many ways. A prominent jawline, eyes dark as the abyss when angry, raven curls untamed. His eyes were hard and cold, piercing me as I approached.

His jaw set, "All your lies have led us here." His voice was sharp and terse, "I don't need some false name or alter ego to hide behind, I know who I am; I'm the truth you've been running from-" "Don't." I cut him off, my voice firm. I knew where this was going. "DON'T WHAT?!" He seethed. It stirred something in my chest, a memory. That rage and indignation I once held myself. I knew it all too well. It felt almost as though I was facing down my former self. "Expose your fraud and hypocrisy?" He finished, his voice lower, a cruel smirk tugging at the edges of his lips.

"I'm not afraid. I'm the heir to two of the greatest Sith ever known. I am Kieran Solo." He ground out, the disdain ringing clear in his voice. I shook my head sadly, "No. That person doesn't exist. You weren't born to bear some dark legacy Kier." His face was screwed up in a snarl, "I exist because this destiny has to be fulfilled, the cycle will just keep repeating itself until it is done! This is your own fault because you were weak!" He was unraveling, his rage building, I could feel it. My own temper flared at his willful ignorance. "No, no, you exist because of your mother!" I spat back, my shoulders tense and jabbing a finger at him across the space between us.

"I exist because the Force willed it, my fate was decided just like yours, and every Skywalker before you. They fought against it, and that's why we're stuck in this loop- because they all failed. I won't be controlled, you were always in my way! I won't be like you, you're fake and weak and I hate you!" He mustered all the venom he could, but the sting wasn't quite there. He was angry about the burden of our lineage more than he was angry about anything else, but he'd never admit that. I'd felt similar once. "It's not your burden to bear Kier. They've been filling your head, that's all the dark side has to offer, lies and manipulation. I taught you this!"

His body was vibrating with the urge to wreak violence, "Don't lecture me about the dark side, Kylo Ren! I see through your lies. You would just as soon manipulate me to stop my ascent. I do not fear the darkness as you do. I will bring peace, freedom, justice, and security to the galaxy." I trembled myself with frustration, we were truly a volatile pairing since pubescence. "No, don't you dare call me that, I am your father!" I shouted, but I tried to rein myself back, to think of Rey, what she would say. Tried desperately to diffuse the agitation brewing in me. I made these same ridiculous arguments to her once, I don't know how she tolerated me at all.

He ignited his staff, he was done talking. "Kier, the last thing I would ever want is to hurt you. This is tearing us all apart. Please, just come home and we'll work through this." I clutched my own saber in my hand, but I was reluctant to ignite it. "You thought you were there to guide me, but you were only standing in my way. You're wrong if you think that I'll be weak like you!" He lunged, and in a split second, I'd ignited my saber and raised it to parry against his powerful blow. "I could be cold and ruthless, I have been before. I could be cruel and angry. But I chose otherwise, and you have to make that choice." I replied, gritting my teeth with effort.

He pressed on, his attacks unabating and incessant. It took everything in me to keep up with him, the dark side had ballooned his power. I knew that temptation all too well, and it was to my disadvantage that I couldn't safely tap in that far. My mind was drawn back to a very similar scenario. When I crushed the wayfinder on Kef Bir, and Rey came after me like a maddened beast. It was the same then, I had no desire to hurt her, or even fight really. With patience I overpowered her. The difference was, Kier was significantly stronger and much more focused right now than she was then.

He used his rage, wrapping it around him like a cloak. That anger was a wall standing between us, and no matter how I hacked at it, I realized now I couldn't break it down. It was a bittersweet realization in the end. One I now knew Han had come to as well. There was so much of my parents that I understood finally as I became one myself. One thing in particular was keen to me at the moment- Their desperate and unyielding devotion to me in the final years of their lives. There was a calm acceptance I felt deep in my bones, I would not hurt my son. And if he chose to strike me down, I would let him.

But there was something I knew that Han never experienced. What happens after. That I would haunt Kier's dreams for his entire life until he found peace. And maybe I could help him somehow from beyond, like Han did on Kef Bir, and Leia did on Exegol when she sacrificed the last essence of herself to keep me among the living. As my mind wandered, I realized how very much I was like my mother too. She had allowed so much death and destruction, because she couldn't bear to kill me. She was steadfast in faith I would find a way home again, and some might argue that was incredibly selfish of her. Though who would? She was a hero.

I knew myself in and out, good and bad. I'd always had many vices. I was immensely selfish in many ways. One of them being that I would not undo a single of my childrens' existences even if it meant the salvation of the galaxy and all those living in it. I would watch it all burn without a second thought. I liked to think it was the same unconditional and intense love my mother held for me deep down, but maybe she was more beholden by civic duty. I was considerably more numb and apathetic to the galaxy when it came to my family. Perhaps that was the darkness that remained in me still, and would until my dying day.

Maybe that day would be today.