To Move the Stars
Chapter 1: The Waiting Game
Lunge. Strike. Parry. Jab.
Ben leaped into the air to avoid the zap of a laser beam, turning an aerial flip before landing on his feet. His crackling blue lightsaber stopped the laser blast inches from his face, and he dodged another blast – this one from his right – before advancing on the source of the beams. In one swipe of his saber, the mechanized marksman remote lay in pieces on the ground.
Six more laser blasts – from every angle around Ben – came at once, and he closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind to determine in split seconds where each blast was. Without opening his eyes, he raised his saber to the right and absorbed the shock of the first laser, tilting the saber slightly to catch the second and third blasts. The other three were quickly blocked the same way.
Ben spun around and with no hesitation leaped onto the jagged rock formation before him, scaling the face with one hand and gripping his lightsaber with the other. Blinking sweat out of his eyes, he vaulted onto the top of the formation and poised himself so that he could stand perfectly still in the chilly mountain air. He reached his free hand in front of him, effortlessly lifting a huge triangular rock off the ground with his mind. As he focused on his task, the softest hint of a sound reached his ears, and he closed his eyes again to try to make it out more clearly.
The sound was too soft to even be a whisper; it was more of a vibration that started in Ben's own head. Holding his breath to keep from missing any of the sound, he concentrated on blocking out his surroundings and focusing on what he might hear.
In the heart of a Jedi lies his strength…
Rise…
Feel the Force flowing through you…
The words were like brushes of air flitting through his mind. The words of the Jedi long since passed from his world, Ben reminded himself, were the key to finally reaching the end of his training.
And then another voice, darker and different from the rest, yet completely at home in Ben's thoughts.
Join me, Ben… you cannot refuse the power that flows in your veins… give in…
He gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the gentler voices that instructed him to focus on the moment, to keep himself centered on what he knew was true. But the dark voice never ceased.
To be a Jedi is to face the truth…
All living things…
Let the Force lift you…
Give in to your anger…
Try as he might, Ben felt the familiar rush of annoyance at his own mind. Every meditation session was like this: as soon as he felt the Force beginning to speak to him and help him overcome the aggression that seemed to be in his blood, the dark voice began. For years, his constant fight against that evil whisper had kept him from attaining a mastery of the Force.
Once more, he tried to ignore the dark voice and focus on the words of the misty Jedi. They floated at the corners of his consciousness, drifting in and out of his mind's eye.
You don't know the power of the dark side.
Ben instinctively clenched his fist in anger, and the heavy rock he had been suspending crashed back down to the ground. His eyes flew open, and when he saw that he had once again lost control of his surroundings, he dropped his head and sighed in frustration.
"Ben!" a strong voice called up from below the rock formation. "What have I told you about losing concentration?"
Ben shook his head again, retracted his lightsaber's beam, and vaulted back off the rocks to face the man speaking to him. Master Luke Organa, the grand master of the New Jedi Order and the twin brother of Ben's mother, had his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow raised in chastisement.
When Ben took his time in answering, Luke gave Ben a nudge on the shoulder to get his attention. "Well? What have I told you?"
"That a Jedi's strength is drawn from his ability to focus on the moment," Ben recited, looking at the ground. "Until I can center my emotions and rein in my feelings, I will be a slave to them, and my abilities as a Jedi will never be complete."
Luke nodded. "That's right. You are far too susceptible to your temper. If you don't control your anger, it will control you." Luke's voice softened as he put a hand on Ben's shoulder. "You heard the dark voice again?"
Ben finally looked up at his master, thankful for the chance to share what he was dealing with. "Yes. I haven't heard it in several months. I thought I had finally gotten rid of it, but I guess it's been there all along."
"What did it say?"
"It talks about the power that's in my veins." Ben frowned as he thought. "Why does it talk about that? Why should my blood be any more powerful than your other students?"
Luke gave him a steady look, then shrugged. "Your mother and I both were born with Force sensitivity. It's natural that it should be passed on to you through her, and probably to your future children through you."
Ben nodded in reply. "The voice always tells me to give in to my anger. No matter how hard I fight it, I always get so frustrated with my weakness that I lose control of what I'm supposed to be doing."
"It's the way of the dark side. A user of the dark side of the Force draws their power from the darker and more violent emotions, like anger and hatred. Of course," Luke continued, trying to hide a smirk, "you were fortunate enough to inherit a supersonic temper from both your parents, so it's no surprise that your emotions are your weakest point."
Ben allowed himself a smile at Luke's teasing. "Did you struggle with your temper when you were training?" he asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"Not particularly," Luke replied, motioning for Ben to follow him and taking a seat on a nearby stone. "My emotions were sometimes difficult to overcome, but I struggled more with trusting in the Force to do what I wanted it to do. Now, your mother," Luke laughed, shaking his head in remembrance, "your mother was the angriest Jedi I've ever seen. She might have become a Sith if it hadn't been for Master Kenobi's spirit to help her."
"But she overcame her temper, didn't she?" Ben asked. "I mean, she didn't let it control her."
"That's true," Luke agreed, still smiling. "Even though she ultimately decided not to pursue the ways of a Jedi, she learned to use her emotions to her advantage and has certainly been successful in politics." He took on a more serious tone as he addressed Ben. "She learned to keep her temper from controlling her, as you must learn to do."
Ben nodded, looking at the ground again. "I know. I'm just… I feel that I should have mastered it by now. I've trained under you for so many years now, and I feel like I've hardly progressed at all. I'm afraid I'll never become a true Jedi," he admitted.
"Fear is a powerful pathway to the dark side as well," Luke reminded him. "Perhaps this voice is trying to use your fears to frighten you into doubting yourself. And don't fool yourself into thinking you haven't progressed. None of my other students are even close to your level of skill and knowledge. Think of this as one final obstacle you must overcome," Luke added. "Once you've learned to control your temper, the mastery of the Jedi art will be yours."
Ben looked up at Luke, searching his mentor's eyes for an answer. "Who is this voice? Why do they want to control me?"
Luke sighed heavily. "I don't know, Ben. I've wondered the same thing, but I truly don't know. Perhaps it is the voices of past dark users of the Force, speaking to you as the Jedi do." Luke suddenly stopped his lecture and reached behind him into his pocket then, pulling out a miniature projector. It vibrated and lit up with blue, signaling that a message had been sent to Luke.
"I'm receiving a message," Luke said, pressing a button on the side of the device. "It's from Admiral Raddus of the Mon Calamari." As the hologram blinked to life, Luke observed, "The mysterious Sith Lord has struck again."
Ben moved closer to get a better look at the jumpy hologram that appeared above the device. A figure, cloaked head to toe in black, stepped into the frame, holding a double-bladed red lightsaber. Several figures approached the dark person, but they were struck down in seconds by the ferocious-looking saber. Ben watched in awe as the Sith effortlessly cut down every opponent, spinning in all directions and performing advanced maneuvers that Ben had never seen before. When the bodies of his opponents lay dead at his feet, the Sith twirled his red saber on his wrist, seeming to be anticipating another fight.
"Sheer arrogance," Luke muttered in disgust. "He's showing off after a slaughter of innocent people."
"Where did this happen?" Ben asked, his voice seeming far-off as he watched the hologram repeat, transfixed by the terrible figure. He had seen the other two holograms they had of the mysterious Sith Lord who had been wreaking havoc on the Outer Rim, but he had never seen the Sith up so close.
"Botajef. It's in the Belsmuth Sector, inhabited by the Jefi species," Luke remarked. "That's the fourth attack in the Outer Rim in the last year."
Ben finally wrested his gaze away from the hologram and looked at Luke. "Botajef is peaceful! Why would a Sith want to prey on such an inconsequential planet?"
Luke shook his head. "That's what we've been trying to find out. The Sith's pattern makes no sense. It's almost as if he chooses the planets randomly, and just to show off his skills."
Ben watched the Sith twirl his lightsaber again. It was an unmistakable gesture, clearly meant to show his casual approach to killing innocents. "This has to be stopped," he ground out. "We have to find out who this man is."
"I agree," Luke said, "but there have been no clues to pursue so far. The Sith steps out of the shadows, cuts down twenty or so fighting men, and then vanishes. It makes no sense and seems to have no source."
The hologram continued to play, and Ben felt his jaw getting tight as he watched the Jefi soldiers cut down one by one, and then the arrogant lightsaber twirl. "I'd like to give him a piece of what he's dealing," Ben said, hearing the aggression in his own voice. "He should be sliced up and thrown into the slime pits he spawned from."
"Ben," Luke cautioned, switching the hologram off so Ben couldn't watch it replay. "You just got through telling me you want to control your temper. Making threats against a hologram isn't going to stop the Sith Lord, and it's doing nothing for your personal training either."
Ben looked away, grinding his teeth together to keep from lashing out. Of course Luke was right; he wouldn't argue with him. But the desire to exact vengeance on the brutal killer settled in his chest and made his hands twitch with anticipation.
"Keep your mind off it," Luke instructed, sounding a bit sterner than before. "I know you, Ben, and you're going to turn this over and over in your head until you're burned up with hatred over the killings. But you can't do that; you have to focus on your own strength and prepare yourself for what might lie ahead. You may be the one who will face this creature, but not until you've reined yourself in and proven that you won't let your anger control your actions."
Ben felt his anger slowly diminishing as he listened to Luke's words and tried to heed them. "Yes, Master," he agreed. "I'll try my hardest."
Luke's face softened, and he put a hand on Ben's shoulder. "I know you will." He placed his hands on his knees and stood to his feet, straightening his robe. "In the meantime, I need to get to the temple. My class will be waiting for me. Take this," he added, placing the projector in Ben's hand. "Show it to Leia. She needs to know what's going on."
Ben nodded and slid the device into his pocket. His still-warm lightsaber touched his wrist, reminding him that he still needed to complete his meditations for the day, since he had fouled them up earlier.
Luke started down the hill toward the city, calling to Ben over his shoulder. "Finish your meditations after you've delivered the message to Leia," he instructed, seeming to read Ben's mind. "And don't forget you have a demonstration tonight for the younglings. They'll be very disappointed if you don't show up," Luke chuckled, and Ben couldn't help but smile as well. He had a soft spot for Luke's youngest students.
As he watched Luke disappear over the hill, Ben sighed and turned the projector over in his pocket. He bit down the resurgence of anger he felt bubbling up, and he closed his eyes to concentrate on what he had just learned.
Let the Force lift you…
Give in…
He shook his head and began walking to the palace.
Ben knew the capital city of Alderaan like the back of his hand. After twenty-four years of living on the planet, he could practically walk the city streets blindfolded, but he chose to take the winding mountain path that led into the palace courtyards. He took a deep breath of the crystal clear air that enveloped Aldera. Even with people, creatures, and droids buzzing and chattering at top volume in the nearby city, Ben felt more at peace there than he did when he was alone with his thoughts.
The palace glimmered silver in the midmorning light, the nearby lake catching the reflections of the metallic castle and sending them in every direction. Snow-capped mountains imposed on the city line, but the palace itself seemed to be a mountain of its own, with gleaming towers and doorways wide enough to bring an envoy of banthas through the front entry hall.
Ben came to the entrance of the palace and jogged up the stairs, nodding hello to the guards that stood on either side of the staircase. As soon as he entered the palace, he felt the rising heat from the outdoors fade away, the coolness of the interior instantly calming him. He strode through the hall, taking note of how unusually quiet the palace seemed.
"Your Highness!" a voice called from behind him. Ben turned to see his mother's favorite advisor, the silver-haired Nath Ilgagon, approaching him from a nearby doorway. Nath's face betrayed his concern.
"Lord Ilgagon," Ben replied, stopping his trajectory and reaching out a hand to greet the advisor. The elderly man had been a good friend and a brilliant advisor to Ben in his political studies and foreign relations. "Is everything all right?"
Nath clasped Ben's hand in greeting. His normally bright green eyes were shadowed with worry. "I'm afraid it is not, Your Highness," he said gravely. "I have just received a message from Admiral Raddus of the Mon Calamari."
Ben stopped him before he could continue. "I received it, too. I'm on my way to show it to my mother. Do you know where she is?"
Nath nodded, seeming relieved. "Yes, Her Majesty is in the library. Come, I'll take you to her."
They started down the hall together, walking in and out of the patches of sunlight that filtered through the enormous windows. Ben tried to focus on the serenity of the atmosphere to keep his mind clear.
"Have you seen it?" Nath asked, his voice hushed.
Ben sighed and nodded. "Yes, I've seen it."
"A vicious fiend," Nath commented bitterly. "The Jefi are a completely peaceful people. An aggressor would have no reason to prey upon them. And so brutally! He cut those poor creatures down as if they were hemmel stalks. A truly vicious fiend if I've ever seen one."
"I know," Ben replied simply. He wasn't going to risk letting his temper get control of him. He took another deep breath to steady himself as he and Nath turned the corner into the royal library.
Ben scanned the room for the sight of his mother, then spotted her in the corner, revising her draft of a senatorial bill for galactic education. Leia Organa-Solo, the high queen of Alderaan and a very influential figure in the Galactic Republic, was still nearly as active in the Senate as she had been thirty years ago when she was a senator herself. She didn't look her age, her wavy brown hair only dusted with gray strands. Her warm brown eyes still sparkled with vitality, and her wit was sharper than erkinite steel.
Leia turned when she heard someone entering the library, and she smiled when she saw Ben entering with Nath. Rising to her feet, Leia left her draft on the desk she had been sitting at and held out her arms to welcome her son. Ben gave her a tight smile in return, letting her give him a quick embrace before pulling back and taking on a serious look.
"Ben," she said, seeing the turmoil on her son's face. She took both her hands in his as she glanced between him and Nath. "What's happened?"
Ben ground his teeth together, running Luke's words over and over in his mind. A Jedi's strength is drawn from his ability to focus on the moment. Focus on your own strength and prepare yourself for what might lie ahead.
"There's been another attack," Ben told his mother. "In the Outer Rim. The mysterious Sith Lord has struck on Botajef. He killed dozens of Jefi before disappearing into thin air again."
Leia didn't lose her calm expression, but her brows knit together in concern, and she squeezed Ben's hands to comfort him. She could always sense when he was troubled, a benefit of the Force bond that they shared.
"When did this happen?" she asked, motioning for Ben and Nath to take a seat with her on the long couch that circled the library.
"The message just came through a few minutes ago," Nath explained, sounding less worried now that he was talking to the queen. "The Admiral didn't specify when it happened, but I would guess that it was quite recently."
Leia nodded, then shook her head in disbelief. Ben sensed her weariness, as well as her desire to act against the threat. He squeezed her hands in return, and she gave him a gentle smile.
"Have there been any clues about the Sith's identity?" Leia queried. Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out the miniature projector for Leia to see. Remembering Luke's advice, he forced himself not to look at the hologram. Rein in your temper.
Leia watched the hologram for several moments, finally switching it off with an angry sigh. "This is appalling," she spat, standing up and beginning to pace. Ben slid the projector back into his pocket and watched his mother as her own temper began to flare. "As if there hasn't been enough unease in the galaxy recently! First the Chancellor bans trade with the Outer Rim. Fighting breaks out among the outer planets because their resources are severely decreased. Next, the Republic declares that all militarized planets must comply with sovereign ordinances and house as many troops as the Chancellor decides they need. The Republic also cuts down on the power of individual senators within the Senate and begins appointing its own picks for senators instead of the traditional elections. Taxes rise higher than ever before. All trade is monitored by the Republic and taken out of the planets' personal treasuries. Now, on top of the political and domestic turmoil, someone has decided to wreak havoc on the Outer Rim by destroying innocent people groups and causing everyone to live in fear of being his next victims."
"Your Majesty," Nath tried, sensing that Leia was about to launch into a lengthy political tirade, "the Chancellor has been doing all he can –"
"Oh, yes," Leia agreed sarcastically, taking a seat next to Ben again. "He certainly has. He wastes no time in sending his troops to every planet that comes under attack, and he becomes more of a hero every time. Never let it be said that Chancellor Palpatine doesn't see an opportunity and take it." She sighed, once again seeming more weary than angry. "Every time we make a stride towards peace, someone begins using terror as a weapon."
Ben could feel his throat getting tight and his hands clenching again. He wasn't going to lash out, but he was going to make his thoughts known. "Mom," he said directly, "I want to go after him."
"What?" she asked. "The Sith?"
"Yes! Mom, who else could challenge him? Who else could rid the galaxy of this monster? Uncle Luke has his students to train. I could track him down by figuring out his pattern!"
"Ben," Leia cautioned, "don't get ahead of yourself. You haven't even finished your training. This Sith is obviously a highly trained student of the Force. You can't throw yourself up against an unknown threat when you have no idea what you're up against. Besides, if Luke thought you were ready, he would be preparing you right now to go after the Sith."
Ben pressed his lips together, trying to keep himself from getting worked up. "Mom, I know I could. I can't just sit here and watch this barbarism anymore! This dark lord has to be stopped, and I want to be the one to do it. If I'm to be a Jedi, I can't stay here and debate politics while a masked creature terrorizes the Outer Rim!"
Leia put her hand on Ben's arm, all traces of her previous irritation gone. "Ben, you are not just a Jedi-in-training. You are also the crown prince of Alderaan. You are an ambassador to dozens of other systems and federations. You can't risk your safety and your position as a leader because you're anxious to hunt down a Sith Lord."
"The other systems look to Alderaan as an example!" Ben countered. "If we sit back and let this threat go unchecked, we'll be seen as passive and uncaring about our fellow systems."
"Ben, we are not just sitting back and observing," Leia said sternly. Sometimes her scolding tone matched Luke's so much that it unnerved Ben. "We have made several appeals to the Chancellor and the Senatorial Guard, and we have sent private reserves to the planets that have been attacked. Poe is in Coruscant as we speak, working on our plan for uncovering the Sith's identity. There's no call to think we're just allowing this to happen."
"But what about the other planets?" Ben asked, forcing his voice to stay even-toned. "They've seen what this Sith Lord can do, and sending our soldiers to the planets that have already been attacked doesn't reassure anyone that they'll be safe when they're the next target."
"Be that as it may, there is no call to send you after a dangerous enemy that we know nothing about." Leia looked past Ben and addressed Nath, who had been observing the exchange in silence. "Nath, please send a message to Admiral Raddus. Thank him for letting me know about the attack so quickly, and inform him that I will be sending a small envoy to help the Jefi rebuild their defenses and care for their wounded. Please send my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and assure them that I will be looking further into this matter."
Nath bowed his head. "At once, Your Majesty." He stood and gave a small bow before exiting the library.
Leia turned back to Ben, her eyes seeming both compassionate and grim at the same time. "Ben, this isn't about my not trusting you with a mission like this," she said gently. Ben felt his former frustration slipping away as his mother spoke. "You are the strongest Force-user I have ever seen. Your power even exceeds Luke's, as you well know. But this just isn't the time to be chasing clues of a murderer's trail across the galaxy. There's so much unrest, and I…" Leia trailed off, seeming unwilling to say what she was really thinking. "I just need you to wait. We're doing all we can at the moment to make sure our allies know we haven't forgotten them. The time will come when we'll hunt this Sith down, but for now, we have to wait. You have to wait," she added meaningfully.
Ben nodded, knowing it was pointless to argue. "I will."
Leia bent down to gather up her writing materials and the draft she had been working on. She gave him a subtle smirk as she faced him. "Don't worry, son. Your time is coming. And that temper is going to come in handy one day. As you can see, mine does."
Ben couldn't keep from smiling with her. She touched his face in reassurance, then swept past him and out of the library to attend to her multitude of tasks and expectations.
When Leia was gone, Ben let go of the breath he had been holding and walked to the enormous window imposing the east wall of the library. The sight of the snowy mountains gave him something other than his feelings to focus on. The projector device seemed to weigh a thousand pounds in his pocket, and he resisted the urge to watch the hologram again, just to stoke the fury that had been building ever since he first saw the Sith Lord destroy a planet.
Ben closed his eyes and tried to think of something else – he imagined he was flying without the aid of a ship, just gliding and soaring through the misty air like a bird set free. This was how he always began his meditations: by calming his troubled mind with a thought of freedom. Ben focused on the feeling of weightlessness that made his angry and fearful thoughts slip away.
Let the Force lift you.
"You're not the first Jedi who's been so anxious to take flight ahead of his time."
Ben opened his eyes and spun around to see who had spoken to him. His expression softened when he saw Zarola Antilles. An elderly woman with the kindest eyes and the softest voice Ben had ever heard, Zarola was a relative of Luke and Leia's deceased father, Bail Organa. Ben smiled at her and took her outstretched hand.
Zarola, whose white hair barely came up to Ben's shoulder, reached her arm around him. "I heard what you and Leia were saying," Zarola said comfortingly. "I understand how frustrated you must be."
Ben bit back the irritated words that threatened to escape. "They're right. I'm not ready for anything so challenging." He twisted his mouth to the side. "No matter how strong I am, my feelings are stronger."
"I know." Zarola gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "That sort of thing runs in your family. But listen, Ben." Ben looked down at the little woman, ready for any wisdom she might have. "The Jedi are powerful people, and they accomplish many seemingly impossible feats because they've completely harnessed their emotions. But you're not just a Jedi. You're the crown prince of Alderaan, a powerful negotiator, and a brilliant battle commander. You have influence and leadership that you don't even understand yet, and with each of those things, a dose of emotion is important. To cut off your feelings is to cut off your humanity."
"My feelings control me," Ben responded. "I'll never be able to master the Force if I can't master my own spirit first."
"Perhaps," Zarola said, moving in front of Ben and taking his hands in her smaller ones. "But controlling your emotions doesn't mean eliminating them."
Ben turned Zarola's words over in his head. Somehow, she always took the things that others told him over and over again, and she presented them in a way that made perfect sense.
"You're right," he acknowledged.
Zarola smiled. "Good. And wipe that brooding look off your face. Your mother is keeping things under control as best she can. Your time is coming, Ben. I can feel it – your time is coming soon."
Ben managed a smile back at the old woman. Her very presence made him feel calmer than he had all day. He continued to ponder what Zarola had said as they looked out the window together, simply watching the serenity of the lake, the mountains, and the sky.
Focus on your own strength and prepare yourself for what might lie ahead.
"Your requests and suggestions have been noted, General Dameron. I assure you that our Republican forces are doing everything in their power to keep this situation under control, and I appreciate Queen Organa's interest in these matters."
Poe Dameron flashed a pleasant smile that never reached his eyes. He couldn't help feeling his blood boiling under his calm surface. Here he was, the top general for Queen Organa and the army of Alderaan, the most diplomatic and charismatic soldier in the galaxy, and he was being dismissed like a child.
"Thank you for your acknowledgements, Your Majesty," Poe said smoothly, "but I'm afraid Her Majesty the Queen will not be satisfied with mere promises. She sent me here with the intention of my bringing back a plan of action against this threat."
Sheev Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate and the ruler of a republic that had slowly become an empire, smiled back just as smoothly from behind his desk. Palpatine had been ruling as a thinly-veiled dictator for almost thirty years, and his age had begun to show on his wrinkled face and tired eyes. Staring straight at the Chancellor, Poe knew he was no match for the elderly man's cunning and instincts, but he had no intention of returning to Leia without at least having put up a fight.
"I assure you, General Dameron," Palpatine was saying, "that I have already established a plan of action and that reinforcements are being sent to every planet in the Outer Rim."
"I realize this, Your Majesty, but your forces have not stopped three individual planets from being attacked."
"Four," Palpatine corrected calmly, reaching for a small monitor on his desk and tossing it to Poe, who caught it in one hand. "There has been a fourth attack only a few hours ago, this time on Botajef. Or has Queen Organa not been informed of this?"
Poe grimaced slightly. "I'm sure she has, Your Majesty. I haven't been in contact with her in the last few hours, or I'm sure she would have told me."
"Indeed," Palpatine purred. The imposing window behind him only served to make the wizened old man look more intimidating. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap as Poe pressed a button on the device and watched the hologram. When the image of the Sith began smugly twirling his lightsaber, Poe turned the image off in disgust and placed the monitor back on Palpatine's desk.
Poe was using his best diplomatic voice now. "Your Majesty, if anything, this recording proves that Queen Organa's suspicions are correct and that Republican forces on the Outer Rim territories are not preventing these attacks."
"Perhaps so," Palpatine interjected. "It also proves that Republican squadrons on every planet have never been more necessary. That's what I have been trying to accomplish in the Senate, though many people feel that the troops are unnecessary to their planets' defense. Clearly, the need has never been greater."
"If you'll forgive me, Your Majesty, the need has never been greater to allow this Sith Lord to be hunted like the creature he is." Poe tried to keep his words respectful, but he knew he had to make his point clear. "Queen Organa is merely suggesting that your elite forces stop invading planets who already have a sufficient military, and that they start trying to uncover the identity of the Sith. To the best of our knowledge, no forces have been dispatched to find this mysterious aggressor?" Poe phrased his last sentence as a question, hoping to goad Palpatine into giving him information.
"My Republican forces have been working constantly to keep this threat under control," Palpatine said evasively, clearly ready to end the conversation. "My troops will increase their numbers on each planet in the Outer Rim, in order to assure their complete safety from this fiend."
"Just like Botajef?" Poe snapped.
Palpatine's tranquil expression contorted at Poe's defiant tone, and his aged hands gripped the arms of his chair. Poe lowered his chin to try to seem less belligerent, but Palpatine was clearly enraged at any insinuations against his power.
"General Dameron, you have received my answer," Palpatine ground out, sounding strained. "I suggest you take it back to your queen before I become tired of your insolence."
"My apologies, Your Majesty," Poe said, forcing his fake smile back into place. "I was out of line, and I certainly do not wish for you to interpret my indiscretions as representative of Queen Organa's feelings." Poe hid a smile, knowing that Leia's indiscretions would probably have been even more disruptive than his own.
Palpatine seemed to relax slightly, and he nodded graciously. "Your apology isn't necessary, General," he replied. "I'm glad we have such passionate young patriots leading our militaries." The Chancellor's smirk hinted at a double meaning to his words, but he didn't push the point. "I trust that you will send my well wishes to Queen Organa and assure her that –"
Palpatine stopped short as the great doors behind Poe flew open abruptly, startling the young general with its loud thump. Smiling, Palpatine stood halfway out of his chair, his back bent and his hands outstretched, and Poe turned to see who was entering the Chancellor's suite just as she breezed past his shoulder.
Palpatine's dark-haired granddaughter was stunningly beautiful, not only from a perfection of face or figure but from the regal posture she carried, or the elaborate Naboo clothing she was wearing, or the complete change in atmosphere as soon as she entered the room. Poe felt that the temperature in the suite raised several degrees simply by looking at her, but she seemed impervious to any effect she might have had on him or anyone else.
"Grandfather," she greeted, sailing forward to clasp Palpatine's outstretched hands. The Chancellor planted a kiss on each of her cheeks before giving her a smile.
"My dear," he responded, "I missed you terribly in your absence. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you returned home."
His granddaughter beamed in return. "I share your joy," she said smoothly, "and I am glad to report that all is well on Mandalore."
"Excellent," Palpatine drawled. The young woman suddenly seemed to notice that Poe was standing in front of her grandfather's desk – though Poe knew she surely must have seen him before – and she glanced at Palpatine for an explanation.
"General Poe Dameron," Palpatine announced, looking the pilot straight in the eye, "may I introduce my granddaughter, Her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess of the Galactic Republic, and Royal Ambassador of the Trade Federation, Adreyna Palpatine."
Poe felt his mouth go dry as she fixed her gaze on him, a sly smile playing on her painted red lips. She was captivating in every way, but Poe was more fearful of her reputation than her pretty face. He cleared his throat and managed a bow, remembering the proper etiquette in the presence of royalty.
"Your Highness, the pleasure is all mine," Poe said, rising back to his full height but not making eye contact with the duchess.
"Likewise, General," she answered, looking sideways at Palpatine and then Poe again. "And there's no need to be so formal. Call me Rey."
Poe bit the inside of his cheek. He had heard all about this woman, and he had no intention of falling under her hypnotic spell the way every other man did. Though, he suddenly found that he was more sympathetic to those men who had been enraptured by her. "Thank you," he said simply. Rey kept smirking at him, looking him up and down and cocking her head to the side as he tried to ignore her. He knew she was only toying with him.
"General Dameron is here on a diplomatic mission from Alderaan," Palpatine explained, sitting back in his chair and motioning to the piece of paper on his desk. "Queen Organa thinks we are sending too many troops to the Outer Rim, and that we should be focusing on finding this mysterious Sith Lord. How was it that you phrased it, General?" Palpatine asked, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Oh, yes. Hunting him down like the creature he is."
Poe gritted his teeth as the Chancellor chuckled. Rey perched on her grandfather's desk, picking up the piece of paper and scanning it, one hand tapping her fingernails on the desk. She gave her head a little toss as she looked back up at Poe. "I couldn't agree more, General," she stated. "But I have a feeling this Sith Lord will be harder to track down than you think."
Poe raised his eyebrows. "I have very little to say on that matter, my lady. I'm no Jedi, and I don't know the ways of the Force well enough to even guess how one might find this savage."
"I assure you, I share your bewilderment," Rey replied, a smirk stealing back onto her face. Her hazel eyes glinted with mischief. "However, until someone solves this incredible mystery, don't you think it wise to keep Republican forces in the Outer Rim where they're needed?"
Poe knew she was just testing him, and he refused to give in to the bait. "I don't see what good it's done so far."
Rey and Palpatine glanced at one another again, and Poe felt himself tensing up, his natural defenses settling in. Something more was happening here than he could understand. "In that case, perhaps you should be the one to send forces to the endangered planets," Rey suggested. Poe could feel the trap snapping shut on him as her silky words took hold. "Perhaps the squadrons under your command would not be so… ineffective, as ours apparently have been."
She was good. Poe shook his head, knowing she would outwit him no matter what argument he tried. Admitting defeat, Poe simply bowed again and said, "Perhaps you're right, Your Majesty. In any case, I must be returning to Alderaan as soon as possible. I'm sure there will be many things to do now that another of our neighbors has been attacked," he added with a meaningful glare at Rey.
"By all means," Palpatine rasped, nodding in return to Poe's bow. "You will find your ship in my personal docking pavilion. I ordered my men to have it inspected and cleaned after your arduous journey."
Poe couldn't find the words he needed to strike back at Palpatine's underhanded insults, so he decided the best thing he could do was to play along. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Rey gave him one last demeaning smile before turning to face the window, the light outlining her form-fitting dark dress perfectly.
Palpatine motioned for his guards to open the doors of his office, his haggard face splitting into a mocking grin. "And as I said, please send my best wishes to Queen Organa and her family."
Poe gave a tight nod, spun on his heel, and strode out of the Chancellor's suite. The Republican guards at the doorway didn't acknowledge him, and Poe tried his best to ignore the burst of feminine laughter that followed his exit from the suite.
A blood-red helmet hid the hopeful expression that spread across Finn Tuanate's face. He stood straight and proud as the Alderaanian general passed through the door Finn was guarding, muttering under his breath. Finn couldn't blame him; Palpatine and his granddaughter were the haughtiest and most intimidating people Finn had ever met. The sound of Rey's smug laughter echoing Poe Dameron's footsteps only furthered that notion.
Finn had been a Republican Red Guard for Chancellor Palpatine for the last seven years, having set a record at sixteen as the youngest Republican soldier assigned to be one of the Chancellor's personal bodyguards. Almost every moment of those seven years had been spent scheming of ways to escape the nightmare that his life had become. Finn despised Palpatine almost as much as he despised the way the government presented itself as a republic. Finn was no politician, but seeing the inner workings of the republican government was enough to make him itch for freedom from the evil regime.
Finn silently cursed his obtrusive helmet and listened intently to determine which direction the young general's footsteps were headed. His vigilant ears had pricked up at the sound of Palpatine's comment – Dameron's ship was in Palpatine's private docking pavilion, an area which Finn, as a Redrobe, had exclusive access to.
If Finn could get aboard Dameron's ship without anyone noticing him, he could escape this planet that he had come to think of as his prison.
As the footsteps faded down the long corridor, Finn dared a look over his shoulder, hoping the other Redrobe guarding Palpatine's suite wouldn't notice his movement. Dameron turned to the right, indicating that he was going back to the pilots' conference room before returning to his ship. Finn couldn't help but smile. That would give him the time he needed to get onto Poe's shuttle.
Finn turned back to his post and drew in a surprised breath when he came helmet-to-helmet with another Red Guard, this one sporting a black pauldron on her right shoulder. Captain Phasma was Finn's direct superior, and she took great pains to ensure that her troops stayed in line – especially when they were younger than usual.
"Guard 29," Phasma spat, her voice resounding in her red helmet, "why are you not standing at attention?"
"I'm sorry, Captain," Finn replied stiffly, jerking back into his expected stance. He gripped his pike harder than necessary, praying that Phasma wouldn't catch onto anything unusual.
She didn't budge. "This is the third time I've found you neglecting your duties. Might I remind you that you have been chosen as a member of an extremely elite group of soldiers. You serve the greatest military and the most important persons in the galaxy. The life of your Chancellor rests in your hands. Perhaps you think there are other matters more pertinent than your duty?"
"No, Captain," Finn said. Beads of sweat began forming on his forehead, and he was glad Phasma couldn't see his face. She continued staring him down, her heavy electric pike cradled defensively.
"I hope not," she barked. "I'll be watching you, Guard 29. One more blunder while you're on duty, and I'll send you packing to the spice mines of Kessel."
Finn didn't doubt her promise a bit. "Yes, Captain. My apologies, Captain. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't." Phasma's voice was hard as steel, and Finn didn't realize how tense he had been until the captain continued walking down the hall. The other guard at the door didn't acknowledge Finn or the incident at all; he just stared straight ahead.
Finn did the same, but his mind practically whirred with excitement. His plan of escape seethed like a boiling pot in his mind, making him nearly tremble with the anticipation of freedom. Phasma would be disappointed in him – he would be neglecting his duty for the last time in a mere hour or two.
Rey had already taken her high-heeled boots off by the time she strode out of Palpatine's suite and made her way down the hallway. The pins in her cumbersome hairpiece were growing more painful by the minute, and she thought she might suffocate if she didn't get her heavy makeup off soon. Rey loved her homeworld of Naboo, but she thoroughly despised the inconvenient costumes she had to wear on diplomatic missions.
A series of excited beeps came from behind her, and Rey grinned when she saw MSE-6, a boxy little maintenance droid that patrolled the halls of the royal suites.
"Mouse!" she greeted him, dropping to one knee and holding her hands out to the droid. MSE-6 rolled toward her, beeping all the way, and received an affectionate pat on the shell from the duchess.
"I missed you, too," Rey said, reaching up to fiddle with the droid's circuits. "What's happened to your antenna? You look like you rammed a starfighter."
MSE-6 beeped and rolled forward and back a few times as Rey pulled his antenna back into place.
"New maintenance cycle, huh? Well, I guess that would give anybody a bad time. There, all better!"
Rey sat back on her heels and gave MSE-6 an admiring wink. The utility droid rolled in a triumphant circle and gave a long whistle. Rey laughed. "You're welcome. Oh, and look at what I found!"
Rey reached into a drawstring pouch on her decorative belt and pulled out a piece of jagged metal, which had a tiny crest stamped into one corner. "Do you know what that is?" MSE-6 beeped negatively, so Rey continued. "This is called beskar steel. The last place I stopped on the mission was Mandalore, and that's where beskar comes from. It's extremely rare. Legends say that the old Mandalorian warriors used to forge their armor out of beskar. It made them practically insusceptible to any kind of blaster wounds."
She grinned, and MSE-6 beeped back enthusiastically. His memory circuits didn't always compute what Rey was saying, but the droid always enjoyed seeing what she brought back from other planets.
"I'm going to see if it matches that piece I found on Kalevala," Rey remarked, turning the steel over in her hand. MSE-6 whistled in agreement. "Maybe sometime I'll find enough to make a helmet for you," she joked, and MSE-6 rolled in another circle to show his enthusiasm at the suggestion.
Rey started at the sound of another voice from behind her in the hallway. "Perhaps Her Highness should consider the welfare of her own people above that of a useless maintenance droid."
Rey sighed in annoyance and stood, gathering up her hairpiece and fastening pins that she had dropped on the floor next to her. "General Hux. Always a pleasure."
"Likewise," he spat. Armitage Hux, the red-haired grand general of the Republican Army, made no show of hiding his dislike for Rey and her position in the Republic. His pale face was drawn into a scowl, and the reedy sound of his voice was always enough to make Rey's skin crawl. "I trust that your visit to Mandalore was more successful than your last?"
Rey held herself tall and proud, sending her words like daggers at the general. "It was certainly more successful than your last trip to Balmorra. How many men did you lose there again?"
"Several," Hux shot back, seeming unperturbed. "How many more would have been lost had I not removed our forces from your campaign against Corellia?"
Rey dusted off her dress and slipped the beskar steel back into her pouch. "You're so right, General. You are second to none when it comes to retreating."
Hux's jaw tightened as he responded, "I do what is necessary to preserve the troops under my command. Not that you would know anything about such responsibilities. Your diplomatic missions must be quite elementary if you have time to go scavenging for old droid parts."
"I suppose someone has to go behind your pointless crusades and smooth things over," Rey hissed, "or else the Republic might be at constant war thanks to your continual blunders."
"Perhaps if you would allow the other systems to manage their own affairs rather than sending my squadrons to every planet in the galaxy, they would not have to deal with my continual blunders. I certainly have no say in what deeds my own army carries out," Hux added contemptuously.
Rey tossed her head scornfully. "If that were left up to you, General Hux, there would be no Republic left."
"I heard that Alderaan just sent an emissary to your grandfather," Hux said, changing the subject abruptly. "What did they want?"
Rey crossed her arms and gave Hux a vicious smile. "The same thing you want – fewer Republican troops throughout the galaxy. Apparently, Queen Organa believes that the Republic's job is to hunt down our mysterious Sith Lord instead of ensuring protection from him."
Hux scoffed. "I can't say that I totally disagree with her."
"Perhaps you should retire as Republican general then," Rey said mockingly, holding her chin high as she strode past Hux. "Alderaan may have need of another general with the ability to create problems."
Hux snarled at her and grabbed her arm painfully, pulling her back to face him. Rey could practically feel the anger radiating off him. "Your insults mean little to me, Adreyna, but your careless military tactics are of immediate concern. If you had any sense of preservation for your own army and the peace of the galaxy, you would listen to me and tell your grandfather to pull his ranks out of the systems with their own armies. The Senate is already agitated with his dismissal of their ideas. If you want to keep out of a galaxy-wide war, you must keep Palpatine from continuing with this madness."
Rey narrowed her eyes to slits and jerked her arm free of his grasp. "The Chancellor and I are fully aware of the state of the Galactic Senate. Our plan for dealing with the threat of the Sith Lord and keeping the other systems in check will have very little to do with your army. Take my advice and stick with your war games, Hux. Leave the peace of the galaxy to the politicians."
Hux didn't respond, just gave Rey a darkened look as she stepped out of his space and continued walking down the hallway, showing no signs of uneasiness at all.
Rey swept into her private chambers with a grandiose sigh and fall back against the door when it shut behind her. "Throw this thing down the garbage compactor, Argé," she said teasingly, holding out the heavy striped headdress she had pulled off. "I don't want to see it anymore."
Argé laughed with Rey as she took the hairpiece. "As you wish, my lady. I'll add it to the growing pile of rejects."
"I can't help it," Rey shrugged, moving toward her cabinet space and throwing a winning smile over her shoulder at Argé. "It's not my fault Naboo has such impractical fashion ideas."
"I suppose not," Argé replied, smiling back. Argé was more than just a handmaid to Rey; she was a close friend and an invaluable ally. Her sparkling black eyes betrayed the lack of sight behind them, and she moved through Rey's parlor suite with ease, every step of the room memorized.
Rey tugged open her dark green cabinet door, taking a deep breath of the smells that wafted out of the shelves. Nothing gave her so much enjoyment as her collection of items she had discovered on the planets she visited, and the welcoming sight of her jars of preserved flowers, her rock collection, and her stacks of unique coins, jewelry, and children's toys never failed to make her smile. No matter how difficult the mission or how busy the schedule, Rey always found a moment to scour the countryside for abandoned artifacts and remains of other eras.
"What did you find this time?" Argé asked over her shoulder, hearing the creak of the cabinet door.
Rey tugged the piece of beskar steel out of the pouch on her belt and held it up admiringly. "Come here," she told Argé, and the handmaid made her way to where Rey was standing. "Hold out your hands," Rey said. Argé did so, and Rey placed the metal onto her hands.
Argé felt all the edges of the piece of beskar, then ran her fingertips over the little crest on the top. "Incredible," she breathed. "What is it?"
"Beskar steel," Rey replied. "The Mandalorian warriors wore armor made entirely from it."
"But where did you find something so rare?" Argé returned the hunk of metal to Rey, who began searching through her cabinet for a place to sort the beskar into.
Another voice from the doorway of the suite answered before Rey could. "She found it in what had to be the most dangerous corner of the galaxy," Jannah said in mock annoyance. Rey glanced over her shoulder and gave Jannah, her loyal bodyguard and protector, a mischievous look. Jannah just shook her head and leaned against the doorframe. "You should have seen it, Argé," Jannah continued, betraying herself with a laugh. "The darkest cave on Mandalore. Slimy crawling algae all over the walls. An enormous mythosaur skull in one corner, and a human skull in the other. Some sort of creature screaming at the other end of the tunnel."
Argé laughed. "Never let it be said that our duchess is afraid of the dark."
"Certainly not!" Jannah declared. "And the beskar, of course, was on top of this piece of rock that jutted out thirty feet above our heads. I nearly broke my neck trying to get both of us out of there in one piece."
Rey shook her head in amusement as she set the beskar among her basketful of precious metals on the second cabinet shelf. "Oh, please. It's just that I have complete trust in your abilities to get us out of tough situations," Rey teased her.
"I certainly have to do it enough," Jannah smirked back. She and Argé had served Rey for more than ten years, and both had the liberty to speak freely in her presence. Rey felt that the two girls were more like sisters than servants to her.
Rey had just begun walking towards her bedchamber to change into her comfortable clothes when she heard Jannah continue her recount of their adventures on Mandalore. "She disappeared on me for awhile," Jannah remarked. "She still won't tell me where she went off to. Though I must say I have a suspicion."
Argé laughed as she dropped Rey's discarded hairpiece into a nearby basket. "Lord Korkie Kryze has never given up on winning our lady's heart," she agreed.
"I think she's beginning to give in to his pleas," Jannah joked with a meaningful smile at Rey.
Rey pursed her lips, fighting a smile as she shook her head. "You both know perfectly well I have no interest in him," she answered. "He's old enough to be my father!"
"Lots of women marry men twice their age," Argé commented. "And Lord Kryze seems to be a good man."
"A good man and a good ally," Rey said, "but not a good match for me."
Jannah and Argé smiled in return but didn't tease her any more. "When will your next mission be?" Jannah called to Rey.
"Sometime next week," Rey called back, pulling on her favorite comfortable tunic and flat boots. "The Chancellor is sending me back to Corellia to try to smooth over what happened last time."
"What happened last time?" Argé asked.
Jannah broke in. "You don't remember? Our lady demanded that the Corellian government cease their trading with the Outer Rim according to Republican regulations, and when they refused, she launched into… aggressive negotiations." All three women laughed at that.
"I was quite diplomatic about it," Rey insisted, coming back into the parlor suite and sitting in an open chair by the window. Argé moved to stand behind Rey and began braiding her hair into a more practical style. "That horrible Lady Proxima practically runs the planet, and no matter how corrupt her inner-planetary dealings may be, she violated Republican policy by trading with the Outer Rim."
"General Hux has been speaking with your grandfather about it while you were gone," Argé replied, finishing the braid in Rey's hair and leaning on the chair behind her for balance.
Rey's eyebrows furrowed. Hux had a habit of making Rey's missions always sound like failures. "And?" she asked, sounding nonchalant. Jannah raised an eyebrow, obviously concerned as well.
"You know how he is," Argé shrugged. "He villainized everything you did and made himself sound like the hero. He even suggested that the Chancellor send someone else in your place next week."
Rey turned her head to look out to window, hiding her disgust. "The slimeball. I don't know why the Chancellor puts up with him."
"Because he's ambitious and mostly successful," Jannah answered, straightening from her position against the doorway. "And because as long as the Chancellor has both you and Hux vying for his right-hand, he'll get the best results from both of you."
"I'm not interested in winning a popularity contest," Rey shot back. "I get good results because I want them, not because I want to win my own grandfather's favor. And I have no intention of competing with a groveling, scheming swamp-rat like Hux."
"We know that," Jannah said defensively. "We're not the ones accusing you."
Argé nodded her agreement. "The Chancellor will always favor you over Hux anyway. You're his granddaughter, after all."
"If you ask me," Jannah added, "you need to get rid of Hux before he comes up with something that will destroy everything you've been working on. He's certainly not above dirty tricks to get what he wants, and right now he wants the same thing you want."
Rey abruptly stood from her chair and shoved it behind her with a heavy creak. "I'm aware of what needs to be done. I'll take care of Hux in my own time and in my own way. In the meantime, I have an appointment I need to get ready for. I'll call you both if I need you." She quickly exited the room and closed the door to her bedchamber behind her.
Argé looked in Jannah's direction and, despite not being able to see her friend, shrugged. Rey was a good mistress and a brilliant negotiator, Jannah remembered, but she despised being told what to do.
"I'll be outside the door," she told Argé. Glancing over her shoulder at Rey's door, Jannah softly remarked, "You never know when she'll suddenly be tired of a conversation, huh?"
Argé smiled ruefully and nodded. "She's unpredictable for sure. But I guess that's what makes her such a good politician: you never know more than what she wants you to know."
"I don't understand why you don't send our army after the Sith, Leia. It makes more sense than us just sending some aid to every planet that gets attacked."
Leia sighed, smoothing her hair back from her face and trying to keep from snapping at her husband. Even after twenty-five years of marriage, the criminal-turned-royal Han Solo had never lost his feistiness, especially when it came to bickering with Leia. The centuries-old stateroom had witnessed many a quarrel between the two, but Leia hoped to avoid such an argument this time.
"I know that, Han," Leia said firmly, "but I have no intention of risking the lives of our soldiers against a completely unknown threat. We know practically nothing about this Sith Lord. Sending a group of ordinary soldiers to track him down is unthinkable."
Han spread his hands wide in confusion. "Who says they have to be ordinary? Alderaan has one of the most advanced militaries in the galaxy. All you have to do is let me assemble a special force and we can –"
"This isn't a crime lord, Han!" Leia countered. "This is a Sith, someone who clearly has a mastery of the Force. Blasters and crossbows are useless against someone like this."
"So what will it take?" Han asked, frustration evident in his voice. "An army of Jedi knights? The rise of a Chosen One?" He dropped his mocking tone and spoke seriously, looking straight into Leia's eyes. "Or maybe you already know and just don't want to face it?"
Leia kept her face neutral but looked away, determined to keep emotion out of the conversation. Han gathered her hands in his and gave them a squeeze. When she looked back up at him, his expression had softened.
"Leia, I think we both know what needs to be done," Han said gently. When Leia tried to look away again, he continued, "If what you say about this Sith is true, then our son is the only one who could possibly stand a chance against him."
Leia shook her head adamantly, using her best politician voice. "No, absolutely not. Ben is –"
"Ben is the strongest Jedi in the galaxy," Han finished for her. "Leia, he's not a child anymore. He's already proven that he's great at being a prince and a senator and all that, but everyone knows he's the strongest Force-guy around. Listen, I may not know much about the Force, but even I can see he's more than qualified for a job like this."
"It would be suicide, Han," Leia said. "Ben hasn't even finished his training yet. He's only twenty-four years old, and he's never actually fought an adversary who had the Force. All his training has been relatively safe, and I don't want to put him in a position where he could be killed."
"Have you spoken to Luke about this?" Han asked her. "Surely he'd know better than either of us would."
Leia nodded, glancing out the window as if she thought she might see her son there. "Ben has brought it up several times, to Luke and me. Luke says Ben's incredibly capable and eager to go after the Sith, but Luke worries about this strange voice Ben has heard on several occasions. He thinks it could very well be connected to this Sith lord's sudden appearance."
Han's eyes widened and he pulled Leia over to sit next to him on the carved chairs. "So that's what this is about? That voice?" Han shook his head in disbelief. "Leia, you don't actually think –"
"Don't think what?" she demanded.
"That Ben could be seduced to the dark side?" Han scoffed, clearly dismissing the idea. "You and Luke are underestimating our boy."
Leia pursed her lips. "It's got nothing to do with Ben's allegiance. I know he's fully committed to the light, and I know he's held back on wanting to go after the Sith because he respects Luke's opinion so much. Still…" She trailed off.
"I know," Han said. "He's got a temper from both of us. He's told me all about it – his feelings get in the way of him using the Force. But that doesn't mean he's weak or wants to go to the dark side!"
"I never said it did!" Leia argued. "There's no doubt in my mind that Ben will be the one to go after this Sith. It's just that he's not ready for an assignment of this kind yet."
Han gave her a skeptical look. "Well, when will he be ready? When he's our age? Ben isn't a child anymore, Leia! You were already a senator when you were younger than he is now, and I started smuggling even before that."
"That's got nothing to do with –"
"You can't hold onto him forever," Han finished. "Sooner or later, he's going to have to prove his worth as a Jedi, and it's not going to be in a stateroom, either."
Leia almost shot back a sharp retort, but she changed her mind and sighed, looking down at her hands. Han waited for her to speak, knowing that her mind was still weighing in all the factors. "I know that, Han. I just… I think there's another way."
"What's that?" he asked, sounding more curious than combative now.
"I don't know," she admitted. "It's just a feeling I have. Something tells me that Ben's chance is coming very soon, but that chasing the Sith's trail over the galaxy isn't it. When that time comes, I won't hold him back. I know how anxious he is to show that he's a real Jedi and not just a prince. But until that time comes, I think he needs to stay here."
Han still looked uncertain, but he didn't respond.
"I have a feeling there's more to this Sith than meets the eye," Leia added. "Something's not right, and I just sense that we need to wait long enough to find out a little more."
Han sighed back, searching her eyes for some kind of answer. "I've never quite understood how the Force works and how you can know some things and not others, but I guess I just have to trust, huh?"
Leia smiled back fondly. "I know it's hard for you sometimes, Han. Marrying into a family of Force-users isn't exactly what you were expecting when we met."
"Nope," Han agreed, his eyes twinkling with the familiar mischief. "But I wouldn't take it back. You and Ben and Luke are the only family I've ever had, and if that means I have to have the Force as an in-law too, then so be it."
Leia laughed at that, then reached up to touch Han's face. "Thank you for understanding."
"Where is the wonder boy anyway?"
"Luke's Jedi temple," Leia said, smiling at the thought. "He's giving a special exhibition on tactical defense for the younglings. I hear Ben is quite popular with the younger students."
Han couldn't help smirking at that. "Hoping he'll be a youngling teacher instead of a Jedi knight, eh, Leia?"
"Of course not!" Leia said dismissingly. "Luke has great aspirations for Ben, and so do I. It's just not his time yet."
Han nodded. "Well, until the Force drops an answer in your lap, I guess I better get ready to go."
"You're leading the aid mission to Botajef?" Leia asked, seeming surprised.
"Yeah. I've been stuck in the palace here for almost three months. I'm ready for a little action."
Leia smiled and nodded back. "Like father, like son. Just… be careful there, Han. I know it's just a relief delegation, but there's always an element of danger. Like I said," she added softly, "I think there's a lot more to this plot than it seems. Just be careful."
"You know I will, sweetheart," Han assured her, standing from his chair and leaning forward to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Chewie's getting the Falcon ready for takeoff, so I better get down there."
Leia nodded and stood as well, giving him a fond smile as he walked out of the stateroom. She couldn't help but sigh wearily as she thought of all that could happen. Leia couldn't stifle the feeling that something was very wrong – more wrong than any of them knew – and that her world might never be the same because of it.
Lunge. Strike. Parry. Jab.
A set of six fireballs came hurtling straight at Rey, but she quickly positioned her lightsaber to block each of the fiery projectiles before they could strike her face. She quickly whirled around, one hand raised beside her, and sent a blast of energy straight to the core of a nearby tree. The great oak cracked down the middle and fell into halves.
Rey wasted no time in sprinting toward one of the tree halves, which she had directed to fall across the split in a ravine; she could hear the swirling, darkened stream of water far below the edges of the ravine. Balancing on the middle of the fallen tree, she closed her eyes and mustered every bit of dark feeling she could from inside her own mind. She felt her teeth vibrating and her hands trembling as the Force moved in and around her. Lightning sliced downward into the water, illuminating a path of stones that floated in midair. Rey leaped forward and stepped lightly across the stones.
It was almost midnight, and Rey ignored the coolness of the night as she focused on the last bit of her training course. The forests of Ilum were freezing at night, but it was one of the few uninhabited planets where she could train completely off the grid. There was only one other person in the galaxy who knew about her midnight practices, and he was equally devoted to the secrecy.
Rey kept her eyes closed as she stepped on the floating stones, counting in her head and ignoring the numb feeling in her fingers. Her blood-red lightsaber crackled hot and eager in her right hand.
Eight, nine, ten, eleven…
The twelfth stone was the smallest, and Rey felt herself wavering slightly. She snapped her mind back to attention and balanced on one foot, willing herself not to look down at the seemingly bottomless gorge below her. There was only one way out of the treacherous position, and she concentrated on that.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
Rey clenched her free hand into a fist, squeezing her eyes shut and willing herself to concentrate on the task before her. This was always where she struggled – the passion and hatred she needed never seemed to come easily. The Force seemed empty, even shallow, as though she were wading in a tide pool and ignoring the vast ocean before her.
Summon all your anger, your hatred, your aggression…
Reach out with your feelings…
The Force shall free me…
Rey let out a war cry as she felt the Force at long last, flowing through her like a tidal wave and burning her up with intensity. She raised her lightsaber into the air, stretched her other hand in front of her, and grinned wide as she felt the familiar snap of weightlessness. Hovering several feet above the stones, she maneuvered herself towards the solid ground of the forest. The dark cloud of the Force enveloped her and carried her through the air.
She felt the firm earth beneath her feet and opened her eyes, proudly looking back at the floating stones and the fallen tree. It was a difficult end to the course, but she was always proud when she finished it.
"I certainly hope you are not satisfied with that display, my apprentice."
The voice creaked and rasped its way through the words. Rey narrowed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from speaking. She felt confident about her run-through – why shouldn't her master?
"You completely cut yourself off from the Force when you thought you were in control of the situation. It was only when you realized that you were powerless on your own that you reached out for the Force's help."
Rey turned to face her grandfather. Darth Sidious, Sheev Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor and the last living Sith lord. His chalky face was eerie in the moonlight, and Rey fought back a shudder.
"I completed the course in record time," Rey countered, staying cool. "I finished at least five seconds earlier than I did last time."
"Seven," Palpatine snapped. "If you had been fighting someone during that time, you would be dead by now."
Rey wiped sweat off her forehead but kept her lightsaber gripped in the other hand. "There's no one stronger than me in the whole galaxy. You've said so yourself."
"Perhaps," Palpatine said, "but that does not mean you can allow yourself to be sloppy. I could have struck you down where you stood on the stones, and you would never have sensed it until it was too late."
Rey didn't reply, just kept her eyes directed at the ground.
Palpatine kept up the scolding. "And your final onslaught! You should have been able to summon the strength to levitate in mere seconds. Instead, you took all the time you wanted to make your move. You've mastered the Force in every other area; why are you so slow to bend it to your will?"
Rey kept her voice steady as she looked up at her grandfather. "There's a gap between what I want and what the Force wants. Every time I try to bend it one way, it's as though it pulls free and leaves me with no contact at all. I don't understand why –"
"You do not understand because you do not try to understand," Palpatine interrupted. Rey gritted her teeth as he droned on, excruciatingly slowly as always. "You have no anger, no hatred, no aggression of any kind which connects you to the dark side of the Force. You are completely indifferent to your emotion. You float through the Force's presence as though you were drifting through space. Where is your anger? Where is the passion that will give you power?"
"I don't know," Rey admitted. "I've lost it."
"How do you plan to recover it?" Palpatine sounded more irritated than actually angry.
Rey looked away, back towards the ravine where the floating stones were cloaked in a snowy mist. "I don't know. The only time I feel any connection to the Force is when I fight. No matter how much I train or meditate, something is always missing."
"Your spark," the elderly man answered, stepping closer to her. "It's the fire that you possessed when you were young – that is what you are missing. Can you not see this?"
"I can see that I'm finished with my training," Rey snapped. "I'm only being held back by these childish games and tests. I need to –"
"You will do as I say!" Palpatine roared, baring his teeth at Rey. She stiffened at his tone. "You are still negligent. And careless! You are careless to a fault, and it will be your downfall."
Rey finished his thought. "You're referring to Botajef?"
"Of course." Palpatine stepped back and began walking slowly in a circle around her, his voice grating against her ears like the whine of a TIE fighter. "You were completely unconcerned with the number of Jefi you slaughtered. I ordered you to kill ten at the most, and you killed seventeen warriors!"
"They attacked me!" Rey argued. "I wasn't expecting so many to come pouring out of the guardhouse!"
Palpatine turned sharply to face her. "Exactly, my young apprentice. You did not expect it because you did not plan carefully."
Rey started to fight back, then thought better of it and sighed. "Yes. I know it was a mistake."
"And to put yourself directly in view of a watchtower!" Palpatine continued, resuming his circling. "I explicitly told you that you were not to be captured in another hologram, yet you stood directly in front of a watchtower full of recorders."
"I want people to see my work," Rey retorted. "What good is a mastery of fine skills if there's no one to see them except a bunch of peasants right before they die?"
Palpatine growled in frustration. "How many times do I have to say this? I do not care what you want people to see. You are young and inexperienced. You have no idea what it means to be a master of the Sith customs. The primary skill I have taught you is Force stealth! Do you think that was so you could show your skills off to every peasant you encounter?"
The pause in his lecture prompted Rey to answer, "No, master."
"No, of course not!" Palpatine stopped his pacing and stood stock-still in front of Rey, seemingly completely unaffected by the cold. "That foolish twirl you like so much. It's nothing but show, and it could cost you your life someday."
"It's my trademark," Rey countered indignantly. "It's like a signature, to show that the mysterious Sith lady has struck again."
"You are not to do that trick again." Palpatine's voice was flat and cold, indicating the end of the conversation. "You have already disobeyed my orders once, girl. Do not test me again."
Rey lowered her head in acceptance. "Yes, master. It won't happen again."
Palpatine was quiet for several moments, and Rey didn't dare lift her head to try to read his expression. Staring at the toes of her black boots, she concentrated on her own feelings and fought back the urge to stand up for herself. Her years as an ambassador did little for her relationship with her master in the dark arts.
Finally, Palpatine spoke again. "You have done well, Darth Kira. Your power grows every day, despite your shortcomings. I foresee a grand future for us, and your powers will be the turning point in our plan."
Rey dutifully dropped to her knees, placing her sheathed lightsaber on the ground between them. She felt Palpatine step closer to her and fought back a cringe when he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"The Outer Rim is already in fear of your attacks," he continued. "More Republican troops are sent to the outer planets every day. Before long, I will have a regiment on every planet in the federation, and the need for the Senate will be gone. We will reign as absolutes over the entire galaxy, and you, my dear Adreyna, will have all the power you have ever dreamed of. We must only wait for the right time." He gave her what she assumed was supposed to be a fond smile. "Our plan will soon be realized, my young apprentice."
Rey couldn't help but smile back, though not for the same reasons that Palpatine thought. What do my plans have to do with yours? she thought.
"Indeed," she replied, a sly smirk crossing her lips. "My allegiance is to you and you only, my master. I anxiously await the day of our victory. I pray it comes very soon. Very soon indeed."
Hello, friends! I am so, so excited to share this story with you - I've been dying to get it started, and now the first chapter is HERE! I have enormously high hopes for how this story will go, and I promise to do my best in updating regularly.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Chapter 1 of "To Move the Stars!" Your views and your comments mean the world to me, so please let me know what you think ;) Happy reading!