Mallatobuck—or Malla as she was known to friends and family—hummed to herself as she prepared the welcoming feast for her husband Chewbacca and the guests that would soon be coming to her home. It had been several years since Chewbacca had returned—he and his partner Lando Calrisian had yet to find the Millennium Falcon and had sworn to do so no matter how long it took. While Malla was looking forward to seeing her husband once more—and even had a grudging affection for Lando after all these years—she was not certain how to feel about the guest they were bringing with them. She could smell change in the air—and it frightened her.

And then she smelled something else that made her smile. She smiled slightly to herself as she continued to cook and pretended not to be aware of the stealthy figure that was making its way to her. She pretended to be oblivious until she felt a hand touch her shoulder. "Hello, Kylo. Was your hunt successful, my son?"

She turned to see her second son—her human son—visibility deflate. "I thought I had you this time."

Malla growled and cuffed him affectionately. "A mother always knows her son." She butted heads with him gently. "How was your hunt?"

"Successful!" The boy—no, young man now she reminded herself—held up a woven sack. "Wyyyschokk eggs! You'll be able to make Uncle Lando Kashyyyk Case for dessert!"

"You left some behind, my son?"

"Of course, mother. I remember what you taught me." The Wyyyschokk spiders were dangerous predators, but they had their place in Kashyyyk's ecology. Wookies respected the balance of life.

"And speak Basic."

"Basic makes my throat hurt," Kylo complained in the human language. "And Uncle Lando understands Shyriiwook."

"Your father is bringing home another guest, Kylo. One that doesn't speak our language." She smiled as she looked at her son. "And you should change into the human clothes that Lando brought you before they get here."

Kylo glanced down at himself. He currently wore nothing but a loincloth and some soft woven boots to protect his relatively fragile human feet. His dark hair was shoulder length and as luxurious as Wookie fur. His pale—thanks to the heavy forest canopy of Kashyyyk—body rippled with muscles. He radiated strength and confidence—a far cry from the human infant that Chewbacca had brought home to her nearly 20 Standard years ago. The baby had spent nearly ten years in carbonite and for the first year Malla had feared for his life. Every night she had cradled the tiny infant to her and prayed that he would still be alive when she woke up. "I don't like the clothes."

Malla cuffed him again gently. "Your uncle gifted them to you. Would you dishonor him by not showing appreciation for his gift?"

"No. Do I have to put them on now?"

Malla barked out a laugh. "You have time yet. Now leave me to my cooking and go to the trading post and see if they have any caf. You know how your uncle loves his morning caf."

"Yes, mother." Kylo bumped foreheads with her and then leaped out of their treehouse.

"That always makes me nervous," Attichitcuk growled as he shuffled out of his bedroom, leaning heavily on his staff for support. "It nearly gave me a heart attack the first time I saw him do it."

"Me too," Malla admitted to her father-in-law. "He has grown up so fast …"

"Humans age faster than Wookies," Attichitcuk growled softly. "We may both outlive him."

"I know." The thought tore at Malla's heart. "Especially if he decides to listen to the woman who is coming tonight."

"Malla." The old man laid a hand on her shoulder. "He is human. He cannot spend his entire life on Kashyyyk."

"He is my son!"

"And my grandson." The old Wookie growled softly. "I could not love him more than if you had borne him as you did Lumpawaroo. But Kylo's family was strong with the Force—and so is he. He has a destiny to fulfill."

"That destiny killed his parents and uncle!" Malla growled. "If only that slaver ship had not landed here!"

Attichitcuk growled. "Kylo is the grandson of a slave—it's his destiny to be a Chainbreaker like my son." The old Wookie sighed. "But I feel as you do—the freed ones have spoken of him, and there are those who will wonder about this human who speaks like a Wookie. Those who remember that Chewbacca once had a human partner whose mate gave him an extraordinary child." He sighed and sat down. "We have raised Kylo and helped him learn his strengths. The rest will be up to him."

Rey had not known there was so much green in the galaxy.

They had landed the old ship in a clearing. She didn't know why Unkar Plutt had agreed to ferry Lor San Tekka to Kashyyyk—why he had her pilot the ship rather than one of his more experienced men- but at this moment she did not care. "It's beautiful here."

"It is indeed," Lor San Tekka said softly. He glanced at Unkar. "This is the place?"

The Crolute shrugged. "These are the coordinates from the slaver ship's navigation computer. This is where it's supposed to have happened."

The old human nodded. "Good. Very good."

"You paid me to stay here for a day. We'll do that. If your human Wookie hasn't shown up by then Rey and I are leaving. You can do whatever the kriff you want." The Crolute turned to her. "Rey, break out some rations. I'm hungry—"

Rey watched in horror as a blue light saber blade sizzled through Plutt's chest. The Crolute gaped at her for a moment and then fell flat on his face. "Unkar!"

Lor San Tekka stared at her regretfully as he stepped around Unkar's body. "I couldn't take the chance that he might interfere with what has to be done, child." He held the light saber that had murdered Unkar in one hand and a blaster in the other.

"What do you mean?" Rey asked as she backed fearfully away from the old man. "Why are you doing this?" She had her staff but one single blow from that light saber would shear it in half.

"You are not evil, but you come from evil, child. The greatest evil the Galaxy has ever known. And I feel it rising again even as we speak. If that evil should corrupt you, then a great darkness would descend upon us all. I had thought that I ended your family line when I killed your parents, but I was mistaken. Unkar lied to me to protect you."

"You killed my parents?" Rey felt a rage rising in her. "Why? Why did you kill my parents?"

"Because your father Dathan was the son of darkness. Your father was a Palpatine!"

"Palpatine? You mean-?"

"Your grandfather was the most evil man to have existed—one of the most powerful Sith Lords ever! You have his power, Rey. I have sensed it—and that power is a threat to everything I hold dear! I do not hate you, child—but I cannot spare your life."

Rey turned to run. The jungle was undoubtedly dangerous but better than the alternative. Now if she could only dodge the blaster fire perhaps she could ambush him in the woods. A slim hope, but it was all she had.

"I am sorry, child." Lor San Tekka raised his blaster.

Rey ran.

The old man fired ….

And gasped.

The force bolt froze in mid-air.

And then they heard the cry.

"What the kriff is that?" Rey asked herself. She wanted to run but something compelled her to stay.

A powerful figure dropped out of the trees in front of her. It was human, male and nearly naked. He glanced at her and then growled at Lor San Tekka. He waved his hand and the blaster bolt harmlessly flew high into the sky. "I am Kylo. Why have you come here?"

The old man gasped. "It's true! You're real!"

"He killed Unkar!" Rey cried. "He's trying to kill me!"

"She's a Palpatine, my prince. Hers is a legacy of evil just as yours is one of light. Let me destroy her and then I will help you become the Jedi Knight that your mother wanted you to be."

"My mother?" Kylo asked her. "My mother has never spoken of this."

"Your mother—your real mother—is dead, my prince." He gestured with the light saber. "And this girl's family murdered her. They killed your entire family. Only by killing her can we thwart their evil plans."

Kylo looked at her.

Their eyes met.

Kylo turned back to the old man. "Leave. I will not let you harm her."

Lor San Tekka gave him a pleading look. "My prince-!"

"Go!"

The old man sighed and turned to leave.

Kylo turned back to Rey, his face gentle. "I will not harm you—"

And then Rey heard blaster fire and Kylo fell.

"I only stunned him," Lor San Tekka explained. "But I cannot let you live, Rey. I have now set the blaster to kill one more."

He raised the weapon.

Rey stared at him … and felt a sudden furious anger. He had killed her parents. He had killed Unkar. He had hurt Kylo. He wanted to hurt her … just because he believed that she was a Palpatine.

It wasn't right. It wasn't fair.

The anger roared through her veins. Without knowing how or why, she raised her hand and pointed it at the dreadful old man. "You're the monster …"

And lightning flashed from her fingers and struck the old man down.

Rey gratefully accepted a cup of water from Malla. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Chewbacca had found her sitting beside the unconscious Kylo. Even the startling presence of the Millennium Falcon had not broken his fear for his boy. Tenderly, he picked up the unconscious young man and motioned for Rey to follow him as he led her back to his home.

In addition to the two other Wookies, there were two humans waiting for them. One was the smooth Lando Calrissian. The other was a middle aged women with brightly colored hair. She stared intently at the unconscious Kylo. "It's him. It's really him."

Lando squeezed her hand. "Yes, Amilyn. He's alive. Ben Solo is alive."

"His name is Kylo," Malla corrected angrily.

"He has more than one name," Lando said gently as he gazed at the unconscious young man. "Leia named him Ben as a reminder of her only hope. Chewie named him Kylo to preserve the memory of his uncle and parents. He was so young when the First Order took him. It's a miracle he didn't die from being held in carbonite for so long …"

"He's so young," Amilyn said gently.

"He is," Malla admitted. "I had hoped he would have more time …"

"We don't know everyone the slavers and their freed captives might have told," Lando said softly. "But we all knew that we couldn't keep him safe forever."

"We need him," Amilyn said softly. "The entire Galaxy needs him. Once they know that a Skywalker lives Leia's Resistance will flourish and we finally have a chance to pay Snoke back for murdering Han, Leia, and Luke."

Rey stared at her hands. She had conjured lightning. Was Lor San Tekka right? Was she a Palpatine? Was she destined to fall into evil?

Was she destined to be an enemy of Kylo?

She heard him sigh … and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was her.

He smiled. "I'm Kylo."

"I know." She waved half-heartedly at him. "I'm Rey."

His smile became even larger. "Hello, Rey."

Chewbacca laughed. "He's every bit as smooth as Han!"

Kylo glared at his adoptive father.

Amilyn coughed. "Kylo, I'm Amilyn Holdo. I'm a friend of your mother—" She glanced apologetically at Malla. "Your human mother. I am very happy to meet you."

Kylo gazed at her curiously.

"We need your help, Kylo. The Galaxy needs your help. Let me explain."

She spoke of the First Order. How Snoke, his Knights of Ren, and General Armitage Hux were developing super weapons to destroy the New Republic and take over the Galaxy. "Snoke kidnapped you as an infant, Kylo. Your family tried to save you—and died in the attempt. It took Chewbacca and Lando almost ten years to find you." She glanced at Lando with an unpleasant expression on her face. "Not that they ever told me until they had no other choice."

"I am sorry that your friends died," Kylo said softly. "But I don't know them. I don't remember them. This is my home. This is my family. I belong here."

Attichitcuk had said little until this moment. "This is your home. We are your family. But cubs cannot remain in the den forever. Your human father's ship has come to you at last. Your human mother's friend has come to your side. This human girl has come into your life. The signs are there, my grandson. You have grown strong on Kashyyyk. That strength is needed beyond our home. You must go. You must learn more about the Force." The old Wookie forced himself to his feet and hobbled to Kylo's side. "But this will always be your home."

Kylo sighed. "I know what I have to do," he admitted. "I just don't know if I have the strength."

Chewbacca came to him and lightly butted his head. "You are my son. You have the strength to do whatever is needed."

"Excuse me." Rey got up and left the treehouse.

Lando and Chewbacca exchanged glances. "Go," Lando said. "We know you want to."

Kylo forced himself to his feet. He stumbled.

Attichitcuk handed him his staff. "Take it. It will help."

"Grandfather," Kylo protested in Shyriiwook.

"Boy, your family is always here to support you. Take it." The old Wookie wrapped his fingers around the staff. "Now go."

Kylo took the staff and walked outside. Rey was leaning over a rail, staring at the trees. "I should bury Unkar," she said softly.

"Unkar?"

"The Crolute. Lor San Tekka killed him because the old man thought he'd protect me." Rey laughed bitterly. "To be honest, I'm not sure that he would have bothered—but I kind of like to think he might have. He was horrible—but he was the closest thing I had to a parent. And now … now I know why. My parents were killed because they were evil. And maybe I am too."

"You're not evil. I do not know about your parents, but you are not evil."

"How can you be sure? According to Lor San Tekka, my grandfather was the most evil man in existence. And he believed that I was going to be just like him."

"You are not evil," Kylo repeated. He touched her cheek and looked into her eyes. "You feel for Unkar Plutt. You are afraid that you are evil. If you were evil then you would not know such fear. You are afraid because you feel that you're alone."

Rey looked into his eyes.

"You are not alone," Kylo told her.

She took his hand. "Neither are you."