Under cover of darkness on an otherwise unremarkable Tuesday night, a closed speeder pulls up alongside one of Hosnian Prime's local landmarks. Six men alight. They are covered head to toe in black. From strange helmets, to armored tunics, to gloves, to heavy combat boots, these men are clearly nefarious. They have come dressed for war. They are brandishing weapons and moving with purpose as they burst through the side door of the loading dock to the Museum of the Republic.
As soon as they step inside, Nestor taps his helmet. "Hold on. I'm picking up some interference in my earpiece." What is that awful music? It's distracting. And how is this happening? They just did a comlink sync in the speeder. "Is anyone else hearing this?" He looks around.
"That's not interference. That's heist music," Jonar declares happily. "Now, let's do this!" He pumps the air with his gloved fist.
"What the Hell?" Nervous Nestor responds with annoyance, glaring through his helmet at his fellow Knight. Static and Jonar are like overgrown boys sometimes. Always up for a prank and constantly egging each other on. But there's a time and a place for everything, and their first real mission is not the time for this stunt.
"Whaaat?" Jonar reacts as if he's the one overreacting. "Think of it like the soundtrack on a holonet show. Gotta have some heist tunes for when you steal shit. And we're stealing shit to-night!" He pumps his fist again.
Nestor isn't amused. "For fuck's sake—"
"It was Static's pick. What, you don't like it?" Jonar is coy.
"Nestor would prefer the Imperial March," Kylo snickers.
"Copy that, boss. Next time, the Imperial March on repeat."
Nestor groans. Is no one taking this mission seriously? "Cut the chatter, cut the music, and let's get going," he grumbles. "Static, go do your thing."
Static finds the nearest dataport, plugs in, and easily disables the security. He manages to do it in a way that is completely undetectable. The silent alarms that had sounded on their forced entry now register as false. Cancel signals are transmitted throughout the system to everyone who might be monitoring. The sentient guards watching the camera feeds in their command post continue to see blank hallways and empty rooms like always. They are completely unaware that six intruders are strolling through the empty building afterhours. The only obstacles remaining are the roaming security droids. Nestor takes out two with his blaster. Kylo handles the rest with his sword.
Inside the museum is a collection of artifacts going back thousands of years. Their significance and the events and times they represent are described on looping video clips of interviews with New Republic and Old Republic officials. As Nestor expects, it's a lot of self-congratulatory sentiment. Like a propaganda film disguised as a documentary and packaged as a museum.
The exhibits are designed to unfold in chronological order. As you walk through, you experience the story of the Republic from the beginning, to the fall, to the rebirth. It starts with the early days of the Republic, the Mandalorian War, and the Great Galactic War with the rival Sith Empire. Then you walk through a section devoted to the 'Pax Republica,' or the millennia long period of stability and prosperity that lasted until the Separatist Crisis kicked off the Clone Wars. Next, you hear about the fall of the Republic, the end of the Jedi Order, and the founding of the Empire. After that, there's quite a bit of space devoted to the Rebellion and the founding of the New Republic. The Knights walk by a special exhibit entitled 'Alderaan Gone, but Never Forgotten' and something called an immersive Death Star experience, whatever that means.
The history is told from the Republic's point of view, naturally. There are lots of stories of heroism and martyrdom, and much exhortation of freedom and equality. And, really, Nestor has no issue with those values in the abstract. It's the implementation of the Republic's agenda that frustrates him.
But the Knights are not here for a history lesson. They head for their destination. It's a small room where a collection of Old Jedi Order paraphernalia is displayed alongside detailed firsthand accounts of the Jedi Purge and Order 66 from former clone troopers and Jedi who survived in hiding. On the walls hang several portraits of famous Jedi Knights that somehow survived the Temple burnings.
Carlos and Omar start smashing display cases and bagging the loot while Pedro and Nestor stand guard at the doorway. The goal is to be as efficient as possible. To get in and get out undetected.
Everyone else is standing around. "Who's that little green dude?" Static asks, pointing to a painting of an alien brandishing a lightsaber.
"Grand Master Yoda," Kylo answers absently. He's focused elsewhere on a different painting of a dead Jedi. This one is human and young. The man is dashing in his formal robes with saber held high and an expression that means business.
Static walks up beside Kylo to read the caption aloud. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, also Ben Kenobi. Jedi of the Old Republic." Static shakes his head. "Never heard of him."
"He saved Leia Organa off the Death Star and he taught Luke Skywalker," Kylo responds under his breath. But with the comlink open, the whole team can hear everyone else speaking. "He survived the Purge and lived to help the Rebellion."
"Yeah? Doesn't ring a bell. Never heard of him," Static repeats.
"My parents named me for him," Kylo reveals. His voice is a hiss of condemnation. "For the man who maimed Lord Vader and conspired to turn his children against him." It's more intriguing references to Kylo's murky past, although Nestor is the only one who realizes it. "Skywalker and his sister are Kenobi's victims, but they can't see it." Kylo sighs audibly over the comlink. "At least Vader got him in the end. They dueled on the first Death Star."
Listening Carlos looks over and grunts. "The only good Jedi is a dead Jedi."
"Agreed." His bitter reverie broken, Kylo curtly orders, "Bag the stuff and let's go."
They finish pilfering the exhibit and head for the exit. The Knights depart a different route than they came in. That means a few more security droids to take out as they sneak through the New Republic section of the museum.
The route brings them face to face with Luke Skywalker . . . sort of. They come to a brief halt before a looping recording of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker himself speaking of his plan to rekindle the Jedi Order. He smiles genially at the end and closes with the Old Republic benediction 'May the Force be with you' as a deep voice from offscreen declares him a legendary hero. Then, the camera pulls back to show a wide shot of the smiling Jedi standing among a dozen or so young people dressed similarly. They must be his students.
"This isn't a museum, it's a fucking theme park of hubris," Kylo complains.
"So this is our guy?" It's Pedro's voice.
"Yeah, that's him. Years ago."
Nestor watches the recording as it replays. Luke Skywalker is kind of short. Far less imposing looking than Nestor would have guessed. He's in his middle years with a full beard that is slightly darker than his hair. He looks like a regular guy, actually. Not like the man who overthrew an Empire. But looks can be deceiving, Nestor recalls, thinking of Snoke in his sparkly dress.
"Legendary hero? More like villain," Nestor sniffs. And wait—look at that long faced, dark haired, big eared boy in the back row of students. Blink and you will miss him. But Nestor thinks he just saw a glimpse of the former Ben Solo.
"He's no hero." Kylo's voice is intensely aggrieved. "He was never a hero. He was a fool trying to convince himself of lies others told him that he later learned to be false. But instead of admitting those lies, he spread them himself."
"Yeah? Well, here." Static shoots his blaster at the screen. And misses. "Now, I can say I've been in combat," he sheepishly jokes.
"You didn't even hit him," Kylo groans. He stares angrily at the galling video of their arch foe as it replays yet again. "Flick, snipe that fucker between the eyes, will you?"
Nestor obliges. He shoots the screen and it goes dark.
"We're done. Let's go." They can see the exit from where they stand.
"Not yet, boss. One more thing." It's Jonar pulling off his backpack to open it up. He kneels on the floor to carefully extract a complicated looking object with a tangle of wires.
"What is that?" Nestor is anxious to be gone.
"It's a bomb."
"Yes, I know it's a bomb. That wasn't in the plan."
"It is now," Jonar responds.
Kylo smirks, "Well played. But can you detonate off site?"
"Of course," the Knight bombmaker answers. "I just need a few seconds."
He finishes setting up his equipment and then the Knights exit and head for their waiting speeder. They fly many blocks away before Jonar judges them to be at a safe distance. "Ready?" Jonar looks to Kylo.
"I guess we have to be," Nestor grumbles.
Kylo gives the go ahead. "Light it up."
The explosion is enormous. Ear pounding and bone rattling even at this distance. But Jonar has something special planned for this stunt. There is a momentary delay after the initial blast before the real show begins. It turns out that Jonar has embedded colorful fireworks in the bomb. They launch a split second following the main explosion and now they trigger. It's a minute of fanciful, colorful celebration to cap off the gratuitous destruction.
"Happy Empire Day, fuckers!" Jonar yells at the top of his lungs. He and Static high five.
But Carlos is a somewhat literal guy. He frowns and remarks, "It's not Empire Day. Empire Day is next week." The holiday is no longer publicly observed, of course.
And that comment completely misses the point. As the speeder makes a getaway, Nestor speaks up. "Great. So, now we're terrorists? Blowing up shit just to do it? To get attention and make headlines?"
"Hey, one man's patriot is another man's terrorist," Jonar shrugs. "Luke Skywalker was a hero to the Rebellion but a terrorist to the Empire. We have his role reversed."
"Nestor, if you prefer," Omar holds up the bag of Jedi loot, "you can call yourself a thief instead. But terrorist sounds more badass to me. Jonar, you're a genius."
Static guffaws. "Flick, you can be the respectable thief who hangs out with us terrorists."
Nestor scowls over at Kylo who's flying the speeder. "Are you cool with this?" he demands.
The boss is unconcerned. "Who cares? That wasn't a museum, it was a monument to fools who didn't learn from history and are anxious to repeat it."
"There were security guards in the museum," Nestor points out. "They weren't our enemy. They were just guys doing their jobs."
"They're dead now," Kylo states the obvious. He's unrepentant. "Wrong place, wrong time. Tough luck for them. Besides, Snoke probably would be disappointed if we didn't kill someone tonight."
"They're gonna die anyway once the Starkiller is up and running," Carlos reasons. It's logic that is hard to refute.
The Knights of Ren end up killing eight people, both inside and outside the museum. In hyperspace on the shuttle on the way back to Snoke's bunker, subdued Nestor watches the newsfeed coverage. He mulls it over as sullen Kylo sits across from the haul of Jedi objects brooding. The rest of the guys are in the galley eating dinner. But Nestor isn't hungry. Apparently, neither is Kylo. He's in one of his morose moods. For once, Nestor shares it it.
Kylo breaks the silence. "First time killing someone?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it is." Nestor's not happy about it either. He didn't kill the enemy in battle. He cowardly slaughtered them unaware. And, they might not have been the enemy. This isn't his father's trooper days fighting the good fight against the Rebellion. This is taking cheap shots that are meaningless in the larger scheme.
Maybe it's a dumb comparison, but bombing a museum killing occupants and neighbors isn't the same as destroying Hosnia with the Starkiller Base. Turning a super weapon on your enemy's capital world to immediately turn the tide of a war to give you the strategic advantage is fair game. The civilian deaths will be enormous but the move may well end the conflict in a single offensive. That's completely different from killing civilians just to blow up a museum. Tonight did nothing to advance the cause of the First Order. It was destruction for the Hell of it. And it bothers Nestor. After all, Snoke said they weren't butchers. Did no one else hear that but him?
"It gets easier."
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Nestor isn't sure.
"At least you didn't know them. You never saw them," Kylo offers.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Trust me, that helps."
Nestor says nothing.
"It only counts if you know them." His boss sounds very convinced of this statement.
Their usual roles are reversed. Kylo's the seasoned veteran in this arena. He's the uncertain, uncomfortable newbie in need of advice. "We're going to kill a lot of people before we catch up to Skywalker," Kylo warns. "You need to get used to this, Flick."
Yeah, he knows. But he doesn't have to like it. "I guess war is Hell," Nestor sighs.
"Yes, yes, it is. None of this is going to be easy. For all sorts of reasons."
But Nestor still feels like he needs to make his point. That there should be a reason to kill and that reason should advance the Order's strategic position. So he tells it like it is to his boss, whether he wants to hear it or not.
"You know, blowing up buildings and killing Skywalker won't kill the Republic. You have to kill their ideas to win. Otherwise, we'll be back in the cycle of civil war again even if we prevail. We need to win because we're better than they are. Not just because we kill more of them."
Kylo nods. "We will win."
"How do you know?" Nestor challenges.
"Because Snoke has foreseen it."
"And you believe him?"
"The Sith deceive but they do not lie," Kylo answers.
Nestor is skeptical, but he lets the point go. "Are you going to open those things?" he asks Kylo. The guy's been staring at the relics for hours now, much like he himself has been staring at the holonet. "I thought you were supposed to open those for clues for where the Temple is."
"I don't know if I can open them," Kylo admits softly. He looks embarrassed.
And why is that an issue? "But you have the Force."
Kylo clarifies. "I guess what I mean is that I don't know if I should try to open them."
Miserable Nestor explodes at how tentative Kylo is. "Then why the fuck did we just kill eight people?" he roars. The show of temper is a very rare occurrence for him. But he's pissed. "We went there for that Jedi shit! Because it was supposed to help us find Skywalker!"
"You probably have to use the Light Side to open them. If they even open, that is. Not every piece of Jedi history hides secrets," Kylo sheepishly grumbles.
"The Light Side?" Nestor squints at Kylo. He's not following the point.
Kylo explains. "To open them, you have to think like a Jedi. To use the Force like a Jedi would." The Apprentice looks away and colors as he admits, "I'm conflicted enough as it is."
"I don't even know what that means. I don't know anything about the Force!" Nestor vents.
Kylo meets his eyes and his gaze is steely. "Then know this: this war is about the Force. This war is about my family. Don't let the politics fool you. Those differences are solvable. The fight between the Jedi and the Sith is not."
Bullshit. "You're wrong," Nestor informs him flatly.
Kylo blinks as if perhaps he has misheard.
"You're wrong," Nestor repeats. "Maybe you are fighting over the Force, but the rest of us are not. This war isn't about the Skywalkers, it's about the future of the galaxy. About who we want to be, about what our priorities and values are. Look, I don't know what happened between you and Luke Skywalker, and your parents sure sound shitty. But it's not all about you. The galaxy isn't fighting over you." Damn, this guy is self-centered. The arrogance to think he is the reason for the coming conflict.
Kylo just looks away and condescends, "You will never understand."
"I guess not," Nestor retorts. "I don't have the magic Force and I'm not born to a fancy family. No one's making me number two to Snoke in my early twenties."
"You will never understand." Kylo shakes his head dismissively. It's irritating. "I had no choice."
Is he whining? Nestor hates whining. He curls his lip in contempt. "Why do we even care what happens to Skywalker if he stays in hiding?" he now demands. It's a question that has been bothering him. Has Snoke given his Apprentice this quest just to keep him busy?
"So long as Luke lives, the seed of the Jedi Order lives," Kylo argues. "Luke is an existential threat."
"Yeah? Well, he'd have to come out of hiding to be an actual threat and that's what we want. Right?"
Kylo doesn't answer.
"Right?" Nestor presses. If he didn't know better, he'd think Kylo didn't want to find his old Master. "Look, Skywalker would have to teach someone new to bring back the Jedi Order. And he hasn't exactly been the best teacher. You turned Sith and the other students are dead. So why is he our target? Is this purely symbolic? We're finishing what Vader started, or something like that?"
Kylo looks away. "Luke is dangerous. He has to die."
"Why?"
"Because he could win," Kylo admits through gritted teeth. "He could win! And then all this Jedi-Sith Force war stuff will continue indefinitely. Nothing will ever get better," he half-wails. Yep, he's definitely whining now.
Nestor is confused. "I thought you said Snoke knows we're going to win."
"The future can change. Force visions can mislead. Snoke knows it, too. He is afraid of Luke. He always has been."
"Yeah, I figured as much," Nestor nods. He fixes his boss with a probing look now as he demands, "Who is Snoke in all of this?"
Kylo's eyes narrow. "What do you mean?"
"Where did he come from? How did he learn the Force? Where was he during the Empire years? Because I didn't see anything about Snoke in that museum we blew up."
"He was in the Unknown Regions with the Imperial exiles."
"Yes, I know the official version. What's the real story on that guy?" Nestor presses.
"He was in exile."
"Like Luke?"
"Yeah, basically."
"Why?"
"Because Snoke's Apprentice Darth Sidious turned on him, stuck a lightsaber through his face, and stole the Empire he plotted, that's why."
"Wait—Snoke and the Emperor—"
"Yes. Snoke sat out the Empire and the Rebellion and bided his time."
"For what?" Why didn't Snoke just fight it out with the Emperor for control? "If Snoke's so powerful, what was he waiting for?"
"For me."
Ugh. That's such a Kylo answer. This guy thinks the whole universe revolves around him. The weird thing is that he doesn't seem happy about it. More like resigned, Nestor judges. "Why? Because you're a magical Skywalker with the Force?"
"Yes."
Damn, this petulant kid has a strong streak of megalomania. The air of entitlement that clings to Kylo Ren cannot be underestimated, Nestor thinks.
"Snoke knows Luke Skywalker won't kill me. Not now. Flick, think about it. That makes me the perfect Apprentice."
Nestor slowly nods. "Yeah . . . yeah . . . you're hunting the guy who won't fight back. He hides so he doesn't have to confront you? Is that it?"
"Part of it. Luke wouldn't fight Vader. He won't fight me. Not after what happened."
"So, you and Snoke win by default," Nestor reasons. Which gets him back to that same old question, "So why are we bothering to hunt him down again?" Nestor's not buying this existential threat argument unless Skywalker starts training more Jedi. "Well?"
Kylo looks very troubled as he half-whispers. "I have to kill him to prove myself Dark enough to balance the Force."
Huh? "What?"
"Killing your kin is a Dark Side rite of passage. That's why I have to confront him. Only then will I be strong enough with the Dark Side to equal the Light that I was born with." Kylo looks so woebegone as he solemnly laments, "I cannot deny the truth that is my family. I cannot escape my destiny."
"Riiight." Nestor fights the urge to roll his eyes. Just how fucked up is the Force obsessed leadership of the First Order, he wonders. Anyone who thinks the First Order is the revenge of the flyover systems who are sick and tired of the preachy climate of Core cultural privilege is wrong. Apparently, this isn't about making new hyperspace lanes, economic development, bringing down spice cartels, and fair trade tariffs. Because if you listen to Kylo Ren, it's about a dysfunctional family obsessed with an outdated religion. For a moment, Nestor wonders if he and all the other First Order supporters have made a deal with the devil to advance their cause. Who's using who, he wonders.
"Well, I guess there's always your mother," Nestor suggests offhand. "She's the enemy and we can find her instead. Why isn't she the target?"
Kylo shoots him a look. "Leave my mother out of this," he hisses.
"That Resistance movement she's putting together is going to be formidable, mark my words," Nestor warns. "It's no wonder she's Vader's daughter. That lady likes war." And if the Starkiller Base ever gets up and running and takes out Hosnia, that will leave only Leia Organa and her zealots as the last line of defense for the galaxy. She'll gain even greater stature then.
"We're leaving her to Snoke. She has a capture, no-kill order on her."
Nestor blinks. "Really? Come on-"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Snoke wants to give her a chance to come home."
"Er . . . what?"
"He approached Vader and he approached Luke, but he never approached my mother."
Good call on that, Nestor thinks to himself. Leia Organa agreeing with Leader Snoke and the First Order about anything is a very long shot. Not even worth the bother.
"He wants our family to be together," Kylo explains. "She'll never agree to it, but he wants to offer anyway." And damn, look how haunted Kylo looks now. More lost kid than grown man who is number two to the Supreme Leader. All Nestor can think is that Kylo is so unprepared for what lies ahead.
His references to family and home don't get past Nestor either. He raises an eyebrow. "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me? Because Snoke's not even human. He can't possibly be your biological family."
"He's not. But he is our family in the Force."
Whatever. It's more vague metaphysical Force crap that Nestor can't relate to.
His skepticism must show, because Kylo immediately elaborates. "Snoke created my grandfather in the Force. He was conceived by Force sorcery. Unfortunately, the Jedi found him first. It's why Vader was raised Jedi and not raised Sith."
"Are you for real?" Kylo looks very earnest. But Nestor is dubious of this claim, just like he's dubious of the Force. Obviously, the Force exists. He's seen Snoke shoot lightning and Kylo freeze blaster bolts. But that doesn't mean that everything those guys claim about the Force is true. There's no mystical energy field that controls destiny. People shape destiny. Important people like the Skywalkers. They may claim that God the Force does it, but that might be a way to abdicate responsibility . . .
Kylo shoots him a frank look. "Nestor, you can't make this shit up."
That's for damn sure. "If you did, no one would believe it." Nestor shoots his boss a sideways look. "I'm not sure I believe it."
Again, Kylo is completely sincere. "It's true. All of it."
It would explain a few things. Nestor understands better now why Kylo is the Apprentice waiting in the wings. It's more than his Force abilities, it's outright nepotism. "So Snoke is your great-grandfather in the Force, or something like that?"
"Yes."
"Is everyone in this war related?"
"Everyone who matters is."
The smug comment rubs Nestor the wrong way. "Fuck you, Kylo, and fuck that attitude!" he snaps. "Us little people matter too! Look, you had better keep the family tree to yourself. Because no one wants to feel like the chump you used for your revenge!" he huffs. "At least pretend you give a damn about the future of the galaxy to keep up appearances for our sake." Nestor fumes. "How the Hell did you inherit the Force without inheriting that? Because everyone else in your family seems to have strong political leanings."
"I'm fighting for myself, not some crusade," Kylo sniffs. "Rigid ideologies are what got us into this mess in the first place. Look, I'm fighting for the future of the Force. The Jedi Order needs to end."
"And then what? What happens when Skywalker is dead and all his Old Republic hocus pocus dies with him?"
Kylo looks like he hasn't contemplated anything beyond killing his uncle. He blinks and bites his lip. "I don't know . . . "
That's a very frustrating answer. "Then figure it out," Nestor grumbles. "Because Vader knew what he was doing. He fought the Jedi but he also fought to make a great Empire. How old was Vader when he became number two Sith?"
"About my age."
"Yeah? Then step it up. You've got big shoes to fill."
Nestor decides he's hungry after all. He heads for the galley for dinner. It's mostly to put some space between him and Kylo. Nestor is worried that he said too much to the boss. That he has doomed his career by pissing him off. Maybe that was borderline insubordination even. But oddly enough, Kylo seemed happy to take it. It's almost as if the kid wants to confide in someone—anyone. He keeps spilling big secrets like they are no big deal. Kylo also seems very used to criticism. Maybe that's a legacy of being first Luke Skywalker's trainee and then Snoke's Apprentice. Kylo Ren seems to expect people to find fault with him. It makes Nestor wonder how much disapproval he has seen.
