Leia Organa—doomed Alderaan's surviving Princess, a one-time notorious Rebel fugitive, and more lately a New Republic Senator-has long been a warmongering public voice. She was determined to stamp out the Imperial remnants after Jakku ended the war. She was adamant about imposing sanctions and restrictions on former Imperials, effectively sending many into exile. And for the past several years, she has been the most vocal Republic Establishment figure to call out the First Order. She's been touting her resistance rhetoric for a while, continually pushing for investigations and oversight of Snoke's covert operations. But the news that she's making her cause a full-fledged military organization and not merely a political activist group, gets everyone's attention. Especially Snoke's. Not an hour goes by after her press conference before the Knights are summoned for an audience with the Supreme Leader.
It's a five-hour flight from the Finalizer's current position to Snoke's hidden underground bunker. There Nestor and the other Knights listen in on a dialogue between Master and Apprentice that they only half understand. Well, he understands better than most because he at least knows the familial relationships between the main players. So while Leia Organa's announcement looks to the galaxy like a political act that is the prelude to civil war, he knows that it's also a deep family rift. In addition, it's something of a religious dispute. And that means today's discussion between the two Dark heavyweights of the galaxy is replete with talk of metaphysics.
Old Snoke is doing his best Darth Sidious impression today seated on his high throne in dark, hooded robes. Or maybe it's the other way around, and all along Darth Sidious was doing his best Darth Plagueis impression during his Emperor years—Nestor's not sure. But whoever originated the trappings of the Sith religion got the atmospherics right. Snoke looks every bit the devious mastermind as he purrs out his summation of his secret granddaughter's latest act of opposition. "Darkness rises . . . and Light to meet it."
Watching closely, Nestor thinks the old guy looks downright pleased with the development.
"She's serious," Kylo argues.
"I am aware. The Princess is playing her role, as are you, Apprentice. This is the way of the Force," Snoke teaches. "This is the way of balance. The old Sith were only half right when they proclaimed that peace is a lie. They were correct that conflict is ever-present, but they missed the point of that conflict. The old Sith did not realize that the conflict is pressing for balance, not war."
"Darkness is dangerous," Kylo nods.
"Absolutely." Snoke waves a crooked finger at his student in warning. "Unfettered Darkness will consume you if you let it. Take care lest you follow the example of my prior Apprentice and devolve into near madness and paranoia."
"Yes, Master."
"Know that if you push too far, the Force will strike at back at you. We Force-users are agents of change and bellwethers of the universe. The Force will reward us, but it also punishes us. Kylo Ren," Snoke again wags a finger at his student, "a Sith Master answers only to history—meaning, that the Force is his true Master. Like I discipline you, the Force disciplines me." Snoke now reaches to toss back his hood to better reveal his profound disfigurement. "All that you see here," he gestures to his ruined face, "is punishment from the Force. I went too far. I dared too much. And I suffered for it. Do not," he hisses, "repeat my example."
"Yes, Master."
"I was fortunate," Snoke continues, "for the Force in its infinite wisdom gave me another chance to do its bidding. It gave me what I sought, but in granting that wish, it sowed the seeds of my undoing. I set out to create life as a Sith god, to fashion a perfect Dark Apprentice to do my bidding. But instead, I created the Chosen One . . . the Sith'ari . . ." Nestor doesn't know what those terms mean, but they must be important. For Snoke flashes a wry smile. "I was quite chagrinned initially. Until, of course, I stepped back from my own ambitions and broke free of the ideology of the old Sith. Forget all that orthodoxy, Apprentice, and let the Force guide you. It will take you to places that are both Light and Dark."
"Yes, Master."
Snoke warms to his theme now. "The Sith were wrong to fear balance, but the Jedi misunderstood balance as well. That's why the Princess, like Skywalker, falsely believes that balance was the result of the Rebellion. All the Skywalker twins achieved by destroying the Empire and defeating Lord Sidious and their father was to assert the triumph of the Light. Which, in turn, promotes the cause of Darkness to rise anew."
"Us," Kylo completes the thought.
"Yes. Those fools thought that they would be the ones to snuff out Darkness. Such hubris!" Snoke snarls.
"Darkness never dies," his faithful Apprentice intones.
"Yes," the Master on this throne concurs gravely. "It has been a vicious cycle throughout history, most especially recent history, and it has cost billions of lives. We have an opportunity now, at long last, to move the galaxy forward. The Jedi are gone, and their fire has gone out of the universe. You yourself helped to ensure that a New Jedi Order will not rise. All that's left to do is to kill Skywalker and end their religion for good. With the Jedi finished and the last of the Sith of the old tradition gone as well, you and I will usher in a new era of understanding . . . of balance . . ."
"Do you really think we can do it, Master?" Kylo's tone is full of misgivings. Hours after the incident on the bridge, the Apprentice is firmly in control, but still very rattled. "She's serious . . . she's very serious . . ." The 'she' is his mother, of course.
Snoke's answer is determined. "Balance is the promise of your bloodline. When I call you the new Vader, it has nothing to do with empires, swords, and masks. It is for the meaning of Lord Vader, as the Chosen One. Vader died with his work left unfinished. Sadly, his progeny have not seen fit to continue his legacy. But you will, Apprentice. You will finish what your grandfather started, and the galaxy will be better for it."
"Yes, Master," Kylo gulps.
"It is your destiny," Snoke proclaims quietly.
Poor Kylo looks terrified. Clearly, he's feeling the pressure from both sides of the family today.
His Master leans forward now and speaks in a fatherly tone. "When you survived Skywalker, the Force was with you. When you destroyed his temple, the Force was with you. Another Padawan would have perished to a Jedi Master. But not you. Tell me why, Apprentice."
"Because I'm a Chosen One." Kylo's voice ends up like a question. Like he's not sure.
"That certainly helped. You are descended from the Force itself, with equal capacity for Light and Dark. How did it save you at Skywalker's temple?"
"Darkness saved me," Kylo recalls, looking very uncomfortable at the memory.
"Yessss," old Snoke purrs out. "Darkness met Darkness that day, and Darkness won. This is the scenario that Skywalker and Organa cannot conceive of—that the true battle is not Dark versus Light or good versus evil. The struggle of the universe is not for one side to ultimately prevail, but to find a rough justice between them. The goal is to find an equilibrium for the times we live in. To seek the proportions of Light and Darkness to sustain us to meet the galaxy's challenges."
"Yes, Master."
"But first, you must learn Darkness fully. You must learn both sides of the Force completely before you can attempt balance."
"Yes, Master."
"Don't ever let me catch you dabbling in the Light. It will call to you. Resist it."
Again, Kylo gulps. "Yes, Master."
"Only a fully trained Sith with complete control over Darkness will be able to use the Light from time to time and then pull back from it. Try that too soon and you will end up running home to mommy. She'll call it a redemption and you will know it as failure."
"Yes, Master. But this new group she's forming. . . " Kylo worries aloud. "You need to infiltrate this group. Get people on the inside. Find out if she is in contact with Luke." The Apprentice's words come out fast. He's nervous and it shows.
His Master answers breezily with a wave of his hand. "Yes, yes . . . we will watch them. We will watch them very closely. But she will not lead us to the last Jedi. Skywalker hides from her as much as he hides from us. Lately, he even hides from god."
Kylo looks blank. "Master, I don't understand."
The old Sith settles back in his throne chair before he announces with maximum contempt, "The reason we cannot sense Luke Skywalker any longer is that the fool has cut himself off from the Force."
Kylo is aghast. "Is that even possible?"
"Such despair he is in. His self-loathing cannot be underestimated."
"He's still Dark," the Apprentice concludes.
Snoke nods. "So, so Dark. I foresaw this years ago. That he would exile himself rather than face the demon Darkness within. He's a Skywalker, born of the Force itself, meaning part of him will always tend towards the Dark Side. And yet, he represses it like a shameful secret rather than a fact of life. Such a disappointment he is." The old Sith's gargoyle face twists with contempt. "That fool leaves the fight to his sister now. He abandons her and the galaxy. The man is a failure. She, however, is still in the game."
"She loves this role," Kylo grumbles.
"She was born for it. I have often thought that Lord Vader would be proud of his wayward daughter. They are much alike," the Leader reveals.
Kylo smirks, "She'd hate that if she knew."
"It doesn't make it any less true. She has his impatience and his caustic temper. She also has his sense of duty and his altruism. That one is a true Skywalker. Unafraid to get her hands dirty and to see things through." The commentary almost sounds like approval. Almost as if Snoke likes Leia Organa despite their differences.
Kylo must sense the same, for he ventures, "Master, if she could be turned—"
Snoke cuts him off. "Do not go there, Apprentice. I tried with Skywalker . . . Force knows, I tried . . . "
"I've seen her shoot lightning by accident," Kylo persists.
"Uhmm . . . yes. She's full of Force. That one is a formidable woman. A worthy adversary at last." Snoke smiles. It's chilling to watch.
Kylo tries again. "She could be a powerful ally."
Snoke answers that stubbornness with a shot of lightning. The harsh Dark punishment is delivered with a casual flick of a finger. It sweeps the Apprentice off his feet. He lands in a sprawl. It's Snoke's way of reminding Kylo that these throne room audiences are not discussions. The Knights are here to listen and to receive orders.
"The Princess of Alderaan will never be our willing ally. But if and when she wishes to concede defeat, I will welcome her home and make peace. Skywalker must die, but his sister may live." Nestor is surprised by this magnanimity. Again, he feels lost in the subtleties of the family dynamics. Snoke continues offhand, "I'm told she can be quite charming when she wishes."
Kylo, who is still picking himself up off the floor, clearly disagrees. But his Master's point has been made—he does not want suggestions. So Kylo keeps his thoughts to himself.
"Now then, let me deal with mommy and her latest ragtag band of followers. This time, she's no underdog. Despite their denials, the Republic will most certainly be funding her and smuggling her weapons." It's exactly how Hux assessed the situation, Nestor remembers.
"It's a win-win for the Republic," the always strategic Supreme Leader observes. "Her group—this resistance militia—is excellent plausible deniability. If she succeeds, the Republic takes credit and reaps the benefit. If she fails, they are appropriately distanced. And meanwhile, the Senate gets to crow publicly that the Republic wants peace and has declined to strike against us."
"There is precedent for this sort of thing way back in history. When the Senate declined to fight a war against an aggressive upstart system and instead permitted a band of supposed peacekeeping humanitarians to do their dirty work for them. Tell me, do you know to what I refer?"
"No, Master."
"Really, Kylo Ren," his Master reproves, "if you are to shape the future, you ought to be better educated on the lessons of the past. Did Skywalker teach you nothing of history?"
Kylo issues a petulant glare. "He didn't even teach me the family history."
"Yes, a rather glaring oversight that was," Snoke fairly titters. "Ah well, I suppose that can't be helped now. This is what I get for allowing you to be homeschooled at the Jedi Academy by a graduate of Tatooine's only high school. Luke Skywalker is many things, but he is not a scholar."
That snark out of the way, Snoke returns to his point. "But I digress. In another age, Leia Organa would have been a Jedi Crusader. Off to stop another Dark Lord from scuttling a previous Republic."
"Revan?" Kylo says a name Nestor doesn't know. "You think she's Revan?" Apparently, Kylo finds that to be a bit of a stretch.
"Wouldn't that be fun?" It's Snoke's turn to smirk. "Revan went Dark to save the Republic and the Jedi Order who spurned him. He was their savior and yet they called him villain. He believed it, too. In the end, he corrupted himself trying to do good. If the Princess goes that way, we will be sure to welcome her home."
Kylo finds this scenario preposterous. "She's no Revan."
Snoke shrugs. "One can hope. But leave her to me, Apprentice."
"Understood." Kylo both looks and sounds relieved.
Snoke now issues one of those creepy, smug statements he excels at: "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen."
Watching Nestor hopes he is right, because he's lately become a convert to the theory that so go the Skywalkers, so goes the galaxy.
When they are dismissed and the Knights have exited the throne room to gather in the adjacent antechamber, Pedro is the one to broach the topic that is the big bantha in the room. "Okay, Kylo, what was all that mommy stuff about? And what's so special about Senator Organa to Snoke?"
Omar answers, "She's Skywalker's sister, you idiot—"
"I know. But if we're killing Skywalker, why aren't we killing her? She looks to be the bigger threat these days."
It's a good question. Nestor looks to the Apprentice. Is he going to come clean?
He is. With a discouraged sigh, Kylo reveals what anyone listening closely could probably guess, "Leia Organa is my mother." He says it like the shameful secret it is.
"What the Hell?" Carlos chokes.
"Dude," Static gapes, "that sucks. I'm sorry." He wrinkles his nose. "Wait, we're talking real mother? She's not like your evil stepmother or something?"
"She's my real mother." Kylo's answer is more hiss than words.
"Wow, that's . . . that's . . . what I was afraid of . . . " cringing Pedro finishes. "How . . . uh . . . awful."
"Fucking awful," Jonar concurs in a rare moment of seriousness for him. "So that thing on the bridge . . . yeah, I get it now. Hey man, I would totally have done the same . . . I mean, if I had a sword and all . . ." It's artlessly said, but nevertheless a sincere statement of empathy.
Everyone falls silent for a long, awkward moment.
Then Pedro starts making the connections on the family tree. "So, that means Luke Skywalker is more than your Jedi Master, he is your uncle?"
"Yes."
"And that makes Darth Vader your grandfather?"
"Yes."
"I thought that's what Snoke said," Pedro nods.
"Now, that is cool," Carlos announces a little too brightly.
"That is very cool," Omar quickly affirms him.
"Yeah, it is pretty cool," Jonar joins in loyally. "No wonder Snoke gave you the castle. It's your birthright. Guys, that's his ancestral home. The Dark Side's luxe crib surrounded by lava—"
"Dude, forget the castle," Static interrupts. "The galaxy is my man Kylo's birthright."
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is . . . "
And now, another long silence falls as the implication sinks in. The future belongs to the dorky, insecure kid who no one likes when they first meet him. But someday, if all goes well, the galaxy will be run by this privileged Core world aristocrat who seems mostly embarrassed by First Order politics. Everyone had assumed that was due to Kylo's magical Force. But now, they realize there is more to it. He straddles both sides of the brewing conflict.
Suddenly, Force layman Nestor understands why Snoke thinks he can bring balance.
Pedro starts again. "So that's how you got the Force? You inherited it?"
Miserable Kylo grimaces. "The Force is strong in my family." He speaks of it a bit like a curse, actually.
"And your mother—our enemy—has it?" Pedro persists.
"Yes. We all have it."
"Well, shit. When were you going to tell us all this?" Pedro demands.
Kylo doesn't meet his eyes. "It's not common knowledge."
"Obviously!" Carlos states the obvious. "What?" he reacts unrepentant to Nestor's glare. "I mean, I wouldn't want anyone to know if those were my relatives."
"So, our mission to kill Skywalker is really a mission to kill your uncle?" Pedro starts ticking through the conflicts.
"Yes," Kylo confirms.
"And this fight with the resistance group is against your mother?"
"Yes."
Static is impatient with the cross examination. "Dude, it's simple—it's like Snoke says—he's the new Vader. It's Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa against Darth Vader 2.0 and his name is Kylo Ren."
That's pretty accurate, actually. Nestor nods.
Omar at least understands the pathos. Shaking his head, he laments, "That is fucked up. These people are his family, guys-"
"More like the enemy-" his sidekick Carlos intervenes.
But Omar overrides him. "Shut up, I'm saying it. That is fucked up, Kylo, and we all feel for you."
"Tell them the rest," Nestor finally speaks up.
"Flick, you knew?" Pedro accuses.
"Yeah, I knew. Tell them the rest, Kylo. Tell them what happened at the Jedi Academy."
Kylo is still guilty as he blurts out, "I killed everyone."
"We sort of figured that out," Pedro answers as the guys all nod.
"No, not that part. Tell them why," Nestor presses.
Everyone looks to Kylo. He tells a brief version of what is assuredly a much longer take. "Skywalker tried to kill me in my sleep. I killed everyone with the Force when I was defending myself. It was an accident. Luke lived, though. The rest didn't."
"Why did your own uncle turn on you?" Omar wants to know.
"I think he saw my future."
"You mean he feared your power?"
Kylo nods. "He must have foreseen the rise of the Order."
"He feared you, so he tried to kill you, and then he ran away?"
"I guess . . . " Kylo looks like he would much rather talk about anything else but this.
"I don't get it," Pedro cocks his head. "Luke Skywalker famously threw down his sword because he refused to fight his own father. But he tries to kill his own nephew?"
"Sure. We're about to undo everything the Rebellion accomplished," Omar points out.
Kylo has a different take on it. "That's not it. He tried to kill me because he's as Sith as I am. Then he fled because he is ashamed . . . because he is not the perfect Jedi he pretends to be . . . "
"He was never the hero he was made out to be. That guy's always been the villain," First Order uber loyalist Carlos proclaims. "Guess Skywalker showed his true colors to you that night."
"So wait, if you're Leia Organa's kid, then you're a prince?" Omar asks. "Like real live royalty?"
"Alderaan's gone."
"Yeah, but you're still here and you're a prince!" Static decides. He's impressed. "Whoa, that will totally get you girls."
"He's right," Jonar chimes in, hooting, "Panties to the floor, Prince Kylo is in da house!" while he pumps his fist high.
Nestor blinks and face palms.
Red faced Kylo shoots Jonar a 'fuck you' look. "Shut up."
"Yeah, okay. Hey, so who's your daddy?"
"He doesn't have the Force. He doesn't matter."
"If I ever knew who Senator Organa is married to, I can't remember." Jonar looks to the others. "Do you guys know?"
"She's divorced," Kylo grumbles.
"Hold on, I'm looking it up." Static is poking at his datapad. "Han Solo? Han Solo? The space racer! No wonder you fly like a maniac—"
Kylo glowers. "Luke taught me to fly."
"Oh. Er . . . right. But does this mean you've flown the Millennium Falcon?"
"What's the Millennium Falcon?" Pedro asks blankly.
"It's Solo's famous ship. It's the ship that made the Kessel run in—"
"Less than twelve parsecs," Kylo finishes for him. He glares at Static. "Stop glorifying Solo. He's a criminal! A loser con man!"
"Okay," his Knight wisely backs down at that vehemence. "If you say so, boss."
"Come on," Nestor inserts himself mostly to end the conversation. "Let's get back to the ship."
Kylo agrees. He starts tromping through the command bunker and the rest have to leap to catch up.
As usual, the Knights draw glances from the regular military types. It's partly Kylo's mysterious Apprentice status and notoriety. But even if Kylo Ren wasn't regularly on the First Order newsfeeds, he would attract attention. It's not for the usual reasons. Sure, he's tall but he's far from handsome. He's not outgoing and he has zero charisma. His insecurity and his arrogance mean he doesn't even try to make people like him. But Kylo still manages to make an impression. There's just something about his intensity that people respond to. Nestor has often wondered if it's how Force-blind people like himself unconsciously react to a Skywalker. These people with their outsized influence are like demigods among the lowly, he figures.
As they walk, that inveterate joker Jonar takes it upon himself to lighten things up. "Hey Kylo, yo mama's so mean that—"
"Knock it off!" Nestor shuts him down with a rare flash of temper. As bizarre as it seems, Kylo looks fragile just now. It's making him feel protective towards him.
"Too soon?" Jonar whines.
"Way too soon."
"Because I got more. Kylo, your mama's so Jedi—"
"Give him the lighting, boss," irked Nestor orders.
"Wait—you can shoot lightning now?" Jonar's more excited than intimidated by this news.
"I'm working on it," the Apprentice growls his threat.
"He's close," Nestor confirms. "So shut up before he Snoke's your ass and you're picking yourself off the floor."
"Lightning . . . that's soooo badass. Kylo, when you are a fully grownup Sith, you are going to be so OP! Can I see you do it?" Jonar is eager like a little kid. "Do it now!"
"Sure, you can be his first live target," Static snorts. "Dude, take the hint and shut the fuck up."
"Yeah, alright," Jonar is sheepish but only mildly deterred.
They're in the elevator that leads up to the surface landing pad now. As they exit, the lead tech from the landing crew calls over to them. "You're all fueled up and ready to go. Need anything else, Sir?" he asks Kylo with a snappy salute.
"That will be all," their leader answers glumly. But he doesn't keep moving towards his flashy black command shuttle with the tall wings folded up. Instead, Kylo stands there stalling. Like he doesn't want to go. It seems that Snoke's latest pressure-filled pep talk has his Apprentice wavering. Destiny might be calling, but Kylo looks far from eager. These are the moments when he appears more lost kid than mighty Kylo Ren.
Jonar takes this opportunity to make amends. All jokes are set aside now. The prankster bombmaker is straightforward and sincere. "Look, I'm glad you told us about your family. Your secret is safe with us. Right, guys?"
"Right." Six heads nod in unison.
"So what if your family sucks?" Jonar continues. "Fuck'em! We'll be your family now. The Knights of Ren are a band of brothers led by Grandpa Snoke. Making the galaxy great again together." He claps the Apprentice on the back. "We're with you, Kylo."
It's not Grandpa Snoke, but actually Great-Grandpa-in-the-Force Snoke, but Kylo continues to decline to share that particular part of the family tree. Nestor's not sure why. But that's fine. These are Kylo's secrets to tell, not his own. Trust must be hard for the Apprentice, given the betrayals he has faced. Plus, this truth feels stranger than fiction. It's a conspiracy theorist's dream scenario that would break the holonet if it ever got out to the general public. But at least there is this moment, Nestor thinks, as he looks around at the uniformly serious faces of his colleagues. This unity of support for their beleaguered young leader matters.
But for this offer-you-can't-refuse-and-can't-quit assignment, the Knights wouldn't necessarily be natural friends. Well, Omar and Carlos are basically inseparable. Those two former praetorians are well matched for their outsized opinions and general all-around 'hey bro!' obnoxiousness. But Static can be a dumbass even if he's a whiz with code. And Jonar's just plain weird and clueless at times. Pedro's the quiet introspective type who's easy to get along with but hard to get to know. He's more on the Kylo end of things personality wise, except he's far more steady and less easily influenced. Still, Nestor likes all of his fellow Knights in their own way. And he appreciates that each man brings a critical set of talents to the group. Yeah, somedays Nestor feels decades older than the rest, even though he's only a few years senior to the others. But that's sort of his role in the group—to be the foil to their excesses and to prop up the flagging Apprentice.
Kylo's not nice. He's not fun. He's never cool. He can be a complete asshole when he's feeling insecure, which is basically any social setting. But he grows on you. It helps that none of the Knights envies Kylo. No one's angling for his job and trying to make him look bad to Snoke. And since none of them has the Force, no one could actually supplant him. Besides, despite the career trajectory, Kylo's job kooks pretty awful. It's something ambitious, arrogant types in the Order—like Armitage Hux—might think they want. But they don't realize the cost the Apprentice will pay for his power. Kylo's basically got to slaughter his family to win the galaxy.
Will Snoke make the Prince of Alderaan give the order to fire the Death Star 3 Starkiller weapon against unlucky Hosnia? Nestor wonders. Because it seems like something Snoke might do. Kylo has to prove himself Dark enough—capable of getting his hands very dirty-before his Master will allow him to attempt to find a middle ground. What will it mean to be Dark during the coming wartime? Nestor's a little afraid to find out. Because if past history is any indication, Leader Snoke won't be putting any limits on his Apprentice. In fact, the only time lately that Kylo's gotten his hand slapped was today when he suggested approaching his mother.
But this is good, Nestor thinks. Today's esprit de corps has developed over time, and it's genuine. And from the grateful look on the Apprentice's face, it helps.
