Back in the imposing throne room nestled deep within Snoke's hidden bunker, Nestor kneels in a line with the rest of the Knights of Ren. Kylo grovels up front, an easy target for his Master's discipline. How bad will today's audience be? Nestor fears the worst. Interviews with the Supreme Leader are always daunting, but this debriefing feels especially intimidating. The fact that his own love life was the pretext for the whole affair on Coruscant has Nestor pretty scared.
By now, the pictures from the red carpet have been published on the holonet. They have gone viral around the Finalizer but nowhere else. No one in the local Coruscant media realizes that the First Order's violent, mayhem making Knights of Ren infiltrated a black-tie gala. Their party escapades remain safely anonymous. No harm, no foul, Nestor assures the stormtrooper girls who worry that spiteful Hux will demote them.
But the night's exploits do not go unnoticed by Snoke. Nestor is unsure if the Leader has seen any of the pictures, but he's certain that the Force has betrayed them. That's why Kylo has presented himself without bothering to wait to be summoned. Today is a preemptive appearance for damage control. The Knights are here to get the punishment over with and move on.
From his perch on his high throne, old Snoke rumbles his displeasure. "I told you to leave your mother to me."
Eyes downcast humbly, the Apprentice replies. "It was a chance meeting."
"Nonsense!" the Supreme Leader roars. He launches to his feet to his full seven-foot-plus height. It's an abrupt motion much at odds with the old guy's feeble appearance. This is not the first time that Nestor has wondered whether Snoke's infirmities are mostly for show. But regardless of whatever his physical limitations may be, there is no doubt that Snoke's Force powers are undiminished. He looms large and imposing with his claw hands upraised.
Uh oh. Here comes the lightning. Nestor girds himself for pain.
"It is never an accident when estranged Skywalkers meet. That was the Force!" Snoke hisses. "Witness the invisible hand of destiny at work."
Kylo keeps his head down in a posture of contrition. "Yes, Master."
"When Dark meets Light, sparks fly and change happens. Force users are agents of change."
"Yes, Master."
"The disturbance you created probably woke the dead in their tombs on Exogol," the Sith Master harrumphs. Stepping down from his dais, he lumbers across the room to look over his Apprentice with clear displeasure. "Why did you not flee like before? You have a history of slinking away into shadows at the first sign of Senator Organa."
"I thought it best to face her."
"Why this time?"
"I knew she sensed me as well."
"Afraid to look cowardly?"
"No, Master," Kylo fibs. He earns himself some lightning for the half-truth. The quick blow sends him sprawling flat on his face, the wind knocked out of him for several seconds.
"Well?" Snoke snarls as the Apprentice gasps and collects himself.
Kylo heaves out his reasoning as he again assumes his supplicant crouch. "I wanted to tell her the truth about the temple. To confront her for her lies. To confront her for the Resistance."
Snoke grunts as he hovers menacingly. "Did you try to turn her?"
"N-No. No, Master. You are correct that she will never be our willing ally."
"Did she try to turn you?"
Kylo hangs his head a little lower now. "No, Master."
This news befuddles the Supreme Leader. He seems taken aback. "Strange that she did not . . . "
The musing prompts poor Kylo's mask of dispassionate indifference to slip. He woefully laments, "I'm not sure she cares enough to try."
Now, old Snoke is really interested in what transpired between mother and son. "Who was present for this reunion?"
"Just Nestor."
"Very well, then." Snoke turns his hideous gargoyle visage on him. "Arise, Sir Flick." Nestor gulps and does as he is told. He is ready to give a full report, but Snoke dispenses with the conversation. He raises a spindly fingered hand and quietly commands, "Give me everything." Then the Supreme Leader casually rips into his mind with the Force.
It is the most excruciating pain imaginable. Nestor feels as though his head might explode. He can't see. He can't think. He can only scream his unending agony as the pressure inside his mind persists. He's seen Kylo do this mind reading trick to others in short doses. But Snoke takes his time. He lingers. The Supreme Leader rewinds his mind to watch his memories of the entire evening on Coruscant. Snoke slowly peruses what transpires before, during, and after the party. What's worse, he sees it all through Nestor's own perspective, meaning he is privy to his unspoken observations and reactions. Snoke sees him both cringe for Kylo and pity him. Snoke sees him confront Leia Organa himself, attempt to deescalate matters with the other Knights, and then ultimately talk Kylo into an exit when a stalemate is reached.
Snoke sees how he and Kylo interact as comrades and friends. He sees how alternately pouty and peevish the Apprentice is in social situations. But also, how strangely noble he is towards his enemy mother. He hates her, but he loves her. For in this too, Kylo Ren is conflicted. If ever the Apprentice finds a Jedi woman with the Force who he's not related to, Nestor is certain Kylo will be smitten. For he is drawn to the Light, and even a layman like himself can see that. It's partly why Nestor spoke up to assert that the First Order is not evil. Does the Apprentice do bad things? Sure. Is he an asshole? Sure. But does he have limits? Yes. The kid who refuses to kill his enemy mother and who worries he's not Dark enough to shoot the Starkiller is not evil. Not entirely. And maybe Snoke already knows that, but Nestor feels disloyal divulging it. He knows that Kylo wants so badly to be a full Sith like Darth Vader.
The most humiliating part of the ordeal has nothing to do with the Skywalkers. For Snoke also sees him attempting to flirt with Cessily Ono. The Supreme Leader now knows how the very nearness of his crush sets his heart aflutter. He's so taken by this Core Senator's daughter even though they have nothing in common. He's a Mid Rim hayseed punching above his weight class. An enlisted man who's already risen farther than he should. It's ambitions like this that get a guy in trouble. Although in the context of his job to kill the last Jedi and to conquer the galaxy, a mundane thing like wooing Cessily Ono almost seems doable. He's a Knight of Ren who serves the Sith and by virtue of their brash aegis he dares anything, both for his cause and for himself.
The pain is intense with no respite. Nestor wonders if this is punishment for the foolish escapade to Coruscant? Maybe. He feels himself fading under the unending mental onslaught. Snoke is relentless. And weirdly, he seems less interested in the confrontation with Leia Organa than he is in the Knights' group dynamics. Finally, just as Nestor thinks he might pass out, it ends. Snoke is out of his mind as quickly as he invaded it.
Dazed Nestor opens his eyes to find himself curled up on the throne room floor in a fetal position, heaving and drooling as his eyes water. He reaches up to brush at a trickle of blood that meanders from one nostril. Then Nestor glances up fearfully at the Sith Master who just assaulted him.
Snoke grunts. "Very interesting. You lasted longer than most, Sir Flick." Then, the Supreme Leader literally steps over him as he turns his attention back to his cowering Apprentice.
Kylo shoots Nestor a furtive apologetic look. He tries to salvage the situation and put his own positive spin on it. "Master, she is very angry. Very determined."
"Yes, I see."
"Very Dark," Kylo asserts.
Snoke disagrees. "Not Dark. She is conflicted, like you are. Like her father was. Anger alone does not make one Dark. It is how you use that anger that matters. But the dogmatic Jedi conflated the two concepts to deem all anger to be Darkness. They took it a step further to ban all emotions—not just negative emotions that fuel power—for such was the Jedi Order's paranoia of the Dark Side."
He muses, "The Princess of Alderaan is much like her twin. She speaks Light but veers Dark with her impulses. It is a natural consequence of her self-imposed repression. Be who you are, Apprentice. Pretending otherwise will bring misery."
"Yes, Master."
"Control!" the Supreme Leader bellows. "You must learn control! When you are Light, it should be because you choose to be Light. Because it serves your purpose. When you are Dark, it should be because Darkness is appropriate for the situation. One day, you shall wield both sides of the Force with ease. And most importantly, you will gain the wisdom to determine which side to use."
"Yes, Master."
"That," lecturing Snoke intones, "is what it means to be the Chosen One. Right now, you have the potential but not the skill. In time, as you mature into your talent and position, you will come into your own."
Kylo looks a little dubious about the glorious future his mentor foretells, but he dutifully affirms, "Yes, Master. By the grace of your teaching, it will be so."
Snoke shoots him a sharp look that quells any further attempts to suck up. The Supreme Leader doesn't want flattery, he wants results. And he's clearly concerned that Kylo's confrontation with his mother is something of a setback for his progress. "I've seen what your Knight saw. What can you tell me of the meeting?" Snoke invites. All in all, Nestor judges the him to be far less angry about what happened on Coruscant than he is concerned for his sometimes-shaky Apprentice. Snoke and the First Order have a lot invested in Kylo.
Kylo's face is impassive as he announces, "It happened. It's over. I will not dread meeting her again."
Snoke digests this answer for a long moment. "Got out some demons, did you? Faced down your fear?"
Kylo prefers to phrase it in terms of strategy. "I sowed doubt about Luke."
Snoke waves away this self-serving spin as he limps to retake his throne. "You pled your case . . . made your excuses. Then, you issued threats."
Kylo tries again. "The truth will provoke conflict between Luke and my mother should he return."
Old Snoke half lowers himself, half falls onto his throne in an ungainly sprawl. Once he is settled, he predicts, "When Skywalker returns, it will be at the eleventh hour. He will come for martyrdom, as atonement. That is why you must find him in order to face him properly. It is of little use to kill him when he and his followers have already lost. Beating a beaten man who shows up to die is not victory. At best, it will bring closure."
And now, Snoke leans forward and searches the face of his obviously-troubled-but-trying-hard Apprentice. "Tell me, Kylo Ren, are you willing to kill him?"
Nestor, who is still disoriented and slow to climb back into his kneeling crouch, watches as Kylo visibly swallows and sidesteps the direct question. "He means nothing to me."
"Ah, but mommy does. Mother gets to live."
Kylo doesn't deny it. He flushes, blinks fast, looks down, and says nothing.
Snoke digs in to make his point. "You puff out your chest for her, trying to earn her respect. She will never respect you, my boy. No matter what you achieve, she will always fault you. Women like my granddaughter are never satisfied."
"I know, Master," Kylo sighs, looking as woebegone as ever.
Snoke frowns. "This is a vulnerable time for you." He warns, "You will be tempted by the Light Side of the Force." He says this as if Leia Organa or Luke Skywalker might suddenly appear to steal Kylo's soul and lure him back to the Republic.
That's Kylo's cue to double down on Darkness. He proclaims, "I will never go back. Master, I am becoming immune to the Light." Kylo says this with conviction, but he sounds like he's mostly trying to convince himself.
"You will never be immune to the Light," Snoke croaks out, sounding irritated by this bravado. And now, in one of those rare and brief moments of affection between Master and Apprentice, the Supreme Leader worries aloud, "I don't want to lose you like I lost Skywalker . . . like I lost Vader as well . . ."
Is that a statement of strategy? Does Snoke not want to lose the kid he's duped into being his enforcer? Leia Organa certainly thinks so. But Nestor, who has observed the interaction between Kylo and Snoke on numerous occasions, thinks there is more to it than that. Tough love Snoke is all business when it comes to the Dark Side. But in his own way, he seems to genuinely care for Kylo. Here now, he takes pride in his accomplishments. For with the ghost of a smile tugging at his mangled face, the Dark Master observes wryly, "You left out the most important part of your little sojourn on Coruscant."
"Yes, Master?" nervous Kylo pipes up.
"You did not tell me that you shot lightning."
"Right . . . There's that . . . I guess . . . " Kylo seems to regard the Force lightning as an afterthought, not an accomplishment.
Snoke thinks otherwise. "Your skills are far from complete, but they are coming along. Well done, my good and faithful Apprentice."
Glum Kylo recalls his mother's response. "She deflected it as if it were nothing." It's clear Kylo is still thoroughly intimidated by his mother even if he claims the contrary.
Snoke's eyes narrow. Then, he starts to encourage his disheartened pupil. "It was a first attempt. In time, you will summon lightning that cannot be repelled. You will be a formidable foe to even the most accomplished Jedi."
"Yes, Master," beleaguered Kylo repeats dutifully. Watching Nestor knows the Apprentice hears this praise as pressure. For whether he's playing for Team Light Side or Team Dark Side, the guy has an enormous legacy to live up to. Kylo must feel like whatever he does, he's inevitably letting everyone down. He's used to criticism, and it shows.
And now again, Snoke takes on a fatherly tone. "Kylo Ren, I have foreseen your future. You will be everything your mother and uncle fear and then some. You will achieve things they only dream about."
"Ruling the galaxy? Bringing order?" Those are the cardinal virtues of the Dark Side, listening Nestor knows.
"Yesss," Snoke hisses with relish. "But that is just the start. You know the rest. You know what they desire."
"Peace and justice." Those are the cherished ideals of the Light.
"Balance, as well." Snoke smiles. It's a disconcerting sight. But genuine, nonetheless. "Only a Chosen One—the true Chosen One—will excel across the full spectrum of the Force. They had their chance and failed. And now, the opportunity falls to you. Seize it. Make it your own. Once Skywalker is gone, there will be no one to stop you."
"Just myself," Kylo whispers. Then, as if realizing he has spoken aloud, he colors furiously with embarrassment.
Snoke offers wise counsel, in the ominous way only he can. "Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. It's the only way you'll become what you're meant to be."
"Yes, Master."
"The Starkiller Base is back on schedule. We will be ready to strike as planned. Perhaps even sooner."
This statement seems to merit some heralding, so Kylo yelps out, "Excellent, Master. I will be ready as well."
Snoke nods gravely. "You are ready now. You just haven't realized it yet. Apprentice, stay focused on the mission. No more parties on Coruscant. No more playing outlaw in the Rim. Find Skywalker. Kill him. That will complete your training. Only then will you become Darth Ren."
"Yes, Master. It shall be done."
"I look forward to receiving Skywalker's saber as a trophy," the Supreme Leader smirks. "Dismissed!" He ends the interview abruptly.
Woozy Nestor is relieved it's over and happy to exit. He can barely stand—Kylo has to offer him a hand up. Embarrassed to need assistance, Nestor averts his eyes and wipes at the blood on his chin. But just as he, Kylo, and the others begin to troop out, the Supreme Leader orders, "Sir Flick remains."
Yikes! Nestor exchanges looks with Kylo who mutters, "Good luck," with obvious concern. Nestor takes a deep breath and tries to focus as he walks back to the center of the room to again take a knee in fealty to his Supreme Leader.
Snoke waves him to stand just as he stiffly starts to stoop. "Arise and be at ease," the Supreme Leader begins.
Now, Nestor is more nervous than ever. Is he to be punished further for failing to babysit the Apprentice? He doesn't think so. Snoke would punish him before the others to make an example. So, what's coming next? Why does he merit a solo audience with the big boss? He has no idea.
"Sir Flick," the wily First Order mastermind begins, "this party on Coruscant was to impress a girl?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Tell me about the girl."
Snoke knows all about the girl. He just ripped his head apart looking at memories of the girl. But Nestor gamely answers, "She is the daughter of Senator Ono, one of our covert friends in the Senate."
"A prize to be sure. But she does not share her father's allegiance, I take it?"
"No. Or rather, not yet," he amends hopefully.
"Sir Flick, am I correct that you once lost a fiancé over your First Order loyalty?"
"Yes." It's humiliating to be reminded that Snoke knows about his romantic failure. The less said about his broken engagement to his high school sweetheart, the better.
But the Supreme Leader seems to find it important. "Yet again, you fix your attention on a young woman who disdains us. Why? Are you a glutton for punishment?"
How does he answer that leading question? Nestor is sheepish as he improvises, "I guess I'm a fool for love."
The Supreme Leader chuckles as Nestor reddens.
"As am I, Sir Flick, as am I," Snoke intones cryptically. He looks him over and observes gravely, "You aim high."
"Yes, Supreme Leader. What's the point in aiming low? I didn't join the Order because I was content to settle for the way things are . . . for myself or for the galaxy." Does that sound foolish? Maybe arrogant? Well, it's true. Again, Nestor can feel his face redden.
Snoke looks amused. "I know how it feels to see a pretty girl and instantly fall in love. Good luck, Sir Flick. If we cannot subdue the Republic by force, perhaps you can charm their women for us instead."
Nestor's face is really flaming now.
The Supreme Leader now abruptly shifts topics. "Sir Flick, you are very concerned with the moral authority of the First Order. You are a true believer in our cause and a partisan to the core. And yet, you worry about the philosophical underpinnings of our movement. It is important to you that we are the good guys."
Nestor looks down. He's uncertain how to respond. Is he hearing criticism or praise? He isn't sure.
"Good and evil are far more relative and situational than most people like to believe." Snoke lets that thought sink in before he counsels, "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view. The values you hold dear are the prism through which you analyze life. That is why reasonable, intelligent people can differ on important issues. It's mostly a matter of competing priorities that lead to divergent conclusions."
"Are you saying there is no right and wrong?" Nestor squints-and winces.
"I'm saying that fewer things fall into the category of right and wrong than you believe. When people say that something is the right thing to do, very often they are creating an objective justification for their personal decision . . . and daring others to question them," Snoke adds cynically.
"Power is what matters most. Power decides what is right and what is wrong," Nestor thinks aloud, recalling conversations he has had with Kylo.
"Indeed. Power determines morality. Power creates justice. Without power, you have nothing. You are at the mercy of others."
Yes, he knows. The purpose of the First Order is to grab power from the Republic. To give agency to the longsuffering Rimmers and the Imperial Exiles who dwell among them. "But when we fire the Starkiller, Sir," Nestor frets, "that will be justice, right?"
"You tell me, Sir Flick."
Okay. He states the party line: "It will be justice for the Rim."
"And a war crime for the Core," Snoke replies smoothly.
"But it brings power to the Order to destroy the Republic. Once we are in power, we can make things better."
Snoke flashes a devious smile and confirms, "We are revolutionaries . . . for politics and for the Force." He muses, "You are the least educated of the Knights, and yet you alone quibble over these matters. Why is that?"
Nestor shifts his weight uncomfortably and then confesses. "I didn't sign up to be the villain, Sir."
That answer makes the Supreme Leader laugh out loud. It's a mocking cackle that has Nestor thoroughly unnerved.
Amused Snoke observes, "My Apprentice signed up to be the villain. You know it to be true. You watch him struggle to be convince everyone that he is bad. Whereas you signed up to be the hero, and you tremble at what you are asked to do in the name of your cause. It's makes you an excellent sidekick to Kylo Ren," Snoke decides. "I am glad that he is your friend." The hideous Supreme Leader leans forward on his throne to advise, "Sir Flick, there is a fine line between a hero and villain. Before the war is over, you will have stepped over that line and back again several times."
Nestor gulps. "Yes, Sir."
"Do not be afraid to transcend the limits of conventional morality and ideology. You answer to Kylo Ren and to me, and we, in turn, answer only to history. So be mindful when you choose your scruples."
"Yes, Sir."
Snoke eyes him thoughtfully a moment before he abruptly barks, "Dismissed!"
Relieved Nestor can't leave the room fast enough. He catches up with the others just as they are exiting the underground bunker via the elevator to the ground level landing pad. Up on the surface, Kylo's shuttle is still being refueled. It forces the Knights to cool their heels for several minutes as they wait for the ground crew to finish.
"So . . . back to the ship?" Nestor asks Kylo, who nods.
"I guess we can try rounding up more Church of the Force types to find leads on my uncle." Kylo's glum tone betrays how little success he expects from that strategy. His friend looks him over critically now. "Are you okay?"
Nestor feels absolutely awful, but he shrugs it off. "I'll live."
"Mind reading really hurts," Kylo commiserates. "He did it to me a few times when he was teaching me the skill. It's way worse than lightning."
"My head feels like it has split in two," wincing Nestor sighs.
"Sleep," Kylo suggests. "The aftermath wears off after a few hours."
"Apprentice?" It's a quiet voice from behind speaking in a cultured accent. Not Snoke, but his messenger.
Kylo turns. "Milo."
The longtime Dark Side servant carries a large glossy black box that he offers. "I have something for you. From the Master, with his compliments."
Kylo accepts the present. "Thank you."
"It's not every day that an Apprentice first shoots lightning." The older man flashes a genial smile of congratulations. "It is a moment to commemorate. Your first step into a larger world . . . the first taste of ultimate power. You are following in the footsteps of so many Dark heroes before you." The way Milo says this makes Nestor wonder just how many Apprentices he has seen. Still, the aged Sith henchman seems very sincere as he gushes praise, "We're so very proud of you." The slight wisp of a man smiles up at Kylo. "Now, all you need to do is to kill Skywalker, and you'll earn your title."
Snoke doesn't say these kind words himself, Nestor notes. He sends his servant to deliver the message. But maybe that's how this Master and Apprentice thing works. The trainee is kept grasping for meager praise lest he get cocky. That's not a big risk with Kylo, Nestor judges. Kylo needs encouragement more than anything. Does Snoke see that? Maybe so.
Milo gestures to the glossy black box. "It is meant to aid in your meditation. To deepen your understanding of the family legacy."
"Thank you," Kylo responds.
Formal Milo bows low and takes his leave. "May the Force be with you." Then, he nods to Nestor, "Sir Flick," and withdraws back into his Master's bunker.
The ship is ready now. The Knights troop onboard for the flight home. Kylo pilots the shuttle into hyperspace. Then, he sets the autopilot and wanders back into the lounge area to open Snoke's present.
Nestor, who is poking at his datapad between wiping his watery eyes and massaging his aching temples, glances up. "What is it?"
Kylo stares a long moment into the box in silence. His face is unreadable.
"Boss?" he prompts, standing to move to his side. Peering over Kylo's shoulder, he remarks, "Oh."
"It's Vader's mask."
It sure is. It's misshapen and dull, but unmistakable and iconic. "Cool," Nestor pretends. Because it's more like creepy. Super creepy. Ghoulishly creepy.
Kylo must know what he's thinking. He explains, "The Dark Side has a tradition of relics. The Jedi do as well, but it's far less personal. They are more into sacred spaces than sacred objects."
Yes, he knows. The Knights have been stealing Jedi knickknacks from museums for months now.
"It's empty, right? I mean, his head's not still in it?" Nestor blurts out.
Kylo doesn't take offense. He explains, "Vader disappeared after he died. That's common among the strongest of Force users. They dissolve back into the Force and leave no body. Vader left behind his helmet and armor."
"I see."
"I wish I had his red Sith sword," Kylo says solemnly as he stares at his dead grandfather's mask. "But if I can't have his sword, then this is the next best thing."
"Why is it melted?" Nestor wants to know.
"My uncle tried to burn it."
"I thought you said Darth Vader burned in lava on Mustafar."
"He did. My asshole uncle tried to burn what was left to give him a proper Jedi funeral."
"But the mask didn't burn . . . "
Kylo nods. "It was a stupid gesture. Vader wasn't Jedi at the end. He was just himself. Dark and Light."
"Like you."
"Like me," Kylo confirms solemnly.
Nestor finds this all to be super weird. But his head hurts too much to think about it. Time to fall asleep in a back bunk where no one will bother him.
The Finalizer is lurking undetected on the edge of the galaxy's Core, which means it's a two-day flight back to the flagship from the Outer Rim. In all, it's been seven days since they left for Coruscant thanks to the unplanned detour to Snoke's bunker and back. When they arrive, the Knights hoist their duffel bags and weapons to disembark. Nestor is the last to troop down the shuttle ramp into the Finalizer hangar bay.
Kylo is waiting for him at the bottom. He shoots him a knowing smirk that's full of gleeful mischief. "Well, well, well . . . "
"What?" Nestor grumbles.
"Look who's here."
Nestor follows Kylo's eyes to spy Cessily Ono accompanied by her brother Rafe. They are in the hangar bay walking away from a shuttle that must have arrived at the same time theirs did.
She's dressed very casually with a purse slung over her shoulder and ponytail hair. She looks nothing like the sleek girl in the sparkly dress he last saw at a party on Coruscant. But perhaps she's attempting to blend in undercover here at the First Order. It doesn't work. Civilian clothes stick out at the Order where everyone, including Rafe who's an attorney on Snoke's staff, sports a uniform of some kind.
"Oh. Wow." Nestor blinks. "This is a surprise." A totally unanticipated, amazingly fortuitous surprise. He looks to Kylo. "Did you know about this?"
"No."
Rafe sees them first and waves. The Knights are very conspicuous in their long vicar's robes. The uniform is not the battle dress they are usually pictured in on the holonet nor is it the nondescript casual clothes they wear on Coruscant. It's far more formal and distinctive, and it fairly radiates authority. People onboard the Finalizer haven't taken to calling them the Princes of the Order for nothing.
For once, Cesi Ono looks impressed, Nestor thinks. And here, he thought a fancy civilian tuxedo would get her attention when all he really needed to do was wear his uniform and be himself.
Greetings are exchanged and Rafe starts to explain. "I was hoping to find you two. Nestor, Cesi and I have a favor to ask."
Now, he is really intrigued.
Cesi begins, "After we met at the gala. Well, my father—"
"And me," her brother interrupts. "I said it too."
"—told me that he wants me to learn to shoot a blaster. For self-defense," she volunteers.
"It was my idea really," her brother complains. "Snoke thinks all the highly placed embedded Core allies need to be prepared to protect themselves as things continue to heat up. Dad has security as a Senator, but Cesi has nothing. In her own way, she's every bit the public figure that he is."
"Right," Cesi swallows and makes a brave face about the grim future her menfolk have clearly warned her about. "Dad's worried that I might be a target when," her voice drops to a whisper, "war comes." She says this like it's a secret even though she's standing beneath a rack of TIE fighters. "Rafe had the idea that maybe you could teach me to shoot. I've never even held a blaster before," she confesses. "There's really no one I could ask back home."
Nestor is utterly charmed at the request. He instantly agrees, gushing, "It would be an honor."
"Daddy doesn't ask much of me," Cesi adds, biting her bottom lip as her eyes follow a squad of passing stormtroopers. His glamour girl is way out of her comfort zone on a warship, and it shows. "I would like to oblige him."
"It's obliging Snoke too," her brother reminds them sternly.
Right. This is Snoke's idea. Nestor is surprised and yet not surprised that the Supreme Leader just delivered him Cessily Ono for a shooting lesson. This, he decides, must be the Leader's version of apologizing for invading his mind and giving him the galaxy's worst ever headache.
"You've come to the right guy," Kylo speaks up, for once playing a decent wingman. "Nestor's the best shot on the ship . . . after me, of course."
Nestor grins sheepishly. "It's true."
Cesi looks relieved and grateful. "Have you got time now?" she ventures hopefully.
Kylo answers for him. "Yes. He does. We're in between missions."
Rafe's comlink suddenly goes off. He checks it and does a double take. "It's my boss, the GC. Looks like the Leader wants him for an unscheduled status briefing. Gotta take this." Rafe hurries off to start speaking fast legaleze.
Nestor and Kylo exchange glances. They're both probably thinking the same thing: that the Dark mastermind of the First Order is remarkably effective at maneuvering even mundane tasks when they catch his notice.
Kylo is still hefting the box with Vader's mask inside. He announces, "I'm going to go try this out. You two go get some target practice." Then the Apprentice tromps off with something like a smile tugging at his lips. It's the happiest he's seemed since the whole debacle on Coruscant.
Kylo's exit leaves him alone with Cesi. Nestor can't hide his delight. "You're here. You came," he marvels aloud at his good fortune. After the way things ended on Coruscant, he never expected this.
Cesi nods, wets her lips, and re-tucks her blonde mane behind one ear. It's classic body language Nestor learned from back when he hoped for an Intelligence career: she's nervous. Beautiful Cessily Ono, with her cool girl vibe and effortless social aplomb, is nervous. Is it just the First Order setting? Nestor is hoping it's also him. Does he unsettle her in a good way like she does to him?
"I thought that since you made the effort to meet me on my turf, I should repay the favor. And, well, I really do need to leave how to use a blaster."
She looks down and then up again fast. They lock eyes and she smiles a little. Yes, she's definitely nervous. It's beguiling. He loves Cesi when she's her slick and intimidating socialite self, but he adores her when she's the regular girl next door.
Time to put her at ease. "I'm so glad you're here."
She bites at her lip again and blushes. "I worried that maybe I should have sent you a text first, but Rafe said scary things about my com getting hacked and tracked if my transmission said anything about a blaster that might be construed as militant."
"That's right. The Republic is turning up the heat on us with their new Resistance group."
She wants him to know, "I'm not trying to be forward, I'm trying to be smart. You're a dangerous guy, Nestor. I don't want to put either of us in a bad situation."
"You did the right thing coming here," he affirms. "Tell you what," Nestor offers, "how about you leave here with your very own blaster that you know how to use and a new ultra-secure encrypted comlink that can reach me anytime, anywhere, for anything?"
She nods. "I'd like that."
"Good," he grins. "Then let's get started."
Cesi turns out to be an attentive student. Her eyes are big and her manicured hands tremble slightly the first time she picks up a blaster. But she loses her fear in time as he explains the basic skills needed to handle the weapon. Here's the safety and here's how to load and unload the plasma cartridge. Just hold it at first, Nestor counsels to give her time to gather courage. Get used to the feel and the weight of a gun. They're much heavier than they look.
She nods and flashes him a look of trust. Whatever else this girl thinks of him, she has confidence in his abilities and judgement. She might think his politics is crazy, but she doesn't think he's one of the crazies. That matters.
When Cesi is past her initial intimidation, it's time to teach her to aim and to fire. He stands beside her and then behind her to demonstrate. She focuses on the target, but he focuses on her. Cesi's proximity is everything. He can smell her faint perfume. He's up close to her velvety skin. Look at her in that textbook pistol stance, concentrating hard as she fires stun bolts in the ship's indoor firing range reserved for officers. It's hot. Really hot. Especially when she bites her lip.
Shooting for self-defense is different from warfare, he tells her. The goal is to get away, not to kill your attacker. If you can, run away. Get to a crowded place. Get into public where people can see you and help you. Avoid a confrontation. Shooting should always be a last resort.
She nods and he can tell she appreciates the gravity of the matter. She really is here to learn—it's not a pretext.
If you must pull a gun, then use it, Nestor instructs. Don't wave it around like on the holonet shows. Pull it and shoot. No speeches and no threats. Use deadly force without announcing it first and giving an attacker the chance to disarm you first. Aim for the torso since it's the biggest target. Don't bother attempting a non-lethal hit on an arm or a leg. There's too much chance that you'll miss, especially if there is a struggle.
When you're back on Coruscant, sign up for a self-defense class, Nestor suggests. Learn some basic moves to get out of a chokehold and how to avoid getting followed and cornered. Better yet, he smiles as he angles for another date, come back and I'll teach you myself.
Cesi nods but is noncommittal. He doesn't pressure her. Today is already a lot for her to take in. She's facing down a lot of fears just being here at the Order learning about firearms. This is scary enough.
Confidence is highly situational, Nestor knows from personal experience. It's why he's cool and easy here at the firing range, but get him back on Coruscant at a black-tie gala in a tux and he's sweating and nervous. The roles are reversed today and Cesi is the one who's jumpy and tentative. She's not timid so much as she's not yet comfortable. But outreach like this is what it takes to bridge the cultural chasm between the Core and the Rim. It takes getting out of your familiar surroundings and taking a chance to understand how the other half lives and thinks. The galaxy as a whole can't or won't do that, and that's why war is coming. But Cessily Flick can. And that raises her in his esteem considerably. She might be privileged, but she's not petty. There is a subtle gallantry to this girl, and it resonates with him. As different as their backgrounds are, Nestor thinks that he and Cesi really might have a chance at a future together.
When they're done, he takes her for a quick tour of the ship. Nestor is betting that the more Cesi knows about the side her father and brother are backing, the more comfortable she will become with the Order. The excursion also has the benefit of showing Cesi who he is among his colleagues. For in his Knight's robes, he is instantly afforded respect and status by strangers. That's especially noticeable on the bridge where all the most ambitious and savvy officers work. Sure, he's the everyman son of a stormtrooper from the Mid Rim, not the demigod grandson of Darth Vader with the Force. But still . . . here in the Order, he is someone important, and that's something he would never be on Coruscant. Not while it's in enemy hands, that is.
Does Cesi notice? He hopes she notices. He's got prospects if the Order succeeds. One day, if he survives the war, he could be a decent provider for a family. Sure, it might not be the lifestyle Cesi's accustomed to right now, but who knows what the future holds? Things could look very different when Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren rule the galaxy.
When they're done on the bridge, Nestor delivers Cesi back to her brother who is waiting in the hangar bay. Rafe is taking her back to the Rim outpost he works at. After that, she'll return to Coruscant by normal commercial transport. It's a long way to travel for a first date. Can she be convinced to come again? With Snoke telling Kylo to stop partying on Coruscant, Nestor won't have an easy way to see Cesi on her homeworld. But maybe he could meet her somewhere . . . anywhere . . . if she's interested, that is.
Now comes the awkward part: the goodnight—well, goodbye-kiss. Only it's especially awkward because it's under the bright lights of a busy warship hangar bay. His Knights uniform that drew Cesi's eye also draws others' eyes. She draws eyes as well—for her beauty and for her novelty as a civilian onboard. So, it feels like a thousand eyes are watching as Nestor makes his move while standing as secluded as can be next to an Upsilon class security shuttle.
He leans in and breathes out, "When can I see you again?" This date is going well—really well. He hates that it has to end.
"Will you be on Coruscant soon?" she asks.
He shakes his head. "No. But I can meet you here or anywhere. Name the place, we'll make a plan, and I'll be there," he promises.
She looks down at the holster and the snub nosed, purse sized blaster pistol he has given her. "I guess I do need some more practice . . ."
Encouraged, he grins. "Even the best student needs to practice. We'll make a crackshot out of you in no time."
She doesn't seem enthusiastic about that goal, to be honest. Core socialites probably don't view marksmanship as a skill to cultivate. Cesi slowly turns the weapon over in her hands now, staring down at her lethal souvenir from her visit to the First Order. She looks up to find his eyes. He sees fear there.
"Nestor," she sputters, "you're a great guy and today was great. Really great. But this is long distance . . . and you're . . . you're you . . ." She gestures around them to the tools of war. "I mean, you're a soldier. An important one and a famous one, but still . . . "
She bites her lip and looks away. Nestor forces himself not to speak. He doesn't want to interrupt what she has to say. He won't make it easy on her either.
"Look, this is everything I said I didn't want. If this works, we'll still be lightyears apart. And if it really works, well, then I could end up a camp follower in the Rim, or maybe a fugitive in exile when the Republic wins, or even a w-widow—"
"Don't say that," he hushes her list of worst-case scenarios.
"But it's true. If I . . . I . . . " her voice trails off in flustered embarrassment, but she rallies and finishes the thought. "If I love you, then I could lose everything. And in the end, I could lose you too. That makes it feel foolish to even try," she says in a choked, uncomfortable voice, muttering, "I've already got Rafe to worry about . . . and Daddy too, I suppose . . ."
She's letting him down easy, pushing him gently away, stating her sincere and rational misgivings upfront. But all Nestor can hear is that she's thought about them having a future together. And that's the encouragement he needs. So, heedless of the fuel tech hefting a hose three meters away, and ignoring the TIE that's about to jettison its rack and race screaming down a nearby launch tube, he goes in for a kiss. After all, he's a fool for love, like he told the Supreme Leader.
That's how an average looking enlisted man with no particular talents from the Mid Rim ends up kissing a hyper educated, uber connected, exquisitely polished Senator's daughter from Coruscant. He's with the First Order and she's politically indifferent, but soon they will be on opposite sides of a war. She's right that this could be a foolish mistake that will lead to heartbreak. But Nestor's an all-in kind of guy. He's not reckless so much as he is risk neutral. For truthfully, only the galaxy's privileged types get to be risk averse. Everyday people like him get used to making gambles in life, sometimes winning and sometimes not. But like he told the Supreme Leader, he aims high. High enough to seek the favors of Coruscant's reigning It Girl party princess.
The kiss is glorious, but it's leading nowhere. He's not standing at her door angling to seduce her so he will get asked in. Instead, he's putting her on a shuttle with a scheduled departure time and the clock is ticking down. This public, chaste kiss will have to be enough for now. Hopefully, it will whet her appetite for more and she too will be convinced to throw caution to the wind in a wild, romantic gamble on their future.
"Take a chance on me," Nestor murmurs as he pulls back. She's taken a chance to be here already, he figures. If she was truly afraid of what he's offering, she wouldn't be here now. "Could you love me?" he plows ahead. "Because I could love you . . ."
She doesn't answer. She just flashes a faint, uncertain smile.
He won't press for more. Nestor simply requests that she text him on the new comlink he gave her when she gets home. He wants to know that she arrives home safely. He also has an ulterior motive to start a conversation going on that new comlink.
Once Cesi has left, Nestor heads in search of the Knights. Glancing at the time, he decides to look first in the officers' lounge. Sure enough, the guys are hanging out at the big table in the far corner that has unofficially become their reserved spot.
As he walks up to take a seat, always obnoxious Carlos calls out, "Well? Did you score?" The whole room hears him and heads turn.
Flushing Nestor sits down as Pedro shoots his fellow Knight a 'shut the fuck up' look. "Hit him with lightning, Kylo," Pedro suggests. He's half serious.
But the Apprentice too wants to know how it went. "Well? How'd it go?"
"I got a kiss."
Carlos and Omar exchange an approving look while Jonar now takes an interest. "A kiss? Like a real kiss? A kiss kiss?"
"Was there tongue?" Carlos leers.
"Shut up," Nestor responds. He's not one to kiss and tell, and Carlos is being an asshole.
"That's a no," Jonar decides. "Nestor, you finally get your dream girl on the ship and you teach her to shoot and give her a tour? What kind of game is THAT? Dude, that's not smooth. You gotta be a player with a girl that hot."
"She came here for him to teach her," Pedro points out. Because apparently the Knights now know every detail of what happened with Cesi and they all have opinions.
They keep expressing them too. "I guess nothing says love like a firearm," Carlos smirks.
The heretofore quiet Static now volunteers, "I like a girl with a gun. It makes her dangerous."
"Is that why you're crazy for stormtrooper pool girls?" Omar jeers.
Ignoring the ribbing from the others, Kylo turns to Nestor to ask, "So, it went well?"
"Yeah. Yeah, it did. I think . . ."
Kylo nods and smirks. "Good. Just tell me when you need me to be your best man."
"And tell me when I need to start planning the bachelor party. It will be epic!" Jonar declares.
"Admiral Blanchard can marry them, right?" Omar suggests, jumping on the bandwagon. "You know-as commanding officer of the ship?"
"We're taking it slow," Nestor responds stiffly, nixing this idea. "This is too good to rush."
Kylo disagrees. "You can't take this sort of thing slowly. She's either in or out."
That's exactly the sort of attitude that Nestor rejects. He instinctively knows that putting pressure on skittish Cesi will drive her away. Already, he's asking her to step way out of her comfort zone.
Kylo must know what he's thinking because he presses the point. "Look, I know you want to do this the conventional way, with dates and flowers and meeting her parents and stuff like that. That's very you. But you're not in the Mid Rim any longer and you're not some regular guy—"
Bullshit. "I'm as regular a guy as they come."
"You were a regular guy, Nestor. Not anymore. You're a Knight of the First Order and you're going to rule the galaxy someday."
"No—you are going to rule the galaxy." He grumbles, "You're the Skywalker."
"You serve the Sith," the Apprentice reminds him. "Hang out with me and your life will never be normal. The sooner she realizes that, the better."
Nestor lets the point drop. The other guys go back to talking about pod racing and Kylo moves on. The Apprentice slants wary eyes his way and probes, "You never did tell me what Snoke wanted you to stay behind for."
Nestor accepts a beer from the waiter droid and shrugs. "He wanted to talk."
Kylo's eyes narrow. "About me?"
"About me." Nestor sighs and takes a drink. "When he was in my mind, he saw all kinds of shit—"
"I know. He sees it all."
"He asked about Cesi first. Then, he wanted to talk about how we're the good guys . . . and the bad guys too . . ."
"Anything else?"
Nestor thinks a moment before he adds, "He said that he's glad we're friends."
"He said that?"
"Yeah."
Kylo looks shocked. "There are no friends on the Dark Side. There are only enemies and allies."
"Are there friends in the middle?"
"The what?"
"The middle—you know, whatever is between the Light Side and the Dark Side."
"I don't know. There are no rules for that. And I'm supposed to be on the Dark Side . . . for now, at least. Fuck," Kylo vents, "I sucked at being a Jedi and now I suck at being a Sith. My Master knows it, too."
Yes, that's the point, if Nestor's understanding correctly what it means to be the Chosen One. But he sidesteps all the Force talk now so Kylo won't go into his usual verbal downward spiral of self-pity. "You don't suck at being a friend. Kylo, relax. The boss approves. Don't worry."
Kylo takes a swig of his beer but doesn't reply.
Nestor changes the topic. "So . . . Skywalker . . ."
Kylo's face gets that haunted, hurt look he gets whenever anyone speaks about his uncle. Say the name Skywalker and all sorts of opinions come out of Kylo. It's clearly a topic he's obsessed over for years.
"He'll have to surface. We won't find him. That martyr scenario Snoke talked about—that's the most likely outcome."
"Why do you think that?" Nestor presses.
"Because I know Luke. And because history proves me right. Sidious never found Yoda. Or Snoke, for that matter. Vader never found Kenobi either. Kenobi found Vader for their last duel."
"So how do we draw him out?"
"We do something so terrible that it looks like the Dark Side will win."
"Hosnia?" Nestor guesses.
"Maybe if it kills my mother. But she's running the Resistance now, so she won't be home on Hosnia a lot like when she was a Senator."
Nestor squints at the Apprentice. "You really think your mother is the key?"
"Yes." Kylo is certain. "So long as she's alive and fighting us, Luke will let her take the lead. She is the Republic's true champion, not my uncle."
"Then why isn't Snoke more worried about her?" Nestor remembers how effortlessly Leia Organa had deflected her son's Force lightning. It was a badass move. That little lady looked like she could hold her own in a fight.
Kylo lowers his voice so just he can hear. The Apprentice confides, "Snoke is worried about her. But he won't play that angle because he knows I won't kill her."
Nestor knows he shouldn't go there, but he goes there anyway. "Why doesn't Snoke kill her himself?"
"He's worried that if he gets us three in a room, it will be the second Death Star all over again."
"And you'll kill your Master so your mother can live?"
Kylo nods. "Snoke needs me. That's what my mother can't see. He needs me and he knows he will have to kill me in a battle over the fate of my mother. He won't risk killing her outright behind my back—there's too much risk that will end badly as well."
That may be true, but Leia Organa will ultimately have to be dealt with. That woman is not going anywhere and she's not the type to compromise or back down. And now, the Republic is covertly funding her private army. General Organa is a credible threat militarily now in addition to being a Jedi. So, Nestor presses for the endgame, "Kylo, she's the enemy."
The comment earns him a cold look. The Apprentice pouts and sniffs. "I don't care. She's still my mother."
Nestor can accept that sentiment. He has a mother he loves too. He can't exactly fault Kylo for feeling how he does. So, after another long swig of beer and some further consideration, he allows, "I understand."
Kylo meets his eyes and nods. "I knew you would."
Moments like this are when Nestor senses Kylo's lonely desperation most keenly. The guy knows that one way or another his whole family will have to die for him to succeed. It's a complicated situation that is heartbreaking. Although, in the end, Nestor knows that his friend will hide his true feelings behind the mask of Kylo Ren. He's gotten pretty good at playing the bad guy who is indifferent to pleas for moderation. Few know that the kid under the helmet is far less committed than he pretends. Even Leia Organa didn't seem to sense it, Nestor judges privately.
He feels compelled to cheerlead the Apprentice some now. "We'll find Skywalker. Don't worry." Whatever happens with Leia Organa isn't their mission. Killing the last Jedi is.
And so, they will keep searching for Skywalker. The quest is far more than finding the Republic Jedi, Nestor has come to realize. Kylo is searching for revenge and vindication as well. And for respect and maybe for meaning too. He's been entrusted with the future and that's an awfully big burden. Snoke must know that searching for the Jedi will mature his Apprentice and prepare him for what lies ahead. Leadership needs experience, after all. Leadership also needs resolve.
And himself? What is he searching for? What will it mean for him to find Skywalker? To stare down the vigilante Jedi who took down an Empire and the fortunes of his family and countless other families with it? It's Nestor's chance to begin to make things right. To make the galaxy great again. To be the good guy hero that his father the ex-trooper thought he was up until galactic politics did a U-turn when the Rebels won. Killing Skywalker atones for all that. It paves the way for a new and glorious future fashioned by the First Order.
But Nestor can't shake the concern that they are searching for the wrong Skywalker. The one they need to find and kill isn't the one with the lightsaber who hides. It's the one with the microphone who's all over the holonet. For Leia Organa is every bit the existential threat her twin brother is.
Not for the first time, Nestor glances at the Apprentice with true pity. Before this is all over, things are going to get very ugly. Kylo is going to have to lose a lot before he can win.
And that reminds Nestor of Snoke's comment about there being a fine line between a hero and a villain. The hero Luke Skywalker created the villain Kylo Ren by being the villain himself to his nephew. And maybe that's the best way for a layman like himself to understand the Chosen One concept. The not-Jedi, not-Sith Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force is both hero and villain and that's precisely the point. They're a little bit Light and a little bit Dark, but mostly grey enigma in between. Could this brooding kid with the Force the savior the galaxy need? Nestor certainly hopes so.
Downing the last swig of his beer, he turns to his sullen friend. "Ready for another round?"
"Yes."
The Force and the galaxy's problems will not be solved tonight. Nestor gets up to get more beer.
THE END
Kylo and Nestor's story continues in Ghosts of the Past and The Chosen One.
