Glitter and Gold
Chapter 19
33 ABY – D'Qar
Leia stood before the window, looking in on the woman and child inside. Vex had lain aside her long cloak and took her son from the harness on her chest – she fed him now from her breast. "So that's the Reaper," she murmured.
Poe Dameron stood beside her, arms crossed over his chest. "She wasn't what I expected," he admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Leia turned to look at him, eyes glittering with intelligence. "And what do you make of her, Poe?" she asked.
"She seems like a scared mother," Poe said, shaking his head. His gaze did not stray from the woman inside. "She could have killed me and gone on her way, but she didn't,"
"And why do you think that is?" she questioned.
Poe shrugged. "I have no idea,"
Leia's lips pursed, turning her head to look back at the infamous woman. "She used to be sent out at least once every month. Then she disappeared for nearly three years and suddenly shows up here – it doesn't feel right," she pointed out.
Poe gestured towards the baby. "He must be why," he suggested.
She remained quiet for a few minutes. "And she asked for me by name?" Poe nodded. "Why?" Leia asked.
He shrugged again. "I guess you'll have to ask her," he said.
Leia sucked in a deep breath, turning irritated eyes towards him. "Fine," she said, moving towards the door. She knocked lightly before opening the door. Vex glanced back as Leia entered, Poe behind her. She covered her breast and raised her son to her shoulder to burp him.
The two women regarded each other carefully, eyes searching for weaknesses. "I am General Leia Organa. I believe you know Poe," Leia introduced, gesturing towards the man behind her.
Vex nodded politely. "I'm Vex, and this is my son, Anakin," she replied.
The look that crossed Leia's face was nothing less than shock, though she quickly schooled her expression. "An uncommon name," she chose to say instead of one of the other hundred questions that crossed her mind. Vex nodded stiffly. "Why did you come to D'Qar?" she questioned.
Vex drew in a deep breath. "I came to find someone," she admitted. "She was my nanny once, a long time ago. I knew she would care for my son,"
"Who?" Poe interjected.
Vex's eyes slid from Leia to him. "She was known by Ayla'Lyn when I knew her. A Twi'lek, with purple coloring," she answered.
"I know Ayla'Lyn," Leia said, brows raising. "You're the little girl she raised? The one that was taken?" she asked in surprise. Poe looked to his general, brows furrowed, before he looked back to the young woman before them.
Vex lowered her eyes back to her son, cradling him close. "Yes," she murmured.
Leia sat down in one of the chairs, rubbing her forehead. "And why would you want to leave your son behind?"
"Because Snoke wants him. And I can't let him have my son," Vex retorted, eyes fiery.
Poe shifted behind Leia, resting his hands on the back of her chair. "Why would Snoke want your son?" he questioned.
Vex avoided his eyes, looking to Leia instead. "I was going to find you once I'd made sure Anakin was safe. I intend to fight – against the First Order, that is," she said.
"You understand why we must be cautious, don't you? We must be careful who we trust," Leia said.
Vex nodded, reaching into a pocket. "I was told that if I gave you this, you'd know I could be trusted," she said, giving the worn talisman to Leia.
The older woman's eyes widened as she carefully turned it over in her hands. "This – it's impossible!"
"What is it?" Poe asked.
"Luke gave this to you?" Leia questioned, lifting incredulous eyes to the other woman.
Vex nodded. "He gave me shelter when I escaped from Snoke. He told me to come to you,"
Leia leaned forward eagerly. "Where is Luke?" she asked.
Vex looked away again, fingers flexing. "He made me swear not to tell anyone where he is," she said.
"Why?"
Vex shrugged, her arms cradling her son as he began to fall asleep. "I don't know," she admitted. "Probably for the same reasons he left," Vex speculated.
"How can we trust you if you won't tell us what you know?" Poe cut in, brows furrowed.
Vex flashed him a cutting glare. "Trust goes both ways, you know. I'm not talking to anyone until I see Ayla'Lyn," she said, turning away from the other two to give them her back.
/
Ayla'Lyn was a beautiful Twi'lek woman with purple coloring. She'd been sold as a slave when she was a little girl, where she'd been a servant in several households on Coruscant before she'd joined the Valorum household. The Valorums had a newborn baby girl that her parents clearly didn't care for. Ayla'Lyn was fifteen when they'd made her Vex's nanny. And she'd fallen in love with that girl.
Vex had been like a daughter to her. She'd been twenty-six days old when Ayla'Lyn had started caring for her. And for five years, she and Vex had been family. Vex's parents were never around, so Ayla'Lyn and Vex were left alone. And they'd been happy.
She'd known Vex was different since she was two years old. There would be times when Vex would cry or have a tantrum, and things would fall from the table or shelf. She'd stare off into the distance and see things, things Ayla'Lyn couldn't see. And then she'd tell Ayla'Lyn that her mother was coming – and then three seconds later, Venesia would look in on them.
Ayla'Lyn had always hidden these occurrences from the Valorums. She didn't trust them. Not to have Vex's best interests at heart. And then, one day, Vex had performed one of her miracles in front of them. And then everything had gone wrong.
Two days later, Stormtroopers had invaded the apartment and carried Vex out as she screamed and cried and fought. Ayla'Lyn had been restrained by the Stormtroopers as they stole her girl – as her parents simply sat there, drinking and ignoring it all. After that, Ayla'Lyn lasted about a week before she'd run away.
She knew the First Order had her girl. She wasn't going to take it lying down. That was how Ayla'Lyn had joined the rebellion. She wasn't a vice admiral or commander like Holdo or Dameron. No, Ayla'Lyn was a spy. She'd been a slave for twenty years. She knew how to blend into the background and get information.
Leia Organa had become one of her closest friends over the last eighteen years. She'd been at Leia's side when her son had gone to the dark side, and when her brother had disappeared. Leia had been there for her, when all the work she'd done had come to nothing, year after year. She'd never found her girl. Her Vex. Not until today.
Her Vex was sitting in one of those observation rooms on Leia's base, a baby in her arms. Her son, Leia told her. Vex had grown up to become the First Order's own Reaper, a dark Jedi. But now she was something else – on the run, seeking safety for her son. Ayla'Lyn should have done that herself, eighteen years ago. Maybe Vex would have been better off then.
Ayla'Lyn stepped into the room quietly, wishing to observe her girl just a few moments longer. Vex faced away from her, the babe fast asleep in a make-shift bassinet that had been brought to her. She rocked the boy gently, burgundy hair shifted over one shoulder. Ayla'Lyn could see a thick, dark scar on her exposed neck. She wondered what horrors her girl had been through.
"Vex," Ayla'Lyn said, the skirts of her dress whispering against the floor.
Vex turned to face her quickly, eyebrows lifting with shock. "Ayla?" her voice shuddered, rising to her feet.
"I'm here, my girl," the Twi'lek said, holding her arms out. Vex looked at her for a moment, seeming uncertain, before she stepped into her old nanny's arm. Ayla'Lyn held her close, pressing her cheek against Vex's hair. "You have no idea how long I've been searching for you," she murmured.
"You were the only one who ever cared for me. Loved me. I need you to do that for my son," Vex said, eyes teary and voice thick with emotion.
Ayla'Lyn looked past Vex to the boy, moving closer to look at him. "You have a son," she said in wonder.
Together, they bent over the bassinet, Vex tracing a finger down her sleeping boy's cheek. "Yes. His name is Anakin," Vex told her proudly.
"He's beautiful," she said, wrapping an arm around Vex's shoulders. "How old is he?"
"Nine months," Vex answered, a smile stretching her lips. "He's beginning to walk now. Just a few steps, mind you," she said, looking up to Ayla'Lyn.
"That's wonderful,"
"Will you do it, then?" Vex questioned. Stress and worry were suddenly back on her features. Ayla'Lyn could feel it in the tightness of her shoulders.
"Of course I'll care for Anakin. We're family, Vex. That is without question," Ayla'Lyn promised. And then, suddenly all that tension melted away from the younger woman. "But you must talk to Leia. I promise you can trust her," she said.
"I know I can trust Leia, Luke told me I could," Vex said in frustration. "But I don't know how she'll react to what I do say," she admitted.
Ayla'Lyn reached out, toying with a lock of her hair. "You don't need to worry, Vex. Leia is one of my closest friends – and I'll take care of you," she said. By Vex's daunted expression, Ayla'Lyn knew she hadn't reassured her. "What could be so bad?" she asked.
Vex sighed, turning away to return her attention to her son. "Call her in, Ayla. I'll talk to her,"
The Twi'lek woman went to the door and ushered Leia back in. "Are you ready to talk to me?" Leia asked, lifting an eyebrow as Vex looked up to her from her seat beside her son's bassinet.
"There is something I must tell you – before anything else." Vex began, swallowing hard. Ayla'Lyn sat down beside her, placing a hand on her girl's back. "It's about my son – and I know it will be hard for you to hear," she continued, eyes troubled.
Leia took a few steps closer, looking curiously at the babe asleep in the little bassinet. "What is it?" she asked.
Vex sucked in a deep breath. "Your son-" she said, shaking her head anxiously. Leia's gaze shot to her, seeing the nervousness in the young woman's features. "Kylo Ren is Anakin's father," Vex announced, lowering her eyes to the ground to avoid seeing Leia's reaction.
Leia gasped, reaching back to find support on the wall behind her. Ayla'Lyn turned to her charge, eyes wide. "Snoke wished for an heir – and he made us – " Vex tried to explain, a strangled noise coming from her throat. Leia lifted her eyes to meet Vex's, still full of shock. "Snoke wants him, Leia. I ran away to keep my son safe. Your grandson. I need your help," Vex pleaded.
Leia seemed to regain her strength, pushing off the wall to approach the little boy in the bassinet. He looked so like her Ben when he was a baby. She didn't know how she hadn't seen it before. "Rest assured, honey. There is no way in hell Snoke will lay his hands on my grandson," she hissed out, words filled with certainty and vitriol.
Review, Please.
Thoughts? Leia knows!