Glitter and Gold
Chapter 20
33 ABY – D'Qar
After Vex's shocking announcement and Leia's impassioned promise to protect Anakin, they lapsed into silence. Leia settled into the chair opposite Vex, gazing down at the little boy. "Did he hurt you?" she asked finally, looking to Vex.
Vex lifted her own gaze to meet Leia's, expression confused. "Who?"
"My son," Leia said.
"You're asking if he raped me." Vex said. It wasn't a question. She quickly began to shake her head. "No, no – in his own way, he was kind to me," she answered.
Leia relaxed back into her seat. "Then what brought you to this?" Ayla'Lyn asked. "How did the two of you come to have this beautiful boy?"
Vex smiled half-heartedly at the compliment. "Snoke decided he wanted an heir. That Kylo and I would provide one." she sighed, turning her gaze back to her son. She didn't want to see their pity. "So we did. Each time –" at that, Leia and Ayla'Lyn traded a look of dismay. "–I reached three months, Snoke would call me to his throne room to check on the babe. If he judged the baby not force-sensitive, and he did, each time, he killed it. And forced us to try again," Vex explained, tears in her eyes.
"How many times?" Ayla'Lyn questioned, placing a hand on her wrist in a comforting gesture.
"Three," Vex admitted, voice cracking on the word. The two other women sucked in harsh breaths. "So when I became pregnant with Anakin, I knew I couldn't let it happen again. I decided to escape," she continued, glancing up at Leia.
"And my son?" she asked. "Did he want to be a father?"
"He wanted it more than me," Vex told her. "He loved every one of them," she said, watching as Leia's eyes filled with tears. "I told him I'd die before letting Snoke have another of our babies. He wanted me to stay, but he helped me escape,"
"So there's hope for him yet," Leia said, blinking through tears.
"Yes, there is," Vex assured her. "But it won't be easy. He still follows Snoke blindly. But he found it inside of him to put Anakin's survival above everything else," she said.
"Is that why you named him Anakin?" Leia asked.
Vex nodded. "Because he's my redemption – and he can be Kylo's, too. And he knows that," she explained.
"Did you love him? My son?"
Vex avoided her eyes for a moment. "We had something, once. But it withered away with each baby we lost. We lost too much," she admitted. "But I do love him as my son's father. As my friend," she looked up at Leia for a moment, before quickly looking away. She didn't know what to say – she was only stating the truth.
Leia's eyes were searching, considering Vex before her. The young woman was clearly scarred mentally and physically from her time with the First Order – and frightened for her son. Leia's grandson. That, Leia could understand. Vex had the manner about her of someone just beginning to heal – and if Leia didn't know any better, she'd say it was because of Luke.
And Luke, that frustrating little nerfherder! Whatever he'd done for Vex, he'd sealed her lips tighter than a drum! Leia wasn't exactly surprised – Luke had a way about him that just seemed to inspire loyalty. Even when he'd been just an innocent farm boy.
But… the Rebellion needed a Jedi. Luke had sent them one. One who knew the inner workings of the First Order intimately. The only one who might be able to undo Kylo Ren and bring him home. Vex Valorum had fallen into her lap at the perfect time.
"I know how you came to be with the First Order, Ayla'Lyn told me that much. But what can you tell me about your time there?" Leia asked.
Vex glanced up at her, expression uncertain. "Snoke began training me within a few days of my capture. I was five," she began, steeling herself. Leia watched the emotion leave her face, as if to wall herself off from the pain of her memories. "You know that he wasn't kind. If I stepped a toe out of line, I'd be punished. But he taught me the ways of the Force. I had no choice but to learn. By the time I was thirteen, I was skilled in my fighting and the mental powers of the Force. By then, Snoke had broken me. I had no hope of ever escaping. He was too powerful, and I couldn't imagine another life," she explained, looking away from Leia and Ayla'Lyn's pitying expressions.
"My only purpose then was to survive. Make it to the next day. Around that time was when Kylo Ren and his knights joined Snoke," her eyes darted to Leia, who'd stiffened. "I was not only Snoke's first apprentice, but he'd claimed me as his child. He would use physical contact, closeness, to intimidate me. But, Kylo, he only saw it as attention he wasn't receiving. We hated each other and thrived on our competition. Snoke forced us to train together, and I killed his knights then. Snoke saw it as natural selection, I saw it as justice," she paused, looking to her son as he murmured in his sleep. She smoothed a few dark hairs from his forehead.
"As I grew older, Snoke began to groom me to be his right hand. He gave me a command, and the beginnings of my Killtroopers when I was fourteen. I trained them hard, into loyalty for me and only me. When I was seventeen, I was sent out for the first time. To Gan Moradir," Recognition lit Leia's eyes.
"I had orders to exterminate the rebels. And I did. But civilians came to their aid and forced our hand. We did not have the luxury of simply subduing them. We were an execution squad. Fifty people died that day. For nothing." Vex said, seeming almost confused.
"They died to defend their ideals," Ayla'Lyn said softly.
Vex gave a soft nod. "I know that now, but then, that meant nothing to me. All I knew was that if they'd stayed away, they would have lived. So I endeavored to make the galaxy fear me and my Killtroopers – so they'd hide instead of fight. I thought I was saving lives that way," she said quietly.
Leia laid a hand on her wrist. "You did the best you could, Vex. You succeeded, your face was plastered throughout the galaxy. All know who you are. Or were…"
"Why did you not cover your face, like Kylo Ren?" Ayla'Lyn asked curiously.
Vex dragged a hand down her face. "On that first mission, there was one survivor. He'd been apparently…enamored with me," she said, looking embarrassed, her cheeks pinkening. "Before Snoke had had him killed, he asked to see me. See my face before he died," Vex continued, avoiding the older women's eyes by fixing hers on her son. "After that, Snoke ruled that I could never wear a mask. That the beauty of my face was the only mercy those before me would receive,"
"It was no mercy for you," Ayla'Lyn murmured. Vex nodded, the pain on her features clear.
"Eventually, Kylo and I came to understand each other. He became my friend, of sorts. At that time, I'd fallen in love with one of my Killtroopers. Sin, I called him." Vex said, glancing towards the other two women. "Kylo Ren discovered our affair, and instead of telling Snoke, he helped me. He made me see sense. As long as Sin had the knowledge of our love in his head, he would be in danger,"
"What did he do?" Leia asked, eyes concerned.
"He sent Sin away, for those memories to be wiped away. So we wouldn't be discovered," Vex answered.
"That sounds cruel," Ayla'Lyn said.
Vex shrugged. "It was, perhaps. But Snoke would have killed Sin for being with me, so if he could not remember it… he'd be safe. It was through no fault of Kylo's when Sin died, some weeks later on a mission. It wasn't long after that that Snoke decided Kylo and I should produce an heir for him," she took in a deep breath, returning her gaze to her son.
"It was not easy. And for a time, I think, Kylo and I were in love. But each time Snoke took a child from us…it broke us. Broke me," she explained, shaking her head. "By the time, I became pregnant with Anakin, I was half-maddened by loss. I built EV-9 to help me escape, and eventually, Kylo discovered my plan. It didn't take much effort to convince him to help me,"
"So you escaped," Leia said.
"And the Force guided me to Luke. He cared for me and taught me how to be good. Be light. Delivered Anakin when he came and helped me care for him," Vex said.
"Why did you leave?" Ayla'Lyn asked.
"Because I was going to fight, one way or another. Luke wasn't willing to, so I knew I had to," Vex explained. She turned a guilty look towards Leia. "Luke made me swear upon my arrival to never reveal where he was. I'm sorry, Leia,"
As disappointed as Leia must have been, she still mustered a smile for Vex. "It's alright. We have you now, Vex. And it's more than we could have hoped for," she said, gaze turning to Anakin as he woke.
The dark-haired babe began to fuss the moment his eyes opened, arms stretching out for his mother as soon as he saw her. "May I?" Leia asked, hopefully. Vex nodded after a moment. The older woman stood and crossed over to the bassinet, gently picking Anakin up.
Anakin kept mumbling Mama, even as he regarded Leia warily, leaning back in her arms to put space between them. Vex stood, smoothing her hands down her pant legs. "Ani, this is your grandma. She's family," she spoke in a soft tone, reserved only for her son.
"Gamma?" he said, looking to Leia. His chubby hand rested on her shoulder, touching the twisted fabric there.
"Yes, Ani. Why don't you give Gamma a kiss?" Vex said, smiling encouragingly at her son. He seemed to agree, leaning forward and pressing a sloppy kiss to Leia's cheek.
Her eyes filled with tears, and she pressed kisses of her own to Anakin's chubby cheeks. "Thank you," Leia said, eyes turning to Vex. "Thank you for this," she repeated, voice trembling. Looking at the little boy, all Leia could see was Ben in him. Anakin looked just like his father.
33 ABY – Aleen System
"Over and over these past few years, you have done nothing but fail me," Snoke growled out towards his last remaining apprentice. He paced back and forth on the raised dais before his throne, arms folded behind his back.
Kylo Ren knelt before him, face parallel with the floor. He didn't dare look up. He let his master rant on and on, keeping still. A sudden shock of pain went through him, startling him. "Have you nothing to say for yourself, Ren?"
He finally looked up, meeting Snoke's eyes. "What do you want me to say, Master?" Kylo asked, voice emotionless.
The expression on Snoke's face was nothing less than fury. Pain flickered inside Kylo, burning within his very bones. "For almost two years now, you have been tasked with tracking Vex down. You've failed, Ren. Does the fact that your partner left you, stole your child away, mean nothing to you?!" he spoke, stepping down from the dais to approach Kylo, who was forced to brace himself on the floor before him in order to stay upright.
"Vex stole your child, my heir, away, Ren! Who knows if they still live?"
Kylo gritted his teeth, tucking the pain away in a distant part of his mind. "Vex would never put our child in danger. That is why she left, Master. She was convinced that the child would only be safe if they left," he defended.
Snoke did not know that Kylo and Vex's child was a boy. That his name was Anakin, or that Kylo had seen Vex in a strange working of the Force. Or that Kylo had helped Vex escape. That he had been able to hide away within the recesses of his mind, using the strange trick Vex had taught him years ago. Snoke only knew that Kylo had been aware of her intentions. For that, he'd been punished.
"The only place Vex and the child are truly safe is here, Ren. If anyone know who she truly was, they would not hesitate to harm them!" Snoke shouted. The old man had done everything he could to convince Kylo of this, but he knew, deep in his heart, that the only place Vex and Anakin were safe was far, far away from Snoke. Kylo never argued with his master, but Snoke knew his heart wasn't in it.
Kylo sucked in a greedy breath as the pain at the back of his mind faded away. Snoke had let him be, for a moment at least. "She has shut herself off from me, Master. From the Force, I think. I have not felt her since she left," he said.
Snoke paused, glancing to the bowed and bent form before him. He sank onto the throne, eyes almost curious. "Then you did not feel the stirring that I did, Ren. You've felt nothing?" he questioned.
Kylo frowned, rising to a more dignified position – down on one knee before Snoke. "I did not," he admitted.
Snoke waved a hand, almost dismissively. "It was but a small tremor, but something has happened. It was Vex, I'm sure of it. She has left her hiding spot," he said, leaning forward.
"How can you be sure?" Kylo questioned.
The old man let out a bitter laugh. "She is the only other living Force-user besides those in this room, Ren – aside from that Skywalker," he ridiculed, as if the idea were ludicrous. Snoke could not help but let disgust filter into his voice at the thought of Kylo's uncle and old master.
"You wish me to find her then," Kylo suggested, brows furrowing. Dread filled him at the thought. Why had Vex left the safe place she'd found? Had something happened? Was Anakin alright? Snoke had felt it – how foolish could she be!?
"No," Snoke uttered lowly, resting his chin upon his fist. His eyes were careful and considering as he regarded Kylo Ren. He knew Snoke was in his mind, even now. He always was – it was why Kylo had to keep such care to keep his secrets hidden. "It will be General Hux that tracks down my wayward daughter, and your child, Ren. It is clear you are not competent in this task," he decreed.
A flame of anger lit within Kylo Ren, expression becoming indignant. "Hux would never be able to subdue Vex, if he could find her," he insisted arrogantly. "Only you or I could,"
Snoke waved his hand lazily, as if in agreement. "You are right, Ren. Hux could not. It will be you who is sent to subdue Vex, when he finds her. And if you fail in this task, if you let her slip through your fingers again…" Snoke growled, his powers freezing Kylo still, to ensure his full attention. "It will be Vex who suffers for your failure. Your own pain seems to mean nothing to you anymore, Ren. If you fail to subdue Vex, I will change my order from capture to execution," he continued, expression murderous as he regarded his apprentice.
"Perhaps I will use you as my instrument, Ren. After I use your arms to lop off Vex's head, it will be your son that joins her in death next," Snoke threatened.
After keeping Kylo in his thrall for another moment to ensure he'd understood Snoke's words, he was released. Kylo collapsed to the floor, his limbs shaking from how tightly his muscles had held, the fear and anger that began to consume him. He dragged himself back up to his knees, fixing his gaze upon Snoke's, even as his lips trembled.
"I will not fail you, Supreme Leader," Kylo Ren promised, voice hoarse from emotion. He would do what he had to to protect his family. Even if it meant their unhappiness. He could only hope Vex was crafty enough to keep herself and their son hidden.
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