Glitter and Gold
Chapter 43
34 ABY – Crait
"I love you, Poe. We'll be together soon," Vex promised before the video faded to blackness.
Poe took a deep, shaky breath. "I love you, too," he whispered in return. He took a moment to breath deeply, dragging a hand down his face. Then he stood, making his way back to the others. He handed the datapad back to Leia without a word and turned to Ben. "Let's go." Poe said.
"Where?" Leia questioned, oblivious to her son's surprise.
"You'll take me?" Ben said, eyes wide.
"It's what Vex wants." Poe said gruffly. "She wants to see Anakin when she returns. We'll have to leave now if we're going to get there and get back in time,"
"And just like that, you'll do what she says? You refused when I asked," Ben questioned.
"I don't trust you. But Vex does. And I trust her judgment," Poe retorted, limbs stiff and tense. He didn't want to do this. But Vex wouldn't ask this lightly. She believed that it was safe. That he was safe.
"You're going to get Anakin?" Leia interjected, eyes gleaming. The two men looked over to her.
"We can take the Falcon." Han said. "I want to meet my grandson,"
"Not half as much as I want to meet my son," Ben growled, seeming to be growing testy. Rey saw this from over Poe's shoulder, scurrying over to his side. The others watched as she took his hand, giving it a quick squeeze.
Ben closed his eyes – and with a deep breath, the stress left his face. "I'm coming, too," Rey announced, firmly, as if there was no room for argument. When Ben's eyes opened again, he looked relieved. Han and Leia traded a look.
"Rey," Finn uttered quietly, brows drawn low in confusion. She flashed him a quick glance, as if to say she'd explain later.
It was less than ten minutes before the strange crew had headed for the Millennium Falcon. Ben held onto Rey's hand tightly, his expression troubled as he entered his father's ship for the first time in thirteen long years.
Poe followed Han and Chewbacca to the cockpit, sliding into the chair behind the Wookie. "Where we setting course for, Dameron?" Han asked, glancing back to him.
"Yavin 4,"
The Vexation
It was quiet now. After hours and hours of yelling and talking – and yes, even crying, it was finally quiet. Most of the High Command had fallen in line. A choice few would spend their time in the brig until they changed their minds. Or until the First Order was finally gone. For good.
Hux had, of course, buckled. He'd immediately sided with her. But Vex knew better than to trust him. He'd side with anyone he deemed the victor. He'd been thrust into this life just like Vex had, but he'd never seemed to develop the moral backbone that Vex had.
While Hux could be of use to her now, she knew that he'd make a power grab if she ever left herself vulnerable.
But, at this moment, Vex was more powerful than she'd ever been. Hundreds, if not thousands of lives depended on her – not even taking into consideration the populations they controlled.
Right now, she trusted no one. Not even the doctors. So it was a med-droid she allowed to treat her now, in her quiet quarters after the initial madness had died away.
Two of her ribs had been broken when she'd been flung across the throne room during the collision. Other than that, she seemed to be as fit as she could possibly expect. The med-droid had picked up in the lingering ache of her muscles after the procedure Creel had forced her through.
There was nothing that could be done for it. Only time would take away that pain.
Vex closed her eyes as the droid began to wrap a bandage around her ribs, trying to relax. She had only one matter to attend to before she could finally rest.
A low buzz announced the intercom. It could only be her guard from the other side of her door. "Captain Phasma is here to see you, Lady Vex," RS-2836 called. With a wave of her hand, the door connecting her antechamber and bedroom slid open.
"Come in, Phasma," Vex said, glancing back to the Chrome warrior as she entered. Her armor was still seared and dirty, the hole over her eye visible.
"What can I do for you, Supreme Leader?" Phasma questioned, kneeling at the room's entrance.
"Get up," Vex said irritably. "And take that stupid helmet off. I want to see your face," she ordered.
The woman got to her feet slowly and then followed the second order with obvious reluctance. She held her helmet in one hand, her pale eyes boring into Vex's back.
Vex drew in a breath, pushing the med-droid away and slowly, carefully pulling a shirt on. Then she turned to face Phasma. "You were loyal to my father to the very end. Tell me, did you truly believe in his vision?" Vex questioned.
Phasma looked uncertain. Her eyes flashed towards the floor, biting her lip as if wondering how to answer. Wondering what answer would please her.
Vex sighed. She patted the bed before her, beckoning the woman towards her. Phasma approached, uncomfortably, and perched on the very edge. "I crave your honesty, Phasma. I swear there will be no consequence," she promised.
Phasma drew in a deep breath. "I did not believe in Snoke's vision, no,"
Vex smiled. "Then what would you say if I told you I wanted to burn it all down? Everything my father built? The whole First Order," she asked, watching the other woman carefully.
Surprise flashed through Phasma's expression. It took her a long moment to find the right words. "I'd say, let me light the fucking match," she said fiercely.
Vex gave a startled laugh, immediately wincing when her injured ribs gave a sharp twinge. The fierceness of Phasma's expression calmed, a blonde lock falling into her eyes. She pushed it back from her face with a gloved hand.
"You've never been unkind to me, Phasma. In all these years. You and I, alone amongst all these men," Vex said, chuckling with a hint of bitterness. "And I think I could trust you. As we remake the galaxy. Bring peace and prosperity,"
"I would be honored to stand by your side," Phasma said, her severe features set with a deep sincerity.
Vex took a breath before getting to her feet. That uncertain look was back on Phasma's face, unsure if she should stay sitting on the bed, or stand too. She looked incredibly awkward in that chrome armor, folded into her seat on Vex's bed.
"If I am to trust you – anymore than I do these others – like Hux -" they traded a mutual look of disgust. "If I trust you, if you stand at my side, your purpose is to protect. Protect the weak and defenseless. The women and children," Vex explained.
"I understand-"
"-You wouldn't be a soldier anymore. You'd be a hero. A protector. There will be no more conquering," Vex interrupted. She paused for a moment, gesturing towards Phasma. "That means no more armor. No more masks. You are a person. They are all people. With free will. Not faceless soldiers. Can you agree to that?" she questioned.
Phasma slowly got to her feet. "Yes," she began, a steely look in her eye. "I can. I agree."
Vex exhaled slowly, her shoulders slumping with relief. "Then you will be the Stormtroopers' commander. And for a time, my Killtrooper CN-2948 will share the post with you," Vex directed.
"Until you're certain you can trust me." Phasma decided, her lips thinning to a line.
"Yes," Vex answered honestly. "I cannot truly trust anyone right now, Phasma. You must see that,"
"But you trust them. Your Killtroopers,"
Vex sighed, nodding in answer. "I trained them, Phasma. They were encoded since birth to follow my direction. I have been inside their minds, I know this is still intact." she explained, rubbing a hand to her throbbing ribs.
The other woman's eyes followed the movement. "I should leave you to rest," Phasma said, thankfully changing the topic.
"Thank you," Vex said, sinking back to sit on the bed again. She ran her hands through tangled, damp hair, fingers massaging her scalp.
Phasma headed for the door, helmet still in hand. She paused at the open doorway. "Just so you know, Lady Vex," she began, a bit hesitantly. Vex looked up, dropping her hands to her lap. "You have a way about you. Inspiring loyalty in those capable of it," Phasma said, making sure her eyes met Vex's. "That is why you should trust me."
Crait
"You've come at last," Leia said drolly, dropping into a seat opposite her brother. "For Vex."
Luke sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I'm sorry, Leia. I know that's not enough, for all the times I've failed you. Failed our family."
"Then why? Why, Luke? You abandoned me – us – for years. You sent that girl to me instead of coming yourself. You know she endured unspeakable pain because of it," she growled.
"That was Vex's decision, not mine! I wanted her to stay! She would have been safe, Anakin would have been safe!"
"But the rest of the galaxy could burn, right?" Leia retorted, slamming a hand down on the table. Luke jumped, eyes going wide. "Only your little planet mattered. Only you and the new family you'd made with Vex and my grandson,"
Luke sighed again, reaching out to cover his sister's hand with one of his own. Her hand tensed beneath his, but she allowed it. "I wanted to die, Leia," he said, barely above a whisper. Surprise crossed her features. "What happened with Ben… all my students…I'd failed everyone. You most of all. So I went away. I found Ahch-To. I wanted to die, but I could not bring myself to do it. I thought I deserved to die slowly, then. Of loneliness, depression, starvation, dehydration… But I didn't.
Years went by, and I began to feel like something was coming. At first, I thought it was the First Order. I thought they'd find me and kill me. But they never came. Instead, it was Vex."
"Oh, Luke…" Leia murmured, her hand turning over to hold his.
"She was so young, Leia. She was scared and at war with her very mind, with her soul. Pregnant. Terrified to lose another child. And she needed me." Luke exhaled deeply, eyes beginning to glitter with tears. "I'd forgotten what it was to be needed, Leia. I'd lived so many years in nothingness. Apart from everything and everyone. She was in so much pain and wanted nothing more than to be good. I didn't have it in me to refuse her."
"You couldn't." Leia echoed, eyes beginning to tear up in answer to her brother's. "I never found myself able to,"
"I felt it when she was captured. I felt her disappear from the Force, and for a time, I feared the worst," Luke continued. "Days later, I felt her return. I still don't know how she was hidden away, but it was by force, Leia. And when she'd returned, I went to her. Her mind, at least. It was on fire, Leia," he told her in an urgent whisper.
"What do you mean?" she questioned, leaning closer. Her brows drew down in questioning, an expression of concern appearing on his twin's features.
Luke took in a shuddering breath. "She was on the verge of killing a man. A man who'd tortured and raped her,"
Leia reared back, a shaking hand pressing to her mouth. The first tear fell, tracking down her cheek. "Tell me it isn't true." She uttered lowly. Luke shook his head. "Then he deserved it," Leia hissed.
Luke gave a hasty nod. "But that isn't what I taught her. In that moment, all Vex felt was pain and rage. She couldn't see sense. I told her to stop and she couldn't. Wouldn't, Leia. She killed him."
"I would have done the same thing." Leia murmured.
"But now she has command of the whole First Order, Leia," Luke pointed out urgently.
"Are you saying we should be worried?" Leia questioned in disbelief. "It's Vex, Luke. She doesn't want power. She's not evil,"
"No, she's not. But there's only so much pain one can take before they snap,"
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Thanks to my reviewers last chapter - Mstngsali1 and neatfreak16!
Much love, Suz Singer.