Sorry for the delay of update. Life is getting in the way, as usual.
Big thanks to my wonderful Beta, Darksidefan5. They help turn my word vomit into a wonderful chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just play in the sandbox like the rest of us.
After leaving Polis Massa, the Resistance has found a temporary place to reside courtesy of Lando Calrissian. He'd offered them the use of the far side of the planet Taanab, which was one of the largest food suppliers within the galaxy and Lando's most successful business venture to date. The planet's settlements were sparsely dotted throughout the continent the Resistance resided in. Large grasslands and farm fields took most of the available space which suited Leia and her crew nicely.
So, it came as no surprise that Leia had the Resistance settle here, with the guarantee that the Resistance be able to enjoy the perks of the agricultural planet.
"You're getting better, Rey. Just let it flow natural."
Kyp Durron watches from a distance as Rey moves through another drill set with her lightsaber. He can't help the feeling of pride and nostalgia at seeing the blade that once belonged to Jacen Solo being used. He and another Jedi Master, Cilghal, had been there to see the older Solo twins find their kyber crystals on Illum. If anyone had told him back then that he'd end up Jaina's life partner later in life, he most likely would have laughed. But when he discovered a plot against Jaina's life, Luke had trusted Kyp with keeping Jaina safe. Even to the point of Luke telling Kyp to never contact him or anyone within the New Jedi Order and to never speak of where he was taking Jaina.
"Is everything all right?" Rey asks, extinguishing her lightsaber at the end of her drills.
"Just haunted by ghosts of the past." Kyp replies, pushing aside the melancholy which invaded his thoughts of his time on Ossus with Luke. "Nothing to worry about, Rey. Now, let's end our morning session with some meditation."
Rey nods her head and proceeds to settle herself onto the grassy meadow. She waits for Kyp to seat himself across from her before closing her eyes and reaching out into the Force. However, a small niggling at the back of her mind keeps pulling her attention away from the task. Rey knows that this is her daughter attempting to reach out as well; but instead of touching the Force, the baby can only touch Rey's mind. This has become more common when Rey attempts to meditate, and it's starting to frustrate her to no end.
"It's to be expected." Kyp chuckles out at having felt Rey's irritation. "Your daughter is curious about what you're doing. And since she's unable to access the Force herself, she's trying to learn from you."
"And how am I supposed to focus when she keeps distracting me?" Rey huffs out, earning a bark of laughter from Kyp.
"Jaina complained about the same thing while pregnant with Sora." Kyp notices that Rey isn't amused, so he continues. "Unlike any other child in utero, a Force-sensitive babe is curious about what is happening outside of their little home. This includes what their mother is doing. When you are reaching out, you're not just tapping into the Force, but also to the world around you. This includes your child, Rey. So naturally, she wants your attention. Treat meditation like a teachable moment between yourself and your child. Instead of being annoyed by her constant pull, let her piggyback and feel the Force through the bond you both share."
"Would that put her at risk?" Rey asks cautiously, afraid that if she does as Kyp suggests then Kylo Ren could possibly feel her daughter through the bond she has with him.
"At risk from what?" Kyp can feel Rey's fear towards his suggestion, but for what reason, he doesn't know. "Rey? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Rey hesitates on if she should tell Kyp about her Force bond with Kylo Ren. Other than Leia, only Kalonia and Poe know of the connection's full extent. However, with Kyp Durron and Jaina Solo having returned, maybe they could answer her questions.
"I have a Force Bond with Ky- Ben." Rey admits, looking down at her hands in her lap.
This news doesn't really surprise Kyp. He'd felt a dark string within Rey's mind when they'd tried working out why some of her memories were manipulated or erased. At first, he thought that maybe it was a residual imprint from the one responsible. But with Rey admitting to being in a Force Bond with Jaina's wayward younger brother, Kyp now knows the reason behind it being there. Now, he just needs to figure out how it came to be.
"And how did that happen?" He asks, wondering if he really wants to know or not. Especially if it was not of Rey's choosing.
"Snoke. When I was aboard the Supremacy, he admitted to creating the bond between myself and Ben. But it's still there, even after Ben killed Snoke."
Kyp takes a deep breath as his mind begins dissecting the information Rey's just given him. He's never heard of someone else creating a Force bond between two other people. They are either a natural occurrence between family members or created by two willing Force-users, such as a master and apprentice or a Force-sensitive couple.
"Snoke shouldn't have been able to do something like that." Kyp says softly, feeling her conflict within the Force. He doesn't hesitate on trying to give her hope. "There are ways to destroy a bond."
"How?"
Before he can explain, they feel a shift in the Force and Rey is quick to get up on her feet.
"Poe."
Poe hits the ground hard from the latest blow to his stomach. He never thought that Leia or Rey were serious when they'd talked about having him learn how to fight against someone who'd be wielding a lightsaber. Well, in this instance, his opponent is using a practice lightsaber that can thankfully only stun, not cut.
"Let me help you up." Finn offers down a hand, while his other one holds his practice saber.
"Thanks." Poe accepts the offer and winces as his body comes up off the ground. He has to hand it to Finn; the young man has got a killer swing. This thought has Poe wishing he was younger and that his body wasn't so beat up.
"Again." Jaina calls out from her spot in the grass, ignoring the worried beeps coming from BB-8.
Poe lets out a muffled growl in annoyance. Jaina had started working with both Finn and Poe once they'd left Polis Massa. She'd have them running drills with the practice lightsabers before moving on to actual battle with them. Yet, she stays off to the side and watches them, offering critique while holding her one-month old son in her arms.
Moving back into a defensive stance, Poe only has seconds before Finn makes the first move. At first, Finn's moves are crisp and precise, to aid Poe in see the attack coming. Which works well, at first. Then Finn gains the confidence to move faster and once again, Poe finds himself on the ground.
"Poe," Jaina huffs out. "you're going to have to learn to make the first move. To anticipate what Finn is going to do before he does it."
Finn once again offer Poe his hand, but Poe pushes it away. Getting up on his own, he turns to look towards Jaina.
"You know, not all of us have been trained to use lightsabers."
"But you were trained on how to use a staff." Jaina counters. "Or have you forgotten that part of your training from the Academy?"
"My priorities were flying, using a blaster, and survival training back then." Poe retorts, knowing full well that Jaina knows this already.
"And how do you expect to protect Rey and her child if my fallen brother decides to come for them?" Jaina asks, knowing full well that this is a sore spot for Poe.
She gets up from the ground, makes her way over to Finn, and hands him her son.
"Here, hold him."
"What am I supposed to do with him?" Finn frantically drops the practice saber as the baby is shoved into his arms.
"Support his head and body, and you'll be fine." Jaina replies, making sure Finn has a proper hold before calling the practice saber to her now free hands. Then she makes her way towards Poe and doesn't hesitate to strike first.
Poe tries to hold his own against her, but the power that she uses in her swings is too much for Poe's already tired arms. Yet, he doesn't give up and tries to counter each stroke.
"Should…you even…be doing this?" Poe growls out before dodging one of Jaina's swings. "You gave birth nearly a month ago."
"I heal quickly." Jaina quips before heading right for him again. Only this time, she uses the Force to anticipate his next move. "Besides you should really focus on what you're doing. Remember what happened the last time you lost your focus?"
Poe instantly drops the saber and doesn't even try to duck as Jaina's attack heads right at him. Luckily enough, Jaina had extinguished her blade before it could meet his neck.
"Leave Quinn out of this, Jaina. And don't you dare do that again. You hear me!" Poe shouts, his body trembling in anger. "It's bad enough your brother messed around in my head! Digging into every memory I have of people who I cared about. Watching them being tortured to death in some sick manipulation. Being unable to stop him from…from…"
Hearing this about her younger brother doesn't really shock Jaina, but the anger that Poe is projecting is enough to cause her to take a step back from him.
Neither seem to notice as Rey and Kyp arrive.
"Poe." Rey calls out, only for it to fall on deaf ears. He doesn't respond to her call, instead keeping his focus fully on Jaina.
"I think we're done for today." With a voice more controlled than his emotions would let on. Poe marches away with angry steps, not daring to look at anyone.
"Go to him, Rey." Kyp says, gently pushing her shoulder so that she'll follow the man.
Not needing to be told twice, Rey goes with BB-8 hot on her heels. In her pregnant state she's slower than normal, but with the emotions she's feeling from Poe, Rey decides it may be better for her to take her time. It'll also give her time to ponder what it was that Jaina had said to get Poe so upset.
When she finally catches up, Poe's standing at the top of a large, semi-grass covered sand dune. She can hear of waves lapping against the shore from the other side. If there's one thing she knows for certain, it's that Poe is fond of the sound of water. Whether it be from a rainstorm, waves on a beach, or even the trickling sound of a fountain.
Slowly, she makes her way up the dune till she's standing right next to him; and she allows herself a small smile when he takes hold of her hand. They stand there in silence for a time, neither one wanting to wreck it with words. Yet, it isn't words that destroy the calm, but a well-placed foot into Rey's ribs. She lets out a grunt and places her free hand against her side. This causes BB-8 to let out a shrill which captures Poe's attention.
"You alright?" Poe asks, worry marring his face at seeing Rey's face scrunched in pain. "Do you need to go to medical?"
"M'fine." Rey mutters out. "Just a hard kick."
Poe lets out a sigh and comes to stand before her, placing his free hand against the curve of her belly.
"Try not to break your mother, sweetheart." Poe tells the bump and receives blow against his hand.
"She's not happy." Rey whispers out to Poe. Knowing that their daughter won't settle down, Rey decides to confront Poe about what transpired earlier. "What happened between you and Jaina earlier?"
A brief flash of pain and anger crosses Poe's face before settling back to a neutral one. "It's nothing."
Rey knows that he's lying but presses further. "Who's Quinn?"
"Just someone from the Academy." Poe replies with a sigh, removing both of his hands from Rey.
BB-8 lets Poe know of its displeasure at his master for not telling Rey about their former friend with a series of trills and disgruntled beeps. Then the droid rolls away several feet, turning itself to face the water.
He doesn't want to talk about the past, so Poe tries to distract Rey. "Best you sit down and rest. You're at thirty weeks today."
"Poe." Rey gives him a defiant glare, but at feeling his emotional turmoil within the Force, she does as he asks.
She settles herself on the sand, with her legs lying straight out. Then, to her amazement, Poe joins her on the ground. She lets him lay his head in what remains of her lap, his face turned towards her baby bump. Again, neither of them says anything for a while, but Rey does manage to run a hand through Poe's hair to soothe him.
Finally, Poe breaks the silence. "I caused his death."
Rey doesn't say a word, letting Poe have this time to speak without interruptions.
"Quinn was a fellow trainee in Antilles' pilot training program back at the Academy. She was in the same class as Jaina, Jacen, Jagged Fel, Zekk, me, and a few others." Poe lets out a sigh, presses a kiss against Rey's rotund belly, and then continues. "We were doing an exercise in the X-wings, going through maneuvers and such. We were supposed to stay in formation during practice, but I… Force, I was so stupid and cocky back then. Thought I knew everything and that I was untouchable."
Rey doesn't have to hear anymore to know that something awful happened and that Poe blames himself for it. To her relief, he doesn't say anything more about it. However, she can still sense his frustration and anger which she knows isn't from the incident he just spoke of. So, Rey just waits for him to either speak or move. Luckily enough, he speaks once more.
"How do you live with it? Live with knowing that someone mucked around in your head."
Rey isn't sure how to respond. She's still trying to come to terms with everything that Kyp has shown her within her own mind. That someone not just twisted a few memories, but also wiped nearly all of her early childhood memories from before being left on Jakku.
"Rey?" Poe slowly gets up and sees tears trickling down Rey's cheeks. "Oh love."
He reaches out and pulls Rey into his lap and holds her. His gut is now twisting and turning, knowing that he's partially to blame for Rey's tears. Wallowing in his own emotions has now pulled Rey down with him. So, he holds her and whispers sweet nothings into her ear to help calm her down.
Kylo Ren isn't used to waiting, but here he is, waiting. However, there are things that he needs to know.
"My lord."
Turning, Kylo motions for the Knight to step forward as he turns back around to look out the window. To this day, he still can't face what has happened to this Knight.
"I've been able to uncover that General Hux and Alema Rar authorized the attacks on Junkfort Station and Mon Calamari. However, the general made sure that he left before your arrival back on the Finalizer." The blonde female Knight states, coming to stand next to her master. "It's a shame Alema betrayed you, my lord."
"She knew what she was doing Tah- Geneva." Kylo mentally berates himself for nearly letting slip his Knight's true identity.
Unlike his other Knights of Ren, Geneva hadn't come to his side willingly when he destroyed his Uncle's Jedi Academy. Nor was she willing to join him once his twin, her lover, was dead at his feet.
"She knew what the penalties were."
"As do the rest of us." Geneva says, stepping forward and placing a gentle hand on her master's arm. "I would never betray you, my lord."
"Now there are only seven Knights left because of her folly."
Slowly, the woman leans up and presses a brief kiss against Kylo's cheek. She knows that he wants solitude and leaves him, leaving her data-pad on his desk.
With the hiss of the door closing, Kylo lets out a growled sigh. His hands rub against his face while his mind whirls in agitation, frustration, and possibly remorse.
"Feeling guilty brother?"
Whipping around, Kylo Ren sees his dead twin standing several feet away. "What do you want?"
Anakin gives his twin a sad smile. "Why do you keep her around if she causes you to become so conflicted?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yes, you do, Ben. You could have just killed Tahiri like you and your Knights did to the rest of us." Anakin watches as Kylo begins pacing the room. "Instead you altered her memories, erased any that involved the Academy or me."
"Who are you to lecture me on what I've done!" Kylo shouts at the ghost of his brother, drawing his lightsaber. He knows his blade can't harm the ghost, but it's still satisfying to shove it through his brother's chest.
Anakin doesn't say anything, only giving him a sad, pitying look before disappearing.
It's a long moment before Kylo drops the saber, the wall in front of him now marked with a smoldering black hole. His data-pad trills with a notification. Holstering his lightsaber, he makes a mental note to call for maintenance later.
Flicking through the data-pad, he sees Geneva's report came through. A smile grows across his face as he reads it. He's barely finished before heading to the door.
Kylo Ren traverses the ship, many troopers and officers clearing out of his way. His mind creating a plan that will help him finally defeat his mother and the Resistance once and for all. Reaching the cellblock in record time, he punches the release to the cell door and enters.
"Hello Calrissian."
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Selene