Shortly after Rey was sold to Unkar Plutt- The Steelheart, Jakku's orbit

The ship, a small shuttle, floated in the space above Jakku. It was a small, very fat, triangular ship. The main area, a hold, combined with a cockpit was about the size of a U-wing. Other than that, it had two small rooms branching off it. One barely fit a single bunk and the other had a refresher Malarus wasn't sure worked.

Casper had slumped down in the co-pilot seat, still thinking of that stupid girl. While Malarus was at the controls, her eyes drinking in the stars. She hadn't seen their true glory in so long. The black expanse of space, with no atmosphere to block out their light. She supposed stars were one of the few things she was sentimental about, since she didn't see them growing up.

But now was not the time to be sentimental. They were finally free. And the fool beside her didn't realize that she had saved him. But she didn't know where to go. It had been so long. She didn't know what planets could give some spacers work. If they were part of the Republic or anything. All she knew was that the Republic still stood, and even that information could have been inaccurate.

Malarus checked the navicomputer. It had been last updated 20 years before. That wouldn't help them at all. And she had no idea which planets would welcome them.

"Could we reach Vardos?" Malarus was surprised to hear Casper speak.

"Your home planet?" She hoped thinking of his past had not made him completely stupid.

"If any planet would welcome ex-imperials, it's there. It's also a city planet. If it's all for the Republic now, then we could still easily find work and information to choose a better one."

Malarus didn't say anything, but she did search for Vardos in the navicomputer records, to see if they could even get there.

"Also- I know this might be stupid," Casper continued, "But my family might still be on planet- if they're even still alive. We might not even have to find work at first, they could take us in, let us get our bearings."

That was a good point. And their fuel supply was enough to get them to Vardos, and then a few nearby planets after that. Malarus had heard whispers of some secret mission the Eviscerator had on Vardos, and rumors that the place had been destroyed somehow. But there was never a definite story, and it was before her time on the ship. Casper seemed to have no knowledge of it. And in a decade and a half, the planet easily could have recovered.

"Setting course for Vardos," Malarus said. She wouldn't even look the coward in the eye. The first time she thought he might actually have principles, regardless of how foolish they were, he backed down.

And there it was, the beautiful lines of hyperspace. Oh, how she missed them. The bending of space-time to allow faster than light travel. It was like magic. The navicomputer said they still had two hours until they reached the Jinata system and would be just out of Vardos' orbit.

After launching into hyperspace, Casper set his head down on an empty section of the dashboard, looking dejected. Malarus could only imagine the kind of moral turmoil going through his mind. She also suspected that said empty space existed because certain features of the ship had been removed and a blank piece of metal was hastily installed to cover it up. She didn't know what model of ship this was, and even then, it had probably been downgraded by Unkar. It would be best to figure out what functions the ship had. After that, she'd probably plan a list of possible jobs they could take and the best way to market their skills. Also how to ask "What the kriff has happened since the battle of Jakku?" without being thought of as insane.

It turned out they didn't need any of those things.

As soon as they exited hyperspace, they were met by an escort frigate, the kind rebels typically used, repainted unknown colors. Flying around it were a few clone war-era ARC starfighters. Malarus briefly wondered if they had somehow traveled back in time, but stopped when she saw the ship was hailing them. Casper broke out of his stupor and looked at the flashing com. Malarus opened the channel. "Attention unidentified shuttle, this is Leema Kai of the Opportunity. You are trespassing in the Jinata System, under the sovereign rule of Tonqua Gleb. In accordance with the Republic-Jinata treaty, your ship, cargo, and lives are now forfeit. If you resist, you will be destroyed,"

Casper and Malarus locked eyes. This wasn't in the plan at all. Malarus' inspection of the ship had revealed the weapons systems had been removed, and even with them, she doubted she could have fought or out-flew the ships.

"Opportunity, this the Steelheart, " Malarus said, trying to stall for time, "I would like a minute to speak with my crew before deciding if we will allow boarding." This would make sense. Being captured by whomever this was could be worse than a quick death.

There was silence on the other end of the com for a bit. It was clear that Kai was more used to people begging for their lives. "Very well Steelheart, you may have two minutes before we hail you for the last time."

Malarus silenced the com. She was very surprised when, almost instantly, Casper started talking.

"I know Gleb. She was the headmistress at the Academy here. She was the most loyal imperial I knew. I swear it wasn't for show. If she is in charge of the Jinata system, this is an imperial hold out in all but name."

Malarus nodded. Now she had a plan forming. "So we flaunt our former ranks, tell the truth, and get an audience. Except now we've always been loyal members of the Empire."

She turned back to the com and opened the channel again. "Kai, this is Imperial Ensign Carva Malarus- EB-7863. My co-pilot is a Casper Guffin, stormtrooper. Operating number-"

Kriff. She didn't remember. She knew it was LT. And then a 6? Maybe a 4? It was definitely three digits. Casper half mouthed-half whispered "LT-621," after noticing her confusion, quiet enough so that the com's mic wouldn't pick it up.

"-LT-621. We were stationed on the Eviscerator under Admiral Garrick Versio. We were stranded on Jakku after the battle there. We've only just been able to get off planet. We request an audience with Gleb."

Malarus could tell Kai wasn't used to the ships he caught making demands like that. "Do you have any proof?" the captain demanded after a minute of good hard thinking.

"I have my old rank plague and a modified E-11 rifle," she paused. Of course, that proof wouldn't be enough. "I'm sure Gleb would be more willing to forgive you bringing us to her and finding out we lied and wasting her time than she would forgive you disposing of imperials- one who trained at her school no less." If Gleb was still running a mini-empire out here, her punishments for either would be harsh. She prayed Gleb was the kind who cared more about real incompetence than being bothered.

A very tense uncomfortable silence followed, in witch Malarus assumed the captain was comming Gleb. "Very well," Kai replied after a break,"you got your audience. But if you mess this up, your fate will be worse than what normally happens to you fools. We're moving to connect with you now."

"Understood," Malarus then shut off comm as the lumbering frigate approached them.

"Uh, Malarus," Casper said, "I didn't go to Gleb's school, just so you know."

She glared. "What do you mean? I thought you're from Vardos,"

"Well-" At least Casper's voice still had that nervous ring to it. He seemed to have gotten over the melancholy of leaving and now was his usual jittery self. "I am. It's just, Gleb runs the Future Imperial Leaders Academy. Well technically, she is the headmistress of the stormtrooper academy too, but I've only seen her once, when we got our specializations handed out. So don't think I have any favors with her. She probably doesn't even remember me."

Great. Kai probably assumed she was the one Glebb trained, since she was on the officer track before being pulled out of the Academy early.

Before she could respond, the ship shuttered as it connected to the frigate's airlock. "Remember," she whispered to Casper, "Proper protocol. Stay silent and stand at attention."

Malarus walked over to the airlock, but before opening it, she took out her scratched rank plague and pinned it to her clothes. Casper followed a few paces behind her, his rifle held at attention. Once she was sure the plague was properly attached, she pressed the button to open the door.

Past the connecting tube stood a formation of troops. Malarus half expected to see Imperial grays and stormtroopers, but it was just the colors of the local security force. The man standing in the middle, she assumed he was Kai, was so smug and despicable, it looked like he had walked out of a rebellion propaganda holo.

With proper imperial posture, her hands behind her back, Malarus marched over to Kai, meeting his steely gaze with her own. Casper walked behind her to the side, as if she was a general or moff who just disembarked a shuttle and he was part of her stormtrooper escort, rather than a dirty desert rat coming off the junk pile Unkar sold them.

"Your weapons, please," Kai demanded, clearly not intimidated. Malarus nodded to Casper to comply as she handed her ax-staff and snub-blaster to the soldier who approached her.

"I assume you will take us to Gleb now?" Malarus said in a crisp core-accent, "Unless you would be willing to provide us with a chance to freshen up and a change of clothes."

"No. You and your pet will be taking a transport planetside now. And don't try anything," Kai threatened, "or you'll wish we blown your ship to dust instead."

"Will you be joining us?" Malarus replied, as if they were discussing a factory inspection, rather than a meeting that would decide if they'd ever see any sunrise on another planet again.

Kai laughed. "I'm not a fool, even if you think you're playing me for one. And good news, one of our benefactors," he filled that word with so much disdain, Malarus wondered what the true arrangement was. "Is in a meeting with Gleb. They've both agreed to give you an audience. And this one has more of a temper than Gleb. I might not even get to see you suffer."

Malarus nodded, her face unchanging.

"Sergeant Teran," Kai barked to one of the soldiers, who then came forward. "Take your squad and bring our guests planetside." Teran's eyes went wide. She realized she was now the messenger. And well, you know how the saying goes.

Kai then turned and went in what was probably the direction of the bridge. Every soldier, except for eight others, not counting the sergeant,(it seemed a squad meant the same amount of troops as in the empire), dispersed, a few following Kai. This included the ones who had taken their weapons. They'd probably be incinerated, but considering how old everyone's tech was, sector security might keep the blasters.

"Transport A7," Teran said, having regained her composure. The girl was young, probably no older than 19. But her squad followed her orders and began prepping the modified transport that sat in the docking bay. Malarus was glad no one had walked up with binders.

When the transport was ready and they followed the security forces on board, Malarus was glad Casper's posture hadn't wavered, even if he didn't have a bucket to hide his expressions anymore. The fear and worry were obvious. They weren't permitted to sit next to each other and instead had a solemn guard next to them. Neither attempted conversation, with each other or the guard. Malarus was glad. Who knew what ears were listening, electronic or otherwise.

The transport touched down across from a tall building. At first, she thought it had been built to a ridiculous height, but then she realized it was one of the few buildings in this city planet that weren't damaged in some way. They'd seen a few patched-up building on the way in, but most were empty shells. This one was restored to the glory she assumed it had during the Empire. Blue banners of some four-eyed symbol adorned the taller buildings, while the scattered corpses of AT-ATs or TIEs littered the streets. A light, almost picturesque, dusting of snow covered the whole abandoned city.

They disembarked and Teran led the way towards the building, down a street with a toppled statue. Casper and Malarus finally were permitted to stand near each other, with the two guards on each side, thankfully out of earshot if they whispered. Both prisoners, because truly that's what they were, kept the brisk pace and held their heads high.

"This isn't right," Casper whispered as they walked.

Malarus raised an eyebrow, her face a mask of stern imperial features, while confusion and horror spread across Casper's.

"The snow. Vardos doesn't have snow, except for maybe at the poles. But we're not there. I recognize the building- that's Glebb's school. And the statue, that's Versio's. And the buildings, the destruction..."

"New Republic bombing run?" Malarus suggested. Vardos was a paragon of imperial values and loyalty. Devastating it would show the legacy of the Empire was swept away. And she didn't believe in the Republic's claims of moral superiority. Killing civilians and leaving a planet to rot, she wouldn't put it past them.

"That doesn't explain the snow. And wouldn't there be downed Republic ships as well? Some would have been shot down. And it doesn't make sense why only they'd be cleared away. And why is the school still standing? And how does JSec have all those ships? I've heard stories of planets that lost hyperspace, failed colonies. This is what I'd imagine them as."

"Maybe the 'benefactors' the good captain mentioned have different priorities than fixing the planet."

Casper nodded. She could tell how affected he was. At least he wasn't crying.

Sergeant Teran stopped and turned to face Malarus and Casper at the start of the stairs. "Now remember, you are to be respectful as you speak with Gleb and the rep-"

Malarus cut the girl off. "I know imperial protocol. Unlike you, I actually served in the Empire."

"Very well," Teran replied, bristling at the insult, as she continued her march up the steps.

The doors to the Academy opened to reveal an Aqualish in fancy clothing. "Gleb, these are the ex-imperials who wished to speak with you," Teran said. This was Gleb? Malarus was more surprised than disgusted. Her dislike for non-humans was much less than some of her fellow imperial, even if there were a few species who she automatically assumed their members were weak (Twi'leks and Wookies for example). She didn't have much of an opinion regarding Aqualish. But the fact an alien had risen so high in the Empire automatically proved they had enough ambition and cleverness to gain her respect.

Gleb nodded, so Teran stepped aside and allowed Malarus and Casper to approach her boss. But before Gleb could say anything, footsteps announced the approach of another being. It was an older human man, wearing none other than what looked to be an imperial uniform, minus a few minor stylistic changes.

"So Protectorate Gleb," the man said, "these are the people who convinced Kai they were important enough to bother you with?" Protectorate? Kai said that Jinata was sovereign. Well unless that's only what it said in the records, and the benefactors disagreed.

"I believe," Glebb began, a translator layering her words in Basic over her native garble. "that these former imperials may be of use to your- organization,"

The man hmmed and stepped closer to Casper and Malarus, looking them over. "I suppose so. And they claim that they've been stuck on Jakku since the battle?"

"Yes, sir," Malarus confirmed, "we have only been vaguely aware of the wider galaxy. I know the New Republic still rules, but we were not aware of Vardos' situation."

"Their navicomputer hasn't been off Jakku in years," Gleb stated, "I do not think they are spies, Hask." Hask? Now that was interesting. Gideon Hask was the only member of Inferno Squad, Versio's special intelligence unit, that didn't defect. And now he was part of what she assumed was the true imperial holdout.

"And your names?" Hask asked.

"Ensign Carva Malarus. And my companion is LT-621. We both served on the Eviscerator."

"Did you work together before Jakku?"

"No sir," Malarus said, "we met on the escape pod. I was a sensors officer and he was a stormtrooper. However, we did survive on Jakku together."

"You called your companion by his operating number, why is that? I doubt you used it on Jakku."

"Protocol. You seem to be an imperial. Even if the organization you represent is simply the Empire's successor, I assume it is still protocol to refer to combatants purely by their operating numbers. We sacrificed protocol for efficiency during our exile, however my tactical and conversation capabilities resulted in me leading."

Hask nodded. He seemed pleased. "Do you agree with Malarus' assessment LT-621?"

"Ye-yes sir," Casper stammered.

"You said one of you were taught by Gleb?" Despite the question being addressed to both companions, Hask was clearly looking at Malarus. Although Casper lacked the armor, he was as faceless and voiceless as a stormtrooper to Hask.

"That was a misunderstanding of how the academy on Vardos works on my part sir," Malarus replied, "I knew LT-621 was from Vardos. He said that Gleb was the headmaster of the imperial academy here. I was not aware she did not personally oversee the stormtrooper academy."

"And why did you come to Vardos first?"

"Ca- LT-621 informed me that Vardos was the most likely planet to be sympathetic to former imperials. City planets are also good places to find work."

"And what do you make of the state of Vardos?"

Now this was the final test. Time to lie and hope the protegee of an ISB officer wouldn't notice. "I am glad your organization is helping Vardos rebuild after it was devastated and abandoned by the New Republic," Malarus suspected the bombing run story she offered earlier wasn't the entire truth, especially with all the rumors surrounding Vardos during her time under Veriso. And the rebuilding wasn't truly for the people of Vardos, that was clear. It was a piece in a much larger game. That didn't bother her, but she felt it was best to play it safe. Accepting the cover story and not applauding the true ruthlessness you figured out didn't help you early on in the Empire.

"The fact such an isolationist treaty was approved by the New Republic," Malarus continued, "reveals their weakness. If they simply wished to shun and punish Vardos, they would not have allowed you to seize ships so freely. They should not have allowed Vardos' sector security to grow so strong, for fear of imperial resurgence. But even with the ship's your organization can spare for Jinata's defense, a concentrated attack could easily overwhelm Vardos. They neither punish you, nor attempt to assist you. All of these are symptoms of a weak galactic government, one that neither lives up to the promises of rebel propaganda nor rules effectively. Chaos and corruption must be a disease eating at the edges of the galaxy." She prayed she said the right things, showing her loyalty to an imperial regime and her cleverness. Her opinion on the New Republic was her own, although reworded to serve a purpose. Her pragmatism was balanced by her pride. She would never follow someone weak and foolish. If Mon Mothma herself appeared and offered her a well paying job, a pardon from all crimes, so long as she worked for the New Republic, Malarus would refuse.

Hask turned to Casper. "LT-621, your opinion?"

Although she knew it was useless, Malarus tried to mentally send Casper the message of "Don't say anything stupid." He could blow this for her and get them sentenced to what normally happened to spacers who stumbled into Jinata, or even the punishment Kai promised.

"I'm not good with words, but I agree with Malarus. I'm also-" Casper was trying to find the right word. Malarus hoped he found a good one. "-angry at the New Republic for devastating my homeplanet. I wish to help in their downfall."

That was...actually a pretty smart thing to say. Malarus knew Casper well enough to know it was a lie. She knew those kinds of people. There were thousands of them. They were along for the ride of whatever regime was in charge when they came of age. And they weren't even cold-blooded enough to realize that. If he was around after Jakku, he wouldn't have defected to save his skin, just quietly accept whatever punishment was dolled out. And a little push, like their economic situation, was enough to make them a nice little cog in the war machine. And even without it, they would remain a loyal citizen. Every regime was built on their backs. You didn't even need practically good propaganda.

"I do believe my organization-" Hask paused. Malarus suspected he was about to reveal its name, but then he realized Teran and her JSec squad were still in the room. "Can make use of you. But Gleb, there were many ways this could have gone wrong. You and everyone on this planet were lucky it didn't. I never want a situation like this again."

Glebb nodded. "I will inform Captain Kai to not consider similar requests in the future. Do you recommend punishment?"

"He followed protocol well, a reprimand will be sufficient. Both for considering the request and not personally escorting the two. I suggest you also keep an eye on the squad he did send down, make sure they don't gossip." Malarus smiled internally. The squad clearly being able to overhear it served as a warning to both Gleb and them.

"And you will be departing soon? I wish to speak with Kai personally,"

"I have attended to all I needed to. My own forces will oversee my safety during the transfer. And giving them a change of clothes for the trip would be pointless."

"Very well," Glebb shuffled towards the JSec forces. "Sergeant-"

"Teran ma'am," the girl replied. Her fidgeting hands proved JSec discipline wasn't quite at the imperial level.

"You will escort me to your transport. And com ahead to tell Kai I wish to speak with him and that your squad is to be scrambled into different units and you are to receive a new command. Do not inform him of anything that transpired here, I will in due time. I hope you understand the gravity of this situation."

"Yes ma'am," As Teran's silent unit formed up and escorted Gleb out of the building, Malarus was aware of Casper moving closer to her.

Casper and Malarus did not exchange any words as they followed Hask. Casper's head was reeling. He suspected Malarus had pieced together many clues from their conversation, but she said nothing as they boarded the shuttle. It was imperial style, just not any specific model knew. The wings were ridiculously long/tall in his opinion. He was barely surprised to see stormtroopers, their helmets slightly different from what he was used to. His head just swam as he tried to make sense of the fast-paced conversation he just had. He was certain of one thing, there was an imperial remnant, large enough to "help" Vardos and produce their own equipment, that had remained undetected all this time. And now he was a member.

He wasn't sure how he felt about that. At least he'd still have orders and a purpose. And hopefully go hungry less. But Vardos haunted his thoughts. It was ruined. And he knew no bomb could do that. Couldn't ruin the atmosphere and make snow fall. Malarus knew that too, she just said the right things. As did he. Yet no anger burned in him, against the New Republic, the Empire, or whoever had destroyed his planet. Just sorrow. The kind that left you empty and numb.

Casper thought of Shin'yah tree. Of how when it's red leaves fell into the pool it was planted by, the water ran red like blood. He knew the story. Of how a young girl, when she could not marry the one she loved, slit her wrists and bled out into the pond. The version his grandparents told him, when he was very young, said that the Force had seen the strength of the girl's commitment and transformed her into the first Shin'yah tree. That one detail was excluded under the Empire.

When Casper was 10, a Twi'lek friend named Riyu dared him to bring her a fallen Shin'yah leaf, one that had bled out. For an hour, he sat by her families' tree, ready to catch one. (His family didn't have the room to plant one. But he had overheard that his father had paid some of the tree's cost to protect Riyu's family from anti-alien sentiment). When the leaf finally fell, Casper almost joined it trying to grab it. Hands stained, he retrieved the leaf. Other than a few red droplets, the petal was a sickly brown and slightly see through. It was so thin and fragile compared to the full leaves on the tree and stuck to his fingers.

That was what Vardos was like now. It had bled out for its devotion to the Empire and a brown leaf, threatening to be torn apart by the very wind was all that remained.

But maybe Vardos had always been bleeding. Of course, the industrialization of Vardos didn't begin with the Empire, but it was certainly accelerated. Casper's grandparents would tell him tales of when Kesto was the only large city and the rest was mostly farmland. When the land-coral of Phillo still grew on Vardos near the seas. When they were more similar in dress and culture to their Nubian and Alderaanian cousins. Casper's parents barely remembered that time, but they still had complex braid symbolism and a few natural parks growing up. As much as all citizens liked to pretend they didn't, most adults remembered a time when Force worship was common and pilgrimage to Phillo was permitted.

But Casper couldn't mourn the loss of a planet he never knew, or curse the forces of industrialization and progress. Vardos under the Empire, before the war, seemed better. Those without food or shelter could work in factories regardless of their education. Orphans could get off the streets. Casper didn't think about the time, right after a large attack from the Free Ryloth movement, someone had broken Riyu's windows and painted "Go home savages" and "Die traitors" on her family's home. Or how similar attacks were common across species, and authorities seemed unconcerned.

Casper was so lost in thought, he almost did realize that the shuttle wasn't flying towards the Opportunity. Although the Jinata system connected to several different hyperlanes, it only did so at one site, witch they were going in the opposite direction of. Yet it still shuddered and jumped to hyperspace.

Well, undiscovered hyperspace lanes would explain how Hask's group had avoided detection for so long. Casper just hoped it was safe.

Malarus sat across from Casper in the passenger compartment. Four stormtroopers were in the room with them, although they were not permitted to sit down. The rest of the escort had taken other positions around the ship. Hask had left as soon as they were seated, but neither felt comfortable speaking.

Shortly after entering into hyperspace, another stormtrooper, holding two datapads entered the compartment. "These are for you to fill out," she said handing one to Malarus and the other to Casper. He accepted the datapad, which was already powered on, to find your usual intake form. He started typing away as the Sergeant (at least that's what Casper thought the all-white rank pauldron indication) continued.

"The forms will help with your assignments. Fill in any notes you have about your skills and abilities, even if you didn't pick them up from official sources. You'll still be tested on things you claim proficiency in. There are also some documents on galactic history after the Battle of Jakku and the standards of our organization. You'll probably have to train under Cardinal for a bit to get all caught up, but it will probably take less than a year."

"Wouldn't they be training under the new captain since they're older?" One of the stormtroopers asked. Casper could tell from the way their head jerked back after saying that and the Sergeant's head swung around, they were regretting saying that and the leader was glaring at them. Being a stormtrooper meant you picked up body language that didn't require facial expressions. It seemed like the new generation was the same.

"You don't have to treat us like officers," Malarus said without looking up from her form, "I doubt we'll have a higher rank than you for a while." That was a pretty good assumption. The troopers were probably put off, not knowing how to treat them. They were prisoners in a sense, but also guests, yet no one knew what their new ranks would be.

"She is right," the sergeant said, measured anger in her voice, "but that is no excuse to speak out of turn GX-375. I won't report this simply because it is minor, but do not question business that not do concern you in the future. I do not know if they will train under Phasma or Cardinal, especially if they only need a course on protocol. But that is not any of our calls to make. Unless the commander has a recommendation, it will be the duty of the assignment officers."

"I understand," Slight changes in their stance and voice told Casper than if GX wasn't in uniform, they'd be bowing their head and pulling their shoulders in.

"I will return later to collect the documents," the sergeant said, her anger having evaporated. "If you take your time to review the material, you should have enough to do until we exit hyperspace." With that, she turned on her heel and left the austere compartment.

Casper focused on the document more. It was mainly about his skills and training. He made sure to note his self-taught mechanical experience and Malarus' leadership skills. He let the dry histories and questions lull him into a trance with the rumble of hyperspace.

The ship dropped out of hyperspace when Casper was almost done with the last document. He looked out the window and was shocked to see two Star Destroyers, models not from the Imperial era floating, in this empty section of space. A few smaller ships were stationed around them. Hask's group was better equipped than Casper ever imagined. Even if this was their entire fleet, it spoke to their own shipyards and factories. He could even see some TIEs flying out to escort them.

One of the stormtroopers, Casper suspected it was GX-375, spoke, smugness in their voice.

"Welcome to the First Order."