Dinner was being served before the conference, so this particular meeting was going to be a long one. Since Kylo did not want anyone to know what he looked like, he ate his dinner in the kitchen, after the cooks had finished preparing the food.

He finished dinner quickly, and took a seat in the conference room. Everyone that was on the Finalizer was there.

Hux cleared his throat and began to speak about the victories the Order had against the Rebels. Kylo smirked, noticing that Hux failed to mention the defeats. He was bored of hearing Hux talk until he mentioned Starkiller Base.

Kylo sat straight up in his chair. He was hoping Hux would tell the rest about the weapon. Which of course he did.

"My comrades, I would like to announce that Starkiller Base is fully operational!" Hux declared triumphantly.

All but two people in the conference room cheered. One was the speaker, the other was Kylo. He felt sick to his stomach. Hux knew when he told Kylo earlier about the weapon that it was operational. Hux knew, Kylo assumed, that his prisoner would try to figure out a way to destroy it.

"Now it is time to test it out," Hux said. "We will shoot a low grade of radiation to a secret location. Anyone who is there will not die, at least, not immediately."

Kylo began to search Hux's mind. If it was Mandalore, there would be no way for Padme and her friend to escape. To his relief, it was not Mandalore. It was Polis Masso! Kylo remembered that place. It was where his former master was born.

"Luke," Kylo uttered softly to himself. As Hux gave the command to fire the weapon, Ren realized in horror that Luke was on Polis Masso, along with the rest of the Jedi.

"GET OFF OF POLIS MASSO NOW!" Kylo silently screamed in the Force, hoping someone would hear him. But it was too late. The weapon had fired. It did not destroy Polis Masso, but as Hux explained later, whoever was there would die within a year from the exposure to the radiation.

The tears formed quickly in Kylo's eyes. Luke Skywalker, his former master, would eventually die, along with the rest of the Jedi. Kylo's wish had finally come true. Now he regretted hating Luke and the Jedi. What Hux did was pure evil, attacking them when they were not in combat. There was no honor in this man.

Ren fled the conference room and made his way back to his quarters. Now it was critical to find the weakness in this weapon. Who knows what planet Hux would target next?

He was about to research the Holonet when he heard a voice call out to him. It wasn't Padme, but it was a voice very familiar to him. A voice he swore he would never speak to until the day he exacted his revenge. But the day had come, not by Kylo's wishes, but by the First Order.

"BEN!" he heard Luke Skywalker call out to him. "You're alive!"

"I am," Kylo uttered, trying to be tough.

"Why did you say to get off Polis Masso?" Luke asked him.

"The First Order has a super weapon, called Starkiller Base. Hux fired the weapon there," Kylo explained.

Luke was silent. He and the rest of the Jedi had heard a loud explosion when they were meeting outside. He was curious as to why Ben would contact him after over a year of silence to warn him.

"The radiation blast will make everyone exposed to it die within a year of exposure," Kylo quivered, trying to remain calm.

"Thank you, Ben, for trying to warn us," Luke replied warmly. Kylo was taken aback by what Luke said. After all the evil things he had done, and Luke was thanking him? Kylo could no longer hold back the tears.

"Ben, neither one of us can erase the past. The mistakes we've made, the lives we've taken," Luke told him, sensing his former student was troubled. "But every day is a new day, to do the right thing. To love and not to hate, to protect and not to destroy. I forgive you Ben, and I love you.

"I don't deserve it! Not after what I have done. I'm part of this evil organization, forced to take lives, to protect the one I love," Kylo argued. He did not want to tell Luke about Padme. He would tell her everything, and she would never speak to him again.

"You cannot be afraid to lose the one that you love. Your fear and anger has led you to the Dark side. But there is still good in you, Ben. It's not too late..."

"It is for me. But I will do my best to try and find a way to destroy Starkiller Base," Kylo vowed. "The First Order must not be permitted to take control of the galaxy. I must go now."

"Ben, remember what I said. I forgive you, and I love you," Luke whispered before the Force connection was dropped. Kylo was so drained emotionally, he took off his mask and fell asleep quickly.

He fretted telling Padme about what happened at Polis Masso. He knew she admired Luke. She was going to be devastated when she heard the news. Kylo was barely keeping it together himself.

Padme finally joined him, taking his hand. No words were exchanged for a few moments.

"I am so sorry," Kylo finally spoke, his voice shaky. "I tried to warn them, but it was too late..." Padme embraced him. She had felt Ben's anguish when the weapon was fired. She knew Luke and the rest of the Jedi were on Polis Masso. But she did not know Ben was Luke's former student, who turned to the Dark Side, murdered his fellow Jedi, killed Vanee, and terrorized her family.

"How long do they have?" Padme tearfully asked, as she pulled away from the embrace.

"They will be dead within a year." Padme closed her eyes. This was truly a nightmare! She had lost her grandfather over a year ago, and by this time next year, Luke would also be dead. She tried to remain calm, because she knew Ben was also upset.

"Don't try to be brave," Kylo insisted, as his hands held her face. "Not tonight. You will need all of your courage tomorrow when you speak to Mandalore."

Padme shook her head, trying to not be upset. But the tears came quickly, and then she sobbed. Kylo tightly embraced her, giving her a kiss on the forehead. They held each other until it was time for them to wake up.

Padme was awakened by a knock on the door. She made herself presentable and opened the door. Ezra was standing outside.

"Good morning," he said, as he entered the room. "Everyone is still sleeping, but I figured you would be up." Ezra looked at Padme and saw her reddened, tear streaked face.

"Ezra, did you feel it, the attack on Polis Masso?" Padme asked.

"I did," he admitted. "I was not sure if you did, too. I'm sorry, Padme. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. Nor does Luke want you to worry."

"How can I not worry?" she screamed in anger. "Do you know what that weapon did?"

Ezra took her hand and squeezed it. He felt compassion for Padme. She had to deal with so much in her young life.

"Yes. Luke told me what the informant told him. Come, let's sit." They sat down on a couple of chairs.

"He hasn't even tried to contact me!" Padme moaned. "I called out to him so many times!"

"He didn't respond because he knows what you need to do today."

"I can't speak to Mandalore. Not with Luke..." She buried her head in her hands.

"Look at me, Padme," Ezra told her. She slowly lifted her head to face him. "You must address Mandalore, and have them join the Rebels. Who knows what planets or systems the Order will target next? Hux wants to continue Vader's dream, to have the galaxy quake in fear of him. You cannot let fear of losing Luke, or anyone for that matter, stop you from fulfilling your destiny."

"But..." she tried to argue. But he raised his hand to silence her.

"Nothing is by coincidence. You were drawn to the Darksaber. Which means, even though you still have not told me how, you subdued Darth Vader. You are the only one that can get the Mandalorians to join the fight. If you do not do this, then the Order will destroy the Outer Rim, and eventually rule over the galaxy. You know this is true."

Ezra took Padme's hand in his, and added,

"Do not let the eventual passing of the Jedi deter you from doing what the Force has called you to do."

Padme sighed in resignation. Ezra was right. She had to do this. She recalled what Anikin and Obi Wan had told her before she left Mustafar.

They heard a knock on the door. Sabine stuck her head inside. She could tell Padme was upset, but she kept the news to herself.

"The Prime Minister was us to eat breakfast before Padme gives her speech," she said to Ezra and Padme.

"Go," Padme told Ezra. "I need to get dressed. But I will be there." He squeezed her hand again before leaving with Sabine. Padme got dressed and called out to Ben.

"Ezra is right," Kylo told her. "You must speak to the Mandalorians. The Senate will see that the Outer Rim takes this threat seriously, and they will vote to declare war. You can do it, Padme. I believe in you. Everyone believes in you. But you need to believe in yourself, and you need to trust the Force."

"Ben, please try to be there with me when I make my speech," Padme asked.

"My dear desert rose, my heart is always with you. Even if my body is not." She felt his hand touch her face before he kissed her. "Go get dressed and have breakfast." They said their goodbyes, and Padme wished Ben was there with her.