Jacen could feel it as soon as they touched down again in the castle on Vjun. Death. So many had died in that castle, the Acolytes of the Beyond and innocents like Maia. There were more than just her.
Who had come before him? He could feel the spirits of the dead. They were everywhere, in Jacen's skin.
Then he felt a small, reassuring presence, like a single star on a pitch-black night. It was small, but so bright that it made all the difference. Jacen glanced over his shoulder just as Jaina touched her fingers to it in reassurance. Her smile was pure courage. He knew she was just as scared as he was.
She looked to Kyp, who she linked elbows with. He gave a grim sort of smile, the smile that Jacen realized he might have given his brother the last time he saw him.
"This is it," Rey said. "Let's try to make this our one shot."
Jacen nodded, feeling his father's gaze upon him. Kylo Ren was his father, and Kylo seemed to care about his ordeal. It was unreal. The villain was a victim of the real monster.
Ben looked to Jacen, and pulled something out of his robes. A long cylinder.
"This was mine, a long time ago," Ben said. "Stay safe."
Jacen accepted it. The structure was very similar to Ben's own, but was more polished. He looked up to his father's face. He could see some similarities— he had his father's nose and eyes, and freckles.
"Thanks."
Ben nodded, as if he knew that the word meant so much more than just gratitude for the weapon. It was a promise, that Jacen would try to figure out how to be a son to him, as Ben figured out how to be a father.
A rainbow to come after the thunderstorm. The armistice ball after two decades of civil war.
The mixed group of Knights entered the main hallway of the castle. Already, all of the bodies had been cleaned up. There was no reminder of what had come before.
"Creepy," Marek Ren murmured.
Then Jacen felt it. "He's here, in this room."
"I feel it too," Ben assured his son, closing his eyes. Turmoil showed on his features, turmoil mixed with hatred.
"Show yourself!" Jaina ignited her lightsaber, blazing in the Force.
Snoke's laughter filled the chamber. Jacen's eyes darted around, trying to figure out the origin. But he was everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time.
"Little child, you are the Sword of the Jedi, aren't you?" Snoke's voice crooned. "Yes. I can sense the echoes of another world. You would have been knighted by Luke himself. What is it he said?"
"Luke?" Jaina glanced at Jacen.
"Don't listen to him, it's all sithspit," Jacen snarled, still looking around for the former Supreme Leader.
"You are a blazing fire, and all your friends will stand in your shadow," Snoke said. "Ah, yes. How does it feel to be alone, young Solo?"
Jaina opened her mouth to speak, and then looked as if she'd been punched in the stomach. She reached her free hand to her heart. Jacen suddenly felt an absence of his sister, in the Force. The fear came creeping in. . . He was going to separate them again.
Then Jaina raised her lightsaber, grip tight as she clenched both hands to it. She looked eerily like her father in that moment. Yet there was her mother's wisdom shining though, along with her father's tenacity.
"I'm never alone."
There was a flicker, and the Jedi took the opportunity. Jacen willed himself to see beyond the illusion being projected. He blinked, and there he was. The translucent Red figure of the Supreme Leader, towering above them all.
"I'm still not afraid," Jaina snarled.
Lie, Jacen thought.
That was when Lara Ren went flying into the air. Other Knights flew into the air, and were being slammed against the metal walls of the Vjun Castle.
"Put them down!" Rey reached out, gently descending Lara, and several other Knights that had been levitated.
"Focus, everyone!" Ben's voice rose above Snoke's. "Remember the plan!"
"Ah, Kylo Ren. . . once my greatest Apprentice, and now my greatest failure," Snoke said.
Ben's hand formed a claw, and Jacen could feel it— Ben was continuing the plan. They had to go now, before Snoke could fight back.
Jaina and Jacen shot their hands out at the same time, focusing on connecting with the Force, and Snoke's presence. Jacen gasped— he could physically feel it, like old paper. He didn't want to think about what else he could be feeling.
One by one, hands shot into the air. Jacen started tightening his grip, trying to rip that presence. He could feel Snoke resisting, could hear him trying to plead with them, but the words were just white noise. Then he heard it.
"I could bring her back! I could do what Plagueis could! What Vader never could!"
"No."
Jacen's voice was small, but defiant, and he let his rage inflame him, consume him, all in one goal. He screamed, unconsciously reaching out for Jaina, for the energy. Then it happened.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When Snoke's ghost died, a dark energy burst around the room, reverberating across the walls. Jacen was flung on his back, knocked unconscious. The last thing he heard was Princess Maia's voice.
Stand firm.