Rey kneeled, wiping R2D2 clean. She would embark on her journey to meet Luke Skywalker. scavenger still felt like she didn't belong in this story, like if she was surrounded by legends while only being a side character. The Force was still new to her, as everything else was. But she loved it. Rey couldn't help but marvel at the sheer life Force flowing through her, guiding her, lending her strength and peace. At the same time, it was terrifying.

The Millennium Falcon was in good shape after Rey was done cleaning it. As a last goodbye to its owner, Rey had spent hours repairing and cleaning it.

"Hi Rey," a voice sounded behind her.
"Countess?" Rey gasped.

The woman was still pale, but her lips were of a pink shade again and her hair was clean and shiny. Instead of the white hospital gown, she wore her black clothing from the First Order. Black winged eyeliner intensified the gaze of her violet eyes. Rey couldn't grasp why she was so intimidated by the countess. And she wondered where she had managed to find eyeliner.

"Are you walking across the Resistance camp wearing this?" she gestured.

"Yes."

"And no one stopped you?"

"No," Athena said matter-of-factly.

Again, the countess's confidence startled Rey. Athena looked at R2D2, curious about what Rey was up to. "Let me help you," she offered.

Rey nodded and passed a piece of cloth to her.

"You can call me Athena, if you like," Athena muttered.

For a while, the two women cleaned the droid, a peaceful silence between them. Rey passed her a cup of water and poured one for herself as they paused.

"So, tell me, what happens if I join you? Don't you think Luke Skywalker will try to kill me the second he senses me?" Athena inquired.

Rey shrugged. "You're free now. You can start new."
"Start new, huh?" Athena shook her head. "Would you say the same to Kylo? I am as much as a monster as he his."

"You are," a man appeared behind them. The two women turned around to face a young pilot with dark hair and brown eyes, pointing his blaster at Athena, who rose her hands, showing she was unarmed.

"Poe?!" Rey exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" he asked, gesturing towards the blonde woman. "She's dangerous. You shouldn't be with her."

Athena raised his eyebrows at him, smiling defiantly. "You should leave then."

"I can defend myself, Poe," Rey scolded, reaching out her hands as if to appease him.

"That's Kylo Ren's pet right there. She is a murderer. She should be in chains and not walking around on the Millennium Falcon!" he protested.

"Athena was his prisoner. She's with us now," Rey exclaimed. Poe didn't lower his blaster yet stared at Athena as if he was pondering about Rey's words.

"First of all, I was no one's pet nor prisoner. I did it all willingly. Kind of. Secondly, I am definitely not with the Resistance. I must admit I have a soft spot for Rey, though, so I won't kill her. You on the other hand, I might."

The pilot gasped, as if he was offended.

"Athena!" Rey scolded.

"Athena? Is she "Athena" now? How about crazy Sith Lady?"

Athena didn't know why, but she backed down as Rey gave her warning glance.

"I am bringing her to Skywalker."

"This is stupid, Rey. She's like the female version of Kylo Ren and you're bringing her there?"

"She saved me. Without her, Ren would have gotten the information about Luke Skywalker."

"I have given you much more. An hour ago, I met with General Organa and offered her every piece of information about the First Order I have," Athena explained.

"Oh, so you're a traitor to both sides."

Athena ignored Poe's remark. "I will have to use a communicator, if you could help me with that, Rey," she pleaded.

The meeting with General Organa had been short but productive. After awakening from her lethargy, Athena had found purpose again. Destroy the old system, as Count Dooku had predicted. In exchange for her information, Leia had granted the ORA the promise of sovereignty from any new Republican system. It didn't matter that Leia had not won the war yet or that she could probably not fulfill the deal. From this moment on, the Outer Rim was recognized as own sovereign federacy by the leader of the Resistance.

A couple of minutes later, Rey walked Athena to the communication center, Poe in their trail, protecting Rey as he had announced.

The countess had just rolled her eyes at him.

The communication center was filled with busy officers, running around and intercepting signals from across the Galaxy while guiding pilots protecting D`Quar. Their loud conversations stopped as Athena walked in with Rey and Poe, everyone staring in awe and repulsion at Athena.

"My friends, I have to make an announcement. To the whole Galaxy," her voice cut through the silence.

One young dark-haired girl cleared her throat nervously. "Well… we can broadcast it to all the stations we reach, I guess. The message will be transported further from there. If you have the authorization," she muttered.

Rey looked at her, nodding. Athena nodded at Rey in return, confirming again that she was trustworthy enough.

With trembling hands, the girl put everything in order and prepared the broadcast.

Athena walked forward, placing herself into the stream of the Hologram.

"You're live in three… two… one."

"Dear inhabitants of the Galaxy. My name is Countess Athena Touissant of Serenno, president of the Outer Rim Associatio. On the planet Serenno, we have signed a peace contract between the Outer Rim Association and the First Order, cooperating with them to find the best solution for the future of the Galaxy. I have sacrificed my freedom, served as an apprentice to Commander Kylo Ren and obeyed to every command in order to ensure the life and wellbeing of the Outer Rim.

As of late, Kylo Ren has broken that contract. He has attempted to kill me. With this violation of the contract, there is no truce between the ORA and the First Order any longer. I implore the ORA to prepare for war. For the rest of the Galaxy, let me tell you that the Starkiller base is destroyed. United, we may stand a chance to fight for our freedom. I am safe with the Resistance, although they have granted me shelter, I will continue to represent the now sovereign federacy of the Outer Rim Association."

Athena took a deep breath and then continued:
"I have the plans to Starkiller base. I know which planets and suns can be turned into a Starkiller base, what kind of materials are needed to build this technology. Only I possess this knowledge and if the First Order tries at attacking me or the ORA, I will give that knowledge to the Resistance. Oh – and Commander Ren? The First Order will be offered the possibility to yield."

Rey stared at her open-mouthed, as the entire crew. Even Poe was at a loss for words.

Her words were placed carefully, each of them filled with meaning and power. Rey could not take her eyes from the woman for a split for a second. Slowly, she began to fathom the impact of Athena's words. This was another kind of war; another kind of weapon Athena had just fired.

The broadcast ended.

OoOoO

Kylo and Hux silently stared at the spot the blue hologram had appeared just a few moments ago.

The command center was entirely silent. Everyone had listened to the resolute voice of a familiar young woman, a woman looking very much alive.

"What happened?" General Hux broke the silence, his pale face glimmering in sweat.

"What happened?" Kylo snapped back, smashing his fist on a control panel, making Hux jump from surprise. "WHAT HAPPENED?!" he echoed, screaming at the General.

"SHE IS ALIVE!" he yelled, smashing his fists on the panel, beating it so hard his knuckles turned bloody.

Hux face turned into a greenish color as he shifted around uneasily. "Well, that is a miracle…" he muttered. None of the other officers in the room dared to even breathe.

"How did she get the plans to Starkiller? How?!"

Kylo swirled around, grabbing Hux bis his throat and shaking him violently. Hux chocked, staring at him in shock. Hux couldn't answer, his eyes turning red.

"You've told her. Remember that conversation where you had to gloat about your knowledge to her? You're the idiot who gave her the information!" Kylo could not hold back his unhinged rage. He only released his grip to let Hux breathe, so that he could give him an answer.

"Athena is your apprentice. This is your failure, you have…" Hux scoffed, holding his throat.

The murderous look in Kylo Ren's eyes made him stop.

"She is alive."

For a second, all his rage left him, only to be replaced by a much stronger feeling. He sunk down, burying his hands in his hair.

Athena was still alive. It worked. The plan had worked. With the rage gone, he felt relief sink in. Pure relief. And guilt. He realized what Athena probably thought of him now. The girl who had seen the light and the dark in him and loved both. And who was so utterly unafraid of him, that she had just declared war on him in front of the whole galaxy.

"You didn't do the job right, obviously," Hux sneered.

Kylo closed his eyes. Of course, he hadn't.

"There is more, Sir," a younger officer muttered nervously as he stepped forward, fumbling his hands, not knowing if he should look at Hux or Kylo. Hux gestured him to continue.

"A large part of our supply chains has been cut off. Some sectors in the Mid Rim have put flight embargos in place. TIE-Fighter replacements are no longer being delivered; cargo ships have not arrived at their destinations. Also, medical supplies… "

"How is this possible? The Order can just force them! What are you waiting for! Send troops! " Hux talked himself in rage, while Kylo still had his eyes closed.

The man's eyes darted to Kylo, as he was waiting for him to snap. "Well, uhm, we could, but we have located unknown military forces blocking Outer Rim and Mid Rim Systems. As far as we know, they are being commanded by a Twi'lek named – "

"Karelai Mokebla," Kylo interrupted him.

The officer swallowed. "Yes, Sir.

Kylo felt his chest tightening. Karelai had taunted him, toyed with him, and even though he read her mind, this scheme had happened right under his eyes. Athena had not been flirting with the Princess of Lianna or the Sato heiress back on Serenno She had been preparing. And this army didn't come from thin air either.

"We need to stay calm. It's a bluff. She can't have the plans. We will simply crush this army and everyone who associates with Mokebla," Kylo growled at Hux.

Hux yelled back at him, saliva flying from his mouth, the arteries on his forehead popping out.

"Everyone knows that she spent every night in your bed! Don't you think it's possible you may have been a little distracted?"
"YOU brought her on this ship in the first place!" Kylo yelled back.

"Because we can't simply crush them! That's why I wanted a treaty with them! Those rich idiots control too much of the galaxy to simply blow up one planet and be done with them!"

"We can regain control of this. Nothing makes richer than selling to the First Order!"

"Not if the Order is losing. Even if that damn woman is bluffing, it will take a while to clean this up," Hux spat.

Athena had declared war on him. Still, Kylo's heart danced. She was alive.

OoOoO

"What happened?!" Poe Dameron exclaimed, his brain piecing together the information.

Athena raised her eyebrows at him, shrugging. "We'll see."

Rey on the other hand smiled across her whole face and turned to Athena, throwing her arms around her.
"Is it true? You stole the plans of the Starkiller and the list of compatible planets?" she beamed.

Athena felt uneasy being hugged by the young woman. She was still not deserving of Rey's trust.

"No," she whispered close to Rey's ears. "But they don't need to know that."

Rey stared at her in awe. Her hazel eyes widened; her breath quickened. Athena shook her head.

"Don't tell anyone. I don't know if this is going to work."

But Rey just continued to stare at her, her cheeks white pale.

"Are you okay?" Athena asked wearily, just as Poe interrupted them.

"Are you a double agent now? A traitor," he sneered, not sharing Rey's enthusiasm.

"Thena… you're… you're…" Rey's voice trembled.

"Oh, shut up, Dameron. I just declared war on the First Order. I will accompany your precious friend to Luke Skywalker. What else do you want me to do?"

The pilot ignored Rey stand in between the two of them, snapping at Athena with aggression. "What if you are lying? You could be leading Ren right to Skywalker as far as I know. After all, people don't just call you the Dark Countess for nothing. Someone who slept with..."

"POE!" Rey interrupted him harshly. Both Athena and Poe shrieked, surprised by Rey's sudden outburst.

"Stop it! Poe, this is nonsense. Athena, we need to talk," Rey commanded, taking Athena's hand, and dragging her out of the communication center.

Both women stepped outside, as Rey pulled her behind the wall of the center, hiding them from the busy people around them. Rey looked at her with panic, although Athena could see how she tried to calm herself.

"Athena…" she started, her whole body shaking.
"Rey," Athena grabbed her shoulders, holding her still, trying to calm her. "What is going on? Trust me, this will work. The First Order will call my bluff eventually, but they are probably in shambles right now."

"It's not that," Rey shook her head. The young scavengers took a couple of deep breaths.

The countess observed her strange behavior, unsure of how to react.

"When I hugged you… I could feel something. The Force. You're…"

"I know."

"What are you going to do?" Rey asked warily.

Athena shrugged. "I don't think the Resistance is the right place for me to stay. But I'll come with you, Rey. At least in exile, we will be safe. And then I'll figure out what to do next."

OoOoO

Rey and Athena left at dawn. Leia hugged Rey like a mother would, holding her close.

Athena waited right next to them, looking away to leave them some privacy.

Much to her surprise, Leia came to her and hugged her as well before Athena could protest. It felt weird that Leia would consider her someone close enough to show that kind of affection.

"You will do a wonderful job of raising this child. You and Rey, you will protect each other."

"Why do you trust me?" Athena asked, leaving the rest unspoken. She was a traitor indeed and she was still not sure where she belonged. Although it was her duty to join the ORA again, she felt as if her destiny was still tied to Kylo. And somehow, also to Rey.

Leia's warm brown eyes showed empathy.

"I just do. I believe in you. When I became a mother, I was afraid. I had to be a general, I trained to be a Jedi and Han… left. So, when I felt my son turning to the Darkness, slipping through my grasp, I turned to the role I was most comfortable in and send him away. A choice I deeply regret. But it was born out of fear. You are fearless, though."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. I don't believe Kylo blames you," Athena grasped for words. In her opinion, it was especially Han who failed as a father. Leia held a lot of crushing responsibilities. But Han left because he preferred to be a smuggler. But she chose not to hurt Leia and stayed silent.

"Just don't be afraid and you'll make the right choices. You and my son will find each other again, I am sure of it. Once he makes his amends," she added and smiled, even though the tears in her eyes betrayed the pain of her loss.

"I've killed people, I turned to the Dark Side, and I fell for the deadliest killer out there. I am not exactly mother material," Athena turned her face away, unable to face Leia any longer.

"You love him because you see good in Ben," Leia answered calmy.

"I fell in love with Kylo Ren," Athena corrected, knowing fully it was the truth.

"Then maybe you're able to find love in the darkest of places."

Again, Athena chose not to answer. Instead, she hugged the woman again.