Some time after ascending to Supreme Leader of the First Order, Kylo ordered the shattered fragments of his helmet to be salvaged from the Supremacy as it underwent extensive repairs. Ren kept the fragments in his throne room aboard the Steadfast with the intent of one day having them reforged. With Palpatine's promise of total world domination, it seemed as good a time as any to have it done. Once the Knights of Ren returned to from their latest hunt, Kylo boarded the Night Buzzard to speak with his and his Knights' armorer.

The Symeong smith Albrekh looked up from his work upon hearing the door to his shipboard workshop open. He bowed his head upon seeing his guest. "Master Ren."

Kylo said nothing as he approached the armorer's bench. In his hand he held a black leather drawstring bag that softly clanked with each step.

Kylo upended the bag, dumping the fragments of his helmet in front of Albrekh. The Symeong chuckled quietly. "I see."

"Can you do it?"

"Master Ren," Albrekh said, beginning to sort the pieces, "I will forge it stronger than it ever was."

"I have your word?"

The smith grinned. "I will not fail."

Albrekh was a master of Dark smithing. Using tools crafted a millennium and a half before he was born, there was nothing from Lightblades, to enchanted weapons, to Darkness soaked armors he could not create. His most prized tool was his Sith forge - a terrible and wondrous thing whose black flames channelled Dark magics into the metals and fed off his thoughts to take unholy shapes.

Albrekh tirelessly toiled away for hours, heating, hammering, and welding the shattered helmet into shape. He chose rare sarrassian iron to bind the fragments together, making the filled cracks glow with a dull sanguine light. After the smith quenched his work, he placed the steaming helm upon his workbench for his master's judgement.

Kylo stared at his helmet and felt it thrum with the Dark magics coursing through it. Albrekh was true to his word. This would be a worthy crown for the new Emperor.

Kylo led his Knights through the corridors of the Steadfast with a battered and broken Boolio being dragged by two of them. It hadn't taken long for the Knights to find him, but with what they had done, Boolio wished they had killed him outright. The torture he had been subjected to was almost surgical in its efficacy, inflicting the most suffering possible while never going far enough to kill him.

Stormtroopers that had become numbed to the horrors of war shuddered in revulsion as the Supreme Leader and his Knights led the ruined Ovissian past. All had heard of the ghoulish brutality for which the Knights of Ren were famous, but seeing it in person was haunting.

The First Order High Command waited in the Steadfast's conference room, unsure of why the Supreme Leader had called on them at such an hour. All chatter ceased when the doors opened and Kylo stepped in.

While Kylo and four of his Knights proceeded to the head of the long table, the remaining two held Boolio up by his arms in the middle of the open floor. For a moment the only sound in the room was labored wheezing.

Kylo leaned onto the table, supporting himself with his fists. "We have a special guest with us today," he said emotionlessly, voice distorted by his helmet's enchantment. "Bring him forward."

The two Knights shunted Boolio towards Kylo. The Ovissian stood unsteadily keeping his one remaining eye to the floor.

Kylo pushed himself away from the table and circled Boolio like a prowling nexu. "There are two spies in this room. One is this man."

Kylo drew his Lightblade. In a flash, he ignited the blade and buried it into Boolio's chest, holding it there until his clothing caught fire. The Ovissian's corpse fell to the floor the moment Kylo withdrew his sword.

"Whoever among you is the other can expect the same treatment. You cannot stop what is to come. With what I've seen in Exegol, the First Order is about to become the New Empire."

Kylo sat in his chair at the head of the table. He reached out through the Force seeking the smallest mote of guilt among the assembled officers. One of them had an aura of discomfort to them, but not the kind he had hoped for. "I sense... unease about my appearance, General Hux."

Every eye turned to the red headed general.

"About the mask?" Hux asked. "No, sir. Well done."

"I like it," added General Bellava Parnady.

After an awkward silence, General Domaric Quinn spoke up. "Forgive me, Supreme Leader, but these allies in Exegol... They sound like a cult. Conjurers and soothsayers."

General Pryde stared death at his fellow officer. "They've conjured legions of soldiers and a vast fleet of flying battleships. The alliance with the Sith Eternal will increase our might ten thousandfold. Such awesome power will correct the error of Starkiller Base." He directed this last sentence at General Hux.

General Amret Engell nodded. "We'll need to increase recruitment. Harvest more of the world's young."

General Quinn scowled. "This army, this fleet, what are they? A gift? What is he asking for in return? Does-" His face suddenly slammed into the table, breaking his nose.

Quinn then struck the ceiling, flattening out in a spread eagle. Drops of blood fell from his crooked nose as he gasped for air.

Kylo stood from his chair. "Prepare a plan of attack on the nations that still dare to defy us. My Knights and I are going hunting."

Only after Kylo and the Knights of Ren had left the room did Quinn's body fall back to the table.

In the vast deserts south of Umbara lay the land of Pasaana. Rolling dunes and wind carved formations of pink granite comprised most of the country with lush floodplains and scattered oases supporting the majority of the inhabited regions.

The Forbidden Desert takes its name from the many hazards of the region, both animal and geological. It surrounded the wide freshwater lake of Aki-Tetu into which the three Dividing Rivers fed. This lake in turn emptied into the sea via the Great River whose banks were among the most fertile on the continent.

Rey sailed the Millennium Falcon into the Great River's delta, staring in awe at the seemingly endless fields of sugar cane growing on the banks. She had always thought of sugar as an exceptionally rare substance with her first taste of it being only four months prior. Seeing so much of the source plant instilled her with an almost childlike wonder and reminded her of how many secrets the world still held.

The Falcon dropped anchor along the shore of Aki-Tetu where the easternmost of the Dividing Rivers cut through the Ikledu Plateau. Poe frowned at the pink slopes as he descended the gangplank after Rey. "You sure this is it?"

"The exact location is atop the plateau," Threepio answered.

"So what are we looking for?" Finn asked.

"Anything," Rey said leading the way up the slope.

"How helpful," Poe muttered.

Finn patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, the sooner we find whatever we're looking for, the sooner you can sleep."

"Wait," Rose said. "Do you hear that?"

Finn furrowed his brow. "Hear what?"

"Drums."

Poe shook his head. All he could hear was his tinnitus.

Upon cresting the slope, the source of the drums revealed itself. Thousands of the native Aki-Aki had gathered for some form of celebration. Though not carrying as far as the drums, the upbeat sound of flutes and plucked string instruments rose from the middle of a large chanting dance circle. Clusters of tents and simple shop stalls dotted the plateau with their cloth flapping in the breeze. Overhead, colorful kites with long tails flew high among clouds of vibrant chalk dust. The aromas of sweet and spiced fried doughs and smoked meats topped off the symphony of senses.

Poe stared in slack jawed disbelief and spread his arms. "...What is this?"

"It's the Aki-Aki Festival of Ancestors," Threepio answered with delight. "This weeklong celebration only occurs every forty-two years."

Finn pulled at his face in annoyance. "Lucky us."

"Lucky indeed! This festival is known for both its bright colors and its delectable sweets."

For a moment, everyone stared at the automaton as though he had grown a second head before Rey led them towards the festival.

Even with the weight of their task on her mind, the infectious energy of the celebration started to seep into Rey as she moved through the crowds. "I've never seen anything like this!"

Finn was less enthused. "I've never seen so few wayfinders."

"There's always random First Order patrols in crowds like these," Poe warned. "Keep your heads down. Chewie."

Chewbacca grumbled and hunched over.

"No, you don't look ridiculous," Rose said hoping to reassure the Wookiee.

Poe looked around and shook his head. "We're not going to find anything like this. Best split up and see if the locals know anything."

"Good idea," Finn said.

Rey nodded. "I agree." She set off towards a cluster of tents where a group of older Aki-Aki were burning incense.

A peddler with a carrying pole of pastel boiled sweets passed by, making Rey's mouth water. Her eyes followed him but stopped on a group of children watching a storyteller put on a puppet show. She could not understand what he was saying, but the children's laughter brought a smile to her face and reminded her of what the Resistance was trying to protect. More than that though, that sound made her happy.

The five interdependent Aki-Aki kingdoms that formed Pasaana, though welcoming of outsiders, mostly kept to themselves, preferring a simple traditional lifestyle. Each kingdom had a specific color that its citizens wore with stitched patterns unique to each tribe and family.

A gentle tug on Rey's tabard caught her attention and she looked down to see an Aki-Aki child dressed in the blue of the semi nomadic Dourek people. The child spoke to her in a cheerful voice.

"She is saying 'welcome,'" Threepio translated, approaching from nearby.

The girl pulled a necklace of painted nut husks from a pouch on her hip and held it towards Rey. Rey knelt down and let the girl place it around her neck, feeling a flutter of happiness in her chest. As she looked down at it, she vaguely recalled having a similar one as a child, but it vanished with her parents.

The girl pointed to the stitching on her clothes and spoke.

"Her name is Nambi Ghima," Threepio said.

Rey smiled. "That's an excellent name. I'm Rey."

Ghima politely bowed and said something with a smile.

"She would be honored to know your family name, too."

Rey's brow twitched. "I don't have one... I'm just Rey."

Ghima tilted her head, not entirely understanding. A feminine voice called her name from a nearby tent and she ran off towards it, waving back at Rey.

As Rey stood back up, a harsh chill ran through her. All around, sounds and color muted. Rey started to briskly walk away, believing she knew what was coming. She blinked and stopped in her tracks as her belief came true.

In front of her stood Kylo Ren, once more wearing his full helmet. The blood red spiderweb of cracks over it revolted Rey as though she were looking at a resurrected corpse. Despite this, that ember of Light still burned.

"Palpatine wants you dead," Kylo said flatly.

"So, you're serving another master?"

"No. I have other plans... I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it, why didn't you?"

"You could have killed me. Why didn't you?"

Kylo's head dipped slightly, though whether it was out of sadness or anger was hidden by his mask. "You can't hide, Rey. Not from me."

"I see through those cracks in your mask. I've seen your dreams, Ben. You're still haunted by all those you've killed. Especially your father. Whatever you're planning, I know that it's eating at you. You don't need to do this."

There was a long silence. "Do you still count the days since your parents left? All those years, such pain, such anger. The fire still burns no matter how much you try to smother it. I don't want to kill you, Rey, but I will find you. When I do, I will kindle that flame and bring you to the Dark Side. When I offer my hand again, I know you will take it."

Rey scowled. "We'll see."

Kylo suddenly shot his hand out and took hold of the husk necklace around her neck. There was a gentle pull and then the connection broke. Rey's hand flew to her chest to find that the necklace had vanished with Kylo.

Poe grew frustrated with the literal way the Aki-Aki took everything he said. The old one he was speaking to was particularly irksome, but he seemed to know something that may be of use in their search. He just had to get it out of him.

"Okay, so, this man, have you seen him recently?"

Rey ran up to him. "We have to go! Tell the others! We have to get back to the Falcon now!"

"Why?"

"It's Ren."

Poe paled and tapped his comm crystal.

Chief Intelligence Officer Tishra Kandia strode into the Supreme Leader's throne room. Kylo Ren and General Pryde both turned to look at her. She held out the husk necklace. "Sir, the scryers have finished their analysis. It's made of a nut found in the Middian region. The Aki-Aki of Pasaana make these necklaces for their festivals, one of which is taking place now in the Forbidden Desert."

"Pasaana?" General Pryde asked with interest. "That's not far from here."

Kylo snatched the necklace from Kandia's hand. His suspicion had been confirmed. "Make ready to depart. Alert the local troops and send in a division."

Pryde bowed his head. "Yes, Supreme Leader."

After regrouping near one of the larger tents, the Rebels started back towards the Falcon. Rey's mind raced as she led her friends through the crowds. This had been their only lead and now they were leaving empty-handed.

As Rey pushed through another crowd, she noticed too late the stormtrooper. The instant he noticed the Rebels, he trained his carbine on them. "Freeze!"

The trooper tapped his comm crystal. "I've located the Resistance fugitives. All units report-" A crossbow bolt suddenly sprouted from his eye socket.

The Rebels snapped their heads towards where the bolt had come from to see someone dressed in traditional Kyuzo garb, a repeating crossbow in their hand. "Come with me."

Their voice was not that of a Kyuzo, but instead of a human man that Chewbacca thought he recognized. Before he could deduce who it was, the Wookiee saw the white enameled helmet tops of a stormtrooper squad slowly moving towards them. With this information, following the familiar stranger indeed seemed to be the best decision for the moment.

The stranger led the Rebels towards a prominent rock formation close to the shoreline of Aki-Tetu. Trundling around the base of the formation was an old treadable decorated in faded and flaking blue paint.

Treadables were a misguided attempt by outside investors to revolutionize cross desert caravans in Pasaana. These railless locomotives, though slower than their counterparts, could theoretically haul great quantities of cargo over any terrain. In practice, however, when the heavy machines didn't bog down in the fine desert sand, the grains contaminated the axle grease to the point of daily mechanical seizure. By the time the issues were remedied, the investment firm had folded leaving their fleet of treadables behind. The Aki-Aki, more than happy to stay with their traditional caravans, often gave or sold the machines to anyone that showed an interest in owning one.

The stranger ushered the Rebels into the treadable all while keeping his eyes on the crowds. Once all of his guests had boarded the machine, he joined them inside and sealed the hatch.

While not cramped, the interior of the treadable was far from spacious owing to the bunks and cooking area. An ornate but well worn rug covered the floor with a net of pillows hanging above to keep them out of the way. Wooden chimes gently knocked together with each bump producing a soothing sound.

The man squeezed past his guests to reach the cockpit door. "Leia hailed me on my old pocket font." He slid open the viewing slot on the door and spoke to the driver in a foreign tongue.

"Ock-gay," came the loud growled response.

"Who are you?" Finn asked. "How did you find us?"

The man removed his broad brimmed helmet. "Wookiees tend to stand out in a crowd," the man said with a grin.

Chewbacca roared with joy. His hair had greyed and his face had wrinkled, but Lando Calrissian still had the same moustache and winning smile. The Wookiee rushed over to his old friend and pulled him into a tight hug.

Lando laughed. "It's good to see you too, old buddy!"

Bibi-Eit chirped curiously, putting voice to the confusion displayed by the younger Rebels. Threepio held an arm towards the debonair. "This is General Lando Calrissian."

Finn's eyes widened. "It-it's an honor, General!"

As with Han, Rey only knew of Lando by his pre-military reputation as a gambler and businessman. Rose and Poe on the other hand knew all about his deeds in service of the Rebellion, with Poe even having met the General as a toddler.

Poe stepped forward. "General Calrissian, we're looking for Exegol."

Lando nodded. "I know. Leia told me as much." He pushed through and began pulling pillows from the ceiling net. "Come. Sit. We have much to discuss."

Lando sat and began to speak as his guests seated themselves in front of him. "I was hunting for leads on my missing daughter in Janx when I overheard a bounty hunter drunkenly talk about his contract for kidnapping a young girl. As I listened in, I heard him brag about being a Jedi hunter and serving the Sith. Luke was the only one I knew who had experience dealing with either, so I contacted him.

"He had been searching for a wayfinder to reach Exegol and thought that the bounty hunter, Ochi of Bestoon he called himself, was the best lead on finding them. Only two are known to have existed. As we trailed him, we leaned that Ochi was carrying a clue that would lead to one, if not both. We followed him halfway across the world to here. When we found his ship, it was abandoned. No Ochi, no clue, no wayfinder."

"If you don't mind me asking," Finn began, "why did you stay here?"

"I invested so much into the search in hopes of finding Kadara that the dead end frankly broke me. She was all I had after I lost my wife. I decided to stay here and leave everything else behind. Too many painful memories."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Rey looked at Lando with sympathy. "Is... Is Ochi's ship still here?"

Lando cleared his throat. "It's up the river where he left it. I figured you'd want to take a look so Kalo'ne is taking us to the mouth of the river now."

"Thank you." Rey turned to her friends. "We need to search that ship again."

Poe opened his mouth to speak but stopped when his ears pricked up. Over the hum of the treadable's steam engine and his own tinnitus was the barely audible drone of TIE propellers.

Lando stood and moved to a control console. He pressed one of the runes and a set of shutters opened revealing two full wings of TIE fighters approaching from Aki-Tetu. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Rey did as well, but not because of the TIEs. Kylo Ren was here.

Lando opened the entry hatch. "Ochi's ship is at the base of the bluffs past Lurch Canyon. Go!"

Poe nodded. "Thank you, General."

Chewbacca grunted.

Lando smiled. "You too, Chewie."

"Rey," Rose whispered, "do you think he'd be willing?"

Rey looked to Lando. "Leia needs ship captains, General."

The silver haired debonair shook his head. "My sailing days are long gone. But do me a favor." He flashed his winning smile. "Give Leia my love."

Rey remembered what Maz had told her. "You should give it to her yourself. Thank you, General."

Lando watched his guests leave the treadable and sighed. He opened the viewing slot on the cockpit door again and spoke to Kalo'ne.