I stood at the edge of the pod, my hands shaking with nerves as I felt dark, threatening presence behind me. A sea of eyes stood before me, waiting for me to speak, to fail, like a tiger watching their prey walk across a tight rope, one wrong step, one wrong word and it would be over. " you can't do this." Reese whispered, planting a seed of doubt in my already poisoned garden. "Let me take over, I can help you, just let me in." The snake continued, trying to send her venom into my bloodstream, making her intentions seem innocent. A wolf in sheep's clothing, handing me toxins that taste so sugary sweet, I would know. I drank it.

"Dear members of the senate…" I started to talk, agreeing to Rebel's terms for letting me take over. I gave the mind-numbing speech, now looking out at the crowd of eyes. "Why was Rebel scared of this? When your speaking, you have power, the power to ruin peoples lives or make them better." I thought to myself. Power, the thing that everyone wants, and only a few people get. If I could stay in control, I could rule the entire universe, and get rid of these two weak links that are with me. The chain is as strong as… whose that? My eyes met a man with crystal blue eyes, staring into my soul. Ash, the man whose keeping Rebel in control. I want to hate him, but I can't, because as much as despise the things he does to Rebel's heart, I want him to be mine. You will be mine, my king.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized that Reese had given me control back. 'Kriff, what was she saying?' I panicked, trying to get my thoughts together to finish the speech, but thats when I saw him. Ash, with his goofy cloak that made him stand out, and his beaming smile as he realized I had recognized him. That gave me the boost I needed to finish the speech, it gave me hope that some other Rebels were listening to the fight I was putting up for them, and that all my efforts weren't in vain.

I stood in the middle of a politician filled hallway, looking for the Jedi looking cloak I knew he was wearing. Finally, I spotted him, turning in every direction looking for me, he looked like an idiot. "Ash!" I called out as loud as I could, worried he wouldn't be able to hear me over all the conversations. "Rebel!" He whipped around however, a grin from ear to ear forming on his face. "Oh, it's so good to see you!" I exclaimed, jumping up and hugging him as he lifting me off the ground, the butterflies in my stomach flying higher than me. "You look great!" He remarked, looking me up and down as his hands still lingered on my waist, cheeky boy. "Thank you! What's with the Jedi robe?" I touched his arm lightly, accidentally feeling his muscles along with the robe, how many pull ups has he been doing? "This? Oh, this is my disguise." He looked down at it, as proud as a kid looking at his drawing. "Oh, very sneaky." I praised him, a hint of sarcasm in my voice. "I know, right?" As dense as a rock. "What are you doing here?" I changed the subjected, trying my hardest not to bully him. "Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss your first Senate speech for the world! Plus, I missed you." A fuzzy feeling built up inside me, it was warm and comforting hearing his reassurance, knowing that not everyone in the Rebellion hated me. "Aww, be honest. How was it?" I wondered how Reese had done, if she had totally gone off topic and if the change between us was noticeable. "Rebel, you were amazing up there. They'd be insane not to remove that blockade from around Ryloth, and using your own personal experience was genius." He gave me his approval of my speech, well, Reese's speech, his head going in all directions because of how excited he was. "Thank you." I bowed slightly, showing my gratitude. "I would've brought Benji, but the last time I saw him was the last time you saw him." He looked down, scratching his neck in shame. "What do you mean?" I questioned, worried that something had happened to him. "We need to talk. Do mind if I take you out for a celebratory lunch?" He tried to lighten the darkening conversation, changing the topic. "Sure! That sounds great." I agreed quickly, my mind still fixed on Benji. "Do you need help getting out of here? Do you wanna hitch a ride with me?" He offered up some assistance, knowing it would be difficult for me to convince Palpatine to let me go out on a casual, platonic, dinner. "No, I'm okay. Meet me at the restaurant you, Rue, and I ate at when the kids were babies." I shock my head, declining his offer, knowing it would be better if it didn't seem like I was running away. "Will do. See you there." He winked, walking away to head to the restaurant.

I arrived at the restaurant, trying to avoid attention as I sat down with Ash. "What do we need to talk about?" I asked anxiously, the anticipation building as time went on. "Well, I'm sure Rue told you she was pregnant." Did I ask about your dumb wife? "It's a boy." I don't care, but since its yours. "Oh, Ash. Congratulations!" I gave him a smile trying to hide my displeasure that Rue would also be sharing the same joy. "Thank you." He leaned back, drinking some of his water. "When is she due?" I questioned, giving up on being mad, since there was no point, it's not like its the child's fault. "One week. The due date is my birthday exactly." He put down his drink, seeming excited at the fact their birthdays would match up. "That's amazing!" I remarked, clapping my hands quietly. "It's pretty neat." He shrugged it off, and I could tell something else was on his mind. "How is she?" I asked, taking a wild guess on what was bothering him. "That's really what I wanted to talk to you about. Ever since she took me back to the rebellion, she's been intent on keeping me there. She's kept me confined to my room, I haven't seen anyone besides her and the kids since I got back, and my holoscreen access is limited to only a few channels, so I only found out about your speech recently. I don't know what's gotten into her." He vented, dumping his past experience with Rue on me. Wow, Rue's gone off the deep end. I looked down at my purse, remembering one of the reasons why I needed to talk to Ash. "I have something I need to give to you. It was delivered here the day after you went back to the rebellion. I've held onto it for you ever since and have never opened it." I handed him a white envelope, containing something that was meant for his eyes only, something I wouldn't dare to open. "Oh…my…force. I think I need to sit down." He put his hand on his head, as if he had some kind of revelation. "Ash, you are sitting down." I stated plainly, resisting the urge to call his stupid, even though he was acting like it. His face was as pale as a ghost, or as if he had just seen one. "What is it? Are you okay?" I interrogated him, worried he might actually pass out. "I-" He started to explain the situation to me, before getting interrupted by the beeping of his holophone. "Rue's having the baby!" Ash exclaimed, looking at me with a shocked expression, sitting there like at dork. "Well, why are you still sitting here with me?! Go!" I yelled at him, pointing to the door. "I'm so sorry!" He apologized getting up from the booth, scrambling to get his thoughts together. "Don't apologize, just leave!" I scolded him for not being quick enough to get out the door, I mean dude, your wife is birth! "Here, let me at least pay." He set his card down on the table, starting out the door. "Ash, we didn't even order anything." I looked at him sympathetically, as it was the only thing I could do for his dumbness. "Well, get something on me!" He was determined to pay for our non-existent meal. "Ash- '' I protested, refusing to let him pay. "Just take my money." He refuted, not letting me win. "Bye, I love you! I'll see you!" He was already half way out the door by the time, I had no time to scold him farther for say such things. "Bye! Good luck!" I waved at him, knowing that I had lost. "Thank you!" And he was gone as quickly as he came. "I miss you already." I whispered underneath my breath as I felt my only source as light fade away.