The fine ash covering the ground silenced our footsteps. Every step left behind a perfect footprint and swirled more ash into the hazy air. The sparse trees were singed black from a recent fire. The thick cloud cover of the volcanic planet created a cold and dim environment away from the heat of the lava flow.

Kylo's communicator pinged off waypoints as we approached the wayfinder's location. He continuously scanned the ominous forest with his eyes, lightsaber hilt in hand. In the distance, I spotted a strange assortment of tall boulders—clumsily carved yet intentionally placed. It seemed to be a religious site of some kind.

"The natives must—"

I halted when Kylo suddenly held up his hand. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes searching. "Someone is following us."

I drew my sidearm. I looked around, my eyes dancing up and down every tree, but saw no one. He motioned for me to go forward and to the right.

"Hide," he ordered.

I sprinted about fifty meters and hid behind the widest tree I could find. Once I was crouched and hidden, Kylo's lightsaber burst to life. Besides my heartbeat thundering in my ears, its chaotic crackle seemed to be the only sound in the forest. Several anxious minutes passed.

Suddenly, I heard a foreign blaster bolt whizz through the air. Dozens more followed, and Kylo's lightsaber hummed and screeched as he deflected them. A yellow bolt flew by my ear and hit a tree in the distance, igniting a small fire on impact. I pressed my back into the tree trunk and held my blaster pistol to my heaving chest.

Alien screams of pain and the scent of burning flesh began to fill my senses. Kylo's forceful grunts indicated that he wasn't in distress, but it took every ounce of my willpower to remain hidden. When I spotted a retreating figure in my peripheral vision, I carefully aimed my blaster. Shot—kill.

A minute later, another alien came to investigate the body. Shot—miss. It followed the line of my shot and started charging in my direction, a battleaxe raised above its head. Adrenaline flooded my system. Shot—miss. I stood up and held my breath as I took my aim. Shot—kill. The alien crumpled to the ground.

I slammed my back against the tree, my heart racing. The horrific sounds continued for several minutes as I held my blaster in a trembling death grip. The inscription on the barrel, "Exercise Every Power," hovered before my eyes.

Then, silence.

Utter silence.

Stricken with fear, I stumbled out of my hiding spot. At least fifty alien corpses littered the forest floor, their severed limbs scattered about and their dark blood splattered on the ground and trees. Small fires burned here and there. Kylo was nowhere to be seen.

"Lucia!"

I gasped and started jogging toward the ring of boulders.

He was there. Ash and grime covered his clothes, and streaks of sweat ran down his ashy face. I ran to him and hugged him, breathing out relieved laughter. When I felt something between us, I pulled back. He was holding a pyramid-shaped object emitting a green light, smudged with dark clotted blood.

Back in the Scout, the cloth-covered wayfinder buzzed with Force energy in my hands. Somehow, our return hyperspace jump to the Supremacy felt quicker than our departure. Hux awaited the Supreme Leader's return with a small escort of Stormtroopers.

Kylo took the object from the cloth and placed it into an officer's waiting hands. "Have the bridge send a probe to these coordinates immediately," he ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Hux approached us with a look of barely contained panic on his face. "War meeting," the two men said simultaneously.

"Six Generals have already arrived," Hux continued, falling into step with him.

I followed behind, struggling to keep up with their pace. Kylo's cape billowed behind him as he navigated the corridors to the war room. Even down the hall, we could hear the Generals arguing in raised voices. Kylo scoffed under his breath as he entered.

"Silence!" he roared.

Nearly all of them sank meekly into their seats. Their scowls and frowns remained.

"My apologies, Supreme Leader," Sade said, her head bowed.

"Now is not the time for apologies," Kylo seethed at the head of the table. "Where is the Resistance fleet?"

To his left, Hux spoke from his standing position. "We have been unable to locate it. It's likely beyond our sensor's range, deep within the Core Worlds."

When he shot me a nervous glance over his shoulder, I crossed my arms beneath my cloak. Now was not the time to fret over identities.

Pryde stood slowly from his seat. "Sir…if this intel is accurate—"

He stopped speaking when Kylo's hand shot out. Only squeaks of air made it past his vocal cords as the Force tightened around his throat. His hands scrabbled at his neck.

"It isn't a question of 'if'!"

When he lowered his hand, Pryde slumped to the floor unconscious. No one dared to render him aid. And no one else dared to question the varsity of the report.

Hux cleared his throat. "We could…consolidate the fleet. Take up a defensive position."

Graves nodded, his eyes anxiously avoiding the Supreme Leader. "I agree, Armitage."

Kylo's eyes were focused on the Galaxy map projected in the middle of the table. The cluster of planets near the Core seemed to stare back at him in silent mockery.

"We will consolidate the fleet in the Unknown Regions, at the planet Exegol," Kylo decided. "If the Resistance captures this planet, they will obtain unimaginable power. We must defend it at all costs."

After the plans were arranged and the orders were issued, Hux followed us out into the hallway. I gazed up at Kylo's profile as we walked, willing him to at least glance at me. His eyes remained focused ahead, wearing the same vacant expression he'd had since finding the wayfinder. The shrill tone of his communicator broke the silence.

"Supreme Leader, this is the bridge," said a female voice. "The probe sent from the Steadfast has begun transmitting data."

"Push it to the command suite," he responded immediately. Then he glanced at me for half a second. "I'm sending you away."

I fell behind when my steps faltered. "What…?"

"That can be arranged," Hux chimed in, smoothly taking my place at his side. "There are safe locations designed for leadership in this very situation."

"Good," Kylo mumbled.

I bit my tongue to keep from arguing. After all, it wasn't just my life in jeopardy.

In the briefing room, I subconsciously paced around the room. Hux was accessing a nearby computer terminal, and Kylo was studying a projection of Exegol on the holomap. He had told me to go eat, but I wasn't hungry. The nerves churning in my stomach would prevent me from eating until I knew we were safe.

I eventually climbed the steps to join him on the catwalk. The large blue orb of light was reflected in his eyes, making them look much lighter than normal. I rested my hands beside his vice grip on the railing. He released a tight, incredulous breath.

"Another Skywalker, and another Palpatine," he said.

I shook my head, staring at my hands. "She will not ruleover you like Palpatine ruled over Vader. She will submit to your authority or die in her defiance."

My fervent declaration drew Hux's attention from across the room.

"You don't know the full story of Vader," Kylo murmured, his voice suddenly small. "Luke told me what happened in the end."

I gazed up at him, confused. He finally looked at me, and the look in his eyes was that of a lost boy. It made my own resolve waver.

"He turned back to the Light, Lucia," he breathed. Even as he said it, there was utter disbelief on his face. "He killed Palpatine himself."

"I'm not surprised. He hated Palpatine."

He suddenly clenched his teeth and ground out, "He turned back to the Light."

I searched his face, slowly understanding what he meant.

As his gaze fell away, I tried and failed to maintain eye contact. I settled for placing my hand on his arm. The metal railing bent under his hand. I sensed his frustration pulling his mind farther and farther away from me.

"As long as I've known you, you've felt this 'pull' to the Light," I told him calmly. "But you've never wavered. Your commitment now is stronger than ever before."

"Commitment to what," he practically growled.

"Stop this," I sighed, cupping his cheek and turning his head.

He looked down at me with misty eyes and trembling lips. My fingers traced the line of his scar down his neck until my hand was pressed over his heart. His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths.

"I know who you are, Kylo Ren," I said intently. "You were born for greatness. It's in your blood. I know you will see this through."

His head suddenly dropped to my shoulder, and a wretched sound escaped his lips. I stepped into him and wrapped my arms around him, feeling the weight of his body leaning heavily against me. He was trembling.

"I know what I have to do," he said in a broken voice.

I nodded, trying my best to conceal my doubts from him.

"But I…can't lose you."

"You won't," I whispered. "We'll be safe."

We stayed like that for unknown minutes. My eyes tracked over nothingness, trying to see the uncertain future that stretched out before us. Trying to see the fate of my unborn baby. Trying to see Rey's true intentions. Trying to see anything.

"Supreme Leader," said a hesitant voice. "General Graves awaits your orders on the bridge."

I tried to catch Kylo's hand when he suddenly pulled away from me. His face was turned away as he swung over the catwalk railing and gracefully dropped to the ground. He crossed the room with urgent steps.

"Keep looking," he snapped to Hux.

The General's expression was deadpan when we made eye contact.

After the door slid shut, silence fell over the room. I crossed my arms and turned towards the holomap. I heard the click of a datacube being pulled out of a terminal. Then I heard Hux's voice, clear and matter-of-fact.

"He's slipping."

"He's fine," I shot back. My shoulders heaved as I clutched the railing in front of me. "Don't you dare breathe another word of him, Hux."

I heard footsteps ascending the catwalk steps. "Apologies, my lady."

He slid the datacube into the holomap's control panel. A plethora of data appeared in holographic form, and he worked to fine-tune the projection for a few minutes. I followed the movements of his hands out of the corner of my eye.

"I've compiled a list of suitable planets for your safe retreat."

With a wave of his hand, about ten planets appeared before us. I pushed away thoughts of Kylo to focus on the task at hand. But maybe he needs me to stay. Hux zoomed in on the first planet.

"Arda I," he said. "This planet should be familiar to you."

I recognized the arid planet from one of my first missions with the First Order. Unpleasant memories of Vegas' life-threatening injury resurfaced. It was the first time I had questioned leadership.

"No. There might still be ties with the Resistance."

Hux unceremoniously flicked to the next option. "Naboo. A prosperous and neutral planet in the Mid Rim."

"No. I want to be in the Outer Rim."

"Very well…" He skipped over the next five or so planets. "Dagobah. A remote swamp planet with an abundance of edible moss."

Just the thought of it made my morning sickness flair up. "What else?"

The next planet was large and orange with two nearby stars. A sense of decisiveness arose in my chest as my eyes traced over the image. I couldn't quite explain it, but it just felt right.

"Tatooine. A desert planet equipped with a rural defensible estate."

"Tatooine," I murmured. "I choose Tatooine."

At that moment, the bridge commed a general announcement throughout the ship. "All hands, prepare for hyperspace jump to Unknown Regions at 1530. Repeat: hyperspace jump will commence in approximately six hours. All hands to stations."

I swallowed. I better start packing.

Hux followed me down the steps. "I'll assemble your entourage," he was saying. "Major Duval and whatever he needs. A set of Elite Stormtroopers."

"And John Vegas," I added over my shoulder.

He made an exasperated sound. "I'll ask Ren."

"Thanks."

As I veered off in the direction of my quarters, a hand caught my arm. I faced him with a questioning look. He seemed unusually hesitant.

"Caltrel, I may…," he trailed off, shaking his head. "Good luck."

He stuck out his hand, offering me a rather old-fashioned handshake. I took his hand firmly and looked in his eyes. They held a certain warmth that I had never seen before. I may never see you again, my mind finished. Stepping forward, I put my hand on his arm and leaned my shoulder into his. My voice trembled with emotion.

"Watch over him, Hux. Keep him safe."

His hand came to rest on my upper back. "I shall do my best."