Hope

That evening I wear my white combat suit as we head towards a little used hanger on the outskirts of the city she's hired to set up base in. I notice the jacket of Dad's she wears and hope he'll at least return to the city considering the message I sent.

But somehow I know that he won't.

"What would you like to do for your birthday?" Mom asks me as we make our way there.

"My birthday?" I repeat, my mind elsewhere, namely on what will happen once Ben arrives.

"It's tomorrow," she says and squeezes my hand. "Seventeen."

"It is?" I realise, the thought of what another year has in store is more unsettling than thrilling. "Well, I think sleeping for a week would be a good start."

She chuckles and gently proposes "If you decide to stay in the city then we might be able to arrange that."

"But I'll have to go back to Ossus," I say and sense her hesitation. "Mom?"

"Stay for a few days," she says with a pained smile and I know something's wrong. I could feel her distress before I saw her in her office, and I feel it now. "I've missed having you home."

"Okay," I breathe immediately and she squeezes my hand, offering to me the one thing I'd spent my entire teenage years fighting for, to just be at home with her instead of shipped off for someone else to train and raise.

I love Ben and I want to complete my training, but this... for the first time I'm sure of where I want to be. So Ben and I will just have to figure it out. I know we can. Maybe, just maybe I can prove to him he's wrong about our parents, maybe he can come with me and we can finally be a family again.

When we enter the hangar I'm surprised to see who's within it. I expected Mom's staff, even if I'm still ticked off at them, but I'm more surprised to see a face that I immediately recognise; Admiral Ackbar.

"Admiral, oh it is good to see you," Mom says, embracing him as an old friend. "Do you remember my daughter Hope? She would have only been young when you last saw her."

"She's sure grown up since I last saw her," he says and shakes my hand. "It is a pleasure to see you, you certainly take after your mother."

A few weeks ago his words would have held a different meaning, that the resemblance was merely physical but there's an edge of pride to his voice that tells me the face I've put on for the media and my words in the senate have been taken seriously, just as Mom's have been.

I smile and nod "It's good to see you too Admiral, she's dragged you out of retirement I see?"

"Oh she has indeed dragged me out," he chuckles with an emphasis on being dragged. "But when Leia Organa calls I answer."

I find other familiar faces such as Nien Nunb, and some I'm introduced too such as Caluan Ematt, a man dressed in high ranking navy uniform who shakes my hand firmly.

"Solo, I was hoping I'd see you in the navy someday but it seems this is the better place to be," he says and despite Mom dramatically underplaying this meeting it's clear to me now that I'm part of something big, heroes of the war gathering for the first time in decades now to fight whatever it is that's coming. I can feel it in the force, a tremor that confirms this is a moment in history.

And I know that this is where I belong.

Whilst Mom's talking to Greer I feel him through the force and don't know whether to feel fear or relief as I find my way outside the hangar to where he waits for me.

It's dark enough at this hour that his face is difficult to see, but his frustration... I can feel that loud and clear.

"Ben-"

"Threepio told me where you'd be," he explains. "Advised me against causing a scene."

"I would as well," I say and stand there hesitant, deciding to get it over with at the expense of my pride. "I'm sorry I left like that, I wasn't thinking straight."

He steps closer, his face is unreadable but the darkness is thick between us and it's all I can do not to flinch as he puts his hands on my shoulders but his voice is surprisingly calm. "Are you alright?"

I give a stiff nod, my throat feeling tight. "I am now."

He nods back and looks at the hangar behind me, the interior obstructed to him but he can feel the lifeforms within. "What's going on, why are you-"

"It's a meeting of war veterans and other military personel that have been vouched for," I say and his brows draw together in confusion. "I'd mentioned the mess Mom's been trying to clean up but it's bigger than that. Something is coming Ben, a war is coming and I can feel it, and so can others. It's why Mom's called them here."

At the mention of Mom being inside he grows hesitant but knows I'm not walking away. "I'll wait in my ship then, we'll leave when you're done."

"No," I say curtly and he raises his eyebrows in surprise. He's used to me whining and pleading and finding every excuse in the book to sway him, but not outright refusal like this. "You're coming inside and hearing what everyone has to say."

He just rolls his eyes now and crosses his arms over his chest. "So what? Some old guys want to talk about a militia, it doesn't matter-"

"It does to me," I say and leave no room for argument. "Which is why you're going to be part of this whether you like it or not."

I turn my back on him and head inside without waiting for an answer and find Mom looking for me with another pilot at her side.

"Oh Hope there you are, this is Temmin Wexley, a pilot in the New Republic Navy," she says introducing us. "Captain this is my daughter Hope and-" she falls off as she looks past me and swallows nervously but doesn't let it show in her voice. "And my son Ben."

A quiet smile comes to my face and Ben nods politely as he comes to my side, somehow managing to put on a half-pleasant face as he shakes Wexley's hand, Mom and I sharing an equally anxious look.

"Jedi?" Temmin Wexley asks, noticing the lightsabers at our sides and says to Mom "It's good to see."

'It is," Mom says proudly and he turns his attention to me.

"How old are you?" he asks as I shake his hand.

"Sixteen."

He nods approvingly. "I was the same age when I fought in the Battle of Jakku, served with your father before that, great pilot, good man."

I nod in agreement but Ben suddenly looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here and Mom's suddenly called away, the air quickly turning more uncomfortable with Ben's presence.

"You're in the Navy?" I inquire looking at his uniform. "Captain?"

"Aye, been stationed here on Hosnian Prime," he answers and nods to me. "I've heard you're not a bad pilot yourself, that you got Senator Organa out of some trouble on Sibensko. Got any training?"

"Naboo Space Fighter Corps," I answer, Ben barely containing the way his eyes roll back into his head. "Going on five years now."

He nods in respect and says "I look forward to working with you Solo."

"Likewise Captain Wexley," I say as he moves along and I smack Ben in the arm.

"Ow, what?"

"Can you at least try not to look miserable?"

"Really?" he exclaims, at least making the effort to keep his voice to a whisper as he motions around the room. "I'm standing here listening to a bunch of old guys say how great Dad is."

"Because he is," I say and he just looks at me like I'm stupid. "What?"

"Give it a few more years, I'm sure he'll disappoint you," he says and I'm fuming.

"What the hell's your problem?" I ask him and he just rolls his eyes at me but this time I do take offence. "So that's how you're going to be?"

"Yeah, it is."

I can't hit him in public, at least not properly, and as I open my mouth to chastise him we're interrupted by Admiral Ackbar.

"Ah, young Ben, I thought that was you I saw come in but I had to look twice," Admiral Ackbar says to him. "Not so young anymore though it seems, got your father's height I see."

"I-" Ben begins, caught off guard by the sight of the war hero and struggling with words. "I have."

He nods and mentions "I've heard Skywalker's been training you, he's done a good job from what I can see." Something in Ben's face softens, but I also feel something break inside him. "Tell me are you a pilot like your father? Because this organisation your mother's putting together could sure use a few, and it could certainly use a new generation of Jedi."

"I am," Ben says quickly and I see that desperation for approval, that need to live up to our legacy.

"Then I look forward to working with both of you," Admiral Ackbar says proudly. "Now come take a seat, your mother's about to give a speech."

I put a hand on Ben's arm and guide him over to the chairs that have been set up. He's less reluctant now as he sits beside me, but his face hardens as Mom appears to address the pilots and veterans she's gathered.

"Thank you everyone for coming tonight," Mom begins. "Whether you're an old friend or a new one, you're here because you've shown courage. You've shown initiative. You've seen the coming danger and you're willing to do whatever it takes to protect the peaceful worlds of this galaxy from war."

"We're ready," Joph Seastriker says from somewhere in the crowd, it's not a large one by any means, but I still have to look to find the source of the voice.

"Don't speak too soon," Mom warns. "Every one of you has to fully understand that this movement, this organization, is not sanctioned by the Galactic Senate. For now, and possibly forever, we operate beyond governmental control." I sit up a little straighter, a smile coming to my face. "That may mean bending some laws, and breaking others."

She looks at me now and I nod, certainly more than eager for that, although she seems to immediately regret her choice of words.

"Never stopped us before," Admiral Ackbar says, like everyone in this room prepared and ready for whatever's to come. Almost everyone at least.

"We've already got a few hundred thermal detonators" Greer adds on and Ben turns his head incredulously. "It's a start."

"And two Jedi," I add, dragging Ben into this whether he likes it or not, and I can't tell if it's surprise or pride that crosses Mom's face as she looks at us.

I look at Ben and feel the reality of the situation slowly sink into him, but I can't read his mind. I feel curiosity, hesitation, but know I can get him on my side.

"The sun is setting on the New Republic," Mom says and meets my eye. "It's time for the Resistance to rise."

~

It's almost midnight as Ben and I slowly make our way home to the apartment, Mom having hung behind to discuss some things with Admiral Ackbar and Ematt. I would have stayed if not for Ben being so desperate to avoid being in the same room as Mom.

"Ben, something is coming," I remind him for the tenth time. "And after what the Republic's done to us can't you see something has to change?"

"Mom wasted her entire life trying to change the galaxy but couldn't, she brought down the Empire only to create something worse than the old Republic" Ben says, echoing what I said to her not that long ago. "What can we possibly do?"

"The senate's corrupt beyond help and the New Republic is determined to remain pacifist, but we don't have to," I tell him and that finally gets him to start listening. "We can fight."

"Somehow I don't think Mom's meaning to start a terrorist organisation against the Republic despite how much it sounds like one," he scoffs and asks me "You do realise that's what people are going to call it right?"

"And so what if they do?" I ask him, the label of terrorist not bothering me as much as it should after seeing the truth of our democracy. Assassinations and cover-ups. "The Republic is corrupt and if we can't change it then who can? Ben our legacy is more than picking up a lightsaber or jumping in a cockpit, our legacy is changing the galaxy. Our grandmother was Palpatine's greatest adversary and despite what you think of Mom she brought down an Empire without knowing how to wield the powers we do. If they could accomplish that much without it, imagine what we can do with it?"

He takes my words seriously now at the mention of legacy. "Where do we even start?"

"Mom gave me her title so I have the power to be able to stand in that senate and do what she can't now," I say and admit "I might not be able to accomplish anything the way she wants me to, but I'll be damned if I don't use my voice and my lightsaber to make a difference. She's finally realised that to make that difference we're going to need to pick up weapons and fight, and no one in the galaxy can fight with the same weapons that we can. This is why I returned to Ossus to finish my training and regardless of what anyone else thinks I'm going be out there fighting whatever comes, and I want you to be right beside me."

He's contemplative, hesitant, but I can feel his change of heart at those last words. "So the heirs of Vader are going to defy the Republic and start a paramilitary?"

I look him in the eye, my determination absolute. "Damn right we are."

"Well, I can't say no to that." A smile spreads across my face and he shakes his head fondly before asking "Are you sure you aren't just going along with this so you can go run about the galaxy with a blaster, because knowing Mom she's going to have you stuck in an office?"

"I plan on flying about the galaxy inside the cockpit of a starfighter thank you very much," I correct and he manages a laugh.

"You don't even have a starfighter, just the Shiraya and no offence but it's just a smaller version of the Falcon that's not as fast."

"I'll acquire one," I assure him after a moment of offence and ponder "I do like the N-1's they've had me flying on Naboo."

"I would have thought an x-wing would be more your aesthetic," he says and I smile to myself in contemplation at that.

"I think you're right."

We reach the apartment complex and the moment we even enter the building I remember back to the altercation at Dad's apartment on Theron and stop in my tracks.

"What?" Ben asks and I open my mouth but stop before I can repeat the words I spoke before he attacked me then.

"What are you going to say to Mom?"

"I'm hoping to leave before I have to think about that," he says and I go rigid. "Hope, you just said you wanted to complete your training and if you want to be part of this then you need more preparation than what you have."

"You can complete my training here," I say carefully and see that look in his eye, avoidance, fear, something darker. "We're staying for my birthday and then we'll talk about what comes next."

Reluctantly he accepts that compromise but tells me "Then you won't stop me when I confront Mom."

A chill settles over us. "Considering how you confronted Dad yeah, I think I will."

He stands over me now but I hold his eye. "Believe it or not Hope, you can't control everyone around you."

"Can't I?" I ask and his brows furrow together at the challenge. "If you so much as think about hurting her like you hurt Dad-"

We stop when we hear the doors to the building open and Mom stands there looking between us in alarm, not entirely sure what she's walked into but cautious nonetheless.

She steps forward and reaches for him. "Ben-"

"I'm here for Hope, not you," he says bluntly and I feel the hurt vividly through the force bond between us. "I don't want excuses or an apology. I'm going upstairs."

He walks ahead of us without another word towards the elevator to the apartment and I reach for Mom's hand, and while she's upset she's not surprised.

"Let him be angry, he has every right to be," she says quietly but her anxiety runs deeper than just his anger towards her. "What did he think?"

"I've got him on board," I say and somehow the thought of that only causes conflict within her. "All he's ever wanted is to live up to this legacy that's on our shoulders, and he's prepared to fight in order to do so." She winces then and a wave of regret washes over her. "Mom?"

"I remember being young once believe it or not, and I could never understand why my father was so reluctant to allow me to have any part of the Rebellion despite how hard I fought to earn his trust," she laments and raises her eyes towards the atmosphere. "Now as a parent I understand."

"You raised us on the principles of the Rebellion, of the Jedi," I remind her. "It's our choice to take up this fight, it's what we were born to do."

She looks back at me now and reaches out to cup my face with a pained smile. "At least I know I've done one thing right."

I smile back and reach to cover her hand with my own, holding onto it tight as if the world as I know it is about to fall from beneath my feet.

~

I'm woken by the curtains in my room being pulled back and after a second of momentary panic I see Ben, although the panic doesn't subside at the sight of him.

"Ben?"

"Are you really going to sleep through your birthday?" he asks me and I ease slightly as he comes over with a parcel wrapped in cloth. "Here."

I take it and set it down on my bed, unravelling it to reveal the parts for a lightsaber, the same rare materials I used to forge my first, and smile to myself. "Thank you Ben."

"Now you can finally get started on your second," he says, showing the thoughtfulness I've always known him for. "I've been doing some research into where amethyst crystals had been found in the past. I thought we could see if we could find a pair for your sabers."

"I'd like that," I say and he shares my smile. Recognising my brother in front of me I hug him tight, savouring his presence while I still can since I know it's only a matter of time before his darker face shows itself. "I really would."

"And I know you've been wanting to drag me to Naboo," he says, extending a peace offering to me. "We can go by there for a day or two if you want. I've been thinking about what you said about our grandmother, about being more than just Jedi. I want to see what more there is to our legacy."

I smile proudly and tell him "I do miss Naboo when I'm away from it."

"Then we'll go there," he promises, but upon our mother's presence in the doorway I can physically feel the light slip and anger surface within him, but he manages to keep composure.

"Happy birthday sweetheart," she says as she comes and hugs me, the closest she's physically stood to Ben in months, perhaps longer. "You're growing up too fast."

"I wonder whose fault that is," he murmurs under his breath and both of us decide to ignore the comment for the sake of keeping the peace.

"Now, as customary I have a few pieces of royal jewellery that have been kept on Birren for you to choose from," she begins and the next words have Ben clenching his jaw. "The Princess of Alderaan should be wearing something Alderaanian after all even if Naboo's determined to claim you as their own. I've also spoken with your father and he's going to help me acquire a starfighter for you considering you'll be needing one."

"I'm torn between an N-1 and an x-wing," I say and she can't help but smile.

"I'm sure Han will help you find something suitable," she assures me, not quite able to meet Ben's eye as she pats him on the back and says "Come on, breakfast is ready."

~

Breakfast is a quiet affair with a chill permeating every inch of the apartment. Ben keeps his head down as he picks at his food, not a word spoken between him and Mom other than necessary.

All that can be heard is the scraping of cutlery on plates until I clear my throat. "So you heard from Dad?"

Mom looks up in surprise and then regret fills her eyes. "I'm sorry honey, but he won't be able to make it. He's been caught up in some business with the races on Pheryon."

There's an unsurprised scoff from Ben who mutters "And is this meant to be news?"

"Ben," Mom begins, reluctant to tread there but she does knowing it's an inevitable confrontation. "Your father has gone above and beyond these past few weeks which you would know if-"

"If you treated me like a son and hadn't sent me away to Ossus?" Ben finishes and my mouth is closed until he drags me into it. "Like you sent Hope to Naboo?"

"Don't," I warn but it's clear this is between them.

If I thought Mom would bow her head and remain silent I was wrong. She looks him in the eye and asks him "Would you have wanted it otherwise? All you once wanted was to be a Jedi and sending you to Ossus made that possible."

"I wanted to be a pilot," he corrects, nothing but pure pain in his voice. "I wanted to stay here with Hope and actually know my parents for more than just the first ten years of my life."

"You are the one who won't answer a transmission or return home, and since you want to insult your father let me remind you that it was him who taught you to fly, to shoot a blaster. He was the one who organised your ship when you turned fifteen so you could travel from here to Ossus freely," Mom corrects him in return. "It's your choice that you haven't."

"Yeah well I'm not the only one capable of getting on a ship and paying a visit am I?" he says coldly but she remains unflinching. "And who was it that lied to me my entire life? You, Luke and Dad all knew and never said a word."

Mom nods along, taking the blow, but not without scolding him. "Have the grace to confront me when your sister isn't present, and it's her birthday Ben. You should be setting an example for her when it comes to managing your emotions, although it seems you're the one that could learn from her with how she has handled the past few weeks."

"Oh really?" Ben scoffs and I lean back in my chair now with a pursed mouth. "If you believe that then you don't know either of your children."

Panic slowly begins to fill me upon remembering what occurred on Theron and I meet his eye from across the table with the slightest shake of my head in warning, because if he wants to drag me down I'll take him down with me.

Mom's voice is stiff as she asks "Would you like to elaborate on that?"

"No," he says, choosing instead to leave her guessing. "You'll figure it out for yourself sooner or later."

I can't meet Mom's eye, each having seen things the other doesn't know of, but something inside our mother burns and I realise she's also seen things I don't know of.

"As her teacher and her brother you should be guiding her towards making wise decisions instead of encouraging her down a bad path. Otherwise teaching her is a privilege you will no longer have."

"I am her master and she is my apprentice," Ben corrects and whilst she burns he goes utterly cold. "She will do as I see fit and it is not your place to interfere."

"My place?" she repeats in utter disbelief. "I am her mother."

"But you aren't mine are you? You haven't been since I was ten years old," he says, drawing the sharpest blade he possibly can to twist. "And as her master-"

"I would sooner cut my tongue out than ever call anyone my master," I state curtly and his eyes widen. "But I suppose you're the one who takes after our grandfather in that regard."

Mom's lips part, questions running through her mind at the pure alarm that fills the room but Ben's the only one who knows the truth behind those words.

"Oh- I am?" he scoffs as he shoves his chair back to lean over the table with a finger pointed at me. "You're the one who-"

"Oh Princess we-" We're interrupted by Threepio entering the room with Ben looking as if he's about to commit a homicide and Mom nothing but relieved for the intrusion. "Is this a bad time?"

"No Threepio, I'd almost forgotten about the meeting," Mom says and clears her throat as she stands. "I've invited several people for a meeting today to continue on from last night's business, it seems the first has just arrived. Hope I would like you to join me and Ben-" she stops and looks at him with a disappointment and apprehension that has him lowering his head. "If you cannot keep your anger under control you can leave and return to Ossus."

Before he can open his mouth to continue the argument since there's no shortage of ammunition he can use I stand abruptly to intervene. "If you're going to carry on like this then I'll put you on that ship myself. You can hate whoever you want to hate, I can't stop you, but if you want me to be your apprentice you're going to sit with me in that meeting and leave Mom alone."

He looks at me now and I feel him grappling with it, the need to let go and let his anger out, but the fear of losing me overshadows all else because we both know at the end of the day I'm all he has.

And he's all I have.

I can't lose him to this darkness, no matter how badly I want to curse him for it.

"Should I- should I let the guest in?" Threepio asks hesitantly and Mom gives a nod. Ben doesn't say anything, but his silence is better than the alternative.

We're all standing as Amilyn Holdo enters the room and embraces Mom.

"Leia, I know I'm early but it's been so long," she says, purple hair styled perfectly. Ben raises his eyebrows in judgement but quickly makes his face neutral at the look I give him. "Oh, and you have company."

"Amilyn, you remember my children, Ben and Hope," Mom says and Amilyn clearly senses some of the tension in the room but decides to brush it off.

"Indeed, but one was far shorter the last time I saw him," she says and turns her attention to me with some apprehension. "And Hope... you have certainly made a name for yourself these past weeks."

Mom seems to take it with pride, but I can sense her friend's caution as she looks me over and Mom tells her "They'll be joining the meeting today."

"They will be?" she repeats, barely masking her disapproval. "Are you sure Leia? They're quite young and this is serious business."

"As were we if you remember," Mom reminisces in good spirit, but I'm a little less good spirited at being patronised.

"Considering I had to shoot some of those militants out of the sky I'm quite aware of how serious this is," I inform her and her eyebrows shoot up in surprise at the attitude in my voice. "It's no more serious than what I've dealt with lately."

"You are quite spirited," she says carefully and looks to Mom. "This one takes after you then?"

"And her father," she informs Amilyn as we move into the formal dining area that Mom uses when hosting guests. "She's studied at the University of Theed on Naboo whilst partaking in their starfighter and handmaiden training programs. She's quite the pilot and has formally begun devoting herself to her Jedi training after studying part time for some years. Ben's been a devoted student of Luke's since he was a boy and has taken Hope as his apprentice."

"A pilot, well I suppose that says enough then," Amilyn remarks and I tilt my head. "Speaking of which, Luke and Han, will they be joining us?"

"No, Luke's on Ossus minding the temple while Han is managing the races on Pheryon," she says, Ben purses his mouth to keep some unsavoury remark from coming out. "But Ben will be representing Luke." She looks over to him. "Isn't that right Ben?"

He sees the responsibility she's offering him, a bridge for him to cross, and he takes it. "That's right."

~

An hour later we're seated around the table discussing logistics with members of what Mom has decided will make up the leadership of the Resistance, or so far at least.

"It will only be a matter of time before the Centrists break away to form a separatist government, or something worse, I'm sure of it," Mom says, datapads and files spread across the table. "Thanks to Hope's the facility storing the militant's armaments was destroyed, we can only hope that sets them back long enough for us to acquire our own."

"So it was Hope who destroyed the underwater base?" Admiral Ackbar says and nods to me. "Good work."

"In all truth I didn't know there even was a base," I admit considering I had no idea what was going on. "I just shot at what I was told and took them out."

"The mark of a good pilot," he praises while Ben keeps his eyes on the table.

"Her and Han saved my life, that much is certain," she says and smiles to me. "Before the base was destroyed Greer and Joph were able to seize a sizeable amount of thermal detonators which gives us a start in acquiring our own armaments."

"If we're operating outside of the authority of the New Republic then we're going to need means that are under the radar to acquire our resources," Ematt says and Mom nods, having already considered that.

"Han will be able to assist in acquiring resources when he returns from Pheryon," Mom says and asks Admiral Ackbar "What do we have in the way of ships?"

"We have Home One, although I cannot speak to how we will acquire the crew needed to properly staff it," he informs us. "I have also eyed the retired MC85 Star Cruiser the Dawn of Tranquility as a potential flagship. Again, our greatest issue will be staffing these vessels."

"Ematt, we spoke last night in regards to recruitment," Mom says. "What information can you give us in regards to logistics."

"I'll do what I can from inside the navy, recruit our best to the Resistance, but the moment the higher ups get a whiff of it they won't be happy," he warns. "But I can get an underground recruitment network up and running. I've reached out to some old friends who've settled on Yavin-4 and L'ulo Lampar's already signed on."

"We'll need some young blood amongst the ranks," Amilyn Holdo says and speaks to Ben directly. "How many of Luke's students would be willing to join the cause?"

Mom sits up straighter at Ben being brought into the conversation, whilst I've so far sat back and observed.

"Most are younger than Hope, but I can name maybe half a dozen older students who would be willing," he informs her and the energy in the room shifts. I can name a handful off the top of my head, Tai, Hennix and Voe along with Aylee, but even then I doubt she'll have any interest considering she'd be against the Jedi entering into any conflict.

That and the fact I'd rather not see her if I can help it.

"We won the war against the Empire with less Jedi than that," Admiral Ackbar says but reminds us "However, I also fought in the Clone Wars and remember the opposition to the Jedi Order formally entering the war." He looks at Mom now. "I once had the honour of fighting alongside Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. I remember the Jedi Order of old better than most, the Jedi's dedication to justice and democracy, however I also remembered how grievously they suffered for their involvement."

Ben sits upright now at the mention of our grandfather. "You knew Anakin Skywalker?"

"I did. Anakin Skywalker was a brilliant General and Padmé Amidala did not shy away from a fight either. I fought with them during the Mon Cala civil war when they came to our aid," he informs us and even Mom tilts her head in interest. "Back then of course I never could have known I'd be fighting against him two decades later, but I still remember the words he'd spoken to me in the midst of battle; 'forget your tradition, this is war.' It seems that was the philosophy the Jedi had followed by that point and I remember what it cost them."

"Still," Holdo says, getting a flash of annoyance from Ben at the interruption. "Having the new order working alongside the Resistance would be monumental in shifting favour."

"For better or for worse?" I'm the one to state and they turn their attention to me. "The majority of the senate opposes the Jedi and spouts Imperial propaganda framing us as war criminals."

"A small percentage of the senate-" Holdo tries to argue before I cut her off.

"No, not a small percentage," I correct, having taken the brunt of it. "It is not a small percentage when a minority spouts hate and the rest stands by and allows it." Mom nods in quiet agreement with me and Holdo purses her mouth. "The Centrists make up half the senate, they are against us and the Populist faction's turned on us now as well. In their eyes the son of Vader is training the new generation of Jedi and that stain marks them now as well whether anyone's realised it or not."

"So you're saying they have no place?" Ben asks, taking it personally.

"I'm saying that an organisation led by Leia Organa with the backing of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Order is going to be damned to hell by all political factions of the galaxy," I say bluntly. "A month ago it would have been celebrated, but now it's a paramilitary led by Vader's daughter and enforced by his son-"

"Regardless, it will have to be Luke we consult with," Mom interrupts, trying to change discussion but Ben speaks over her.

"Not necessarily," he says and I begin to see a side to him I haven't before. A leader, and something more frightening. "If Luke wants to stand idly by then we can convince those who do want to fight to break away."

Mom's face shifts now, so minuscule no one else would detect it, but I do and so I back Ben up for the sake of finding a middle ground.

"He's right, if individual students want to be part of this then they have every right to regardless of Luke's personal opinion," I say and see Admiral Ackbar and Holdo exchanging a glance.

"And if the Republic wants to paint us as Sith then we have every right to take up arms and stand against them," Ben continues and Mom immediately stills. "As far as I'm concerned-"

"That's quite enough Ben," Mom says quickly, able to mask the true extent of her alarm from everyone but me. "It is not the New Republic we are resisting but extremists from the Centrist party working alongside militants who seek to bring an end to it."

"Then maybe they should," Ben says and despite being in agreement with him in my sympathies towards the senate my mouth falls open at him stating it so blatantly in a room full of people who fought for it. "It's corrupt and deserves what's coming to it for becoming as weak as it is, and then using Hope as a scapegoat-"

"Ben," Mom reiterates, using every ounce of her strength to keep composure. "I have little love for the senate I can assure you, and yes the senate is corrupt but the values that the New Republic stands on must be protected to ensure that its citizens do not suffer at the hands of outside forces-"

"Aren't they already suffering under the New Republic's leadership?" he questions and everyone seated around is at a loss for words as he looks at me. "Hope was almost shot dead on the steps of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and the senate still attacked her for speaking the truth. At what point do we stop fighting to protect something that shouldn't be protected and start fighting against it?"

Silence permeates the room, with even Threepio blinking in the background, for the first time in my life, and all our lives, silent. Meanwhile I see a realisation in Mom's eyes before she clears her throat.

"Excuse my son, it has been a trying time for our family," she says whilst he shakes his head.

"He's right Mom," I say quietly, putting some logic to his assessment. "We can't fight militants who want to bring down the Republic if the Republic itself is corrupt and incompetent. They've decommissioned nearly every fleet they had and disarmed it to the point it can't even defend itself if it tried."

Admiral Ackbar nods in agreement there whilst Holdo looks between Ben and I with caution.

"Which is why we have formed this organisation, to do what the Republic won't," she tries to explain, her voice gentler than I expected. "And it is why I have named you Princess of Alderaan. Alderaan may not exist anymore, but it's people do and but what little weight that title still holds must be used for good. My reputation has been ruined, but you can still drive that change within the Republic Hope. If anyone can, it's you."

Ben's silent, but I can feel the hurt and jealousy that shoots through him and he can't help but quip "I wasn't aware Alderaan's succession skipped over sons."

Of all the mouths that drop mine's the first to speak. "Are you seriously-"

"Yeah I am seriously-"

But before Ben and I get into it again we're interrupted by Mom's staff rushing into the room. "Greer?"

"You need to see this," she says and switches on the holonews much to my dread, and what comes next is a moment that will define the trajectory of our lives forever.

"Details have emerged of a separatist government that stands in direct opposition to the New Republic," the news reporter announces and I look at Ben. His face is blank as he stares at the screen but again I hear that murmuring. "They claim to be the legitimate successor to the Empire and call themselves The First Order."

Like that something in me, something in the force, it quakes and I find my head turning towards the open balcony, towards the atmosphere. Blinding light fills the sky and pain splinters through every nerve in my body. Ben rushes to my side as a strangled scream is torn from my throat and my knees give way beneath me, my open hands colliding hard with the floor. For a moment I look down and see only the stars beneath me, enveloping me body and soul, and then again there's the cold floor beneath my hands.

"Hope- Hope!" Ben's yelling and I'm reaching for my neck, grasping at something that isn't there but I feel the weight of it and the torture it brings, shocks through every nerve and my mind- darkness tearing it to shreds from the inside out.

"Hope, what do you see?" Mom asks from beside me and I'm shaking my head. "Hope-"

"Ben," I rasp, reaching for him and feel his hand covering my head, that single touch bringing a wave of pure terror unlike anything I've ever known and I hear his voice so clearly now, echoing through the force.

There is no mercy.

With a cry I push him away from me and feel Mom's hands on my shoulders as my head spins, the pain subsiding but the terror lingering.

"Leia," Holdo says as I reach for R2. "Should we call a doctor?"

"No, not a doctor," Mom says, panic thick in her voice. "Threepio, contact Luke."

Numbly I rest my head on R2's dome, Ben kneeling down beside me.

"Hope, what did you feel?" he asks, his voice a commanding whisper.

Tears stain my face as I look up at him, and my voice is hoarse. "Like my mind was being ripped to shreds."

Mom stills then and I hear her dismissing Ematt, Ackbar and Holdo. "We'll resume this another day, find out what you can about this First Order and report back to me."

When they've left the apartment Mom tugs Ben to his feet, her voice desperate. "I need you to go and get Luke."

"Alright, I'll bring her with me-"

"No, she's staying here with me so I can look after her," Mom insists and that sets something off in Ben.

"No, she isn't," he argues and I'm wincing from the volume of his voice. "She is my apprentice and she is going to be going back to Ossus with me where she won't be leaving my sight!"

"Ben, I am her mother and-"

"You have priorities other than her, I don't," Ben says sharply, standing between her and I as if she's a threat. "She is my only priority and I'm going to figure out what's going on. You can take care of your rebellion, I'm going to take care of her."

Mom promptly ignores Ben and speaks to me directly. "Hope, I would like you to stay here with me. Ben can come back with Luke to-"

"Luke won't be any help to her," Ben dismisses, my head pounding as R2 tries to check me over. "Hope, get up we're leaving."

He catches my incredulous glare and Mom yells out as he pulls me roughly to my feet, grabbing my arm painfully tight when I stumble.

"Master Ben, this is not the proper medical protocol-" Threepio begins to argue as I reach again for R2 to steady myself.

"Where's your lightsaber?" Ben asks impatiently with a need to leave that I can't understand, pulling me towards my room until I shove him.

"Oh let go of me!" I snap and smack his hand away when he tries to grab me when I stumble, Mom rushing to my side.

"That is enough Ben," she scolds, holding my arm far more gently. "Hope, I need you to sit down and explain to me what you saw until Threepio-"

"Mistress Leia, it seems Master Luke is out of range," Threepio says and she hangs her head. "Should I call for a medical droid?"

"No," I say, wincing as I find my footing. "Mom, I'm okay, I just-" I look at Ben, finding impatience clouding his concern and know I'm not the only one who's seen something. "I'll go with Ben back to Ossus, it'll be faster than him having to go and bring Luke here."

She's hesitant. "Hope, are you sure? I'd prefer if you stayed here with me."

"I'll be alright," I try to promise her, wanting to get Ben away from her and back to Luke. "You need to figure out what the hell this First Order is. You deal with the politics and we'll bring what we know to Luke."

She looks from me to Ben and her voice is firm as she warns him "Look after your sister."

His voice is curt in response. "I always have."

~

The journey from the apartment to his ship is hazy at best. Even as I insist on flying my own ship to Ossus he ignores me and I'm not exactly in a state to argue.

He sits me down in the co-pilots chair, most of his words going over my head but I pick up on the important ones.

"We will go to Ossus, but first I want to go and find those kyber crystals so you can construct your second saber."

"Now?" I question incredulously.

"Yes now," he says roughly, with less patience than usual. "In the meantime I want you to go and meditate on what you felt and what you saw. Don't try to analyse it or pick it apart, your conscious mind will cloud your judgement. Let the force guide you and listen to what it tells you."

"It- it wasn't what I saw it was what I felt," I try to insist, everything still so strange. "It felt like- it just felt like torture."

I can't bring myself to tell him what I heard, and he isn't exactly in the state to listen. "Which is why I'm telling you to meditate on it. It's a warning of what's to come so I need you to listen to the force and what it's trying to tell you."

I give an exhausted thumbs up as I find my footing, holding onto R2 as we walk into the lounge of Ben's ship, the Grimtaash. Once we're out of earshot R2 voices his discontent with Ben's plan.

"I know R2, but we should let him cool off before we get to Ossus," I dismiss as I find the floor, sitting down unsteadily. "And I swear I'm alright, I've just been having a lot of visions these past few weeks and it's taking its toll on me."

Those words only worry him more having discovered the true extent of what Anakin became and why and so I quickly rush to assure him.

"I'll be okay R2, you know how much I love you and I'd never do that to you," I promise him and he beeps emotionally as I press a kiss to his dome. "I'd never leave you. You're my best friend. You're family. What happened to Anakin... I'd never let that happen to any of us. Now stay with me, I- I need to figure out what's going on."

And so I shut my eyes, having always avoided meditating for the very reason of just what comes to me when I leave myself in that state for too long. But this time... I need to know.

I slip into a state of half consciousness, my body still electrified and mind torn open and again I'm amongst stars. I search the cosmos until there's a voice I don't recognise, feminine, warm, but cautious.

"There's a wildness to you young one. Seeds of the dark side planted by your master. Do you feel it?"

Another voice replies, almost exact, but younger, more emotional.

"No! He is like no other Jedi. Passionate. Impulsive. But I trust him with my life."

"There are many contradictions in you, and in him..." her voice darkens and fire crackles in the background. "Be warned, you may never see your future if you remain his student! Leave this planet!"

My eyes open and cautiously I rise with my hand on my saber, pure instinct taking over all else as I make my way to the cockpit, standing in the entrance with his back to me.

Again I feel it, murmurings.

"Ben I want to go home," I test and he just ignores me. "Ben-"

"We're just about to enter the atmosphere," he says and I'm on guard as I recognise the planet, but cannot name it. "We'll find you a crystal and more."

"Where are we?" I demand to know and he hesitates before giving his answer.

"Elphrona." He turns his head to find my saber drawn and hovering over his shoulder. "Hope-"

"Turn the ship around," I warn only once and while he's alarmed, he isn't surprised.

"Do you know that it's Sith tradition for the apprentice to betray their master," he tells me. "A rite of passage."

"And I will if you don't step away from the controls and let me fly to Ossus," I threaten, knowing precisely what's brought him here, but he doesn't move. "Ben."

"Don't you want answers?" he asks me and my hand wavers. "Do you remember when we came here, nearly ten years ago now?"

"Yes," I grit out, unnerved by his calmness.

"They told you that you were something else, and I've seen it," Ben begins. "Your powers, they go beyond psychometry. I don't think it even is psychometry. You have no control over it, you only see what the force wants you to see. For weeks I've been trying to figure it out-"

"And you think that group of renegades who couldn't take on a single Jedi will know?" I mock and he purses his mouth, eyeing my saber beside his neck and in response he draws his own, causing me to slowly move backwards as he rises from his seat. "Do you really want to do this?"

"I want answers," he states. "Answers Luke won't give us."

"Answers to what?" I ask, not lowering my guard.

"Our potential," he says and I see that glint in his eye. "The Knights of Ren offered us another path, and I want to know what that means." In response I pull my blaster from my holster and he blinks in surprise. "Hasn't Luke ever told you that blasters are uncivilised?"

"He made enough use of them during the war," I dismiss as I set it to stun. "And unlike you I was trained to be more than a Jedi." And I feel it, the long buried jealousy. "You're afraid that despite all your years of devotion to something you don't even believe in that I'm stronger."

"I do believe in it," he quickly refutes and I raise an eyebrow.

"Then why are we here?" I step closer to him, finger on the trigger. "What can they possibly know that Luke doesn't?"

He's still, unpredictably so. He holds my eye as he lowers his saber to his side and disengages it, but still I refuse to lower my own weapons.

"We'll return to Ossus," he decides, but I hear it, the murmuring through the force. He returns to the pilot's seat, his back to me since he clearly doesn't register me as a threat, while I shut my eyes to try and listen.

And sure enough I hear the voice.

Skywalker knows the truth to the answers you seek, if he conceals it then you know he has deceived you. Bring her to me my boy, and we will uncover her potential.

Ben senses my intention the second before I fire, but it's too late for him to stop the blast at point blank range and he slumps over the consol. Stunned.

R2 beeps in alarm as I push Ben off the pilots seat and let him hit the floor, taking control of the ship and turning it back, calculating the jump to hyperspace.

"How long do you give him R2?" I question numbly, far too exhausted to care. "An hour?" He beeps at me and pragmatically asks if we should restrain him. "Probably, but I'm more tempted to leave him on the floor." I bend down to grab his lightsaber and put it in a compartment beside the pilots seat. "I don't think we'll be staying on Ossus long R2. We'll see what Luke says about recruiting students and after that... I'm leaving with or without Ben."

I have to heed the force's warning... I have to.

And I make the jump to lightspeed, realising the journey will take longer than I would have liked it to and that Ben will be awake before we reach the temple.

I bend down beside his unconscious form and raise a hand above his head whilst his mind is unguarded and let myself feel the emotions he's so carefully hidden for so many years, until now. The darkness, the turmoil, the conflict, the thirst for something greater than what he has, greater than what he is, the hate for our family and the pain at being the one who was hidden away whilst I was held up high for the galaxy to see. It's nothing I hadn't already known or felt, but there's more than that, a presence.

One that's the very essence of darkness yet shrouds itself in a false light. Deceiving. Familiar. Corrosive.

Then I see it, visions of grandeur with a red saber breaking through the darkness and then- the charred mask of Vader.

My eyes open and I set my jaw as I look down at Ben, feeling disconnected from my own body as I stand and stumble, grabbing the back of the pilot's chair to remain upright.

I should be afraid, I should be terrified, but it's nothing I haven't already seen or sensed. I've cried and screamed, but now... now every midichlorian in my body is in pure survival mode as betrayal sets in.

He was going to take me to Snoke.

The darkness is no stranger to me now and the calmness that washes over me as it sets in should frighten me, but it doesn't. It keeps me standing as I look at my brother, not knowing if it's pure idiocy that's led him to trust Snoke above his own family or his ambition.

He's seen these visions, visions of him giving himself over to the dark side, and yet he embraces them.

But unlike him I refuse to make myself a slave and so I ask R2 "Help me find something to bind him with."