Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A wide array of technicians worked tirelessly from the hangar of Mirrin Prime. The New Republic outpost was one of the few locations spacious enough to accommodate Poe’s decade-long project: a new capital ship. The ginormous vessel wasn’t pretty, but its grandiose design was plain to see.
“The Liberator,” he said, speaking over the sound of welding torches. “I came up with the name, you know.”
“Yes, General. You’ve made that very clear,” Suralinda said, with a teasing smile. He and that blue-skinned Squamatan went way back. They were friends, of course, but she had a knack for loosening people up until they spoke too freely. Around her, he had to choose his words carefully, or he was liable to see them all over the HoloNet.
“It’ll fit about 30,000 of us,” Poe continued. “Nowhere near the entire New Republic, obviously. But a sizable number, all the same.”
“Impressive. How’d you manage it?”
“We fashioned it out of old Star Destroyer parts, straight from Exegol.”
“How frugal.”
“Not frugal. Resourceful,” Poe corrected. “The decision to salvage First Order ships was controversial, especially amongst our Resistance vets. But it’s not in our nature to waste credits. Sometimes, you gotta use what’s around you.”
“Speaking of controversy--”
“Oh boy,” he said, throwing his hands on his hips.
“--Your plan to enforce law in the Outer Rim has left the galaxy divided. Even the New Republic’s supporters are doubting the feasibility of such a plan. Anything you want to say to the skeptics out there?”
“I thought this was an interview about the Liberator.”
“That’s up to you.”
“Look, I don’t want anyone policing the galaxy either. But if it’s not the New Republic, it’ll be somebody worse. But I promise, we’re only here to prevent empires from forming, not become one ourselves. There’s hundreds of systems that need our help. And hopefully, one day, no system will be beyond the reach of our justice.”
“Our justice? I take it you mean the New Republic’s?”
“The people’s. We’re a democracy, after all.”
Suralinda nodded, quickly keying Poe’s words into her datapad. He’d evolved considerably over the years. When they met, Poe was just a cocky flyboy. But he’d refined his speech until he’d become something between an ambassador and a warrior.
They were interrupted by a slight blonde woman, Kaydel Connix, rushing into the room.
“General Dameron,” she said. “Urgent transmission for you.”
“Sorry Suralinda,” Poe said, with a wry smile. “Duty calls.”
Poe raced down the stairs. Beaumont Kin, head of New Republic intelligence, was waiting in the strategy center.
“General,” Beaumont said. “There’s been a development on the Marauders situation.”
The Marauders. They were a pain in Poe’s side, and easily the biggest threat to the New Republic thus far. Even if the New Republic had the Marauders outnumbered, their nihilistic ideology was spreading across the galaxy like wildfire.
“Alright,” Poe said, preparing for the worst. “Let’s hear it.”
Beaumont cued the transmission. Poe didn’t recognize the identity of the hologram until they took off their helmet.
It was Vi Moradi, wearing a rather convincing bounty hunter disguise. Poe had never seen a spy as talented as her before. In a lot of ways, she reminded him of himself.
“Talk to me, Vi,” Poe said, folding his arms.
“I’ve managed to find the identity of the Marauder’s leader. His name is Jexton Koyles, and he’s set up shop on Nar Shaddaa,” she said. “I’ll send over the coordinates to his apartment, but they aren’t as spread out as we thought. Almost all of them are on this moon, packed together. Vulnerable.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“If the New Republic can launch a siege of Nar Shaddaa, we can end this war before it begins.”
“How many soldiers would we need?”
“You’re the General. That’s for you to decide,” Vi said, with a shrug. “But the more, the merrier. Knowing them, they’ll tear this moon apart before they surrender. They have E-Webs, thermal detonators, assault cruisers, you name it. They won’t make this easy for us.”
“Say no more. I’ll gather up everyone who’s willing to fight,” Poe said. “We’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“As soon as possible, huh? Alright. We catch them off-guard, and this could work.”
“It’ll have to. The faster we can bring these thugs down, the better.”

Between the loud music and the pulsating lights, Nar Shaddaa’s cantina wasn’t ideal for a business consultation. But Jexton considered tonight to be a rare exception. Any minute now, his mysterious guest would see all the moon’s splendors for themselves. Between the dancers and the drinks, there was a suitable temptation for everyone. Jexton was rather fond of the gambling, but tonight, his thrills would stem from a different kind of wager.
Jexton glared at his brother, Denton, who hadn’t stopped shaking his restless leg.
“Relax,” Jexton said, reassuringly. “They’ll show.”
“You sure about that, Jexy?” Ezelle said, with a wicked smile. She was a beautiful Chiss with striking hair, dyed to match her piercing red eyes. “They’re running late.”
“Fortunately, we’re patient.”
“I’ve heard stories about this Bala-Tik, you know,” Denton said. “He once survived an encounter with three rathars! Three!”
“He’s a dangerous man,” Jexton agreed. “Which is precisely why we need him.”
“You’re playing with fire, little brother.”
Jexton was tempted to explain he'd done business with worse, but he decided that would’ve done nothing to quell his brother’s nerves.
“If you’re gonna be such a pansy, why don'tcha wait outside?” Ezelle said, rolling her eyes.
“No,” Jexton said. “We need him here.”
“Then calm him down already! He’s gonna blow it for all of us!”
They fell silent the moment they spotted the leader of the Guavian Death Gang, Bala-Tik.
He swagged through the cantina, wearing a frown. His guards followed closely, with their blood-red, cybernetic armor.
Denton held his breath. Bala-Tik was just as frightening as he pictured. The gang leader took the empty chair in front of them.
“Jexton Koyles,” Bala-Tik said, halfway between a question and a declaration.
“That’s me,” he said, with an unwavering confidence. “And you must be Bala-Tik? Glad to finally put a face to the name.”
It wasn’t a particularly nice one. No matter how pleasantly Jexton smiled, Bala-Tik’s ruthless gaze proved impenetrable.
“You wanted to speak to me,” Bala-Tik said.
“I have a proposal. I take it you’ve heard of the New Republic?”
The corners of Bala-Tik’s mouth twitched, as if offended by the mere mention of them. Jexton smiled.
“You don’t like them? Good. Neither do we. And we’re not helpless. I’m the owner of this moon. I have the resources, the firepower, and everything we need to destroy them. But I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“You’re asking us to fight for you?”
“Not for us. With us. Your soldiers and my army. If we pull together, we could have the strength to win.”
“You have one lousy moon. That’s hardly an army.”
“That’s not all. We have the support of Black Sun, the Crymorah Syndicate, hell, even the Pykes. Or at least what’s left of them.”
“You’d need a hell of a lot more than that to impress me.”
“Of course. Something like this, perhaps,” Jexton said, slamming a weapon on the table. The weapon’s hilt was lined with teeth-like ridges that danced brutally along its side. Bala-Tik’s guards drew their guns, pointing them at Jexton. Bala-Tik could only stare in disbelief.
This was the Darksaber.
“Amusing,” Bala-Tik said, quickly slipping back into his careless facade. “What’s to stop me from sticking this percussive cannon between your eyes and selling that little toy to the highest bidder?”
“Well you see,” Ezelle said, a sadistic grin never leaving her face. “He won the Darksaber in a duel. And not just the blade. He earned the loyalty of Mandalore with it.”
Bala-Tik snuck a peek at his surroundings. A quick scan of the cantina revealed a few Mandalorians, blending impressively into the crowded bar. They were heavily armed, flanking them from all sides.
Bala-Tik’s soldiers were competent. Formidable, even. But even with all the chemical enhancers that pumped through their bloodstreams, victory against Mandalorians was far from a guarantee.
“Ezelle doesn’t mean to threaten you,” Jexton said, reassuringly. “We’re proposing an alliance. No credits necessary. Just you and me coming together for a common goal. The New Republic is out there imprisoning more and more people each day. If they get their way, the Outer Rim will be completely under their thumb. And there won’t be anywhere left in the galaxy for people like us to run.”
“Are you really arrogant enough to think we could end the New Republic so quickly? People have been trying to topple them for years.”
“Denton, show him.”
Denton dug a holoprojector from his jacket pocket, his hands shaking.
“We have an encrypted transmission sent by a New Republic spy,” Jexton said. “Fortunately, my brother is rather good at codebreaking.”
With the press of a button, the transmission between Vi and Poe played. Their entire plan was laid out before them.
“A takeover? Of this moon?” Bala-Tik said, shaking his head. “That’s vile. Even for them.”
“The spy’s name is Vi Moradi. We’ve traced the signal to the apartment she’s hiding out in. When the New Republic invades, we’ll be ready. We would be honored if you would join us.”
“Does your little army have a name?”
“The HoloNet calls us the Marauders.”
“And how long will this arrangement last?”
“I’m asking for a one-night commitment. But, perhaps you’d consider working together longer?”
Bala-Tik thought for a moment, the look in his eye never softening.
“The Guavian Death Gang accepts your proposal,” he said. “If things go as planned, we’ll see what the future has in store for us.”
Jexton smiled. If he kept this up, he might actually have the upper hand.

Finn was a warrior. For most of his life, fighting was how he made himself useful. If he was especially honest with himself, he felt lost without it. He sensed that aimlessness in the other ex-stormtroopers too. Namely, his two apprentices, Forten and Jayelle.
With the cloth around Finn’s eyes, he’d have to concentrate to defeat them. The silence of the Temple was deafening. He could hardly sense anyone’s presence. But they were here…
Suddenly, he heard the patter of Jayelle’s soft-soled boots, echoing through the stone temple. And it was coming from behind him!
She swung the lightsaber at his back, leaving Finn just enough time to block.
“Almost got me,” he said, with a grin.
“I’m just a distraction,” she shot back, over their locked training sabers.
Forten yelled, alerting Finn before his next strike. Before his blade could connect, Finn rolled aside, leaving Forten to nearly take out his ally.
The pair recovered, circling Finn once again.
He could feel them closing in on him. Finn jumped out of the way of Forten’s next attack, landing low enough to duck under Jayelle’s subsequent swing. Finn’s movements were unconscious, but his precognition wasn’t the will of the Force. No. His students' patterns were becoming dangerously routine.
“You’re using First Order combat techniques,” Finn said. “You can’t rely on them if you’re going to defeat me.”
The three of them had trained so hard and so often, Finn was beginning to run out of maneuvers too. His next idea, however, would surely take his students off guard!
Finn raised his hand, using the Force to slam a chunk of the temple’s roofing right on them. Jayelle and Forten reacted quickly, levitating the stone above their heads.
“What are you trying to do? Kill us?” Jayelle asked, straining to place the debris back to the ground.
“Just testing your reflexes,” Finn said, chuckling. He removed his blindfold. “Your enemies will use whatever they can to get the upper hand on you. You have to be ready for anything.”
Annoyed as his students may act, their private sparring sessions meant a great deal to them. The galaxy had known peace for so long, there were hardly any opportunities left to blow off steam.
“You’ve both passed. Soon enough, you’ll join me and Rey as Jedi Masters.”
“Thank you,” Jayelle said, her typically gruff voice softening to something sweeter.
“It’s my pleasure. You’ve progressed remarkably quickly.”
“We have a good teacher,” Forten said. Coming from him, it meant a lot. Forten was quiet, often preferring the company of animals. It wasn’t everyday he took the time to pay a compliment.
“Speaking of the Grandmaster,” Finn said. “Don’t tell her about the roof.”
“Why? She’s bound to notice eventually,” Jayelle said.
“We’ll blame it on a groundquake.”
It was a convincing enough excuse. After all, Terek was experiencing them rather often. If it got any worse, they’d have to relocate.
“A groundquake? I doubt she’ll believe that,” Grandmaster Rey said, with a gentle smile. She’d come through the entrance, silent as ever. “After all, the Grandmaster always finds out the truth.”
“That she does,” Finn agreed, hiding his embarrassment. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright. I only came to ask a favor.”
“Sure.”
“I’d like you to watch me run a lesson,” Rey said. “I can't seem to get through to my students. Can you supervise and tell me what I’m doing wrong? Maybe step in if they get unruly?”
“What makes you think they’ll care what I have to say?”
“They listen to you! You have a charisma that I can’t…. I don’t know. I just need to borrow it for a moment.”
“I’m flattered,” Finn said, jokingly. “But I doubt I’ll be able to help.”
“Just try.”
Finn couldn’t say no to Rey. Not with that hopeful gleam in her eye.
He left Jayelle and Forten to practice by themselves, trekking to the other side of the Temple. There, they found the four students awaiting them. They were a whole decade younger than Jayelle and Forten. Barely adults, as far as Finn was concerned.
“Master Finn!” Brienne yelped. The students cheered, applauding at his arrival. Rey shot him a look, as if to say I told you so.
Finn almost looked embarrassed, waving modestly.
“What will we be practicing today?” Temiri asked, inquisitive as ever. “More meditation exercises?”
“I hate those,” Kata groaned. “They’re so boring.”
“Combat training, actually,” Rey said. “Two-handed weapons. They’ve served me well, even before my days as a Jedi. It's time you learned, too.”
The students looked at one another with surprise. Clearly, Finn hadn’t expected it, either.
“I thought you said they weren’t ready for sparring,” Finn said.
“That’s why I needed you to supervise,” Rey said. “Brienne. Kata. You’re up first.”
The two women stood up and Rey handed them each a staff.
“The first person to tag their opponent below the neck wins. You may begin when ready.”
Brienne was the first to strike. They clashed their staffs against the other’s, fierce and unwavering. With each impact, each clak of wood hitting wood, the fighting grew more intense. Finn was impressed. They were better fighters than Rey had let on. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.
Kata landed a firm strike against Brienne’s cheek.
“Ow!” Brienne yelped, her hand darting to the scratch.
“I’m so sorry!” Kata said, her eyes widening with concern. “I was aiming for your shoulder.”
Brienne swung her stick across Kata’s cheek in retaliation. Grandmaster Rey stepped in, lowering their weapons.
“Enough,” Rey demanded. She turned to the other pair of students, watching from the floor. “Who can tell me what Brienne did wrong?”
“It’s simple,” Vay’len said. “She wasn’t quick enough to evade Kata’s strike.”
Temiri suppressed a laugh at the Bothan’s answer. While Vay’len generally spoke with a wisdom beyond his years, he had a tendency to be too literal, failing to catch the underlying point.
“The problem wasn’t her technique,” Rey said. “It was her reaction. She gave into her frustrations and reacted emotionally.”
“So, what?” Brienne asked, wiping a bit of blood from her cheek. “I’m just supposed to take the hit?”
“I don’t expect you to be passive. But a Jedi seeks justice, not revenge.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Everything.”
The Grandmaster’s intensity had stunned them into silence.
“I think what Rey is trying to say is that Kata apologized… Sometimes, that needs to be enough,” Finn said, almost unconvinced by his own words.
“Yes, Master Finn,” Brienne said, begrudgingly. “I’ll remember that next time someone hits me in the face.”
“Good,” Rey said, choosing to ignore the girl’s sarcasm. “Vay’len and Temiri, your turn.”
“With all due respect,” Temiri said. “Are we ever going to have to use this?”
“Hopefully not. We all remember what war was like. If a new threat were to arise, perhaps something more powerful than the New Republic could handle, protecting the galaxy would becomr our responsibility.”
She turned to see him with a vacant stare glued to Finn’s face. It took him a moment to snap out of it.
“Right,” Finn said, blankly.
The Grandmaster knew Finn didn’t agree with her more pacifistic ideals. Powerful as Finn had become, he hadn’t been tested in the ways she was. He hadn’t confronted the dark side, hadn’t been forced to overcome his own fear and hatred. But that would come with time.
Instead, he longed for the days of fighting the good fight. It was what introduced him to his wife Jannah, after all.
Rey could sense that Finn wanted to leave Terek, especially when things got dull. She could empathize, but training the next generation of Jedi was his purpose. He could inspire people like nobody else.
It was a big sacrifice for Finn to remain devoted to his Jedi training. For as long as she’d known him, she never took that for granted. But Finn had always been selfless. His purity was one in a million.
Vay’len readied himself in a fighting stance against Temiri. The Bothan was a walking contradiction. Despite his elegance and love for the old Jedi ways, his demeanor was angry and fearsome. No matter how much he tried to cast aside his emotions, Vay’len had a temper that rivaled even Brienne’s.
Temiri noted the Bothan’s determination to win. He sensed Vay’len’s aggression, his yearning desire to display his dominance in battle. To Temiri, it was just begging to be exploited.
“Begin,” Rey said.
Vay’len swung the staff with a terrifying amount of force, just missing Temiri’s head.
The Grandmaster resisted the urge to intervene. Vay’len was much stronger, much bigger than his opponent.
At a glance, the match-up was laughable. But Temiri could handle it. He had something the Bothan didn’t: speed, agility, and above all, the capacity to keep a level head.
Temiri blocked all of Vay’len’s strikes before they could find their target.
Back when Temiri was a stable hand, he’d often been forced to defend himself with a broom. He’d dealt with attackers that were bigger than Vay’len’s size, and that experience was finally paying off.
But the Bothan's strikes kept coming, and Vay’len was tiring himself out. As his movements slowed, Temiri swung the staff against one of Vay’len’s mechanical legs, knocking the Bothan to one knee.
The students clapped, and Finn couldn’t help but join them.
“Congratulations,” The Grandmaster said, impressed.
Vay’len growled, rising to his feet. Before Temiri could process his victory, Vay’len lifted him by his neck. Temiri squirmed, reaching helplessly for the staff he’d now dropped.
“Not so strong without your weapon, are you!?” he said.
Finn and Rey rushed to pull Bothan off, getting Temiri back to his feet. It took a moment for Vay’len to come back to himself.
“Vay’len, go back to your quarters,” she commanded. “Tend to your anger.”
“Fine,” he snarled, pacing away from the scene. Vay’len wasn’t ready to apologize yet. He needed space after outbursts like this.
“Are you alright?” Rey asked, seeing the claw marks on Temiri’s neck.
“Yeah, yeah,” Temiri said, waving her off. “I’ve had worse.”
“I’ll get you a medpac. Be back in a bit,” Finn said, walking off.
Kata and Brienne rushed to his aid, fighting for the boy’s attention as usual. If Rey was going to talk to Finn alone, now was her chance.
“You see what I mean?” Rey asked, following in Finn’s stride. “The students don’t like me. Some of them don’t even like each other. I feel like I’m losing them more and more everytime I try.”
“Relax,” he said. “You’re doing a great job.”
“I’m not cut out for this. For teaching.”
“What are you talking about? You taught me everything I knew.”
“I passed that knowledge along, and I’m starting to think you’re meant to do the rest. If not you, then Jayelle and Forten. They’re nearly Jedi Masters, after all!”
Finn resisted the urge to raise his voice. Was she really thinking about quitting? She’d been here all this time, been so devoted to setting up the temple. Without her, teaching the students would’ve felt rather hollow.
Finn’s holoprojector buzzed inside his jacket-pocket. He removed the device, hoping this would buy him enough time to come up with a good response.
The transmission was from Poe. Finn was happy to see the face of his best friend, but the excitement quickly turned to worry when he noticed Poe’s anxious expression.
“Poe?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Hey, buddy! Nothing. Everything’s great, actually. It’s just… I could use your help. The help of all the Jedi, actually…”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s complicated. Come to Mirrin Prime, I’ll explain everything,” he said, abruptly disappearing from Finn’s device.
“Why’s he always in such a hurry?” Finn asked, with a sigh.
“He hasn’t reached out for help like this in awhile. Whatever it is, it must be serious,” Rey said.
“He asked for all the Jedi.”
“Surely he doesn’t mean the students?”
“We should take them along, just to be sure. It’ll be good for them to get away from Terek for a while.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Maybe it’s time they meet General Poe face-to-face,” Rey said. “Should we take the Falcon?”
Finn smirked, and Rey began to grin. With any luck, this was going to be just like old times. Perhaps, Finn thought, the change of scenery would even change The Grandmaster’s mind about leaving.

Chapter Text

The hyperspace lanes from Terek to Mirrin Prime granted the Jedi a quick journey.
Poe stood in the hangar, eagerly awaiting their arrival. Finn was the first to embrace him, and Poe slapped his back in excitement.
“Good to see you, General!” Poe said. “Alright if I still call you that?”
“Of course, General,” Finn said, with a wink. “But these days, I usually answer to ‘Jedi Master.’”
“Yeah, yeah. Alright, big shot,” Poe said, slugging him in the shoulder. Poe was so proud of him. The nervous young stormtrooper that snuck him off Starkiller Base was now one of the most powerful men in the galaxy. It was almost funny.
“Is Jannah here?” Finn asked, hopefully.
“She’s in the strategy center,” Poe said. “Go on, I’ll meet you inside.”
Finn nodded, heading for the exit.
Rey approached Poe, with her students straggling behind.
“Poe,” she said, with a smile.
They hugged, and Rey noticed the new strands of silver in Poe’s hair. A strange reminder they were all getting older.
“I’ve seen your speeches on the HoloNet,” Rey said. “Leia would be proud.”
“Thanks,” he said, trying to hide how flattered he was. “I think about her all the time. Hoping I’m doing right by her.”
“Me too.”
“Anyway, I appreciate you coming,” Poe said, peering behind Rey. “And your students, too.”
“I’m actually a huge fan of yours, sir,” Temiri said, stepping forward to offer a handshake. “I grew up hearing about your work in the Resistance.”
“Great to meet you,” he said, accepting with a firm grip. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Temiri. Temiri Blagg.”
“Mr. Blagg. Right,” he said, suppressing a laugh at the child’s unfortunate name. “Pleasure to meet you. Follow me, I’ll show you to the briefing.”
“The ‘briefing?’” Rey cut in. “What is this? A mission?”
“You could say that.”

Finn took a moment to admire Jannah in the strategy room. All their recent conversations had been restricted to the holoprojector, which hardly did justice to her beauty. Finally, her eyes met his.
They approached one another, neither sure where to start.
“It’s been awhile,” Finn said, laughing in disbelief. He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face.
“Five whole months,” Jannah said. She’d been counting, just like him.
“Feels longer.”
“How’s Company Seventy Seven?”
“Jayelle and Forten? Their training’s coming along great. They’re going to be remarkable Jedi, you know. Sometimes, I wonder what it’d be like if you’d given it a shot, too.”
“I know. But this is where I’m happy.”
Finn nodded in understanding. Jannah loved to wander the galaxy, hopping from system to system. She was eager to tackle whatever new adventures kept her busy. Right now, that just happened to be with the New Republic. The slow-paced life at the Temple could never fulfill her. He wasn’t even sure it fulfilled him.
“Finn, I… I have something to tell you,” she said, eagerly. “And I’m not quite sure how to say it.”
Finn could sense the news was positive, and yet, the quiver in her voice suggested otherwise. Sometimes, it was difficult for Finn and Jannah to articulate new developments in their lives. Even the good ones. He could still remember his hesitation to tell his friends he was Force-sensitive.
Before they knew it, they were no longer alone. New Republic soldiers were pouring in, while Rey and Poe caught up on lost time.
“Can you tell me after?” Finn asked.
“Of course,” she said. “We’ll talk soon.”
Everybody found a seat, while Poe moved to the center of the room.
“I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why I’ve called you here today. Over the years, a criminal empire known as The Marauders have risen in the Outer Rim. Thanks to one of our spies, we’ve finally discovered the identity of its leader: Jexton Koyles.”
“Who?” Finn asked.
“He’s a smuggler turned gangster,” Jannah said. “I’ve crossed paths with him before. At first, he might seem polite. Charming, even. But he’s evil. And far too dangerous to be left out in the open.”
“Well he won’t be around much longer,” Poe said, taking back control of the conversation. A holoprojector clicked on, lighting up a map of the moon behind him. A visual of gunships encircling the map of a city appeared as he spoke. “The plan’s simple: we surround the moon with ships, and call for Jexton’s arrest.”
“And when he refuses?” Jannah asked.
“We know where he lives. Commander D'Acy will lead a ground team to his apartment. The rest of us will stay in the air, providing aerial support. I’m betting he won’t come quietly, so be ready for a fight.”
“The Jedi haven’t fought like this in years,” Rey objected. “Is a more peaceful solution really so impossible?”
A few of the New Republic soldiers laughed to themselves. The Jedi had a reputation for idealism, but this was pure naivety.
“This is the peaceful solution,” Jannah countered. “The Marauders are warmongering slave traders who never deserve to see the outside of a cell.”
“Think of this as an opportunity,” Poe said, forcing a more diplomatic tone. “We can remind people what the New Republic’s capable of. Especially with the Jedi on our side.”
“So you need us as what? A show of force?” Rey said.
“A show of unity. To prove to the galaxy that the Jedi are real. That they’re out there, helping, even in the Outer Rim.”
The Grandmaster had no response. Poe waited for a moment, letting her lack of objections inspire confidence amongst his soldiers.
“Once Jexton’s in custody, we’ll put the city under New Republic control. My friends Jess Pava and Karé Kun will provide us with a way out. They’re the best pilots we’ve got, and they’ll be following us with a transport vessel the whole time.”
Karé smiled and Jess gave a mock salute as Poe continued.
“Anyone who interferes with our plan, Marauders or otherwise, will be arrested and held for questioning.”
“And you’re sure this’ll work?” Finn asked.
“We have the numbers. The firepower. All we needed was the intel. If they’re smart, they’ll surrender.”
Finn couldn’t help but be excited. Even if the plan was straightforward, it had been so long since he'd seen real combat. After all, an intervention like this was exactly what the Jedi had been training for.
But, as easy as Poe made his plan sound, something about it didn’t sit right with Rey. Maybe she’d grown too accustomed to the years of peace. Or maybe the Force was trying to tell her something. Either way, she’d made up her mind.
“We’re not ready,” Rey decided. “The Jedi can’t get involved. Not yet.”
“Fair enough,” Poe said, with an understanding nod. “Thanks for coming.”
Poe continued with his briefing as Rey stood up, heading for the door. The students followed begrudgingly, with Finn watching in disbelief. Finn leapt out of his seat, chasing after her in the hallway.
“Rey? Can we at least talk about this?” he asked.
“Poe hasn’t thought this through,” she said. “He’s underthinking it, I can tell.”
“Maybe. But we’re not in the Resistance anymore. Not every mission needs a complicated scheme with bad odds. This’ll work.”
“I’m not willing to risk the lives of my students on it,” she said. “If it’s such a safe bet, Poe will succeed without us.”
“The Rey I know would never leave her friends behind.”
Rey frowned. She could see exactly where he was going with this, and she hated it. But she had to admit, Finn was right. She had changed. She was more responsible, more thoughtful. On the other hand, perhaps she was making a fear-based decision. She remembered old Master Luke’s wisdom: confronting fear was the destiny of a Jedi.
Besides, the only thing Rey valued more than her intuition was her loyalty to her friends.
“If things go wrong, I wanna be around to help Poe,” Finn said. “I’m going into this. With or without you.”
“We’re with you, Finn,” Jayelle said, with Forten nodding in agreement. Rey was hardly surprised. After all, the ex-stormtroopers were inseparable.
“What about you guys?” Finn said, turning to Rey’s students. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to help Poe,” Temiri said, resolutely.
“Yeah. Seems like a good way to make a difference,” Kata added, reluctantly.
“Hell yeah,” Brienne agreed. “Someone needs to knock these Marauders down a peg.”
“The Jedi shouldn’t be getting involved in these kinds of disputes,” Vay’len grumbled. “But, I suppose if everyone else wants to…”
“Fine,” Rey decided. “But I don’t want anyone leaving their gunship. We fly in, fly back out. Nobody takes any risks.”
“Of course,” Finn agreed. “We’ll stay in the sky, where it’s safe.”
Finn and Rey went back inside, announcing their final decision.
“Glad to have you along,” Poe said. “We’ll leave in a few hours.”
Poe left the briefing room along with the others, until Finn was left alone with Jannah once more.
“Just us again,” Finn said. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”
“Well… I guess there’s only one way to say it,” Jannah said with a smile. “I’m pregnant.”
Finn was elated. He’d always dreamed of having a child.
“What? Really? Boy or a girl? Have you thought about names? Because I have some ideas!”
Finn was always excitable, but now, he was tripping over his words. Jannah smiled, watching his eyes twinkle with suggestions.
“I just want something nice and strong,” Jannah said. “Maybe… Keradus?”
“Keradus,” Finn said, nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, I like that a lot! Sounds like a warrior’s name. And if it’s a girl..?”
“Still Keradus.”
Suddenly, Finn’s excitement about the mission had disappeared completely, replaced only by dread. He felt foolish, proclaiming his loyalty and fighting to convince Rey to help. If only he’d known what was at stake.
“You can’t go to Nar Shaddaa!” Finn said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
“Jannah, don’t be stupid!”
Poe entered, staring at them quizzically.
“Sorry,” he said. “I’ll come back later-”
“Jannah’s having a baby,” Finn announced, dryly.
“What?” Poe said, his eyes widening with surprise. “You’re gonna be a dad!?”
“Yeah, yeah, it’s great. But it’s not safe for her on Nar Shaddaa… She should sit this one out.”
“That’s my decision to make,” Jannah argued.
“But it’s our baby!”
“Poe’s going to need everyone he can get. And that includes me.”
“Jannah. Respectfully, I agree with Finn,” Poe said. “You could always take a more behind-the-scenes role?”
“Neither of you seem to understand. My fight with the Marauders is personal. You both remember what happened to General Calrissian? Their leader executed him. And now, I finally know who that is.”
Finn and Poe nodded solemnly. They all knew the story. In the Marauder’s most infamous tale to date, the criminal empire attempted a takeover of the planet Bespin. But Lando Calrissian drove them away, sacrificing his life to keep it out of their hands. And Jannah was there to witness it all.
“The Marauders killed him over a blasted gas mine,” she said, remorsefully.
Finn felt like an idiot. He’d known how much Jannah loved Lando. He was the father she never had. If he’d seen what the Marauders did to him, he’d have wanted revenge more than anything in the galaxy.
“Look, maybe I’ll take a leave of absence after it’s done. But there’s nothing either of you can say to keep me from this.”
Poe’s holoprojector chimed again.
“I gotta take this,” he said, awkwardly stepping out of the room. Upon answering, Poe was greeted with the face of Vi Moradi.
“Poe, I don’t know how, but my cover’s been blown,” she said. “Practically everyone on the moon is after me. They’re probably listening to this transmission right now!”
“Don’t worry, Vi. We’re on our way.”
“No! You have to call off the attack. They know you’re coming. It’s over.”
“We’re not leaving you behind.”
“I can get myself back safely, but you have to delay the siege. Our element of surprise is gone. ”
“It’ll work. Trust me, Vi.”
“No, Poe. Don’t--”
Poe ended the transmission before she could say more. He had to keep this to himself. He couldn’t have anyone doubting themselves. Or him.

The New Republic soldiers loaded the gunships, gearing up for battle. Jayelle and Forten assisted, levitating the munitions crates into the storage compartments. Jayelle and Forten had almost forgotten how much they loved the grunt work of war. The soldiers watched, amazed at their display of the Force.
“I don’t want to see any two Jedi sharing a ship,” Poe yelled. “Too many lightsabers, and you’ll have a target bigger than Starkiller Base.”
He pointed at Temiri, who was still with the others. “Kid! You’re with me.”
Temiri smiled, trying to contain his excitement. He was going to be on a ship with General Dameron! As long as he didn’t embarrass himself, this might be the best day of his life.
Poe spotted Finn, frozen in place.
“You look nervous,” Poe said, approaching him.
“I just wish she’d stay here.”
“Yeah, well, Jannah’s always been stubborn.”
“I know, I love that about her. But now? Not so much. Hey, you got any advice for me? About being a father?”
“Be prepared to sleep very little,” Poe said. “When me and Zorii had Cade… Well, let me put it this way; I think I slept better when we were fighting the First Order.”
Finn laughed, certain his friend’s words would prove true.
“What’s it like?” he asked.
“Remember when you first started Jedi training? I asked you how it felt to use the Force, and you said it made you feel safe. Gave you purpose. That it connected you with other life and challenged you in ways you couldn’t imagine. Well, that’s what it’s like being a parent.”
Finn smiled. After all these years, Poe had remembered his words almost verbatim.
“I don’t mean to pry, but… You think Rey will ever have any kids?” Poe asked.
“She practically already does.”
On the other side of the hangar, Rey gathered her four, young apprentices.
“Remember your training,” she said, handing them each their lightsabers. Normally, the students were only permitted to use training lightsabers, but hopefully, that’s all this was: a training exercise. “Help where you can, and act with your heart. But never, ever give into your anger.”
“We get it,” Brienne said, rolling her eyes. “You’re not our mother.”
“Show the Grandmaster some respect,” Kata said. “She’s taught us everything we know, hasn’t she?”
“What good is knowledge if you’re barely allowed to use it?”
Sometimes, the Grandmaster wished they were younger. It’d be so much easier to keep them from this fight, or at least punish them for their attitude.
“I just want you to be safe. That’s all,” Rey said.
“We’ll be fine, Grandmaster,” Kata said. “Thank you for your concern.”
Brienne flashed Kata a spiteful look before they dispersed.
As soon as everyone was ready, the gunships departed for Nar Shaddaa.

Chapter Text

The New Republic soldiers held onto the ship’s grab handles, bracing themselves for their arrival.
Each starfighter shook violently as it sped towards the moon’s atmosphere.
The doors slid open, revealing the neon lights of Nar Shaddaa. Many were overwhelmed by the endless view of skyscrapers and elaborate architecture. It was all a little much for the Jedi, who’d grown accustomed to a more isolated life on Terek. Fortunately, Poe had done his research. He knew the layout of this place like the back of his hand.
The ships descended, enclosing the outskirts of the city.
“Not too low,” Poe ordered. “They’ve got turrets. We gotta keep our distance or we’ll be blown out of the sky.”

If there was one thing Ezelle hated about Jexton, it was his loathsome ability to always look handsome. No matter the occasion, even when they were lowly orphans dwelling in the sewer like rodents, Jexton always had a beautiful face. Or maybe that was just how she remembered it.
Either way, he looked especially dashing tonight.
“Did you ever think we’d be where we are now? Owning an entire city? Overthrowing an evil regime?” she asked.
“Of course,” he said, brushing the hair out of her face. “We were always cut out for more than smuggling. But we mustn't get cocky.”
“We never are.”
Jexton chuckled. He wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic, or genuinely incorrect. His entire life had been designed by overconfidence, about faking it until he made it. And now, they finally had. Though, he understood her compulsion to celebrate.
“It shouldn’t be long,” he said, reaching for a bottle of daruvvian champagne. He poured them a couple of glasses with the grace of an experienced bartender. “I was going to wait until after the battle, but… I could use something to take the edge off.”
“You’re nervous?”
“Nervous? No. Rather excited, actually.”
Jexton raised his glass, a smile growing across his face.
“Tonight, we defeat the New Republic, or die trying.”
“To the Marauders,” Ezelle said.
“To the Marauders.”
They clinked glasses.
The door whooshed open. Denton stood stiffly within the doorframe.
“Uh, sorry,” Denton mumbled. “They’re here. Everyone’s in position, but…”
“But what?” Jexton asked.
“There’s something you should see.”
Denton walked over to the window. Countless gunships hovered over the moon’s horizon. More profoundly, a brilliant palette of colors in the distance. Ancient weapons, used only by Jedi.
These were lightsabers.
“Those are Jedi, right?” Denton asked, hardly believing his own words. “They brought Jedi?”
“They weren’t mentioned on Vi’s transmission,” Jexton said. “But yes. Yes, I believe they are.”
“Is there a way we can run? Restrategize elsewhere?” Denton asked, on the brink of one of his infamous panics.
“Are you kidding?” Ezelle said. “This is what we’ve been waiting for!”
“These guys can move things by waving their hands, Ezelle! How do you expect us to compete with that?”
Jexton guzzled his champagne, slamming the glass on the table.
“Nothing’s changed,” Jexton decided. “Denton, get me through to their comms. Perhaps General Poe will listen to reason.”

The New Republic stayed high, keeping out of range from the Marauders cannons. Even so, their firepower was easy to spot in the distance. The Marauders were prepared for an encounter like this.
“Uh, Poe?” Finn asked into his comlink. “I thought you said they wouldn’t see us coming.”
Finn felt a terrible feeling growing in his gut.
“It’s alright,” Poe assured him. “All we need is Jexton and Vi. We grab them, and we’ll be out in a flash.”
Poe grabbed the megaphone disk from his jacket, clearing his throat before he spoke.
“Jexton Koyles,” Poe said, his voice booming throughout the city. “Please surrender yourself immediately and nobody will be hurt.”
Slowly but surely, the tourist attractions of Nar Shaddaa closed down. The ambient pop music played throughout the city was silenced. Citizens began to flee, with some even evacuating into space.
Almost a full minute passed, and the uncertainty was palpable.
“He’s requesting a transmission,” the pilot finally said.
“Patch him through.”
“General Dameron,” Jexton said, his voice ringing through the ship. “I’ve considered your offer.”
“And?”
“You would be wise to retreat. Turn around and let the Outer Rim remain lawless. We’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of yours.”
“I wish it were that easy. But what the Marauders do here impacts the whole galaxy.”
“So your solution is to take away our freedom?”
“Freedom? Last I heard, the Marauders fight for slavery.”
“I fight against all the laws you impose, no matter how unprincipled they might be.”
“And that’s why I have to stop you.”
Jexton scoffed at that.
“It’s funny,” he said. “Back when you were a Resistance fighter, I idolized you. You fought for the liberty of the people. Now, you hide behind power. Behind politics. Behind control. You’re hardly more than the tyrants you destroyed.”
“Jexton, I get it. I used to hate being told what to do. Believe it or not, I had a stint as a spice runner. I was a good one, too. But I realized what I was doing was hurting people. Come quietly, and I’ll see about getting you a shorter sentence.”
“Spare me the empty promises, General. This is your last chance. Flee or die.”
“That’s not gonna happen. I took an oath to protect the galaxy, no matter the cost.”
“Then perhaps you should begin by protecting your own.”
“Alright, I’m done debating,” Poe said, clicking off his megaphone disk. “Let’s get this bastard.”

Jexton strutted outside, followed closely by Denton and Ezelle.
“You realize how many people we’ll lose by taking them head-on?” Denton said.
“I’m well aware. But we have no other choice,” Jexton said. “Cheer up. It’s like Ezelle said - this is what we’ve been waiting for. Now cut their comms and arm the bomb. Pray we don’t have to use it.”
Denton nodded and ran off.
Jexton and Ezelle proceeded to the dozens of Mandalorians that awaited them. Their leader, Brosche, wore his infamous helmet. The sharp horn built into the center of its head made him look like an animal. Nobody had ever seen his true face, but Jexton imagined it to be just as beastly as the helmet that encased it.
“Are we ready?” Jexton asked.
“Yeah,” Brosche said.
“Good. Let’s get as many snipers on those skyscrapers as we can.”
Jexton noticed a massive metal case, sitting by Brosche's feet. Brosche flung it open with his boot. It was a portable missile launcher, packed firmly inside.
“Something to close the distance,” Brosche said. “This’ll take out whatever it touches.”
Jexton whistled low in appreciation. This wasn’t the first time Broshce had come through for him, and he didn’t expect it to be the last.
“I’ll make sure you’re well compensated for this,” Jexton said.
“It’s only got one shot,” Brosche said.
“Then let’s make it count. Aim for the General.”
Brosche nodded in agreement. This would do wonders for their odds.

Rey couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this. What possessed her to help the New Republic with such a dangerous operation? Poe wasn’t going to leave without getting what he wanted, and with his stubbornness, Rey knew this could wind up turning into a suicide mission. She wanted to take the students and leave, but it was too late.
Below her, thousands of citizens stared up the gunships. She could feel their contempt. Their hatred. Most of the Outer Rim didn’t take kindly to the New Republic, and Nar Shaddaa was no exception. For the most part, this was Marauder turf, and they were all in their crosshairs—
That was when the first shot was fired.
One missile ripped through the heart of the city. The projectile whizzed right to the gunship carrying Poe.
Before it could explode, Rey reached out to the Force, willing the missile to freeze before impact.
She was a second too late.
The gunship’s wing was destroyed, causing the whole craft to plummet from the sky. It whistled to the ground like a burning mynock.
“Poe!” she could hear Finn scream over the comms.
Rey’s heart sank. Temiri was on that ship.
But at least it hadn’t exploded. Not yet.
“Get us over there,” she ordered. “They might still be alive!”
She wasn’t alone. Almost every single ship in the fleet had broken formation, flying off to rescue the General. The New Republic looked after each other, and with any luck, he and Temiri would be fine. Then, they’d gather up and retreat.
But the Marauders weren’t allowing it. Any gunships that flew too close to the skyline were struck with blasterfire.
The Marauders were using snipers. Rey wasn’t a fan of blasters, particularly when they were pointed at her. But even she could appreciate the marksmanship on display. These weren’t average criminals. The snipers clipped at their wings, blowing out the New Republic’s gunship engines with elite precision.
Many were plunging into the street, some in a fiery blaze.
But Rey helped where she could, softening their landings with the Force. She couldn’t see Finn, Jayelle, or Forten, but she could feel them, helping with the crashing ships. Rey grabbed another with the Force, but this one exploded in her grip.
It wasn’t the last gunship to explode. With this much chaos, there was only so much she could do.
In the unbelievable cascade of falling ships, Rey tried desperately to save as many as she could. This was no longer about winning. This was about preventing a massacre of the New Republic.

Their ship was hurtling towards the ground, and no matter how hard she tried, Kata couldn’t slow the gunship’s descent. She cursed, hating herself for not being strong enough to stop it. She couldn’t save her pilots, or the New Republic soldiers that fought so bravely beside her.
As if it were magic, Kata’s wish was granted. Seconds before impact, the ship was slowed to a halt, dropping gradually to the ground. She had no idea which Jedi it was. Probably Rey or Finn, but she was just happy to be alive.
Once the panicked troopers got their bearings, they shuffled outside the ship. Kata stood back, watching the soldiers head straight into battle.
Kata was out of her league, and she knew it. She wasn’t a trained soldier. She was a glorified prop. A lightsaber-wielding scarecrow to trick the Marauders into surrendering. Clearly, that hadn’t worked. If she was going to survive, she needed to regroup with the other Jedi, fast.
Kata ran as fast as she could. The crackle of blasterfire rippled out in the distance. This was a nightmare. It had to be. But she wouldn’t die on this moon. The Force would find a way, as it always did.
She disappeared into one of Nar Shaddaa’s alleys, shrouded by darkness. Before she could even catch her breath, she slammed into a broad-shouldered creature.
In a reflex, she ignited her emerald-green lightsaber blade, praying she had the resolve to use it.
Kata sighed in relief as the creature turned around. It was only Vay’len.
“Kata?” he said, looking down at her. It was all he could think to say.
“Vay’len! I’m glad you’re alright,” she said, racing to her feet. “I think Temiri’s ship crashed!”
“We need to find The Grandmaster. She’ll know what to do.”
“Have you seen Brienne?”
“It doesn’t matter. Follow me.”

Brienne’s gunship had, in fact, landed safely. She shared her ship with Jannah who, despite the circumstances, looked relaxed as ever. Even when Jannah was being shot at, she had an essence of indestructibility about her. Brienne found it comforting. Aspirational, even.
She could sense they were close to Poe’s team, which meant they were close to danger. Brienne had never seen action like this before.
“We’re not far from Poe,” Jannah said, looking at Brienne’s lightsaber. “Do you know how to use that thing?”
“Yeah. Basically,” she said. What Brienne lacked in technical prowess, she made up for with aggression.
“Good,” Jannah said.
The weapon fascinated Jannah. After all, if she’d applied herself to the Jedi teachings, she might’ve had one just like it. Most stormtroopers that were able to resist their First Order conditioning, like her and Finn, had a proficiency for moving objects with their mind. The correlation made little sense to her, as did everything about the Force. But ultimately, Jannah preferred sticking to what she knew: her custom-built energy bow.
They advanced with the New Republic troopers, navigating through the confusing streets of Nar Shaddaa. With each step, they remained exposed, vulnerable.
Jannah and Brienne locked eyes. They shared a feeling. An instinct.
“Find cover,” Jannah ordered.
The soldiers followed her lead, but it was futile. From behind, a band of armed thugs held them at blasterpoint.
The New Republic lifted their hands in the air.
Jannah was the only one who had the nerve to turn around, and she didn’t like what she saw. These weren’t just any regular Marauders. This was the Guavian Death Gang. With about a dozen soldiers on each side, they were almost evenly matched.
“Well, well, well,” said Bala-Tik, mockingly. “If it isn’t Commander Jannah.”
“You’re working with the Marauders now?” she asked.
“That’s to be determined.”
“By what?”
“By whether or not they have the stones to destroy you.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“Kill them.”
The New Republic soldiers tried to find cover, but most of them were killed before they could face their attackers.
Jannah was the quickest to return fire, sliding behind a stack of crates.
Brienne ignited her purple lightsaber, deflecting each bolt of blasterfire that came her way. With each maneuver, she managed to surprise herself. The unsteady wave of adrenaline guided her every move. One lapse in concentration could end in--
A blaster bolt smashed into her shoulder, sending her to the floor.
It was up to Jannah now. She was running out of arrows. The odds were overwhelming. Victory was unlikely, at best.
She had to make it back for Finn. If nothing else, for the unborn baby inside her chest. She ripped a thermal detonator from her belt, praying it would even the odds.
Before she could even arm it to explode, she heard a series of blasts and thuds. One by one, the guards toppled over, succumbing to the overwhelming shock of a stun blaster.
One Guavian Death Gang member remained. Jannah sprang out of cover, ready to fire an arrow between their eyes. Right on time, they took off their mysterious red helmet, revealing a beautiful woman’s face.
Jannah sighed in relief. It was their spy, Vi Moradi.
“Hey you,” Vi said, with a grin.
“Have you done something with your hair?” Jannah said, lowering her aim.
“New wig,” Vi said.
“Aw. I kinda liked the blue one.”
They were interrupted by Brienne, yelping softly as she held the searing blaster wound on her shoulder.
“Can you walk?” Jannah asked.
“Yeah,” Brienne groaned, fighting her way to her feet.
“What are you guys doing here?” Vi asked. “I told Poe to call off the attack!”
“Yeah, well, he brought everyone anyway,” Jannah said.
“Yep. That’s probably what I would’ve done… Blasted idiot.”
“The fool’s already gotten his ship shot down. The whole New Republic’s out there looking for him.”
“You should get out of here while you still can,” Vi said. “My cover’s blown to hell. The Marauders know everything. Almost got captured, too.”
“I’m not leaving without Jexton.”
“You don’t even know where he is.”
“He’s in his apartment. Don’t worry, we got your intel.”
“The apartment’s a trap. I tried warning the others, but they shut down the city’s comms.”
Jannah cursed. Of course they did.
“Lucky for you,” Vi continued. “I know where he’s run off to.”
“Where?”
“The top level of Nar Shadda’s Docking Bay, just around the corner. He’s gonna use his ship to wipe out the New Republic from above.”
“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” Jannah said, rising to her feet. “Stay with the Jedi.”
“Hold on, Jannah. We can go as a team.”
“There’s no time.”
And before Vi could argue, Jannah had raced off.

Poe had grown accustomed to the shock of a crash landing. The trick was to avoid trying to piece together how you got on the ground. All that mattered was the present. He was the first to his feet, fighting past the usual disorientation.
The cockpit had taken most of the damage, but a peek inside sent shivers down Poe’s spine. Two dead pilots, their bodies drooped lifelessly over the controls.
Poe held his breath while turning them over. The memories came flooding back. He couldn’t remember their names, but he knew their faces. He recalled their attentive expressions in briefing, back when Poe was convinced his operation wouldn’t yield so much as an injury.
He reached over for a comlink, speaking into the device.
“Hello? Can anyone hear me?”
He was met with static. Their comms were as good as done.
As the rest of the New Republic soldiers found their feet, Poe blocked the view of the pilot’s bodies. He couldn’t let his men lose their nerve. Not now.
“Everyone, let’s go!” he shouted, signaling to the outside of the ship. “Mission’s still the same. We capture Jexton and go!”
They followed his orders, marching down the landing ramp awaiting instruction.
Poe had nearly forgotten about his adoring fan, Temiri. If something happened, Rey would’ve never forgiven him.
Before Temiri could follow, Poe grabbed his arm.
“You,” Poe said. “Get out of here. Find the others.”
Temiri was speechless. Shell shocked. Poe repeated himself, louder this time. Find the others.
“No,” Temiri said, snapping out of it. “The Jedi came here to help. I’m helping.”
“Dammit kid, there’s no time for this,” Poe said. “Things got ugly, fast.”
Temiri ignored him, following the other soldiers outside. The view of the skyscrapers around Nar Shaddaa was overwhelming. The abandoned shop beside them served as a grim reminder that many of these people were civilians. Civilians siding with the Marauders, sure, but innocent people all the same. They had to be careful where they shot.
Before Temiri could make sense of his surroundings, a New Republic soldier was shot in the chest. The soldier spun to the ground, wounded.
“Snipers!” another shouted, before being struck dead themselves.
Everyone raced for cover, with most ducking behind the parked starships that littered the streets.
“Where’s that coming from?” Poe yelled, sneaking a peek with his macrobinoculars. He could see the tops of their heads, perched behind a balcony.
Fortunately, it wasn’t coming from behind them. For now, they were safe under cover. But for the time being, they were pinned down.
Temiri crawled to the dying New Republic soldier, keeping himself low.
“You’ll be okay,” Temiri assured him. “I’m gonna help you.”
“Y-y-you’re a Jedi, right?” the New Republic soldier asked. “You can fix this?”
“I can try.”
Temiri had begun learning about force healing from the Grandmaster, but until now, he’d never had a reason to use it. Life at the Temple was safe. He’d never seen an injury like this.
“Hold still,” Temiri said, closing his eyes. He tried to remember the Grandmaster’s instructions. It’s about transferring life. A bit of force energy from you, to the other.
But it wasn’t working. No matter how much he tried and strained, no matter how much he trusted in the Force, he couldn’t heal the man’s wounds.
Before Temiri knew it, the soldier was dead. And Temiri was lucky he wasn’t in the same boat.
Poe sighed. He wanted nothing more than to hop into a starfighter and avenge his friends. But with the snipers on the lookout, they weren’t going anywhere.

Finn’s gunship landed safely, and he could sense Jayelle and Forten nearby. It was only natural. Company Seventy Seven always stuck together.
Finn couldn’t believe he’d actually been looking forward to this. It was impossible to enjoy it, now. He was too worried about Jannah, their unborn child, and even his old friends. He’d gotten so wrapped up in his memories of the past, that he forgot all the things he hated about being stuck in a warzone.
It had been a decade since the Battle of Exegol, but the Order’s conditioning continued to haunt him. Even after all this time, the nightmares persisted. Dreams of troopers Finn once considered comrades. Soldiers just like him, too weak to fight against their programming. All casualties he’d rather forget.
Still, a lifetime of combat came with its advantages.
In the distance, a Marauder tank was approaching with an armada of goons on each side.
“Everyone,” Finn said, to the ten New Republic soldiers around him. “Stay behind me.”
They did as he asked, watching in amazement as Finn readied himself. He closed his eyes, holding his hand out to the Marauder tank. Finn concentrated, hoping he had the strength for this maneuver.
He didn’t have much time. The outline of the laser cannons and missile launchers drew nearer. It was do or die.
He thought about Jannah. All the things he should’ve said to keep her away from the fight. And then he imagined the horrid things the Marauders could do to his friends. When Finn wanted to do the impossible, drawing on his emotions often helped tremendously.
Tonight was no exception.
Piece by piece, the hull of the Marauder tank was ripped apart. He levitated the chunks of metal from the disabled vehicle, ramming them violently to the ground. They scattered like a grenade, tearing apart the Marauders in a horrible explosion. The lucky ones were killed instantly, with the metal chunks piercing their hearts and heads. The others suffered a slower, more excruciating death.
It wasn’t pretty, and Finn wasn’t proud of it. In fact, Rey would’ve chastised him for such a violent display. Truthfully, he was glad none of her students were here to see it. But mostly, he was just relieved it worked. But everything he did tonight, he did in service of the New Republic. After all, it was hardly any different than all the First Order troopers he’d killed.
But there was one survivor. Before Finn could think to stop them with the Force, the alien bolted down the alley with remarkable speed.
Finn chased him down. He couldn’t let the Marauder hurt anyone else.
The New Republic followed him, with their blasters ready.
Finn could sense them shrouded in darkness. Someone else was there, too. Someone shorter.
One of the neon lights in the alley kicked on, revealing the second silhouette. It was a human child, no older than ten. The Marauder had a blaster to their head, ready to fire.
“Nobody shoot,” Finn demanded.
The alien shouted something in their native language. Finn couldn’t make sense of it, but he guessed it was a warning.
“Let him go,” Finn said. “And maybe I won’t kill you.”
The Marauder didn’t understand him, or perhaps he didn’t care. Unless Finn retreated, the gangster’s gun wasn’t going anywhere. Other than the distant blaster fire across the battlefield and the child’s soft, fearful sobs, there was only silence.
Finn had to proceed carefully. He could sense the Marauder’s threat was genuine.
But there was no way a Jedi Mind Trick could work. The Marauder may have been weak-minded, but they were too anxious, too alert. Not to mention, the language barrier between the two men. It was far too dangerous to attempt.
Finn had a better idea. But he’d need to time it right.
Finn reached for the lightsaber on his belt, igniting the green blade.
In a panic, the Marauder pulled the trigger.
With a gentle wave of his finger, Finn spun the direction of the blaster’s barrel from the child to the Marauder’s own head. The Marauder collapsed to the ground, dead.
To the soldiers behind him, it appeared the alien had commmitted suicide And from a certain point of view, that was true. After all, they had shot themselves.
Finn powered down his lightsaber, approaching the petrified child. They were frozen, shocked from the experience.
“You’re alright,” Finn said, kneeling to his height. “What’s your name?”
“Ancen. Ancen Pryde,” he mumbled, drying his eyes.
“Come with us. We’ll get you home.”
“Home?”
This child didn’t have one. Not a proper one, at least. He reminded Finn of himself after deserting the First Order: a lost soul with no place to go.
“We’ll find somewhere for you. I promise,” Finn insisted. The child relaxed a little, trusting Finn’s confidence.
Finn could feel his spirits lift when he sensed Jayelle, Forten, and about a dozen other New Republic soldiers behind him.
“Get this kid out of the city,” Finn said to the soldiers. “Me and my apprentices will take care of the rest.”
The soldiers did as he asked, rushing Ancen Pryde from the alley. It was only the Jedi now.
“Finn, the New Republic’s pinned down,” Jayelle said. “They’ve got dozens of snipers on Poe.”
“Is Jannah with them?” Finn asked.
“I’m not sure. But we need to hurry.”
Finn nodded. Forten understood Finn’s priorities. He worried about his wife, first and foremost. At times Jayelle wanted someone to love the way Finn had. Someone to care about so deeply, so fully.
For his sake, they had to make sure nothing happened to her.

Poe and Temiri laid flat on the ground, keeping themselves as low as possible. The sniper shots kept coming, nipping away at their cover. Time was running out.
“We gotta think of something, and fast,” Poe said, turning to Temiri. “Got any force tricks up your sleeve?”
“From this distance? Not a chance,” Temiri said.
Poe sighed. At least the kid knew his limits.
For a moment, the blasterfire had ceased. Poe snuck a peek outside. Three lightsabers shined in the distance, striking down the assassins where they stood. They plummeted dramatically from their posts, clearing the way for Poe’s squad.
Poe laughed in relief. He could always count on Finn.
“That’s one hell of a Jedi!” he yelled, pumping a celebratory fist. He turned to his surviving soldiers, waving them forward. “Come on! Let’s keep going, we’re almost there!”
The New Republic continued down the bridge, sprinting for their lives. As they crossed, the buildings got cleaner and more lavish. Poe’s GPS confirmed it. These were the coordinates to Jexton’s apartment.
The door whooshed open, with the New Republic soldiers filing in.
“Freeze! On the ground,” he heard one of the New Republic soldiers yell.
Temiri was the last to enter. The New Republic were shouting demands, pointing their blasters, all at one man.
It was a slim human with brushed-back hair, and eight thermal detonators strapped to his vest.
“Don’t come any closer,” the man warned. “This is a dead man’s switch! I let this go, and we’re all dead!
Poe squeezed his way past the troopers. At a glance, the suspect looked exactly how Jexton was described. But it couldn’t be. He didn’t have the temperament, the nerve to lead. No, this guy was terrified.
“Relax,” Poe said, as calmly as he could manage. “Nobody has to get hurt… You’re not Jexton, are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“How much is he paying you?”
“Shut up!”
“Just name your price.”
“I said shut up!”
The man was pretty far from cooperative. Hell, he hadn’t even flinched at Poe’s bribe. The way Poe figured it, that could mean one of two two things. Either he knew the New Republic didn’t have much to give, or this thug wasn’t doing it for the credits. This kind of passion didn’t come from greed. No, he was doing this out of hatred, or maybe love. Poe could work with that.
“At least tell me your name,” Poe said.
“Denton,” they replied.
So they looked alike, and their names were similar.
“You're his brother, aren’t you?” Poe guessed. Denton gave no reply, all but confirming Poe’s hunch. “Look, I can tell you don’t want to hurt anyone. So how about you show us how to disable this?”
“You can’t.”
“I don’t buy it. Your brother wouldn’t leave you here to die. Warlord or not, nobody’s that heartless.”
“Only Jexton’s voice can disengage the bomb.”
“Ah. So if he dies, you’ll join him. And probably take some of us with you, is that it?”
“We all have different roles to play. I’m doing my part.”
“How noble.”
Poe took a step closer, inspecting the wiring that ran down his vest. Denton was dumbstruck by Poe’s confidence as he moved mere inches from the bomb. From Jexton’s ramblings, Denton had always assumed the New Republic were spineless bureaucrats. But here, they seemed patient and fearless, almost heroic.
Unfortunately for Poe, there was no magic cord to cut. No old spice runner trick that would defuse the device. This was a death trap.
“He’s not bluffing,” Poe announced, solemnly.
“That’s right,” Denton agreed. “You all need to leave! Now!”
“Alright. Everybody, let’s pack it up.”
As they turned to leave, Temiri grabbed the sleeve of Poe’s shirt.
“I can keep the bomb from exploding,” Temiri whispered. “Then, you can do whatever you want with him.”
Poe arched an eyebrow, turning slowly to the young man. Before he could dismiss it as too dangerous, he remembered Temiri was a force-user. An apprentice, to be sure, but a Jedi nonetheless.
“You sure about this, kid?” Poe asked, lowering his voice. “There’s a lot of lives at stake here.”
“I can do it,” he declared. So far, he’d proven to be as talented as Poe could hope.
Poe nodded, permitting him to proceed.
Temiri closed his eyes, focusing on the dead man’s switch. He visualized the bomb, and with a slight extension of his hand, he willed Denton to keep pressure onto its trigger.
Denton’s eyes widened as he felt a phantom grasp slowly closing his hand. He immediately recognized it as something involuntary, something supernatural… Was this the Force?
“I’ve got it,” Temiri announced, straining as he maintained focus.
Denton panicked, hoping to scrounge together a Plan B. He pulled his free hand to his vest, hoping to manually arm the detonators. Before he could, he felt the sharp knuckles of General Dameron striking his jaw. He dropped to the floor, unconscious.
“You still managing alright, kid?” Poe asked, catching his breath.
“Yeah,” Temiri said. “It’s easier now that he’s not resisting.”
“Good,” Poe said. “Anyone got any fiberwire?”
One of the New Republic soldiers stepped up, removing some from their utility vest. He wrapped the trigger around Denton’s hand with speed and diligence.
“Make sure that’s nice and tight,” Poe added.
Once the cord was firmly wrapped, Temiri released his force grip, smiling in relief. Despite the circumstances, he felt good. He just helped his hero save the day!
“Great work,” Poe said, slapping Temiri’s shoulder appreciatively. “Now let’s get this guy in some wrist binders and get the hell out of here!”

Jannah found the hanger with little difficulty. It was the largest garage in the city, providing ample room for all sorts of starships. She didn’t have time to wait for the elevator, let alone, climb the stairs.
She reached for the ascension arrow from her quiver, and shot a perfect hook against the top ledge. Jannah ziplined to the top, mantling to the roof.
The ceiling was made from glass, allowing a perfect view of the top floor. She could see Jexton, standing beside another young Chiss woman. They were in the midst of boarding a hulking, brown vessel, and the starship’s open compartments housed all kinds of weapons. Jannah couldn’t imagine how they could afford such a ship, or even how they fit it into the garage.
Thankfully, Jexton and Ezelle were oblivious to her presence. She’d remained entirely unnoticed.
“The Negotiator’s all prepped,” she could hear Jexton say. “We’ve got enough of them down on the ground now.”
“Good,” Ezelle said. “These soldier boys won’t know what hit ‘em!”
Jannah smiled. She’d gotten here right on time to foil their plans.
That was until Jexton looked up, locking eyes with Jannah through the glass. She couldn’t help but be amused by the surprise on his face.
His partner was the first to fire, destroying the glass surface she’d been standing on.
Jannah landed with a roll, executing a perfect somersault as she drew her bow. She fired an arrow straight into the Chiss’ hand, knocking the blaster from her grip.
Jannah shifted her aim to Jexton, who drew his darksaber.
“Put it down,” Jannah ordered. “Or I shoot.”
“It’s alright, Ezelle,” he reassured her. Jexton remained calm, powering down his weapon. “I take it you’re here to arrest me.”
“No,” Jannah said. “I’m here to kill you.”
“May I ask why?”
“The name Lando Calrissian ring a bell?”
“General Calrissian. Yes, of course. He was a hero. His death was a tragedy.”
“Then why’d you do it?”
“He was shooting at me, darling. What was I supposed to do?”
Jannah didn’t want to believe him, but she did. Still, it didn’t change anything. Surely, General Calrissian had a good reason. Lando would never kill anyone in cold blood.
Still, it deprived her of some of the satisfaction that would come from killing him. It created questions, seeds of uncertainty. But they didn’t matter. The only thing left for Jannah was to finish what he started.
“You know what he said to me before he died?” Jexton said, advancing.
Jannah readied herself. Any second now, she was liable to drop him where he stood.
“Calrissian was complaining about his ship,” Jexton said. “The Lady Luck, it was called. I take it you two were close? Maybe you’ve even taken it for a spin? It’s a beautiful vehicle. I managed to acquire it after his death.”
“You mean you stole it off his corpse?”
“It’s all yours if you let me and my partner go. You seem more deserving of it than I.”
“Tempting. But I’d rather see you rot.”
“Hm. Perhaps I can do something else to sweeten the deal?”
Suddenly, the Chiss Woman dove for her blaster. Jannah was quicker, shifting the aim between her eyes.
But before she could fire, Jannah felt the breath driven from her body.
She looked down to see the darksaber blade pierced through her stomach. Her gaze floated upwards, catching Jexton’s remorseful expression.
“It was true,” Jexton said. “General Calrissian was a hero… I’m sure you could’ve been too.”
Jexton pulled the saber from her midsection, allowing Jannah’s lifeless body to crumple to the floor.
Ezelle approached Jannah’s corpse, bending down to rummage through the woman’s valuables. Upon closer inspection, Ezelle noticed the wound across Jannah’s swollen belly.
“Oh no,” Ezelle said, her red eyes growing wider. “She was pregnant.”
Jexton winced. He didn’t just strike down a woman. He killed a baby.

Chapter Text

The landing ramp to the Negotiator lowered to the ground. Jexton was frozen, racked by his guilt as smoke hissed out from the ship.
From the other side of the hanger, a purple lightsaber was cutting through the blast doors. Ezelle shook Jexton by his shoulder, snapping him back to reality.
“Hey. If you didn’t kill her, it would’ve been us,” Ezelle said. “It was self-defense, alright? Get it out of your mind.”
But he couldn’t. This was a mistake he’d need to live with forever.
“Think of the bigger picture. If we destroy the New Republic, she’ll barely be an afterthought.”
The bigger picture. Jexton’s only source of solace. He nodded, extinguishing the fire in his conscience as he followed Ezelle into the vessel’s cockpit.
As they ascended, the door was cut wide open. Two women stepped through its frame.
Vi and Brienne watched as the ship’s ramp folded up, and the vessel’s engines fired on.
Vi removed her blaster and shot desperately at the hull. It was useless, only ricocheting off the ship’s plating. Whatever the hulking craft was armored with, it was going to be extremely difficult to take down.
They watched helplessly as the Negotiator soared into the atmosphere.
“Oh god,” Brienne said, noticing Jannah’s body. They were too late.
“Jannah?” Vi asked, kneeling to lift Jannah’s head. “Jannah, are you alright?”
The hole in her stomach answered Vi’s question rather clearly.
“What are we gonna tell Finn?” Brienne said.
Vi’s heart sank. It was no secret how much he and Jannah loved each other. They were practically all they talked about.
“I don’t know,” Vi said. “But we have to get out of here, or we’ll all end up the same as her.”

Finn and his apprentices rushed to Jexton’s apartment, right on time to see Poe and Temiri taking their leave.
“Poe!? You’re alive,” Finn said, relieved. “Is Jannah with you?”
“Haven’t seen her.”
That was a good sign. Or maybe not.
“Who’s he?” Finn asked, referring to the unconscious man in restraints.
“Jexton’s brother,” Poe said. “Not exactly who we came here for, but it could be the next best thing.”
“Good. Let’s find a way out of here.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the tremble of Jexton’s vessel, slowly moving through the battlefield. It looked as endless as the sky itself, completely obscuring the clouds above.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Poe said. “Everyone, let’s get the hell outta here! Before that thing blows us to bits!”

Rey was the first one off her gunship. As she split off from the New Republic, she had only one mission: find her students and retreat. She recalled the day she recruited them. While Brienne and Temiri were orphans who eagerly sought out the Temple, Vay’len and Kata had a more complicated induction. Both had a pair of loving parents who were reluctant to give them up for training.
The Grandmaster won them over with three promises. First, she would personally train them to their fullest potential. Second, she’d fly them home to be with their families every Life Day. Finally, she’d never put their children in harm's way.
Tonight, she’d violated that final condition. But as long as she got them back unscathed, she knew their parents would forgive her.
And yet no matter where Rey searched, she couldn’t find them. She couldn’t even feel them. Her senses were flooded by the carnage coming from every direction. The tragedy, the mourning, the chaos.
Rey coughed from the smoke and ash of burnt gunships, and looked around the man-made maze of alleyways and bridges. The city was big, but she couldn’t give up. They had to be around here somewhere.
Two silhouettes approached from the other end of the sector. By the grace of the Force, Kata and Vay’len had found her. They ran up, their eyes wide with both panic and relief.
Kata threw herself at The Grandmaster with a hug. Rey held her close, brushing her hair behind her ear.
“It’s alright, darling,” Rey said, reassuringly. “It’s alright.”
Vay’len simply folded his arms, emulating the poised Jedi he always aspired to be.
“Where’s Temiri and Brienne?” Rey asked, getting back to business.
“I don’t know,” Kata answered. “We were hoping they were with you.”
The Grandmaster looked up in the sky to see the imposing vessel. As it loomed forward, its orbital autocannon unfolded from the hatch. The Grandmaster was no tactician, but she knew one thing for certain: this was very, very bad.
“Get as far away from here as you can.” The Grandmaster ordered. “I don’t care how you do it. Just find transportation offworld.”
Vay’len nodded, disappearing into the night. Kata didn’t move a muscle.
“What are you waiting for?” Rey said. “Go!”
“Jedi stick together,” Kata said.
“If you don’t do as I say, I’ll make sure you’re a Jedi no longer,” Rey said, colder than she intended. In that moment, she would’ve said anything to get Kata away from the battlefield.
Nonetheless, Kata was resolute, every bit as stubborn as her mentor.
“Fine,” Rey said. She had no choice but to discipline her later. “See that ship? Help me pull it down.”
The vessel was too much for the Grandmaster to handle alone, but with their combined strength in the Force, they had a chance. Kata and Rey reached their hands out, shutting their eyes. They felt the Force flowing through them, empowered by their shared strength.
Kata even smiled. It was like the exercises they practiced at the temple. But here, in the heart of battle, it was more difficult to look inward. To reach the meditative state of mind that the Force so often demanded.
Kata thought of her innermost desires. To reunite with her parents and tell them about the massive ship she’d help to bring down. How she and The Grandmaster herself had turned the tides of this disaster.
“Now,” Rey commanded.
It took everything they had, and to the naked eye, it barely made a difference. They held their grip, straining and pulling until the ship teetered downward.

Jexton was moving all around the control panel, single handedly operating the Negotiator with finesse. Suddenly, he could feel the gravity working against his lumbering vessel. It wasn’t logical. He was doing everything right. This could only be the work of the Jedi.
He flicked a button, activating a row of propulsion systems below the ship. They fired on instantly, acting as a counterbalance to the Jedi’s sorcery. That would buy them an extra couple of minutes.
“Any sign of the Jedi?” Jexton shouted from the cockpit. Ezelle smirked, and laughed to herself. He’d never heard Jexton yell like this before, and even now, he still sounded cool and collected.
“Jedi?” Ezelle yelled back.
They had no choice but to yell. Denton had indeed shut down the city’s comlinks, but the Marauders received the same handicap. Nevertheless, it was working in their favor. The New Republic’s overwhelming forces were much more reliant on comlinks than the Marauders.
Ezelle narrowed her glowing red eyes, finally spotting two women in the distance. Enhancing the gunner’s scope had confirmed her suspicions. They had their hands outstretched, looking just how the Jedi were depicted in holodramas.
“I see ‘em,” she shouted.
“Would you kindly get rid of them? They’re trying to pull us to the ground.”
“You got it, Jexy.”

Rey and Kata snapped their eyes open to the sound of blasterfire peppering the area. The ship was retailing, and whoever was operating the ship’s gun was rather good at it.
Rey drew the lightsaber from her belt, igniting it with a scowl. She dashed in front of her apprentice, deflecting the incoming lasers with her blade. She was fast, but not fast enough to keep up with the barrage.
Rey crumpled to the ground, overwhelmed. She’d been struck. Once, maybe a few times.
The ship ceased its firing, but Kata knew it wasn’t an act of kindness. No, they’d overheated their cannons. It was only a matter of time before they’d shoot again.
Her master looked terrible, wincing as she struggled to get up. Kata acted fast, dragging the injured Rey into a nearby cantina.
They had it to themselves, mostly. Only two patrons were inside the bar. An Ithorian man ordered a round of juri juice from the mechanical bartender, while his Ardennian friend paid no mind to the Jedi’s presence. They were oblivious to the battle surrounding them, or at least, apathetic. To many of Nar Shadaa’s residents, this was nothing they hadn’t seen before. Peril had simply become an expectation.
“You’re hurt,” Kata said, softly.
“It’s alright,” Rey managed, reassuringly. “A little bacta spray, and I’ll be right back on my feet.”
Kata couldn’t believe it. Her master, the same woman who’d taken down the evil Emperor Palpatine, was nearly killed unceremoniously by a cannon. She’d begun to think her mentor was immortal. It would’ve been an ill-fitting fate for Rey Skywalker, she thought, but perhaps this was an opportunity to prove herself.
“If you’re going to order a drink, I will require identification,” the bartender cut in, its voice stuttering from a damaged vocabulator.
The cantina was rocked by a series of missiles, sending a quake across the bar. That finally scared the customers into hiding.
“Well, we can’t stay here,” Kata said. “What now?”
The truth was, Rey didn’t know. She couldn’t stand, let alone fight. Kata looked around for an emergency exit, but nothing presented itself. She could cut one with her lightsaber, but then what? Kata was petite. She didn't have the strength to carry Rey out of the building.
Another missile. The Ithorian shouted a swear in his native language. The building wouldn’t survive another blast.
There was only one way the Grandmaster could make it out alive.
“I’ll distract them,” Kata decided.
“No. Just run. I’ll think of a way out,” Rey said.
“Grandmaster, in your condition, there is no way out.”
Rey hated to admit it, but Kata was right. Still, she’d rather die than tell Kata’s parents about their daughter dying in battle.
“I’ll be fine,” Kata said, as if reading Rey’s mind. “The Force finds a way.”
“The Force finds a way,” Rey repeated, trying to echo some of the girl’s optimism.
And then Kata left, strutting out the front door.

“The Jedi’s back,” Ezelle said, spotting her from the viewport. Through the battleground’s smog, Kata emerged from the cantina, waving her lightsaber as if it were nothing but a lamp-rod.
“Get rid of them, please,” Jexton said. “We’re here to destroy the New Republic. Not tangle with a pair of Jedi.”
Ezelle enhanced the scope again on the gunner’s viewport, watching the young Jedi close her eyes. Ezelle squeezed the triggers, unleashing hell upon the girl.
But the Jedi was too fast. She dove away from each blast at the last second, a graceful series of flips, somersaults, and cartwheels. She even capped it off with a wink. Great. Now, the Jedi was taunting her.
“She’s making a fool out of us,” Ezelle shouted. “Divert the power to the weapons.”
“I am,” Jexton said.
“I want power from the shields too. Not just the engines,” Ezelle said. He knew he was holding out on her. Jexton was far too careful to compromise the ship’s armor.
“Fine,” Jexton conceded, flipping the switch. Now, the ship’s hull was vulnerable. But unless they could kill this Jedi, they weren’t going anywhere.

Poe nearly lost his footing as Jexton’s vessel shook the ground with artillery fire. Poe’s allies were sprinting alongside him, struggling to keep pace. Marauders were attacking from all directions and New Republic soldiers were dropping like flies. Nowhere in Nar Shaddaa was safe, but anything was better than here.
They had to get as far away from the starship as possible. Given the chance, Jexton would’ve put what little remained of his forces to shame.
Finn and his apprentices bordered the New Republic squad, keeping their lightsabers ignited. They hoped it might protect them, that the Jedi could fight against the horrors that came their way.
“Where’s our transport ship?” Finn shouted.
“No idea,” Poe said. “Comlinks are down. Our rendezvous is on fire. Just focus on running.”
Finn stole a look at the sky, skidding to a halt. The ship wasn’t after them. It was busy fighting a girl. A girl with a green lightsaber.
“Kata,” Finn said, realizing.
“What is it?” Poe said, stopping. He trusted his friends' instincts, and the remaining New Republic soldiers did the same. Most even took advantage of the interruption, hoping to catch their breaths.
“That Jedi is one of ours,” Finn said, pointing in the distance.
Poe watched in awe as Kata single-handedly took on the ship. One Jedi against a starship five hundred times her size.

Kata wiped the sweat from her brow. She couldn’t keep this dance up for much longer. The Negotiator was unyielding. Its cannons were trained on her, anticipating her next move.
She knew one thing: she wouldn’t be able to deflect its blaster fire. The Grandmaster nearly died trying to do that.
There was nowhere to hide, and even if there was, they’d simply take it as an opportunity to destroy her master. The only thing she could do now was take the ship head-on.
The Negotiator fired at Kata, its rounds exploding around her. They were overcharging their cannons. She could use that.
With a running start, Kata pushed herself off the ground, using the Force to jump as high as she’d ever been. It was as if time slowed for Kata, until the cockpit of The Negotiator reached eye-level.
Kata used her remaining strength to hurl her lightsaber. The green blade slashed against the ship’s wing, destroying the side of its hull along with it. The now asymmetrical tank of a ship teetered to its side.
But the cannons were still powered, charged and ready to fire.
The last sound Kata heard was the combustion of lase fire from its cannons. Kata was blown apart, dying for the maneuver that struck down The Negotiator and saved the New Republic.

Chapter Text

“No!”
Finn didn’t recognize his own voice. The scream strained his throat, his adrenaline producing a voice almost alien to him.
He was too late to help, and too angry to cry. Kata was destined to be one of the most powerful Jedi of the next generation. He would’ve bet anything on it.
She’d taken Jexton and his vessel down with her, but that was hardly a silver lining. Kata was gone, reduced to a casualty of war. What would Rey say?
Then, he felt his next horrible inclination: Rey was in trouble.
“I’m so sorry,” Poe managed, laying a hand on Finn’s shoulder.
“Just go,” Finn snapped, turning away from his grip. “Get these people to safety. I have to find Rey.”
As he sprinted off, Jayelle and Forten followed. He knew better than to try convincing them to stay behind.

Vay’len draped his hood over his head, obscuring the details of his furry face. At a glance, the abnormally tall Bothan could pass for a citizen of Nar Shaddaa. He certainly looked unfriendly enough.
Nevertheless, it was difficult for Vay’len to appear inconspicuous with his cybernetic legs. Underneath his robes, his long metal limbs clicked and clacked with each step.
He hadn’t the slightest idea how he was going to get off the planet. But he had to find a way out for the Jedi, or he’d have abandoned The Grandmaster and Kata in vain. This was his chance to make them proud. Assuming they were still alive, of course.
Finally, a large ship appeared through the atmosphere. Vay’len had seen a lot of ships exit the city during the battle, but none enter. The ship was almost as big as Jexton’s, though nowhere near as well-equipped. The New Republic logo painted across the hull had confirmed his suspicions. This was their evac.
Vay’len ignited his lightsaber, producing an exceptional blue glow. He waved it hopefully, in an attempt to signal them to land.
The pilots had gotten the memo, descending perfectly in front of him. The ship’s landing ramp folded down, and two women exited the starship.
“Sorry about the delay,” Jess said, ripping off her piloting gloves. “Hyperspace lanes can only do so much for a ship this size.”
“What the hell happened here?” Karé Kun said, cutting in. “We were expecting everyone in the air.”
“Most of us were shot down,” Vay’len said. “We decided to regroup on the ground.”
“So where’s everyone else?” Karé asked. “Can we call them?”
“The comms are down. You won’t be able to reach anyone.”
“We figured as much. Jess, you wanna do the honors?”
Jess reached for her utility belt, unholstering a flare gun. Without hesitation, she shot her light into the sky. It was bright enough to alert the whole city. Certainly not ideal, but there was hardly an alternative.
“We might get some unwanted company,” Jess said, passing Karé an automatic blaster. Finally, she turned to Vay’len. “Help us hold the line, would you?”
Vay’len nodded his head, tightening his grip on the lightsaber. He was ready.

The Grandmaster hadn’t, no, couldn’t move from the cantina. Her legs were searing with pain. Rey used her remaining strength to prop herself against the bar, trying to remain conscious.
Whatever Kata’s plan had been, it worked. The cantina had been saved. But how useful would that be if she couldn’t even get to her feet? She’d probably be captured, tortured, maybe even killed. She had no idea how these Marauders' minds worked. In fact, she’d hardly known about them until earlier.
The door to the cantina whooshed open. She clenched her lightsaber, unable to make out the details of the threat. She twitched her arm, trying to find the strength to raise her arm into a block. Unfortunately, her injuries had rendered her body useless.
Thankfully, it was a friendly voice.
“Rey,” Finn said, trying to hide his shock at her condition. “What happened?”
“Kata,” she replied weakly. “Where’s Kata?”
Finn didn’t have it in him to lie. He swallowed hard, lifting her in his arms.
“We’re going to get you back safe, alright?” he said. Rey could sense his sadness, as she slipped into unconsciousness.

The first ones to arrive at the transport ship were Vi and Brienne. They were too distraught to say anything, and Jess and Karé knew better than to make conversation.
Poe and Temiri were next. Some of Poe’s soldiers boarded the ship, while the braver, more unaffected ones stood guard. A couple of them ushered Denton up the ramp, who remained unconscious.
Poe counted the remaining survivors in his head. They’d left Mirrin Prime with thousands. Now, there were barely a hundred. His math spoke for itself: this was a disaster.
Finn and his apprentices were next, huffing as they carried Rey to the ship. A band of soldiers rushed to take her from his arms, holding the unconscious Rey.
“She needs a medic,” Finn said. “ Where’s Jannah?”
Nobody answered. Finn scoffed in disbelief, turning to go back to the battlefield.
“Don’t,” Poe said, grabbing Finn’s arm. “I can send reinforcements to look, but for now, this is what’s left.”
Finn couldn’t tell if Poe was being honest or not. Sending another ground team here was a death trap, and he’d have to be delusional to think otherwise. Besides, what if she didn’t have that kind of time?
“You go right ahead,” Finn said. “I’m not leaving without her.”
“There’s too many of them. We have to go.”
“I don’t care.”
“Jannah’s dead,” Vi said, about as uncomfortable as she’d ever been in her life. “I… She split off from the group. Jexton killed her.”
“...What?”
“It’s true,” Brienne said, her voice quivering. “We saw the body.”
The silence was palpable. He cycled through his recollection of events, trying to dispute it. But he knew so little. One minute Jannah was telling him he was going to be a father. The next, she was dead. And he couldn’t even say goodbye. Finn’s face twitched into a sob.
Most of the soldiers knew exactly how he was feeling. But most of them had the luxury of hope. The small inkling that maybe, just maybe, their friends and loved ones had survived.
Poe didn’t even know what to say.
A distant explosion snapped Poe out of his rumination, but Finn was still somewhere else.
“Please. We have to go,” Poe said, urging Finn up the landing ramp. To his surprise, Finn cooperated, probably too stupefied to fight him off. The rest of the survivors followed to make their escape.

Ezelle shook her head as she awoke from the crash landing. They were lucky The Negotiator hadn’t exploded on its way down, let alone that she hadn’t suffered anything beyond a few cuts and scrapes.
“Jexton,” she yelled, undoing the ship’s restraint harness. “Jexton, are you alright?”
“Doing just fine, thank you,” he said, as if they hadn’t just plummeted to the ground.
“This thing’s gonna need all sorts of repairs.”
“We’re alive. That’s what matters.”
Ezelle’s attention crept forward.
An evil smile appeared on her face as she looked out the viewport. How delightfully ironic, she thought. The Negotiator’s gunner was perfectly aligned with the New Republic transport ship. The rest of the soldiers were rushing inside, completely vulnerable to a couple of well-aimed homing missiles. Ezelle could destroy the ship just before their departure.
Her thumbs hovered over the triggers, ready to fire.
“Stop,” Jexton demanded, peeking his head down the tunnel’s ladder. “I know what you’re thinking: don’t.”
“What do you mean don’t? This could finish off the New Republic for good, just like we wanted!”
“I don’t care. My brother’s on that ship.”
“So? You were ready to sacrifice him if we lost. And guess what? We lost!”
“The galaxy won’t see it that way. Trust me. We took out most of their men. Even a Jedi. Now, we’re forcing them into a retreat. If we play victim to the HoloNet, we might even win the support of the public.”
“Who cares? We can end this now.”
“We’re not sacrificing my brother. That’s non-negotiable.”
Ezelle rolled her eyes. Even if it were Jexton on that ship, she would’ve pulled the trigger. Why? Because she believed in something bigger than themselves. But Jexton left no room for debate. He was always so decisive, so resolute. She frowned as she watched the New Republic ship take off with its survivors. Sometimes, Ezelle wondered if Jexton cared more about his blasted brother than her.

Chapter Text

The ride back to Mirrin Prime was spent mostly in silence. Some cried, mourning friends or tending to their own exhaustion.
Finn managed to hold it together, but his composure was mostly intrinsic to his denial. The void of flying back without Jannah was all too real, but Finn numbed himself in the shallow comfort of disbelief.
Jannah couldn’t be gone. Their lives were only just beginning. Something had to have been wrong, or at least left unaccounted for. He knew firsthand that eyewitness accounts could be unreliable. When he first met Poe, Finn was sure he’d died in Jakku’s sinking fields. Then, almost miraculously, he was reunited with him on another planet. It felt like at one point or another, all of Finn’s friends had suffered near-death experiences.
Things would work themselves out. They always did.
He tried to focus on the positives. Like how the child hostage, Ancen Pryde, had managed to survive. Not only that, but he’d taken the unoccupied seat next to Finn.
“You look sad,” the child said.
“I am,” Finn said, seeing no point in lying.
“I’m sad too.”
Finn forced a pained smile at the boy.
“Don’t be. We’ll take care of you. I promise,” he said.
Ancen was reassured, but he didn’t have it in him to smile back. He couldn’t blame the boy. There was nothing in this ship but gloom.

The battle had done a number on Rey’s students. Temiri tried his best to keep himself distracted, focusing on his moment of triumph. But it already felt like a fading memory with all the grief surrounding him.
Even his own. The horror of seeing the New Republic soldier die in front of him continued to eat away at his spirit.
The experience was humbling, to say the least. At the Temple, Temiri was a prodigy. Learning the Force came naturally to him, but in the real world, he couldn’t even transfer an iota of his life force. He felt more helpless than ever.
He sat in between Brienne and Vay’len, taking note of the unoccupied seat where Kata would’ve been.
“I still can’t believe she’s gone,” Temiri said, almost unconsciously.
“It’s horrible,” Brienne agreed. “I always wondered what our lightsabers could do to someone. Seeing what Jannah went through… It’s scary.”
“I was talking about Kata.”
“Oh, right,” Brienne said, embarrassed. “I guess that one still hasn’t registered.”
Brienne placed her hand on top of Temiri’s. He was startled, almost jumping at her touch.
“They’ll die for what they did today,” she said. “We’ll kill them for it.”
Temiri looked away, conflicted. On one hand, the battle awoke something inside him. A desire to prevent wars like this from ever happening again. He’d known now that people needed his help. Hiding away at a Temple for the rest of his life was a disservice to his gifts. He needed real-world practice, and sheltering in place wouldn’t do anybody any good.
But on the other hand, he never wanted to have to see that kind of suffering again. It was horrific, and not something he ever wanted to get used to.

Poe was the first one off the ship. A squad of soldiers escorted Denton into the interrogation room, while Poe headed straight for the strategy center. Poe needed to address the tragedy as soon as possible.
He looked around, taking a deep breath. He’d spent most of the flight rehearsing what he’d say, but his words were escaping him. Instead, he thought about the backlash he could face for all this. Once the HoloNet found out about his plan, his reputation might never be the same. But there was hope. Hope that he could say all the right things, and fortunately, he had some time to get it right. He’d given the survivors, and himself, an hour to get their bearings.
As Poe began to rehearse, Vi stormed into the room with her hands on her hips.
“Are we alone?” Vi asked.
“Yeah,” Poe said.
“Good. Because my last shred of respect for you is keeping me from doing this in front of the fleet. What the hell were you thinking?”
“You warned me,” Poe admitted. “I should’ve listened.”
“But you didn’t. You gambled with our lives. And now, my friends are dead.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“An apology might be a good start. Or at least an explanation.”
“I thought I could take them, and we couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“What’s your next move, then? Have you thought about resigning?”
Poe scoffed. He made a catastrophic mistake, sure. But Poe wasn’t the type to run away from his problems.
“No,” he said, simply. “I appreciate you doing this one-on-one. But come back during the briefing, alright? Then you can decide if you still hate my guts.”
“I don’t hate your guts. It’s just… I thought I could trust you.”
“I understand.”
Vi gave an accepting nod. After the way things unfolded, Poe wasn’t even sure he could trust himself. But he couldn’t give up. Not yet.

Rey was expected to make a full recovery. Nevertheless, the medics were keeping her submerged inside the bacta tank for the foreseeable future. Finn rested his hand on the glass, admiring how peaceful she looked.
“The galaxy’s starting to feel a little darker without you in it,” he said, knowing she couldn’t hear him. “You’ve lost almost all the friends you ever made. Han, Luke, Leia... I never appreciated it until now. How’d you do it? How did you cope?”
Finn felt a familiar presence behind him. Someone he hadn’t seen for a long time.
It was Rose Tico. Her eyes were watering.
“Rose,” he muttered, engulfing her inside of a tear-stained hug.
Rose, like so many other old Resistance fighters, had moved on from being a soldier. Much to Finn’s delight, she chose to devote herself to motherhood. He loved it when his old friends found a new purpose outside of war. After all, he’d tried his damndest to do the same.
“How’ve you been?” he asked, failing to mask the sadness in his voice.
“Good,” Rose said, hesitating to answer. She looked down to her stomach, appearing larger than Finn remembered. “Things are crazy. But good-crazy. Benni’s getting a brother.”
“Wow. Another child?”
Rose nodded. She must not have heard that Jannah had been pregnant too, or else she would’ve known it was a sore subject. But informing her now would’ve only brought down the mood.
“I came as soon as I heard,” she said. “I needed to see if you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” Finn said. “But Jannah didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m going to make them pay for what they did.”
“Finn,” she warned, cautiously. “You remember what I said on Crait?”
“Crait was ten years ago.”
“We won’t win by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.”
Finn never had understood what she meant by that. It was his conviction that the Resistance won by doing both. He’d considered her naive for that. Really, for someone who’d blossomed into a warrior, her idealism had always caught him off guard.
“It’s going to be hard,” Rose continued. “But you need to stay hopeful.”
“How long did it take you to get over the death of your sister?” Finn asked.
“I never did,” Rose said, her hand instinctively reaching for her necklace. “And no matter how much we chased the First Order, nothing was ever going to change that.”
“Maybe not. But the galaxy was a safer place without them in it. I'll do the same to the Marauders.”
“Is that really what she’d want? What Rey would want?”
Rose gestured to Rey, still floating in her tank.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But somebody has to hold these people accountable.”
Finn walked out, not wanting to give himself a chance to lose his temper. She took a deep breath. Rose had a bad feeling about this.

Almost all the survivors of Nar Shaddaa had shown up to witness Poe’s speech, with the addition of some old Resistance fighters. Suralinda had taken a seat right upfront. She was ready with her datapad, waiting to transcribe his speech and surely report every word to the HoloNet.
There was a lot riding on the reception of his statement. Suralinda’s article could impact the entire galaxy’s perception of his decision to attack Nar Shaddaa. He had to be precise, but more importantly he had to be honest.
“First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming,” Poe said. “To the folks who witnessed it all, and to the people who dropped everything to be here... On behalf of the New Republic, I’d like to apologize.”
The crowd looked at one another, surprised at his introduction. Some even considered leaping to his defense.
“Our spy, Vi Moradi, informed me before the attack that our surprise arrival had been compromised. I didn’t think it affected our odds, so I pushed to continue the mission. I should’ve backed out. Instead, I took the shot at bringing them down, once and for all. Nearly the whole fleet was wiped out because of me. I don’t think words can express the guilt I feel for my decision.”
There was some clamoring amongst the audience. Poe couldn’t blame them. Almost all of them had lost somebody because of him.
Termeri had certainly found it difficult to believe. His hero, his idol, was partly to blame for today’s casualties. Everyone was prone to mistakes, of course, but this was a hard pill to swallow.
Poe locked eyes with Finn, trying to gauge his friend’s reaction. But it only took a moment for Finn to give Poe a reassuring nod. Despite Jannah’s horrific fate, Finn hadn’t lost sight of who was responsible.
“Without the brave actions of the Jedi, specifically a young student named Kata, I guarantee none of us would’ve come home,” Poe continued. “She, like so many others, was killed by the Marauders. But the time to mourn her, and everyone else who died on Nar Shaddaa, comes later. For now, we have to focus on our next move. We discovered that the Marauders are led by Jexton Koyles, and his brother, Denton. We have the brother in custody now. I intend to find out what he knows, and use that to bring them all down. No matter what, I’ll find a way to make this right. For all of us. Any questions?”
Just as Poe had expected, Suralinda lifted her hand instantly.
“Your next move to bring down the Marauders is enlisting the help of one of its leaders. Is that really such a good idea?” she asked. “And besides, isn’t that kind of a longshot? What makes you think he’ll cooperate?”
“From this point on, diplomacy and tact is our path to victory. We saw what happens when we charge head-on into conflict. But now that we know what we’re up against, we can play it smart. As much as I’d like to launch another attack, I won’t risk more lives in the pursuit of destruction, even if it prolongs the war.”
“Is that what you’re calling it? A war?”
“Absolutely.”
“Mm. No further questions, General.”
Nobody had anything more to add. At least, nothing terribly meaningful. Poe could tell his allies were divided, the controversy almost palpable. He was asking people for patience, and that was in dreadfully short supply. People wanted revenge, and frankly, so did Poe. But he couldn’t afford another disaster.
Finn stayed behind, catching a moment alone with the general.
“Good speech,” he said. “Can’t say I agree with your tactics. Especially the part where we work with the prisoner.”
Poe valued Finn’s opinion more than anyone else. As far as he was concerned, they were still in command together.
“I know,” Poe agreed. “But give me a few days. I really think I can get something good out of him.”
“That’s leaving a lot of time for the Marauders to rebuild.”
“I know. Unfortunately, we need it too.”
Finn let out a sigh. It took everything he had not to take Jayelle and Forten to go back to Nar Shaddaa and finish the job themselves. But of course, three Jedi couldn’t stop an entire army. They barely survived, even with the New Republic’s support.
“Fine,” Finn agreed. “But let me help. I might be able to trick him into cooperating.”
“Mind tricks work,” Poe said. “Hate to say it, but the guy’s smart as a whip. We’ll need to persuade him the old fashioned way.”
“Sure. Let me talk to him.”
“I… I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Finn. I laid the groundwork when I met him, and I think he trusts me. Just let me have a crack at it first, alright?”
“So, what? You want to protect him from me?” Finn asked, clenching a fist.
Poe hesitated to answer. In a way, Finn was right. Poe knew he was still processing the death of his wife and child, and being alone in a room with the brother of their killer? That was a recipe for disaster.
“There’s more to it than that,” Poe said.
“I don’t like it. Coddling this guy, giving him an interrogation,” Finn said, shaking his head. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work.”
Finn knew there was nothing he could say to change Poe’s mind. Besides, he did trust Poe. He’d proven time and time again that he had a way of making the impossible possible. Still, he hated leaving justice in somebody else’s hands.

Jexton looked around his luxury apartment. It was sloppier than he’d left it, thanks to the New Republic’s invasion. They’d abducted his brother, snatched him from his home, and now, he had to clean up the mess.
Ezelle was using the sink to tend to her wounds. She’d gotten lucky avoiding any serious injuries from the crash, but she could finally see the bruising setting in. Jexton crept up behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist.
“Not there,” she warned, pulling his hands away. Since she’d left the ship, most of her body felt too painful to touch. “We sent the New Republic off running, but they’re still alive and well.”
“No doubt, plotting our demise.”
“So what’s our next move?”
“We arrange funerals for those who died in the battle. And then, I rescue my brother.”
“Come on. I know you love him, but that’s suicide.”
“It’s the only way I can atone.”
“Atone? For what, the pregnant woman? Look, I know it’s rough, but you gotta move on. She was going to kill us.”
“You know my own mother died in childbirth?”
“You’ve told me this before, Jexton. It’s not your fault.”
“Denton was born without a hitch, but me? For some reason, I just about did her in. That alone was enough to break up the family. My father told me I was a curse, but Denton never held it against me. And you know what my father did? He abandoned me on Corellia. And Denton got off dad’s ship and refused to leave me behind. Denton’s not just my brother. He was the father I never had. I would’ve died on those streets if not for him.”
Ezelle took a deep breath. She’d never heard that part of the story before.
“Now, I’ve gone and done the same thing to somebody else. Destroyed their family, before they even had a chance. I’m sorry, but that’s not something I can get over.”
“I get it. Your brother sacrificed a lot for you to get where you are today. But this isn’t the way to pay him back. You think he’d want you throwing his life away?”
“I don’t care what he wants. It’s both of us or none of us. That’s how it’s always been.“
“Yeah? And what about me?” Ezelle said, pulling away from his grip.
Jexton shrugged his shoulders, sounding numb.
“If I die, you’ll inherit what’s left of the Marauders. And that will be it.”
“Inherit? Jexy, none of those Mandalorians would listen to me alone. We only control them if we have the darksaber.”
“Then take it,” Jexton said, offering over the hilt. “Say you bested me in a duel.”
Ezelle couldn’t believe it. Was he really going to turn over this much power so quickly? She imagined all the things she could do with the army in her command. All the New Republic soldiers she would kill, all the riches she would plunder. She could finally reject Jexton’s slower, more methodical approach. And yet…
“I can’t,” she said, pushing his arm away. “If this gives you a better chance against the rest of those bastards, then take it. Just be careful.”
It was too much to ask, and Ezelle knew it. But Jexton nodded anyway.

Chapter Text

“Denton Koyles,” Poe said, kicking his boots on the interrogation table. “I took a look at your file. One of a kind codebreaker, huh? I’m guessing you’re the one who took out our comms?”
“Yes,” Denton said, trying to sound proud. His quivering voice and the beads of sweat dripping from his forehead ruined his charade. “I broke your encrypted messages, too.”
“Good,” Poe said, forcing a jovial tone. “The New Republic could use someone like you. We’ve got codebreakers, sure, but nobody with your talents.”
“I’d die before I work for your regime.”
“Mm. And where do you stand on rotting in a New Republic prison? Because that’s exactly where you’ll be if we can’t reach some sort of agreement.”
“My brother will save me,” he said, swallowing hard. His tough guy act was flimsy and Poe knew it.
“You think he’ll infiltrate our heavily-armed, impenetrable base and pull you out of custody? Just like that? No. You’ll die irrelevant. Unremembered. I’ll scrub your name from every record until everyone’s forgotten who you are. Then, I’ll do the same to your brother… Or, you can tell me what you know, and I’d consider lessening your sentence. Maybe his, too.”
“What makes you think I’d betray him?” Denton asked, finally meeting his gaze.
“Because it’s the only path you and Jexton have to a normal life. And besides, I don’t think you realize who he is.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He killed a pregnant soldier, Denton. Stabbed her right through the chest.”
“That doesn’t sound like him.”
“Doesn’t sound like him? He’s building a criminal empire! And you? You’re just a guy. But with a little cooperation, you can save both your skins.”
Poe could see the gears turning in Denton’s mind. There was no way he’d talk. Not now, anyway. But he planted a seed. And with a little patience, Denton could turn.
“Think about it,” Poe said, standing up from his chair. “Help me help you.”

Finn hadn’t been able to sleep. His brain was firing on all cylinders, thinking of all sorts of ideas to recover Jannah. But deep down, he knew there was no way she could be recovered.
If only he’d been there. Perhaps he could’ve used the Force to heal her. He would’ve done anything just for the chance.
Eventually, Finn’s exhaustion caught up with him. He collapsed into one of Mirrin Prime’s bunk beds, thinking about the battle.
He felt as if he were still there, clutching a lightsaber, fighting against the faceless Marauders that attacked from all sides.
He cut them down with ease, his lightsaber slashing through enemy after enemy. He felt insatiable, as if he wasn’t destroying enough. As if he was chasing something that would only make him more numb.
And just like that, that’s precisely what he was doing. Was this a dream? Real life? Today, the two had seemed indistinguishable. He decided this was something in between.
Finn looked up to the sky, only to see Nar Shaddaa’s towers sink into the terrain. His environment was replaced by blue, foggy nothingness. The sterile, cold stench of Exegol. The hidden world of the Sith.
Violent screams of Finn’s friends overlapped. He could hear Rey, retching out in agony.
“Save us, Finn!” he could hear someone cry out. Poe?
“Don’t let them get away with this,” Jannah said, appearing behind him.
The sky faded to dark red. First Order piloted Xyston-class Star Destroyers lined the clouds, with firepower that could destroy a planet.
They charged up their lasers, aiming right at him. His apprentices looked helplessly at the sky, awaiting their inevitable demise. Jayelle. Forten. Even Kata.
“No! No, no, no!” he shouted.
But there was nothing he could do as the brilliant, collective blasts shot straight at him and his friends.
Finn awoke with a scream, alone and covered in sweat. He must’ve slept an entire day’s cycle. The empty bunks around him served as a grim reminder of Nar Shadaa’s casualties.
He swung himself out of bed, trying to piece it together. This wasn’t just a dream, it was something else. A myriad of distorted memories, merging together to create some kind of vision. It was trying to tell him something. Something he needed to hear. But like most of his conversations with the Force, it spoke in abstractions. Riddles.
Finn was sure of one thing: he wasn’t going back to bed anytime soon. He rushed to find Poe, who was standing outside the interrogation room. To Finn’s surprise, he and Beaumont Kin seemed to be in the midst of an argument.
“I’m telling you, General, there are countless ways we could win!” Beaumont insisted.
“I appreciate you drafting these strategies for me. Really, I do. But I can’t risk it. I won't make the same mistake twice,” Poe said.
Poe’s words sounded tired and rehearsed. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time they’d had this discussion.
“Unbelievable. So you’re going to just let them win?” Beaumont scoffed.
“It’s more that I’m ensuring we don’t lose.”
“We won’t! The Liberator’s practically finished, and with the axial superlaser, our victory is essentially a guarantee!”
Finn couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He hadn’t caught wind of anything about an axial superlaser in years. Now, the very weaponry he'd dreamed of was the topic of an extremely heated discussion. This was no ordinary nightmare.
“The time to deploy it is now!” Beaumont continued. “If you won’t see reason, General, then I cannot promise my loyalty to the New Republic will extend much longer.”
“Fine. You’re excused, Beaumont,” Poe said, gently.
Beaumont did as he was told, fuming. As he left, Poe and Finn could hear the sound of a fist punching a much stronger wall. Poe sighed as it echoed through the halls.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” Poe said, shaking his head.
“He might have a point,” Finn said,
“Not you too.”
“Do we seriously have an axial superlaser? That could be a complete game-changer.”
“What do you mean?”
“If The Liberator has one we could bring it to Nar Shaddaa,” Finn said. “Destroy their moon. Obliterate the Marauder’s resources. Force them to rebuild.”
“Finn, there’s hundreds of innocent civilians there. Some of them are just like that kid you rescued!”
“We’ll give them a chance to evacuate. Hell, even if the Marauders escaped, this would cripple them. We’d get the New Republic their advantage back. We should’ve done this from the start!”
“No. No, we’re not destroying people’s homes.”
“They’re living with Marauders! That’s not a home.”
“It doesn’t matter. The second we start using planet-destroying weapons, we prove the Marauders right. The New Republic would become nothing more than an empire.”
“Poe, you’re not seeing the bigger picture. This is more than just politics. This would restore the New Republic’s power. Avenge the people we lost!”
“I understand. But I’m telling you, doing this would just create more enemies for us in the long run. I don’t want people’s fear. I want their respect. And acting like the First Order is not the way to go about it.”
“It’s war, Poe. How is this any different from what the Resistance did? When the First Order destroyed Hosnian Prime, we fought back. We blew up Starkiller Base. It won us the war! And we can do it again!”
“We will win. Eventually.”
“I don’t have time for eventually. I can’t just sit around doing nothing.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing, Finn? I haven’t slept since we got here.”
He wasn’t lying. Poe was exhausted. He rubbed his eyes, rethinking his tone.
“Tell you what,” Poe said, yawning. “If this Denton thing doesn’t work out, I’ll entertain a more… Aggressive strategy. Until then, try to keep your mind off it, alright?”
Before Finn could argue, Poe had marched off. Think about something else. What else was there to think about? He didn’t want a distraction, he wanted closure. And being left alone with his grief wouldn’t avenge anyone.

Following Beaumont back to his room was hardly a challenge. Everyone’s living quarters had been neatly arranged, and nobody was difficult to find. Especially someone who’d left a trail of rage left in their path
The door whooshed open and Finn could see him packing a bag.
“Beaumont?” Finn said, watching him zip it closed.
“Yes, General?” they asked, their body language softening to something much kinder and gentler.
“You’re leaving?”
“I don’t regret a single day I spent in the New Republic, but I cannot abide Poe’s inaction. It doesn’t matter to him that I had to hear my own husband die over the comms. I still don’t get a say. All that matters to him is his own agenda.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your doing. I don’t even blame Poe for losing the battle. But I sure as hell blame him for not finishing it. If this is the kind of game he wants to play, he can play it himself.”
“I don’t like it either,” Finn admitted. “But it’s not too late for us to do something. I had a dream. A vision about the axial superlaser you were talking about. Is there one out there we could use on The Liberator?”
“Yes. And I know exactly where it is. If Poe would just agree to take the ship over, it’d be a quick installation.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. Poe won’t listen to reason, and that’s that.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”
Suddenly, Finn had Beaumont’s full attention. His blue eyes widened in surprise, and he looked as though the wind had been knocked out of him.
“You’re not suggesting we go against him?” Beaumont asked. “Steal the Liberator and take it to Exegol? Because that would be treason.”
“Sometimes, you have to rebel to do the right thing,” Finn said. “Poe will forgive us. Eventually.”
Beaumont looked back to his bags, considering for a moment. Finally, he looked up and exhaled sharply.
“What do I have to lose?

Chapter Text

“So you and me against an entire army?” Beaumont asked, still in disbelief. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like it. But it doesn’t take the head of New Republic Security to tell you we won’t be able to fly that ship alone. We’ll need technicians, pilots, and--”
“There are so many that have lost their loved ones, just like us,” Finn said. “I can recruit hundreds, at least. All I need is an audience.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“With a little demonstration. Can you get me into the interrogation room?”
“You mean Denton’s?” Beaumont asked. “What do you need? Information?”
“No.”
There was a steadiness in his voice. But also a darkness that made Beaumont realize he didn’t want to know more.
“I can disable the security measures,” Beaumont said. “Then what?”
“Then we steal ourselves a ship.”
By the time Finn made his way back to the interrogation room, Beaumont had done his job wonderfully.
The locked door whooshed open for him, revealing Denton behind a pane of one-way glass. The anxious-looking prisoner bounced his foot relentlessly, as if he knew he had a reason to be afraid. His hands were bound by a pair of binders, which were chained to the durasteel table as an extra security measure. For Finn, this was utterly perfect.
As Finn entered the room, Denton did not panic. Instead, he drew himself to his full height, feigning some courage.
“I’ve thought about the General’s offer,” Denton announced. “I’m willing to negotiate for my services, under a few conditions-”
Finn used the Force to slam Denton’s head against the table.
“Shut up,” Finn demanded.
It hardly took any energy. Denton was concussed, and petrified. Finn couldn’t help but smile watching the man squirm.
“What happened to our agreement?” they asked.
“I’m altering the deal,” Finn said, levitating the man with a flick of his finger. He pinned him to the wall, sliding him higher up until the chains leashing Denton to the table were ripped apart. “Your brother took everything from me.”
“Please. Just let me go! I’ll give you whatever you want!”
“I want my wife and child back.”
Finn clenched his fist, willing Denton to wrap his hands around his own throat.
“I want a galaxy without the Marauders,” he said.
Finn watched as the man’s face was painted with straining agony. Before he knew it, Denton wasn’t breathing at all.
Finn felt a glint of satisfaction dropping Denton’s body to the ground. From now on, the Marauders would feel nothing but pain.
The New Republic was no longer running the show. Only Finn.

Chapter Text

Poe had only just gone to bed before being awoken by the sound of blaring alarms. He rolled out of his cot, taking a deep breath.
Poe almost hoped Denton was right, and that the remaining Marauder forces were attempting a rescue. Even with their diminished troops, a battle here could only end in triumph. After all, Mirrin Prime had the firepower and defense systems to put Nar Shaddaa to shame.
But it wasn’t that at all. Outside the interrogation room, Poe spotted the New Republic technician that pulled the alarm. He was shaking, absolutely stupefied.
“What’s wrong?” Poe asked.
“I don’t know, sir,” they said, panic setting in. “I came in and he was just lying there.”
“Who?”
“The prisoner.”
Without missing a beat, Poe hustled into the scene of the crime. His worst fears were confirmed. Denton was on the ground, dead. Poe cycled through his theories, his first suspicion being a suicide pill. But upon closer inspection, the truth was much darker.
The chains holding Denton to the table were broken, and the markings on his throat all but confirmed asphyxiation. Poe was no detective, but this was almost certainly murder.
But who would’ve done this? Was there a spy among them, silencing Denton before he could turn? Or perhaps a grief-stricken vigilante?
The other New Republic members, most of whom were also awoken by alarms, gathered in Mirrin’s atrium. The space was breathtaking, reminiscent of the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo. Towering over everyone was the statues of the galaxy’s most significant, democratic champions. At Poe’s request, the centerpiece was a large sculpture of General Leia Organa.
“Somebody shut those off,” Poe ordered. His request was accommodated within seconds. Poe moved to the bridge to address the crowd, most of whom were still half-asleep. From the shell-shocked soldiers to the confused Jedi, everyone awaited his address.
“Alright, alright,” he continued. “There’s been a situation in the interrogation room. Our prisoner from Nar Shaddaa, Denton Koyles, was killed. The New Republic will perform an investigation and uncover the culprit by morning.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Finn said, emerging from the crowd. “It was me.”
The crowd was stunned into silence.
Poe didn’t know what to say. His first instinct was to laugh it off, like it was some kind of sick joke. But Finn was dead serious.
“Why?” Poe said. It was all he could think to ask.
“I couldn’t let you waste anymore time on him,” he said.
“He had information! Not to mention a skillset that could’ve proven invaluable!”
“He was never going to work for us.”
“All I needed was a little time!”
“That’s your problem, General. You’re always letting your optimism cloud your judgment. It’s what got us into Nar Shaddaa, and as your friend, I won’t let you destroy what little the New Republic has left.”
“Look, I get it. This is personal for you. But Marauders or not, executing prisoners isn’t how we do things.”
“Then it’s time for a change,” Finn countered. He looked at the crowd, sweat beginning to shine across his forehead. “I know a lot of us are scared. We’ve been through hell and back, and nobody wants to go through that again. But I had a vision. A vision we destroyed that godforsaken place. A dream where we showed the galaxy what happens to killers and murderers, and freed its innocents! Take Ancen Pryde, here...”
Finn pointed at the child in the audience, wedged between two soldiers. His wide, cloudy blue eyes never left Finn’s. He was entranced, captivated by his savior’s charisma.
“We rescued him from Nar Shaddaa. Now, he has a home. A family. Imagine how many others we can save.”
Poe could hear the quiet murmurs of agreement. Nobody had made it out of Nar Shaddaa unscathed. Whether physical or emotional, the pain had been devastating.
“Most of us won’t be able to heal from this. But we can make sure nobody else has to go through it either!”
The cheering got louder, more passionate. Poe rubbed his face in frustration, taking a deep breath. He’d completely lost control.
Brienne was the most vocal in the audience, cheering wildly at Finn’s speech. Temiri, however, had become disturbed by her intensity. Vay’len only shook his head in contempt.
“I already have help from the Head of New Republic Intelligence,” Finn said, pointing out Beaumont in the audience. “He has access to a weapon that could destroy their moon from the inside. All we need is the right ship to mount it to.”
Almost remorsefully, Finn turned his head to Poe.
“General. I’m afraid I’ll be borrowing the Liberator.”
“What? It’s not even ready,” Poe said, with a scoff. “For starters, we haven’t even run a systems check. I still need time to perfect the hyperdrive, the deflector shields--”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“No. I know you want justice, but I’m not letting you risk your own safety. Let alone, the safety of my ship.”
“I’m not asking.”
Poe almost laughed. He’d led a similar mutiny in the days of the Resistance, and now, he knew exactly how his superior Vice-Admiral Holdo felt. The powerlessness, the betrayal in losing the support of your own people. If he saw her in whatever afterlife he was headed for, he’d make sure to apologize.
“I’m sorry. But I won’t let you take it,” Poe threatened, evenly.
“Or what? You’ll kill me?” Finn asked.
Poe’s hand crawled to the blaster in his holster. He wasn’t entirely confident he could use it on Finn. Not because the Jedi had become powerful enough to stop a stun bolt as quickly as it fired from his gun, but because Poe didn’t know if he could pull a blaster on his best friend.
“No matter how many Marauders you kill, it won’t fix anything,” Poe said, knowing full well this was his last chance.
“Easy for you to say. Your wife and child are still breathing.”
And that cut him like a vibroblade. There was truly nothing he could say to make it better. He could not undo the pain the Marauders had caused Finn, and when Poe really thought about it, he had a point. Poe had no idea how he’d react in Finn’s shoes. If it were Zorii and Cade who died? He’d probably be just as bitter. But he’d never turn his back on the New Republic’s legacy. Never betray the ideals that people like his father, or even the Organa’s, had worked so hard to instill.
But in his defense, Poe considered that Finn never had the luxury of a role model. At least, not to the same extent as he did. The closest he’d gotten was Rey, and she’d very nearly died tonight.
“We can’t be fighting two wars,” Rose Tico cut in. “We can work together and find a more peaceful solution.”
“We tried playing nice. And we were nearly wiped out,” Finn said.
“Stealing Poe’s ship to hunt down criminals isn’t the answer. It’s not you.”
“You’re right. It wasn’t.”
“Finn. Please.”
“I’ve always hated that name,” he said. “Call me Keradus.”
Poe took that one personally. Was he and Finn’s relationship so strained that he’d change his name? Out of spite?
But Poe understood. Nar Shaddaa had taken its toll. That kind of grief was enough to damage anyone.
“You can’t pretend to be somebody else the second that things go wrong,” Rose snapped. “We can work through this. You and me.”
“If you want to help me, then help me. Otherwise, stand aside.”
Finn, or this Keradus now, brushed past Rose. It was like he was a new person, even down to his stride. Gone was Finn’s excitable, boyish demeanor. He was someone new. Something darker. A creature of vengeance. And he’d infected the rest of Poe’s troops like a plague.
“Whoever follows him out, consider it your resignation from the New Republic,” Poe announced. He sensed this final addition had done more harm than good, as he watched many of his most devoted supporters follow Keradus in droves. Some of the familiar faces hurt. Watching his favorite spy, Vi Moradi, for example. Her departure was among the more significant betrayal. Certainly up there with Beaumont, at least.
But Poe didn’t bother protesting. If they’d really consider doing this, he’d be better off without them.
Finally, the most surprising to him wasn’t from the New Republic at all, but Brienne. In the short time the Jedi had been here, Poe had considered their safety to be one of his most profound responsibilities. That feeling had increased tenfold since Rey had been nearly killed. Now, he had yet another student to answer for. Although, at least this one was still alive.
“There will be consequences for this,” he could hear the Bothan Jedi say. “When the Grandmaster finds out about this, you will be exiled.”
“Good,” Brienne said casually. She turned her eyes to Temiri. “Aren’t you coming too?”
Temiri didn’t say a word. Instead, his eyes danced around the room with indecision. Discouraged by his lack of confidence, Brienne simply moved along. But she was hurt. More disappointed than Temiri ever would’ve expected.

There weren't a lot of things in the galaxy that The Marauders could do gracefully. And yet, the memorial was nothing short of beautiful. Every single fallen citizen of Nar Shaddaa or Marauder had been honored that night. Each had their bodies cremated on pyres near the center of the city. Bordered by the glowing structures of Nar Shaddaa, it didn’t matter where you lived: you could watch it all unfold from the comfort of your apartment.
With Jexton’s coordination, there were all sorts of traditions on display. From the ceremonial dances brought by the Pykes, to the war cries of the Mandalorians. The melting pot of the cultures was incredible, and the catharsis had reached the city with an unbridled passion.
The New Republic, however, was not so lucky. At Jexton’s request, the soldiers that died were left to rot on the streets. He wanted them to serve as a warning to any would-be opposition: this was his moon, and his alone.
The others were celebrated for their loyalty, until the night had become a hazy spectacle of spice-ridden, drunken overindulgence. Few remained sober, and Jexton was one of them.
He walked the streets with his new ally, Bala-Tik. It was difficult to tell, but Jexton thought he spotted the man wearing a smile.
“I can’t believe you managed all that,” he said, shaking his head.
“Yes. The services turned out rather nicely,” Jexton agreed.
“I don’t mean the memorial. I mean that you managed to send the New Republic running for their lives.”
Of course, Bala-Tik hadn’t been conscious to see it. A cowardly stun bolt had caught him by surprise, and his men ended up dead, or worse. Jexton was aware of the man’s shortcomings, but resisted the temptation to hold it against him. That alone was enough to earn Bala-Tik’s respect, for however good it actually was.
“So what’s next?” Bala-Tik asked.
“Next?” Jexton said, arching an eyebrow.
“Well, yes. We won, but most of the soldiers are still alive. I thought you said you wanted to end the New Republic for good?”
Jexton was tempted to challenge Bala-Tik’s use of the word we. But in all actuality, it was good. Solidarity was precisely what they needed.
“What would you have me do?” Jexton asked, hoping it might reveal the man’s intelligence. “Show up on their doorstep with the rest of our army and hope for the best?”
“I suppose not,” Bala-Tik said, beginning to understand Jexton’s challenge. “But we have to do something. Otherwise, they’ll keep coming back.”
“Given the two choices, I’d rather fight on our own territory. With Mirrin Prime’s defenses, a counter-siege could never prove successful. But you needn’t worry. I plan on visiting them by myself.”
“What?” he said, his stoic face actually expressing surprise. “That’s suicide.”
“Perhaps.”
“How do you expect to make it inside?”
As if on cue, they reached the end of their walk. The entire time, Jexton had been leading Bala-Tik to this: a nearly-destroyed New Republic gunship. Its hull was damaged, its blaster cannons busted, and worst of all, the pilot’s corpse was still draped over the controls. A mask of dried blood clouded his face, and the man was nearly stuck to the controls.
That was, until Jexton shoved them from the seat.
“I read this man’a datapad. His name is Harness Lovell,” he announced. “It wouldn’t be so unbelievable for him to return to base, now would it? A brave survivor of war?”
“You’d never get away with that. They have security measures.”
“I won’t know until I try.”
“But what could be worth the risk?”
Jexton knew the answer, of course: his brother. But what good would it do to admit that? Ally or not, he wouldn’t be disclosing his vulnerabilities anytime soon. Instead, Jexton opted for a half-truth.
“I want to destroy them from the inside. Where they’re most vulnerable.”
Bala-Tik nodded, but he was far from warming up to the idea.
“Should I tell the others?” he asked.
“No. They’d just want to help. And I don’t intend to lead anyone to a war they can’t win. After all, that’s General Dameron’s job.”
“So what do you want from me?”
“Let people get to know each other. Build camaraderie. In the meantime, Ezelle shall lead in my place.”
Bala-Tik nodded. He played with the idea of killing her, claiming that power in Jexton’s absence. And yet, he felt compelled not to. After tonight, Jexton proved he was not a man that was wise to defy. Somehow, the man felt promising enough to serve.
If, however, Jexton didn’t make it back? All bets were off. And if Bala-Tik had given any consideration to the odds, then by all accounts, that is precisely what would come to pass.

Chapter Text

For a salvaged ship, The Liberator was remarkably pristine. In fact, Keradus actually found it far too orderly for his liking. The ship’s cold, recycled air only brought back painful memories of his time in the First Order.
Keradus had spent years serving as a vessel for his emotionless, contemptible superiors. He vowed never to lead like they did. Instead, he would inspire justice, not oppression. On The Liberator, people would be allowed to express themselves however they saw fit. They’d be able to arrange their quarters with whatever belongings they liked. Conformity would be discouraged, not enforced. And if that meant a small party was breaking out across the deck, then so be it.
Initially, Keradus found the celebration to be distasteful. He took it as a betrayal to those who were in mourning, or at least, an interruption of his own grief. And yet, he couldn’t help but understand. They hadn’t just stolen a ship. They’d stolen an armory. Rows of blaster rifles hung from the wall, and the spacious garage housed thousands of A-Wings, Y-Wings, and even some shiny new prototypes.
Quite simply, they’d already had won.
As he’d hoped, about half the New Republic had followed him to the ship’s bridge. What he wasn’t expecting, however, was seeing one of Rey’s students on board. Unfortunately, she didn’t appear to be enjoying herself.
She was watching the party below, a blank expression glued to her face. The whole thing had her hypnotized.
“If you’re looking for someone to talk to, Jayelle and Forten are chatting in their quarters,” he offered. “You can always bunk with them.”
“I will. But for now, I think I’d rather be alone,” Brienne replied, softly.
“Of course… I’m glad you came.”
“It’s nothing. I want justice, same as you. Especially for Kata, even if we weren’t always on the same page.”
Keradus chuckled at the girl’s blatant understatement. Brienne eventually laughed too, despite herself. Each time he’d seen them together at the Temple, it was as if they found a new thing to fight over.
“We were practically sisters,” Brienne said. “I never thought she’d die. And now, the only thing I can do is avenge her.”
“Then why do I still sense conflict in you?”
“I’m thinking about the people who stayed behind.”
“You mean like Temiri?”
“Is it that obvious?” Brienne asked, blushing.
Keradus smiled a little, pinching his fingers as if to say “maybe a little.”
“I would’ve expected this from Vay’len, but not him,” Brienne continued, shaking her head.
“I wouldn’t hold it against him. We just got ourselves out of a pretty nasty battle. Maybe he just needs some time to himself? Besides, I’ll fight better knowing there’s someone to keep Grandmaster Rey company. She’ll need that when she wakes up.”
“What do you think she’ll say about all this?”
Keradus stroked his beard as he considered. He certainly didn’t expect Rey to support him. After all, he’d drawn a line in the sand against his closest friend. But she was always more reasonable than Poe. And besides, Kata was the closest thing she’d had to a child. She might end up just as grief-stricken as him.
“Ideally, we’ll have destroyed the Marauders before it’s a concern,” he said, plainly.
“And then everything can be normal again?”
“I hope so.”
“Thank you, Master Finn. I mean, Master Keradus,” she said, correcting herself.
He smiled, enjoying the way it sounded.
“It’ll take some getting used to. For everyone, I’m sure.”
They were interrupted by a group of technicians. Upon entering the ship, Finn had personally selected them from a large group of volunteers. Naturally, the team of eight didn’t seem like much use in a fight. Most of them were slight, gawky little things. He could hardly imagine them passing the New Republic’s physical evaluations, and yet, here they were.
The exception among them was Blue, who’s broad shoulders and natural confidence had already earned him the role of the gang’s de facto leader.
“Sir,” he said, speaking for all of them.
“No need for formalities, Blue,” Keradus replied. It was a curious nickname, and Keradus always wondered how the boy had gotten it. But there was a more pressing matter to attend to. “How’s everything look?”
“We’re about ready to enter hyperspace, but… The General, er, Poe was right. The ship needs polishing. If you want to depart now, we’ll have to fly without the deflector shields.”
That wasn’t ideal. A ship this size would be armored with a nice, strong hull. But without something to protect it, they’d be vulnerable at every turn.
“How long will it take to fix?” Keradus asked.
“With all of us? About a month,” Blue replied. “If you’re willing to risk it, we can take off as soon as you’re ready.”
Keradus hated gambling with the lives of his own people. After all, he’d chastised Poe for making the same decision. But what other choice did he have? A whole month would have tested the patience of his men. No. He’d find other ways to keep them safe.
“Ready,” Keardus decided. “The sooner you can get us off Mirrin Prime, the better. We don’t want Poe trying to reclaim the ship.”
“Good. We’ll be up and flying any second now!”
As they left, Keradus gave Brienne a paternal pinch on the shoulder. It was enough to inspire a little bit of hope inside her. Together, they’d reclaim order. They would avenge the fallen men and women of Nar Shaddaa.