Chapter Text
All of the words of the others on the ship seemed to fall on my deaf ears. I didn’t want to go back to the base. Everything would be real then. The ship landed as I took a breath. We all exited the ship. Poe yanked Hux on by as Larma sadly walked up to us. Then Rose ran to me.
“Did any of you get my transmission?” She asked. I shook my head. The ship was down, we couldn’t get any transmissions. “Oh.” She bowed her head sadly. “Poe, something's happened.” Larma said. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them about Leia. “This can't wait.” Finn said as he pushed Poe and Hux forward. “We've got to see the General.” Poe said as I hung back. “She’s gone.” Larma said as the others in front of me turned. “Oh Lilly.” Poe said taking a step towards me. Rose laid a hand on my shoulder. But I then looked up at the other person who was affected just as bad as I was. “Chewie?” Finn asked the wookie as Chewie let out a mournful roar. I walked up to the wookie and laid a hand on his shoulder. To my surprise he grabbed me and enveloped me into a protective hug. He growled something I didn’t quite understand.
“He said.” Larma translated. “He said that if he lets her go, she’ll die too.”
…
I sat there with Chewie for who knows how long. I grunted and shimmied out of his furry grasp and ran to my tent on the base. I was thankful it was empty. I stripped naked and went to the fresher. I allowed the water to pool in the tub and I just sat there in the murky water, have hazardly scrubbing myself clean of sweat. Then the door to the fresher opened to revel R2-D2. I thought he had refused to leave Leia’s bedside. “Artoo.” I said. “I’m not in the mood.” I even didn’t realize my salty tears until they reached my lips. The droid almost gave me something that resembled a look and he flashed out a projection.
It was of a much younger version of my aunt. She was beautiful with buns on the side of her head and a beautiful white gown. Her voice came out odd with years of being stored by R2.
“General Kenobi. Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire.” The hologram said. “I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.”
The droid stopped the message and beeped all knowingly. I smiled and kissed the top of the droid’s head. I climbed out and put on a white long sleeve tunic with white wraps over the top. The collar of the tunic folded over the wraps and I put on grey capri pants and boots. I was piling my hair into a ponytail when I sensed an old presence behind me. It didn’t feel like my father or Leia. I spun around to see a beautiful woman with flowers in her long brunette hair and wearing a blue dress and a matching cloak around her shoulders. Her stomach was slightly extended as if she was pregnant. We both knew that was no longer the case. The woman before me was my grandmother Padme.
“How are you here?” I asked. She didn’t have the force, how can she appear? She smiled and held out her hand. “Fear not granddaughter, I’m a gift from Leia. I have something I need to show you.” I took her hand as I found myself back somewhere I just was. Kef Bir.
I could see my cousin standing at the end of a piece of wreckage of the Death Star. He seemed to stare at the rushing water below. I could almost see him now taking a step off and plummeting to his death. Then I saw a shimmer of odd light. The shimmer faded to revel my uncle. Grandmother and I walked closer to Han. Finally he spoke.
“Hey kid.” Han said as Ben turned. “I missed you son.” Han said. “And I am so glad to meet you grandson.” Padme said. I simply took a step back, not wanting to ruin the moment. Ben seemed to almost tremble.
“Your son is dead.” Ben said. Han chuckled to himself and Grandmother grinned. “No. Kylo Ren is dead. My son is alive.” Han replied approaching his son. Ben looked to Han and then Padme. I soon realized what he did. These weren’t spirits but just memories of how he and I had remembered or saw them. “You’re just a memory.” Ben spoke. “Your memory.” Han clarified. “Come home.” “It’s too late. She’s gone.” Ben was on the edge of tears. He never got the chance to properly mourn both of his parents.
“Your mother’s gone.” Padme said. “But what she stood for, what she fought for that’s not gone. It never was.” I could see flashes of a vision now. Ben, driving his lightsaber through Han’s chest. Ben avoided their loving gazes. “Ben.” Han said softer now. “ I know what I have to do but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.” My cousin said. Han reached forward and caressed his son’s cheek. Ben seemed to almost lean into his touch. “You do.” Han said. Han lowered his hand as tears began to stream down his face. Ben then pulled his lightsaber off his belt and stared at it in his hand. This was the weapon he used to kill his father, cut off my hand, and fought my father with. “Dad. I-“ Ben began. “I know.” Han said with a smile. That was all Ben needed. He turned and tossed the lightsaber into the water below. I watched with a smile as Hand and Grandmother faded away and it was just us. I shook my head as he turned to see just me.
“You realize it could have stabilized itself right?” I laughed. “I do.” He said removing his cape and wringing it out. He flicked the water from the cape at me. We both laughed. I then looked at him again as my gaze got serious. “Ben. I think it’s now that moment.” I said. “It’s time to save what we love and destroy him.” I said. He nodded and the scene around me faded. I was back in my tent and I ran out to see Poe, Hux, and other fighters standing over old files of star destroyers. I sensed it now. Millions of voices crying out and then silenced. Kijimi was gone.
“Kijimi.” Poe realized. “How?” “A ship from the new Sith fleet. Out of the Unknowns.” Hux replied. “Each ship in the fleet has-“ “Planet-killing weapons. Of course they do. All of them. This is how he finishes it.” Poe finished. “I’m sorry.” I said. “For everything.” I said. “Lillian, she was your aunt, we don’t blame you for anything.” Rose said as a signal came through. She glanced back down at the files as a muffled broadcast came in.
“Listen. It's on every frequency.” She said. It was in first order coding. "The Resistance is dead. The Sith flame will burn. All worlds, surrender or die. The Final Order begins.” Hux spoke. “How do we know you’re still not with them.” Beaumont judged. “He’s not.” I said. If my cousin could be redeemed, so could he. Hux niden in my direction and Beaumont sighed in defeat. Rose spoke up again. She glanced at Poe. “Leia made you acting General. What now?” Rose asked. My boyfriend shook his head. He was at a loss. “Excuse me.” He said walking off. I followed him to were Leia’s body laid. Covered in a white sheet.
Poe spoke to the body as if she was still here. Asking what he should do. I sat beside him and held his hand.
“I got to tell you, I don’t really know how to do this. What you did. I’m not ready.” He admitted. I was about to reassure him but the sound of a curtain being moved stopped me. “Neither were we.” Lando said striding in. Poe and I stood. Han, Luke, Leia, me. Who’s ever ready?” “How'd you do it? Defeat an empire with almost nothing.” Poe asked. “Besides Ewoks.” I said. The old man chuckled. “We had each other. That’s how we won.” Lando said. That seemed to be enough for Poe as he strided out confidently. I ran to catch up with him. We almost ran right into Finn.
“I got to talk to you about something.” Finn said. “I got to talk to you about something. I can’t do this alone. I need you in command with me.” Poe said. My eyes widened. Finn clearly didn’t catch him at first. “The droid has-“ Finn began. The pieces began to connect for him as his eyes met Poe’s. “Thank you, I appreciate that.” “General.” Finn said. “General.” Poe replied. “Commander.” They both said looking to me. “What about the droid?” I asked the now General Finn. “This droid has a ton of information about Exegol.” Finn said. “And your mother.” I couldn’t process it. This droid knew her. “ Wait, what? Cone face?” Poe asked. “I am Dee Oh.” D-0 finally introduced. “Sorry. Dee Oh.” Poe said. “ He was going to the island with Mera Jade and then Exegol with Ochi of Bestoon.” “Exegol?” I asked. “Why was Ochi going there?” Poe asked. “To bring the little girls he was supposed to take from Jakku to the Emperor. He wanted her and you alive.” Finn said. “I actually have something to show you.” Finn lead us to the Falcon and plugged D-0 into the ship. I was shocked at the sight. It was a hologram of my mother.
“Luke. I don’t know if you’re getting this but, he’s here. Ochi. He wants the grandchild of the emperor and Obi-Wan. Ochi took the girl’s parents. Kira Kenobi and Sheev Junior.” The voice of my mother said. “This may sound odd but, I was there when the emperor cloned his body and created younger versions of himself to raise as if they were his own children. His clone ordered me and his youngest to come and kill you. He escaped and ran off with the damn daughter of Kenobi and Duchess Satine. Their child is quite possibly the strongest force user I have ever seen that could either be used for good or the dark. I’ll keep her safe until you get it sorted out with Ben. I-“ She was then cut off my an explosion and the recording fizzled out.
“Rey is a Palpatine and a Kenobi?” Finn asked. “Yeah I know. It makes no kriffing sense.” I said. I looked to Poe. “General?” I asked. “What’s the plan?”