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The moment the Anodyne had arrived in orbit over the planet D'Qar, Jacen Solo immediately accompanied Vice Admiral Resdox and Major Kalonia to the medical frigate. It was carrying several wounded from operations at Attera and nearby systems that required healing and counselling. The second eldest son of General Leia Organa was good at the latter, a small thing from the time he'd spent as a young diplomat for the New Republic and the Resistance, so felt his place was better there than aboard the Raddus with his mother and Admiral Ackbar. His mother, ever the caring, agreed. Even at a time when the Solo family needed each other in the wake of their father's death.
His older twin Jaina was on a mission to locate several New Republic remnants, blasting off in her T-70 X-wing with Lieutenant Bastian and Yolo Ziff as her wingmates simultaneous to the departure of Snap Wexley, Karé Kun, Jess Pava and Suralinda Javos on their mission. And their younger brother Anakin too had departed, this time on his own mission to the Hidden Temple, mostly to check to see how Kam Solusar and his friend Tahiri Veila were doing in the wake of the Hosnian Cataclysm but perhaps even prepare them for when Uncle Luke would return.
That mission belonged to Chewie, Artoo and the scavenger girl Rey. They'd left on the Millennium Falcon a few days prior, bound for Ahch-To. It was an irony that Palpatine's lost granddaughter would be the one trying to locate the long absent Jedi Master and bring him back to aid in the fight against the First Order. But with Ben's actions at Starkiller Base in murdering their father, they didn't want to bring those emotions to their self-imposed exiled uncle. They'd have had an easier time convincing Uncle Lando, who was serving as their on-the-ground agent on the desert world Pasaana right now, to join the Resistance.
"Or Uncle Wedge to let you date one of his daughters when they come of age," Anakin had joked as they watched Rey hug their mother and step towards their father's old freighter. "Or Uncle Tycho letting Jaina do the Redemption Scenario blindfolded and singing old Alderaanian carols."
"Or convincing Ben that grandfather doesn't inhabit the mask he speaks to when he thinks we aren't listening?" Jacen asked his little brother in the same tone. That just led to a barrel of laughs from the three siblings.
"I think Ben's a lost cause on that one," Jaina said in a sad voice. "Amongst other things."
Amongst those other things was what their older brother whom they'd been attached to since the day Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara had brought him to their home all those years ago had done. The pain of killing their father, the legendary Han Solo, had lessened all of them. Kylo Ren didn't reign supreme inside Ben Solo, instead the boy manipulated by an evil being and taking the fate destined for Jacen to fall to the dark side was just as broken and scared as the rest of them. The pain was only amplified through the Force that now included an extra individual.
"That scavenger girl is really something," Jaina chuckled as the three used their own bond to suppress some of the growing connection between her and their wayward sibling.
Jacen nodded. "The Force always works in mysterious ways," he replied.
Anakin let out a cackle. "It certainly does for us Solos."
Proceeding to the bridge where Resdox was speaking with the ship's pilot, a dark-skinned human male who had likely piloted starships since at least Endor, Jacen gazed through the viewport at the steady streams of U-55 orbital loadlifters make their way up from the base on the surface to the Raddus' hangars. The Anodyne itself had completed taking on its assigned complement already, as had the Vigil and Ninka, but remained in the protective umbrella the massive MC85 Star Cruiser provided while Poe Dameron's twelve-man squadron of eight T-70 X-wings and four RZ-2 A-wings flew in loose formation around the eight MG-100 StarFortress SF-17s, awaiting whatever the First Order might throw at them.
Closing his eyes, Jacen let his connection flow towards his mother, standing at the holoprojector on the primary bridge of the Resistance flagship, no doubt speaking with Admiral Ackbar, Captain Gawat, Commander D'Arcy and others in the ongoing evacuation. With a smile, the former Jedi student turned diplomat felt the familiar tug from his living parent, still mourning the loss of her husband of many years and endearing fights.
"Sir," the sensor monitor said from behind him, leading Jacen to open his eyes and look at the operator at the same time as Resdox and pilot. "We have incoming ships," he said gravely.
Brown eyes peered forward again, just as three Resurgent-class Star Destroyers exited hyperspace. Shortly afterwards, a larger warship – a Mandator IV-class Siege Dreadnought – appeared in real space ahead of them, top side bristling with laser turrets while the bottom in the two large and massive auto-cannons.
"They're here," Jacen breathed out, barely suppressing the feeling of death accompanying the First Order arrivals.
No one replied to their leader's son's words, merely returning to their tasks in a professional manner. With luck though, Dameron's squadron could buy time to complete the evacuation and they can flee the Ileenium system. Destination uncertain.
Jacen could only hope most of them made it back alive.
*
There were days when Jacen wanted to carry his lightsaber or even a blaster, much to his own personal choice not to carry either. There were also days when he wished his duty to his mother didn't clash with his own personal need to be by her side at this time.
But his place was here.
Listening to the words Commander D'Arcy was speaking to many gathered in the smaller secondary bridge under the nose of the Raddus, even as the pounding from glances of the Supremacy's massive cannons continued to hit the shield bubble protecting the Cruiser and two surviving support vessels.
"General Organa," D'Arcy was saying, bringing Jacen's attention from his position leaning against the corner next to the door, within sight but at the same time not drawing attention from anyone. "Leia, is unconscious but alive," the relief was felt by all. "That's about the only bit of good news I have," the commander's face dropped. "Admiral Ackbar, all our leadership are gone," the murmurs started. "Leia was the only survivor on the bridge."
"Oh dear, oh dear," Threepio spoke, the protocol droid standing between several soldiers.
"If she were here," D'Arcy continued. "She'd say 'Save your sorrow for after the fight'."
Jacen let out a soft smile, which captured the commander's eye, allowing her to return it. It was no surprise she knew what his mother would say since she too had worked closely with her since the Resistance's formation.
D'Arcy turned to the rest of the crew again. "To that end, the chain of command is clear," she said. "Vice Admiral Holdo of the cruiser Ninka."
The present crew muttered amongst themselves as the violet-haired woman in the equally violet long gown, the older eccentric though definitely strategic woman of his mother's acquaintance and friendship in their youth together with an idea of unconventional ways of dress on a warship in a time of war – though the late Mon Mothma and several other civilian leaders turned rebel military leaders had done similar things decades ago as well – stepped forward, thanking the commander who took a seat with the newly-promoted General Ematt and Major Nossit Cicer, one of Holdo's officers. Glancing to her friend's son, the young man nodded in agreement, knowing exactly what she was about to say.
"Four hundred of us on three ships," she began. "We're the last of the Resistance," except for the missions we sent out from D'Qar just before we abandoned our base, Jacen thought. "But we're not alone. In every corner of the galaxy, the downtrodden and oppressed know our symbol and they put their hope in it. We are the spark that will light the fire that will restore the Republic," her gaze fell upon everyone, emphasizing her words to all gathered. "That spark – this Resistance – must survive. That is our mission. Now to your stations, and may the Force be with us."
With those words, those gathered stood and Jacen couldn't help but grin. Amilyn Holdo may appear like she did not belong, but she'd proven herself many times over the past three decades. Indeed, she was up there with his Aunt Winter and Aunt Iella in her intelligence skills. It was a big regret Amilyn had never become a senator of the New Republic for her homeworld. Perhaps then it might have had some chance to be prepared for the First Order, he thought. Though none could've prepared us for the likes of Starkiller Base.
Jacen was about to leave to find his mother when he spotted Poe make his way over to the Vice Admiral. While he attempted to be tactful and keen to assist her, his anxiousness to know what the plan was for escaping the Supremacy and its growing escort of Star Destroyers right when she'd just assumed command of their fleet was not a good way to get into her good graces. Neither had met before this day, as Holdo was commanding her Corellian Bunkerbuster on missions for the Resistance away from D'Qar and rarely came to the base unless necessary. It was un-helped by his actions during the evacuation that cost them multiple fighters.
And that included the bomber squadron attached to her command for a long while.
Though brushing off the lead squadron pilot, demoted down the ranks as he was, might not have been a good idea in the least. But as Jacen's brown eyes watched her dismiss him with callousness, it wasn't hard to not Holdo's need to role her jaw every time he tried to ask what was going on and the small smile that just screamed to leave her alone to work. Using the Force, the frustration and desire to see Poe thrown out an airlock for getting her people killed taking out the dreadnought was clear as day.
As the Vice Admiral moved to speak with Threepio, the pair greeting each other warmly, Poe's eyes caught Jacen's and he made his way over towards him. The younger man decided now was a time to leave, proceeding to where his mother was but decided to stop by the medical bay to care to the injured as well. He was not interested in whatever Poe was about to say.
"Ever heard of the word 'patience', Poe?" Jacen asked when the other caught up to him and started to badger him, suppressing the anger boiling inside his head. "Or have you also forgotten the fact that Vice Admiral Holdo has only just come aboard to assume command after we lost most of our leaders and the General is currently in a coma?"
Poe tried to glare at him in response, but the diplomat was not even looking at him. "We have a right to know what our leader is going to do, right?" he asked in reply. "Particularly with those Star Destroyers chasing us."
Jacen grunted. "Oh and I thought the pounding against the shield was from space particles," he half-joked. He then stopped and turned to Poe, brown eyes turning to look at the passing personnel, organic and droid. "We have no idea how the First Order tracked us here to Oetchi. We could have a spy onboard or a turncoat in our ranks. Perhaps a tracking device aboard one of our remaining ships."
Poe's eyes widened in realisation. "You can't mean –" he started.
"Exactly," the former Jedi interrupted. "Holdo's plans are need to know. And right now, you don't need to know. Mostly because of what you might do with the information," when the other offered no reply, the diplomat turned and proceeded on his way. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check on the injured before I go see my mother. Perhaps you should go and beg the General's forgiveness for not having her trust in you extended to the Vice Admiral."
With his hands twitching to the belt of the utility jumpsuit he wore, reminding him that a lightsaber was not hung there, Jacen began to breathe and suppress the feelings boiling in him. The day was already hard on him with what had happened on the main bridge and even aboard the Anodyne when his brother's attack wing hit the fleet. The Vigil was gone, the Raddus was damaged with its only defences being its shield. The Anodyne and Ninka were draining their fuel fast at this high speed. Taunted by General Hux and the First Order fleet behind them.
It was perhaps a good thing Jacen had given up his lightsaber all those years ago when he'd hurt his classmate by accident with his over-eagerness. The wall panels on the cruiser probably wouldn't have appreciated the effort. The snigger that followed him reminded him of why Ben's temper tantrums were always explosive and required severe damage to calm him down.
At least it wasn't living beings, organic or droid.
*
Things were indeed worse.
And flying this rickety old V-4X-D ski speeder didn't make Jacen feel any better. But it had been all hands-on deck to fly and he'd jumped into the seat meant for Nien Nunb, but the old Sullustan ex-smuggler was better served helping General Ematt set up the meager trench defence. His only amusement as he charged towards the First Order walkers, eight of them resembling massive Talus jungle gorillas, was seeing the ex-First Order stormtrooper Finn's struggling attempts at flying.
Not bad for a single lesson, Jacen thought. There is more to that guy than meets the eye.
If they somehow managed to survive this fight, they were going to have a talk. And perhaps one Finn might like since declaring himself full-on Resistance rather than just being here to keep Rey safe.
The presence of his Uncle Luke in the Force returning right as his mother was regaining consciousness was clearly the scavenger girl's doing, though his refusal to leave Ahch-To could be felt everywhere. If his connections to Jaina and Anakin hadn't been dampened by Snoke's presence on his flagship close to the cruiser, he would've probably told one of them to go pick the stubborn man up to come here and at least try to do something worthwhile to the fight.
"Seriously, Uncle Luke," Jacen grunted to himself. "Ben's fall wasn't your fault, okay."
Pushing those thoughts back, the former Jedi focused his attention on Poe's orders and the piloting of the creaking 'B-wing on stilts'. The exhilaration of flying something brought back something he'd let go long ago. His grin was just from the feeling, not at the thought he was about to die.
Above the walker line protecting the battering ram cannon being pulled into position, Ben's presence could be felt. The suppressed emotions and desire to kill everyone including his mother and brother clear as day in the Force. Snoke may have been dead by his hand and leadership of the First Order was usurped by his fallen older sibling, but it didn't stop the influence on his mind.
You may call yourself a servant of the dark side and a Knight of Ren, Ben, Jacen thought somberly. But you are just my big brother wishing for the nightmares Lumiya gave you to end.
The swarm of incoming TIE fighters was the only answer Ben was willing to give.
One of the ski speeders got hit early on, with the cockpit spinning, Ronith Blario screaming as he tumbled end for end strapped to his seat. By the time, it'd finished tumbling the A-wing pilot was already dead. Another, flown by technician Riva Rosetta, took a direct hit to just where the cockpit was connected, and she was killed by the explosion as the craft broke apart.
A TIE had a lock on Rose Tico. Poe called for her to get clear.
"C'ai!" Jacen called to the Abednedo. "Let's see if we can blind his targeting systems."
Pulling the controls left, he crossed with Threnalli's own just as their comrade got clear, kicking up salt particles in front of the TIE. The enemy fighter broke off and C'ai let out a shout in his native language. Jacen could only nod but was equally frustrated they had no air support. Their guns were locked forward and couldn't point up.
Another ski speeder went down, this one piloted by Pamich Nerro Goode. Fortunately, her cockpit landed intact and aside from a scrap to her forehead, she didn't seem the worse for wear and was close enough to the trenches she could flee back there.
If she had cover.
"Shaul!" Jacen called to the closest speeder. "We need to cover Goode so she can get back to the trenches."
The other pilot didn't reply, causing him to look up to see three TIEs explode in one go, followed by two more then another and another. A familiar roar flew over Jacen's head, followed by five smaller shadows. A grin broke over his face.
"About time," he said before turning back to the fallen pilot. "Pamich, can you get back to the trenches now."
"I think so," she replied, having not yet left her broken craft's cockpit. "If those TIEs stay focused on those guys."
"Got it," Jacen said, before turning the control yoke back towards the walkers, only to see two of them collapse against one another, crushing one of the boxy crawlers beside it. His eyes spotted two more craft approaching. His grin grew even wider.
"I think Aunt Mara is pissed," he said.
*
The Resistance then retreated into the base after the reinforcements had arrived, the callout surprising everyone. Ematt and Nien Nunb rallied the remaining soldiers inside, grabbing the injured but regrettably leaving the dead. Poe agreed immediately and most of the six remaining ski speeders pulled back to a place to drop and get out.
Except for Finn and Rose.
The former made his attempted suicide run on the cannon which, despite not being in full position and part of its projected path covered in the remains of a gorilla walker taken down by the reinforcements – themselves having withdrawn to draw the First Order TIEs away from the ground forces, was preparing to fire. The latter knocked him just as the beam heated up and prepared to blast a hole in the thick shield door protecting the old rebel base. They both survived, though Rose was injured.
Jacen had just made it inside and taken cover when the beam pierced the door and then a charge broke it open. Picking up a blaster rifle from one of the injured soldiers, he moved to join Poe.
"No regrets?" the pilot asked.
"If we die," the younger man said. "I'll at least be courageous enough to die with my comrades."
Poe grinned, as did C'ai, Nien and the three others hiding behind the piles of mined salt crystals – Saile Minnau, Salaka Kuchimba and Koo Millham. The expression charged to surprise as they turned behind him. Jacen turned his head and eyes widened as he got to his feet.
"Uncle Luke," he breathed out.
As if hearing him, the Jedi Master looked at him and smiled.
"Look after your mum and siblings for me, Jacen," he said to him softly, eyes filled with anguish but love as well. "And tell Mara I'll see her again one day."
He then strolled through the hole in the door, seemingly to his doom. Jacen looked down at his footsteps but found none. He then grinned. Neat trick, Uncle Luke, he thought. But the burden is not yours alone.
After the remaining First Order walkers fired on his uncle, with him appearing unscathed despite the barrage and gesturing as if a piece of salt had indeed got on his shoulder, the shuttle carrying Ben landed and the new Supreme Leader strode forward. Moving to his mother's side, his eyes noted that her binary beacon bracelet was glowing.
"Mum," he said softly. "I think Uncle Chewie and Rey are calling."
The General nodded. "I know," she said. "But I wouldn't recommend the front door."
"No," he said.
At the same time, Poe had seen the vulptex at the back of the cavern and was now gesturing for all to follow him and the crystal fox. Everyone then turned to his mother, leading Jacen to just grin when his mother just looked at each of them.
"What are you all looking at me for?" she asked sarcastically. "Follow him," she ordered.
The few dozen surviving Resistance members did so, following the creature to a hole leading to a small ravine on the other side. The rocks that had clearly blocked it were floating in the air around them, dropping when Finn ran to the Force strong young woman who had cleared it before they arrived.
"General," Lieutenant Connix said to his mother, finger pointing to just above the rim to find three familiar faces staring down at them.
"Need a lift?" Mara Jade asked, red hair tied into a simple bun behind her head, leading to the silver-blond haired Kam Solusar and Mon Calamari woman Cilghal to chuckle.
"We could do with one," Jacen replied as he spotted the T-70 X-wings flying above them. "But are we all going to fit?"
"On three transports and an old Star Destroyer playing tag with the First Order morons in orbit?" Wedge Antilles' voice could be heard as the former general stepped forward with a blaster rifle in his hands. "I think we and everyone we pulled together will."
"Let's get moving then," Poe ordered. "We've got wounded to get up there."
As the Resistance fighters scrambled up the narrow path towards the Falcon and two other ships while the T-70 X-wings flew overhead. Leia smiled and approached Rey, only to stop and face drop. Jacen stopped as well, expression of glee dropped, and looked up to see the pained expressions on the three Jedi's faces above him. Turning back towards the base, the peace that followed still didn't take away the bitterness of what had just happened.
Luke Skywalker was gone, sacrificed himself to allow the Resistance to escape.
Tears fell from eyes even as they made their way to whichever ship would get them off Crait fast.
*
As if out of a historical holo-documentary, the sight of the Tantive IV locked into the tractor arms of the old Star Destroyer's ventral hangar space made the three Solo children chuckle at the irony. Fortunately, the Errant Venture was friendly territory for the Resistance and the Jedi.
Scattered after Ben's accidental rampage killed the three dozen instructors and students present at the training temple on Ossus and caused the remaining dozen to flee across the stars into hiding, Kam Solusar had done well corralling the rest. All the while, Corran Horn and Cilghal, trained as Jedi like Jacen and his two siblings were but didn't follow the path, had moved to block Snoke's attempts to steal Force sensitive children. As for Mara Jade, she'd gone underground with Han, both working as contacts for the Resistance, the red-haired former Imperial agent proving to be as equal a friend to Leia as anyone.
But the Resistance was broken.
The loss of their four main ships, combined no contact with their allies scattered across the Outer Rim and several units no longer reporting in, left the Resistance as the few dozen from Crait along with Jaina and Snap's flights. Indeed, the CR90 corvette sitting comfortably inside the Errant Venture's protective hull was what had been carrying the Hidden Temple for the past decade, a gift from Leia to the Jedi for whatever was necessary after it was rescued from the scrapyards at Yarma.
"So," Anakin drooled out. "What now?" he asked.
Jaina snorted. "Why are you asking me?" she asked in reply. "Ask Jacen."
Jacen chuckled. "Well, Mum and Uncle Wedge are already sending out messages through Booster Terrik's slicers in rallying the Republic to at least get their act together. You'd be surprised by the number of neutral senators that have already responded in kind."
"What about the Populist senators?" Anakin asked.
Jacen sighed. "Turns out those that were left were First Order plants," he replied. "We've lost Corellia and a few other systems."
"Figures," Jaina grunted. "The way the Populists turned their backs on mum when that fool Casterfo exposed her as Darth Vader's daughter always seemed rather off to me."
"And Casterfo paid for that," Jacen said. "The Centrists falsified evidence he was openly aiding those terrorists that bombed the senatorial complex on Hosnian Prime."
Anakin sighed. "Please tell me we have some systems helping us?" he asked.
"A few," his older brother said. "But they'll be facing invasion soon."
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Jaina grinned. "I think our cousin Thracken needs to be paid a visit on Corellia."
"Snap's already getting ready to take a shot at the Akivan government," Anakin chuckled. "And I'm sure whoever wants to fly the flag in Holdo's memory will love to overturn the treacherous government on Gatalenta."
"Maybe," Jacen said, himself chuckling with his brother. "But the First Order is a little busy. After all, we crippled the Supremacy and over twenty Star Destroyers and humiliated Ben in front of the entire galaxy."
"How did he miss that wasn't Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked. "Even I could sense it."
"He's blinded by something," Jacen noted, having been closest to their brother for the longest time. "And I don't think it was just Snoke."
"Oh great," Anakin grunted. "And now he has that weird connection to Rey so that makes it even more fun."
The three then grinned. They each felt the connection too, if a bit one sided since their brother and the unsuspecting granddaughter of the most feared being in the galaxy couldn't feel their bond either. Neither they thought could Snoke, the weaver of this bond.
"Well, we aren't going to get much done standing around chatting," Jaina said, bringing her younger brothers to attention, her brown eyes reaching her twin's. "I hear you flew an old ski speeder. Wasn't it fun?"
Jacen grinned. "It may have been," he replied.
"Told you," Anakin said to their sister. "You owe me twenty credits."
Jaina turned and chuckled. "Talk to Jag, he's got the bank book right now."
"Oh," Jacen chuckled as well, remembering how one of the T-70s was marked with symbols from the late Grand Admiral Thrawn's House Phalanx units. "And where was your boyfriend hiding when you found him?" he asked his sister.
"Chasing a First Order Star Destroyer with Uncle Wedge and the other Rogue Squadron oldies," she answered. "I think the captain dropped serious poodoo with the number of X-wings and A-wings combined with Aunt Mara and Mirax's ships and the Errant Venture here knocking out his ship with relative ease."
"I see," the twin noted, head turning to their younger brother. "And you?"
Anakin shrugged. "Hiding on Yavin 4 with Poe's dad," he replied. "I think that's why Poe was a little jolted when he saw his old man waiting for him on the deck."
"And getting his ear chewed off for D'Qar," Jacen recalled. "And his actions against Holdo."
Jaina's face dropped solemnly. "Sorry we left you to deal with it on your own, Jace."
Jacen waved them off. "Hey, it happens," he replied. "Besides, even Mum said that Amilyn was being way too secretive for her own good. Even when we figured out that the First Order had found us with advanced hyperspace tracking tech and not because of a spy," he then gazed towards where Finn and Rey were talking. "And loose lips."
The two siblings looked at them.
"Hey, we all learn," Jaina smiled. "We can't all be perfect. Look at Mum and Dad."
Her brothers chuckled, turning in stride towards where the Falcon was parked. Jacen then stopped, pausing to gaze around the hangar.
"I need a fighter," he said to his siblings. "For my missions, of course."
The two nodded.
"Of course," Anakin replied. "But it doesn't hurt if you had a good weapon at your side."
"True," Jaina noted. "But we aren't ready for lightsabers again yet, are we?"
"Not yet," Jacen smiled, eyes returning to Rey, who still hadn't noticed them looking at the now ex-scavenger turned Jedi-in-training. "Not until the Force wills it."
"And until then," Anakin smirked. "You need to catch up on your lessons. Otherwise, you'll never catch up to Finn."
The siblings laughed together and made their way over to Uncle Chewie talking with the remaining Resistance techs and a few from the Errant Venture's complement. The future was uncertain, and their family had lost another member. But the siblings, with a knowing smile, felt they'd gained another one.
She just didn't quite know it yet.