The Legend of the Jedi Queen

Building a Mystery

The office was a former hangar from the Empire's time, and within it was a kiosk for the race. Tallis approached, Nellith by his side as they waited for the human male working the kiosk to confirm their winnings.

"You're a great pilot," Tallis said. "One of the best I've seen."

"Thanks," Nellith said. "It runs in my family."

"I heard your mother was one of the greatest pilots in the galaxy," Tallis said enthusiastically. "Up there with Luke Skywalker, Wedge Antilles, Han Solo, all those old names."

Nellith nodded, hiding her own awe. Her bloodline was full of pilots. This was her legacy. Her father and his secrecy had made it so she couldn't own that, especially not here, despite the fact that she wanted to claim it for the world. She was Luke Skywalker's great-niece, and Han Solo's granddaughter. She was heir to a legacy as bright as the stars.

But because of her father, she couldn't claim it.

"Congratulations," the man said. "Here are your winnings."

He tossed the credits in a bag at Tallis, who caught them quickly. "Thanks."

"Best to pay off Bendak as soon as you can," the man recommended. He leaned in. "Rumor has it he's not too happy two Jedi beat his champions in the race."

Tallis nodded, and turned to Nellith. "Best hike it up to the Bendak Manor, then."

Nellith nodded, and they left the office.

The Bendak Manor was ridiculously luxurious in comparison to the rest of the small Corellian town. The walls were blood red, with gilded golden trim that impressed a message upon all who looked upon it. Bendak was more powerful than all of them, and it would be easier to keep your head down and obey, than risk it all through rebellion.

It was both to be admired and reviled, in Nellith's opinion. Here was a man who made his fortune on oppressing others, keeping the majority of the town in poverty, trapped and unable to leave. She clenched her fists, promising herself that she would not lash out, that she would simply behave herself. The security guards parted when they saw Tallis, allowing the party in.

The Manor opened to a throne room, and an older man in all gold armor sat upon a crimson throne. Kane Bendak had sharp silver eyes like a bird of prey's, that matched the silver streaked through his short-cropped dark hair. His austere features hardened upon seeing Nellith and Rey with Tallis.

"The Grandmaster of Jedi Knights is here?" He laughed coldly. "I don't know how you expected to fool anyone, Qel-Droma."

Rey parted her lips, as if to deny it, before thinking better of the idea.

"You didn't know, I presume, that you would have to go through me with any papers you might've gotten forgeries of," Bendak said. "Otherwise the First Order satellites over Corellia would be forced to shoot you down."

"We're here to pay off my debts and leave," Tallis said. "You can take whatever I've left in my tent, if this isn't enough for you."

"I would accept, except that I had gotten a communication from Uphatu," Bendak said. "Urgent, really. It said that if I saw a little Force-sensitive girl who was an extraordinary pilot, I was to apprehend her and all accomplices, and wait for the First Order to retrieve them."

"Who ordered this?" Rey demanded. "I wish to speak to Kylo Ren personally."

Bendak laughed. "As if. It came from a high-ranking officer just directly under the Supreme Leader."

"Because you aren't allowed to directly comm the Supreme Leader," Rey said, a slight smirk on her face. "But that makes others realize you're not as powerful as you say. Not even the Supreme Leader of the First Order thinks you're worth his time."

"And you would be?" Bendak spat.

"The Supreme Leader and I have a very long history," Rey said, her tone delicate.

Nellith had heard of Rey's battle with the current Supreme Leader on Starkiller Base fifteen years ago. But she never knew much more than that. The Supreme Leader was as close to a banned subject as it got. To hear it now. . .

"Perhaps you can tell him that when his troops bring you to him," Bendak said.

Right on cue, the sound of TIE-fighters could be heard roaring outside. Before Bendak, or any of his security guards could stop him, Rey, Tallis, and Nellith raced outside. The TIEs were shooting on the people, blowing apart tents and buildings alike.

"We've got to get to the Falcon!" Rey shouted.

"Not if we have anything to say about it."

Nellith turned to see Bendak's security guards surrounding the clearing. The only way was into the firing zone.

Nellith, Rey, and Tallis took off, as TIE bolts and the blaster bolts of the guards darted by, barely missing them. It was race for their lives, and none of them had the intention of losing.

"I'm going to kill Kylo!" Rey shouted as a blaster bolt from the security guards sailed over her shoulder.

They were in the home stretch, when Tallis tripped, losing a grip on the bag of credits. Nellith stopped, and glanced back. The guards were going to pursue them down the street, and they needed to hurry.

"Take my hand!" Nellith shouted.

Tallis grabbed the money bag first, then Nellith's hand.

"Did you really have to do that?" Nellith demanded as they ran.

"It's a lot of credits!" Tallis protested.

"It's the credits or your life!" Nellith cried.

"Well, I choose both!" Tallis retorted.

Rey stood at the landing ramp as the two weaved between tents, and finally hit the Falcon.

"Come on!" Rey shouted. "Nellith, get in the cockpit— I'm getting the turret!"

"Got it!" Nellith shouted as she hit the landing ramp. She and Tallis ditched their belongings in one of the storage panels of the Falcon, and ran into the cockpit, where Chewbacca and Artoo were waiting for them.

"I can do this," Nellith murmured as she fastened her restraints. "I can do this."

With surprisingly steady hands, she thrust forward the lever, and the Falcon soared into the air.

"Careful!" Rey yelled over the Falcon's radio.

"I got it Mum," Nellith replied.

The entire ship vibrated with the turret as it rocked and fired off bolt after bolt, rewarded with the explosion of several TIEs. A bolt from a TIE flew by, so Nellith, on a whim, did a barrel roll into the valley, and lined her mother up for the perfect shot.

"That's the last of them!" Rey announced. "Now we've got the satellite to worry about!"

"Copy that," Nellith said. She increased speed, and saw the bolts fly. The station was a sleek Imperial nightmare, like something out of a dream.

"We need to jump into hyperspace!" Rey said. "I'm not going to be able to shoot it down!"

"What if we hit it?" Nellith asked.

"We'll just have to risk it," Rey said. "Put in coordinates for Chandrila!"

"On it," Chewbacca roared. He punched in the coordinates, and blue streaks flew past.

Nellith leaned back and sighed in relief. She unbuckled her restraints, and ran into the main lounge of the Falcon just as Rey did.

"Are you okay, Mum?" Nellith asked.

"I'm fine," Rey assured her. She glanced over Nellith's shoulder to see that Artoo, Chewbacca, and Tallis had joined them. "We're heading to Hanna City. There, we should be able to call in the New Republic."

"What? Why?" Tallis asked.

"The First Order, with its attacks and occupation of Corellia, is breaking the treaty," Rey said. "The Supreme Leader has essentially declared war."