The Legend of the Jedi Queen

15. Requiem for the Knights of Ren

The ebony castle was elegant, yet portrayed a strength of a fortress. Large glimmering glass windows could be seen from the outside. Nellith stared up at it from her place in the snow-covered courtyard. She shivered, because she had lost her jacket earlier sometime during her unconsciousness.

"They're in the foyer," Jaina said. "Kyp's on standby in the Twin Suns. If things go south, we're leaving— understood?"

"Yes," Nellith said. She grabbed her lightsaber, and followed Jaina into foyer, just in time to see two groups storming down the two large staircases. The one on the left was led by Ben and Rey, dressed in similar ragged black and gray battle fatigues as the group behind them. The one on the right was led by Andromeda Hux and her crowd, who, while wearing matching black jackets with hood drawn, were otherwise in practical civilian clothing.

"Andromeda," Ben said, drawing out her name. "Betrayal does not suit you."

"I'm not the true traitor," Andromeda said, pointing the end of her blaster at him. "My father knew you weren't really one of us since the destruction of the Supremacy."

"Your father was always a fool, and only competent as a warlord, not a ruler," Ben said.

"My father didn't kill the Supreme Leader!" Andromeda shouted. She glanced back at her troops. "Kylo Ren killed Snoke, and now his forces hold the heir to our empire captive!"

Rey looked to Ben. "What is she talking about?"

"I don't know!"

"Today is the end of the First Order, and the beginning of the Second!" Andromeda shouted. "And it begins with the execution of Snoke's murderers!"

Red lightsabers ignited behind her, and she flicked a switch on her blaster, electrifying the end into a force field similar to that of a lightsaber.

Rey and Ben ignited their lightsabers, followed by the Knights of Ren behind them. Jaina and Nellith turned theirs on.

Then the room seemed to explode all at once with a lightsaber fight. Andromeda fired on Ben, only for the blaster bolt to be fired straight back, and deflected by one of her troops. Her troops surged forwards, meeting the Knights of Ren and Jaina and Nellith, as Andromeda went for Ben and Rey.

A trooper ran at Nellith, and she quickly blocked the swing with her lightsaber, and she kicked at the trooper's leg, knocking it out from under them, and allowing Nellith to quickly disarm by cutting a hand off.

She stood over the fallen trooper, her magenta lightsaber lowered, but ready to pass judgement.

I can't, she realized. This isn't the kind of Jedi I want to be.

She stepped back, and summoned the trooper's lightsaber to her hand, and clipped it on her belt. She then looked around, trying to decipher the action around her when she saw it— Andromeda Hux, about to hit her father.

"No," Nellith murmured. "No, no—"

She shot her hand out, and Andromeda went flying into the air. Screaming and waving her arms, Andromeda dropped her blaster. Immediately, Nellith dropped her, and Andromeda landed on the stairs before rolling down them. Andromeda scrambled to her feet and ran for the blaster, and Nellith ran after her, and dove for the blaster. Their hands both touched it at the same time, and the two females struggled for it, kicking and hitting with their free hands.

Before either could gain the upper hand, Nellith was yanked away, and thrown into the air, feeling an iron hand closing around her throat. She clawed at it, only to find there was no hand.

Then, she was thrown down to the ground. Before Nellith could get up, she heard a hum of the electric blaster over her neck.

"Put those lightsabers down, or I will," Andromeda said.

Nellith turned her face to see her parents setting down their lightsaber as the battle between the troopers and the Knights of Ren raged on.

"No!" Nellith protested. She received a sharp kick in the ribs from one of the troopers.

"On your knees, hands in the air," Andromeda said.

Ben and Rey exchanged a glance, and did so, slowly raising their hands. Andromeda silently gloated for a moment.

A moment was all it took.

A simple flexing of the fingers, and Andromeda went flying backwards. Nellith scrambled to her feet, as did Ben and Rey. Nellith stared around her— already there were dead Knights of Ren and troopers, but not many of either.

As Andromeda got to her feet once again, Nellith held her lightsaber up, both hands clutching it in a death grip. Before either Ben or Rey could stop her, she charged at Andromeda, the magenta blade hitting the electric end of the blaster.

She swung harder at it than anything, forcing Andromeda to step back each time, forcing her to cede ground. Then she caught the end of the blaster, and was forced into a stalemate. Neither female wanted to back down, neither was willing to surrender.

"Stop!"

Nellith pulled her lightsaber out, and ducked to avoid decapitation, and then she and Andromeda turned to see Tallis limping toward them.

"Take me," he said, his lilac-gray eyes locked onto Andromeda's pretty blue ones. "I know you don't want this. You want an Emperor. I can be that."

"The Supreme Leader still has to die," Andromeda said. "And the Jedi."

"If you did that, you wouldn't have an Emperor," Tallis said.

Andromeda stared at Tallis a moment.

"Don't," Nellith urged. Her voice was quiet, but it carried through the chaotic foyer.

"You should've known not to trust me," he said. He didn't even look at her. He kept staring at Andromeda. "I'll be loyal to my ancestor's legacy. Just spare the Skywalkers and the Jedi. Do we have a deal?"

Nellith knew then that she couldn't change his mind, and looked from Andromeda to Tallis, praying something could change this terrible decision.

Then the intercom system crackled to life.

"This is Amilyn Dameron, a delegate on behalf of the New Republic, and I'm afraid I must announce a lockdown of the Imperial Palace. The New Republic troopers are coming, along with full-fledged Jedi Knights and a representative of Chancellor Connix. They do not appreciate a coup against the Supreme Leader of the First Order that has maintained peaceful relations for so long, or the occupation of Corellia. Surrender now, and punishment will be less harsh. Continue fighting, and we will be forced to use force against you."

"We'll meet again," Andromeda announced, and she fired her blaster into the ceiling. Then she ran. The troopers scattered, as the lights within the Imperial Palace turned red, and windows barred and entrances locked.

Ben pulled a commlink off of his belt. "This is the Supreme Leader. All troops are to look out for Andromeda Hux and all members of the Bogan Squadron. Anyone holding any information is strongly advised to visit the intelligence department, or face severe consequences."

Nellith turned away from her father just in time to see Tallis waver. She rushed over, catching him before he fell.

"How did you get out here?" Nellith asked.

"Turned the tables on Kyp," he said. "I didn't want her to hurt people because of me."

"You would've gone with her?" she said.

"If it meant people wouldn't die," he said.

"That kind of selflessness is the true mark of a Jedi," Rey said. Nellith glanced over her shoulder to see her parents and Jaina, standing as a united front.

"You did well, for your first battle," Jaina said. "You didn't let anger cloud your judgement."

"Thank you," Nellith said.

"Although what you three did was stupid," Rey said, turning to face Jaina. "I wanted you and Kyp to get them out."

"You underestimate your daughter and her will," Jaina said, winking at Nellith. "She's very convincing. Just like her mother, I might add."

Rey and Ben exchanged a glance— before their attention being drawn to Tallis as he completely collapsed. Nellith could barely support his weight.

"A little help?"