The Legend of the Jedi Queen

71. The Ones

"Your children?" Nellith blinked, unsure of how to respond.

"The Son and the Daughter," Abeloth said. "Surely you know the stories, Nellith?"

"Because you were the Mother, I know about how they locked you into Centerpoint Station, and that was how you became Snoke," Nellith said. "I know that, but shouldn't you go to Mortis?"

"That's where you come in," Abeloth said. "The Chosen One's family has always had an inclination towards Mortis. It cannot be found by any map. But it can be found by you. You're like a living compass for it."

"What if I refuse?" Nellith asked. "What if I tell Chewie to high-tail us out of here?"

"Then the war continues," Abeloth said, glancing at Tallis. "Neither of us are willing to let you go either, now that we're so close to getting what we want." Andromeda then placed her hand on the armored shoulder of Tallis's black robe, and his expression went blank and frozen at her touch.

"I'll do it," Nellith said reluctantly. "I'll call Chewie off."

"Good girl," Abeloth crooned. "So obedient."

Nellith raised her commlink. "Chewie, return to Uphatu. I'll signal you when I can. Things got a bit more dicey."

There came a roar of protest.

"I don't like this either, but we've got no other choice," Nellith said. "The War will be over, and I will not be the reason it goes on."

There were a few more reluctant grumbles before Chewbacca finally agreed.

"Sorry," was all Nellith said before turning off her commlink. She placed it in Tallis's outstretched hand, her hazel eyes pleading with him. "This isn't who you are."

"You don't know me at all," Tallis said, clenching his jaw. There was a defiant glimmer in his eye.

"What are you talking about?" Nellith demanded. "I might not have known you a long time, Tallis Shan, but I know who you are! You fought to keep Abeloth from emerging. I thought you even died to stop her in Artorias!"

"He's learned where his true family is," Abeloth said, curling her hand tighter over Tallis's shoulder. Her expression was almost maternal. "We are related, through one of my previous hosts. I am his only family, you could say."

"That's not true," Nellith sad. "Do you know why Galen isn't here? He's on Chandrila, begging the Senate for your life when the war is over. You know that as an Emperor of the enemy, your neck would be the first in the noose?"

Tallis paled considerably, but Abeloth just smiled at her, as if amused. She tilted her head ever so slightly.

"When I'm done with Tallis, he won't need his pathetic father's begging," Abeloth said. "Besides, who's to say it isn't a lie you're telling?"

Nellith frowned. "Tallis, I'd never—"

"I know."

Nellith blinked. The words were so quiet, she wasn't sure that she had truly heard them. But still she knew what she had heard. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and they were a plea for trust.

It was a leap of faith. . . And Nellith was going to take it, and keep taking it. Until she ran out of chances and they were all spent.

"Best not delay, then," Nellith said. "Come on."

"That's the spirit," Andromeda said with a grin and beautiful and terrible as the sunset.

It had been a long time since Ben Solo had destroyed a control panel. For the first time in nearly a decade, that streak had been broken with the control panel sporting the burn marks of his lightsaber in front of him. Poor General Mitaka stood shuddering in the center of the room, with no cover and remembering quite un-fondly his earlier days as a lieutenant under Ben.

Rey pinched her nose and sighed at her husband's ridiculousness and the incompetence of Mitaka.

"You. Let. My. Daughter. Do. What. Now?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"She utilized her authority, gave a royal command," Mitaka protested. "I had to—"

"We outrank her!" Ben protested, staring at the singeing control panel.

"Yes, well, erm, there is the fact that a truce has just been declared," Mitaka said, already winding in preparation for the legendary Skywalker anger. "The War is over because of Nellith."

Rey face palmed.

Ben turned off his lightsaber, and turned to Rey. "You know what we have to do."

Rey rubbed her forehead, having smacked it a bit too hard in her frustration with the stupidity of her situation. She looked up to Ben. "Ground her for the rest of her life?"

"That too," Ben admitted. "But first we need to get in touch with Chewie, and see if we can get to wherever on Jakku Nellith is."

"Right," Rey said. "I only hope it isn't too late."

"Me too," Ben said softly.

"And get Jaina," Rey said. "Call Kyp and Galen back too. We'll need Kyp to rally our Jedi. I've done some research on Abeloth. . . If she's in half the legends I think she is, we're going to need all the help we can defeating her."

"We did it once," Ben said.

"We only got rid of Snoke as a host," Rey said. "We didn't get rid of the spirit."

Ben's expression darkened. "I won't let Snoke hurt anyone else."

"Then we have to hurry," Rey said. She looked to Mitaka. "Send in a signal for all Jedi and let Jaina know to comm us. We've got our daughter to find."