The Legend of the Jedi Queen

79. Contemplation

"It's on Jakku?" Rey cried.

"Why doesn't this surprise me?" Ben asked. "Everything is on that sandy hellhole."

"Hey, I came from Jakku," Rey said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I am aware," he said.

"I'll get the other Jedi ready," Jaina said. "We'll meet you at Palpatine's Observatory. You guys are certain it will be there?"

"As certain as we can be about a big mythical throne that's supposed to decide the fate of the Force," Nellith deadpanmed.

Jaina shrugged. "Fair enough."

"May the Force be with you, Aunt Jaina," Nellith said as her aunt began to walk away.

Jaina turned around, walking backwards, and grinned, saluting her niece. "And also with you!"

Nellith smiled after her aunt, hoping she would at least survive whatever was about to go down on Jakku.

She turned back to Tallis, Ben, Rey, and Chewbacca.

"We'd better get moving before Abeloth hitches a ride, or figures out where the Throne of Balance is," Nellith said.

Tallis nodded solemnly.

The journey passed much more quickly than it had before. Nellith kept wrapping the chain of her holocron necklace around her fingers so tightly that it striped them red and white.

Rey glanced at her daughter, before gently prying the necklace out of her fingers.

"Please don't hurt yourself," she said.

"Sorry," Nellith said. "I'm just nervous."

Rey gave her daughter a sympathetic look before embracing her. "We're coming out of this, together or not at all."

"I know that," Nellith said. "I don't want you or Dad to die."

Ben and Rey exchanged a glance, thinking of the conversation they had held before Mortis.

"What's wrong?" Rey asked. "That's oddly specific."

"The visions," Nellith managed, trying not to completely lie to them. She didn't want them to distrust Tallis more than they already did with the possible plan.

Rey frowned. "Of course. I should've realized—"

"It's fine," Nellith said. "I know it's still up to us. All of it is."

"We won't leave you until there's no other choice," Rey said. "I promise."

Nellith nodded shakily, and Ben looked over at the scanner as they leapt out of hyperspace.

"There's already a lot of Second Order ships near the observatory," Ben said. "We need a stealthier approach."

Rey cursed and stood up to get a better look. "I know where we are! Niima Outpost is right there! And my home would still be here."

"We'll hide out there, and then sneak into the observatory," Ben realized. "Brilliant."

"You should call me that more often," Rey said, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Flirt later, survive now," Nellith said, rolling her eyes.

"Sorry," Rey murmured unapologetically as she and Chewbacca maneuvered the controls of the Millennium Falcon.

The Falcon landed outside the Hellhound Two, the downed AT-AT Rey used to live in. Still as abandoned as it had been the day Rey and Finn had stolen the Millennium Falcon and left Jakku, it was the perfect place to wait for the other Jedi to come. The crew exited and sat atop the Hellhound Two, to wait and contemplate.

The sun was setting on the dunes in front of them. Nellith pulled her knees up to her chest, Tallis right by her side. His legs were outstretched, lazy almost, as if this was some casual nightfall, not the possible end of all times.

Rey sat on Nellith's right, her knees dangling over the side as she gave little cheerful, unconscious kicks. Ben had his arm around Rey's shoulder, and his legs dangled limply and awkwardly over the side. Rey's head was on his shoulder, and she looked to be at complete peace.

Nellith glanced at Tallis. His expression was troubled as he stared at the horizon. She wondered what he was feeling and thinking. He always kept secrets, always kept something beneath the surface. Now, claimed by the Dark Side, he seemed further away than ever. She wondered if they would always be this alone, or if this godhood could be reversed.

She hoped so. When the next morning came, she would take whatever problems came, but when all was said and done she wanted everyone to live, and for her and Tallis to live side-by-side, in peace.

Peace would be nice. Even on Aquilae, Nellith had never known peace. There were secrets and lies even then, and there was Kiernan Solsaur planting those fears others held of what kind of Skywalker she would become.

Living without conflict, just for a little while, sounded like heavenly bliss.

Nellith hated that she couldn't even just enjoy right now for fear of what was to come. Her mind was a tangle of thoughts, and while her senses had adjusted, it was still uncomfortable, and she preferred being merely human.

Then she felt the presence of the remaining loyal Jedi Knights entering the atmosphere of Jakku. Nellith stood up and turned just in time to see them enter the blue sky, touching down close by.

"It's time," Nellith announced.