Salvation To My Stars • Kylo Ren [2]

VI

Jude's Pov

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Mushroom soup, bitter greens with rodian peppers the size of peas, meatlump in slices as thin as paper, noodles in a green sauce, cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes. Yes, this was the usual dinner we'd have before a mission. The servers, were all young people dressed in white tunics. They moved wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full.

My grandmother never meant to shut people from the Resistance out of these special gathering but sometimes, her family came first.

Taking a swig from his cup, Poe looked up from his plate. "This soup really is divine General, what's your secret?"

"It wouldn't be so secret anymore if I told you." Grandmother smiled, her face aging gracefully.

Finn shoved Poe slightly and I laughed to myself. "Come on Poe, you can't just ask for the secret ingredient."

"I'm glad someone can understand what secret means!" Grandmother sent Finn a wink and all of us laughed around the table.

This wasn't unusual, we were always like this. Uncle Luke usually tended to himself but would eventually crack up a joke that would make us all chuckle, Finn and Poe would usually sit together and bicker back and forth while their son babbled aimlessly to himself, Rey would sit neck to Chewbacca, who would sit next to Corinthia, who sat next to me. Grandmother sat at the very front of the table and for that reason, we know very little of. She just liked being at the top, despite her age and her accident last month.

Rey looked down at the babbling toddler who had mushroom soup all over his face. "He sure does like to eat."

Finn shrugged but replied merrily. "What can I say? He's got to eat if he's going to be just like his dad, ain't that right Kingsley?"

Kingsley looked up and babbled some more. He made a noise with his lips and returned to dipping his hand in his soup then placing it in his mouth.

"Normally I'd say that that's pretty gross but he's just so cute." Corinthia gawked, mimicking a baby voice. "Yes you are, yes you are Kingsley. Who's the cutest baby in the galaxy? You are!"

Kingsley Han Dameron was a cute baby, dare I say the cutest. Unlike some of the other Resistance children, Kingsley was a very bubbly child. He didn't cry much and when he did, it didn't take much to calm him down. Kingsley made me feel obligated to give him a better childhood then I got. That wasn't a bad thing, it was just a thing that I stressed over a little too much.

Poe handed Kingsley over to my grandmother, who cradled him in her arms. It was no secret that I was too old to be cradled like that now, but it gave me comfort that my grandmother could find some tranquility with that baby. "He's getting heavy."

"Or you're just getting weak." Luke suggested with a silly grin.

"Luke." Grandmother groaned, shaking her head. "Do you think he'll grow up to be a Black Leader just like Poe?"

"Not before I get to be Black Leader." Corinthia joked, sending Poe a devious wave.

Poe chuckled. "I think this little guy will figure out what he wants to do when he's old enough." As Poe finished speaking, Kingsley yawned tiredly. "Looks like someone is ready for bed."

"I got him." Finn stood up and walked over to Leia, taking Kingsley out of her arms. "I'll swing by the docking bay to say goodbye."

"Have you checked the fuel tanks for all the X-Wings?" Rey changed the subject, her brown eyes glistening with wonder.

"Twice," Poe confirmed. "Should we go over the plan once more?"

Grandmother nodded, wiping her lips with a napkin. "Corinthia darling, do the honours."

Corinthia put down her fork and knife. "We are to attack the First Order's makeshift base at dawn. Our insider spies have told us that the base is located about three miles away from the palace. Poe and I will lead a squadron of pilots and light up their camp. On the ground, Rey, General Skywalker and Jude will search for their captain. We will take him hostage and bring him to the palace for his crimes against Naboo. Before we hand him over, we will try to find out what they are searching for."

Poe scratched his stubble and looked directly at Corinthia. "Everything seems perfectly planned."

"Which is why we should be ready in case something was to go wrong." I spoke up.

"Oh it will!" Uncle Luke said from his spot at the table. "When does one of our plans actually work?"

"Luke!" Grandmother scolded.

"Alright, alright." Luke put up his hands in defence. "I'm sorry Leia."

Grandmother rolled her eyes and began collecting her papers from the table. "I'll see you all at the docking bay."

"Leia, you haven't finished your meal yet." Rey pointed out, her voice soft and careful.

Leia looked down, her face blank. "Oh, it appears I haven't." Everyone awkwardly laughed including Leia but I felt her sudden surprise and embarrassment. She truly thought she had finished. "I'm not hungry anymore anyways, I'll see you all later."

As soon as she exited, Poe sighed. "That's the third time this week."

"She gets offended when we point it out," Luke shook his head. "She knows that she can't stop it."

"Stop what exactly?" I question.

Nobody spoke for a long time until Rey cleared her throat. "We fear that the general has dementia." Rey looked over at me, offering a comforting aura.

I was unable to immediately cope with this possibility, but I suddenly became convinced that my grandmother's opinion was one of the greatest importance. She possessed that indescribable kind of manner which places you under the conviction that you are continually doing, saying, or thinking something right because she could never get mad at anyone. Instead of speaking, I slumped in my chair and put my hands over my face.

"It's just a suggestion Solo." Poe promised but I wasn't convinced, grandmother had all the symptoms.

"It's from her fall, isn't it?" I ponder, rubbing my temple. "When Kylo Ren swore to destroying the Resistance?"

Rey nodded, biting her lip. "It seems that way."

"I cannot wait for the day in which I will be able to slay that beast." I fume, my emotions unsteady.

"Careful Jude," Uncle Luke warned. "I don't want you getting the wrong idea."

I sighed in defeat. "Forgive me-" I took a pause. "I'll meet you all at the docking bay."

I left without another word, quickly darting down the darkening hallways. I felt weak, I always feel weak when it comes to my family. I couldn't stand that man, Kylo Ren. He may be my father but he will never be my family. He is the reason that grandmother could be getting seriously ill and that was ripping me apart.