Despite the distance the enormity of the Dreadnaught was readily apparent. The wedge-shaped colossus hung in space on the periphery of the Trivestage, its ebony form occasionally passing through wispy streams of gas ejected from the tempest. Its running lights had been set for combat, a largely futile effort given the monstrous silhouette it created against the gentle glow of the Trivestage.

Using the electroscope I could see the vessel's autocannons had been lowered into a firing position but did not appear to be tracking a target. With all of the interference they would need to move close enough to the New Republic ships to establish visual targeting. That would take time.

"You're insane," Rey assured me for the second time.

"This vessel is equipped with a hyperdrive," I reminded her. "Once I am onboard the First Order ship, you depart and rendezvous with Leia."

"Even if they allow us to land, they will never let me depart."

"I believe that Dreadnaught is the Fulminatrix, under the command of Captain Canady. His opinions of General Hux are well known, and I believe his desire to avoid the General seizing power will be sufficient to compel him to assist me."

"And if it isn't?"

"The point defenses will be severely compromised by the Trivestege," I told her. "They should pose no threat to a pilot of your skill. And should anyone in the hangar interfere, I will deal with them."

"That takes care of me," Rey said, not attempting to hide her doubt, "but what about you? You can't take on everyone on that ship."

It was a question that would have been unthinkable at one time; there was time when the suggestion of my demise would have been appealing to Rey. Likewise, an assertion that I lacked the ability to achieve victory against a foe would have drawn swift condemnation from me. Now, however, I found myself accepting her words as genuine concern. And, quite possibly, correct.

Yet if I could not impose my will on a single starship, how could hope to restore order to the Galaxy?

"Perhaps not," I conceded. "It would be difficult for a single man to overcome a crew of two hundred thousand. However, I sometimes impress even myself."

"Right there," Rey said, "those were not the words of Snoke's apprentice. I see parts of you I never would have imagined. The reflections of your parents, of where you come from." She swallowed. "And I can see how this journey is tearing you apart. Just because you believe in it does not mean you cannot take another path."

"If I could see another path…"

"Come with me, with us," Rey pressed. "Find your destiny with our help. By my side."

By my side. They were words I had desired to hear at one time, yet now they only added to my agony. "I once only saw weakness in others, yet I can now understand my own flaws. We are both a product of our failures, condemned to the limitations imposed by the distinctive yet omnipresent imperfections that fracture us all. That does not mean we concede to these weaknesses; but it does require us to pursue our destinies in a manner best suited to our strengths. The truth is our desires are not in opposition, yet our paths must be different."

"Your path will destroy you," Rey said quietly. "Even if you survive the challenges you face, your heart will eventually be crushed by the weight of your actions."

I took in a deep breath, unable to keep myself from considering her words. But they changed nothing.

The dark mass of what I believed to be the Fulminatrix loomed closer. The Dreadnaught was still accelerating towards the Republic fleet and I adjusted our course to account for its slowly increasing speed.

"Unidentified starfighter," a stiff voice announced over the comm, "this is the Dreadnaught Fulminatrix. Submit your identification codes and state your intentions.

I glanced down at the panel in front of me, hoping that ID codes had been preloaded into the fighter's computer. My personal codes had served me in boarding the Halberd, but the Fulminatrix was a front line warship: its codes would have been updated almost as soon as my desertion had become known.

Fortunately the Tie's computer had generic codes that appeared to be valid. "Transmitting code now," I said, forcing a roughness into my voice. It was unlikely anyone aboard the Dreadnaught would recognize my voice, but caution was still appropriate. I needed to get to Canady and convince him to support me; if my identity became apparent to a lower level officer they could potentially derail my plans. "Requesting landing, bay sixteen."

Bay sixteen was directly adjacent to the Dreadnaught's primary storage bays. It was rarely used for purposes other than resupply and lacked the normal infrastructure to support a Tie Fighter. With the ship at combat status it would be nearly empty.

"Approved," the officer replied tersely after a brief pause. I acknowledge our clearance and began to configure the fighter for landing.

"That seemed to go well," Rey said from behind me.

"Indeed," I agreed quietly. "You should still be prepared for an immediate departure."

"You think it's a trap?" Rey asked. "They accepted our code."

"They appear to have accepted our code," I corrected. "The interference from the Trivestage would make getting a tractor beam lock difficult. It would be far simpler to lure us aboard under a false sense of security. Even if everything checked out properly I cannot discount the possibility they would take other precautions upon our arrival. Tie fighters rarely arrive unannounced."

The sheer size of the Fulminatrix made it difficult to judge our approach; the massive vessel filled the entire windscreen while it was still some distance away. Bay sixteen was centrally located on the dreadnaught's broad dorsal surface, several thousand meters forward of the towering command superstructure and near the ship's powerful reactor.

Skimming along the hull of the Dreadnaught gave the sensation of planetary flight, a metal horizon stretching across my field of view. Bay sixteen came into view and I rotated the Tie to match its orientation. I brought the fighter across the bay's threshold, my irises contracting abruptly as the hangar's bright lights flooded the Tie's cockpit. I turned slightly, maneuvering the small fighter between two larger shuttles that would offer some concealment and cover should it become necessary. The landing skids touched the floor so gently it was impossible to know the precise moment of touchdown.

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. A malicious swirl of doubt surrounded me, a cloud of weakness and indecision forcefully trying to reassert itself. During the approach my task fixation had kept it at bay, but now the emotions had grown stronger.

"It isn't too late," Rey said gently from behind me.

"I cannot allow myself to succumb to such thoughts," I told her as firmly as I could. "I will not allow weakness to define my path." I opened my eyes and disconnected my harness, picking up my well-worn helmet from the floor beside me before moving as swiftly as I could towards the door. My shoulder brushed against Rey as I moved past her in the cramped cockpit. The brief and trivial contact brought with it an eruption of feeling and emotion, a disorderly cacophony of thought that burned like a bolt of lightning and dissipated just as quickly.

The Force ran through everything, binding all of us together in ways even the greatest Jedi and Sith did not fully comprehend. Still, such visceral reminders of these ties were rare.

I knew prolonging this moment would only force me to endure the strain I felt, but I found myself turning back to Rey nonetheless. My lips tremble slightly as I looked at her for what could be the last time. Despite her naiveté and her arrogant adherence to the futile code of the Jedi I had come to admire many things about her, things that went beyond the power she held. Her company had given me strength and helped me define a path. It was not a path she could join me on, but her fingerprints had indelibly marked the course.

"Your family will miss you," she told me. "I…" She inhaled, her eyes flicking away before focusing again on my face. "I will continue to hope that your journey will one day be one you can travel with them… perhaps with me. That one day your path leads out of the shadows."

"Even if I stand in the light, the darkness will forever tarnish my soul. When we first met… you professed me to be a monster. A creature in a mask." I lowered my head slightly, my eyes briefly flicking to the helmet clutched in my fingers. "And you were right. Whatever machinations led me to that path do not relieve me of the burden of what I've done. Nor does it free me of responsibility of what I must do." I felt a chill wash over me, a sense of sorrow that we both shared. A silent understanding that my future would demand further sacrifice and further bloodshed. "What I have done, what I intend to do… they are not the actions beings of conscience can ever forgive."

"They are actions you feel obligated to do, not ones you desire," Rey countered. "You do not relish the suffering of others, you do not take enjoyment from their pain."

"You know that is not true," I told her. She knew better than most. She had seen me tear apart enemy and innocent alike, obliterating minds and bodies in a malicious maelstrom of cruelty and pain. Bloodlines that stretched back thousands of years abruptly ended in shredded flesh and bone so I could find the painful solace I yearned for. "Regret and shame change nothing. I inflicted suffering because it satiated my desires."

"No action is so terrible that it exists without the possibility of redemption," Rey said quietly yet firmly. "Your own grandfather proved that."

"Redemption is in the eye of the beholder," I replied. "His dark legacy nearly destroyed my mother. Everything she stood for was assaulted because of the blood in her veins, because of choices he made. Do you really believe that someone who shares the same body, the same mind with a monster can ever be truly accepted? That those that threw my mother from power because of her father would accept a creature that openly admits his destiny will continue to require what they see as unforgiveable?"

"Does that really matter if your family can still see the good in you?"

I shook my head. "My mother sacrificed everything to do what she thought was right, yet the mere hint of darkness caused the politicians to reject her, the people to turn away. The course of her life was once again unfairly and irrevocably altered. I will not allow that to happen to another."

Rey's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, her lips parting slightly. "I don't under

I could feel the muscles of my throat tensing, the pressure of tears building around my eyes. "The Force has declared what must be accomplished, what my destiny is to be. If I fail, it will seek out another. And I will not allow her to be tainted by the rot to which I have succumb."

A/N: It is funny; I wrote the draft of this chapter well over a year ago, yet I found myself making so many changes and tweaks that it was never quite finished. It probably isn't done yet, but sometimes you just need to make the call.

There are still a few more chapters in the works. As I get towards the end of the story I find myself really striving for the right words to express the emotions I want to convey, especially with regard to Kylo's choices. Thus updates may not come out as quickly as I'd like, but this isn't quite the end of the story yet.

And finally, to everyone who has taken the time to read, follow, favorite, and review: I wish you all the best whether you are celebrating a Merry Christmas today, partaking in another wonderful holiday, or just trying to find the happiness that everyone deserves. Thank you for your feedback and support, as it has all been wonderful on my own quest for happiness!