Perihelion

[KyloGlenn]

@thelittlebay


Starkiller changed everything. The First Order was once just a joke to a majority of the New Republic. Disregarded as the dying embers of the Empire. That Leia Organa had simply exaggerated their status as a threat. But Leia hadn’t. The unveiling of Starkiller Base, the destruction of the Hosnian system proved that.


The loss of the Hosnian system shook the New Republic, the Senate. The galaxy. Following the destruction of the killer planet, senators were mourned, vigils were held and memorials were created in honor of the innocents lost. It was all that news would cover, galaxy wide.


But the New Republic couldn’t stay out of commission long. The galaxy was at war once again. In the year following, senators were replaced, Coruscant was once again named the home of the Senate, for the time being, anyway. The New Republic put more funding into Leia Organa’s Resistance, finally recognizing the Order as a threat. Citizens all over volunteered their support for the Resistance.


But just as many pledged their allegiance to the sinister First Order.


Elena Hael was the appointed Senator of Reulia, a planet in the Mid Rim, bordering the Outer. A planet that had remained neutral until then. despite Elena was known to be critical of the New Republic. It had its flaws and she pointed them out. That it was simply the Galactic Republic reborn. She had no faith that the Republic’s Resistance could keep her planet safe. Starkiller Base was just the tip of the iceberg.


And so she stood then, in the hangar of the Capitol building, awaiting the arrival of the First Order. She dressed in a black jumpsuit, pant legs straight and stopping just above her ankles. A blazer just as black was worn over it to cover her arms. Heeled ankle boots, shiny but matching the rest of her outfit, added to the five feet and eight inches she stood without them. Her makeup was unimpressive, almost as if she wasn’t wearing any. But the gold eyeliner around her green eyes gave it away. Dirty blonde hair was half up. A bun sat on the top of her head with a gold accessory shaped like a leaf keeping it secured, while the rest fell down her back, straight.


Bland. Especially for Reulia, a planet that enjoyed showing off the abundance of metals and gems that were mined from within the planet. Elena had worn much more extravagant things, but this was not the occasion. 


She’d been given the task of greeting the visitors, and so she would. In the company of her assistant and many of the guards. This meeting was supposed to be quiet and peaceful, under the radar. But one could never be too careful. And that’s why she was the one greeting them and not the queen. In case the Order did not follow through on the peace.


Even though Elena was playing the role of errand girl, it would be known that she would be quite the deciding factor. The Queen was kind and meant well, and that was the issue. Someone had to be firm and strategic and that happened to be Elena Hael. 

 

[hadal]

Following the destruction of Starkiller Base, the First Order had struggled. Feebly they had scrapped for weapons and equipment and new personnel. Similarly, the Resistance was tending to its wounds. But the war was once again burning, and the galaxy along with it. 


The First Order was working on constructing a new Starkiller, with the hope of bringing this conflict to a decisive and resounding end. Kylo wished to solidify the First Order’s rule—yes, but his ambivalence towards the use of such a weapon had not been resolved. The destruction of the Hosnian system hadn’t been his idea. He didn’t want it, didn’t agree with it. The eradication of so many lives felt wasteful, unnecessary, even wrong. In the Force it had felt as if a massive hole had been torn, gaping and gushing with blood. The Dark Side had feasted on this slaughter though, and the First Order had celebrated it. 


Kylo supposed he too should have celebrated the destruction of the Hosnian system, just as he had convinced himself to relish in the death of Han Solo. Such bloodshed fueled the Dark Side, which in turn strengthened him. He was stronger now, he believed. He completed his training with Snoke, and that too had only increased his power (he convinced himself).


Now he was on a diplomatic mission of sorts—the kind he deeply despised. Such business was better suited for the likes of General Hux, but he was occupied elsewhere, so Kylo had been forced to take his place. He was meeting a New Republic Senator, by the name of Elena Hael. Kylo knew little about her—he bothered to read up on her prior to the mission, but cared only enough to obtain the bare minimum of information.


Kylo arrived in the hangar of Reulia’s Capitol building on a vessel that was just as sleek and black as the rest of the First Order’s ships, but was fairly small. He was accompanied by a few troopers—more out of formality than necessity—and that meek little man, Lieutenant Mitaka. He wore his usual black robes, and a black cowl hooded now yellow eyes (for the Darkness was so strong in him now. Snoke had made sure of this, and his grandfather too. Vader still spoke to him, he believed. Vader fed him all the power he craved.). A deep scar horizontally split his face, and served as the still burning reminder of the flash of that scavenger girl’s lightsaber. 


As the ship’s ramp extended itself to meet the hangar’s floor, Kylo strode out. Lieutenant Mitaka followed a step behind to his right, and five troopers then marched a few steps behind Mitaka. Kylo’s arms swung stiffly at his sides, and his hands were clenched into their typical fists. He took long and stately steps towards Senator Hael, stopping about three feet before her. “Senator Hael,” he began in a tight tone. 

 

[KyloGlenn]

Kylo Ren had not been who Elena expected to exit the ship. She was expecting General Hux, or someone else more inclined to take up a political mission. In fact, his presence worried her. She’d only heard of Kylo Ren’s appearances on the battlefield, amidst pillaging and destruction. Never negotiating whatever it would take for peace.


But there was another man there, dressed as someone officially of the Order, and there were only a few Stormtroopers. She wouldn’t let concern overtake her just yet. Elena took in a breath and fixed her posture, hands clasped behind her back. If being a Senator taught her anything, it was keeping her composure. Masking the concern she felt.


Masking the irritation she felt at Kylo Ren’s unbothered strides towards her.


He halted just in front of her, and she let her eyes briefly size him up. He was large. Broad, tall. Even with the added height of the heels on her already tall frame, he had a few good inches on her. From her angle, however, she could see the bottom half of his face, not covered by the dark cowl. She could see the tail end of his angry facial scar and if she moved just right, she could catch a glimpse of his yellow eyes.


Intimidating. But once again, Elena didn’t let any emotion show outwardly, fear or otherwise.


He knew who she was. That pleased her, at least. A hand wasn't offered to her, so she did not offer one to him. “Kylo Ren,” if he had an official title within the First Order such as General, or some Sith title, she didn’t know it. She glanced to the other man who wore the First Order uniform.


“Lieutenant Dopheld Mitaka,” the man introduced himself, and he offered his hand. Elena did take it and she couldn’t help but feel her shake was stronger than Mitaka’s. The handshake was brief and Elena turned back to Kylo Ren.


“Welcome to Reulia,” the greeting was not accompanied by a smile or warmth. It was stiff, neutral. All business “The Queen and I thank you for coming. I assume you know why we’ve asked you here, but if you’ll follow me, I’ll brief the two of you anyway.”


It was then that Reulia’s own guards began to move. Their armor was grand, made of strong metals with intricate swirls and designs along it, gems set into the metal as accents. To Elena it was archaic and impractical, but the Queen insisted. A symbol of the planet, the royal woman had described them. Either way, they split in half with four to lead the way, and then four to follow behind the group. Elena herself turned on her heels to follow after the four guards, her steps long and quick, her own assistant who’d gone unintroduced—Elena saw no purpose in it—struggled to keep up.


She spoke over the clicking of her shoes on the marble floor. “As you should know, Reulia was not treated kindly in the last war. Remaining neutral did us no good as the Empire plundered our resources, left mines, cities, and families in ruins. The Rebel Alliance offered no help and we were left to recover on our own.” Elena tried not to sound too bitter. But she had grown up during the planet’s recovery. “As a senator, I’ve seen the inner workings of the New Republic and I have little faith in their or the Resistance’s ability to protect or even think to care for my home.”

 

[hadal]

Kylo sensed her fear. While Elena’s face was unperturbed and blank, fear swelled in her. Good, Kylo thought. Fear commanded respect and submission. The First Order was to be feared, for someday it would establish dominion over the galaxy—the galaxy which Kylo would rule. The galaxy in its entirety would be his, and only then would he be completely immersed in the darkness. Only then would he elevate himself to the power and prestige of Darth Vader.


“It’s Lord Ren,” he corrected her in a stern, irritated tone. His body remained tense (as it always seemed to be) as the Senator greeted him with platitudes. He stood on stiff legs, and his hands remained clenched behind his back.


“Stay with the ship,” Kylo ordered his stormtroopers as he followed Elena into the building. He turned his attention to her now. The Empire and the failings of the Rebel Alliance and New Republic had left her resentful, he could tell. She harbored anger, and Kylo imagined the people of Reulia did as well. This was good. Their anger could be played with and manipulated. The First Order could offer them stability and hope, while the Resistance and New Republic could be warped into their enemy. The Resistance and New Republic were the corrupt and inherent enemies of stability and order.


“I am positive we can come to an agreement that is beneficial to both our causes,” he began, “while the Resistance and New Republic has failed your planet, the First Order can offer protection, resources, and aid." 

 

[KyloGlenn]

‘Lord Ren,’ a Sith title then. Elena made note of it, and the irritated tone, but made no move to correct herself. He spoke of being positive that they’d figure something out. The First Order would be able to protect them, offer resources and aid. It all sounded nice and dandy. “That’s what we’re hoping for.” But Elena wanted to know what the First Order would want in exchange.


She knew Reulia would have to give something up. The planet’s natural resources, the people. Something. That’s what a deal was. That’s what would make it beneficial for both sides. She was just worried for what it would be. She didn’t want to willingly recreate what happened with the Empire.


And she worried for what would happen if they couldn’t reach an arrangement. She expected them to simply take over Reulia. Kylo Ren had the power to do it. Kill the queen, kill her. She couldn’t let that happen.


The guards paused outside of a set of grand double doors, on the other side was a conference room, where the queen, some council members, and likely more guards sat waiting. Elena stopped and turned back to Ren and Mitaka. “You’ve shown me enough respect,” and by that, she meant Kylo Ren had been polite enough for her not to feel the need to humble him, “I expect you to treat the queen the same, if not more.” 


Two guards to a door, they pushed them open to reveal a brightly lit room, littered with large, one-way windows. The room had that same marble floor and was furnished with a long, dark wood conference table made from the planet’s native trees. It was only partially occupied, the queen, standing to greet them, on one end and a handful of council members on her left. Usually there were more political figures from all over the planet, but not for this occasion.


Elena gestured the two guests in and walked around the table, curtsying briefly upon reaching the queen before gesturing to the men. “This is Lieutenant Mitaka and Lord Ren,” she put the same emphasis on the word as Kylo Ren himself had. “Lieutenant, Lord Ren, this is Queen Roslyn.”


There was a stark contrast between bland, blank Elena, and bright, smiling, and embellished Roslyn. “Welcome to Reulia! I thank you so much for coming!” Her greeting was much more enthusiastic, sincere than Elena's had been. “I see you’ve met our lovely Senator. Please, sit! I’d like to discuss what we could offer the First Order in exchange for our planet being left unharmed, by both the New Republic and their Resistance, as well as by the Order itself.”