Why I began writing this story: While Kylo Ren is my weakness and Adam Driver is gorgeous, I live for Domnhall Gleeson's bitch face, which was rampant throughout the film and in dire need of some good lovin'. Seriously, he is one attractive ginger.
Also, the galaxy is HUGE, and the First Order v Resistance is such a small part of it that I really wanted to give a different POV to the possibilities of what else is occurring in the galaxy. Ya know, normal people, going about their lives, sick of the Skywalkers always fudging up. What's interesting about TFA is that the fighting between the First Order and the Resistance is actually, IMO, quite contained, at least in regards to how many people/planets are involved in the original films, where it seemed more of the galaxy was involved in the fighting.
Lastly, I've been meaning to write a story set in the Star Wars universe for a while.

Here's what you should know: This story takes place post-TFA. I obviously don't know what will happen in Episode VIII, so this should be considered AU. Scratch that, what I wrote will DEFINITELY not happen in the next few films. Also, considering how crazy General Hux actually is, and how unwavering his ambitions are, I know I won't be writing him completely in character. So, prior apologies for that. Honestly, my aim is to not take this story too seriously. I want to have fun writing and I want you to have fun reading. I'm not here to create a masterpiece of accuracy. Just a story by someone whose creative writing license should have been revoked long, long ago.

Chapter 1 - Strange Encounters with Horizontal Lightning

On the planet Plu H'avana...

General Hux observed Kylo Ren calmly. He had to, as any attempt at sneering or gritting his teeth, led to a sharp, excruciating pain to shoot through his face. It wasn't yet clear if the pain hailed from his busted bottom lip or badly bruised jaw.

"No hard feelings," Kylo offered, lips briefly quirking up into a mockery of a smile.

Hux attempted a step back, but his ankle emitted a gruesome crack as soon as his boot touched the hard ground. A howl threatened to escape his throat, but Hux bit on his tongue until he tasted blood.

"No hawd feelins'," Hux spat, the blood in his mouth forcing the words to come out gargled.

Twisting his neck to the left, and then to the right, Kylo extended his right arm. Hux watched the lightsaber carefully through his only working eye. The left one had been sealed shut during their earlier battle.

"Supreme Leader Snoke extends his regrets," the Sith continued, taking a step forward. "Though, I think we both knew this situation was inevitable. You'll understand if I withhold my grief. I have wanted to kill you for a number of years."

The world blurred for a moment, leaving nothing but a fusion of blacks, reds, and whites. Shaking his head, Hux forced the remainder of his energy into his working eye.

"I'ma gon' kill you," he slurred.

Kylo's brows rose. The hand not clutching his lightsaber, twirled in a semi-circular motion. Hux's feet gave out from beneath him. In half a second, he was kneeling on the cold ground, breaths growing heavier at the effort to stay conscious.

Hux's heart rate sped up as he listened to the steady clomp of Kylo's boots. He willed his mouth to move, but no words came out. Instead, he coughed up all the blood that had gathered at the back of his throat.

When his body finally stopped shaking, Hux stilled. Inches away from his neck, an intense heat burned without touching him. He didn't need to turn his head to know it was Ren's lightsaber.

"Any final words, General?"

Hux remained silent.

Kylo sighed.

"If you insist on being difficult."

Hux groaned at the rough invasion into his mind.

Nevertheless, he made sure his words were loud and clear.

"Ren, you kriffing bastard! If I survive this, make no mistake, I will find you, even if I have to tear this entire kriffing galaxy apart. When I do, I will serve your head to Supreme Leader Snoke."

What sounded like a laugh, shook Kylo's chest.

"I have to admire your loyalty," he admitted, pushing the lightsaber against Hux's cheek.

The general's scream, pierced the air. A few birds who'd had the misfortune of sticking around, immediately took flight.

"Even after he orders your death, you remain a good little soldier."

Ren pulled back the saber and cocked his head to the side. From jawbone to the top of his high cheekbones, Hux's face carried an angry, searing, red mark.

Kylo's attention briefly fell down to the com wrapped around his wrist, and the voice fighting through static. He lifted his wrist up to his ear.

"-permission-retreat to ship-Yanni-outnumbered-."

Frowning, Ren lowered his arm.

"It would appear I won't have the pleasure of savoring your death for as long as I had hoped."

Hux opened his mouth. Before he could inhale, Kylo drew back his saber and drove it through his ribcage. A startled groan slipped from Hux's throat. Ren tightened his grip and twisted the weapon until Hux's body began to shake. A hint of a smile stretched across Kylo's face as he slowly removed the saber, savoring Hux's pained sobs.

As soon as his saber exited Hux's skin, Ren gripped the general by the hair. His mouth lowered to the man's ear.

"In case you weren't aware...I was always Snoke's favorite."

Ren released Hux's hair. The general slumped to the side.

He was unconscious before his head hit the ground.

Kylo marched over to his helmet. It sat atop a log, clean and undisturbed. He took his time putting it back on. Afterward, he began heading in the direction of the ship. Ren glanced over his shoulder one last time, index finger pressed down on the com.

He could hear Hux's heart creeping at a sluggish pace, and smell the blood traveling out of the wound. Death was imminent, though not immediate. Ren had made sure he'd be spared a merciful death. For all the times he'd had to put up with Hux's sneers and passive aggressive remarks without being able to do anything, Ren figured an hour of excruciating suffering could amend any hard feelings.

"Tell Snoke it is done," he spoke into the com.

Stormtrooper LI-9034's reply was inhibited by the ever-present static of the planet, but Ren didn't mind. He almost hoped his declaration wasn't received. Telling Snoke Hux was dead, would be a great pleasure indeed.

Meanwhile, in the Mid-Rim region of space, inside a glossy, awesome, kick-ass ship...

"By the moons of Zagar," Luna murmured, eyes glued to the electronic pad.

Beside her, Rum peeked up from his book.

"Is something the matter, Miss Nova?"

Gulping, Luna sank back into her seat.

"No," she said, voice cracking. "Everything is..."

Against her will, Luna's eyes traveled back down to the pad. The article's title made the weight in her stomach, heavier.

"Rum, how long would it take if we were to turn around now and head back to Vix?"

Rum's bright, electric blue eyes closed. They opened a moment later.

"Approximately ten days, not taking into account all the stops for fuel we would need. There is a planet less than a half hour from our current position, equipped with a fueling station. The last planet we passed with one, we would not be able to return to with what we have left."

With more calmness than she felt, Luna placed her pad down on the table. She leaned forward and ran two hands through her hair. A low groan slipped past her teeth.

"You are in distress," Rum observed. "Perhaps explaining your worries may allow me to alleviate them."

Reluctantly, Luna smiled. She looked up at Rum, who watched her attentively.

"Monte Ali is one of the judges."

She tried not to sound upset, but she could hear her voice strain underneath the news.

"Monte Ali," Rum repeated, pale brows knitting together. "He is the food critic?"

"The same one who ruined my restaurant's perfect eight star rating!" she exclaimed, swiping a hand through the air. "Egh, I get sick each time I remember his review. He hated the Dinjaé sauce I served with his citrus pie. Actually dedicated half a page to tearing it apart in his article for Galaxy Gourmet."

"That is surprising," he mentioned, tilting his head to the side. "Dinjaé sauce carries the right amount of sugar to balance out the acidity of citrus."

"Exactly!" She paused. "Okay, new plan. We refuel at the next planet, then head back to Vix. I can call mom and ask her to fake being ill. Maybe she can come down with a plague. News'll spread of her affliction, and I can save face by being the compassionate daughter who rushed to her mother's side. It'll be perfect!"

Rum attempted to smile, but his lips couldn't stay in the position for long.

"You are a marvelous chef, Miss Nova. Allowing your fear of failure to get the better of you before the competition has even begun, is not in your nature."

Releasing a puff of breath, Luna crossed her arms. "Okay, but-."

"I will hear no further complaints. You have spent a year preparing for this competition. Remember that the other two judges have both spoken favorably of your restaurant."

Biting her lip, Luna stared at him.

"You have over a decade of experience on your side," Rum encouraged, unfazed by her pessimism. "Not to mention, a spice named after your discovery of it. If you were to drop out of the competition, do you realize how many other chefs would breathe a sigh of relief?"

"You mean besides myself?"

The look he gave her made Luna grin.

"You're right, you're right," she mumbled, shaking her head. "I'm just worried. If I don't do well, my reputation will suffer. Plus, they hold these competitions so rarely that I'll be-."

She counted her fingers.

"-seventy-eight! I'll be seventy-eight, Rum, the next time they have the competition!"

Luna's features turned pensive.

"Okay, how about we get fuel at the next planet, then go back to Vix. I promise I'll compete in the next one."

"Then you will be content with explaining your cowardliness to your mother, your father, your brother, your sister, your staff, your supporters-."

"Geez, are you trying to make me feel bad?"

"Yes."

His smile made Luna scowl.

Unfortunately, scowling wasn't a common expression among her face, and thus, she couldn't maintain it for long.

"Maybe I just need some fresh air," she decided, standing. "I haven't had the chance to stretch since we entered the Mid-Rim."

She glanced at the nearest window. The planet with a fueling station Rum had mentioned, was in viewing distance.

Luna frowned.

"How come we're entering through the south pole?"

At Rum's slow intake of breath, Luna turned to him.

"There has been an unforeseen...complication."

"What complication?"

Sighing, Rum looked out the window.

"When I went to speak with our pilot, she informed me a ship bearing the emblem of the First Order, was departing from the north part of the planet."

Luna shrugged. "They have no reason to harm us."

"Perhaps," he reasoned. "Then again, I've heard a rumor they are responsible for the incineration of the five planets in the Hosnian system, eight months ago. Whatever their intentions, our pilot thought it best we did not peak their interest."

"How annoying," she murmured. "I don't understand what they're trying to gain with being so violent."

"It is a battle of ideologies," Rum guessed. "The First Order and the Resistance meet each other, blow for blow. Only time will reveal the victor."

Something about Rum's tone made Luna shift in discomfort.

"Well, so long as they keep it isolated and don't take the whole galaxy with them, then let them bicker."

"Corellia is gone," Rum reminded. "We've been to restaurants there. They had a talented array of chefs."

Luna fought back her grimace. Her eyes found the floor.

"I know," she said quietly.

The rest of the journey occurred in silence. Rum was back to reading his book (A Comprehensive Manual to Soü Mating Rituals), and Luna scrolled through her pad, re-familiarizing herself with some traditional Naboo and Manaan recipes. Their only interruption came from Yael, the pilot.

"Their ship has cleared the region. If neither of you mind, I will make the journey north to Plu H'avana's landing bay. It shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes. If you are going out to stretch your legs, I'd advise bringing a jacket. Looks like rain is in the forecast."

When they began to enter the planet's surface gravity, Luna turned off her pad.

"Plu H'avana," she said aloud. "I don't think I've ever been here."

"If you do not mind clouds and rain, it is the perfect planet for you. Many mountains and caves to explore," Rum explained, shutting his book. "Native to the Yanni people, if I remember correctly. They are peaceful by nature, though skilled warriors, should the situation call for it. Moreso, they are known for their mastery of hydraulic engineering. In times of drought, they've often provided water to neighboring planets, so well-maintained are their water reservoirs and purifiers."

The landing was rough, but with the thickness of the clouds they traversed through, Luna wasn't surprised.

"Hey, maybe the Yanni people will let us stay here," she relayed to Rum, features brightening. "We can go on water deliveries until the competition is over."

"With your rampant desire to quit, I find myself astonished you have managed to secure any success at all."

"Egh," Luna growled, unfastening her belt straps, "you are way too sarcastic for your own good."

She was met with a mischievous smile.

Once the lights began to dim, Luna and Rum headed to the front of the ship. Yael, a middle aged woman with a warm bronze complexion and a mop of messy curls atop her head, met them at the door.

"Last stop," she promised, clapping Luna on the back. "Ion is still a ten day journey, but we're more than halfway to the planet. Should reach the Outer Rim in a couple of days. Take the time to stretch your limbs. Refueling will take forty minutes, at most."

Glancing down, Luna set the timer on her watch accordingly.

Yael's fingers flew across a keypad attached to the wall, next to the door. Slowly, it began to part.

The first thing all three noticed were the clouds. They were a mix of silver and charcoal, swirling menacingly in a counterclockwise rotation. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but as of yet, no rain was present. Where they had landed was all dark brown terrain. Beyond it, some grasslands, and further still, a woods that led to the beginnings of a mountain range.

"Force help us if the sky breaks and the tanks not full," Yael murmured, taking a step off the ship.

Luna and Rum followed.

The sky seemed to be in a tug of war between dimming and brightening. The temperature was strung along, flickering between humid and chill. Luna hadn't yet experienced such a stark contrast in weather before. It was equal parts fascinating as it was eerie.

She didn't notice the tall individual a few feet ahead of them until Yael started speaking to them.

"That's a Yanni person?" Luna whispered to Rum.

"Yes," Rum answered. "Seven-feet is an average height for them. Also, do not bother debating whether they are male or female. They are sexless and genderless."

The individual had a human-like appearance, and was most noticeably, a mix of long limbs and shapely, tattooed biceps. Each part of the person looked powerful, from a barrel chest to athletic calves. It was equipped with a well-defined jawline and a hairless face- head included. A black fabric - velvet, if Luna was seeing correctly - reminiscent of a t-shirt and shorts, covered it's flesh from collarbone to knees.

The eyes, however...those are what struck Luna the most.

"No one knows the origins of their black eyes," Rum remarked. "Some wager it is an evolutionary development in response to how little sunlight their planet receives. What is fascinating is their ability to see better in the dark than in the light."

Luna's staring was interrupted by Yael, whose gaze of concern in their direction caused them to approach.

"Is something the matter?" Luna asked, stopping by the duo.

"Nothing to worry about," Yael assured, offering a quick smile. "This is K'ull."

Luna extended hear arm and was taken aback by the powerful grip K'ull's thin fingers had. She smiled politely, and was returned with a display of straight, white teeth.

"Plah'zure to mee-t you."

As Rum offered his hand, Yael mentioned, "The ship I saw leaving here, K'ull says, was First Order. He doesn't know what they were doing here, only that the Stormtroopers refused to leave when the Yanni asked. A fight broke out and the Yanni are still tending to some of their wounded. Hence why K'ull is the only one to greet us here."

"Sith," K'ull voiced, tone flat. "Neutral, Mid-Rim plah'nets ah'r becoming less sah'fe."

Shivering, Luna pulled her jacket tighter around her form. The temperature felt cooler in the wake of his ominous warning.

"I'm going to go stretch my legs," she announced. "I'll be back."

"Would you like company?" Rum queried.

She smiled at him. "Maybe in a little while."

He nodded.

Luna settled into a comfortable pace, allowing her feet to aimlessly lead her through the tall, grassy meadow. The muscles in her calves, protested, but she was happy to stretch them. On her trek, she tried desperately to tune out the topic of the First Order and Stormtroopers and whatever a Sith was (from the way K'ull spoke of them, they didn't sound good), and for the most part, was successful. It wasn't that she didn't care to understand those topics, but rather, she couldn't afford to.

Not when something so much more important and so much more pressing demanded her full attention.

The Intergalactic Cooking Competition.

Perhaps she was an idiot to sign up. From what she read of her competitors, she had the disadvantage of being one of the youngest contestants, even if Rum argued this was a positive. Furthermore, the head and executive chefs of restaurants just as good, if not better than her own, were participating. To say competition was fierce, would be a gross understatement.

Nebula, what did she get herself into? There was no way she could beat someone with four, five, six decades under their apron. As if she could even compete with Mel Merde's Seafood Platter. It was no coincidence that its unofficial name across the galaxy was Pilez au Qua, a literal translation from the Qa'as language to 'The Oral Orgasm'. Or Lady Ante's pastries. Luna had to repress every urge in her body from drowning in envy the first time she'd tried her cherry cheesecake bars. The woman was a natural virtuoso when it came to blending the right amount of bitter and sweet together.

I wanted to close my restaurant after visiting hers, Luna recalled, grimacing.

Even the meat roasting champion himself, Mombasa, was scheduled to make an appearance. He would probably be one of her most difficult competitors. He'd had the fortune of being born on Taffin, home to one of the largest spice mines in the galaxy. The years he had over her of experimenting with various spices, flavors, and seasonings, was enough to send her aspirations of winning the competition, into a plummet to the deepest depths of the Exlar trench. Sure, she could tote the honor of having a spice named after her, but Mombasa had seven named after him.

Seven! Did the man really have that much time on his hands?

Normally, Luna wasn't so easily rattled by other chefs. If anything, she held a very deep, very genuine appreciation of their talents. Cooking was an art form unlike any other, and anytime the creation of a culinary dish was able to evoke a physical or spiritual reaction from her, she had no choice but to respect it, even if envy was heavily laced into that appreciation.

Unfortunately, in the setting of a competition, suddenly, that capacity to appreciate her fellow chefs was malformed. Rather than lauding their talents, Luna felt intimidated by them. Worse yet, she couldn't remember the last time she'd been at such a disadvantage with something she excelled at. The feeling of inadequacy she'd been experiencing, only heightened since departing Vix, was not a welcome one. She'd worked painstakingly as a teenager to ensure she never felt it again.

But here she was, the head chef of a successful, seven and a half star restaurant, the former apprentice of one of the most highly regarded chefs in the galaxy; quaking at the prospect of competition, anxious at the possibility that everything she'd worked for thus far, could come crashing down. Especially if Monte Ali got the chance to influence the judges.

It had been easy to play off Monte Ali's dislike of her as a difference in tastes, but Luna believed their history was the main catalyst for his hostile behavior toward her. He was not a full five years older than her twenty-eight years, and when she'd opened up her first restaurant at nineteen, had been one of the eager chefs seeking employment there. For as level headed as she'd been at the time, Luna knew she'd had unrealistic expectations. So enormous was her fear of failure, she settled for nothing less than the absolute best.

Monte Ali wasn't the best, and it was a running joke she doubted he was aware of, among chefs impacted by his negative reviews, that his current occupation was reflective of this. Though his palette had been extensive and his travels a source of great interest, when it came down to cooking, his mediocre blending of flavors did not meet her standards. She guessed he harbored a great deal of resentment towards her after being rejected, and did not entirely blame him for it. At that age, she'd thirsted for validation with an ardent, if not unhealthy intensity. It's a wonder, really, she didn't make more enemies along the way. Her mom theorized that alcohol played a large role in the mellowing out of her personality.

Luna agreed.

The relationship between Monte and herself, had only soured since then, and the article he'd written about her restaurant, hurt. Not enough to matter, but enough to catch her attention. To remind her what having him as an enemy, could be like.

And now, he would be not only a judge, but her peer. This time, it was his turn to decide if she met his standards.

"Egh," she moaned, covering her face with both palms. "I'm in a pickle of a jam, no relish in sight."

Above her, a loud BOOM shook the ground. Luna peeked up through her fingers, and watched as a stray drop of rain plopped down on the skin just below her eye.

The rain didn't bother her, and compared to Vix's subtropical weather, she even welcomed it. A nostalgic reminder of her home planet, Kota, where the winters were nothing but dark clouds, fierce rains, and the constant companionship of thunder.

So mesmerized by the weather above, Luna nearly jumped when the timer on her watch went off. She quickly turned off the alarm, slightly embarrassed to be so lost in the moment. It was probably best she headed back, lest she got intimately introduced to a dose of static electricity.

Another BOOM brought with it a near-blinding flash of lightning. After blinking a few times, Luna's attention was diverted to the woods. A group of birds broke through the treeline, squawking the entire way out. Below them, the trunks of the trees quivered in response to the powerful vibrations. She was half-tempted to turn around and begin heading back to the ship, but paused instead.

A thin, orange flash of light, darted out of the woods. Rather than come from the sky, however, it appeared that the beam was propelled from the ground.

Does horizontal lightning exist on this planet? Is that...a thing?

The next beam of orange, startled her. Once more, it flew upward. This time, it went in the opposite direction.

She found her curiosity peaked at the odd display, and as a result, her feet started moving forward.

I wish I wasn't in such a rush. What a fascinating planet! I wonder what traditional Yanni meals are like. Considering K'ull's appearance, low on fat, high in protein.

The edge of the woods were quickly coming into full view, and Luna found herself subconsciously speeding up. There had been a third flash of orange, but no more. If this was indeed some rare weather phenomenon, she certainly wanted to be a witness to it, even if it meant being caught up in a rain shower.

Above, the clouds had merged into a steel gray. They seemed lower to the ground than before, darkening the landscape.

Just when Luna suspected she might be struck by lightning for her inquisitiveness, her feet froze. The tall grass melted seamlessly into the hard, dark ground of the woods. And at the boundary where vegetation succumbed to soil, her eyes located a weapon. She'd seen enough holovid films to know the weapon was a phaser.

Casually, her eyes swept past the phaser and landed on the body laying a few feet away from it, face down in the dirt. Her mouth parted, while her brain frantically worked at interpreting the scene.

What she managed to conclude, wasn't particularly impressive.

Definitely not horizontal lightning.

Actual Star Wars planets: Naboo, Manaan, *Corellia
Actual Star Wars characters: Kylo Ren, General Hux

Planets I invented: Plu H'avana, Zagar, Vix, Ion, Taffin, Kota
Characters I invented: Luna Nova, Rum, Yael, Stormtrooper LI-9034, K'ull, Monte Ali, Mel Merde, Lady Ante, Mombasa

*In regards to the planet Corellia
It's never been officially announced that Corellia was destroyed. In fact, none of the names of the five planets destroyed by the Starkiller in TFA, are known (I searched online!). However, it is in the Hosnian system and was a large manufacture of ships (potentially to help the Republic/Resistance). So, that's just a guess on my part that it was one of the planets destroyed.

You have many questions? Good. I hope to answer them as the story unravels. What can I tell you? Hux is a tough bastard to kill. And Luna's lifestyle and ambitions, afford her a bit of naivety from certain topics.