A/N: Here is the final chapter of Part One. The next leg of my story is complete, but I'm not quite happy with it yet. Some tweaking required. It may take a few weeks.
Please be patient with me, and please leave me a review. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it means a lot.
Rey looks at her reflection, staring at her own hazel eyes, feeling disembodied as Tes styles her hair and applies her makeup. She looks at herself, and sees heavy circles beneath her eyes, lips set in a natural frown. She looks beautiful and feminine and so very grown up, for a mere fourteen years old, but she feels in the last five days that she has aged ten years. A week ago, she wanted nothing more than to grow up and be taken seriously, and now she wishes nothing more than to go back to the way things used to be. When she was the Supreme Leader's daughter, running around his massive starship, spoiled yet unremarkable. When Kylo Ren was just her father's apprentice, and not someone she was inexplicably tethered to, by some demented twist of fate.
She knows how to play people, she can manipulate her way through life to keep an entire galaxy between her and Kylo Ren. When the Supreme Leader calls for him, she can pretend to take an interest in the weapons factories of Malastare. When he lays siege to a planet on the outer rim, she will attend a festival on Corellia. Her reputation for being disturbing and unusual had been a topic of the rumour mill for some time, that she hopes to use it to her advantage – that no one would question her erratic and bizarre movements.
She feels bile rising in her throat and she fights back a wave of nausea and dizziness with unhinged terror, with one facet of her predicament called into question. Is her vision inevitable, and can she stop it? What if running is the path that ultimately leads to her demise? Should she do nothing? How can she stop Kylo Ren from discovering the truth – and more importantly, Leader Snoke? She knows about Force visions – she knows her Father won't place much stock in prophecy, however if there is any possibility of a threat to his reign, he won't hesitate to destroy it.
And she's only fourteen for stars' sake! Love and companionship aren't even on the spectrum of her desires – she just wants to find her place in the galaxy, to make her father proud, to learn all she can about the growing power she possesses. Whatever it is, that she is destined to become, she wants to be the very best.
And for that, Kylo Ren needs to go.
It's a pity they won't be leaving Bardotta until the day after tomorrow, she supposes, because it's another two days, plus travel time, they need to remain in close proximity. While staring mindlessly at her porcelain-doll reflection, she mulls over the idea of sending him away early. She has an entire trooper squadron as her personal guard, and General Hux can act in his stead as a guardian proxy. Her masked monster's presence is surplus to requirements. That's what she tells herself to avoid thinking about what she has foreseen.
Tes finishes her young mistress's hair and Rey stands, smoothing the creases of her dress. She is the embodiment of elegance and strength. A long, black ball gown, with a sleeveless, boned bodice, corset ribbon up her back and a layered silk skirt. Her hair is pulled back, tight, and sharp into a bun, perfect and neat with military precision. General Hux is also dressed in the most dapper of formal wear, all black, accompanied with an overcoat with the First Order insignia blazoned on his shoulder. He is tall, pale-faced with sharp blue eyes and ginger hair perfectly smoothed back. He greets her at her bedroom door with the most eager bow.
"My lady, you look a vision."
His choice of words stabs at her already tender mind, and she accepts his outstretched hand, as he escorts her to the much-anticipated event. Already there is partying in the city streets below, music and lights, laughing and the stomping feet of thousands of people dancing.
"You made a peaceful alliance from a violent invasion," General Hux says with a meaningful glint in his eye. "This celebration in the citadel is for the peaceful transition of powers, the new trade agreements and a strong alliance. The celebration outside, is for you, Milady. The people love you."
"Then perhaps I should join the party in the streets, General. It would be rude not to grace them with my presence, don't you think?"
"Out of the question, for security you understand. But even if it were possible, I'm not sure your guard dog would allow it."
She narrows her eyes and exhales, irked beyond measure at his nasty comment. To call Ren a guard dog is akin to calling her a spoiled devil-child, or the Supreme Leader a wrinkled senile wizard, or any member of the High Command giddy salivating warmongers. His tone smacks of a familiarity they don't yet possess, and she wishes he would save the name-calling rhetoric for the holonet instead of in-house conversation.
"Kylo Ren is a powerful warrior, General, and my father's apprentice. Say what you will among colleagues, but I won't have you insult him in my presence," she reprimands, choosing her words carefully.
"My apologies," he says without a single ounce of sincerity.
"I've been thinking," she begins, worrying her bottom lip nervously with her teeth. "I have my squadron from the DX-Corps assigned as protection," Rey tells him. "I've become quite fond of them, I'd like to keep them as my personal guard."
"Are you asking me a favour, Milady?" Hux misses nothing.
"Are you in a position to make it happen?"
"I am."
"Then, yes, General, I'm asking a favour."
He smirks knowingly, as though she's too young to understand that she's stroked his ego by indebting herself to him and apathetic to the consequences. I know what I'm doing, she tells herself. It's necessary.
She hopes.
"Consider it done," he says. "And what of Ren?"
"I asked the Supreme Leader to have him re-assigned to a mission more suited to his talents."
Hux stops, bringing them both to a halt, and he looks down at her, nose scrunched and speaking as though he can taste something acrid in the air. "You asked the Supreme Leader? Nobody asks the Supreme Leader, Milady," he admonishes, "Least of all to re-assign the Knights of Ren."
"Perks of being the Supreme Daughter," she quips monotonously, growing tired of men telling her what she can't do. Besides, if it backfires, it's her punishment, not theirs. Why should they concern themselves with issues that lie solely between Father and Daughter?
"Come," he says curtly, falling into step once more as he leads her towards the party. "We don't want to be late."
The air is thick with tension, and she tries to lighten the mood. "I'm sure you have an inspiring speech prepared, General," she states. "To recount our victories."
"And denounce our enemies," he adds, the tension dissipating and a zealous pride filling the void. "It's important in light of peaceful acquisitions to remember our true directive."
"Of course," she agrees, then a surge of devastation as she plants the seed that she fears will enslave her to a less than honourable purpose. "If the Supreme Leader agrees, I would very much like to support the First Order in that regard."
General Hux looks down at her with a smile that reaches his eyes. Her arm is tucked into the crook of his, and he reaches his other hand over to pat hers kindly. "You have the makings of a true leader, Milady. I think you will surprise us all."
It's done, she thinks to herself, feeling both trapped in a web of her own making, and relieved that she's found an ally in General Hux; unsure if it's because of what he can offer her, or if it's because of who he's not.
They enter the ballroom with an eruption of applause, but Hux twirls his young companion to the front of the platform, atop a grand staircase, so she can bask in the glory, with him standing behind her, a gloved hand on her shoulder, a gesture that to him, was that of a surrogate guardian showing support. But to her, the gesture was far too intimate for her liking and the gloved hand wasn't the one she wished she could have. She regards the party with a graceful nod, but inside she's desolate, and blissfully, Hux retreats his hand and leads her down the staircase, through swarms of delegates, officers and religious leaders, each congratulating and thanking her, her skirts swishing as Hux leads her to the long, elevated table at the head of the ballroom, each of her steps consisting of carefully falsified composure.
The entire room watches as the honoured guests are seated, before taking their own.
The Force is clouded with neutrality, neither light nor dark, but shades of grey, as she feels the presence of each Force-sensitive Bardottan in the room. The grey is starkly interrupted by two black, menacing presences. Hers, and Kylo Ren. He's hovering silently, and mostly unseen atop the balcony overlooking the ballroom floor. Scanning for danger, checking on her.
Hux stands at a prepared lectern, and begins his speech, and she tunes out. She's heard his voice on the holonet twice daily for as long as she can remember, and she puts on a vaguely interested expression while he animatedly recounts the First Order's successes, paying a short, false homage to the fallen, failing to specify of which side. He marks the respect of the Dagoyan Order as enshrined into the Bardottan culture, the continuity of peaceful occupation, before his attentions turn to the Supreme Daughter.
He tells the ballroom that here sits not the Supreme Leader's daughter, but the First Order's daughter. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, and she takes a long swig of champagne as the General plays to the mood of the room, all eyes on her. The people love you. And oh, how he's going to use that to his advantage.
He tells the Bardottans and their occupying forces, that Lady Rey Snoke will serve as the First Order's Ambassador, paving the way for a new power in the galaxy, one without the Republic's weakness and corruption and inability to act.
"To you, Milady," he finishes, raising his champagne glass in unison with the rest of the party. "And to an Alliance built to last."
The ovation in the ballroom is drowned by the unified applause and cheers coming from the city outside. It is then, she realises belatedly, that the General's address is being broadcast, with a film crew nestled between two round tables, trained on the lectern. She's been thrust into the spotlight, and now there is no going back.
The attendees all retake their seats as the entrées are served. She eats the small delicacies and some wafer bread to counter the buzz from the champagne. When a servant girl comes to refill her glass, she refuses and asks for water instead. There's a soft chirping from beneath Hux's chair, and he retrieves his datapad from beneath it. He skims over the incoming message and smirks, before leaning towards her, speaking in undertones. "I underestimated you," he says quietly, "It would appear your bodyguard has been re-assigned."
She takes the datapad from him and skims over the comprehensive new order. Kylo Ren. Knights of Ren. Republic Senator. Assassination. Retake Mygeeto. No quarter. Dispatch immediately.
Several things flit through her mind at once. The first is unmistakably sorrow, but she tries to not let it show on her expression. The second is relief that soon she'll be free of Kylo Ren, and that the gamble of asking for his re-assignment of Leader Snoke had paid off. But it's those magic words she latches onto, Dispatch Immediately, that cut the deepest. Kylo would find the orders on his datapad upon returning to their rooms an hour or two from now, after the party. Or I could tell him now, and he'll be gone sooner.
"I will inform him," she says, taking the datapad in hand and moving from the table.
"Milady, it would be impertinent to neglect the gathering, given your new status."
"Five minutes," she promises, before gathering her skirts and hastily disappearing into a nearby corridor. She takes the nearest elevator up two levels and finds Kylo Ren looming on the second level balcony, leaning on the balustrade. He regards her, expression incomprehensible in his kriffing mask, and she steels her expression and wordlessly hands him the datapad.
Outside the vast, ceiling-high windows, the night sky explodes in bursts of light and colour, fireworks popping, crackling, and fizzling, streaking brilliantly across the blackness as the crowds below erupt into ooh's and ahh's. She gives the outstanding display a single glance, remembering a happier time when such things could make her laugh with unrestrained joy and smile until her cheeks hurt.
He reads the summary order, before handing it back, lingering as if waiting permission for immediate departure, waiting to be dismissed by a superior officer, except that she's not. Or is she? She holds no authority in the army, and the Knights of Ren are without rank, operating externally from the military, reporting directly to Leader Snoke. Where did that leave her?
Does it even matter? She thought, swallowing the emotion, avoiding his questioning gaze and the way the colourful fireworks outside glint off the silver accents on his mask.
"I'm sure the Supremacy had a copy sent direct to your datapad," she tells him, eyes casting downwards. "Hux has organised a more permanent security arrangement of stormtroopers in your absence. You can leave immediately. You may take my shuttle, I expect to be on further diplomatic missions on an alternative transport with General Hux." Her tone is clipped and eyes stone cold, an icy exterior with a boiling core.
He says nothing, bows his head respectfully and she turns to leave, tears rolling down her cheeks the moment her face is hidden from his view. She hopes he has also turned to leave the other direction, but when she enters the elevator, the mirrored walls reflect that he's watching her intensely.
And he's seen the tears.
He reaches out with the force, a breeze of regret ebbs towards her and she snaps their connection closed, with a Force-blow so hard it tears the curtains and makes the elevator shudder. Then the doors close and she's torn apart. Hoping she never sees him again. Wishing she could.
She's never had a friend before.
And now, she thinks, she never will again.