Saeva moved silently out of Ren's room and headed to the refresher. Her cheeks burning a bright red she assumed.
The General was still standing at the window, his hand covering half-his face. He was lost in thought until her appearance back in the main room. He tried to speak to Saeva as she passed him, but she held her hand up to silence him. His face becoming annoyed by her avoidance.
Saeva nearly slammed the door, locking it clearly behind her.
The refresher had a large, white marble sink with a large mirror that covered the upper half of the wall. A bathtub the size of a twin bed to her left. It was gorgeous, but in all this beauty she was encountering it was being tainted by her circumstances.
She threw her hands on the counter, grunting in frustration. Looking at herself in the mirror, seeing the change in her weight and appearance made her want to scream. She had become compliant to the First Order. Her ambition to escape and to destroy Ren and Hux had shifted. She was losing her way.
Ren had the audicity to try and use her like that. So clearly use her in more ways than one. It felt empty for Saeva. Her only true connections had formed with the soldiers and other Officers. The ones who seemed to be just trying to survive, cause or no cause.
Had her motivations changed? What was she doing? Her heart reminded her of how she had to complie for the children's sake. They were still in danger. Her mind was racing. Her lips still tingled.
She took a still breath and sat in the middle of the bathtub. Holding her legs to her chest, she realized that She needed help. Closing her eyes, she centered her thoughts on a barrier. A wall with a window. A way to communicate with the one person who had always tried to help her.
Hopefully, if she had shut out Ren, she could communicate undetected. But with barely any training and almost an inability to meditate properly, her chances were low. Either she can't communicate with Rey or Ren will sense her trying to do so.
Time was ticking until Husk would be back to take her to the first negotiation. Her heart was racing as she focused on the wall with the window in her mind. She pictured the engraved birds on the doors to the room. A messenger bird through the window.
Her mind felt tingly and her body seemed to fade away. Suddenly, as if Rey were in the room with her, she heard her voice. She sensed irritation and dread.
"Ben, No."
"Rey."
There was a pause. A sense of surprise and guilt hit Saeva.
"Saeva?"
Saeva didn't open her eyes, she was straining her mind to get a message out. Feeling her ability becoming weak. She could feel Ren trying to probe her mind, his signature of guilty trying to break her barrier. His surprise at her ability to block him looming.
"Not much time, I'm here. On Lianna. I need your help."
"Saeva, where?"
"I need help"
With that Saeva felt the break in her communication with Rey as her concentration was broken by a knock at the door. Her body was covered in sweat and she was shaking. Saeva realized she hadn't tried that hard to use her force ability before, or never had a sense of impending pressure to do so.
There was a knock at the door again.
She jumped out of the tub and opened the door to see the General looking down at her, a mixed face turned to confusion.
"Did you jog or something in here?"
Saeva looked at the mirror, she was red in the face and sweat was dripping down the sides of her face. She felt suddenly overwhelmingly hot. She took off her grey jacket, leaving her white blouse on, and turned away from him, and began to wash her face. Instantly feeling cooler than before as the water splashed on her face. She steadied her breathing and looked up into the mirror to see the General still standing there with a concerned look on his face.
"What did he do?"
Saeva scoffed and washed her face once again. She turned back to him and leaned against the sink counter, arms crossed. She took a towel, drying her face, muffling into it as she spoke.
"Not far from what you did to me in the elevator. Sir."
The General tensed up.
"I was merely testing your ability—"
"You want to see if I've submitted. Broken. Bent to your will. Just like him."
Saeva felt a probe of Ren at her mind again. It was sharper this time, piercing her head. Her frustration grew with him. She gripped her head at the pain and broadcasted that morning's encounter with Hux to Ren. How he gripped her face against the wall, comparing it to Ren's intrusion to kiss her.
Instantly, she felt shame radiate from Ren, then anger. Then nothing. He was backing off her mind..for now. Hopefully, she concealed her message to Rey.
Her attention was drawn back to Hux who shifted into the room. He was looking at her with a stiff face.
She looked at Hux, a hateful glare in his direction, but beyond him to Ren's direction as well.
"He is constantly prodding my mind. You are constantly pushing me. I have been compliant as I can be without losing my self-respect. I've worked hard to ensure this will be a sucess. For the First Order, for my life, for my cousins' lives. But between Ren's ever changing moods and your controling nature, I can't breath."
She couldn't look at the General anymore. Tears were beginning to form. Emotional exhaustion.
"How can I be what you want me to be if I can't breath?"
The General was still, and seemed at a loss to what to say. When he did speak it started very robotic.
"You have been compliant to our standards, exceeding expectations even. It must be diffcult for Ren is not a kind man."
Saeva felt a tear roll down her left side of her face, she wiped it quickly, hoping he did not see it.
"I am not a kind man."
She looked at him, he was looking sternly at her, almost as if he was disappointed in her. For expecting kindness. It bothered Saeva.
"I have not encountered many kind people in my life so far General, my expectations of you are far lower than your expectations of me. I have realistic expectations."
The General pursed his lips with displeasure. Saeva interpreted the hate for her growing in his eyes.
"Well, I know where we stand."
"Yes, Sir. We know where we stand."
"I will leave you to prepare for your meeting."
"Thank you, Sir."
Saeva tried her best not to emphasize the sarcasm in her voice, but her ability to compile was at its lowest.
The General turned away, distrust in his face, and was out of sight.
Saeva gathered her emotions, and returned to the general room. She now found that both the General and the Supreme Leader had their privacy barriers up.
"Good." Was all Saeva could muster out. She placed her room's barriers on, quickly changing into a back up outfit. It was the same style as the first, but less sweaty. She returned to the refresher, Re-braided her hair and picked up her datapad.
It was chirping with messages and information for the General. Which she quickly organized and reaponded to, forwarding the uttermost important to his personal datapad.
She shook her head at herself as she continued to follow her given duties, despite her friction with the General.
She removed the barrier to her room, ensuring she'd hear the Ambassador knock. Sitting by the doorway so she could escape quickly with out the others interference. She hoped she could attend the meeting alone.
The rooms were pretty sound proof when the barriers were up. She could sense movement but not sound from Ren's or Hux's room.
Her datapad buzzed, a message from both Ren and Hux.
General Hux- Officer Del, you will be attending the first meeting alone. I entrust you recieved and understand the First Orders expectations and obtain what we know to be ours. After the meeting, Colonel Mitaka will join you, with guards, to dinner. Since you are so familiar with Lianna, a place of your choosing. Your curfew is 2200. I hope I have made myself perfectly clear.
Saeva read his message, feeling almost childlike as he set a curfew, but thrilled to have dinner with a semi-familar face that didn't threaten her. Ren's message was much shorter.
Supreme Leader: Apprentice, Hux and I will be attending several meetings with Lianna's Generals. Do not disappoint me.
Saeva nearly threw her datapad at Ren's room. If she could split the datapad in half and stab them both she would. The thought faltered Saeva a bit. Violence like that had never been a such a clear detail in her mind. She always just felt like seeking revenge, never visualizing it.
Her need to escape them became clear, and she was starting to fear if she soon would become like them.
Her mind began to wonder why they were not having her join the military meeting. Had she broken their slowly growing trust today?
She instantly realized that theyr were they using her to distract the government from the real negotiations the First Order desired? The meeting was being held with Military Generals, while she met the Duke and Duchess.
She felt suddenly very stupid. This was manipulation at its finest.
A knock at the door made Saeva jump up and she opened to see the Ambassador with a wide smile on his face. He seemed relieved to see just her standing there.
"Will the—"
"They will not be joining us, sorry to say, Sir. I believe both are weary from travels, but have made plans to meet with Lianna's finest Generals this evening. And if you pardon my break in formality, Husky, but its seems like that is more their speed than our diplomatic intentions."
The Ambassador chuckled and swiftly took her arm leading her down to hallway to the staircase.
"Not at all my dear girl, you seem to be the only stable voice of reason within the First Order, and just a mere Officer. You'll be General soon enough!"
Saeva smiled at the Ambassador and he began to chatter away at Lianna's gossip. She absorbed little tidbits here and there. As they entered the conference ball room her heart sped up. A circular marble table sat in the center of a barren marble room.
At the table was an elegant, gray haired looking older woman in a gray gown and a tall, older white haired man in elegant gray uniform of royal nature. Across from her side of the table stood two figures of dressed in obvious resistance style and what to be their Ambassador dressed in all grey.
She recognized Finn from across the room, he was dressed in a formal brown uniform, and seemed to stall at the sight of her. Her face became steely, but she did not recognize the small girl next to him, dressed in brown as well. She had black hair and she seemed to be watching Finn watch Saeva so intently.
When they reached the table, Saeva bowed to the Duke and Duchess, in a traditional Lianna style, in which her left hand rises to her shoulder. It symbolized how the Duke and Duchess were the pillars of Lianna. Ambassador Husk looked gleefully around the room, espcially at his counterpart Ambassador for the resistance. Almost as if to shove Saeva's formal skills in his face.
Saeva waited for the Duke to speak first, as was tradition. But Finn spoke first, hurriedly.
"Duke, Duchess, if I may have a moment to speak with the head negotiator of the First Order..I would truly—"
"Commander, I will trust that you will respect our formailities as we continue this meeting or we will remove your party immediately. Forfeiting our agreement to speak."
Finn's Ambassador spoke harshly to him. Finn gritting his teeth.
The Duke seemed annoyed by the break in formality, but the Duchess waved off the breach. Her wise eyes looked at Saeva's and she seemed to be taken in by the Duchess.
"Officer Del, would you want to speak with the Commander?"
As Saeva weighed her thoughts and she heard a movement behind her. Two Officers of the First Order had stationed themselves at the entrance she had come from. Across the hall, behind Finn, two Resistance members filed in. One being Poe Dameron, also in a brown uniform. He stilled at the sight of her, almost glazed in the eyes. He became very pale.
The Duke and Duchess seemed unfazed and Husk turned to her.
"The Resistance insisted on sending guards, so I took it upon myself to have General Hux send his own Officers to be here. For you as well."
Saeva fake smiled at the Ambassador, but internally, She cursed him. Now the General had eyes on this meeting with the First Order Officers. She would have spoke to Finn privately, but with the Officers there, that would raise questions by Hux. The sight of Poe Dameron also brought some questions and emotions Saeva controled on her face. How was he still a member of leadership after Finn and Rey saw him attempt to murder her?
She turned to the Duchess and made her decision.
"Your highness, I am willingly to begin proceedings with Lianna. If Commander Finn wishes to speak of other matters to me, he can do so during the meeting or at a later date. My intentions are here to meet with you and strengthen the relationship with Lianna."
The Duchess nodded and waved for them to be seated as she and the Duke sat.
Saeva looked across the table as she placed her hands delicate in her lap, her posture perfect in her seat. She noticed the woman next to Finn watching her, she micmicid her movements. Finn seemed a bit disappointed in Saeva, but removed the emotion from his face. Saeva glanced at Poe still stationed at the door. He seemed to be in a stiff, tense position.
It was probably hard to see the person you tried to murder alive. Saeva chuckled internally to herself. She had thrown them off balance. The Duke spoke to the direction of the unsure woman.
"Captain Rose Tico, what can you present to Lianna that the Order does not?"
The girl spoke with a slight stutter at the beginning of her sentance but gained confidence.
"Since the Battle, the Battle of Crait, the legend that has been the rebellion has grown faster than it had in over ten years. Volunteers have doubled and planets and nations who have never considered either side in this war...have chosen the Resistance. With that comes new trade deals, imports, and vendors at Lianna's finger tips."
The Duke nodded. "Double the volunteers, you say?"
"Yes, Sir."
The Duchess eyes Saeva, who was cool and collected.
"What is your counter to that, Officer Del?"
"No counter, Your highness, just questions. May I?"
"Of course, My dear."
"Captain Tico, you state your voluteers have doubled, are you considering the numbers before the Battle of Crait or after?"
Rose seemed to falter and looked at Finn, unsure of the answer. Finn seemed to not know as well.
"Well, if your numbers were before, than the doubling if volunteers would be equal to 10,000 more volunteers. Correct?"
Finn spoke softly. "Correct"
"But if you are stating you doubled your numbers, since Crait. We are looking at 600 new volunteers? The new nation support is true, My higness, but they fail to tell you that after the destruction of several planets of the Hosian system, with Starkiller Base, 23 systems that supported the rebellion dropped their allegiance. And though the base is no more, their allegiance has not returned."
Saeva said it cooly, Rose becoming severely agitated in her seat. Finn fidgeting in his seat.
The Duchess looked at Finn.
"Is this true?"
He looked at her and nodded.
"Yes, your highness."
Saeva felt slightly bad for embarrasing Finn, but seeing Poe shift uncomfortable behind him brought back her steely nature.
"May I speak for myself, not just as the First Order, your higness?"
"Yes, Officer Del."
"I admire these leaders here, I do not intimately know them, but I admire their ambition. To come to Lianna is intelligent. The importance of your system to the First Order's operations is beyond vital. The relationship that We've maintained since the Empire excides most treaties with nations and laws on other systems. For them, To remove Lianna from the Order is to create a weakness and vulnerability that the Order is not willing to allow."
Saeva spoke eloquently and the Duke seemed enthralled by her words.
"How very kind of you to say of our system."
"The First Order may offer protection or money...but their tactics! Their morales!"
Rose broke sooner than Saeva expected. Her outburst stilling the group. Her Ambassador stewing next to her.
"Captain, if you would remove yourself. We do not allow shouting at our tables. This soon in negotiations as well."
Rose stood, glaring at Saeva, who stared calmly back. She stares down Hux and Kylo Ren every dam day, and this girl thinks she can intimidate her. She turned with a Huff and to Saeva's dismay was replaced by Poe Dameron. He bowed to the royal couple before seating. Saeva shifted and turned to look at the Duke, ignoring Poe's stare.
"I hope We can hold our outbursts to a minimum General Dameron."
Saeva licked her lips for a moment. He became General after trying to murder her. With no probable reason too.
"Yes, your highness. I apologize, Captain Tico takes our cause to the heart. Which is why We have come to implore you to agree to our terms. Break from the First Order."
"What can you offer as protection, General?"
"With you supplying use with X-Wings, We can circulate and create a 3 system barrier between, 75% increase in weapons supplies and We can create a system coalition with a treaty to end disputes in this region."
Saeva looked at Poe, he wouldn't look at her but he stared at the Duchess. She seemed intrigued by him. Smooth move Flyboy was all Saeva could think.
"May I interject, Your highness?"
The Duke nodded, noticing Poe's stare at his wife.
"General Dameron, you offer a service that the First Order provides. We've offered this service since the invasion of the Deliaka before the Empire was truly established. And if I may say, a treaty between the South region and West region would decrease the revenue for Lianna in production of medical support from the Norback region. Without that revenue and medical support, the children of Lianna face a less medically supportive healthcare system. The disputes between the South and West have had no casulities nor structural damage. To remove the disputes will remove gains."
Poe looked flatly at her, and Finn looked almost scared of her. Her concise and well said counters were even scaring herself. She sounded like General Hux, if he was maybe 10% human.
The Duke nodded.
"I've heard enough for tonight. Ambassadors, please send me the transcirpts of these proceedings and We will conclude in a day or so.
The Duke and Duchess stood, the Duchess smiling widely at Saeva. The group stood as they stood, but Poe seemed itching to stop the royal couple. Saeva intervened for his sake.
"Thank You for your time, Your highnesses."
She bowed as they left the room. Her Ambassador whispering giggles in her ear as she stared across at Poe and Finn. They exited surrounded by a royal guard.
She finally spoke.
"That was shorter than I thought it would be."
Poe crossed his arms, staring her down. Finn shifted oddly in his stance. Their Ambassador talking hurriedly under his breath to them.
"Will you beat it?"
Poe spoke harshly to the Ambassador, who seemed to have had enough of them. Whisking off in the other direction. Saeva turned to Husk.
"Husky, would you mind if I spoke to the General and Commander in private. I hope you trust me to know that it does not regard Lianna?"
Husk looked at her trustingly, but unsure of the other two.
"If you wish my dear, but the Officers stay at the door. Emotional creatures, these Resistance members."
She nodded at him and he left her, but the Officers remained at the door. Saeva would have to be reserved in her conversation with them. Hux's ears were everywhere.
"Who talks first?"
Poe smirked to himself as if he said outloud a joke.
"Well, I am as surprised to see you here as you are to see me Dameron."
"Very."
Finn interjected.
"What happened to you?"
"I thought you knew Finn, Your Newly appointed General pushed me into a pit of lava."
"How did you survive?"
Saeva bite her lip.
"I don't know quite exactly, but the First Order picked up the pieces."
"Molding you into a Carbon copy of Hux and Kylo Ren. A worse verison of your grandfather."
Saeva became frustrated with Dameron. He assumed so much of her without knowing the truth. Without Knowing her hell. She countered back.
"Well, The Resistance has started to share quite a lot of qualities with the First Order is what you are implying. Cold-bloodied killers are now Generals as it seems. Attempted murder is not beneath your moral high ground."
That silenced him for a moment. Finn spoke.
"Saeva, We can help you."
Saeva stared at him, unsure the best way to respond with ears listening in.
"I must be going, There is much splendor in Lianna I want to explore. Say hello to Rey for me, tell her I hope that the message is clear."
Saeva said it as coyly as she could. She hoped her message to Rey earlier was clear. She feared her words would be reported back to Hux who could dissect it.
With that last statement, she walked away from them. The Officers flanking her as she stepped into the hallway. Colonel Mitaka was waiting for her, all dressed in gray, similar to her color. She smiled at his conformity to Lianna's traditions.
He smiled at her.
"Officer, I assume your meeting went well."
Saeva smiled back.
"I have full faith that We will hold this relationship, Colonel."
"Fantastic, I'm starving. Please tell me you know a place to eat."
"Yes, Sir."
—-
Saeva returned to her room right at the cusp of her curfew. Her evening with the Colonel and her two guards was a surprisingly pleasant experience.
They ended up at a highly recommended restaurant by Husk, and spent the evening comparing multiple food dishes and drinks. Saeva was actually allowed to relax her mind and enjoy a simple pleasure. The Colonel asking basic questions of her knowledge of Lianna, but nothing about herself. It was refreshing to not be the focus. Husk even joined them, bringing more drinks and stories of Lianna. Myths and legends. It was quite a humor filled evening.
Her mind did wonder to think if Rey would try to find her at the resturant. But she felt it was too populated and her two guards would deter any secret meeting. Even when Saeva went to use the refresher, she was disappointed that Rey never intercepted her there.
Maybe Rey didn't trust her? Maybe she thought she was actually Kylo trying to contact her. Or Ben. Whoever that was.
As Saeva made her way through the door, her guards switched station with two more troopers at the door.
"At ease, boys."
Her words slurred a bit. She realized she had too much to drink or just needed to relax while walking back to the palace. Booze had never been apart of her life before, except for her Uncle drinking it and beating her. But She felt so relaxed, how could you feel mad like this? The Colonel and herself werebarely able to hold each other up. Her guards had helped her back to the room and now here she was. Staring at an empty room.
Both Ren's and Hux's barriers were down, showing no one occupying their rooms.
She grunted and muttered to herself.
"I get a curfew, while they get to stay out and be miserable." She tossed her datapad on the table and slowly began to peel articles of clothing off. She removed her sleep set, which consisted of a tank top and a pair of shorts, from her bag.
Awkwardly she finagled herself into her sleep wear, stumbling a bit.
She headed to the fresher to wash her face and brush before bed. The world started to spin a bit as she walked out of the fresher. As she made her way down to her bed, she heard the door shake open.
She drunkenly rolled her eyes as she heard angry voices follow. There goes her peace and drunken quiet.
Kylo stormed in, not noticing her at first, Hux hot on his heels, screaming.
"Do you know what you could have done by nearly killing that General?"
The Supreme Leader turned to stare down Hux, fury in his eyes.
"He implied that the Scavenger was more powerful than me. The First Order will not allow such blasphemy."
General Hux rubbed his face.
"Supreme Leader, you choked—"
Hux began to choke at an invisible force at his neck. This was sobering up Saeva quickly. His eyes were watering and face was going blue.
"I've had quite enough of your remarks, Hux. I can manage without-"
"Supreme Leader"
He didn't seem to hear her.
"Kylo."
Again, Saeva was ignored. Hux was now fading in his eyes. A torn feeling entered Saeva's chest. A thought passed in her mind.
"Ben."
Kylo stopped instantly, twirling to her. His grip on Hux released. Hux dropped to his knees, coughing and gasping for air.
"What did you say to me?"
Saeva paused, bracing hersef for retaliation. He stood imposingly over her as she swayed a bit from the drink.
"I needed to stop you."
"Where did you hear that name?"
"I heard it once, from Rey."
Ren paused, gritting his teeth, hearing truth in that statement. He smirked down at her as if he caught her in a way.
"Why did you care if I killed him?"
"It is very diffculty to explain to an entire system why the Supreme Leader so easily kills his top officials. How will they trust you won't do the same?"
"They shouldn't know and they should fear that."
"That is why I am the negotiator here."
She stepped away from him, swaying a bit, gripping the wall with an extended arm for balance.
"Are you drunk?"
Saeva said nothing, moving as close to her bed as possible, holding onto the furniture by the fireplace.
Hux still coughing in the background.
"Did you see Rey today?"
She turned to see where Kylo was, but was startled as he was right with her. He was eyeing her sleep outfit. She felt very underdressed in comparison to his dark tunic and robes. He watched her collaspe into a sitting chair by the fire place.
"You are drunk."
She peered up from him. He seemed amused.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
Kylo sat across from her, flicking his fingers to start the fireplace. Saeva watched as Hux crossed from the floor in the hallway to refresher, slamming the door, still coughing heavily, now vomiting.
The warmth of the fire was nice against her legs as she curled up into the chair.
"So she was there, I'm assuming."
Kylo said nothing, staring at the fire.
"She probably did something to flatter the Generals or impress a manufacturer. And then your Ego was bruised. A stranger spoke out of turn. You had to react."
Kylo turned his attention to her after she spoke so matter of factly. No accusing nature of her tone. She had figured him out.
"She didn't see you erupt though. You hide it from her or covered it. You waited until she was gone."
Kylo gripped the edge of his chair.
"She makes you different when she is around, but I see how it tears at you. That you erupt to compensate for that submission to her, lashing out. My question is why do you allow such control be taken? You are the Supreme Leader of the First Order, the most trained force user in the galaxy. Yet she makes you crumble?"
Kylo gripped his chair tighter.
"What are you saying, Saeva?"
"How does someone as powerful as you not see how to gain control?"
Kylo seemed agitated and stood.
"I will not engage with you when you are in this state."
"I'm not that inebriated."
"Not in this state of dress either."
Saeva suddenly realized how he was staring at her. His eyes at her body.
Saeva stood, slowly.
"Well, I should retire to my bedroom since you find me so distracting."
He stood silently, tightening his fists, forcing himself to look away.
She pushed past him, Her body suddenly feeling more dizzy as she moved. The room spinning. She finally felt a bed and threw herself on top of it. Sliding underneath the covers.
She could feel his eyes on her still and cursed that she forgot to place the barrier up to block his view. But the thoughts slowly faded away as she drifted to sleep.