Kyra's hand outstretched to the Senate, her hands gesturing them to silence. The obvious rage in their faces as they looked at the Jedi Master, calling for his removal, his arrest, or another exile. They all believed the Jedi Master to be troubled after all his years alone on his island.
Kyra continued to gesture, listening to them quiet down. Their voices of concern known, and now all the more considered.
"Senators, please."
Her hands gripped as she looked to Rey and Luke, the look of bewilderment still fresh on his face.
"Senators, I implore you to look at our Jedi Council. Please consider all that they have done. All that they have accomplished. Master Luke-"
Her eyes looked to him again, knowing now that her words will mean nothing to sway to minds of the Senate.
"- He has suffered enough. We have just reunited the Jedi Council. Please allow them the chance to show their worth."
She waited silently, knowing their anger still was on the surface. She heard a slam on the desk one body standing in defiance.
"The man is a menace. All those years alone on that Island and he comes back a savage."
Her eyes stared across, looking over other Senators as their eyes shifted away from hers.
"Is this how the Senate will vote? To exile these two instead of allowing them a chance? If it wasn't for them Berenko would still be in charge, our military would be thin, our resources outstretched and you would all gladly live that way, as long as you continue your parties and fundraisers."
Kyra shifted around the stage, she needed to get the Jedi to leave, but not without putting up a fight.
"Chancellor. We all appreciate what the Jedi have done for us. But Master Luke's record is hardly commendable. Because of him we lost our last Jedi Council. "
She heard hands slam in agreement. Her body lost its resistance, her shoulders dropping as she listened to their voices rise again, agreeing in response.
"Then Senators, what will be your vote?"
Ren stood on the command deck, staring in the vastness of space. His mind was with her, while he body stood there in silence. Waiting in the wings, waiting for her signal.
The First Order was still strong enough to destroy the Senate, was still strong enough to bring the Republic to it's knees. But an all out assault, was not a smart choice, they had to wait for the best circumstances, and the best timing. The Jedi needed to leave, and the Senate needed time to grow complacent.
He was hoping that they didn't learn from Hosnian, that they would continue to live their lives unaffected by the lost space. By the death of billions. That they would continue to live their lives like they always did. Fat and happy.
Their complacency would make them easy to manipulate, and his master would deliver them all into their hands. Into his hands. Into the hands of The First Order. All he had to do was wait, and they would have it all.
Ren's hands gripped into a fist as his eyes closed, his mind reaching out to her, feeling the ache still in her shoulder as she moved. He remembered the burning pain, as the blaster burned into her skin. He could feel her fingers move in response to his presence.
He could feel her head hang in false defeat as he heard the words of the Senate. As their hands raised against the Jedi. They had made their choice, and in that they will strike.
He could feel a smile spread across his lips as he saw the Senators rise and fall before him, each one expressing their concern, their grievances, and making the very decision that would destroy the Senate and The Republic.
They would have it all.
Rey turned towards the senate, the look of disbelief on her face as she looked at the Senators. Their voices and words stirring a level of rage within her. Rey saw the pain on the Chancellor's face as she resignated her words to the decision of the Senate. She was at an impasse and Rey knew it.
"I'm sorry Rey."
Kyra looked at Rey, her eyebrows furrowed in concern as her eyes shifted to Luke. She saw the guards move in slowly, preparing to remove the Jedi Master from the Senate room. Kyra raised her hand stopping them in their place as she moved forward.
"If this is how the Senate votes, then it is my duty to fulfill it. "
Her hand stretched out to Rey and Luke as they turned away from the Senate. The three of them walking out of the room. The heavy doors opening before them, as the Jedi took their last steps within the walls of the Senate Seat in Chandrila.
The silence was deafening as they walked down the halls. News would spread quickly, those that believed in The Force would have to choose to take the path with the Jedi, or to remain with The Republic. This was the definitive choice that would split the Republic in two. The Republic took too much stock in themselves, in politics. While the rebellion took skill and faith more seriously. This would break the fabric between both factions. Making it all the easier for The First Order to conquer.
Poe's hand touched Kyra's pulling her close as he looked at her.
"Is this really the best choice? Voting them out?"
Kyra shrugged, her voice lost. Not knowing what to say anymore.
"It's not my choice anymore. As the Chancellor I have to respect the decision of my senate."
Her voice grew quiet as she leaned in, looking at Poe as she spoke, worry in her voice.
"You don't have to stay Poe, you can follow the Jedi. I know half of the flight deck will leave with them. You can too. "
She knew that this was the wisest thing that Poe could do, gain distance between himself and her. Distance from The First Order, and the burning hate of Kylo Ren.
Her hand slipped from his as she began to walk away, her eyes seemed to beg him to leave. She was officially tainted by the very darkness that lived within her heart. She was shying away from the light, turning to the very darkness that consumed her, consumed both of them.
They entered the flight deck, looking over the pilots that stood there, their bodies standing in silent defiance as they walked through the bay.
She could feel their indecision, the indecisiveness that held within their hearts, the fear that began to form. The conquest would be easy.
She could feel Ren move beside her as they walked through the deck, watching as the Jedi moved ahead of her.
" The Senate voted wisely for once."
She looked at him from the corner of her eye, trying not to acknowledge the shadow that seemed to follow her.
" I can feel the fear in their hearts as the Jedi once again turn their back on The Republic."
Ren seemed to move freely, feeling the fear and anger grow within the hearts of those around them, polluting the air, throwing the balance of the force.
Kyra felt a smile spread across her lips as she looked at the bodies waver, their heads hanging as they watched the Chancellor pass.
"Can you blame them? The Senate betrayed them. Reason and law turned its back and rejected them. The believers of the Jedi will turn away from the Senate, and their forces will dwindle. They will be easy to bend, and easy to conquer once divided."
Ren nodded his head, watching as Luke and Rey moved towards the Falcon, their displeasure hidden by an infinite sadness.
"They will feel this sting from you Kyra. "
Her body stopped as she watched the former Jedi Council take to their ship,
"They will feel more than just this sting Ren, this I promise you…"
She watched as Poe walked beside her, watching as Finn walked past, heading onto the ship with the Jedi.
"Is this what you really want Kyra?"
She turned to him, her eyes void of emotion, trying to hold herself in the most logical position. She was Chancellor, and in the end the words of the Senate needed to be upheld by her.
" This isn't just about me anymore Poe.."
Poe's lips parted as he looked at Kyra, trying to find the words that he needed to say.
"Kyra.."
His hand reached out to her cheek as he looked at her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"There is a battle raging inside of you, and it's threatening to tear you apart."
She could feel the gentle touch of Poe's hand touch her skin, feeling as if it was desperately trying to pull her from the darkness. At the same time, she could taste the copper tang of blood on her lips, and the heated words from Kylo Ren's lips as he leaned in, the heat from his body radiating.
" Embrace the darkness, become the leviathan you were meant to be, we will burn this senate to the ground."
Kyra could feel her eyes close, feeling her heart scream, in pain. Wanting nothing more than to turn tail. But she knew that her anger and hate ran deeper than any well. Deeper she worried, than the very love she felt for Poe.
Her lips quivered.
"Poe.."
He leaned in close, his arms wrapping around her, knowing to leave well enough alone. He could feel her fear as she looked at him, her eyes practically begging him to go.
" Go with them."
His eyes closed as he sighed into her shoulder, hearing her breathlessly plead with him,
"Please. Go."