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Chapter 2.2

The Upsilon-class shuttle made its descent to the neon surface of Salient II.

'The sensor jammers are fully activated, Supreme Leader.'

'Good. You will stay at your posts until I return.' It was Kylo's third day as Supreme Leader, and although General Hux now seemed more hostile than ever, no one had questioned Kylo's new position. The death of Snoke had been blamed on the scavenger and the crippling damage to the Supremacy. Fortunately, the survivors had been transported to the surrounding Star Destroyers before any one had thought to examine the wounds of his previous master and the Praetorian guards.

'Yes, Supreme Leader,' the officer replied and saluted.

For the first time, no-one was telling Kylo what to do, and he was rather enjoying it.

The towering scrapers of Salient II and the night sky engulfed the command shuttle as it landed at the docking bay. The First Order had friends and members in high places and as long as weapons were needed and money was spent, they would always have contacts and connections in the Galaxy.

The wings of the shuttle lowered and the ramp hissed downwards. Kylo's mask caught the beams of light flickering from the city around him. Taking in a breath of filtered and polluted air, he made his way towards the ex-senator.

'Well if it isn't the Master of the Knights of Ren! What a lovely surprise. I didn't expect you to make the journey all the way down to our depths…' The tall, bald man strode towards Kylo, his silk robes trailing behind him.

'It's Supreme Leader now, Ro-Kiintor.' Kylo noticed with surprise that Erudo Ro-Kiintor stood a few inches higher than him.

Erudo had been a senator for the New Republic when Kylo was a child. At first, he and Leia Organa had worked together to restore democracy to the Galaxy after the defeat of Emperor Palpatine; Kylo vaguely remembered seeing Erudo in his mother's boardroom at home. However, Erudo and Leia had fallen out over political differences. Leia suspected that her advisory had been fraternising with the First Order, and she was right. He had been secretly working for the First Order for years: blocking limitations on their expansion, promoting military options over diplomacy, and even researching into the location of Luke Skywalker for Supreme Leader Snoke. It had been a mistake however to entrust Erudo with the latter; it had been pilot Dameron who had breached Erudo's ship and found an encoded message leading him to Lor San Tekka and to the first part of the map leading to Skywalker. Consequently, Erudo had lost his senator status and had fled to the aid of the First Order. He had been paid handsomely over the years by the Snoke, and used this to disappear and set himself up nicely in the Corporate Sector on Salient II.

Erudo smiled and bowed before Kylo, suitably lowering himself. 'Oh yes, of course, my apologies Supreme Leader. There has simply been too much going on recently. Please accept my deepest regrets for the death of your master.'

Kylo examined the man. This was going to require a lot more effort than he had hoped for. 'Even though I have no master, I accept your consolations. Get up.'

Erudo struggled with his right knee when trying to stand. Kylo could have averted his gaze out of respect, but this man needed to be shown who was in charge. He watched him struggle.

'The years have not been kind to me, I'm afraid.' Erudo was finally standing and led the way into the building. Kylo could hear glasses clinking and people conversing and laughing. This was not what he had signed up for.

'I was informed that we would be going directly to the hangar,' Kylo said, falling behind the much older and slower man.

'Unfortunately, times have been hard.' Erudo stopped just beyond the reach of the cream, golden light emanating from inside. 'With the news of Snoke's death, suppliers are strangely reluctant to part with their money and resources… funny that.' Erudo looked into the eye slits of Kylo's mask. 'They need to be persuaded, tempted, enticed even. They need to know that you have what it takes. They need to meet you. They need to see you.'

Beneath his mask, Kylo panicked.

A black suit with a red velvet cape was hanging from the bedroom mirror. No way. No way in Mustafar am I wearing that! How had he even ended up in this situation? He was supposed to be the one in charge. I need their weapons, their resources. What am I going to do?

I could kill them. That would solve… not a lot.

Kylo paced across the room to the wall length window. The view below him stretched out into an abyss of darkness, scattered with neon advertisements and transport lights. Life in the Corporate Sector seemed unaffected by the Cold War: people kept working in the pits of the planet, not worrying about the battles above.

I wonder what it's like to be one of them. Kylo looked down, the floor was too high up to make out the scum that crawled on the surface below. To live a simple life... To have no famous mother, uncle, grandfather, father… To be no-one.

A beeping from his communicator told him that it was time to join the soirée. Erudo would be expecting him shortly.

He looked at his usual black surcoat and under tunic laid out on the bed, and then at the tailored suit and red cape on the mirror. He caught his reflection: pale skin stark against the black buildings, dark rings under his eyes that spoke of the sleepless nights since Crait, and as always, the scar that ran across his face and down his chest. Disgusting.

The lights flickered out. He didn't need light to get ready, he could sense his way easily around the room.

Knock. Knock. The door opened, letting in a sliver of light. A young servant stood silhouetted in the doorway, her eyes adjusting to the black of the room.

'Excuse me? Sir? Is anyone here?' She took a sandaled step inside.

Her hand covered her mouth as she froze in surprise. 'Oh, I'm sorry sir. Supreme Leader, sir. I didn't - umm - sorry! I was told to come and collect you.' She was now staring at the ground, shuddering.

Kylo was standing at the edge of the bed in his suit pants, with a red cotton shirt only pulled half over his arms. He didn't react.

Another girl, horrified at the sight of me. Surprise, surprise. The wretch really shouldn't have barged in. She only has herself to blame.

Yet seeing the timid brunette, ignited a feeling inside Kylo other than disgust. A conflict. A need to scare her and protect her at the same time. What was wrong with him? She was a lowly servant.

He turned his back on her. 'Tell your master that I will be there momentarily.'

He sensed her bow and back out of the doorway.

Moments later, Kylo Ren left the bedroom in a black suit and no mask, leaving the red cloak still hanging on the mirror.

Kylo stood on the verge of the entrance. A long room stretched out before him, with walls of cushioned black velvet and pink lining, whilst Corellian flame miniatures were suspended from moving fittings above. The pink flames seemed to dance above the guests, lighting their features one moment and flitting away the next. Round, dark wooden booths housed humanoids and various species from across the sector. Drinks were poured into sparkling champagne flutes; Kylo noticed that the bubbles, which were overflowing onto the plush, wine red carpet, matched the exact skin colour of the Zeltron serving each drink. Long, blue nails fingered the necks of silver jugs, cascading aqua, navy and ice blue spirits into the glasses. Slim, red legs reached upwards into the fine, ivory lace of undergarments; undergarments that were being stroked and pulled at by pudgy, greedy hands: a Zeltron slave girl on one side and a flute of red bubbles spilling on the other. Flushed, hot pink breasts bounced towards Kylo, plunging out of black lace netting. The Zeltron girl stopped short in front of him and bowed her head, lifting her sultry eyes slowly up to his, tracing his scar with her glance. A crystal glass with a pink liquor was offered. Kylo kept his eyes fixed on the glass.

'Ren! Finally!' A booming voice sauntered past the cage dancers and drunken guests. Erudo was now wearing what could only be described as a petticoat and suit hybrid. Layers of deep purple underskirts peeked out beneath a dress suit of violet. A heavy gold chain was coiled around his neck and gathered over his shoulders, making him seem broad and thicker. His bald head glistened in the pink lights as he bowed, before rising and slapping Kylo amiably on the back. Kylo could smell the alcohol on him.

'You kept us waiting my boy! Everyone is eager to feast their eyes upon you, but all in good time I say.' Erudo eyed the pink concoction in Kylo's hand. 'First, let's get you a proper drink. None of that swill.' He abruptly whirled around, nearly crashing into the pink slave girl from before.

'Ah, there you are. Don't you know who you're serving? This is my honoured guest. Bring him a special drink from the back.'

The Zeltron curtsied deeply, lowering herself enough to present Erudo and Kylo with a full exhibition of her glistening cleNonnage.

Kylo felt out of place; he was not accustomed to parties and small talk and women. There had been little time for going out in a childhood full of training and discipline. His parents had dragged him to balls and gatherings as a child, but he had been too young back than to be more than an accessory. Now an adult, he once again felt the eyes and whispers that slithered their way across the room.

'If you'll follow me, Supreme Leader, I will introduce you to some friends of mine.'

Why is it that I still feel like an accessory?

Kylo trailed behind and was ushered to a seat in a circular booth. Erudo ordered for his own chair to be pulled up, before making the introductions. To the right of Kylo was a red skinned Devaronian male wearing a bow tie and golden fur jacket, who was introduced as Galmeth D'rar. Erudo ignored the two Falleen females on either side of D'rar, one of whom was changing her skin colour on command and the other, who had her legs draped over the Devaronian, was absentmindedly stroking his horns.

'And you can call me Yusk,' said a short and furry Bothan, who was sat to the left of Erudo. He leaned forward as far as he could with his hand outstretched.

Kylo simply nodded. The hand was withdrawn quickly.

The pink zeltron came back with two tall bottles in her hands.

'Two Antakarian Fire Dancers, Master.' She placed one in front of Erudo, and then sidled up next to Kylo in the booth and placed it on the table before him.

'This one is Jeelee; I bought her 2 years ago.' He inclined his head towards the the same pink Zeltron who was now dreamily watching the dancing Corellian flames. 'She was one of my better purchases on Fondor, I must say.' Erudo leaned across and squeezed Jeelee's thigh, his fingers lingering on the inside of her leg. 'What do you think, Ren?'

Kylo now allowed himself to look properly at the female in question. She was wearing a black net body stocking that ended just below her hips: it didn't leave much to the imagination, but there was just enough material to catch a fish, or something bigger. Kylo sipped his drink, slightly taken aback at the strong potency.

'The drink is good,' was Kylo's reply.

Erudo laughed and slapped the table top. 'Not quite what I meant Ren, but we each have our preferences. Maybe I could get you one of my boys if you prefer?' He looked behind him, towards the dark corridor where the girl had emerged with the drinks.

Kylo's grip tightened on the bottle and with daggers in his smile, he said, 'That won't be necessary. I'm being well looked after, I can assure you.'

Erudo returned his focus to the table and was pleased to note that Jeelee was trailing her rose coloured nails up and down Kylo's arm. 'Brilliant, well let us get down to business then.'

Most of the evening had passed in a stream of licentiousness, liquor and occasionally some business, so the latter meant that the trip had not been a complete waste of effort on Kylo's part. Yet by the time that deals had been agreed upon and put aside, he had begun to feel a bit lightheaded. It may have been the fifth Fire Dancer that he was cradling in his hand, or it might have been the aura around Jeelee - who had stuck by his side all night, most likely at the command of her master.

An Iktochi, that had been far too interested in the First Order's expansion plans, had left to jeer at the cage dancer whose electronic collar was shocking her if she danced too slowly. All around, servants and slaves demeaned themselves to their betters. He heard false laughter, saw wandering hands, smelled sweat and drink, all mixed into a discordance of chaos. In this place, supposedly built on rules and hierarchy, there was no order. This is why he had to rule, this is why he had to bring justice to the Galaxy.

When I finally take my rightful place, I will have no need of slime like Erudo. He is simply a means to an end. Kylo tried to envision the world he longed for, but it was just beyond his mind's grasp. The velvet seat now seemed to soften itself around him and the loud, pumping music blurred into the background.

A memory emerged - one from long ago, and not his own. A mother with brown hair and tired, kind eyes, giving the last of her food to her small son, whose hair was as blonde as the sand in their home. Slaves. As low to the dirt as a person could be. His ancestors. His grandfather.

The scene dissolved and the decadence re-emerged.

In a dark corner of a party in the sky, he was alone with Jeelee.