Athena took a last deep breath bevor stepping out into the lion's den. Now was not the time for weakness, she reminded herself.
"Welcome, Countess Toussaint. My name is General Hux," a tall, pale man with reddish-blonde hair greeted her politely. He wore the black uniform of the First Order, with four golden strips indicating his rank. Athena straightened her back and walked determinedly towards him, leaving the safety of her own ship, the sound of her heels cutting sharply through the tensed silence.
She offered him a cool smile. "Thank you, General Hux."
Striking white storm troopers stood in straight rows to the General's was held in sterile black. Athena herself had opted for a black, a-shaped dress. With black onyxes embroidered all over the heavy fabric of the skirt, it reflected the red and white blinking control lights of the dock.
General Hux nodded, not even the slightest hint of friendliness in his face.
"If you'd like to follow me, please," he offered. Athena nodded and walked behind him. Two stormtroopers immediately closed the gap between her and her ship. Only a couple of guards and servants remained on the elegant golden ship, while she entered the Finalizer alone. Those were the conditions: She had to come alone. Now she felt the cold stare of white helmeted soldiers in her neck. A shiver run down her spine.
The General lead her into an oval conference room with an impressive sight over the stars of the galaxy. It was black and sterile just as everything else. General Hux gestured her to sit down on one of the large leather seats, which Athena did. She folded her hands in her lap, suppressing the itch to nervously rub her hands. In her mind, she tried to envision a place where she felt most at peace. Athena let her breath guide her, regaining her confidence.
"I am glad we meet in person to negotiate the terms of your surrender, Countess," Hux started, not wasting his time on protocol or pleasantries. In a matter of seconds, Athena felt herself ease into her role as politician. "Truce, you mean," she corrected him. The General pressed his lips together, his face turning slightly pink.
"We'll see."
Countess Athena Toussaint represented a couple hundred systems in the Outer Rim as president of the ORA, the Outer Rim Association. After the fall of the Empire, the Outer Rim had been left in an unstable political condition. Some of them had signed to the New Republic, others had remained neutral. Others were still heavily influenced by the old trade federation. Even though their members had been killed, the networks had never disappeared. Some planets signed treaties with the New Republic, a lot of them had sympathies for the New Order. Organized crime and gangs still dominated the area.
Athena knew about the conflicts within the senate: Some wanted to draw those planets closer into the Republic to bring peace, other wanted to destroy every bit of the old Empire. A situation that threatened to divide the Outer Rim systems.
"We have valuable resources. Conquering our planets would resolve in a war which could lead to the destruction of resources like minerals, metals, gas, engineers, pilots and other skilled workers."
"The First Order could simply take everything it needs," Hux scoffed.
Athena raised an eyebrow and offered him another polite smile. "Wouldn't it be much easier if you could access to all resources without bloodshed? The ORA has been neutral. It would not hesitate to trade and do business with you to suitable conditions. Oppression takes more work in the long run and results in uprisings and treachery," she explained matter-of-factly.
"There are planets in the Outer Rim that are selling weapons to the Republic. I wouldn't call that neutral," his tone grew more aggressive. "But not the resistance. We do not condone their actions," Athena corrected.
"And neither would they take anything from you if they knew who you are." a voice appeared behind her.
...
Kylo Ren felt something. A new presence on the Finalizer. Like a small flame igniting in the higher section of the ship. "There's someone new on the ship. Who is it" he asked one of the storm troopers that followed him like dogs, the mask distorting his voice.
"A delegation from the Outer Rim Association," the soldier answered. A delegation? Kylo Ren knew nothing any of this. But on the other hand, he wasn't really interested in politics. His work was more important, and he had no time to supervise Hux. His cape fluttering behind him as he rushed through the corridors of the Finalizer, his instincts localizing this new presence. As he approached, it grew stronger.
It was the Force. Bright and clear as a star in the sky.
"Tell me about the delegation!" he barked at the stormtrooper, who started typing on a device on his wrist.
"ORA, Outer Rim Association. Countess Athena Toussaint," the soldier informed him, still walking quickly behind Ren. "More! Tell me more!" Kylo Ren growled, not hiding his impatience.
"The Countess Athena Toussaint is elected president of the ORA, an organization formed to represent the interests of the Outer Rim. With rise of the ORA, systems have found political stability, order, and wealth. She is seen as one of the moderates within the ORA, who want neutrality achieved through diplomatic efforts. Countess Touissant has persuaded multiple planets to abolish slavery in return for lower taxes, more autonomy and liberal trade conditions for all the Outer Rim Planets...," the stormtrooper read the file on their guest before being interrupted by Kylo Ren.
"Who is she?"
The stormtrooper paused, searching again for information.
"Her father is Lord Velaro Toussaint of Eriadu and her mother Countess Sidanna Serenno, she has been born..." – again, Kylo interrupted him.
"Serenno?" Kylo echoed. The name was familiar to him. Maybe he had learned it in his studies with his uncle... or was it in the Sith archives? Kylo approached the conference room. There was not any doubt. The woman inside was Force sensitive.
Serenno...
Her age could fit. There weren't any coincidence with the Force.
"But not the resistance. We do not condone their actions," he heard a female voice right behind the door.
Then realization hit him.
"And neither would they take anything from you if they knew who you are," he declared.
"General Hux, you have failed to inform me about our precious guest," Kylo Ren chided. He loved to see the General flinch. The leech had not expected Kylo to show up.
Kylo Ren walked slowly around the table, letting Hux and the girl anticipate every move he made with anxiety. He expected the girl to look frightened, as everyone did who crossed his way. But she wasn't. The young woman in front of him looked as stern and cold as a marble statue. Bright violet eyes observed him, framed by thick dark lashes. Her hair fell in long dark blonde waves on her shoulders. The countess had a heart-shaped face with sharp features, a pointy nose and straight eyebrows.
"Sir," she nodded gracefully to greet him, not a trace of fear in her voice. Kylo Ren reached out his hand, not even warning her. His leathered hand stopped a few inches before her face. With brute force, he invaded her mind.
A wall protected her mind, strong and steady. As he attacked it again, he felt almost embraced by it, pulled in. Then he realized he had already entered her mind, as visions hit him. The smell of wood and books, yellowish pages, a young girl sitting right in the middle of an elegant carved seat in the middle of a library, reading a book in her lap. Serenity. Kylo Ren felt serenity and peace. His anger and hatred felt like a flame that had been squeezed out. What fueled his power was suddenly enveloped in a fog of calmness, as if someone had removed a vital part of him. The girl looked right up to him, orange sunlight hitting her violet yes. "That's enough," she whispered. And with that, Kylo Ren was expelled from the young woman's mind.
Kylo Ren stared at her, taken aback. His realization proved to be right, he thought.
"Your grandfather has passed on his gift to you," he hissed.
Unfazed, the countess smiled at him, baring her teeth.
"He did."
Hux tilted is head left and right between the two, following the strange exchange. Obviously, Kylo Ren had just tried to invade her mind, but failed. Athena Toussaint didn't even break a sweat. General Hux was intrigued as to what had just displayed in front of his eyes.
"General Hux. Did you not research our guest before inviting her here?"
"Kylo Ren. It is my responsibility and you have nothing to – " Kylo Ren interrupted him, choking him with use of the Force. Even then, Athena didn't blink. Hux's face turned red as the man grabbed his throat.
"Allow me to introduce to you Countess Athena Serenno, granddaughter of Count Dooku Serenno, otherwise known as Darth Tyranus."
OoOoO
Welcome to my story!
Something I always loved about Star Wars is that politics play a major role. Rewatching the sequels has inspired me to this story. I hope you enjoy it!
I would love to hear your feedback, although please keep in mind that English is not my first language. I apologize for any mistakes. :)