PART TWO – WEAKNESS

SONN-BLASS CORPORATION MAIN OFFICE
GIBRALTOR SYSTEM
WEST OUTER RIM

Day 15, Month 2, Year 34

Since its conception, Sonn-Blass Corporation has remained the main, if not sole, supplier of the First Order's weaponry. Its main office is a tall, narrow chrome tower which stood at the center of an urban-industrial city. Ensuring that her soldiers were outfitted with nothing but the best set of arms was a responsibility Captain Phasma took upon herself. Right after her meeting with the Sonn-Blass CEO, she proceeded to the Corporate Cantina where our interview was to take place.

You must be JA-40916. You have fifteen minutes. My troops and I are due in the Corosi Sector to deal with another insurgency.

Fine. Let's cut to the chase. How and when did you meet Kylo Ren?

It was about fifty months ago. I was a low ranking trooper then, just as I'd been for years. It was hard to get promoted, considering how rampant politics was within the Order during its early years. The ones with connections and resources bribed and threatened their way to the top. Now, I can't say for certain that these ignoble practices have been completely abolished. Nonetheless, I'm sure there are steps being taken to address them.

I was stationed at an outpost in Jaminere. It so happened that during my stay, there was growing tension between the First Order and the Manufacturer's Guild. The latter previously dominated the planet's economic governance and they claimed our new policies were interfering with their trade practices.

Our troop leader was Lieutenant Galvo, a man whose nature was far from impartial. He made under the table arrangements with certain factions, giving them much more financial freedom than their competitors. This merely escalated the conflict and placed us in a dangerous predicament.

It was during this time when Kylo Ren and his knights arrived at Jaminere to restock their supplies for an expedition. He was, I was told, looking for a particular Jedi. I was assigned to oversee preparations for their arrival, meet them at the docking station, and escort them to Galvo's tent.

That was the first time I met him.

How was he like?

He and his companions hid behind masks, but they exuded an aura of unquestionable superiority and power. They commanded respect. Everybody knew better than to get in their way.

Once they got hold of their supplies, they came to speak with Galvo. I couldn't hear exactly what was being said from inside the tent, but voices were raised as if there was an argument going on. I was not mistaken. A second later, I heard the signature buzz of lightsabers. Then I heard Galvo crying out pitifully.

Did you find out what happened?

Yes. I did. The tent flap opened and the knight leader – Kylo Ren – beckoned me to enter. He gestured towards Galvo, who was on his knees. Galvo's face was contorted and he was sobbing silently.

"Your lieutenant is guilty of bribery and falsification of documents. What would you have us do?" Ren asked me.

I didn't reply at once. I feared it was a test and my life depended on my answer.

What was your answer?

I thought it over and said, "Kill him, sir. He is weak."

That was what the Order is all about: upholding the strong and eliminating the weak. Strong leaders shouldn't fall prey to worldly temptations. They should put the will of the Supreme Leader before their own.

How did Ren react?

He nodded and gestured at the blaster rifle which I held in my arms. I raised it, aimed it at Galvo's head, and fired. Kylo Ren appointed me lieutenant soon after. He told me he saw potential in me. That was what I admired most about him. He saw potential, not threats. He encouraged strength and obliterated weakness.

FROM THE ACCOUNTS OF ROXIN AVARIS
FORMER STUDENT,
JEDI PRAXEUM, YAVIN-4

I think I should give you a little background on Mort, Ollie, and me before I continue. Mort is the son of extremely wealthy bankers. The Shon family owned shares in several interplanetary corporations and made large donations to the Jedi Praxeum every year. Ollie, on the other hand, is an orphan. He was a farmhand on Dantooine before Luke rescued him from his abusive master. My parents did work for the Rebel Alliance. They were thrilled with the whole Jedi thing and enrolled me at the Praxeum the first chance they got.

Mort, Ollie, and I had only one thing in common: we weren't exactly Jedi material. We were Force-sensitive, that's true, but we weren't as gifted as the rest of our classmates. We were usually the last ones to finish a practical exam. The last ones to master a new skill. The last ones to get picked in dodgeball. I guess that's what drove us together: our weaknesses. Our constant ridiculous failures.

Now that's over with, let's go back to where we last left off.

The first day after the summer holidays, the three of us decided to catch up over breakfast at the outcast spot. That's the table nearest the trash bins where no one ever sat. Except us.

Anyway, Ollie and I were drooling with jealousy over Mort's holiday in Coruscant when we heard the sound of several chairs being pushed back. Mort stopped talking immediately and turned his attention to the table at the opposite end of the canteen. We followed his gaze and watched as a group of students filed out, leaving behind a miserable looking Ben Solo and trays of half-eaten food. I was certain they were avoiding him because of what he did at Naboo. Acting out of passion and inflicting harm on another was looked down upon at the Praxeum. It showed lack of control and discipline.

Actually, I don't know why I did what I did next. One moment, I was munching on an apple strudel. The next moment, I found myself getting up and walking over to where Ben Solo sat. Maybe I felt as though I was somehow responsible for his being ostracized. Maybe I didn't agree with how my classmates chose to treat him. Maybe. I don't know.

But there I was. I asked Ben if we could join him, although I had already placed my tray in front of his and pulled out a chair. He stammered out a yes and began paying more attention to his bowl of cereal.

Ollie arrived soon after and thanked Ben for saving my life.

"Though torturing the Bothan was unnecessary," I added.

Ben looked up from his cereal. It was hard to forget the indignant look in his eyes. "Unnecessary?" he asked. "But he was about to kick you in the ribs. I felt it. He was going to hurt you. I had to do something."

An awkward silence ensued and Ollie started to fidget in his seat. Fortunately, Mort joined us and decided to be the more mature and diplomatic one. He held out a hand and made proper introductions. "My name's Mortimer Shon but you could call me Mort for short."

Ollie followed suit and introduced himself as "Ollis Carufo, best card player in the galaxy and handsomest man alive."

I told him my name's Roxin Avaris and that he could hang out with us from then on, that is, if he wanted to. I guess he was okay with the arrangements because from that day on, the four of us were inseparable.