Act Two: Rebirth
Two months have passed since the fall-out on Chandrila.
Kylo Ren and Rey have fled, their whereabouts unknown.
The First Order under Supreme Leader Armitage Hux is ruthless in its expansion, adamant to secure control over all parts of the known galaxies. In the face of the Order's technological prowess and military strength, the planets of the Republic are openly succumbing one by one, putting an end to the institution.
This leaves the Resistance standing as the galaxies' last beacon of hope. Those who were brave enough to resist the Order found their way to the group led by General Alma D'Acy...
Poe Dameron, newly reinstated Commander of the Resistance and leader of its revived Black Squadron, tapped his feet impatiently as he leaned back in his seat. If he was in his starfighter, he might have taken to the skies earlier, doing rounds just for the heck of it until his squadron mates arrived.
Unfortunately, the Millennium Falcon, despite its spanking new interior, was a ship designed for co-piloting. All he could do at most is ignite the engine to keep it running, and wait.
Poe hated waiting.
Staying still in a place, not having his brain whirring to figure out how to balance the g-force and flight aerodynamics meant that his thoughts would flit towards other things. And he wasn't sure if he was keen on that.
Sometimes, they were pleasant things - the new starfighters, expanded squadrons, a new base, the comfort and confidence in knowing that the Resistance was no longer fighting this war just by themselves. Within the space of two months, the Resistance had evolved from rabble-rousing rejects operating from a single, wizened light craft, to become a decent military fleet. What they lacked in size and technology compared to the First Order, they compensated with guts and stubbornness.
But other times, it was the darker thoughts that surfaced. The whispers in his head that there was no guarantee their new allies would stay with them to the end. The faces of everyone they lost, or were forced to lose, in this war: his squadmates, the admirals. And of course, Leia, whom he cared for deeply as if she was his own mother.
He hadn't had time to mourn for her; none of them did. Not for her, not for their comrades.
Ever since her passing, it was as if the Resistance was being hurtled through one mess after another. It was only recently that a semblance of order came to be.
Poe almost chuckled. The last thing he ever cared about was hierarchy, but here he was right now actually relieved that there is a clear chain of command in place. If only Leia could see him.
"I'm sorry!" A breezy but resigned sigh jolted him from his thoughts, followed by a loud thud as a duffel bag hit the floor of the cockpit. His co-pilot pulled her long hair into a ponytail as she plonked herself into her seat. "Waited long?"
"Long enough for me to start thinking I should fly with Beebee-ate instead," Poe joked.
Dureena Adras smirked. "I don't think he likes the Falcon very much," she said, even as she went about flicking on the switches and controls to prepare for flight. "He always sounds so sad everytime we talk about the Falcon. As if he's always being scolded by this ship."
Poe raised an eyebrow. "You're suddenly conversant in intradroid speak?"
"Try talking to children, Poe. You'll understand."
"Speaking about children, how's your son? Didn't you just get off the comms with him?"
Dureena grimaced as she put on her headset, but said nothing. It wasn't too long ago that she traded her fancy robes for a Resistance jacket. She had ceded the senatorial floor in Chandrila to her other colleagues who, as far as she knew, were still hankering with the old guards about how accommodating they ought to be with the First Order. She chose instead to head her planet's starfighter squadrons - at least those that had chosen to leave with her - as Commander.
Of course, leaving politics to join a war came with its own sacrifices. Just because she knew she had to do keep her son away from her for his safety didn't mean she was any happier about it. Before flying off to be with the Resistance, she had shuttled him off to her second uncle in Birren, a kindly, warm-hearted old man who welcomed the prospect of a child bringing life to his manor. Leo had expressed his gratitude by throwing a tantrum. Dureena didn't blame him. He was a five-year-old who lost his father, and now he was left behind by his mother. She would be upset too.
But constantly shifting from one base to another while fleeing a superior enemy wasn't exactly the sort of environment she envisioned her son to grow up in. Birren was boring, but boring meant safe. She had promised him that she would come back for him once this war was over, and she reiterated that promise everyday during their morning calls. She tried her best not to think what might happen if it turned out she couldn't keep that promise.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that a half-smile was plastered on Poe's boyish face. Before he could say anything, she warned, "No more telling me how much you understand how he feels. He's staying put in Birren."
Poe put his hands out in front of him. "I didn't say anything. Only... you seem to hate yourself for it."
Dureena laughed, but it rang hollow. "A bit hard not to. Especially since I'm doing exactly what I was angry at Leia once for doing to Ben. How ironic."
A shadow flitted over Poe's feature at the mention of the Organa-Solo heir. He spoke as if to reassure Dureena, but his voice was cold, "Don't worry, Leo isn't going to end up like him."
Dureena gave him a sad smile. "You still hate him."
"You forgive him too easily," Poe accused her in turn.
His co-pilot fell silent. She fiddled with the controls for some time before she asked in a half-whisper, "Is he... Are they still nowhere to be found?"
Poe shook his head. Dureena let out a long sigh. "We must find them, Poe. We made a mistake in letting them go. We're only putting them in the way of danger, what's with the premium bounties being placed on their heads."
"They're Force Users, Dure. Probably the two strongest ones. I wouldn't worry so much about them."
"I'm sure they can take care of themselves without us. This war, however, needs them." She leaned back in her seat with a thoughtful expression etched on her face. "I only hope they're no longer on opposing sides. It'll be difficult otherwise..."
"We're going to find Rey," Poe interjected firmly, "and we're going to bring her back."
"And Ben?"
Poe pursed his lips into a thin line. "If Kylo Ren remains our enemy, we are left with no choice."
"He's our friend!" she protested.
"More yours than mine," Poe muttered darkly as he looked away.
Their communication channels crackled just in time, and they heard Captain Connix's voice floating in through their headsets, putting an end to their conversation.
"Commanders, all set?" Connix sounded tired. Ever since she was promoted, she was put in charge of coordinating the Resistance flight runs, not to mention the extra duties that came along with being acting officer of the Resistance's new cruiser, the Organa - courtesy of their Mon Calamari allies who named it after the Alderaan princess.
"Hanging on, Captain?" Dureena asked kindly.
"Nothing that caf cannot fix," Connix replied. "Ah right, we've sent over the coordinates earlier."
"Yeah, I've already punched them in," Poe chimed in.
"Okay, good. Remember, Commanders. This is a recon ops," Connix reminded them sternly. "No fancy flying. You sweep in, gather photos and data, and sweep out. No alerting the defense system. Also, I have specific orders from General D'Acy to see to it that you both and the Falcon come back in one piece."
"We'll be sure to have a boring flight, Captain," Dureena promised, although a grin crept onto her lips and her eyes exchanged a knowing glint with Poe's.
"Tell General D'Acy we'll be back in time for dinner and a full report update," Poe added on cheerfully before they logged off.
They waited patiently for the flight crew to wave them off, giving them the clearance to leave the Falcon's hangar on board the cruiser. It wasn't exactly a dreadnought, but it was still large enough to be home to a fair number of squadrons - not just the last few of the Resistance's own, but also the Pamarthen Elite's and the Chandrilan breakaways. Aslik had managed to convince his boys to join the cause, and the Chandrilans were veterans who once trained and flew under Dureena. And just like that, suddenly there was an overwhelming ratio of pilots within the Resistance.
General D'Acy, agreed upon by everyone to take on the leadership mantle left empty after Leia's passing, wasn't particularly comfortable with such an arrangement. Too many starfighters and too few ships made for an unbalanced fleet. But over the past few weeks, donations have come in from their allies, in credit and in kind.
Beyond that, they just had to make do with their existing light crafts, including veteran ones like the Falcon.
As the ship skimmed through space, Dureena turned to Poe and laid out a bet. "Four hundred credits that we can do this in half the projected time."
"Six hundred that we'll do it in three hours," Poe upped the stakes.
The blue and white light of hyperspace flashed in front of them. He grinned. "Well, time to find out."
In the peripheral space of the Core galaxies, the Finalizer cemented the presence of the First Order within its orbits: massive, ominous, and threatening. Planetary systems were no match for its defence walls; the ship was now capable of absorbing energy blasts and redirecting them back out with twice the intensity.
It was a technological feat that Armitage Hux had overseen for months in secret when he was still General. Ren had caught wind of it once, and ordered the project to be put on a moratorium. Hux had acceded to it only on paper. When he became Supreme Leader, he wasted no time to speed up the completion of the technology. Within the two months since he rose to the apex of the First Order hierarchy, his fleet had a fair number of opportunities to test it out in real-time. With the technology, a small squadron of TIE fighters was able to decimate a cruiser in a matter of moments. There was no need to annihilate planets and moons when you could crush the commanding vessel upon first engagement.
His strategy proved to be successful. The fatality rate for his men was much lower now; squadrons often returned to the flagship intact at full strength. But the ruthlessness of the First Order weaponry had eked capitulations from much of the remnant Republican planets. Neutral ones meanwhile found themselves convinced - or threatened? - to join the Order as allies.
Of course, a few planets were stubbornly holding out, but Hux wasn't surprised by their reactions. These were planets known to be fiercely protective of the ideals of the New Republic, and the Republic before it. It would only be a matter of time before they grudgingly acquiesce, especially when the Republic would cease to exist.
Meanwhile, among those that have sworn their allegiance to the Order, many of these planets were hoping to be selected as the new capital. When he announced his intention, he had dubbed this capital the new Coruscant. Since then, planets have been sending emissaries, vying for his favour.
They needn't have bothered; the announcement was a formality. Hux had long decided which planet would carry the honour: the incredibly wealthy world of Arkanis, one of the first planets to break away from the New Republic and pledge allegiance to the Order. Coincidentally, it was also his home planet, although it must have been years since Hux stepped foot on it.
Nevertheless, he still accepted to meet those other emissaries. He accepted their gifts and their promises of loyalty. But unbeknownst to them, he and his aides have been in close discussions with the delegation from Arkanis about the future of the planet.
They've discussed his residential arrangements, the parallel First Order and Arkanis organizations and institutions necessary to run the planet. Today, however, something else was on the agenda: his coronation ceremony, which would also be a grand celebration of the Order's victory over the Republic. Carise Sindian, Senator and representative for Arkanis, was adamant to commit her planet's wealth for these purposes.
"There is nothing to worry about, Supreme Leader," Sindian insisted again in that smooth voice of hers. "As I've mentioned, this is our, your home world's, gift to you. What is a massive party compared to the honour you've bestowed upon us."
"I have no qualms about the intention of Arkanis as a planet, Carise. But I find it hard to imagine that you will make offer this for nothing in return," Hux raised an eyebrow.
Sindian gave a tittering laugh as she waved a hand in front of her face. "Please, Supreme Leader. Perhaps I am merely feeling generous."
The Supreme Leader didn't share her amusement. "Get on with it. I know you too well for you to keep up this pretense."
Sindian's smile remained on her lips even as her eyes grew cold. "The governorship of Arkanis. I'm assuming you're not going to employ the senatorial model for your reign. You'll need someone to oversee it."
Hux snorted. "Governorship. How petty."
Sindian shifted uncomfortably. "There is one more thing." She hesitated before speaking, "I'd like a restitution...of my peerage status."
Hux narrowed his eyes at her. "Peerage? Those useless noble titles are of no use for the Order. Resolve it yourself."
"Please, Supreme Leader," Sindian quickly protested. She leaned forward slightly as if beseeching him. "The House of Elders is obsolete. Far too many of them would turn from you to restore the Republic. I know that. What I am suggesting... the Order can create a new peerage system. A new royalty. Selected by you. Beholden to you. Those who would never turn their backs on you."
Hux scoffed at her words. "The Order has its own way of conferring status. What do we need petty nobles for?"
Sindian bowed her head at his decision, albeit reluctantly. "Supreme Leader." She cleared her throat lightly. "To return to the business at hand. My senators think that it would be apt for there to be a demonstration of a peace treaty being signed between the Order and the Republican planets who have surrendered. Perhaps...Your Eminence might want to issue an ultimatum to the peoples of the galaxies, as a gesture of the Order's goodwill: no more fighting in favour of stability. We will have it broadcast on the HoloNet, of course, so that everyone will know of it."
Hux fell silent as he turned the offer over in his mind. Finally he spoke, "Have the Resistance and their supporters announced as traitors."
"But of course, Supreme Leader," Carise dipped into a curtsy before she took her leave.
Hux barely gave a glance in her direction as she walked out. When he looked up, he saw that General Peavey was already at the door. Hux noted that the older man resisted a sigh as he made his way over to where Hux was seated on his throne.
"The delegate from Arkanis is rather cumbersome, is she not, Supreme Leader?" Peavey asked casually.
"Give her some credit, General. If it wasn't for her, Arkanis wouldn't have turned to us so quickly."
Peavey gave his Supreme Leader a look. "You sound rather defensive of her."
"She's our strongest ally, General," Hux's voice was even as he spoke. He gestured to his Praetorian Guards to step back. They assented, and Peavey stepped up to stand beside him. "You must have something to say, to come over all the way here."
Peavey shrugged as he replied, "I believe it is my duty to keep you abreast of developments on my own accord, Supreme Leader." He handed Hux a holopad. "I have with me the latest communique from the Naboo. It might be of pleasant surprise to you."
Hux perused the communique, his eyes skimming through the content of the holopad. He barked out a laugh. "Conditional surrender?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader. All they're asking for is to be an autonomous planet under the Order."
"There can be no such thing!" Hux snapped. "The Naboo is home to so many -"
Peavey sighed as he interrupted. "It's not a bad proposition, Supreme Leader. As long as we keep their planetary defense system, their relations, and their economy under our control. They are a rather wealthy planet, after all." He eyed the glowering Hux carefully. "Think about it, Supreme Leader. Please excuse me. There are matters on the bridge I need to attend to."
Hux waved him off impatiently. Once the doors shut behind him, Peavey allowed himself the chance to roll his eyes. He had lesser chances to do so ever since he became the Supreme Leader's right-hand man. Peavey was certain that Hux didn't have any love for him; their dislike was mutual. But Peavey was older. He had served in the Empire, and he had mastered years of patience in listening to his superiors utter one inane comment after another.
But above all, Peavey was loyal to the Order. He believed in its dreams. He didn't have to care about who its Supreme Leader was. Leaders change.
But not the utopia promised by the Order.
Meanwhile, in the spaceport of Naboo, a sleek black Upsilon-class command shuttle folded up its wings as it settled to land on one of the docks. If the access codes and the craft didn't seem to match, the spaceport controllers pretended not to notice as they gave the clearance. Only one organization flew such a distinctive command shuttle that descends like a bird of prey. It was better not to ask. Especially not in the situation that Naboo was facing currently.
Kylo Ren watched on wordlessly as the craft made a sweep near the curve of the cliffs. He had only been to Naboo once: it was a long time ago, on a different ship for a completely different purpose. But the hills and lakes still looked the same. Theed continued to glisten. He could almost believe that this Naboo was as peaceful as he remembered it to be.
"Ben..."
He turned around at that kind voice. It was the only voice he'd been hearing for the past two months. He never tired of it.
He never tired of her.
"We're here," he told his companion.
"I know," Rey answered, getting up from the control desk to stand beside him. "This is Naboo? It's...beautiful."
"It is," he agreed absently as he studied her face. He noted the way her brown eyes lit up at the plenitude of greenery and clear lakes before her. "There's more to see if you step out of the ship, you know."
She turned as if to look at him, but kept gazing back out the window. "Have you been here before?"
"Once," Kylo answered quietly. "Let's go."
"Wait, Ben."
Kylo glanced at the hand she laid on his arm, and then back at her face. He waited for her to continue.
"Are you really sure about this?" Rey asked him, peering up into his eyes. When she saw his hesitation, her voice softened even further, "You can come with me, Ben. With us."
"I am the Supreme Leader," his voice was shaking, but even so, her face fell at his words. "Now that it has come to this, I have to set it right." He lifted her hand off his arm, but didn't let it go. "Shall we?"