Chapter 8: Foundation

It had been a year since the Galactic concordant had been broken in the outright annexation of several planets on the Outer Rim. The succession of these planets made a huge surplus of numbers in the ranks of the First Order but it also meant a huge talent drain on the planets. Avin had been left to commandeer a rotten and ineffective government system while the best and brightest moved to mega ships to begin training and organising. It was fair to say that the First Order bled money everywhere. The task of finding enough food and water for a desert city like Paraxetes was impossible since the New Republic had cut off trade routes. Her actions in that regard had been flagged by First Order command and soon Avin would have to explain herself, but right now she had bigger concerns to think about.

"What do you mean, no music?" She hissed, almost ready to stamp her foot in frustration. A small face peered out behind the metallic flap, squinting at her with barely concealed glee. She now understood why three assistants had come back bewildered from this simple task. Avin bent down lower trying to see through to the frantic scurry of activity she glimpsed through the opening. Bureaucracy for the First order had taken up the huge empty spaces left by the fleeing of the New Republic aligned centrists of Daxam IV but it was intensely secret and not even Avin as governor had access to their workrooms. It seemed these creatures, Avin didn't know what life form they were, were phenomenally adept at performing the civil tasks needed for such a huge organisation. It was unfortunate they were also complete bastards.

"By order of the Supreme Leader." The grey face crowed.

"There is to be a banquet here tomorrow night and we cannot request musicians?" she exclaimed.

"Not my problem." the face purred, leering out at her. She could hear snickering behind the flap. Were they all just standing around watching this argument? She could feel her temper rising.

"What is your name?"

"Name? Don't have one of 'em".

"I am the governor of Daxam IV by the Supreme Leader's order."

"Not for long." It sing-songed through the opening. She could make out parts of other gangly grey creatures obviously gathered to see the fun.

"What?" she snapped, and a burst of high-pitched keening told her they were giggling at her. Finally, she leaned right into the opening almost shoving herself through. A huge flurry of movement told her that they had all scattered. A hand shot out right in front of her face with a small electronic device. It wiggled its long grey fingers at her. She reluctantly reached up and placed the corresponding device on her wrist against grey face's device. A gentle beep notified that information had been transferred.

"Fill out this form." The face ordered and then with haste slapped down the partition.

"Not another fucking form." She hissed under her breath as she turned on her heels and left. In some way this was Avin's fault. She had known the celebration was coming for over two months but had simply too much going on with the trade embargo to focus on hiring dancers, musicians and chefs for the grand banquet. When her secretary had informed her that dancers and musicians were now banned as degenerate she had thought it was a joke, or even a translation error but no, the supreme leader strikes again. She stomped through the upper levels of the building, all devoted to the hordes of civil servants working for the First Order. It took her half an hour to reach one of the exit ports. She stood in the still Daxam IV evening air for a brief moment to catch her breath before continuing her long journey back to her side of the building. The sun's glare shone in her eyes, and she turned her face away from the balcony before she could caught the rising stench wafting up from the bowels of the city. Paraxetes was gross. Just last week, a crew had uncovered 1,000 refugees squatting in a ruined smuggling den. Their living conditions were awful. A year after she had arrived the lower levels of the city were still unliveable. Poverty and disease ran rampant and when the food stopped six months ago the citizens dried in droves. It had been nothing short of a miracle pulling down the resource blockades which had fenced Daxam IV in, without trade they were completely defenceless. A huge diplomatic team had been grouped to address the problem although some had sneered at the importance Avin had placed on food in war strategy meetings. She power rolled through them all and contacted the remnants of the nefarious Pyke Syndicate who had supplied Coruscant with illegal Spice for decades. They knew the tricks of getting past the New Republic to the Outer Rim and desperately wanted the money and soon basic goods had flooded back into the market. The banquet tonight was a testament to that. The press reports about their government had turned from neutral to positively glowing in the last few months.

She shook her head. That was then. This is now.

Things had improved. Avin had reopened schools. Strict schools. Gangs of stormtroopers had helped clean up the worst of the pollution and it was safe to walk the streets at night, mainly because of the strictly imposed curfew. A squadron of troopers marched by her as she made her way to the main annex where the celebrations would be held. They dipped their heads in acknowledgement, a rare compliment to a civilian operative. The main annex was festive in a very First Order way. The day the First Order officially broke the Galactic concordant made after the battle of Endor had been named Foundation by the Supreme Leader. It certainly had a ring to it, Avin thought. In celebration, a formal banquet was to be held in the planet's capital, the central gem of the Outer Rim's crown. The one colourful decoration allowed in the great annex was a miniature holographic re-creation of the Empire most famous ship The Executor, an Executor-class Star dreadnought. Avin and her team had personally seen to the recreation, using the Empire's extensive archives to add details to the model.

She walked by the holographic display into the flurry of activity of workers and lesser ranked officials getting everything ready for the two-day celebration. As soon as they saw her, she knew she'd be caught up in the organisational commotion. Huge banners hung from every wall and a rich polished wood floor shone underneath her feet. On the right a huge dais all in red would seat all the important military staff with lesser ranks spreading out to the very back of the hall. Everyone would be seated for dinner. There would be no dancing, no music it seems. The walls were bare apart from the First Order banners. The artwork Avin had saved from Naboo and unearthed from Sheev Palpatine's collection had been classed as degenerate. In fact, most things had been classed as degenerate in the last few months. Dancing, pornography, spice drugs, gambling. She could understand some of that. No laughing in public places was an insane rule. All children receiving an excellent free education was fantastic ruling. She just didn't know anymore. She hadn't been able to speak to General Hux in almost a year. It had all just become strange. She wished for a female friend to discuss everything with every passing day. But the Governor of Daxam IV did not have the luxury of 'girl chats' nor the privacy to kick back with a cold drink and say whatever she felt. The confidence she had felt so strongly during the annexation against the New Republic had slowly been fading every day.

She hadn't been in the same room as Armitage for nearly ten years now. It had eventually dawned on her that what was said in youth was probably just that: youth. People changed. Avin stayed sane by keeping a deeply sarcastic running commentary of the daily life of the government building for herself. Everyone had a nickname. She had a written journal sourced from rare paper found in the cellars where she kept her unchecked thoughts. It helped. Right now, her two assistants and head of security were almost running to meet her from the other side of the hall. The head of security was far too excitable, but he had defected from the New Republic during the annexation and that had cemented his rather fanatical career. She started to walk extra slow. Her heels clicked lazily on the hard floor and she made sure not to look at his frantic running. She could practically see U Qwon Dee's excitement from 50 paces away. The shine from his balding head always caught her eye and his severe black clothing made him look like a reverse matchstick. His 10-strand comb-over was hypnotising in meetings once she had seen him valiantly try to comb it. That had made her whole week. He was now flat out running towards her.

"Governor Shuah!" he shouted, finally catching up to her, slightly out of breath.

"I'm right beside you U Qwon Dee, please stop shouting."

"Excellent news, Governor! Excellent news! The Crew of the Finalizer are coming to the celebrations."

Avin froze, she could feel the bottom of her stomach drop. She recovered quickly.

"Excellent news, indeed. How big a party will there be?"

U Qwon Dee made to speak but seemed to just gulp air instead. He had excited himself too much. She turned to her cool-headed secretary Baila.

"Details, Baila."

"The upper orders of the Finalizer including General Hux and the knights of Ren. In approximately 2 hours they will arrive, and they will leave in two day cycles. They require special accommodation." Baila gave the information as shortly as possible. U Qwon Dee stood at the edge of their conversation, vibrating with energy. He had the energy of 50 Bantha. It made Avin tired just looking at him. She sent the useless form she had been given to her assistant and left the flurry of the hall. Her head was spinning too fast to be of any real help.

She returned to her apartments briefly to change into her official Governor robes before the new party from the ship came. She was now confident enough in her position that she could add small individual touches to what was actually a uniform, a small broach that had been her mother's and her hair down and curly, falling down her back. She stood staring in front of the mirror, shifting the collar of her robes back and forth. Although she had a daily exercise routine the years of sitting through meetings, administration and archival projects had rounded out Avin's hips and lower half. She looked rather shapely in the robes quite unlike the assistant types that floated after her with meeting minutes and agendas. It would have to do, she thought. Over the last year she had gotten used to the Republic House and eventually taken over a large part of the upper floor her quarters were contained on. Emperor Palpatine had built this building as a small palace after the fall of the old Republic and she felt strangely at home in its massive rooms and labyrinthine design. Realising that her great-uncle had built so many palaces in the Galaxy only to have them completely gutted and stripped of beauty by the New Republic infuriated Avin. She had sent out a search party to the inner-most crevasses of the lower levels of what was then the imperial palace and unearthed a huge store of hidden artwork, books, rare animal specimens, technology and more. She had rehung a portrait of Palpatine in the main reception hall although it was so sentimental she couldn't pass it without blushing. Right now, she swept by 10,000 years' worth of art from all over the known galaxy in her private hallways. The hallways down to the main concord which branched away into a series of networks such as administration offices, kitchens, servant quarters and various hangar bays were still as bleak as ever. She detoured through the administration offices for a quick way to Hangar Bay 268 where the Finalizer crew would be docking. Avin was terribly excited and also apprehensive about seeing him again. The screen calls had continued for a while. It seemed to be crazy having this form of relationship with a man who she hadn't physically met for a decade. For Avin during the day it was extremely embarrassing but at night, when she was tired and lonely it made perfect sense. Their unmonitored conversation had become more and more personal and then suddenly they had stopped completely with no warning a year ago. Overnight Armitage was unreachable. A part of Avin wasn't surprised. She had wondered when romance would become too frivolous for a person like General Hux. It didn't stop it from hurting deeply. They had both got what they wanted, and now the time had come to finally become serious it had all melted away into air. The only thing Avin could do now was be professional.

The transport ship was docking and Avin stood with her retinue in pristine uniforms waiting patiently for the passengers to alight. The hangar door opened and a group stood on the ship's ramp, dark figures shadowed by a red glow from the dimmed lights of their ship. Stormtroopers poured out in perfect file and positioned themselves around the hangar bay and on the sides of the ramp. They reminded Avin of a religious procession she had seen on Naboo as a child. A huge stormtrooper in chrome emerged from the ship with hand on weapon holster and shouted an order at the troopers. At once, they stood to attention. Another large group split away and descended down the ramp their black chrome masks shining hollowly in the artificial light. They swept by as if Avin's retinue did not exist, robes flapping as they ignored them. One who was taller than the rest led the procession of masked people. It was clear from his body language he was in charge of the group. Her chief of security's whole body was trembling as he held himself stiff to attention. Avin had the strangest feeling as the entity in the frightening mask stalked by, a horrible sense of emptiness. Inexplicably she felt the creature's eyes on her face, and she suppressed a shiver. She would not be put off by a mask or the whispers she had heard in frightened circles of the Knights of Ren and their dark powers.

She heard another set of boots pound down the dock and her neck snapped quickly back. It was him. A wild sense of elation rose in her and she took pains to school her face to be as closed as possible. The knight of Ren still stood facing her, in her peripheral vision she saw the mask swing between her and the figure of Hux marching down the ramp. As she expected he was in full regalia with an additional black cap she hadn't seen before. She knew he still had a lean build, but the large military coat broadened out his shoulders creating a regal frame that was similar to the daily information videos. Three of his top tier fanned out behind him as he descended to stand in front of Avin and her team. Her Chief of security's salute was so enthusiastic he almost knocked himself out as he raised his fist. Unlike the Knights of Ren, Hux's descent had caused huge excitement to flash through the crowd which had gathered around the edges of the docking terminal. For many people he was their hero, their face for the First Order. Before she could speak, U Qwon Dee stepped forward almost vibrating with his enthusiasm.

"General Hux, sir, it will be my pleasure to look after your security for the duration of your stay on Daxam IV."

General Hux glared at him and took in the whole retinue before beckoning over the large Chrome Stormtrooper.

"Sir?" A modulated female voice breathed out. Avin looked up at her, she must be one of the tallest humans she had ever seen.

"You will work closely with Captain Phasma, my head of security." A huge smile broke across U Qwon Dee's face as he looked up and the up again at the towering figure of the Captain. Avin would bet all her worldly possessions that she was looking at the expression of a man falling instantly in love. She had seen weirder matches over the years.

Satisfied, the General glanced quickly at Avin's face intensely and then relaxed into the manner of command. Like the others she raised her arm in a close-fisted salute, he faced her showing absolutely no recognition of her and who she was.

"Governor Shuah greetings from the Finalizer. We are looking forward to celebrating Foundation with the new Colony of Daxam IV. This is my second in command Colonel Satie and secretary Lieutenant Mitaka." General Hux briefly gestured to a mild looking man and severe looking woman behind him.

"Thank you for honouring our world for a visit during this incredibly important celebration General Hux. May your stay with us show the fruits of our labour in favour of the First Order and the Supreme Leader." She spoke the words calmly, it was standard hospitality response for any First Order leader. Over his shoulder she could see the tall black figures of the Knights of Ren with their faceless gazes aimed at her. It was incredibly unnerving. Hux saw where her eyes were fixed, and a frown creased the space between his eyebrows.

"These are the knights of Ren and their leader Lord Ren." He introduced them colourlessly. It was him! Hux had talked about the other face of The First Order incessantly over the last few years, Kylo Ren said this, Kylo Ren destroyed that – his temper tantrums were famous. Sometimes he talked about him so much she wondered if there was something going on between them. During their communications she had gleaned a sort of low-level jealousy from General Hux, a man who had never let his feelings get in the way of his professional work for even a fraction of a second of this life. She could tell by the wrinkles between Hux's eyebrows that he was angry even at the idea of introducing Kylo Ren today. This celebration was getting more interesting with every passing moment.

"Greetings Kylo Ren. We are honoured to have you and the Knights of Ren join us. My team is at your disposal and your party's quarters will be well-serviced." She spoke in the same official manner to the group and waited for a response nervously. They stood there unmoving, as if they hadn't heard her. She waited a moment until the awkwardness threatened to steal her sanity and broke. "Please follow me." She said graciously.

"I wish to see Emperor Palpatine's archives." A heavily modulated voice said into the awkward silence, and it took her a few moments to realise it was Kylo Ren. She turned back to him and nodded.

"I had my great-uncle's archives restored to the best of my ability Lord Ren. I hope it is to your liking."

"Your great-uncle-?"

"Emperor Palpatine was my mother's uncle. As his sole surviving family member I have the honour of looking after his archives." She said, and after a few moments he nodded at her.

"There is much I wish to see." The modulated voice spoke crisply, whatever was behind that mask spoke with the diction of royalty.

"Then I will personally take time to give you a guiding tour to help your explorations." He nodded faintly again. A man of few words, it seemed, although when General Hux spoke about him he sounded like a raving lunatic. He stood with his jaw clenched beside them, it was clear to her he hated their whole exchange. She turned back around and continued leading them away from the hangar bay towers towards the personal quarters area. General Hux stalked after her with arms clasped behind his back. The whole retinue in their black uniforms made a strange procession down the decorative halls of the government buildings. The chief official of Paraxetes was explaining the layout of the palace and the position of their own personal quarters as they marched on through the hollow ornate halls. The Finalizer's party was going to be housed in the rooms adjacent to Avin's as the safest rooms in the building apex, the whole floor having been Palpatine's personal rooms during the Empire's reign. U Qwon Dee rambled through an assortment of safety procedures the party did not seem to be listening to as they walked. Kylo Ren and three other similarly masked men were on Avin's left and General Hux was to the right, his lips pursed in irritation at the security officer's nervous monologue. It was time to get control of the situation.

"Thank you U Qwon Dee, that will be enough for the moment." She stated calmly trying to hedge between good humour and reprimand in front of the other upper orders. He looked disturbed and then bowed his head in her direction before stepping away from the group. The man had sense at least.

"General Hux, is the purpose of your visit only to enjoy the celebrations on Daxam IV?" she asked mildly, looking straight ahead. She was afraid if she looked him in the eye, she would give herself away.

"Of course not, to waste time on such frivolities would be irresponsible. The celebration on the planet shows our might to the Republic scum. It is important to show solidarity. I expect a full debriefing on the planets trading systems and defensive positions during our stay."

She nodded and felt grounded by his rigorously professional air. "Of course, a meeting with the military personnel and the trade brokers will be arranged before the banquet tomorrow."

"I also have important questions to put to you as Governor, when will be the earliest possible convenience for us to discuss your handling of the trade deals?"

Her heart skipped a beat although her face did not move a fraction. It had taken her years to school the open expression from her face and it had stood well by her today.

"It would be possible to have the meeting in my private meeting room before the military counsel or tomorrow morning."

"Tonight, is suitable." He stated quickly.

"General Hux, sir, would you like me in attendance to take minutes of the meeting?" Lieutenant Mitaka proposed, stepping fractionally closer to the General.

"My secretary can also take minutes for the meeting, General." She dropped into the silence.

"No, that will not be necessary." General Hux said sharply and Avin's heart leapt with a strange mix of curiosity and distaste. Kylo Ren's head snapped in her direction yet again. She had heard they had strange powers like levitation and mind tricks. Surely, he couldn't know what was in her own head, or the cascade of sheer excitement and horror pouring through her at General Hux's voice. The silent security officer branched off from her as he escorted them past her private chambers to their own rooms.

"I will attend in one standard hour." He said as he continued on down the corridor, pacing in his typical way.

Avin waited in her personal office for him. She sat. She stood. She paced. She brushed her hair. She tried to read reports. She had a full and detailed account of her negotiations with the brokers on the desk in front of her. She could feel herself getting hot and anxious just from the anticipation of meeting him. She was also done with him, in that way. This would be strictly professional. The bitterness of rejection she felt from him was balanced by her own feelings of affection for one of her longest friends underscored by a confusing amount of lust. She could kiss him or kill him, both were a dreadful idea. A brief rap on the door alerted her to his presence. The door slid open, and he stepped in. She saw his Adam's apple jump as he swallowed nervously.

"I do not have much time." He said quietly, looking around the room quickly.

"I have made the report as brief and informative as possible. I could have sent an encrypted document to your assistants if I had known you were coming." She had sat down behind her desk to make this exchange look as professional as possible. He wasn't looking at her but at a small watercolour she had hung on the wall. He muttered something under his breath. It pulled her short.

"A long time."

"What?" she said, although she knew exactly what he was talking about, it was easier to pretend ignorance.

"It has been a long time since we have seen each other."

He watched her carefully as he slowly removed his gloves and placed them in his great coat pocket.

"Yes, I suppose so." She shrugged.

"Yes." He said briefly. She rolled her eyes at him and leaned on her office desk.

"Did you have anything to add to that statement, Armitage?" She deadpanned, waiting for that possible amicable spark in his eye to see if they could be friends again.

"General Hux." He said, clipped. "You will refer to me as General Hux."

"If you wish."

He stared at her, the pale green of his eyes eerie in the dimmed light of the office.

"You wanted to talk to me about the deal brokers we used for food trade?" she suggested.

"I thought you would be happier to see me?" He countered with, breaking all pretences of work. "I am now a General of the army and right-hand man to the Supreme Leader."

"You have not contacted me in many months." She said, moving from behind the desk to stand beside him. He paused, and his eyes slid half closed.

"Our personal transmissions have been unsanctioned." He said through a tight frown.

"Why?"

"Kylo Ren." He rolled the name out of his mouth like he was talking about something absolutely disgusting. Avin had seen Maratelle Hux give the same expression and tone when she had found a host of dung monkeys in the attic of their villa on Phelarion. They stood facing each other in uncomfortable silence. She had no idea what to say.

"What happened?"

"That is confidential."

What a conversation killer he had become, even with her. She tried again.

"I'm not calling you General Hux in private."

He seemed to think about this for a few moments. He was still glaring at the painting, and she wondered whether he felt how excruciatingly uncomfortable this was. She blew out her cheeks and tried again.

"How is Millicent?"

He looked at her and very slowly reached out to take her hand. He began kissing her fingers gently, holding her hand lightly. It was dreadfully sentimental, like an old-fashioned holovid from Naboo. She watched him lightly kiss her knuckles. His mixed signals were making her head spin.

"Why do you do that?" she asked quietly. He frowned and leaned back, his eyes becoming hooding in the calculation she was used to.

"I read a book on it."

"You what?"

"I read a book on how to treat women. It was all that was necessary."

She broke into a peal of laughter. He frowned at her as usual.

"Don't laugh at me Avin."

"But – I'm sorry – but- you read a book about women?" she reached out to take his hand thinking they were falling into their old back and forth joking. His frown didn't budge, and red spots appeared on his pale cheeks.

"Do not laugh at me. I will be respected." He growled.

"But – where did you learn everything else? Our onscreen communication –"

"I told you. I read a book."

She shook her head and smiled at him.

"I forgot."

"Forgot what?"

"Forgot that you were so good at every single thing you do." He held up her hand and looked her up and down, as if he enjoyed the view. A half-smile played across his face although from this close she could see how tired and pale he looked from his work. She reached out to cup his face gently and he stepped away hurriedly.

"Fraternisation is forbidden in the First Order." He said as way of explanation, refusing to look her in the eye.

"But we have been-"

"Yes, but-" he stopped and glared at the floor. He didn't want to talk about something, it was clear to see. He had been so cagey around the subject of the engagement she felt she had been pressurising him rather than the other way round. She had forgotten how impossible it was to get anything from him.

"I must place all my energies into destroying the New Republic."

"What does that mean?"

He said nothing for a moment before he leaned into her, pressing his face between her breasts as his hands squeezed at her waist. He whispered something she barely caught.

"Chasing you has been the greatest pleasure of my life."

Then he quickly walked out the door without a backwards glance.