138 LeMondi Raceway: Hallway to Deluxe Boxes — Int. 138

Hallway's primary color scheme is gold and red. Portaits of historic pod racers lines its walls, copious moldings in the seams, and animal fur carpets fill the floor. Stretches long and narrow, curving to the left, the unseen end far away. The are many numbered doors on the left side and a rare door on the right for an exit. The crowd at the raceway outside is a muffled hum in these thick walls.

The entrance door (closer to a vault) slides open as a female servant guides Rey and Ephrath. Two Knights of Ren stay close behind them.

DUTIFUL SERVANT This would be our third wing! All our deluxe boxes here will have a beautiful view of Ren in the back.

EPHRATH That sounds lovely! I'm torn between this wing and the first.

REY Thank you for the guide. We'll choose our room from here.

DUTIFUL SERVANT Your excellencies. We will keep the hallways cleared for the next ten minutes. Please use your time efficiently!

The servant bows and leaves to the nearest exit door. Rey and Ephrath start walking forward with their Knights.

EPHRATH I purchased twenty boxes for us to choose from. I'll leave it to you to pick.

REY Is it really necessary to buy that many?

EPHRATH Yes. The other houses won't spare a chance Rey. I'd like it if you choose too, can't risk them predicting my choice.

REY Are you serious?

EPHRATH Mostly.

REY I just wanted to pick this one because it's close. But if that's too obvious...

EPHRATH Rey, that's terrible... but I'd never do it. Maybe it's genius?

REY ...should we choose another?

EPHRATH Pfft. No. But if an assassination attempt happens, I'm counting on you to protect me.

REY "your excellensy."

Rey bows as she opens the door for Ephrath. Ephrath chuckles as she enters. The Knights enter after Rey.

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139 Deluxe Box -— Int. (Innocence remains in the Empire) 139

The doorway leads directly to a downward circular stairway. The room is a luxurious 14-square-meter rectangular space with slanted windows on both ends. One has a view close to the track just after the finish line, with six cushioned seats in front. Just behind these seats is a table, with metal seats and expensive meats and fruits piled high.

Across a wide corridor of cabinets is the other endpoint, with two metal chairs overlooking the city of Ren. The thick shield over it obfuscates details, but the shapes ate all visible; the eight towers, the string elevators, and the Emperor's center spire. A dry snowglobe covering a colorless world.

The staircase ends directly in the middle of the room. Ephrath is first down and runs over to the raceway view.

EPHRATH Now that is a view!

Outside the pod racers are just getting into position, only a handful of racers still tooling theirs. On the other side of the wide racetrack are the other deluxe boxes: black slanted glass a meter from the action.

Above this are pews for commoners, thousands are packed in, bursting with anticipation, And at the top of it all are multiple screens displaying shifting close-ups of ongoing race-side intrigue, from the pews, to the booths, to the track.

REY It's this close?!

EPHRATH They made some stellar renovations this year.

When Ephrath turns to say this, she sees the City of Ren. Rey notices the lowered mood of her family member, turning herself to see the city.

REY Ren could stand for some renovations.

EPHRATH Ha! Absolutely. Maybe when Aquila or Jon is in charge.

REY Jon would remove color.

EPHRATH Urgh, he would. How is your training with him going, by the way?

REY ...amazing. I've come so far in just two weeks. Being with him just feels so natural.

EPHRATH Oh, Rey, please don't become weird.

REY I won't!

EPHRATH You're as good as Aquila when it comes to handling weirdos. Like last night with High Admiral Samson's family.

REY They were lovely!

EPHRATH I didn't think you knew that much about engineering.

REY It used to be my life. The Krannek is the boldest undertaking in decades.

EPHRATH He did do an excellent job heading the closing construction. I am glad I advocated for him. Despite his flaws.

REY His wife doesn't mind his humor.

EPHRATH It's why I had her marry him. Weirdos match well together.

REY How far has he climbed up the branch now? He was fifth under main, and she was third under main.

EPHRATH Yeah, so formally he is now third under main. But personally. I consider him only below us in the main branch.,

REY "us"

EPHRATH Oh well, formally, you and Kylo are the lowest branch in House Galencia and the entire Imperial Family, around two-hundred-fifty-six under main.

On the screen appears Aquila Galencia and her fiancé David Fashna huddled together. Aquila waves to the camera with a knowing smile; David stays in his lax position. The camera zooms out to view the rest of the Emperor's box: Ten chairs in a row, and behind them an elevated level with a single vacant chair.

EPHRATH (cont.) —that will all change when Aquila marries into House Fashna with David Fashna.

REY It's a big deal when two Main Branches from seperate Houses marry, yes?

EPHRATH Especially when it's the Emperor's house.

REY Why isn't he with "his" house? Is it because he was a lower branch that married into the main?

EPHRATH No, he goes wherever he wants. Don't worry. He will be here for Execution Day.

REY Is it safe for Aquila to be there within House Fashna?

EPHRATH We have the legal right to the Krannek, and she alone knows all unifying-code for it's firing mechanism. If Fashna could crack it, they'd kill her.

REY She made it so they need her!

EPHRATH And at this point they think its just better to bring her into their family. I still ran extra security detail. Nothing to worry about. Though I still do. This marriage changes power between the houses. Ours takes the era after Zaltan.

REY Marriages change everything.

EPHRATH Haha, even Jon's marriages did.

Now that's a detail Rey didn't know.

REY What?

EPHRATH That's just what we call it. Look back at the string elevators.

Rey does so, as Ephrath points them out. Rey gets it.

REY Ohhhh.

EPHRATH Yup, they're only for marriages between House individuals. But Jon's is connected to the Emperor's throne.

REY ...because he "serves under the Emperor?"

EPHRATH Exactly. Herod Zaltan loves to antagonize. It was different with his first 'marriage' to Jacob Hux.

REY Who?

EPHRATH Jon never mentioned him?

REY No?

EPHRATH He was a Main Branch son of House Hux, and the first Jon was assigned to. Jon spent ten years with that man.

REY Oh.

EPHRATH Jon always hated him. Jacob was arrogant and an idiot... but he loved Jon. They were friends in his mind. He had the Emperor give Jon a room in Galencia Tower, and he connected a string elevator from Jon's to his, despite others' sneers. And House Hux was always thankful to us for the relationship. Jon kept him alive. They knew Jacob had no talent.

REY What happened?

EPHRATH Jon betrayed him. He used, framed, and killed Jacob. Officially on the Emperor's orders but... I know he planned it.

Rey is deeply troubled by this.

EPHRATH (cont.) I have used all my power as Security Chief to prepare for their retaliation... but they've done nothing in two years.

REY Maybe they understand Zaltan made him do it. Maybe they want to dethrone him as we do. We could be working together!

Ephrath looks at Rey in pity, sadness, and envy at her young cousin's ignorance.

EPHRATH Rey...

Ephrath tears up and sits down by the front window. Rey comes with her.

EPHRATH (cont.) Rey... I...

Ephrath starts choking up. She resolves herself to confession.

EPHRATH (cont.) Rey... you're under the impression we're good people. That House Galencia, and the branches, and the Main Branch, and ME, that we are...

Ephrath struggles to find words. Rey waits.

EPHRATH (cont.) Rey. I love the Pod Races.

REY They are exciting.

Ephrath shakes her head, Rey misunderstands.

EPHRATH I went to the LeMondi pod races when I was fourteen. I, uh... stumbled into overhearing a conspiracy by a branch member of House Tudorn. Under his orders, Aquila would be assassinated. He wanted to wait till the races ended. I... I found his alias... and I found his booth. Then, as the finishing pod racers came in... I had my Knight derail an engine into his section.

REY Ephie, you had no choice...

EPHRATH The engine exploded right under the stands, Rey. I killed four hundred and thirty-one people. It's the biggest disaster on LeMondi Raceway... and I still come here to enjoy the races. I don't even feel like I did it.

Ephrath begins to sob. Rey is disturbed by the confession, but she still holds her cousin reflexively.

EPHRATH (sobbing) Why did you come here, Rey? We're all terrible! I hate this place. I hate being afraid. I hate plotting to kill and knowing everyone will do the same to my sisters and me. Why would you choose this Rey? I have to be here. I have to— I have to—

REY Ephie, I don't know what to say—

EPHRATH Rey... I didn't make your schedule. She did.

Ephrath points to the screen at Aquila. Rey stares in confusion.

REY Aquila hasn't even talked to me.

EPHRATH (sobbing) I don't know. I don't know. Everything is always a scheme. I can't take this anymore, The entire Imperial Family should be wiped out. Why did you come back?

Rey has no answer for the weeping girl. Fear grows in Rey's eyes as she stares up at Aquila, the surrounded woman smiling softly.

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