[ the first weeks upon their return from hathaway's service had been ... rocky. snoke's death, and shortly thereafter luke skywalker's, had destabilized both the first order and the resistance. it was thrawn's guidance, not kylo ren, who had been the one to show them how to re-establish order.
as it turned out, kylo ren's ability for strategem capped out at "point every gun we have at that man." even rey could see the lack of wisdom in such a tactic.
from there, it had been easy to enlist her into the service of the first order. she had seen a need, and a power that if properly controlled might really do what thrawn had suggested it might. improve the galaxy. she knew little, yet, of politics and diplomacy, but she had the heart of a resistance fighter and the position of the now-deposed supreme leader ren and the prowess of her closest advisor, thrawn.
with these, she could do anything.
even bring poe, finn, and the remainder of the resistance to heel when they'd tried to turn against her, afraid that she had been lost to the promise of power. it had hurt her, but by the time it was through, she had seen the necessity. the ends justified the unsavory means by which she had been forced to persuade them.
the new empire — the first order carried too many unpleasant connotations, a reminder of another time — had begun to lay roots down on naboo. the heart of the old democracy, now the heart of the new empire. rey keeps busy for the most part, making arrangements, meeting with thrawn, learning. she is hungry to learn, eager to listen, more eager to do right by these far planets so far out of her reach. the sort of place where she had grown up.
they're distant now. half-forgotten.
she steps into the throne room — her intent is to get moving, remind herself of where she is and how far they've come and how far there is yet to go. ben's grandmother had once sat on that throne. she could remember poe telling her stories of dresses that leia had always imagined her grandchildren might wear. this place must hold — not memories, no, but something for him.
she's not surprised to find him here without her, but it does leave an oily unease sinking in her lungs. she does not want to watch her back for knives from him of all people. ]
what is this
as it turned out, kylo ren's ability for strategem capped out at "point every gun we have at that man." even rey could see the lack of wisdom in such a tactic.
from there, it had been easy to enlist her into the service of the first order. she had seen a need, and a power that if properly controlled might really do what thrawn had suggested it might. improve the galaxy. she knew little, yet, of politics and diplomacy, but she had the heart of a resistance fighter and the position of the now-deposed supreme leader ren and the prowess of her closest advisor, thrawn.
with these, she could do anything.
even bring poe, finn, and the remainder of the resistance to heel when they'd tried to turn against her, afraid that she had been lost to the promise of power. it had hurt her, but by the time it was through, she had seen the necessity. the ends justified the unsavory means by which she had been forced to persuade them.
the new empire — the first order carried too many unpleasant connotations, a reminder of another time — had begun to lay roots down on naboo. the heart of the old democracy, now the heart of the new empire. rey keeps busy for the most part, making arrangements, meeting with thrawn, learning. she is hungry to learn, eager to listen, more eager to do right by these far planets so far out of her reach. the sort of place where she had grown up.
they're distant now. half-forgotten.
she steps into the throne room — her intent is to get moving, remind herself of where she is and how far they've come and how far there is yet to go. ben's grandmother had once sat on that throne. she could remember poe telling her stories of dresses that leia had always imagined her grandchildren might wear. this place must hold — not memories, no, but something for him.
she's not surprised to find him here without her, but it does leave an oily unease sinking in her lungs. she does not want to watch her back for knives from him of all people. ]
What are you doing here?