The Legend of the Jedi Queen

11. Chancellor Connix

After an entire day of touring the city, albeit a very short day, Nellith wanted nothing more than to sit down and eat. What excited her, though, was that she was being included with the heroes of the Second Galactic Civil War. People who had been mentored by possibly the greatest heroes of all time and had joined their pantheon were sitting around the table with her.

They all remained standing in the dining room, as was Chandrilan etiquette, waiting for the Chancellor to arrive.

She did through a special door reserved only for the Head of House (which Kaydel was) and was surprisingly plain for the most powerful woman in the galaxy. She wore two buns in her hair, like Nellith did, and wore a plain cyan tunic and black pants and boots— practical yet elegant.

She gave a gentle nod, and everyone sat down. She then sat, and began to speak.

"Welcome all, to my home," she said. "I'm very sorry about the circumstances that have driven you here. I hope we will be able to solve the problems of the First Order breaking the treaty diplomatically and quickly, as to prevent another war. Thank you."

"Always making your speeches," Poe said with a loving grin. "You somehow always do."

Kaydel rolled her eyes. "You know you love them."

He patted her hand.

The droids came out, serving the food, and everyone began to eat. Rey and Tallis were the messiest eaters, although Nellith was ashamed to admit that her eating habits weren't exactly neat either. The food was extremely good, though, and not in a greasy way, like at the Belt, or the home-cooking on Aquilae. This was the highest cuisine the Core worlds had to offer.

"So let me get this straight," Finn said, leaning into the table towards Rey. "You think the Knights of Ren have been attacking you and your daughter?"

"That's the only group of red-lightsaber-wielding hooded people in black I know of," Rey said, bristling slightly.

Finn and Poe exchanged a glance, before Finn looked to Tallis. "And they're occupying Corellia?"

Tallis bit his lip, considering his words carefully before nodding.

"This looks bad," Finn admitted. "But the Supreme Leader wouldn't—"

"I don't know," Rey said. "I've been trying to reach him, but for some reason, I can't."

"So the Supreme Leader refuses to answer your communications, there is an occupation on Corellia, and attacks in Republic planets," Kaydel summarized. "This is an extreme breach of the Treaty of Hoth. Not one that can be ignored. We should send an envoy to Uphatu to make the Supreme Leader personally respond to these charges."

"And we should see how long we can keep this quiet," Amilyn said. "Even if these charges can be dealt with quickly and easily, if the people hear about this, they'll want a war."

"And we can't have that," Sam said, the first time he'd spoken since the Flight Academy.

Silence fell over the table. The heroes of the previous war considered the implications of yet another breaking open in the galaxy. There had been too many wars, all too soon. The First Galactic Civil War was still in living memory in many places. Rey had scavenged the ruins of the war for the first nineteen years of her life. Poe was born because of the strategic Battle of Endor, and remembered the stories his mother shared with him. Finn's childhood was stolen because the war extended so far. Rose's world was torn apart and ravaged by war.

None of them had ever wanted this for their children.

"I'll go," Rey said.

All heads turned.

"I know Nellith and I can convince him," Rey said.

"If we send the children, then they'll know it's a peaceful envoy," Kaydel agreed.

"Wait, I'm going?" Sam asked.

"We might need your expertise with machines and flying," Rey said. "And besides, with your parents, seeing you there might help convince the Supreme Leader."

"I never said I wouldn't do it," Sam said, folding his arms over his chest.

"Besides, I'll most certainly be tagging along!" Amilyn said, her smile as bright and cheerful as sunshine. "That'll be fun, won't it, Sammy!"

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Sam said, although the smile on his face contradicted that.

"So we send Rey, Nellith, Amilyn, Sam, and Tallis," Poe said. "What about Chewbacca? Or Artoo?"

"We bring them," Nellith said. "We'll need all the help we can get."

"Then it is decided," Kaydel said. "You'll leave tomorrow. Urgency is of the utmost importance."

"Look at you, with all your big words," Poe teased.

The next morning, before the sun had even risen, the Millennium Falcon took off for Uphatu. It took nearly an entire day in hyperspacd to reach the distant system. When they pulled out of hyperspace, everyone gathered in the cockpit.

They hovered over the dark side of Uphatu, where it was currently night. Rey pressed a button, opening a transmission between herself and the watchtower of the Imperial Palace.

"Unrecognized ship, please state your name and your purpose," a cold British female said.

Rey took one glance around the cockpit before answering. "The Millennium Falcon. We're on a diplomatic mission to see the Supreme Leader."

There was silence for an eerie amount of time. Then. . .

"You may proceed."

Rey breathed a sigh of relief, and started descending the Falcon into the atmosphere. They were just in view of the Imperial Palace, with it's tall black spires when—

BAM

Nellith saw the watchtower fire, and while Rey had dodged a bit of it, in rotation it hit the tail end, and the Falcon was assaulted with fire. They were going down, and there was nothing that could be done.

"Hang on, everybody!" Rey shouted.

The moment they hit the ground, everything went black.