Shared Vision

Chapter 8 "Behind the Battlelines"

MALA:

Mala Golst leaned back from her ornate desk and pondered her recent coms. So much was changing. After almost 11 years of diplomatic service on Naboo, she would be leaving. She rose and sauntered to her suite's balcony, looking out at the rising moons. She soaked in the view, already considering her schedule. It would take a couple of weeks to arrange, sort her affairs here, attend a few farewell events and make her courteous good byes. Then she could finally be out of this picturesque prison. Not that her time here had been difficult, she excelled at the job of diplomat and agent. Nor was it that she felt her time had been wasted. Naboo had a history of supporting the Republic and even harboring The Resistance. She had helped stabilize the governance and to keep the planet from being obliterated altogether by the First Order.

But this had never been an ideal assignment. When she had left Kuat and been brought to Supreme Leader Snoke for the first time, she had been awe struck at his ability with the force. No one in their small village had been force sensitive, and she was thrilled to see what she might one day be able to accomplish. All she needed was a teacher. But she had quickly become disillusioned with the arrangement. Snoke's interests were wrapped up in Ben Solo. He and six others who had received Jedi training were the ones Snoke instructed. Mala knew she was as strong with the force as any of them, but all Snoke seemed to notice about her was her pretty face. She, and many of the others gathered from around the galaxy were given a different sort preparation. They were taught to sense the emotions of others, to be able to tell who was lying, who was sincere, and who had a secret. They were instructed in tact, politics, and decorum. Some were even taught how to infiltrate the Resistance. Though the position of diplomat on Naboo had been one of the more envious assignments, it had never been her passion. But now, Snoke was dead and Kylo Ren had taken his place and the entire structure of the First Order was changing. Now she would have her chance to pursue her heart's true desire.

BEN:

Ben had been working at his desk for hours. He had blocked out most of his day to deal with the mundane request approvals and message replies that often went delegated to one of his staff or neglected altogether. Today, however, was the installation of the first Enforcer Moon on Silbatta. There would be Hux's speech and a demonstration of the Moon's capabilities and Ben wanted to be up to date on everything associated with the event. Besides that, there were arrangements to be made to accommodate the influx of people that would be arriving on his ship in the coming weeks. He had made the decision to call in the majority of the force user that the First Order had operating around the galaxy. Snoke had trained these agents in espionage and sent them through out the galaxy to root out the disloyal. They dealt with any threats they perceived to the First Order, sometimes simply by reporting information and other times by infiltrating and exterminating pockets of dissatisfaction. They were all well trained in sensing dishonesty and carrying out operations, it should only take a minimal amount of conditioning to ready them for the new assignment. He had already made great strides in training the Knights of Ren in this new format, though that wasn't unusual. He had their complete loyalty, just as they had trusted him all those years ago at the academy, they trusted him now. But he would have to be on guard with this new group. They had been trained by Snoke himself, and likely their allegiance to him as their first master ran deep. It was possible they might resent being pulled from the assignments they had received from Snoke, or that they could see his drastic policy changes as subversive. Ben wiped a hand over his tired eyes. He had not slept well. That wasn't unusual for him. His mind and emotions had often been in such tumult that he had been unable to rest satisfactorily. But Snoke's death and the success of much of his initial rule had afforded him a measure of peace. He had been able to purchase a limited amount of unbroken rest. But last night he had barely been able to close his eyes, and it wasn't First Order business that had been worrying him. Rey. The hurt she had felt at his absence, the way she had slid into his mind so instinctively, despite being so undisciplined. His undeniable connection to her had him spooked; edgy all night long. What had started out as a curiosity, then a camaraderie, even an alliance, was now flourishing unchecked into so much more. He had good reason to be shaken. For someone who had spent his life laying waste to personal connection, he had succumb to this affection with remarkable speed, and could find no inclination within himself to stymie it. He would see her tonight. And with that, suddenly there she was, before him.