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petalouda85 · 7 years

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Koi No Yokan, Chapter 7

Yay for a quick update!! I did not anticipate to update this quickly but I had a writing spurt and some intense procrastinating on my homework so here we are. Not sure if I’ll update during November as I’m participating in NaNoWriMo so my writing attention will be on my project and not my fanfictions.

You can also read this on AO3

When he was born, he was cursed. Doomed to die at 18 unless he joined the Dark Side. Snoke is confident but there remains one threat, it coming in the form of a prediction made by one of the Jedi Masters: Ben would meet his true love on his tenth birthday and this elusive individual would be the only one that could awaken Ben from his eternal sleep

Hosian Prime was so much different than anything he could've imagined. He had heard stories from his mother over the last few days and he had seen the occasional picture of it but seeing it in person for the first time was an experience on its own, the stories and pictures unable to compare to actually being at the center of the Republic.

The desire to see everything was strong and the moment he landed, he wanted to explore the city. However, he decided to suppress that urge, knowing it would be so much better if his mother joined him and she wasn't able to join him right away. Before they had even landed, Leia had received a message that a meeting was to convene soon so they only had time to go to Leia's apartment, drop off their belongings and head towards the Senate Hall.

By the time they arrived, the meeting had already commenced but Leia's advisor informed her that she hadn't missed anything significant. Mother and son quietly took a seat, Leia listening to what was being said and Ben looking around the room.

It was filled to the brim with representatives from countless Republic planets, the room itself reminding him of the place used by the Senate of the Old Republic; it wasn’t an exact replica but from what he could remember of the pictures he had seen, the room was quite similar to it. After his quick glance around the room was finished, he tried to pay attention to what was being said, though he didn't understand most of it. The Senators seemed to talk about issues like trade, taxation and protection and on occasion something more drastic would be talked about but it all seemed minor to the teenager.

After about an hour, there was a brief break but once that was done, the meeting commenced once more, one Senator almost immediately asking for a chance to speak.

“Senator Aleksandrov, you may speak.” A dais above Ben and Leia moved and went to the center so all could see the Senator as he began to speak, his voice heavy with an accent Ben didn’t recognize.

“I am here to do to implore the help of the Senate. As you’re no doubt aware, the past year on Kievan Rus has been difficult, with political unrest widespread. I’m afraid the unrest has escalated and myself and thousands of others have found ourselves in danger of our lives. Not three days ago, the Czar and his family have been removed from power and have been replaced by totalitarian government, who have already begun in systematic destruction of their political rivals and any who they deem unworthy of their new government. Children are starving, many more being senselessly murdered or imprisoned for unproven crimes.” As he listed the atrocities, the other Senators in the room responded with gasps or shouts of anger. “Just an hour ago, I received word the Czar and his family have been executed on charges of treason.” That caused an uproar among the other senators and a shout of order was needed to silence them.

“What would you like the Senate to do?” The Chancellor asked the Senator.

“Send armed forces to Kievan Rus, get rid of the totalitarian government, and establish democracy.”

“Why should we send an army to aid a small planet like Kievan Rus?” Asked another Senator, their platform moving to be nearer to the Rus senator. “In regards to wealth and numbers, your planet is insignificant and not worth our time. Why should I or any other senator here bother to send troops to a planet ready to tear itself apart?”

“You forget that Kievan Rus produces some of the fiercest fighters in the galaxy and that we’re are in strategically placed location which would prove beneficial to whoever controlled it. Should the current government or the Imperialist movement gain control of it, any wars of in future could not prove in our favor.”

“The Imperialist movement was destroyed on Jakku.” Another Senator interceded. “There are no more emperors, no more empires, no more stormtroopers or any other Imperial garbage. Tarkin is dead, Palpatine is dead, Vader is dead; there is no one left to lead any of the squabbles that remained.”

“Only a fool like yourself would believe such an absurd idea.” Leia objected, her dais moving forward as well to join the Senator in the middle, Ben feeling rather uncomfortable with all the eyes on him and his mother. “The Imperialist movement is real and a real threat to everything we’ve built. I say we help Kievan Rus, if it means that the Empire won’t gain a foothold on another planet.” There were shouts of agreement.

“Order!” Someone shouted, the room slowly falling silent.

“Senator Organa, Senator Tashow, your stances have been noted and will be reviewed. Senator Aleksandrov, I regret to say that my own forces are spread thin at this moment and I cannot offer you full assistance. However, if you would speak to me after this meeting, I’m certain will be able to reach an agreement.” With that statement, the three Senators returned to their respective spot, watching silently as the Chancellor moved on to the next issues.

“Do meetings always last this long?” Ben whispered to his mother.

“Sometimes. It depends on what needs to be discussed. If we reach the topic of the Empire remnants again, we will be sitting here for a while longer.”

“Because no one here can agree on what to do about it?”

“Partly that but also because destroying a political faction based solely on the difference of opinion and policy goes against the standards of a democracy. Many here also are unwilling to admit that the remnants are still a threat; they want to believe the terrors of the empire are finished. And those that do believe the threat are unwilling to act without Ge on their side. Just you watch, before this meeting is done, Ge will be brought up.”

Leia was right. The meeting was nearing its closing when a senator inquired about a message the Chancellor had sent recently.

“I have received a response to my message but it is no different than others: Ge will not join the Senate or open any trading negotiations.” Once more, the room burst into an uproar.

“This is all the fault of her Grand Vizier. That man is controlling the Queen!” Someone shouted.

“I say we attack Ge! They have insulted us and have been doing nothing but aggravate us. No more talking, no more negotiating. I say we end this now!”

“Order! Order!”

“Are you suggesting we go to war with a planet that is protected by a shield with a gate stronger than the one on Scariff with a military that has weapons and ships made from the very material you vie for?” Leia interjected when the room had calmed down. Her statement made even the remaining murmurs go silent. “We don’t need war with the Genians and any threat of military movement will make them even more untrusting of the Senate. The situation is already precarious; let’s not make it any worse. Whatever was said in the Chancellor’s message, I doubt they were the words of the Queen herself. We all know that all the messages send in the past were signed by the Vizier and not by the Queen.” Murmurs suggested agreement. “Our best option is to send someone onto the planet itself and speak directly to the Queen. If such a meeting can be arranged, I think she can be reasoned with.”

“Senator Organa speaks true.” Another Senator added. “We need to find someone who can talk to the Queen. They will be difficult to find, as they need to meet certain criteria, but I believe they can be found.”

“Senators, take a seat please.” The Chancellor said. Once all were back in their place, “I will search for a messenger to send to Ge. If there is nothing else to discuss, this meeting is adjourned.” There was a short moment of silence before the low rumble of conversation began and the senators began pouring out of the room. Ben rose to his feet but Leia was slower to follow.

“Your first senate meeting. What did you think?”

“That was insane. Is it always like that?” Ben asked as they headed out into the hallway.

“Democracies are always hectic. It’s a lot of shouting and a lot of debating and often it takes ages for an agreement to be reached.”

“What do you think will happen with Ge?” Ben inquired. Hearing the issues that the Senate faced with the planet, Ben was concerned, particularly for his friend.

“I don’t know. The Chancellor is not so stupid that she would declare war on them but I doubt that a messenger will be allowed to enter the planet if their purpose was known. At this rate, nothing will come of this. And even if a messenger is sent, I still believe nothing will come of it.”

“Because the Senate wants the clypsoate?” Ben had no idea what it was but he had heard it was extremely valuable and that the Senate wanting it was the source of the ongoing conflict.

“Maybe you should become a Senator.” Leia chuckled, “But yes. The Senate wants the clypsoate and Ge is unwilling to trade it.”

“What’s so special about that stuff anyway?” Before Leia could answer, they were interrupted by a guard.

“Senator Aleksandrov wants to talk to you.” They stated, giving an apologetic look for interrupting their conversation. “He said it was urgent.”

“I’ll be there right away. I’ll see you back at the apartment.” After a nod and a quick hug, mother and son parted ways. Ben watched his mother leave before he walked in the opposite direction, intent on exploring the building and look for views of the city. It was his first time in the heart of the Republic so he wanted to see the most of it before he returned to the Temple. He had no knowledge of when that would be but he figured it would be soon; none of his Masters approved of putting off training for too long.

Worming his way through the throng of senators, he eventually found himself on a balcony which looked over the city. It was a splendid sight and he felt nearly breathless from how different it was. Vehicles zoomed past him and everywhere he looked there were people, accompanied by the murmur of conversation and trade.

“Benjamin Solo. Seems like yesterday you were just a baby.” He turned around and found him looking at the Chancellor, the woman smiling at him.

“Chancellor.” Ben responded politely.

“Would you care to walk with me?” The teen was surprised with the question. After all, why would she want to be around him; he wasn’t exactly a major political figure, not like his mother was.

“Sure.”

Going back inside, the two began a slow stroll down the hall, the Chancellor acknowledging other senators as they passed them. Once in a relatively empty hallway, she began to speak.

“I saw you were present during the Senate meeting. How did you find it?”

“It’s very different from the Temple. It was… a lot louder.”

“It can be at times.” The woman chuckled. “One wonders how we get anything done with all that shouting going on.” There was a pause. “Would you ever consider becoming a Senator? I have no doubt that, with the right training, you would be as great a Senator as your mother.”

“I don’t know.” Ben answered. “I still haven’t finished my Jedi training and I’m also expected to rule Alderaan someday. Besides, I don’t care much for politics anyway.”

“I didn’t mean to make you feel as though you had to say yes, Benjamin.” She assured. “I just wanted to tell that I think you would make a good Senator.” There was another pause, the silence interrupted when she cleared her throat, “I may as well get to the point of all this: I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

“As you no doubt heard in the meeting, we’ve been having issues gaining direct contact with the Queen of Ge. It would seem that all my messages have been intercepted by her Grand Vizier. I was wondering if you would be willing to go to Ge and deliver a message to the Queen on my behalf.”

“What?” Ben stumbled out, stopping his stroll as he processed what he was being asked. “Why me?”

“You’re royalty, the son of two famous war heroes, the nephew of a Jedi Master but, most importantly, you’re an acquaintance of the Queen. They wouldn’t turn you away from the planet without good reason and you’re perhaps the only outsider that would even be able to get close to her right now. Furthermore, you’re not a member of the Senate so you would be more trustworthy in their eyes than I would. I’m not asking you to participate in a political meeting; all I ask is that you give her a message.” Before Ben had even an opportunity to formulate a sound past his bout of shock, another guard came near, speaking to the Chancellor.

“Chancellor, forgive the intrusion but Senator Tashow wishes to speak with you.”

“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.” As the guards left, she turned her attention back to the teen. “It seems I have to cut our conversation short. Think about what I asked, Benjamin. If you’re willing to go, please come see me.” With that, she left, leaving Ben bewildered with his thoughts.

----

“Ben, are you okay? You’re very quiet.” Leia asked when they were about halfway through eating their dinner.

“I had a conversation with the Chancellor this afternoon.” He explained, “She wants me to go to Ge.”

“To be her personal messenger boy no doubt.” Leia said, her tone sharp.

“In a sense.”

“Are you going to do it?”

“I don’t know. I would like to go, if only to see Paro, but being a messenger boy for the Senate and going to a planet where they don’t get along with them, I feel like I’m placing my head on a chopping block.”

Leia was silent for a moment, her expression telling him she was contemplating something.

"I can't lie to you, Ben; if you went, that might be the case." She took a sip of her drink before continuing. "Ge does not have a clean history when it comes to the treatment of their enemies. Their relationship with the Kraal is notoriously violent and bloody and many stories circulate of what was done to Imperial officers that were unfortunate enough to get caught; each one gets more disgusting. Claims have been made both by the previous Vizier and the current one that the situation has improved and that hostile measures like that would not be made against Senators or anyone neutral but as we're unable to send any ambassadors to the surface to inspect, I question how truthful those statements are." She dropped her utensils and reached forward, taking his hand in hers. "I'm not comfortable with the idea of you going, Ben. Ge is played off as a paradise of sorts but their politics are ruthless and while you're not as dangerous to them as I am, you'd still be considered a threat to their isolation and much of what they stand for." She took a deep breath. "However, the last time I forced you to go somewhere I wanted you to go, it didn't end so well for you. I'll let you decide if you want to go or not. All I ask is that you think carefully about it and the risks. Can you do that? For me?" The teen quickly nodded in response, which left Leia with a smile on her face.

Later that night, Ben lay in his bed, wide awake and staring at the ceiling. It was well past midnight but the boy couldn't find sleep. The proposal of the Chancellor had been swimming without stop since dinner time and he was trying to consider the best way to move forward with it.

The first option was to go to Ge, deliver the message under the guise of visiting the Queen and leave as soon as it was delivered. Quick and probably the simplest method. However, such an endeavor would look suspicious. No one sane would believe the guise of visiting if he was gone within a few hours. Worst case scenario if he were caught: he'd be temporarily blocked from leaving the planet. Not a horrible scenario but it would probably be the end of negotiations between the Senate and Ge.

Second option: same as the first but extend the visit for a few more days. That would lessen suspicion on him, given that he gives the message at the end of his visit and not the beginning. The earlier he'd give it, the more likely he'd be caught.

He was then struck with a thought: what would Paro think of him being a personal messenger boy for the Senate. He had talked her several times over the span of the last six years but they had spoken very little of politics so he didn't fully know what her thoughts were of the Senate or if any of those sentiments he knew had changed. Should he give the message, she could either keep it quiet and look once he was gone or order him to leave and calling him the Senate's puppet or something. He hoped it would be the former.

The third and fourth option would perhaps be the safest for him: don't go to Ge at all or go but don't give the message. He knew the third option was the one his mother wanted him to choose and the fourth one was the one he liked best. Thinking about his mother and her thoughts, his stomach sank: he’d be leaving her for who knew how long after only a few days with her. He didn’t want to leave her so soon but Paro he wanted to see too.

He thought about his options a little longer, giving each one last thorough look to determine his best course of action once and for all. Eventually, he made a choice. Reaching to his nightstand, he pulled out a tablet and began typing a message.

Paro, is that offer to visit Ge still available?

#kylux #huxlo #ben solo #leia organa #star wars #sleeping beauty au #my writing #koi no yokan

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