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elopez7228 · 4 years

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Scenic Route 12/47

Read on AO3 : https://archiveofourown.org/works/18268208/chapters/43229774

Start over : https://elopez7228.tumblr.com/post/620919089893933056/scenic-route-0147

***

Leia swallowed. For a moment, Amilyn Holdo wondered if she would cry, but that would be underestimating the veteran. She had fought bigger battles.

“Amilyn,” Leia began, “Ben has made a series of bad decisions, no doubt under the influence of none other than Armitage Hux. They were partners in crime during their devil-may-care college years. He became arrogant and self-centered, thinking himself untouchable under Snoke’s protection. Snoke was the ever-powerful presence that gave him everything he desired, while filling his head with the unthinkable. It’s been a long time since I’ve lost all influence over him. And if a brief stint in prison is what finally wakes him up, so be it.” She sighed, “Look, he’s still my son and I love him more than anything, but I think this might be the beating that finally makes him get his act together.”

Amilyn smiled at the mental image of Leia’s small frame spanking the imposing Ben Solo—or rather, his troublemaker rockstar alter ego, Kylo Ren. A helluva spanking, for sure.

“Good. Well, if you’re ready now we have a meeting with the Governor in five,” Amilyn offered.

The tip of Leia’s cane slipped on one of the many papers littering the floor as she tried to get up. She had been using it to support most of her weight, but luckily she was able to catch herself, bracing her body against the desk.

Amilyn rushed to her side, noticing a slight tremor in her hands and infinite sadness in her eyes. She was strong, but her heart had been broken.

“Are you alright? Amilyn asked, “Should I postpone the meeting?”

“No, I’m fine, let’s go,” Leia sighed as she got to her feet again. She turned to Amilyn with tired eyes. “You know, the contents of this dossier have ruined three generations of my family,” she said gravely.

“I know. And I admire you for bearing this burden alone, despite everything, for all these years.”

“We’re so close. This is our last move—it’s us or them. If we fail, there won’t be a second chance. It’s time to finish this.”

She closed her eyes as the car made its across Sacramento to the state capitol building. She had spoken about her son with a detached tone, if only to hide her chagrin. She wasn’t kidding when she said that the contents of that dossier would destroy her family. It was the stuff of novels—The Grandeur and Decadence of the Skywalker Dynasty. The tale of how her parents Anakin and Padme Skywalker, fresh out of Harvard, had started the eco-conscious mining and water treatment company Resistance & Advancement Co. A new hope for the planet that would provide “a better future for all”. How Anakin had foreseen a massive profit margin, had signed contracts with suspicious clients against his wife’s advice.

How their son Luke, their Harvard legacy, had found his way to the top of the R&A administration in order to clean house. He wanted to cut ties with shady business partners and see his mother’s vision through. Leia, however, was always more behind the scenes, though guided by the same ideals of peace and justice that seemed impossible today.

And then there was Snoke, the Chief Financial Officer who had come to power under corrupt circumstances. He had plotted to take command of the Board of Directors and IPO the company by putting his cronies in power at R&A.

Leia had imagined that her son would side with her, to restore the family enterprise to its former glory. Never in a thousand years did she think that Ben would turn on her. He fell right into Snoke’s outstretched hands—worse—he declared that the new agenda was Anakin Skywalker’s legacy, his ancestor’s lasting vision for R&A. Snoke and Hux had brainwashed him.

She was jolted from her thoughts as the car abruptly stopped in front of the capitol building. Going around the mob of tourists partaking in guided tours, they made their way to the administrative entrance, where they were greeted by a debonair hostess in a black suit. After double-checking their IDs, she pointed out the corridor that led to the parliamentary wing. They found themselves in a waiting room where they helped themselves to two scalding cups of flavorless coffee.

Amilyn didn’t even need to check her watch. “We’re going to get stood up,” she declared. “That’s their strategy, tie us up in red tape, waste all our time in this massive waiting room and never get to the bottom of that dossier.”

Leia placed a reassuring hand on her friend’s forearm in response. She had regained her peace of mind, her eyes no longer filled with sadness or uncertainty. Instead they were brimming with a scathing sort of determination. Here, in the heart of the Californian capital, she was in the eye of the storm. And she was ready to confront it.

He came through the waiting room door right then—a fifty-something man with a craggy face and salt-and-pepper hair. He was sharply dressed in all white and he wore a suit jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape.

“Representative Krennic,” he introduced himself, “Yours truly on behalf of Governor Valorum. This way to my office,”

“We have a meeting with the governor himself, Mr. Krennic,” Amilyn objected.

“The governor sends his apologies, he was summoned regarding a rather urgent matter, but don’t you worry—I know the dossier quite well.”

“I see,” Amilyn managed behind the tightly gritted teeth of her fake smile, “Very well, then. We should set up another meeting right away.” She said as they followed him.

Representative Krennic pursed his lips in what could only be called a paltry, hypocritical attempt at an expression of sympathy. He took his place behind his desk and invited them to sit down. Suddenly his eyes were hard and cold. He folded his hands together on the tabletop.

“The governor had a very time-sensitive errand to run. I assure you I’m entirely capable of representing him today. So let’s cut to the chase: the enterprise charter brought forth by FORCE which you object to so vehemently, is perfectly legally authorized. I have here the results of some studies done by the Environmental Protection Agency that contradict your claim.” He flicked through the dossier nonchalantly. Leia was about to make an impolite gesture but Amilyn stopped her.

“The state of California,” he continued, “represented by Governor Valorum—and I, in equal measure—has expressed consent to both FORCE and their CEO Mr. Snoke regarding the mining of the Humboldt sector. I should also add,” he continued with a cruel smile, “that on behalf of the thousands of workers that we collectively employ, that FORCE and the state of California are considering to jointly sue you for obstruction of public progress, defamation, and violation of workers’ and unions’ rights,” he grinned wickedly, “and, if I recall correctly, we might even be able to sue for terror-adjacent activities. Any questions?”

Armitage Hux turned on the flat screen television embedded into his office wall. The highlight of the evening broadcast on ABC7News was the very public debacle in Sacramento.

Leia Skywalker, unmistakable in her long grey wrap dress, was crossing the street to get to her car. She was so small that Amilyn Holdo appeared tall beside her. A group of activists clad in Earth Soldiers t-shirts was waiting for them. Many of them were carrying signs with protest slogans including No to the Hoopa Valley mine!, Say No to Poison, FORCE must PAY, and Valorum is Complicit.

Among them Hux recognized Rose Tico, who was holding a megaphone and addressing the journalists who had scurried to the scene directly. The fire in her voice was palpable, to the point where he thought she would nearly be out of breath.

“We have just heard that the EPA approved the construction of a new mine in North Hoopa Valley! This is absolutely unacceptable, and we stand against it! All evidence points to Governor Valorum being a puppet of FORCE, which has funded his re-election campaign to a great extent! This man has been corrupted and he’s trying to—“ Hux slammed the mute button just as his phone began to vibrate. He raised it to his ear, annoyed.

“Hux.”

“Sir, I’ve lost track of the Tico sisters, they flew to California via Reno, and I lost them right as the approached Tahoe.”

“Don’t you worry, I know exactly where they are,” he said, managing to keep most of the rage out of his voice. Phasma on the other hand, had the gall to sound relieved.

“Really? What is their location?”

“In the Capitol, you idiot, on national goddamn television! The Ticos, Antilles, Connix—the whole damn lot of them!”

Now she began to hesitate.

“Sir, I.. I’ll get there right away I’m—“

“Useless, you’re absolutely pathetic.”

No sooner had he hung up that he noticed a second incoming call. Snoke.

Hux took a deep breath as he smoothed his hair. Once he left his office, he navigated a dark corridor and knocked on an unmarked door that opened by silently receding into the wall. The inside of the room was similarly dark, with black lacquer floors and crimson drapery. Snoke was known to suffer from violent migraines and thus he detested the light.

“You may approach, Hux,” he declared, his voice audibly tired. “I heard that our friends put on quite a protest for the television?”

“Indeed. They’re reacting to the EPA’s decision making, and it’s trending on social platforms. They simultaneously hit YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. The story has been shared millions of times, they’re viral.”

“And above all, they are organized. The scene they caused today was painstakingly staged. They knew what the results of the vote would be beforehand.”

“It doesn’t really matter though,” Hux scoffed with a disdainful wave of his hand, “that they’re internet famous and amassing thumb-ups on YouTube. It’s a blip in the grand scheme of things, the mine is fully approved and ready for operation. We’ve won.”

“Don’t be so sure of yourself, Armitage. The hearing is in two weeks, and Valorum has plummeted in popularity.”

Hux scoffed indignantly yet again.

“We have Valorum eating out of our very hands. We make up no less than 20 percent of his campaign financing—he got re-elected because of our means. We employ, directly or indirectly, thousands within his administration.”

“And the judge, Mitaka?”

“His daughter was delighted that we bought her way into Yale, not to mention that we’re so generously funding his partner’s chemotherapy...with absolute discretion, of course. It’s all being handled through NGO charities. We’re talking millions of dollars here, but I’ve been assured that the books are bulletproof.”

Snoke said nothing for a moment. His skin was jaundiced like most heavy smokers, and his shoulders were permanently slumped. He chewed on his thumbnail, a nervous tick when he was deep in thought.

“No, this won’t do,” he said finally. “The Skywalkers are persistent, they fight unto the death for what they consider a family legacy, the very dignity of a name. This time it’s personal, they have nothing left to lose. And those who have nothing left to lose are particularly dangerous.”

Hux acquiesced in silence as Snoke’s gaze settled on him. The whites of his eyes were also tinged with jaundice, and his pupils appeared glazed over.

“This whole ordeal with these hippies in overalls feels like a ruse to me,” he began, ”there has to be something else at play. They knew we were going to buy out the EPA’s vote...and therein lies the key. Perhaps we have a spy in our midst. Find it, and neutralize it.”

“Understood.” Hux responded with aplomb. Then he added in a more hesitant voice, “And Ren? Where is he?”

“Kylo Ren is exactly where I need him to be, carrying our orders on the field. Surely you don’t find that you miss him, do you?”

“No, of course not.” Hux chuckled lightly, “Evidently he’s very busy on the field.”

The madman had managed to go on tour with his crew of rabid rockers while persuading leadership that it would be an economically beneficial disguise. Meanwhile Hux had to pilot the ship from his desk and face Snoke’s wrath in person. It was typical Kylo. Even at Harvard he managed to garner the adoration of the faculty without lifting a finger.

One day he would have to explain how he was always seemingly in the right place at the right time.

Leaving Snoke’s office for his own at a brisk pace, he found the re-emerging sunlight pleasant. There was something suffocating about the darkness that the president kept himself in all day. Hux was certainly not claustrophobic but he was glad to see the light of day again. He dialed a number on his phone and she responded immediately:

“Phasma.”

“Come to my office at once, I have a new case for you. We think there’s been an inside job. You need to get on this immediately.”

“I’m coming.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

He hung up.

It still gnawed at him. Where was Kylo? What possible mission could he be attending while the entirety of Earth Soldiers, including his own mother, were in Sacramento?

#reylo #fanfiction #modern AU #scenic Route

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