driftfleet | (no subject)

Could you...explain more of...why? What do you want for the future?

[She picks a spot nearby, curling her legs under her. He might notice that she is not armed in the least.]

I lived in the days of the Empire. I remember the stability the Emperor, despite whatever he might have been or the flaws in the system, was able to provide. I also remember when the Empire fell and saw firsthand the chaos the Republic caused in their grab for power.

[His voice was even but firm and he watched her carefully as she sat.]

I seek to restore galactic stability once more. The Empire wasn't without its flaws but we adapt to become stronger, for the sake of the galaxy.

[She listens and tries to see through his eyes. To have stability and then to lose it... Of course you want it back.]

Is the First Order meant to...replace...the Emperor's role?

[He thinks all of his sacrifices will be worthwhile.

He doesn't see the tragedy ahead of him. Rey fidgets.]

You can't work with someone like Kylo Ren. You might not care about the Jedi or the Sith, but the way he's using power... What you are allowing to happen for your "peace"...

It will be a forced peace; not a real one.

Yes. There won't be another Emperor but the First Order will be a restoration of the Empire as it should have been.

[He didn't regret the sacrifices he had made and everything he had to endure his entire life. He couldn't imagine anything else or any other path ahead of him. Perhaps it would end in disaster, he had long since accepted that this would be something that could cost him his life at one point, if he wasn't careful.

And now he had failed with Starkiller's destruction. Even if it hadn't been him directly, the responsibility still sat on his shoulders and he knew he would be called to answer for his shortcomings.

But he answered Rey with honesty, however though he wasn't sure what he could say about Kylo Ren. Snoke had always made it clear that Hux wasn't to question anything to do with Ren. He honestly had no answers for her.]

The Republic attempted to restore peace by force as well. They forced Imperial systems to bow down against their will and forced the remains of the Imperial leadership into the Galactic Concordance on Republic terms.

A treaty and disarmament the Republic soon turned around and broke.

There was never any true peace.

[His dream is so big. Rey can admire the scope of it. All she has ever dreamed about is seeing her family again. She hadn't ever really sought more. But someone does need to protect those in the galaxy. No one person or organization should be an absolute leader.]

Then that wasn't true diplomacy either. [The systems are failing. They can't keep traveling the same path.] Forget the names...

Don't you think it's more fair for everyone to have a voice? How would you feel to have everything decided for you?

And yet that is what the Republic did as well. They do not get to force worlds to accept their rule and then turn around and cry foul at the Emperor's methods.

Granted Palpatine did wield supreme power but he did run the galaxy efficiently through a very structured system. Honestly, the Emperor had very little direct contact with most of the galaxy and despite the propaganda the local systems weren't just silenced by force.

[He's mostly realistic about the Empire, he forced himself to learn everything he could about what worked and what didn't. He wanted the First Order to be better and stronger while preserving the traditions and ideals of the Imperial era.]

I said forget the names. [She exhales sharply and stretches out her legs.] There are flaws with both the Republic and the Empire. What you should know is...

Kylo Ren isn't so different from the Emperor. He's drawing on the same power.

[And that can't be overlooked for long.]

He may not call himself a Sith, but he's probably the closest to being one out of all of your people. That should scare you.

Ren is powerful but I wouldn't compare him to Palpatine in many ways despite the fact they both used the Dark Side of the Force.

[Granted Hux knew very little of the Force or the Dark Side but had a difficult time relating Ren to someone like the Emperor.]

Palpatine had foresight, he was a keep observer and used his resources wisely from what I've seen in the records. He didn't openly display his powers, he didn't need to. It wasn't widely known that he was a Sith Lord until after his death.

[He was silent for a moment, considering his words. She most likely had seen Ren's powers firsthand and was in a better position to have better insight than he did.]

I would consider him more similar to Vader in many ways.

[Given that Ren is Vader's grandson and all.]

I'm aware of the power he wields though. I know what he can do, I've seen it firsthand. And perhaps I should be scared but I know that he doesn't dare kill me.

[At least for the time being.]

He wants to be like Darth Vader. [She has no reason to keep what she saw in Kylo's mind private.] I saw it. He fears he isn't powerful enough.

[But the power he has and what it is being used for is...wrong.]

You say Palpatine did good, but doesn't it matter how he did good? Manipulation, forcing others and caring nothing for the balance of light and darkness are qualities of a Sith. The Empire may have been safe for you, but think of all the people he tricked or killed to make it so.

[She arches a brow.]

Do you care if he kills someone else?

Edited 2016-09-28 07:01 (UTC)

I know he does and I'm not surprised that he has that fear. [He's at least not going to mention how many times he's overheard Ren talking to Vader's helmet though he doubt Rey would be shocked to know that.] He wants the same legacy Vader once did.

[He thought about her question for a moment before shaking his head.]

Not really. He took control of a crumbling Republic and yes, to keep order sometimes it's necessary to resort to such measures. The Republic operated no differently, especially during the Clone Wars where damage to the Outer Rim was just considered an acceptable necessity no matter how many people suffered.

The Republic had no ability to do anything about it though. Sith or not, I've seen the tangible evidence of what Palpatine did that was good for many systems. And I've seen evidence of the damage the Jedi did. And during my time here I've become convinced more than ever that Palpatine made the right decision concerning the Jedi.

[He looked at her directly at her last question.]

If necessary, not really.

You're not surprised -? [That fear had been at the forefront of Kylo Ren's mind, clearly, otherwise Rey wouldn't have been able to see it.] How do you know about it?

[Is she speaking to one of Kylo's...friends? Someone he opens up to?]

For what reasons? Has he told you? [Reasons are crucial. They give insight.

She tenses and glares at his conclusion.] You are blaming those who, as a whole, sought to do good. To help people. To protect them. They couldn't be everywhere at once and they're not...above losing their way.

Palpatine's intentions were never good. I'd pick people with good intentions that fail over people with bad intentions who succeed any day!

[Her expression falls.]

Everyone you kill has a family. Friends. People who love them. That should matter to you.

Not really, no. [Rey has seen Ren lose control, he can't deny anything at the moment.] We've been working together for five years. It's come up.

[Between knowing who Ren was, hearing him talk about Vader when they were alone, and hearing him talk to the helmet Hux felt as if he had a fairly decent idea of Ren's ambitions to live up to Vader's legacy.]

It doesn't matter what they sought to do. It wasn't just a few handful of systems who were all but destroyed during the Clone Wars whether by neglect or the war.

And Palpatine's intentions really don't matter. Palpatine certainly wasn't someone who did something out of the goodness of his heart, I'm sure. But what is important is what he actually did and what the regional governors did.

[He raised his eyebrows at her.]

Why? On both sides we have to weigh the costs against what has to be done. I'm sure Leia Organa does the same.

[Though he was sure he and Leia had different views on what was acceptable and what wasn't. And he honestly didn't care about someone family and friends. This was a war.]

If you're looking for me to feel remorse or regret you'll be disappointed.