Xiria Orion (sivispacem) wrote in thegalaxy, @ 2016-07-01 20:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | kylo ren, xiria orion |
Who: Xiria Orion and Kylo Ren
What: Snoke charges Kylo Ren with testing the strength of Xiria’s mind
When: 7 years ago
Where: First Order base
Rating: PG-13 for some references to torture in a memory
Status: Complete
After passing her literally torturous final exam, Xiria was finally allowed out of the First Order’s territory within the Unknown Regions to do real spy work. Being young and inexperienced, she had not been sent out alone, nor had it been a particularly high risk. Pose as a newly minted reporter from a low-budget publication on the holonet, move in to speak to Senator S’kal Sharre of Coyerti while she was making public appearances, and discreetly probe her mind to determine what her thoughts were on investigating the First Order in the Unknown Regions to see if they were violating Galactic Concordance. Then implant a strong mental suggestion that anyone pushing for the investigation was nothing more than paranoid.
Despite that final exam, she still was being tested. The Supreme Leader told her people might intercept her, but she must not let herself be distracted and most report her findings to him immediately upon her return. She was not to discuss the mission with anyone else without orders from him to do so. She’d already proven she would be loyal in the face of adversity. This, it seemed, would be a test of her willpower against harmless little temptations. Like the company of old friends. Almost immediately upon her ship’s arrival, she spotted a familiar face.
“Xiria? Oh my stars, it is you. I haven’t seen you in years!” exclaimed a young pilot she’d attended the Academy with until she was eleven years old. Cado Marnath had been a friend. “Not since you got transferred out of the Academy. I’m going to be here overnight while my ship gets a checkup with the mechanics and refueled...maybe we could get caught up?”
“Sorry Cado, I’m on an errand right now,” was all Xiria said, offering an apologetic smile as she continued along her way. “I’ll try to find you later. It was good to see you again.”
Several other people showed up with seemingly inexplicably good (or bad depending on perspective) timing with little interruptions. Even her grandfather flagged her down to try to encourage her to play a game of holo-chess with him. Xiria diplomatically turned down every offer, intent on getting to the Supreme Leader like she’d been told. Then she felt it. That strong presence with the Force, moving in her general direction. She changed paths, once, twice, three times, wondering if it might be a coincidence, but no. Kylo Ren was getting closer, despite her erratic route. This wouldn’t be a harmless little temptation like the others. It seemed that Snoke wanted her to face adversity once again.
The area the two Force-sensitives found themselves in was now sparsely populated, the sudden seemingly odd influx of distractions done away with as Kylo made his way toward his target. No mental suggestion had been necessary; most tended to move out of his path once he appeared in an area. This particular area of the base was offices, all filled with high-ranking members and usually bustling with activity. Kylo made no move to intercept her path directly, instead allowing his aura to push her to another path entirely.
So much for the easiest route there. Feeling that aura, Xiria considered the alternate routes to the Supreme Leader, including which were closest, which ones would be the most difficult for her, and which ones would be the most difficult for Kylo Ren. She also took into account what sort of obstacles she might throw into Kylo Ren’s path without harming him. It was unwise to give someone like him a reason to hold a grudge. She moved at a brisk pace, not quite running, but definitely moving quickly and lightly on her feet on her chosen path toward the elevators. It was a roundabout route and not her preferred one. What it gave her was the greatest opportunity for obstacles to send Kylo Ren’s way. He had longer strides than her, and was more athletic than her overall. She would need to stall him as much as possible if she was to reach the Supreme Leader before Kylo Ren intercepted her.
There was a complex command code to gain access to the more elaborate control panel for the elevators. It was typically reserved for technicians, but there were a few security staff who knew it as well. It was one of those useful little things Xiria got herself unofficial access to, because it would enable her to slip in discreetly to report to the Supreme Leader. Now, it seemed, it would have another use. She entered in the code, and the control panel unlocked. Time for stalling tactic number one.
She had diverged from his planned course, but this was of no concern; she was merely running herself into another hole. Kylo altered his own path and headed for the elevator bay, intending on cornering her.
Xiria made the elevator adjacent to hers out of service and scheduled for repairs before quietly stepping into the other. Her own was programmed not to stop for anyone ranking below General unless they had the code to override that command. Admittedly, she didn’t know what sort of access was granted to Kylo Ren. Like her, he only answered to the Supreme Leader, but he seemed to have more authority. Or perhaps he simply intimidated others enough to convey authority. It was something she would have to look into, if Snoke was going to spring surprises like this on her. For now, she focused on the possibilities for delaying him so she could reach her goal. She would adapt as needed.
The doors closed just as he entered the lobby, and he could feel her presence descending down the elevator shaft. He had no desire to entrap himself in such a small space; instead, he reached down, bringing the car she was in to a shuddering stop. Metal screamed on metal as the machine protested, but Kylo gave no quarter; then, slowly, he began to drag it back up to his level.
Xiria’s blue eyes widened when she realized he had the elevator car itself in his Force grip. The car alone would be at least two thousand pounds, and that was without the resistance of the machinery he was straining against. She did not want to be inside if he broke it. “Code 4F3900G, voice activation priority override,” she commanded the elevator. “Going up to floors 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49.”
He would find the elevator coming up without having to pull it with the Force, but she selected floors above his. It didn’t give her much time, but if it seemed like she was coming up to surrender, he might let go momentarily simply to conserve his energy and miss it for a second or two as it passed. She doubted very much that he’d miss more than that. Opening up the ceiling to the elevator with the Force, she lept up and pulled herself up and through her small makeshift exit to stand wobbily on top of the rising elevator. It took more effort and was far less graceful than she cared to admit. She banged her elbow while getting to her feet as the elevator came to a sudden halt, and quietly hissed out a swear word most wouldn’t have suspected a polite little thing like her of knowing much less using. She pushed the upcoming doors apart with the Force, scrambling to pull herself through before they shut on her.
Now a floor apart from Kylo, she made a dash toward where cleaning equipment was stored. The RZZ470 units were technically too large for the side corridors, but they were just barely small enough to fit through without banging into anything. They took up the entire hallway and moved slowly as they polished floors. No matter how strong he was with the Force, they would still temporarily obstruct his path and help to put more distance between her and him. Xiria sent one down the corridor with the nearest stairwell, and another down the nearest corridor he could run to.
Kylo felt her form slip out of the car a moment too late; he released his grip, letting the car fall down the shaft, turning on his heel immediately. There was no need to wait to hear it hit the ground, though the sound reverberated through each floor. Whether or not Snoke would care was beyond the knight as he left the elevator bay and moved for the emergency stairs that would take him down one flight.
He could feel the spy's presence not too far off, but when the large machines came into sight he paused. The cleaner was making slow progress in his direction, filling nearly every available space. Annoyed but not overcome, Kylo raised a hand and pushed the machine back on its wheels and bristles at a much faster pace than it was accustomed to. It began to whine in protest, its gears catching as the wheels stopped moving completely. He shoved it down the hall, following it at a careful pace after it left the floor slick with wax and cleaning products. He could feel that Xiria was close, and drawing closer with each passing moment; the elation of a nearly successfully completed mission goaded him on, and he sent the machine spiraling down the hall in a whirlwind of shrieks and scrapes as he sought to gain his target.
That was less of a delay than she’d estimated, She hadn’t realized how little he cared about collateral damage. Xiria had just managed to hotwire the laundry cart and unhook the two wires that restricted the cart’s speed before she heard the cleaner being shoved out of Kylo’s way. Slamming her foot on the pedal, the cart squealed as it took off at top speed. She kept herself crouched down, alert and ready to react as she tore out of there. As long as she could get out of the knight’s range, she would be in the clear. At this speed, the cart was much too fast to pursue on foot.
Kylo was unconcerned about pursuing her by foot; instead, as soon as he had cleared the machine that had gone hurtling down the hall, he raised a hand and the cart and its passenger froze in time. His arm remained static, muscles bulging as his fingers curled into a claw; he moved forward, closing the distance between him and Xiria.
"Close, but not close enough." His modulated voice gave no emotion beyond the simple tone of his words. He wasted little time in removing her to a nearby interrogation room, moving her frozen form with the ease of someone who gave little care about life.