"Janekah, you do realize how important this mission is, correct?"
"Yes."
"And you realize that if you are to fail, you would not only be in grave danger, but failing the Resistance as well?"
"Yes."
Shifting her weight, Janekah's mother, Senator Thadle Berenko, crossed her arms over her chest and let out a gentle sigh, looking over her daughter one last time.
"You know, you can tell me no, it's not too late."
"And let down the Resistance? No, not a chance. I can do this, Mom, let me show yo-"
"I don't have any doubts in your ability to succeed, it's just...you'll be within the enemy's rank, little to no contact with me. If the senate were to find ou-
"But they won't!"
Watching as her mother collapsed defeatedly in her chair, resting her head in her hand, Janekah knelt in front of her mother, holding her mother's bony knees in her hands.
"Believe in me, trust that the Force will be on our side. Nobody has to know about this. General Organa knows of your plan and has your support. Let them think I'm with her, the senate doesn't have to know a thing."
There was a pause between both mother and daughter, Thadle thinking over the mission once again.
After several attempts to persuade the senate to agree with General Organa in hopes of pushing forward with a plan to stop the First Order from growing, Thadle discussed of a secret mission with General Organa to infiltrate the First Order - sending her daughter, Janekah, to be the lone soldier.
"I don't want anything to happen to you. Stars only knew what I'd do if you didn't come back." Thadle whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she now held Janekah's face in her hands, pushing back her daughter's auburn curls behind her ears.
Janekah could only smile weakly, offering her mother a comforting embrace back.
"I will be fine. Trust that I know what I'm doing, and that we will win. We will show the senate that we were right, and help the Resistance win."
Leaning forward, the two women shared one final hug before they were to depart. Janekah's fate now rested in the Force and there was no more prepping they could do. This was it. Janekah was to leave and depart onto the First Order as a wandering pilot in hopes of gaining access onto the Finalizer. From there, Janekah would infiltrate the First Order, share information to the Senate to be passed onto the Resistance, and from there help take them down.
Only thing was - would Janekah even be able to get by as a First Order supporter?
ONE YEAR LATER
"Captain Madine, your presence is requested by Supreme Leader Snoke."
Turning around, Janekah looked at the officer who stood in front of her in their red armor, gun held steady in front of them.
"Yes, of course, I'll be on my way."
Looking at the lieutenant who was standing beside her, Janekah nodded at them, signaling for them to cover while she was gone.
Supreme Leader Snoke. What would he want with her?
As Janekah followed the officer, her heart and mind began to race. She had been doing so well to keep clear of any trace of her real identity, make it seem so real that she was just as cruel as those on board. What if she somehow slipped? What if someone found out the truth?
No! She couldn't think that way, especially in the presence of Snoke. Being around him felt impossible to keep her mind clear, hide the truth and remain an impostor. If she were to so much as picture her mother's face in her mind in front of him, that would be enough to have him start to piece together the truth.
When the doors in front of her 'whooshed' open, Janekah hesitantly stepped into the dark room, walking down the aisle, her low heels tapping against the metallic flooring.
The air around her was crisp, temperature low enough that she could see her own breath. Standing at the end of the platform and in front of the large hologram of Supreme Leader Snoke was none other than Kylo Ren himself, and General Hux.
"Ah, here she comes! Captain Madine, so good of you to come so quickly." Snoke's voice echoed throughout the room, tone almost too pleasant for the moment.
"Yes, Supreme Leader Snoke, I came as quickly as I could." She explained, stopping behind Kylo Ren and General Hux, glancing between the two men as they kept their attention forward on the hologram.
Her expression must have been obvious to Snoke, for he could only lean back in his seat and let out a light-hearted laugh.
"Oh my, you don't have a clue as to what you are in here for? Relax, my child, you have nothing to fear." He explained, raising a hand up.
Janekah wasn't even aware as to how tightly she was holding in her breath until she dropped her shoulders and let out a deep sigh, cheeks flushed red.
"If you don't mind me asking, what am I here fo-"
"Do you honestly believe she is capable of being promoted?"
Glancing to her right, she looked at General Hux in confusion. Promotion?
"You sound doubtful of our Supreme Leader's choice. Is that correct?"
Glancing now to her left, Janekah's eyebrows furrowed at Kylo Ren.
What in the Stars were they talking about?
"Silence! Both of you! I am very much aware of my choice here. Captain Madine has proved herself greatly in this year with us. I would not have called her in here if I thought differently," Snoke began, "Now if you two are going to argue once again like children, I'll ask for both of you to leave."
The two men fell silent, heads dropping for a moment before returning up and in posture.
"Good. Now, Captain Madine. You have only been with us for just over a year now, yet you have risen above your peers far more quickly than many others. How is that? With someone that comes from no military background, how did you do that?" Snoke asked, leaning forward in his seat.
The question was loaded. She had come up with such a detailed lie about where she came from, one minor slip up and it could ruin her.
"That is correct, Supreme Leader, I came from a poor farming family on Tattooine. We lived on a moisture farm and helped in any way we could support the Empire. My parents died shortly before I found my way here. I wanted to carry out their dream to help see the fall of the New Republic."
Nodding his head, Snoke rubbed his chin in thought before motioning for her to continue after his question.
"Your parents simple wish to see the Empire win gave you enough passion to join us, rise through the ranks, and succeed in their honor?"
"Yes, I want nothing more than to die knowing I helped their dream come true. To have a galaxy ruled by the Empire."
A cruel smile grew across Snoke's face, a light cheer escaping his lips before his hands clasped together.