"Whenever you're ready," the presenter said with a nod.
"What's your name?" Hux asked.
Mr. Ren raised his eyebrows and shot him the most unimpressed glance Hux has even seen. "Really? You sat in that room for nearly three hours and you don't know my name?"
"Of course I know how you call yourself, Mr. Ren. However, that possibly cannot be your real name." Hux replied.
"You're right. It isn't. But I chose to be called Kylo Ren for a reason. And I'm neither going to tell you my birth name, nor explain to you why I changed," the dark-haired man stated.
Hux lifted his right hand as a peace gesture. "Look, I feel that we've started on the wrong foot. I won't take what you're not willing to give." He waited for Mr. Ren to nod, then held his hand in front of him. "Let's try this again, Mr. Ren. Good afternoon. My name is Armitage Hux and I am here to ask you a few questions."
Hux saw that little smirk again and felt suddenly glad to prompt such reaction from the presenter. A more amiable Mr. Ren means answers and, why not, his phone number. That way Maz would get off his back for a while.
"Call me Ren. Or Kylo, I don't mind," he replied and shook Hux's hand. "But mocking my name when you're called Armitage wasn't a smart move," he deadpanned, that smirk stretching a bit more.
"Well, I didn't have much choice in the matter." Hux replied. "I was way too young to argue against it. Also, I like being called Hux."
"Fair enough, Hux."
Hux took his pen and scribbled Ren's name, underlining it twice. "That way I won't forget," he told Ren who was observing him, his voice like a flat line to match Ren's sarcastic remark.
Ren shook his head a little, eyes fixed on Hux. "Is it necessary for you to be this intense?" he asked, clearly amused.
Hux raised an eyebrow before answering. "When facing a Force-user, I have to keep up my appearance," he joked.
"Your appearance is fine," Ren answered a bit too loud and too quick but Hux chose not to dwell on it.
"If you'd let me, I'd like to summarize your presentation in a few words," Hux said. He waited for Ren's agreement before continuing. "The Force is everywhere. Like an aura of some sort."
Ren nodded.
"All living things are surrounded by it but-"
"It moves through and surrounds every living thing." Ren interrupted, his face now as serious as during the presentation.
"But only a few can control it." Hux finished.
"You cannot control the Force," Ren explained. "You can know about it and some can learn its ways. But you cannot control it."
Hux squinted a little. "Right…" he mumbled before clearing his throat. "See? This is where I have a problem." He wanted to get this out of the way before resuming his understanding of the presentation. "Well… more than one actually. Because, first of all, I still don't remember seeing any scientific evidence that it even exists. Second, let's say it exists, but only a few knows about it. Third, on that limited privileged few," he insisted on the last words "even fewer know how to use it."
Hux kept his gaze locked on Ren, not wanting to miss any reaction.
"How convenient," he continued as he was getting nothing but those brown eyes staring back at him "that this thing exists since the dawn of time, but we only hear about it now? From, of course, only a few selected ones." Hux was sure by now his tone conveyed how he felt about this whole deal. "You come all the way here to tell us about this marvelous thing that only 1% of the population can comprehend. What does that even make you? Someone who knows about it or just a random schmuck who's been hired by some guru to recruit weak minded people? Surprisingly enough, you haven't revealed yourself as one of the lucky few. Which, let's be honest, at this point, wouldn't even surprise me, really."
Hux saw a whirlwind of expressions pass on Ren's face but they were so quick, he couldn't pinpoint
one. Was he angry? Probably. Insulted? More than likely. Sad? Why would he?
Ren lowered his head a little, eyeing the wooden table before raising only his gaze to meet Hux's. "I am." he simply said.
"What?" Hux exclaimed louder than he was raised to do. "Now you're just insulting me," he added in a lower voice.
"I surprised you," Ren mocked. "And it's true. I am one of the few who can use the Force. Though it was a long and hard path."
Hux laid his pen on his notebook, closed his eyes, let out a long sigh and leaned in the armchair.
"Here's how I see where the interview might go. First possibility, you really are mocking me and want to create a buzz, or whatever, for your guru to lure innocent people into your cult. And I won't have you make me part of this buffoonery. Meaning I will leave this very instant. Second possibility, you are convinced you can control the-"
"You cannot control-" Ren interrupted him.
"Whatever!" Hux cut him. "You are convinced you can control the Force," he repeated, his eyes now opened and fixed on Ren. "Despite all this being a big bag of …" he waved his hand in the air. "Which means I will have to contact a colleague specialized in psychiatry to lead this interview. Your case would surely interest him greatly."
He remained silent for two whole seconds, not looking away from Ren. Suddenly, the waitress trotted to their table and placed their coffees in front of them, same forced smile, accompanied by a cheerful "Here you go!" that couldn't possibly be genuine. Ren thanked her, then looked back at Hux, as if he knew he wasn't done yet.
"And third possibility," Hux continued. "It's true. It's all true. The Force exists, and you can control it. Don't interrupt!" he warned when he noticed Ren was about to open his big mouth. "Which, honestly, does not make any sense. But if it's true. If all of it is true. I will listen to your every word and write the best article of my carrier."
Ren's lips quirked a little. He was smiling, Hux noticed. He wasn't sure why.
"You do realize," Ren started "that you're the one who asked, insisted and begged for an interview?" he said with that little smirk.
"I didn't beg."
"You were close to."
"I really wasn't."
"I can assure you the Force is real and I can use it." Ren said with a more serious tone, no longer smiling. "It's all a question of concentration and faith."
Hux refrained from rolling his eyes. "Everything is," he stated before sitting straighter and gathering his pen and notebook. "I'm obviously not convinced by statements only," he added.
"I don't care about your opinion, Hux." Ren declared. "Neither if you're convinced. I'm telling the truth. The Force is all around us and only a few can comprehend its power."
Hux opened his mouth, then hesitated. He needed to decide whether it was worth losing his time. Maz be damned. He was sure, well almost sure, he could get out of this without being shout at. Maybe she'll stare at him through her too big, too thick, glasses, making her look like a crazy black moor goldfish. This wasn't even his domain of expertise! He was all about engineering and when she had mentioned this conference, he had understood his mission as a call-out article. Throwing shade over a bunch of hippies who thought they knew anything about science. But after the phone call earlier, he wasn't so sure anymore. After all, she had said something along the lines of "do your thing and give me something good". Perhaps, he should stop thinking everyone used double-entendre when speaking. Now that he was thinking about it, maybe she really wanted "something good". After all, a scoop about the Force would secure his position as a great journalist, and the magazine's reputation.
"Good lord…" he mumbled, lost in his thoughts and the implications of his sudden realization.
"Again, you can just call me Ren," the dark-haired man deadpanned as he held his cup and took a sip.
Hux shot him an unimpressed glance before sighing, long and loud. "Very well. Let's say you're not a mad man and that it exists."
Ren nodded, waiting for Hux to continue.
"Prove it." Hux said. "Give me a research, an article, anything scientific. Give me a proof."
Ren shook his head, a few strands of hair now gently framing his face. "There are no articles, no scientific study." He looked at Hux. "It's everywhere. Around every living thing on Earth," he explained.
"Is there a way to measure it?"
"No," Ren replied. "You can feel it, you can know about it and some can use it."
"I feel like we're running in circles here," Hux commented.
"You're so right." Ren agreed with a half-concealed sigh, his eyes looking at the ceiling in clear gesture of boredom before focusing back on Hux.
"Then, give me something tangible," Hux suggested. "You said that the Force is so powerful that it could cure any illness."
"Yes."
"Give me the name of the person who was cured. That's something to start with," Hux said while scribbling down some notes.
As Ren's reply didn't come, Hux raised his gaze and saw what could be interpreted as embarrassment.
"That's what I said, yes," Ren finally confirmed. "However, it hasn't been done… just yet."
"You're really not making this any easier," Hux commented, now convinced he was losing his time.
Ren frowned but said nothing. He tapped his fingers against the table once. Twice. Then he shot a glance at the counter where the barista looked bored out of his mind. He appeared hesitant, then returned his gaze toward Hux.
"Which flavor do you hate?" he asked suddenly, seeming to have figured something out.
"Excuse me?"
"Banana? Mint? Chocolate? Vanilla? Which flavor do you hate?" Ren repeated, insisting a bit more vehemently.
"Huh… mint, I guess." Hux replied, frowning. "Mint and chocolate. Only the Brits could come up with something that awful," he commented with disdain.
"Very well," Ren said in an assured voice. He cleared his throat and leaned a bit forward, not breaking eye contact with Hux. "You desperately want to drink a mocha mint chocolate latte," he stated.
Hux felt stunned for a couple of seconds, his mind telling him he absolutely needed to drink a mocha mint chocolate latte right now, while another part shouted he hated that. He groaned. "What in Heaven's name…"
Ren sat a bit straighter and observed Hux, eyebrows raised and head slightly tilted. "Interesting," he noted softly. "You want a mocha mint chocolate latte. Now!" he affirmed then, his voice sharp and commanding.
In a knee-jerk reaction, Hux shot straight up, hitting the table with his thighs, spilling both coffee cups. "I want a mocha mint chocolate latte!" he shouted before frowning. "What? No I don't!" He looked down at Ren who was now smirking, seeming very proud of himself. "You," Hux breathed. "You!" He pointed his finger toward Ren. "You did this!"
Ren shrugged but kept his cocky smile. "Do you have any proof?"
"You bastard!" Hux shouted. "Is this what it's all about? Mind control?"
"Sit down," Ren told him in an appeasing tone. "I'll tell you about it."
Hux huffed but obeyed. As he looked down on the table, he saw the coffee spilled on his notebook. He swore between his teeth and turned to the waitress who was watching him, as well as all other patrons and the barista. "Two coffees and a towel please," he ordered, ignoring the stares.
Immediately, the waitress rushed and helped to wipe the table clean before removing the mostly empty cups.
They waited for her to bring the coffees and Hux tried his best to calm his shaky hands as he lifted his. He gulped half of the cup, slightly burning his tongue and throat, but he needed to gather his thoughts, which were now a whirlwind of emotions mixed with questions, and mostly anger.
"What the hell was that?" Hux gritted after lowering his coffee. He felt a little bit calmer, but could not repress a bad feeling about this whole act. His body acted before he could do anything. As if his own mind got short-circuited and, like a perfect little soldier, his flesh hurried to obey the order.
"I'm impressed," Ren said, eyebrows still raised and looking a bit smug. "You impressed me, Hux."
"Glad to hear," Hux retorted. "What did you do?"
"I used the Force to suggest something to your mind." Ren explained.
"Mind control. Really?"
"Not really, no. It's not possible to control a human being like this. However, with the Force, you can strongly suggest something. Anything actually. And weak minds are easily influenced."
"You thought I was weak!" Hux snarled, still feeling uneasy about all this. He couldn't understand how Ren did it. With such ease! He hated not being able to have full control of the situation.
"I didn't," Ren denied. "Quite the opposite. I thought you were a regular-minded obnoxious person. But it's clear you are a strong-minded obnoxious assholish person." He shot an exaggerated smile at Hux.
"Well, right back at you!"
"I'm strong-minded?" Ren joked.
"Asshole." Hux replied, making Ren chuckle then shake his head.
"I really did not expect this. But now, you witnessed first-hand what the Force can do."
"Doesn't look very positive to me," Hux commented.
"No, it…" Ren stopped himself and all signs of cockiness vanished. "It caused a lot of problems. Some people tried to use the Force in a bad way. They gained power, money, wealth. All thanks to the Dark Side of the Force." He licked his lips and looked down at his own cup of coffee. "It's… it's a long story, perhaps for another time. But now, you know. The Force exists."
Hux squared his jaw. He felt unsteady and violated, however he'd rather be damned than continue showing any sign of weakness.
"You could have shown me your ability on someone else. The barista or the waitress." Hux said.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "You literally would have thrown someone else under the bus?"
"First of all, better anyone else than me." He noticed Ren's faked concern expression. "Oh please! Don't play the outraged bystander," he scoffed. "Second of, the bus is not literal. Drop the act."
Ren let out an honest bark of laughter then nodded.
"Actually… ," he started and slightly tilted his head "I'm sure you wouldn't have been convinced, thinking that maybe the waitress or someone else was part of the trick. Like the innocent hand during magic shows."
Hux kept silent for a second. He had to admit Ren was right. Absolutely right. He wouldn't have believed Ren if he hadn't experienced it firsthand.
He nodded. "True." He looked at the large man in front of him. Such powers in the wrong hands could really have terrible consequences. Or be of great help. He thought about a character on a TV show he saw recently. Kilgrave or something?
"Have you used that power on other people?" he asked, not really wanting to straight-out ask if Ren forced people to commit suicide.
"Yes," came Ren's reply in a whisper. "And I deeply regret it." He seemed sincere enough. But again, Hux really wasn't one to decipher human's emotions and he left that to mentalists and people with empathy. "Even if it was mostly to ask to let me pay my groceries first." Ren continued.
"Seriously?" Hux deadpanned.
Ren shot his hands in the air in a false offence. "Come on! You can't blame me! Nobody likes to wait in line!"
He had a point. Also, Hux was 100% sure Ren would never admit to anything worse than this, especially to a journalist and a stranger.
"Since you can apparently access people's minds, can you also read thoughts?"
Ren let out a low chuckle. "Scared I'm reading yours?" he teased. As Hux did not answer, he nodded. "Yes. More or less, it depends on the person really. The stronger they are, the more difficult it is to read minds without being noticed. Usually you can only grasp emotions, sometimes images. But really, you have no idea how boring people's minds are."
"Are they now?" Hux asked.
Ren nodded again. "Shopping lists mostly. And a lot of annoyance because of the traffic, other people, tourists. You name it."
Hux frowned. That reminded him he forgot to buy tea and he almost ran out. Also, that raised another question.
"And you just enter people's mind for fun?" he asked to a smiling Ren. Why was he smiling?
"No. It's not really fun to enter someone's head. Not when the thrill of the discovery of your ability has passed. But when you're powerful… I mean, when the Force is strong with you, it's difficult to ignore people's thoughts. The strongest are the worst. It's like they're standing next to you and shouting directly in your ear. Also, the strongest are the most basic emotions. Fear. Anxiety. Hatred. Anger. Sex. A lot of sex!" He shook his head. "You quickly learn to protect yourself but it's exhausting. That's why the Force users usually keep to themselves and away from big cities."
Hux furiously wrote everything down. The way Ren had presented the Force was like a blessing. Now, it looked more like a curse. A poisoned gift. No. A cracked gift. The kind you didn't ask for, are mostly glad you received, but must be careful not to break. It was much more interesting than what he had first thought. In his mind, the Force went from some hippie-bullshit-homeopathy to full on X-Men powers. Do good, do bad. It all depended on the person and how they'd use it. It was fascinating!
"And you?" Hux asked.
"Me?" Ren repeated.
"Is the Force strong with you?"
"Yes."
His response was affirmative and definitive, not leaving any opening for discussion, and Hux believed him. He looked up from his notebook and saw Ren's resolute face. For a reason he didn't know, he smiled at the presenter, who replied with his own crooked, surprisingly gentle and genuine, smile. They stared at each other for some time. Hux was not sure how long. The waitress cleared her throat, making Hux jump out of his skin. Whatever spell had happened between them broke.
"Last order, please. We're closing in fifteen minutes."
"We're good, thank you." Hux replied, a bit more snappish than he really intended.
"She doesn't like you," Ren commented with a smirk as the waitress regained her station.
Hux shrugged. "I wonder why. I'm a delight." His flat line delivery made Ren bark a laugh.
"Course you are." Ren said.
Hux looked down at his notebook.
"The Force can heal, help you focus, gain internal peace, push people against their will, read minds…" he read before returning his gaze to Ren. "But one question remains. Can the Force make coffee?"
Ren barked another laugh, just as Hux had hoped when he asked the question in his matter-of-fact manner. He smiled, a bit proud of his accomplishment.
"In a way, it can," Ren replied, his cocky tone back in full.
Hux rolled his eyes. "You're joking."
"It can." Ren repeated. He shot a glance around, as if making sure no one was looking then leaned forward. "Look at your coffee," he whispered while withdrawing his right hand from under the table and placing it, open palmed, a few centimeters from the cup.
Hux looked down and saw the white porcelain cup raise from the table and stabilize about ten centimeters above it. Then it turned on itself twice before lowering itself back. Hux kept staring at it even now that it remained motionless on the wooden table. He knew his mouth was opened but he didn't care. He simply couldn't process what he just witnessed.
"There's a trick." Hux said.
"No there isn't," Ren replied, smile obvious in his voice.
"Yes there is."
"No there isn't."
"Yes there is.
"No. There. Isn't." Ren repeated, a bit more seriously.
"There has to be!" Hux suddenly exclaimed, shooting his head up to stare at Ren.
Ren gave an almost sad smile. "I'm sorry. There isn't."
At that very instant, Hux's phone vibrated in his pocket. Without looking, eyes still fixed on Ren, he patted around and caught it. His mobile was always on Do Not Disturb mode. The only contacts allowed through were his editor-in-chief and two close friends. He shot a quick glance at the name.
"We're not done yet," he told Ren before answering the call. "Yes, Maz."
"Did you get it?" she immediately asked, making Hux roll his eyes.
"I'm working on it," he replied.
"Working on what? His phone number or the interview?"
"The phone number," Hux clarified.
"And the interview?"
"Like I said, it's a work in progress."
For a reason he didn't know, Hux felt like not telling the entire truth to her. He hoped she would interpret his words in his favor. He started to scribble on his notebook. Could she please hurry up?
"Armitage Hux," she started and Hux immediately hated her for using that manipulation technique. "I wouldn't ask that of you if it wasn't important."
"Right," he said, non-committal.
"Use whatever resource you have and track him down."
He managed to block his sight right before it got out. "I will."
"As soon as you have anything, you let me know."
"Alright."
"Phone number, hotel, car plate number. Anything. You got it?"
"Yes, I got it."
"Thank you," she said for possibly the first time in the three years Hux had been working with her. "It's important," she added before hanging up.
Hux looked at his phone while the app closed and shook his head, disbelieving. "Well, that's a first," he commented. He really needed to understand why he didn't tell her the truth, but first things first. "Sorry about that," he apologized as he pocketed his phone.
As soon as he looked at Ren, he knew something was wrong. His big brown eyes were now as black and cold as the night outside. He was clenching and unclenching his jaw and his hands were gripping the table as if his life depended on it.
"Are you alright?" Hux asked, unsure of what was happening. A moment before the man was a puddle of awkward sweetness. Now, ire seemed to radiate in waves.
"Who was that?" Ren asked between his teeth, face hard.
"My editor-in-chief. My boss," he clarified.
"You called her Maz. Maz Kanata?"
Hux frowned. "Yes. Do you know her?"
Ren shot straight up and put his clothes back on in a flurry of limbs, anger, and fabric.
"We're done here," he spat at Hux before marching toward the exit.
"Wait!" Hux shouted back. "Ren!"
In a whirlwind, Ren turned and fury exhaled from every pour of his body.
"You! You tricked me!" he roared. "You worked for her. And didn't tell me?"
He now stood over Hux, a menacing figure, gesticulating like a mad man.
"What is wrong with you!" Hux shot back, not really one for letting anyone step on his toes even if that meant endangering himself.
"What's wrong with… what's wrong with you! Who put you up to this? Huh! What is Maz? Or… or Han! Did Han ask you to follow me? To harass me?" Ren vociferated.
Hux tried to stand up but Ren didn't leave enough space. He remained seated but took his stand by shouting just as loud. "I have no idea what you're talking about! You lunatic! I'm just doing my job! Given by my boss! Who, yes, happened to be Maz Kanata!"
Ren suddenly stood still, eyes shooting daggers at Hux who knew that this abrupt silence was a bad omen. A terribly bad omen. Sure enough, a couple of seconds later, Ren grabbed the table and threw it against the wall, making Hux flinch as it crashed in a loud bang.
"TRAITOR!" Ren bellowed before making his exit.
(to be continued)