It was cold and windy as Maela and her mother stepped off of their ship. It didn't matter that they were in a hangar, the gates had not been closed and the fierce blizzard raging outside was quickly moving in. Captain Phasma was there personally to escort them to their rooms. She was off duty that day to visit with them and arrived in civilian attire. She wore a smart black blouse with the top button done and sleek black slacks. The blouse's buttons were silver and matched her heels. Maela guessed it had been quite a while since her cousin had worn clothes like these outside of her own quarters by the ever-so-slight look of discomfort in her eyes. The heels must be very uncomfortable to her. Her mother didn't notice, of course, and greeted Phasma with a hug and a kiss to each cheek.

"Phasma, my darling niece, it is so wonderful to see you! It's been too long," Maela's mother cooed, "Where is my wonderful son?"

"Hello, Auntie. Johime will join us at dinner, I'm afraid he is rather busy at the moment. You know how he gets when he works," Phasma answered.

"Yes, his new 'top secret' project he can't even tell his mother about," Maela's mother pouted. Maela wondered what it could be. Hopefully not anything worse than the gigantic weapon they were on right now. A familiar pain began in Maela's chest. Why did her beloved brother have to design monstrosities? Why couldn't he engineer things that helped people? She was afraid of the path her brother was taking, afraid that it did not have a happy ending.

"Maela, darling!" her mother called, "It is time to go."

"Coming, Mother."

"You were right, it is dreadful here," whispered her mother into her ear.

Phasma led them to their room through corridor after corridor, each exactly like the last. Maela imagined her mother getting lost and bumping into some strapping young officer, looking confused and asking for help, all the while talking about her "wonderful, beautiful daughter," or at least chatting them up herself. While she was determined to find a husband for her daughter, she was also a terrible flirt, and Maela's father had stayed at home.

"A girl could get lost in here, if you know what I mean," Maela's mother joked, confirming her suspicions.

When they arrived, they found their things had made it before them. The room was just large enough for two people to stay comfortably and Maela knew it was most likely one of the largest cabins on the base, save for officer's quarters. The walls were metallic silver, black marble covered the floor. The beds were made into the walls and dressed in black satin. A plush, white rug fit under a silver coffee table surrounded by two large black chairs and a red love-seat. To the left was a door that Maela assumed led to a bathroom. Cousin Phasma left them to unpack their things but promised to return for tea. Maela and her mother unpacked silently, both were still tired from their long journey. Maela opened the door she had seen earlier and found she was correct. She decided to take a quick bath while her mother took a nap. After her bath she dressed herself in something more fitting afternoon tea. She chose a deep blue gored dress with a black collar and fastened a thin, black leather belt around her waist. She wore black pumps and red lipstick. When she finally emerged from the bathroom, her mother was getting ready to have tea with cousin Phasma. She had ordered a water boiler and was just pouring the steaming fluid into the pearly teapot when Maela stepped in the room.

"Oh good, you're ready for tea," Maela's mother greeted her, "Could you finish preparing? I need to freshen up a bit."

"Of course, Mother." She chose an Ansionian tea, her personal favorite. It stayed dark to the last sip and was sweet and tangy. She preferred to have it with a slice of Liwi fruit but she guessed they wouldn't have that on Star Killer Base. She would ask her cousin about it when she arrived.

Shortly thereafter, Phasma was at the door and Maela's mother was rushing out of the bathroom to welcome her. Soon, they were around the coffee table, sipping tea, catching up.

"Ah, Ansionian tea? This is better with Liwi fruit, you know," Phasma said.

"I know," Maela answered, "I wish we had some."

"I'll have some brought up. I know it is your favorite and had some ordered for your visit." Sometimes it amazed Maela how considerate her cousin was for someone that killed their way to the top. Phasma used the com to order the Liwi fruit.

"Thank you," Maela said genuinely. The fruit was brought quickly and Maela had to say it was the best she had ever had.

"Tell me dear, how do you make it here with all these sweaty men around?" Maela's mother asked her niece.

"Not all officers and troopers are men, Auntie Ive. Plenty of my soldiers are women," She answered.

"Yes, of course. You might have been the first woman captain," Maela's mother said proudly, "but I forget how many women do actually enlist."

Maela skillfully repressed the urge to tell her mother that most troopers don't enlist but are stolen as children from their families. Her cousin was the one to correct her.

"Auntie, most troopers do not enlist. We acquire them as children and raise them to fight. It is the most efficient way to make a good soldier."

"Only a select few who enlist are as successful as our Captain Phasma," an unfamiliar voice sounded from behind them.

"General Hux, what a pleasure that you visit us," Phasma greeted as she stood.

"General Hux? The General Hux?" Maela's mother started. Maela turned around to see an average sized man with ginger hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore an officer's uniform with cap, every button shined to perfection and black boots gleaming. She watched as he came around and stood next to Phasma, across from herself.

"Yes, Auntie, the legend himself has graced us with his presence," Phasma replied with an air of half-playful sarcasm. Maela's mother stood to take his hand, Maela following suite as it seemed the polite thing to do.

"Lady Iventi Strafe, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," he said as he gave her a small bow. Her mother curtsied.

After greeting her mother, General Hux turned to Maela and took her hand in his. He lifted it to his mouth to give it the smallest of kisses.

"You must be Captain Phasma's dear cousin she writes to so frequently. You are far more beautiful than she led me to believe." There was something about the look he gave Maela that unsettled her. She looked into his eyes and could only see a monster. This is the man who orders this weapon to be fired; this is the man who would kill millions of innocent people for a show and call it a victory. He was cruel and inhumane. He was insane, but he was such with so much poise that he was called a genius. He fooled everyone else, but not Maela. One look into his eyes dispelled the illusion and she saw his insanity, his cruelty, his sudden infatuation for her. In this moment, Maela was the most frightened she had ever been for she knew she was looking into the eyes of her future husband.