The walk to Ren's Command Shuttle was just as silent as the one to the bridge, but it felt much shorter. Hux's mind was reeling and Ren could sense it. If only the general wasn't so headstrong, then maybe he would be able to read his mind. See what he was hiding, since he had yet to divulge the transmissions contents. But all he could do was feel the raw emotions of the man, and as powerful as they were, it explained very little. This was aggravating. When it came to anyone else, he could get what he wants. But Hux, he was one of the exceptions. And while he decided long ago he would never use his abilities purposely on Hux, long before that, he learned no matter how hard he tried, some would just never work on the ginger.

When they made it to the bay, Phasma was already there waiting for them. She was standing next to the ramp of Ren's shuttle with her blaster in hand. Her chromium plated helmet was shimmering as if she had just polished it and she stood with pride as she watched the other two leaders of the Starkiller Base's triumvirate approach.

"Sirs." She said nodding her head as the two men walked past her and into the ship.

Upon entry, Hux was reminded how small Ren's shuttle was compared to his own. There was the pilot and co pilot chair, though only one pilot was needed, and a few seats near the back walls for troopers and prisoners.

Hux sat in one of the back seats while Ren took the pilot's seat and Phasma the co pilot. While he knew how to fly a ship, it was not something he was particularly fond of. Even though he didn't get motion sickness on the Finalizer, smaller ships, such as Ren's could instigate the unruly illness.

Ren began pressing buttons, flipping switches, and looking at monitors while Phasma sat in silence.

Hux on the other hand began to zone out, which was a pleasure he rarely had time to divulge in, nor did he want to. There was far too much work to be done to allow himself a few moments of idle nothingness. As he absent mindedly watched Ren, the helmet suddenly vanished. The black hair grew a few inches so it was touching his shoulders. The copious layers disappeared and instead he saw a traditional black Jedi garb. The head turned around and he saw the lively, youthful, brown orbs and that rare mischievous smirk that laughed at any danger they encountered. What he saw was not Kylo Ren, not yet anyways, but Ben Solo. The cocky, arrogant, self-centered, nineteen year old bastard that almost got him killed more times than he could count. Then again, Ren still was a cocky, arrogant, self-centered, nineteen year old bastard trapped in a thirty year old man. And while the near death experiences have lessened, there were still other forces leading them closer to hell's door.

Hux blinked a few times and the ghost in the pilot's seat was gone. All he saw was Ren as he knew him now.

It was strange. He has not thought about Ben Solo in years. So why was this ghost appearing to him now? It must be the brandy. He hasn't sobered up. Then again, he didn't think he was drunk to begin with. But blaming it on the liquor as opposed to his own subconscious was easier.

"Sir, are you feeling well?"

Hux looked over to the masked Phasma who was staring right at him. She must have seen him zoning out in Ren's direction and knew that was not a normal habit for the general. He bit his lip and internally cursed. Even though it was Phasma, he didn't like the idea that people saw him during his brief moment of vulnerability.

"Have you never flown with Ren before?" Hux thought quickly on his feet. By no means would he ever admit to seeing visions of Ben Solo just weeks before he took on the name of Kylo Ren. Visions that he didn't understand why he was seeing himself. "Even the most fearless pilots tremble from his hazardous skill. If one can even call it that, a skill." Hux said it so matter of factly that even he believed his words.

Phasma looked from Hux to Ren. She almost expected one of Ren's cynical comebacks, but seeing as how she has been in on their affair since before Hux was promoted to general, she knew they could behave around her as if they were behind closed doors. But that doesn't mean they always would. She suspected that even if the entire First Order knew of their relations, they would continue their public facade. Something she never quite understood. All officers, no troopers mind you, were allowed to marry and have families, so long as they were human. And as far as she knew the Knights of Ren, had no such restrictions. In fact base on the choices made by some of the other knights, she could have sworn such passions were encouraged. That it assists one who calls upon the supposed dark side of the Force. So why these two kept up an appearance was beyond her. She could only assume something more tedious that she had no desire to know about was happening behind the scenes on that side of the chains of command.

Ren, oddly enough, showed some restraint. As opposed to lashing out he remained solemn behind his own mask. But Phasma still noticed the gloved hands squeezing the controls tighter as his hand muscles tensed.

Her attention returned to Hux who was looking off to the right side of the ship. It was as if he was now refusing to look in the knights general direction. His ungloved hands were clenched so tightly that his nails had pierced skin, and a small layer was scraped off. She wondered when he picked up that habit again. It had been at least a month since she saw him do that.

"While your personal affairs are none of my business, if you two need to discuss your private matters before returning to base, then I suggest you do it now." She said in her typical militant tone. But neither man was eager to speak up about what was bothering them.

"I have been meditating. Trying to clear my thoughts." Ren finally decided to speak first. He knew how long Hux could last in the silent game, so for Phasma's sake, he would get the conversation going. "But I have been unsuccessful. This has been our first true failure. One that could cost us everything."

"Did I not attempt to share such concerns with you hours ago?" Hux asked hypothetically.

"There were more pressing matters that needed to be discussed."

"I have already decided what I will say to the Supreme Leader." Hux shot back testily. He didn't want this spat to return to the matters previously discussed. So he decided an abrupt change in topic was in order. "As general, I will take full responsibility for our failure."

Ren shot up from the pilot's seat, nearly hitting Phasma in the process. His hands were balled into trembling fists and his entire body was stiff. He didn't say a word, but Hux could tell beneath the mask he was seething.

"I was the one who was on Jakku. It was I that failed in capturing the droid the first time-" he spoke only when his body was in his control.

"None of that matters." Hux snapped as he rose from his own seat. "I have a plan that should appease Snoke, but it will only be successful if I take responsibility."

Ren paused for a moment. He remembered that surge he felt from Hux when he received the two transmissions. While he had not divulged in their contents, Ren had a feeling that he now knew what one of those transmissions said.

"The base is fully operational." Ren took a gander. It was the only thing that could have possibly aroused Hux in the manner it did. Having that much power at his disposal, a weapon whose destruction had the possibility to exceed the Death Star. That was the only reasonable thing that could ignite a fervor in Hux that almost rivaled their intimate encounter hours ago.

"And I have the ideal location for its first demonstration. It will make the Death Star look like a child's toy." Hux paused dramatically and his fists began to loosen. Small droplets of blood had formed and they stained the tips of his nails. "Our target, the Hosnian System." He said with a cavalier tone.

He waited for Ren to remark. To chastise him for his plan. Belittle it. Tell him that Snoke won't be swayed. Or worse, bring up the point he has elected to ignore. That if the weapon did not work, then his punishment would exceed any he would have received for losing the droid.

Instead Ren said nothing. He stood in silence for a few seconds and then went back to the pilot's seat. He pressed one final button and took off.

Ren not saying anything to Hux's plan was far more worrisome of a reaction than a blatant rejection or insult to it. But Hux convinced himself that the reaction was just Ren silently accepting his plan. That even if he didn't agree with it, he wouldn't fight it. They had no other option. It was this or accepting the whims of Snoke. And he would pick Hux over the Supreme Leader any day.


The brief flight to Starkiller Base wasn't nearly as horrendous as Hux made it out to be. Ren in actuality was a skilled pilot, but Hux would never admit it. Ren's confidence in his abilities were already to the point of being insufferable, so there was no need to bolster him further. Then again, he knew Ren would say the very same thing about him if the roles were switched.

The moment they landed and Hux stepped foot on the base, he was accosted by a party of several officers, scientists, and technicians, who were eager to give the general the exciting news about the base being fully operational. Under normal circumstances he would be more attentive with his officers, but his impending meeting with Snoke took hold of all his thoughts. He couldn't doubt himself. He knew it would work. He just knew it.

"We have a list of remote star systems that can be used for the first test. Ones that are not inhabited by humans. A few have some savage creatures living on one or more of the planets in its system, but the human species will remain untouched." The head scientists said as she handed Hux a data pad with a list. "It's all laid out in detail here."

Even though Hux took the data pad and looked at it, he didn't actually read the list. He already had his star system in mind. While he was all for preserving the human race, the deplorable ones on the Hosnian System didn't deserve to be spared. They made their bed by housing the senate for the New Republic and giving aid to the Resistance, so now they must lay in it.

"Stay on standby, once I receive word from the Supreme Leader on our target, we will initiate the weapon immediately." He said while handing the data pad back to her.

"Of course sir." The scientists left and when Hux turned around the corner he saw Ren standing by the door to the conference chamber. Ren was waiting for him so they could face Snoke together. Even though they had to be secretive in their united front, they allowed themselves this small pleasure that no one should read that deeply into.


Hux's heart was pounding as he walked out of the conference chamber. Despite the relief from his plan working, he could not relax. He may have appeased Snoke, but that was only the first hurdle. The next step was the weapon. While the scientists said it was ready, it has yet to be tested. For all they know, something could go wrong. The chamber holding the energy could erupt or while the star is being converted into a black hole, their protective shields could fail and they would be sucked in it. But he could not allow himself to believe any of that. Doubt will lead to faux pas. So he needed to be resolute in his certainty that they will destroy the Republic. That the Order will rise. And that he, he will go down in history as the savior of the galaxy.

He weaved through the other officers and stormtroopers and made his way to the science division.

"General Hux." One of them stuttered as the door slid open and the general walked in.

The scientists appeared to be having a party of sorts. None of them were behind their consoles. Instead they were all sitting in their lounge area and a droid with a tray of drinks was roaming around the room. They all appeared to be chatting enthusiastically until they realized General Hux had walked in. Many of them were attempting to hide their drinks or shrink away, thinking it they made themselves invisible that they would not be chastised for their premature celebration.

While the general rarely made appearances to their division, they knew his intellect was equivalent to their own. And that even with their first success, he would consider any celebration before the first demonstration as a form of complacency. That they could push themselves and find a way to improve what they have already created up until the last second.

"I have spoken with the Supreme Leader and we have agreed on the target for our first test of the weapon." Hux ignored the frivolity as he spoke. He knew the guilt would fester in the scientists the moment they saw him, so it would be pointless to chastise them for this further.

A few of the scientists dropped their drinks back on the tray the droid had and moved to their work stations. "The Hosnian System."

"Sir?" The head scientist voice quavered in disbelief, but the scowl that Hux was giving her, made her hold her tongue. She knew better than to question the general, let alone make him repeat himself. "Yes sir. We will begin draining the closest star immediately."

"We will fire right after my speech during the High Command Broadcast."

"Of course General."

"And I don't think I need to remind what will become of you all if the weapon fails."

Silence fell upon the room with that remark. The lead scientist's eyes became wide and her lips trembled slightly. They all knew well enough what would become of them if the weapon failed. Scientists, just like troopers could be replaced. New cadets were constantly coming out of the academy with bigger, better ideas. So failure on any level was not tolerated.

"The weapon will not fail." She assured, despite her voice saying otherwise.

"Good." He simply stated before turning on the heel of his boots to make preparations for his very special High Command Broadcast.

His next stop was to the stormtrooper divisions to inform Captain Phasma of the special High Command Broadcast. His first live and in person speech since being promoted to General. He wanted every stormtrooper corps and officer who was not working on the weapon to be in attendance. They were all going to witness the greatest moment in the First Order's history and have it engrained in their memories forever. It will be a day that officers will fondly remember and tell their grandchildren of. The day they witnessed the downfall of the loathsome Republic and the rise of the glorious Order. It will be a beautiful memory indeed.

"General, I have been inquiring about your whereabouts."

Hux's stride did not break despite Ren coming out from practically nowhere. He should have known the knight was nearby for the halls were far too still and quiet. But he was caught up in his own thoughts about today's events that his typical astuteness had dropped.

"I do not have time for this Ren."

But Hux found himself forced into the closest vacant room. Ren had him pinned against the wall, and his bright blue eyes were forced to find Ren's dark orbs behind his mask. "I have just received word from Phasma. The droid, along with my father is on Takodana."

"Then what are you still doing here?"

"I will be returning to the Finalizer immediately, but no one is allowed to make the jump into hyperspace until after the weapon is fired."

"And your father." Hux asked as his irritation vanished. Instead he found it replaced with concern. Worry. What was waiting for Ren on the planet. It was something he hasn't faced in years. And despite the knight maturing and growing, your past can always haunt you in ways you never expected. It can make you a different person in the moments that matter most. And even though Ren wasn't Ben Solo any more, any traces of the boy that remained in Ren could return upon seeing his father. "It has been twelve years since you last saw him."

Ren was taken aback when Hux reached out a hand and gingerly touched the side of his mask. "He is not my father. Not anymore."

"Those words may fool the Supreme Leader, but I know you better Kylo."

"If I see him, I know what I must do." Hux knew that. But there is a difference between knowing what he should do and actually following through with it. The meeting between Han Solo and the knight's blade won't be nearly the same as others. It will scar him. And the wound it will create will not heal like all the others.

Hux dropped his hand and silence lingered between the two men. "I won't be able to stand behind you during your speech. You have been working on it since before you were promoted to general. You're still perfecting it, even now. It's a pity I won't be able to share the moment with you." Ren said breaking the silence that had formed between them.

"It matters little." Which was partially true. He knew how important it was for Ren to leave the moment the Hosnian System is no more. But a small part of him. The selfish part. It wanted the knight there. To share this monumental moment together. "The only speech I give where your attendance is required is the one where we can freely stand shoulder to shoulder."

Ren was about to take his mask off, but Hux placed a hand on him to stop him. "You should return to the Finalizer. Prepare the troops. We have no time for-" He stopped himself from saying the simple two letter word on the tip of his tongue. He didn't know why. He has never had issues being blunt about taking their duties before their relationship. But something about the events of today, made him think otherwise. "-Sentiment." He finally said.

Ren straightened up and his body became rigid. The tender aura he was emitting moments ago completely evaporated, and the cold harshness the knight typically emitted when he walked around the base had returned. Their brief moment. A moment that they should not be sharing in a conference room, abandoned or not, was over. "You're right general. I don't know what came over me." Ren said in a synthesized monotone voice. The door slid open when the knight approached it and he stalked back into the bustling halls of the base without another word.