Hux climbed out of the van and immediately noticed the welcoming committee. Finally he would meet the COO and CIO, whom he recognized immediately. Which wasn't difficult as they were the only two elderly, pot bellied, white as sheet men. Around them three other persons, two men and a women. And a few meters away, a blond woman dressed in black, obviously bored out of her mind.

The presentation was made, hands were shaken, excuses made for the previous days, and when nobody mentioned the blond lady, Hux had to ask.

"Don't worry," Mike, the COO, replied. "She's only here for supervision and security."

"Security?" Hux wondered, glancing at her.

"Yes, you never know," Mike replied.

Hux didn't press further but Mitaka and Unamo both seemed equally unconvinced. The R&D location was outside any major city, and the closest village was at least fifteen kilometers away. They already had to cross two gates and had their identity checked once. What kind of threats were they expecting?

Once inside the building, which looked like a jumbo airplane hangar, they were given temporary badges. The whole group crossed another gate and finally entered the chore of the R&D. The CIO, Stephen, thoroughly explained how the site was separated, from the virtual research, the testing, the servers, the factory. He was enthusiastic and seemed dedicated to his work.

"He looks knowledgeable enough," Unamo whispered to Hux's ear after the group had moved on. "Perhaps he knows his stuff."

"Let's hope so," Hux replied.

They were unauthorized to take any picture or video, making Unamo's presence of no use as that was her main role in this gathering. Mitaka's role was to be clarified over the course of the day, according to Mike. The three of them lingered a bit behind when the blond woman walked up to them.

"Please hurry," she all but snarled at them, pointing toward the group heading to a flight of stairs.

"And you are?" Hux asked.

"The one asking you to shake a leg," she replied and Hux easily caught a German accent. "Move."

As soon as her words were out, Mitaka hurried to join the COO and CIO. However, Unamo and Hux remained on their spot.

"Hello," Hux started with a professional smile on his lips, the kind that was totally unnatural. "My name is Hux, this is Unamo and over there Mitaka. We're from the Takodatech and we've been invited here for a series of articles. If you would be so kind to lead the way?" He indicated the hallway behind him, making Unamo smile at his behavior.

"I'll guide you. But don't make me move you," she insisted.

Before Hux could reply, Unamo grabbed his arm and led him away from the woman. "Stop this peacock fight," she hissed at him.

"A little politeness never killed anyone", he whispered.

They easily caught up with the rest of the group, the blond woman still behind them, and the visit could continue. Hux, Unamo and Mitaka asked a lot of questions and soon it was clear the COO was just a pencil pusher whereas the CIO was fully involved and each reply made sense.

After a copious lunch at the cafeteria, they continued to walk through kilometers of hallways, room, open spaces and building facilities. By the end of the day, they welcomed a little Q&A in a meeting room where they could sit. Mitaka didn't look too well and that concerned Hux about his ability for gathering information.

The whole discussion remained friendly, until Hux asked about the past.

"What I don't understand," he started "is why the decision was taken to offshore your R&D when it was known to be the best."

Despite the forced smile from the CIO, Hux could feel his question was not welcome and the COO scrambled to the rescue. "Cost savings," Mike replied. "Having two R&D locations, especially in countries so far apart as the US and Germany, was weighing on the expense. Having all in one location is more efficient and our techs here are the best in the world."

Hux hummed, not convinced, especially since the CIO had been fired the same year of the offshoring. They literally shot themselves in the foot. But that happened to many companies.

"Tomorrow," Mike continued. "We have the in-depth visit of the virtual research part." Next to him, Mitaka let out a strangled sigh. "With presentations and Q&A with our head of research," Mike said. "You will clearly see that our R&D now is much more efficient and reactive than it was four years ago. No spoilers of course," he added with a smile, making his team chuckle and Unamo smirk.

"Of course," Hux replied with a nod and a little smile of his own.

By the time they reached their hotel, possibly the only five stars in the region, they were exhausted. Even Unamo was a bit off. Once they climbed in the elevator, she took her heels off with a satisfied sigh, something Hux had never witnessed before. She shot him an unimpressed glance when he looked at her.

"Let's have a brief discussion," Hux suggested when they arrived at their floor.

Mitaka groaned as Unamo nodded. "I have elephant's feet," he complained.

"Won't take long."

They all went in Hux's room. Mitaka and Unamo sat on the chairs while Hux remained standing.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"Jesus, not a brainstorm session," Mitaka whined. "I cannot think straight!"

"Impressive," Unamo replied, ignoring her colleague. "I managed to get some good shot but who knows what I'll be allowed to use."

Hux nodded. "Dopheld?"

"Same, I have some good material. But if they delete all my pictures before I can post them, it'd just be a waste of our time." Mitaka hesitated for a second then decided to continue. "But as impressive and huge their building and R&D is, it all looks… I don't know… empty?" He looked at Unamo then Hux who encouraged him to follow his idea. "Remember when they were like… years ahead of everyone? They had technology so advanced that their HQ was nicknamed the Stark Tower. Do you remember?"

"Yes," Unamo confirmed. "Then they decided to offshore."

"Stupid idea," Mitaka commented.

"They wouldn't be the first to do that," Hux said. "Especially for cost reduction."

"I know! But…" Mitaka shrugged. "This doesn't feel right. It's like they put a body on a two cylinders car and slapped a Porsche sticker on it!"

Unamo scoffed. "You sound like Hux!"

Hux couldn't repress a smile. He did tend to use that expression from time to time.

"Well, excuse me for its accuracy!" Mitaka rebuffed. "But look at it. When was the last time they came up with something truly innovative?"

They all frowned, all of them trying to find an appropriate answer.

"Their Ulyss' OS was robust," Unamo suggested.

"It came out five years ago," Hux replied. "Their Thor smartphones." He waited for his colleagues to nod. "All their newest ones are based on their old Thor. They just increased the screen and memory." Again, Mitaka and Unamo nodded.

Mitaka sighed. "They won't like your article," he commented.

Hux hummed. Indeed they won't. No matter how impressive their buildings were, how over-glorified their presentations were, they just felt empty.

"If they waited for us to help them boost their image, they're up for a big surprise," Unamo added. "Why did they even choose us? I mean, they haven't let any journalist in their building for what.. one year?"

"Oh," Mitaka surged forward, a smirk on his lips. "I remember that! Who was it again?"

"World of Jakku," Hux replied, his memory as impeccable as ever.

"Right! They blasted them! I've never seen anything like it! And World of Jakku are like scavengers! They scrap for articles no one wants! Oh the shame…" he laughed.

Unamo nodded. "They even tried to sue World of Jakku for defamation." She chuckled. "The judge literally told them that if they don't want bad reviews, they should improve their products!"

Mitaka burst out laughing. "Oh yes! It even became a meme!"

"Everything is a meme to you," Hux tutted him but couldn't help a smile of his own.

"I'm sorry, my memes are hilarious!" Mitaka protested.

"Anyway," Hux cut short, feeling more tired than he's been in weeks. "I'm sure they'll pressure us into writing and posting only positive comments."

"That won't work," Unamo replied.

Hux shook his head. "Look how they treat us," he said. "I wouldn't even be surprised that they placed a bug in our rooms just to find a way to blackmail us or find a weakness."

"Do you think that's why they wanted our phones and laptops back in Shanghai?" Unamo asked.

"It's a possibility. It happened before." Mitaka and Unamo nodded, remembering discussions they had with colleagues from other magazines. "Why do think Maz sent us?" Hux asked. "She managed to get exclusivity thanks to Chewie but she still wants impartiality."

Unamo just smiled while Mitaka raised an eyebrow and asked in a false confidential voice "Do you mean that we're too stubborn to be influenced? I'm outraged."

"Of course you are," Hux replied with a smirk. "Anything else we should discuss?" he asked, cutting their little meeting short.

"Keep your eyes on your mobiles and laptops at all time is all," Unamo said.

"Obviously," Mitaka replied with an exaggerated eye roll.

They wished good nights to each other and left for their own rooms, leaving Hux exhausted and more suspicious than ever. He brushed his teeth, too tired to take a shower, then climbed on his bed with his phone. He scrolled through a day's worth of notifications, messages and emails. Nothing urgent to deal with, which was a relief. Phasma had sent him two pictures of Millicent when she was in his apartment to feed her. She seemed well. Before closing his mobile, he checked once again if Ren had sent anything. It was almost a week that he last received a text from him. Today was no different. Perhaps he had to stay in the Bayou longer than just two days. Or he lost his phone which got eaten by an alligator. Or…

Hux didn't want to think about other possibilities. He shut his phone down and buried his head between the two large pillows, hoping sleep would come.

(***)

They were buried in information, literally drowning in them, which made it so much difficult to see through the numbers and the untold story behind the positive attitude. Said positive attitude that slowly but surely got on Hux's nerves. The COO was excited about their latest product, the CIO was excited about the research team's newest technology, and basically all and everyone were excited to show how great their company was.

But it didn't take. Unamo was rather muted, Mitaka even looked tired and bored, though Hux suspected Thanisson had something to do with it. Lucky him, he thought. He pointedly avoided thinking about Ren. Failed. Then focused on the presentation in front of them. The COO and CIO really did try to comment and make it more appealing but to no avail. Their three followers, possibly their assistants, were standing behind them, and the blond woman sat in the back of the room.

When it was time for lunch, Hux let the COO and CIO talk, not paying any attention. He felt he was on to something. The numbers presented didn't add up and that bothered him.

In the afternoon, they could talk to the research team's manager, see how the employees 'invented the future', but pictures and notes were forbidden. And by the end, once they reached the meeting room, Hux couldn't keep silent any more. When the COO self-congratulated himself for the tenth time, he interrupted him.

"What do you expect from us?" he asked, focusing his piercing gaze on the COO, not wincing when an assistant loudly gasped for his boldness.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," Mike replied, forced smile on his lips.

"Oh, it's a fairly simple question, really," Hux started, trying hard not to sound too snobbish. "Unamo here is our best photograph and journalist," he said while raising his right hand, not leaving the COO's face one second. "Mitaka is our best social media expert and he could turn the public's opinion in just one tweet," he continued, gesturing with his left hand. "As for myself, you must know I'm the best engineering journalist in the US. Possibly the world, but I'm not here to boast." He did not look away but gave a second for Mike to feel that he wouldn't like what was next. "Since we arrived, we have signed a whole forest's worth of disclosure papers and confidentiality agreements, have been forbidden to take pictures or movies unless supervised, forbidden to post anything on social media before review, forbidden to write any article before review," he reminded. "Which is understandable as the company wishes to see only praises and glorious articles and pictures without giving anything away. What I don't understand is why you keep bombarding us with half-information instead of being honest with us, hence helping you to clean your image with the public." Before Mike could utter a single syllable, Hux kept on talking. "Your data about data centers with improved energy consumption is a real Swiss cheese. Your technology and patent revenue only go as far as two years back. Your market leadership is focused on one unique software. Basically, you've been feeding us half-truth for the past week. Hence, my question. What do you expect from us?"

Next to him, Hux could feel the regained energy from his colleagues. He saw from the corner of his eye Mitaka stand straighter and Unamo was now leaning slightly on the table. All of them were facing the COO and CIO as a defense line. Hux couldn't feel more proud and supported by them than he was this instant.

Mike tapped his fingers on the opposite side of the table, clearly disapproving but keeping his expression in check. He wouldn't be COO if he was so easily shaken by a journalist.

"I don't think you understand, Mr. Hux," Mike started, his voice bearing a dangerous tone, "the opportunity that is given to your little magazine." At that very second, Hux knew he had won. If Mike's argument was to belittle Takodatech, he had nothing up his sleeve. "We are the most technologically advanced company in the world. We invented a whole new business model. Before us, people were using two pots and a string to communicate. We sold billions of mobile devices and invested even more to make the Future ours. Being invited here is a privilege you don't seem to appreciate. Your competitors would beg to have such an opportunity, Mr. Hux." Mike insisted on the name as an undisguised threat toward Hux. "You should show us some respect and do your job as you're told."

"Were," Hux immediately replied.

The COO was thickheaded. He knew exactly that Hux was taunting him and refused to take the bait. However, the CIO, less experienced, had to ask.

"Were?"

Hux turned his gaze to Stephen and gave his most gentle smile before focusing on Mike again. "You were the most technologically advanced company in the world," he explained. "But you had to ruin it. Cost-reduction strategy, offshore whatever possible, get rid of your most prized employees and researchers. But then, Mike," Hux pronounced his name with as much contempt as he could muster "and you Stephen, you came after the plague hit, possibly to try and salvage what you could after a ruining decision three years ago. And you can show how many powerpoints and presentations you want, the facts don't lie. Your company is sinking. And fast. And the best way for you to get it back together is to have us, Takodatech journalists, write the best articles of our lives to save you."

Stephen suddenly stood up, flipping his chair to the ground, trembling like a madman. "How dare you!" he screamed. "This is outrageous!"

"You are convinced, aren't you?" the COO said.

"Mike!"

In his pocket, Hux felt his phone vibrate. He had allowed for four persons to bypass the DND mode: Phasma, Mitaka, Maz and Ren. Obviously, it was not Mitaka. When it kept on vibrating, he knew it was a call rather than a message. He had no choice but to let it go to voicemail.

"Stephen, you're making a fool of yourself, sit down," Mike ordered. He waited for a fuming Stephen to sit down on the same chair his assistant had picked up. "Mr. Hux, we simply cannot agree with such accusation. And-"

"And it's not a question about agreeing," Hux cut him. "There is a reason why you invited Takodatech. Why Chewbacca was involved. Oh don't act surprised," Hux interjected just as the vibration of his phone stopped. "We all know Chewbacca is facilitating appointments between interest parties. If you want to matter in this industry, you need us, Mike. More than we need you. Feel free to see our competitors, but I doubt they will have the same impact as us three combined." He gave Mike three seconds to think about it and when he noticed the flinch at the corner of his eye, he knew he had won. "Give us all information, full access, and I promise your company will be back on top when your new product will be launched."

Mike licked his lips and looked down at his hands, obviously thinking hard. Then he sighed. Loud and long. Theatrical. Which rubbed Hux the wrong way.

"I didn't want to go that extend but…"

In his pocket, the vibration started again. Phone call, again. Either Phasma, Maz or Ren. Possibly Maz as Ren only called twice and favored texts, Phasma also preferred texts and Maz was usually the persistent type. Voicemail had to do, again. He kept his focus on Mike. Something felt wrong but he couldn't pinpoint.

Mike turned his gaze to Stephen, then his assistants. "Everybody, out," he ordered.

"But Mike," Stephen started before the COO looked back at him sternly.

"I said: out." Mike repeated.

It took a maximum of ten seconds before the three assistants and the CIO left the meeting room. Mike kept looking at Hux, a smirk slowly making its way on his lips. Next to him, Mitaka turned toward Hux. He must have sensed something was going definitively wrong here.

The vibration in his pocket stopped and started again the very next second.

"I made a deal with Chewbacca. And your boss, Maz Kanata," Mike started. "And whether you want it or not, you're going to give us what we agreed upon." He gestured for the blond woman Hux had forgotten about then continued while she stood up and slowly walked up to him. "You're actually right. Several decisions made three years ago were disastrous and we're here to make this company great again. Whatever it takes. And yes, your little magazine is unfortunately the best to certify we're back as leaders on the IT market. Evidently firing half our staff had been a mistake and the competitors now benefit from them." He sighed, this time more naturally. Hux did not doubt that the COO really worked hard to bring his company back on top. He felt the exhaustion and late nights in that single sigh. But the sincerity seemed short lived. "Which is why, by all means necessary, you will fill in your part of the agreement. And she will help you with that." He pointed at the blond woman and she gave him a small nod. "She'll give you a presentation I'm sure you won't forget," Mike added and stood up from his chair.

Without any other word, he left the room and closed the door, shooting a knowing glance at the woman who now stood at his place.

"And your role is now to threaten us?" Unamo suddenly asked, glaring at the woman.

"I won't threaten you," she replied. "Just here to make things clear is all."

In his pocket, Hux was now sure his mobile would burst into flames. It kept on vibrating. Obviously, something happened and needed his attention now. He took his phone out.

"Making things clear?" Mitaka repeated, disbelief in his voice. "It's actually very clear already. You tried to drown us in information so we wouldn't spot all the weakness of your company. But, we did. He did," he added, pointed at Hux.

Hux did not pay much attention around him. The caller was Ren. When it went to voicemail once again, he saw he had called at least ten times in a row. Hux felt dread set deep in his stomach, his insides twisting in an impossible knot. Then the phone vibrated again. Ren. He somewhat heard the woman reply but he did not care. He accepted the call and immediately placed the phone to his ear.

"… offers the most technologically advanced device in the world," Hux heard as the same time he answered "Ren?"

There was a strange fleeting moment where he felt disoriented, as if he had drunk a whole bottle of champagne and was left with the side-effect without the cheerfulness that alcohol usually provided. As if his brain short-circuited but still registered a deep voice and decided to cling to it as to a life jacket.

"Ren," Hux repeated, in a way to ground himself.

"Hux," he heard. His heart missed a beating. Ren. Ren's voice.

In a knee-jerk reaction, he stood up.

"Hold on," Hux said.

"Sit down," the woman ordered him and he instantaneously felt his knees weaken but did not mind, all focused on his phone call.

"Hux," Ren repeated. "I need your help."

Hux stood straighter and headed for the door. Ren's voice was pleading but harsh.

"Give me just a second, Ren," Hux asked again and as he opened the door, he totally ignored what was happening in the room, only fleetingly noticing that the woman's eyes were on him. As soon as he stepped in the empty corridor, he took a deep breath, bracing himself for what Ren was going to tell him. "I'm here now. What's going on? Are you alright?" He walked further from the meeting room.

"You have to get me out of here, Hux," Ren said, his tone hard and cutting that sounded more like an command than a plea.

The adjacent offices were empty but when Hux tried to open them, they were all closed. "What? Why? What happened?"

"He's…" Ren let out an exasperated growl. "He's using Snoke against me." Strangely, Ren's voice, as bitter and dictating as it sounded, grounded Hux. His mind felt a bit clearer as if the fog, possibly induced by his fatigue, finally dissipated. "Luke, my uncle," Ren explained.

"But…" Hux began but sensed it was not the way to answer Ren right now. "Okay," he added. "What happened?"

"Doesn't matter what happened! I need you to get me out! Just… please come and get me! I can't stay here!"

Hux was certain Ren had been heard on the whole floor. "Ren, I can't," he started. "I'm-"

"WHAT?" Ren roared, making Hux flinch. "Are you fucking kidding me? Look, I know we fucked once but seriously I thought-"

"Ren, wait!"

"Just a bus ticket is enough! I'll pay you back if that's what you worry about!" Ren urged, his voice deeper and louder if that was even possible. "I can't use my name and Kylo Ren doesn't officially exist and I have twenty three dollars and ten cents so I can get to the next state but-"

"Christ! Ren!" Hux shouted. "Listen to me will you?" When the line went silent, Hux allowed himself a long sigh. "I'm in China right now. I won't be back in the US before Sunday."

"Oh…" Ren breathed.

"Yes, Ren. Oh." Hux mocked then shook his heads. "I'm shaking my head and looking disapproving," he added. "Just FYI."

"Okay, okay I get it, sorry. I… I'll hitchhike, it's fine. Done it before anyway. Can I crash at your place? Just for the time to get a job or something, then I'll be out of your hair."

"Jesus, Ren, give the man a second to think, will you?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Unbelievable… alright. Do you have a bank account?"

"No."

"You're not making things easy are you?" Hux nudged.

"I have one but… I cannot use it. It's under my old name," Ren explained.

"Right… which means airplanes and car rental is out of the question," Hux thought out loud. Ren only grunted which was enough a confirmation. "Which leaves the train and the bus."

"There are no trains around here. Just a bus station about one hour drive."

"How will you go there?" Hux asked but already knew the answer.

"On foot, it's easy."

There was a harsh knock on Ren's side followed by a female voice calling him.

"Get lost, Rey. I'm not going back. You heard what he said!" Ren yelled.

Hux took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. How did he get to this? Was the sex with Ren that good to have to deal with all this?

"Ren…" Hux called.

"And he was right," he heard Rey say. "Look what you just did!"

"Yeah? So!"

"You fought with the only person who's willing to help you!" Rey shouted. "Do you really want to throw those two years away?"

"He's using Snoke against me!" Ren bellowed. "He doesn't need to rub it in! You heard him! He can fuck himself for all I care!"

There was a fleeting moment where none talked. The silence felt heavy and tense but Hux did not want to be the one to break it.

"Kylo..." Rey's voice seemed nearer now. She must have walked to Ren, standing nearby possibly. "You know very well that's not why you lashed out. It wasn't about Snoke. It was about Hux."

"Sorry what?" Hux blurted and immediately cursed his impulse.

"Leave him out of it!" Ren growled. "Luke doesn't know what he's talking about. Honestly, I'm not even sure he wants me back to the Light."

"Don't say that… Luke knows what happened and he still wants to help you. We both want to help you…" Rey argued, her voice now a gentle caress.

Hux rolled his eyes. He couldn't see that Rey's face, but it felt like she was waving the promise of a cookie and a belly rub to Ren after Luke beat him up. Unacceptable. He decided to use his trump card.

"If you're referring to Snoke," Hux began "I know you killed him." The other end of the line was silent. Good, he had Ren's attention. "Hear me out, Ren. I'll get you the bus tickets. And if you reach the city before Sunday, I'll get Phasma to pick you up and bring you to my flat." He gave Ren three seconds to think about it. "Alright," he concluded when no protest came.

"Hux… you knew?" Ren asked, disbelief obvious.

"Yeah, we'll talk about it next Sunday. I'll get your tickets."

"Who's that?" Rey asked. "Is that Hux?"

"Err… yeah. Thanks Hux. I owe you. A lot," Ren deflated.

"Again, let's talk later. Sort your shit out, Ren." When no reply came, Hux simply added "Bye." then hung up.

Hux glanced at his phone and exhaled loudly. For sure, he wouldn't get bored the next few days. He finally realized he had reached the end of the corridor and was now facing the wall, standing still next to a fire extinguisher. That man was trouble, he thought. So much trouble.

"Which Ren was it?"

Hux jumped out of his skin and swerved around, facing the blond woman who was standing tall right behind him, her arms crossed. Her voice was stern but she had a little smirk on her lips.

"Which Ren?" she repeated when Hux didn't reply, feeling like a rabbit trapped in the lights of an oncoming car. "I suspect it's Kylo, if what I heard is correct."

"You…"

"Temsha Ren," she said, extending her hand, a strange glow in her eye that looked like amusement. "Nice to meet you."

(to be continued)