Cynna POV

The General ignored her the rest of the flight. She had picked her way through the stormtroopers at that point and was not incredibly bored. So she settled into meditation. She felt the force around her, felt the ship floating in space, felt every heart beating in every chest aboard the ship. The humming engines served as background noise as she delved inside of herself, sifting through hazy memories.

It was dark in her mind. Not in the way that one described evil, but in the way, someone would describe space. Dark, empty, but oh so full of things, pinpoints of light in the distance. Some were so far away she couldn't possibly reach them. Those were the dimmest of the lights. Barely flickering, like dying embers. She would have to stoke them to life if she ever wanted to see them clearer. Like breathing into a fire she fixed her gaze on them, tugging them closer, coxing them with a gentle hand.

The light grew brighter and brighter until it enveloped her. The first thing she heard was voiced, murky and muffled like listening through water. And when the light faded she found herself in a massive library. Books filled shelves that towered over her intimidatingly full of knowledge. The murmuring she had heard before was the result of two humans huddled together. She recognized her younger self. She had been a gangling child with eyes too big for her head that had gotten her out of a lot of trouble. She was huddled close to a boy who seemed to be just a bit older than herself. They had the same startling blue eyes and ruddy brown hair. Her brother, she realized.

"And here it says that the grey Jedi went extinct after the great war thousands of years ago. But I don't believe that. I think they are just so good at hiding that not even the great Sith lords could find them. I want to be a grey Jedi!"

"But Reesbren you aren't even force sensitive! You have to be force sensitive to be a force user." Her younger self scowled her older brother.

"Maybe I am force sensitive! Maybe you just don't know it yet!"

"Fine," She said, crossing her arms, "Move the book. Move it and it'll prove you are a force user."

"I will! I will and you'll have to obey me after that!"

The children glared at each other before Reesbren turned his sharp gaze at the book they had been studying. He furled his brows and put all his concentration towards the book willing, willing just one page to flutter. Had the boy been force sensitive he would have moved the whole damn planet off kilter.

Cynna felt sorry for her brother in that moment because her younger self shoved her brother, "See! See I told you-you couldn't do it!"

Reesbren sat back in his chair looking close to tears, "You move it then! You try moving it Serekee."

Serekee. Serekee. Serekee. Serekee. Her name was Serekee. It pulsed within her mind like her heart pumped blood through her system. Serekee.

Serekee, her younger self had turned her gaze at the book, zoning in on the parchment and leather and ink. She raised her hand and flipped it like she was turning a page. The pages lifted like a breeze had caught them, but didn't turn. She furled her brow and willed the pages to turn. They fluttered up again but settled down. Serekee sat back and found her brother glaring daggers at her.

"I made it move!" She exclaimed.

"You did not! It was a breeze."

"It was not! I did it! You're just jealous."

"You didn't make it move stupid!"

"Yes, I did!" She argued back, standing up and stomping her foot, "I'll do it again! Watch me!" She was mad now. Her cerulean eyes turned back to the book, by sheer will and driven by spite she flung the book across the table with the force.

And it was in the moment that her father had rounded the corner to witness his daughter using the force. Unfortunately, Gaves Priprin had been accompanied by power-hungry Rae Sloane, the Grand General of what had been the Galactic Empire and now the first order.

"To answer your question Gaves, Yes. Yes, I do think you have plenty to contribute to the first order."

The memory faded away, but the fear she had felt in her young years followed her back to the present. She could feel the Grand General's dark gaze sliding over her like ink, calculating her worth. It gripped her in a vice that she couldn't escape, couldn't shake off.

They landed on Vetus 5, greeted by a grand display of stormtroopers and officers. It was a grey morning with fog milling around the valleys and curling up the mountain slopes, but the air was fresh and crisp. She stood inhaling, filling her lungs until it was almost painful and made her dizzy. The gravity on Vetus was greater than on the finalizer and it made her feel slow and sluggish. She would correct that.

"Miss Rohl, are you coming?" The General asked sounding mildly annoyed that she had been dallying on his time.

"Of course General," She replied with the shortest tone she could muster as she turned back towards the red-headed man. His icy blue eyes were set into a hard glare under anger furled brows.

She thought he was going to say something to her, but he just turned and walked stiffly away. The parade of troopers following suit. She brought up the rear, reluctant to find herself back inside after mere moments of bliss.

Vetus 5's base was minuscule compared to the finalizer. She had the layout memorized after an hour. That hour had been spent wondering over every inch of the place, inspecting it, making sure things were in tip-top shape. Turns out everything, save one malfunctioning artillery gun, was to the rigorous First Order's standards. Having the General come and inspect such a negligible base was laughable and borderline insulting. What were they going to do with the rest of their week? Fix the damn gun themselves?

"Miss Rohl." The curt voice of the General broke through her thoughts again, bringing her back to his cool gaze.

"Yes General?" She replied sweeping back a stray hair.

"Meet me in my office in an hour hence. I have some things I need to discuss with you privately."

"Of course General."

She could guess what those private things were and she wasn't sure she was in the mood for them. She just wanted to run around outside like a savage. Maybe she could convince him to let her run around the hills during one of the days they were here. Surely he didn't need her 24/7.

She knocked on the door, five minutes prior to when he wanted her there. He issued her to come in and she found him bent over his desk staring down at a datapad. His hair mused by his own hands.

"You wanted to see me General?" She asked stopping before his desk. Her hands tucked behind her back.

Hux let out a massive sigh and slumped back into his chair, "We are alone Cynna. Drop the formality and have a seat for goodness sake."

Cynna did as she was told and perched on the edge of his black metal chairs.

"You've been well I trust?" He finally asked, finally looking at her.

"Better since we landed. All I want to do is run around in the sun. I've gotten pasty and slow during my jaunt on the finalizer."

The General looked amused in his own way, "Yes gravity does have a habit of making one feel slow. We could train together if you wanted? I'll be finished with my work by noon tomorrow. I planned this to also be a mini vacation."

"See I was wondering about that. It makes sense now." She chuckled, " And you brought me as your companion. What does that make us? Trying to woo me or something General?"

"I think the arts of Wooing would be lost on someone as wild as you are."

"I'm offended! I know how to swoon," She put her hand on her heart and fanned her face with the other, blinking rapidly, " Oh My General! Your wooing techniques are too strong for my delicate femininity!" And then she pretended to faint, slumping down in her chair.

The General raised his eyebrows at her as she peeked out of her eyelashes, stage whispering, "This is the part where you rush over to make sure I am okay, therefore securing your role as the hero."

"My point stands firm Cynna. Sit up now you silly girl," He was trying hard not to maintain his composer, but she could see the corners of his mouth turn upwards. " I don't suppose you brought any formal wear?"

Cynna arched her eyebrows, "No General. I did not. In fact, I don't own any at all. Are we going to doing something that requires me in a dress?"

"Yes. But it's a surprise. Take this," He fished a credit chip out of his uniform and slide it across his desk, " and go into town. I'd like you to purchase some new clothes. A few formal dresses, of course, and whatever else you think you might need. Just try to keep the cost under a few million credits alright?"

"Whats wrong with my clothes?" She asked amused but took the credit.

"You look so much like Kylo in all black. I'd like to see you in some color, like when we first met. You were such a firecracker in that orange ensemble."

"I actually brought that. But I do look like Kylo, considering he outfitted me. What would you like to see me in specifically General?"