Allegiant General Pryde got up and nodded towards the generals in attendance. "War Council adjourned."

Hux and his peers bowed their heads slightly and left their seats once Pryde had strutted away. Seeing Pryde presiding over Generals half his age left a bitter taste in his mouth. Why Snoke was keeping his old fossil was beyond him. He was methodical, sure, but slow and too rigid when presented with new ideas.

"I almost fell asleep when he droned on about the Star Destroyers," whispered General Io.

Hux allowed himself a thin smile. "Back in his day they were the backbone of the Imperial Navy."

She took a quick glance around. "Is it too much to ask that he move on? We all have read the reports."

He scanned her with his eyes. Draya Io was short and burly, she looked friendly with her curly hair. Many had already mistaken her cheery attitude for simpleness or even naivete. Some had even considered her their friend right up to the moment where she had stabbed them in the back. "Come now, you know as well as I that part of these gatherings is to mark one's stomping grounds. The most precious resource we have is our time, of course he would show his power by wasting ours."

"Stars, you shot that attempt at gossip faster down than a hutt taking hold of a pile of credits," she laughed.

He took his pad and straightened his back. "Loose lips can bring careers down, General Io."

"So you keep telling me."

Hux gave her a short bow and left. Some of the generals attended the buffet in the mess, but he just wanted to get back to work. The whole day had already been wasted. He could eat a ration bar in the shuttle on his way back to the Finalizer.

As per his instructions his shuttle was already ready to take off when he boarded it. He sat down next to the pilot and watched her take off, as soon as they had left the Supremacy she jumped into light-speed.

He checked his messages and started to reply to the most urgent ones as they flew in silence across the quadrant.

-o-

Per regulation there had to be a full platoon of Stormtroopers to greet Generals when they arrive on ships. Hux had given orders that he didn't require such welcome. As per his request there was only his deputy, Lieutenant-General Kayun present.

He gave him a snappy salute. "Welcome back, sir."

Hux nodded. "Thank you. Anything noteworthy in my absence?"

Kayun made an effort to match Hux's quick steps. "Just the usual, sir. I forwarded you the reports as well as summaries of the meetings."

"Thank you, dismissed."

"Sir."

Kayun turned left and disappeared in corridor 27-J. Competent but too much of a straight arrow to actually have a career. Just what Hux needed - a deputy with too much ambition was always troublesome.

-o-

The last message he read was about an updated holo table in his quarters. Captain Phasma reported that the technicians set up everything according to his specifications. The timing was impeccable since he was about to enter the code. Everything was on track, one could almost say it had been smooth sailing in the past few days.

Hux entered his quarters and pulled his boots from his feet and sat down on a small chair. Well, it wouldn't last, it never did.

He took a rag and started to polish the boots. It wasn't the first time that Io had tried to be social with him. He didn't mind, she was intelligent and her strategy to get to the top was at least refreshing - forging bonds with people who were useful instead of simply potting like most of the other officers.

There was just something about being social that confounded him. What was the point of pretending to like people? Well, at least he wouldn't fall for it.

He put the boots down and put his greatcoat on a hangar before heading in the refresher to brush his teeth.

Hm, being social was certainly something Ren would fall for. If Io instead of him were his co-commander he would probably fall for her tricks right away. After all he kept visiting him even after Hux had told him that he was more or less a waste of time.

He spit the toothpaste out and rinsed his mouth. For a brief, a very brief moment he wondered where Ren was right now. Was he in the gym? It was certainly the right time. Well, it didn't matt-

His holo beeped. He ran his hands through his hair and straightened his uniform jacket before he activated it. His traitorous heart skipped a beat when Ren's figure materialised. Hux made an effort to sound bored, Ren didn't need to know that he was kind of interested to hear what he had to say. "Ren? What is it now?"

"I think I may need your help with a tactical assessment."

He sounded earnest. Perhaps he really needed help? "I'm busy." Now he would ask again and then Hux could agree to meet him.

"Really? At this time of night?"

That was good enough. "If you insist. Where are you?"

-o-

The way to Ren's quarters was short, Hux was surprised to note that he was just one deck away.

The door slid open, revealing Ren sans mask. Hux pursed his lips. "I thought this was official business."

"It is." Ren turned and headed inside the dimly lit room. Hux followed him and took note of the scant furniture: a low table with a few empty mugs, a single seat cushion. There were no pictures at the wall as far as he could see.

He didn't know what he expected but not this. It seemed too… lifeless for Ren.

In the back of the room was a shelf with bright lights, in the middle was an old helmet. Hux squinted when he came closer. "What is this? Your first attempt in forging a mask? I must say you got better."

"It's Darth Vader's mask!" hissed Ren.

Hux sighed. "I know, contrary to what you think, not everybody is a moron."

"What? You knew?" Ren closed in on him, an angry scowl on his face. "How dare you make fun of this important relic?"

Hux tugged at his leather glove. "Important relic? It's just-"

"I'm Vader's heir. He is everything I aspire to be," replied Ren forcefully. "Sith mask define who we are."

"Is this why you called me here? To talk about a long dead Sith Lord?"

Ren chewed on his lower lip, almost pouting. "No, it's about this holocron." He pointed at a small device next to Vader's mask.