Perhaps Kylo had been doing this for so long the command deck had become terribly dull to him. However to Falynn he could tell her mind was reeling as she mentally tried taking notes of every single line, system, and conversation that had happened in the room. On top of receiving all of the new information Falynn tried looking as serious as she could without giving away how confused she really was. Kylo tried being discreet as he slid his fingers down her back or arm letting her physically know he was curious on how she was doing. She had given him a small smile but made sure he saw the pleading in her eyes. It was after that when he really began to elaborate more on the details pretending like he was relaying it more to the commanders rather than to Falynn. At least the navigational systems were becoming more clear to her than they were before. She was able to pinpoint which light indicated a ship or a planet, and could monitor the distance roughly. His Empress was truly trying her best, but exhaustion was painted all over her face. Kylo kept a wary eye on the entrance to the command deck, extending out his power to feel any life force from General Hux. From what he had heard the General was keeping himself down at the hangars and training deck. Least the bastard was being efficient on his word.
After spending hours on the command deck, Kylo had instructed that they hold a meeting where they could be lined up on the same page. Unfortunately the meeting would include the General but with that many men there Kylo didn't believe Hux would do anything foolish. Holding a meeting was also a good way to show Falynn by his side, and to even educate her some more. All of it had been seeming to move in a blur. From Dantooine, Geonosis, and now them discussing an attack to the planet that had just left due to their own loss. He was finding it hard to wrap his mind around it, and was now wishing he had brought his helmet with him. He felt pressure building up inside of him as he watched the long, black, sleek table be filled with commanders, and officers. Kylo had placed himself in the middle with Falynn on his right. Falynn's eyes remained neutral as she watched the room slowly become filled. She briefly arched her brow at Hux's entrances who had given her a brief smirk. Kylo narrowed his eyes, noticing that the snide expression seemed somehow specifically directed at the Empress. She chose to ignore it as she looked away, and pretended to take interest in some Stormtroopers that stood in the corner of the room. Kylo waited only for a minute for all of the officials to be sitting before he started.
"We are planning an air attack on Geonosis to wipe out the entire Resistance base," Kylo began. "I am heavy with our previous defeat, but this time this will not be the case. Due to their recent victory General Hux," Kylo swallowed bitterly for a moment before he continued, "and I have both decided that they won't be expecting an attack, especially one so soon. We are not planning on landing any ships or sending any troops onto the ground. The entire attack will be airborne. General," Kylo turned to Hux who was leaning casually back in his seat. "What is your status in the troops."
"The troops are ready," Hux replied coolly as his pale hands clasped together on the black table. "Now we are just waiting."
"For what?" Kylo furrowed his brows.
"I sent out a few extra men," Hux answered his ice blue eyes moving over to Falynn who was watching him closely. "Men that are familiar in this area of expertise. I called out for three admirals. Men that I know will do the job swiftly and cleanly."
"What admirals did you send for?" Falynn's voice broke through placing her hands flat on the table. "I don't remember the Supreme Leader or I hearing of this information."
Kylo placed a hand on Falynn's leg which was shaking beneath the table.
"I believe I was directed to be in charge of this attack, Empress," Hux shot back. "I don't believe that I need to come to you or our Leader for every decision that I make."
"On Tatooine, you may have been in charge, General," Falynn sat up in her seat. "Don't forget that you are now back on the Star Destroyer. My husband's specifically. Although we have given you the authority of leading this attack, we still expect decisions to go through us before they are made!"
Not a word was uttered between Falynn or Hux, and Kylo could feel the tension thick in the room. Some of the officers even had their heads down not knowing whether to look at the General or Falynn. The two of them might as well have been the only two in the room for Falynn's eyes seemed zeroed in on the General. Kylo gently squeezed his large hand on her leg silently letting her know that she needed to breathe. The touch seemed to work as Falynn leaned back in her seat, but her eyes did not leave Hux.
"With all due respect, my lady," the General folded his arms. "I don't see why you are making this an issue. I just don't wish for a second failure...besides I believe it might relieve you to know one of the admirals I called. I am sure they will be more than happy to see you."
Falynn's face drained of any color leaving her pale, and sea colored eyes wide.
"I believed that having our Empress's very own father leading such an attack seemed appropriate," Hux's words can out like silk, as he leaned forward. "Admiral Darred is well known for his sufficiency and well planning and execution on attacks. He has led many, along with training dozens of Stormtroopers. I am sure as his daughter and being loyal to the First Order, you are very proud. I would be, even more so that such an admiral has brought a strong Empress such as yourself to our Supreme Leader. Strong bloodlines make for powerful assets."
Falynn's leg was no longer shaking under the table, but so still as if she had been struck paralyzed. Every word that came out of that bastard's mouth was a personal invisible attack towards Falynn. No wonder he had looked so smug walking into the room. Kylo kept his eyes on his wife's face. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and she was trying. He knew she was trying but he could feel she was about to fall apart at any moment. Hux had found another way to get underneath her skin, he was finding new ways to break her. Kylo's mind went to Falynn's stomach and the stab wounds that were there. The words she had spoken to him the night before echoed back in his ears. She never spoke of Darred and whenever she did, it was very brief. Kylo rewinded his memories to the first time had met Falynn, Darred was the one who had brought her to him. She was angry that day, she didn't bother trying to hide it, and as much as he had dismissed it then, he knew now that anger wasn't as much directed towards him. It was more towards her father. He had sold his daughter away, given away her freedom. Kylo couldn't help but to compare it to when his parents sent him off with his Uncle. Perhaps the reasons were more good willed than keeping a higher rank, but the feeling was still there. Abandonment, being left alone, feeling tossed aside.
"That doesn't change the fact you should have brought this to our attention," Kylo said, keeping his voice level. "To go through such a decision without our consent is a sign of disrespect, General. I would appreciate it if I didn't have to keep reminding you, of your place, especially on my ship." Hux's smug expression fell as Kylo stood. "I appreciate your loyalties but next time you step out of line, I will have you dismissed as General, and you will officially be replaced...is that understood?"
Hux leaned back in his chair. "Yes, my lord."
The General really was no fool, to make a scene. At least not with Kylo Ren. Kylo could almost hear the breath of everyone in the room releasing and the tension releasing. He couldn't say the same for his wife, who still sat as cold as still as a statue in her seat.
"When are they supposed to be arriving?" Kylo demanded.
"Within the hour," Hux replied.
"Very well," Kylo sat himself back down in his chair placing a hand back on Falynn's leg. "When they arrive I want them sent immediately to Geonosis. Understood. They collect the troops and then they go."
"You don't wish to see them before they depart?" Hux narrowed his eyes.
"There is no need, after all you seem to have everything under control," Kylo waved his hand dismissively. "On to the next order of business...about our firearms."
The rest of the meeting went smoothly without her father being brought up anymore. When Kylo finally called it to a close Falynn was the first to stand. She was barely able to keep the force from shuttering out of her, as she repeated silently to herself to calm down. Kylo had made a command that the men would go down, where she wouldn't have to see Darred. A part of her was grateful for that, but at the same time, the last time she had seen her father was on her wedding day. Falynn hadn't even spoken with her parents after the brief but elaborate ceremony. As angry as she was with her father, she felt that if he was going to be close with her, a part of her should go see him. However seeing him she knew wouldn't do any good, she had nothing to say to the man. He had betrayed her in more ways than she would like to count. Falynn cast a quick icey look as she passed Hux who was still sitting sickeningly calm in his seat. He had mocked her earlier, even if the others in the room were oblivious to it she was not. What kind of dirt did Hux dig up on her while he was on Tatooine. She was starting to become strangely suspicious that Hux did not spend his entire time on that dusty planet, or close to the troops.
As if he read her thoughts Hux lifted his ice colored eyes that glinted all too knowingly.
Feeling the force shake within her again, Falynn quickly finished her way out of the conference room, not even bothering to look to see if Kylo was behind her. She kept walking down the corridors, her mind blurred not bothering to pay attention in which direction she was going. She didn't even hear Kylo calling after her, and only stopped when she felt his hand clasping around her wrist. Eyes wide, Falynn turned to look at her husband whose dark eyes looked at her with increasingly concern. She tried to smile at him, but was unable to do so.
"You won't see him," he quietly promised her. "I made sure they would leave before he could even catch a whiff of you on the Star Destroyer."
"That's the problem," Falynn shook her head.
"You want to see him?" Kylo now sounded confused.
"I don't know," she answered. "I don't know what I should be feeling right now."
Taking a step forward Kylo took Falynn's hand in his own. "If you think that you should see him, I will take you to the hangar where we can wait for his arrival. I will be by your side. Or we can simply go back to our chamber where you can clear your thoughts. The choice is yours to make."
Falynn swallowed as both her chest and head throbbed.
She knew that this was a ploy, a new strategy Hux had come up with to see if Falynn would break. What if it meant more than just sending him to Falynn, the General was also sending him to an attack. Whether it was an airborne attack or not there was also a risk that it wouldn't go accordingly to plan. What if those ships flew down, and never saw the skies ever again? The Resistance had shown their hand once, they could do it again. If something were to happen to Darred and Falynn didn't even tell him goodbye she didn't think she could forgive herself. Even after everything he had done, all the lies he had poured out in the end the only thing she remembered was being a little girl, sitting on top of his shoulders.
"I want to see him," she answered softly.
Kylo studied her for another moment, before he nodded slightly gripping her fingers in his own, "then I will be there with you."
The hangar opened up wide roaring, but Falynn could barely hear it or any of the other chaos as she watched the smaller ships flying. She already knew which one her father was in, she could feel his life force energy strongly. She was all too recognizable to her. She swallowed down the power that edged its way from underneath her skin. She believed this had been the most difficult it had ever been for her, to suppress it. Even with her husband by her side. Kylo had his hands clasped behind him, but standing close enough to her where their arms were brushing. He looked regal and powerful but the simple touch allowed her to know he was there with her. Hux stood a few feet away from them, and she tried to ignore any glances he might not possibly be casting her way. Her focus wasn't on him anymore, it wasn't even on her husband. It was on the man who she knew she was only seconds away from seeing.
As the ships lowered themselves Falynn blinked a few times trying to calm her energy levels down and they began to rapidly spike. It had been almost two months since she had last seen her father, but it had felt like it had been years. Her and Darred did not even speak to one another on the day of her wedding. For all she knew her father now saw her as a tool of power. Swallowing again she opened her eyes, and watched as the first ship's ramp lowered.
And there he was.
Tall, broad shouldered, with his gray dusted brown hair hidden beneath a black uniformed cap.
It took a moment for him to notice her, as he was commanding the troops that were behind him, but when he did he gave her a warm smile. A familiar smile that she remembered from when she was a little. A smile he had often gave her when he came home and swooped her up in his strong arms. The smile made her heart sink, because she no longer knew if it was real or not, but it was still oh so familiar. Falynn blinked away any tears that were threatening to surface, and held in her breath as her father walked towards them. Kylo looked down at her in question and she lightly bumped his shoulder with her own to let him know she was keeping herself together.
"My little Fally," Darred eyes that matched her own creased as he took her in. "Look at the woman my daughter has become. Being an Empress suits you marvelously just as I thought it would." Before she could even utter a greeting or welcome he darted his attention to Kylo while placing a hand to his chest and bowing his head. "My Lord, I have made all the preparations for the troops along with the other generals. If you wish we could send the attack as soon as possible."
Kylo was silent for a moment as he took his time observing Darred looking rather displeased.
Darred had only spoken a few words to his own daughter before turning away from her. Was he even the slightest bit excited or happy to see her? There was no emotion in those eyes of his, not even a bit of warmth. Not a hug, hand shake, or even a small tap on the shoulder to prove he was glad they were able to reunite even for only a small moment. Falynn knew that he was being professional, but the fact he wasn't even looking at her anymore she could almost hear the cracking inside of her. Priorities, was all that her father really cared about in the end. Not about her mother, not about her, but his duties to the First Order. All of those hugs, he had given her, and gifts he had given her were just to cover it all up. To make up for all the times he was gone and his true treasure, his position. Her mother had called him a hero for it. Deluded in thinking that this man was noble. That any of this was noble.
"You can fly out in the next few hours," Falynn spoke before Kylo could.
Both of the men looked at her. Darred taken aback and Kylo more confused and perhaps impressed.
Arching an eyebrow Darred responded, "I beg your pardon?"
"You are correct, father," Falynn spoke tighty. "Being an Empress does look good on me, does it not? Next to my husband I have been given the direction to give orders. I am not sure if you know this or not, but I have been taking charge with Kylo by my side. I don't see any reason why we should delay. You will be flying out in the next couple of hours. Is that to be understood?"
Darred's eyes stared at her wide eyed and in disbelief.
Falynn only returned the look with a look of stone and ice.
Shaking his head as if he imagined it, Darred redirected the question back to Kylo.
"My Lord, when would you like us to depart?"
Folding his arms over his broad chest, Kylo looked over at Falynn. Her face was no longer pale from earlier, but instead flushed as she seethed at her father.
"I believe you heard my wife, admiral," Kylo stated coolly. "You will be flying out in the next couple of hours."
Darred nodded before he bowed his head again, and made his way towards the Stormtroopers.
That was it.
Not another word or even a glance at his one and only child.
It had been a mistake to come see him.
Falynn felt her heart shattering inside of her chest, her childhood memories and happiness being broken, like it had all been a dream. That man back then never existed. That had all been some terrible fable to keep a child sheltered and blind. He was no longer a father to her, no more than she was a daughter to him. That bond broke between them years ago, and Falynn didn't believe it would ever come back.
"Falynn," Kylo's voice was deep and soft but it didn't reach her mind.
She didn't even think anything could reach her or her heart at that moment.
Even Hux's sneer gaze as he walked past them had no effect on her.
Everything in that moment was numb.