Chapter Nine
Dark Lord's Return
Deep in the interior of the First Order Capitol, a door slid open. Armitage Hux stepped through it into a dark, cavernous chamber which had been set aside as a throne room. Kylo Ren had never used the space, however, preferring to spend his time fighting on the front lines of the war or scouring the galaxy for Sith arcana. And so the great hall, with its black walls, black floor, high black ceiling, and ponderous black throne had lain almost abandoned for more than a year, entered only by cleaning droids and the very lowliest of technicians. . . until its new occupant had arrived.
Nobody that Hux had questioned since returning to the Capitol had been willing to say exactly when the room's new tenant had taken residence, or from whence he had come. Nevertheless, the word had spread among the Capitol's personnel, whispered in hushed tones between officers, muttered by stormtroopers on boring guard duty: the being in the throne room was to be obeyed without question.
By the light shining through the doorway behind him, Hux could make out the six fully armed and armored Knights of Ren standing near the far end of the room. On the great throne behind them, an indistinct shape sat swathed in shadows.
A rough voice spoke from the gloom. "We would be honored if you would join us. . . Chancellor Hux," it said, drawing out the title mockingly.
Hux slowly walked forward into the murky chamber. His footfalls sounded uncomfortably loud against the hard floor.
"Come," the voice said, addressing the Knights of Ren. "Make room for our guest."
The Knights parted into two columns on either side of the throne, making an aisle for Hux to walk down. Or a gauntlet to run, he thought. Warily, he passed between the Knights, halting before the throne. Hux caught a glimpse of a pallid, claw-like hand as he knelt.
"Supreme Leader," Hux said. "You have returned."
"You are surprised," the thing on the throne noted, motioning for Hux to stand. It leaned forward out of the shadows, revealing the scarred, shriveled face of Supreme Leader Snoke.
"You were. . . not in one piece, when last I saw you," Hux replied, rising to his feet.
"Reports of my death have been greatly distorted. Kylo Ren told you the girl killed me, did he not?" the Supreme Leader asked. He raised his hand to forestall Hux's response. "Ah, I see it is so. In truth, Kylo Ren sought to kill me, in order to usurp control of the First Order."
"He's a traitor, then," said Hux, carefully modulating his voice so as not to betray the triumph he felt welling up inside.
"Indeed," Snoke agreed. "As such, he is no longer fit to lead the Knights of Ren. They shall take orders directly from me. Provided, of course, that they find this arrangement. . . agreeable?"
A tense silence descended upon the room. The blaster pistol on Hux's left hip, normally a comforting weight, now seemed wholly inadequate for his defence. His hand crept surreptitiously towards the weapon.
To Hux's left, Solonny Ren fell to one knee before the throne. "Thus it shall be," she said.
Hux relaxed slightly.
Hattaska Ren hesitated a moment before also genuflecting. The other Knights joined him on the floor. "Thus it shall be!" they chanted.
"Good. Then I shall charge you with your new missions. Solonny, Ott, and Lorl Ren: you shall remain with me at the Capitol. Hattaska, Jaedec and Kuruk: you shall continue your hunt for the last Jedi. When you find the girl, kill her." Snoke waved his hand. "Knights, go forth upon thy quest."
Hattaska led two of the other Knights from the room.
"What of Kylo Ren?" Hux asked. "He is dangerous. If he tries to seize power once more—"
"Leave that to me," Snoke interjected. "Kylo Ren will come to us, in time. What boots it, expending our resources to find that which will return of its own volition?"
The Supreme Leader rose from his throne and stepped forward, the train of a long, shimmering black robe trailing after him. "My long-laid plans are close to fruition; they must not be tampered with. Yet the forces of the Resistance are gathering. Soon they will strike a decisive blow. I suggest you make preparations, Chancellor Hux, for the final battle comes swiftly, and cannot be halted."
"Yes, Supreme Leader."
"I wish to make an address to the galaxy," Snoke stated, heading for the door to the throne room. Hux and the remaining Knights fell in line behind him.
"Let the word go forth, to every system and every world, that Snoke the eternal, ruler of all, has returned to his rightful place."
Hux inclined his head. "It shall be arranged, Supreme Leader."
Sparks flew as mechanics repaired the cruiser Tantive IV in the hangar of the Resistance base on Ajan Kloss. Snap Wexley walked past the ship towards General Leia Organa, a worried look on his face.
"General," Snap said. "We just picked up the news-disc from a messenger probe. It carried reports of a First Order raid at the Festival of Ancestors on Bonadan."
"This mission is everything. We can not fail," averred Leia. "Any word from Rey?"
"Falcon's still not back," Snap responded grimly.
Colonel Connix, standing next to Leia, asked, "Do you have to say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Do me a personal favor," Leia recommended, "be optimistic."
"Yes, ma'am," assented Snap, nodding. "This is—this is terrific. You're not gonna believe how well this is gonna turn out. It's gonna be great."
Connix sighed and walked away, shaking her head. Leia just cast her gaze downwards, disheartened.
Aboard the Knife 10, Hattaska Ren floated in the liquid of an electro-oxygen meditation chamber, his head bowed in an induced sleep. Wires protruded from his mask and fed into a large computer.
Kuruk Ren looked on impassively as Jaedec approached the chamber. "What do you see, brother?" Jaedec asked, pressing his hand to the cool glass surface of the cylindrical chamber.
Hattaska stirred. Suddenly, he lifted his hand and pressed it against the glass opposite Jaedec's.
Jaedec's head tilted back. He nodded, removing his hand from the side of the chamber.
"Set a course for Wavett," Jaedec said to Kuruk.
The Knife 10 shifted course and set out upon its maiden voyage.