From the moment he stepped onto the bridge, he could feel Hux's dark stare scrutinizing his every movement.
"How considerate of you to finally join us, Supreme Leader." His gaze flickered momentarily to Hux, before moving to stand behind a row of technicians who worked in front of half a dozen large screens and panels. He feigned disinterest as he continued with calculated footfalls, making his way to a particular set of controls, assessing each monitor with nonchalance.
Hux's disposition was far from the snivelling coward he had spent most of his time ignoring. Now, the General stood tall, his eyes never straying from him, as though he dared the challenge. As though he dared him to disagree.
He probed the edges of Hux's mind, regardless of his outward disinterest. He knew that the General's change in demeanour was linked to whatever coup he had planned with the Knights of Ren.
There was a lingering fear in his being, but it was only faint, purposely and actively being drowned with an arrogance that threatened to overwhelm completely. No longer did the hatred and resentment stir deep within Hux's being. Now, the tendrils snaked from him without hesitation.
He pried further, attempting to dislodge any morsel of information that rose too close to the surface, but apart from Hux's overpowering emotional responses, he struggled to grasp onto anything further.
Turning to face Hux, he observed the way the General stared at him, a malevolent smirk pulling at his thin lips.
Hux knew that he was probing, and he knew that the attempts were failing.
Continuing along the rows of panels, he casually stopped behind the desired controls.
"How long until we exit hyperspace?" He kept his tone neutral, easily disguising how rattled he felt.
When had Hux ever shown the skills to be able to block telepathic intrusions?
"Fifty-three minutes, Supreme Leader," an Officer called from behind a screen across the bridge.
He knew that he needed to be in that exact position to give the Rebels any chance of survival.
Pacing tightly, he continually called to the Officer as his countdown.
"Forty-six minutes."
He knew that he must not veer from their course of action, yet he could not disregard the thoughts that tempted to subvert his plan.
How many others? How many others were only here through manipulation and deceit?
How many others were forced to believe that this was their calling?
How many others were led or torn away from their loved ones?
How many others had been forced to kill innocents?
"Forty-one minutes."
He could not shake the feeling within his chest that told him that his newly considered course of action was the correct path to take.
He only had a small window of opportunity. If were to misstep, then the Rebels could be destroyed.
That was his decision. That was his risk.
He could destroy the entire Rebellion for an unfound feeling that there were others amongst this fleet, like him, and like Finn. He was taking a risk to open an opportunity he was not sure a single soul would even take.
"Thirty-two minutes."
This risk may not only cost the lives of those anxiously waiting for the fleet to enter the Outer Rim.
He may also cost Rey her life.
Shielded within the furthest reach of his being, shrouded by the darkness he clung to, he held an image of Rey close. Her amber eyes trained on him, as their fingers touched for the first time. Astonishment, and then relief flooded her features, and a belonging so pure he was sure it could be neither light nor dark.
His actions may mean he will lose Rey forever.
"Twenty-four minutes."
While he wrangled with the risk and its consequences within the deepest recesses of his mind, he could not ignore a blaring truth that had led him to honestly considering this course.
He could not ignore the fact that he knew, without a doubt within his mind, that Rey would make this decision without hesitation.
"Sixteen minutes."
He could not disregard the knowledge that he was not the only one who had strayed from the manipulation of the First Order, of Snoke. His thoughts flitted back to Finn.
Had it not been for his betrayal of the First Order, Rey would not be here today. He knew that Finn had saved her several times over.
It was Rey that showed him the true meaning of balance within the force, yet it was Finn that kept her alive and safe from his attempts to kill her, well before he had allowed a single seedling of light to take root within his chest.
He owed it to Finn, and to those other children who had been manipulated for the First Order, as he had been deceived.
He owed some level of recompense for the role he played in allowing it to happen.
"General, open audio and visual communication channels to those within our fleet exiting hyperspace, and throughout the Guillotine. I would like to rally our troops in the fight against the Rebellion." The General stationed at communications nodded, and shifting the hologram projector using their joystick, continued to open frequencies through a flurry of clicking and pressing across the panels before her.
She raised her hand, counting down off her fingers the moment he would address his command, for the first time since becoming Supreme Leader.
Five…
Perhaps he would be the only Supreme Leader to make their first address their last.
Four…
Calling to the force, he grounded himself in doing what he felt was right…
Three…
To do what was right within the grey…
Two…
Drawing on the fear and the hope within him, he braced himself before the projector.
One.
oh bruh, the excitement to finish this fic is overwhelming now. I already have another chapter lined up and ready for posting, and I will probably be awake late tonight starting the next one. also, a big thank you to Dw.618, Simoneipad3, Phantom Trainer and AraelDranoth for your reviews! I really appreciate your feedback xx
Things that I have been brewing are starting to come together now, and I know I'm a little rusty after quite some time not writing, but I hope that I do this story the justice that I imagine. Anyway, keep safe, look after yourselves and your pals, and I hope you're getting through the week xxx