Chapter Eighteen

Former General Hux was falling apart under pressure. Kylo had always recognized that Hux was a sniveling coward. How gratifying it was to have everyone else see the man for what he really was. Kylo admonished himself. He shouldn't take such satisfaction in this. Hux was a nerf herder, unworthy of his notice.

Still the man had been a thorn in Kylo's side for years. It was the one ongoing point of dissent with Snoke. Despite his former master's assertions, Kylo could never see the purpose that Hux served. Aligning the First Order with such a reprobate diminished all their actions.

The First Order was like a festering wound, and Hux was the infected puss. Before the wound could heal, the infection had to be drained and excised. That was what this trial was about. Ridding the First Order of its weakness and unworthy ambitions. Well, he mused, that and regaining the trust of the Galaxy.

Kylo Ren was not a fool. A war of attrition served no one, least of all himself. No, true power did not reside with dictators who constantly had to tighten their grip on the galaxy. It came from choice, and the galaxy would choose him. He would make sure of it.

This trial was Kylo's first real test on the path to supremacy. He had to walk a fine line. The trial was an act of absolution to the galaxy. First, they confessed their past crimes. Then they would demonstrate their sincere desire to make reparations through acts of good will.

The majority of people were sheep. If you feed them what they wanted to hear and then said you were sorry they would offer their forgiveness without hesitating. Some demanded more, some needed a blood sacrifice before they could be appeased.

And that was what Hux had been reduced to. A sacrifice to appease the masses.

Still, there was always a risk of getting caught up in the whirlwind that he had unleashed. Kylo could not afford to have his own misdeeds known. That is why Kylo had dispatched Thorath Ren, to ensure Hux's silence when it came to his former rival.

Thorath Ren was part of Hux's prison guard. Each night, Thorath used the Force to ensure that Hux would never mention Kylo Ren in any of his testimony. Kylo smirked at the thought, Force compulsion only worked on the weak willed and Hux was as weak as they came.

…

Finn was beginning to love the Millennium Falcon. The old smuggling ship had saved him on more than one occasion. It didn't matter that the ship looked like it belonged on a junk heap or that something was constantly breaking. The Falcon was synonymous with safety in Finn's mind.

Still, his relief at being back in the Falcon did not stop him from lighting into its pilot. As soon as the hanger door had closed, Finn marched directly to Chewie. Not stopping to consider the stupidity of his actions, he took a swing at the giant Wookie.

"What were you thinking? You let her go out on her own! Why didn't you go with her! You know that the First Order is looking for her!"

Chewie roared in defense and batted Finn away. The blow might have been a love tap to another Wookie, but it sent Finn flying into the wall. It didn't matter to Finn. He was beyond angry. Pulling himself off the wall he turned to go another round with the giant fur ball.

"Okay, that's enough." Rose got between the two males. Her tone didn't brook any argument.

Rubbing his jaw, Finn continued to glare at Chewie. The Wookie glared right back.

"Seriously! I said enough. All of this useless male posturing is not going to help find Rey."

That seemed to take the wind of both combatants. Chewie hung his head and growled sorrowfully. Finn still couldn't understand him, but Rose walked over and put a sympathetic hand on Chewie's arm.

"It will be alright," Rose said to the Wookie. "She wouldn't have survived for so long on Jakku if she wasn't resourceful. Besides, who would want to mess with a Jedi?"

Her words seemed to comfort Chewie, but they didn't ease him. Finn didn't want to contradict Rose, but he didn't share her optimism. Jakku was harsh, but it was sparsely populated. There were a lot more reprobates to deal with on this planet and Rey was just one girl, magical force powers or not.

Chewie sat down next to Rose and leaned his big head over to rest on her shoulder. Rose continued to pet his arm and Finn found that seriously annoying. He was the one that got thrown into a wall and Rose was caring for the Wookie like he was the injured party.

Still, Rose had a point. Fighting amongst themselves wouldn't help anything. Every second they wasted, something horrible could be happening to Rey. Needing to take control of the situation, Finn spoke in a calmer tone.

"Okay, the first thing we need to do is a fly over the path she most likely took. Maybe we can spot something." Pausing, Finn didn't consider the wisdom of his next words.

"Chewie, you have already done a search for her using the Falcon's scanners, right?"

The Wookie's roar of outrage reverberated throughout the cabin. Finn didn't need to speak the language to know that whatever Chewie was saying to him, it wasn't complimentary. Stomping away, Chewie continued to voice his outrage the entire way back to the pilot's seat.

Rose gave Finn a scathing look and Finn found his confidence withering under her stare.

"He isn't an idiot. Unlike another dummy I know."

With that, she turned to join Chewie. Leaving Finn to wonder how he became the bad guy in all of this.