At twenty seven Colonel Hux is no fool, although most Colonels are. He doesn't need the force to know exactly what is happening when his superior officer pulls him to the side mid shift and tells him to go see the General regarding an urgent matter. The frown on his face is telling enough.

Given the relative calm the First Order has been experiencing of late, it is a strange request. Their warship is currently circling one of their trade planets for maintenance and restocking. Several officers have even been permitted a few days shore leave. The sudden request is stranger still considering that Hux is an engineer tasked with designing new weapons for the Order. He is admittedly multitalented and occasionally asked to use his steady hands and sharp mind to help shape the Order. But still he does not deal with the General often, generally consigned to a small workroom and largely forgotten about for weeks at a time.

He keeps his head high and resists the urge to find the nearest escape pod, instead walking loyally towards his inevitable doom. Most men summoned suddenly to their boss's office would wonder what sort of mistake or trouble they have caused. Hux does not need to wonder. Obviously they have discovered his part in the murder of his father. It's the only logical conclusion, the only blot on his squeaky clean record and he can only assume that Phasma has let something slip.

Hux approaches the General's office bravely, his face neutral, ready to deny whatever accusations are thrown his way. He hopes for the best. It's not like General Corlan had been a fan of his father. Whatever her beliefs on training the new recruits for the Order, she had been weary of his father's lecherous hands.

Hux pauses in the doorway, his eyes immediately drawn to the large dark figure standing in General Corlan's office. He stares at the masked figure and thinks Vader, which is absurd since everyone knows Vader died with the Empire. The masked stranger turns to look at him and Hux sees this thing is merely copying Vader's style, with a cowl instead of a cape and a hundred other little differences. Hux's spine tingles as he senses the other's intense stare.

Is this my executioner? He wonders silently.

At her desk General Corlan sits impatiently. "Do come in Colonel." She says waving a hand at him, encouraging him to come inside and move closer to the mysterious black clad soldier. "The Supreme Leader himself has assured me he won't bite." She says mistaking his hesitance at the door for fear rather than curiosity.

Hux finds his tongue. "Of course. Apologies General, I did not mean to interrupt your meeting." He says wanting to stare more at the tall dark and silent stranger.

"You are not interrupting." She tells him. "I want you to meet one of Snoke's pupils. His name is Kylo, Knight of Ren. He arrived this afternoon with the rest of the new supplies." She says referring to the man in black. Meaning that Snoke had not told her about his arrival beforehand and just dumped this knight on them without considering it was another mouth to feed and house.

Perhaps this meeting is not about his father at all. If it was he would surely be dead already.

Hux nods and goes to shake Kylo's hand in greeting. Kylo's grip is solid and strong and Hux finds himself staring at his large gloved hands. Five fingers encased in black leather. Hux determines that Kylo is probably human and relaxes. A knight of Snoke's on this ship would be interesting. Hux had heard they possessed the force, some kind of magic Vader had possessed. He can only wonder what General Corlan wants him here for.

General Corlan continues. "You are well aware of our ship's protocols Colonel. Unfortunately as it stands Kylo does not technically have clearance to be on this ship." Clearly something Snoke must have overlooked when sending Kylo to them.

Kylo shifts beside him and Hux can feel his unease. Hux noticed the weapon clipped to Kylo's belt. A lightsabre. Hells he thinks worried for his life again.

General Corlan clears her throat. "It is merely an administrative error," She clarifies attempting to calm Kylo. "Nothing for you to worry about." She adds staring at him, almost challenging him to get out his lightsabre. General Corlan steeples her fingers and lays out her plans to the both of them. "The simplest way to fix this oversight and put Kylo on the system is to espouse him to an officer currently within the First Order, one of appropriate rank." She says in a tone that suggests that either Snoke has already approved this or doesn't care.

Kylo tilts his head confused. "Espouse?" He asks as if he isn't familiar with basic. Which for all Hux knows he might not be. Some of the best warriors are found on the most primal planets.

"Marriage." Hux explains, realising suddenly why he has been called here. He is the obvious and best candidate on the ship.

General Corlan nods. "I have taken the trouble of filling out the paperwork while we waited for you Colonel, all that is required is both your signatures and a thumb print." She says holding out a datapad.

Hux's head spins. Married to a stranger? To another man? And yet it was an order. Hux had always expected that one day he would be married, arranged marriages and political ones being common place among the ambitious. But he hadn't expected one so suddenly.

Kylo despite his earlier outburst seemed strangely calm about the situation, but then he was marrying into the First Order. Something Hux assumed must be an honour even for one already favoured by Snoke. With his mask on Kylo was difficult to read but Hux didn't think the other objected.

"That was efficient of you." Hux says taking the datapad from her. They each sign on the dotted line and hand the electronic form back without much ceremony.

"The system has been updated. Congratulations on your nuptials." General Corlan says handing Kylo his access cylinders. Kylo takes them in his gloved hands and holds them delicately like grenades.

"What now?" Asks Kylo, his voicebox cracks and hisses as he speaks and Hux wonders if it is faulty. He wonders also what his new husband looks like beneath the mask and black fabric.

"You are free to spend the rest of the cycle settling in. Colonel Hux will show you to your shared quarters." Says General Corlan looking ready to remove both of them from her office and get on with some real work.

Hux pales slightly. "Shared quarters?" He says wishing that had been mentioned just a few minutes before. Private quarters was one of the main perks his position within the order afforded him. He was loath to go back to sharing especially with a man that was large and foreign.

General Corlan nods. "Your quarters were designed to accommodate a spouse as well. Colonel Hux I believe you were recently provided with a larger than standard regulation bed due to back problems. I trust you will have no problems regarding the sleeping arrangements." She says stopping any argument he might have. She taps at her datapad. "I have just informed your superior that you will not be returning to finish your shift. Take the remainder of the cycle off as well Colonel. I expect you have much to learn about your husband."

Hux nods and turns to leave with his new husband, unsure exactly what to do with him except maybe take him to the mess for dinner.

They're almost at the door when General Corlan calls out to them again.

"One moment Colonel, Ren." She says holding up a holo-recorder in her hands. "You forgot to kiss the bride."

Hux sighs aware that it is usual for wedding holos to be taken and used for propaganda. He turns around grabs the cowl and presses a kiss to the front of Kylo's mask.

Only Kylo moves his head as he does so, his helmet bashing into Hux's face accidentally.

Hux swears and clasps a hand to his mouth. "Stars! My tooth!"