"You called for me, General."
Phasma's silvery helmet shone like a new pin as she stepped into General Hux's quarters. Her old suit, long since burnt and crumpled from her fall into the flames, had been replaced with new. Granted, this time she needed the armour to protect her raw, flayed skin from the elements. The rogue Stormtrooper was never far from her mind.
"Phasma, excellent," replied Hux, leaning over his desk, his red hair gleaming in the low light. He looked at her, his eyes full of portent. "How goes it?"
"His whore says he woke weeping, like a child. He moves towards the edge," she replied. "Your plan goes well, it appears."
"The piece de resistance was killing the mother," replied Hux, his thin white face glowing with a hideous pride. "It was Snoke who first noticed it. Death... injures him. And his own people so much more so. Its another sign of his pathetic weakness." He spat out the words.
Phasma recoiled slightly as she saw the treachery shine in his wintry face. But she was a soldier, and Hux's soldier. This was the job.
The General continued, "He seems to be under the impression that some form of balance needs to be struck between the light and dark. But its the ramblings of a broken fool. There is no balance. It is our way, or their way, or the battle in between."
Hux looked up at her, and saw his face reflected back. He liked what he saw.
Supreme Leader. Emperor? A moment passed.
"And what about the others? How goes things with the Knights?" he continued.
Phasma shifted uneasily on her feet. "They listen. They are aware of his.. situation. But they grew up with him. Its not...loyalty, but rather an unwillingness to follow anyone without the..."
"Force," hissed Hux. Phasma nodded.
"But I think with each day, they recognise the truth," she continued, quickly.
"He's low, but still dangerous," replied Hux, moving now from his desk to his large window. He gazed out upon the flank of the Destroyer, looking out across at the opposite quarter sector, where his great nemesis no doubt still lay, brooding. He removed his black gloves, and ran a spidery finger across his brow.
"If I can isolate him, then it will be easy to flick the switch. Every Empire eventually has a mad king. Its just a question of time before he tears himself apart."
Phasma moved to go, but hesitated. "The whore also says... he often speaks in his sleep. About the girl."
Hux turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "What does he say...?" He moved towards Phasma now.
"Just her name. She says its like he is ...calling her," replied the silver soldier.
"Well tell her to listen for the details. He claims she killed Snoke. I don't believe it. It was something else..."
"I'll report back tomorrow, sir." she replied, and strode off across the threshold. Hux watched her go, and turned his eyes back across to Kylo's quarters. He smiled as he watched a tall, dark figure appear, and then pace back and forth, back and forth...