Pain

Today was supposed to be a good day.

After managing to crack hyperspace tracking, the First Order had had the Resistance tied on the end of a string. The Resistance had been completely outnumbered, outclassed and outsmarted. By now, the last of them should have been gone and the galaxy would have been better for it. But, like always, the Resistance seemed to find a way to prevail.

General Hux silently cursed the heavens as he surveyed the damage dealt to the Supremacy through the control room windows. The ship had been split in two as if it were merely a broken toy.

Lightspeed. Lightspeed. Who would've thought that the Resistance would blast an entire cruiser through a fleet of Star Destroyers?

There's no question about it that Supreme Leader Snoke would not be pleased, but a report to him was necessary.

Heaving an exasperated breath, Hux gave a final glance at the wreckage outside and turned on his heels, making his way towards Snoke's chambers.

Their entire fleet had been destroyed in one swift move. With what remained, Hux could probably count the number of ships they had left on one hand. And yet again, the Resistance had escaped. Right now Hux should be reporting to Supreme Leader about their decisive victory over the Resistance, but instead he's delivering news of failure. Again.

His good day was ruined.

Stalling his approach to the elevator, Hux scratched his head and began brainstorming excuses to tell Snoke. But considering the circumstances, nothing would excuse blowing a fifteen-to-one lead to the Resistance.

Pushing the button for Snoke's chambers, Hux secretly hoped that the ship's damages had broken the elevator, but was disappointed to feel the compartment start it's upward climb.

By the time that the small compartment had come to a stop, Hux had to wipe his brow clear of sweat. His nerves had settled slightly, and he had mentally prepared himself for the incoming verbal assault from his leader, but a completely unexpected sight met him in the chambers.

When the doors opened, the first thing he saw was the glow of a familiar red lightsaber. Except it's owner wasn't the one wielding it.

Adjusting to the situation, Hux found Kylo Ren sprawled on the floor unconscious and standing above him, the scavenger who held a red, glowing sword.

Panicking, Hux threw his hand toward his holster, and retrieved his blaster. Hux hastily pointed the weapon at unnamed scavenger, and slipped his finger over the trigger, but stopped before taking fire.

Taking a closer look, the scavenger didn't seem to have noticed him at all, but instead had her full attention on the man on the ground before her. She had a certain look in her eye that Hux had seen oh so many times in Kylo Ren himself. It was a look of pure rage, the look of a murderer targeting their next victim. A mad and frightening look only given by someone full of hatred. He could feel it radiating off of her even though he was a good distance away, being on the other side of the room.

Observing the scene playing out in front of him, Hux realized that this scavenger was seconds away from killing Kylo Ren. Lowering his weapon ever so slightly, he found he was about to let her do it. And that sat just fine with him. He could deal with her when she was finished.

This place would be better off without the late Ben Solo. He was just another power-hungry fool trying to be the next Vader.

When the scavenger just kept staring at Ren with that fire in her eyes, Hux quirked his head in surprise. She didn't appear to be driving the red blade through him. Instead, the scavenger steadily brought the saber towards Ren's outstretched hand that lay against the floor. Ever so slowly, she brought the tip of the saber towards his cloth-covered forearm, just below Ren's elbow.

Realizing what she was about to do, Hux lowered his blaster and watched with a blank stare as the scavenger gradually brought the lightsaber closer to his right arm, and made contact.

Ren seemed to visibly flinch in his sleep when the burning blade started it's slow journey through flesh and bone, but that didn't stop the scavenger. Unhurriedly, she kept a slow yet steady pace as she cut through Ren's arm. Hux could practically see the tissue being stripped from the bone as it burned and disintegrated in a fiery red glow.

At this point, a terrible, blood-curdling scream filled the chambers, indicating that Kylo Ren had finally woken up.

With the blazing rod stuck firmly in Ren's arm, the scavenger quickly planted her right foot firmly on his chest as he started to thrash around violently. She clearly didn't want him interfering with her work.

Briefly looking beyond the scene in front of him, Hux took notice of what was left in the room. His eyes were met with an empty throne, a dozen dead guards, and a view of the destruction outside.

Eyes growing in horror, Hux finally began to register what exactly had happened.

The scavenger, the very same one with the Resistance, had killed their Supreme Leader and the rest of the guards. Somehow managing to knock Ren unconscious, she was now torturing him and was clearly enjoying it.

And Hux wasn't doing a damn thing about it.

Blaster forgotten, Hux took an extra step forward and silently cleared his throat before filling the room with his voice.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" echoed the menacing voice of Hux, barely louder than Kylo Ren's screams of pain.

With a final jolt of the saber, the scavenger finished her job and detached a sizable portion of Ren's arm from the rest of his body. The screaming stopped as she switched off the lightsaber and turned her attention towards Hux, leaving Ren whimpering on the ground.

Hux barely managed not to flinch when her gaze landed on him. The menacing look in her eye had yet to dissipate.

The scavenger thrust an arm out into the space between them, hand shaped to a position as though she were grabbing at a non-existent object.

Not having even a second to comprehend what she might be doing, a terrible sensation washed over Hux. As if someone had snuck up behind him, threw a rope around his neck and started pulling with all their might, his throat began to seize up. Dropping his weapon to the sleek floor, Hux threw both of his hands towards his jugular in an attempt to stop the invisible force around his neck.

He was choking.

Just as quickly as it had begun, the tension released and Hux found himself gasping for air as he caught sight of the scavenger quickly dropping her outstretched arm. Falling to his knees, Hux didn't even have time to catch his breath before Kylo Ren's deep voice filled the room.

"Shoot her, you idiot!"

Ignoring the insulting comment from the apprentice on the floor, Hux hurriedly reached for his dropped weapon. With shaky hands, he managed to get a somewhat poor hold on his blaster and took aim at the scavenger, though he hesitated yet again.

Hux found that she seemed to be frozen on the spot, staring at him in terror. The very same fire in her eyes that stalled him before was no longer present; it had smoldered and gone out. The fearful look she was giving him had nothing to do with the fact that she had a blaster pointed directly at her.

Being a general had given Hux quite a bit of experience. Dealing with various species around the galaxy required patience and good judgement, especially when the First Order is involved. Looking into the eyes of allies and enemies alike had allowed him to easily recognize just what they might be feeling. And meeting the fearful, frightened eyes of the scavenger spelled out one thing.

Guilt.

Too lost in his thoughts, Hux failed to notice the scavenger turn and flee from the scene.

"What are you doing?!" bellowed Ren, as the scavenger raced her way around Snoke's unoccupied throne and towards the escape pod.

Attempting catch the scavenger, Hux picked himself up from the glossy floor and ran after her, finally pulling the trigger. His shaky hands sent the red bolts flying in all sorts of directions, hitting everything but his intended target.

Finally making his way around the throne, Hux came to a dead stop when he found the hatch to the escape pod open and the pod already launched. No sign of the scavenger.

Looking up from the black floor to the exposed windows, Hux found the pod zooming off in the direction of Crait.

The scavenger had got away. Yet another thing to add to today's list of failures.

Stepping out from behind the throne, Hux adjusted his disheveled cloak and looked down at what remained of their Supreme Leader.

"She did all of this?" Hux scrutinized, gesturing to the room as he looked back at Kylo Ren, who now sat upright with his gaze directed towards his former right hand.

Ren seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering quietly, "Yes."

Hux frowned. He wasn't convinced.

Watching as Ren stood up and examined the blackened stump just below his elbow, Hux decided to make a snide remark.

"At least it's cauterized."

"Fuck off."

Ren turned and appeared to search for something. Hux watched in confusion.

Still searching, Ren questioned, "Did she take it?"

Not a clue what he was referring to, Hux responded, "Take what?"

"The saber."

Pursing his lips, Hux prepared for another galaxy-famous Kylo Ren temper tantrum as he slowly replied, "Yes. She took your lightsaber."

Shaking his head, Ren was quick to respond. "No, no, no. The saber."

Hux was surprised not have Ren completely lose it. Knowing full well which lightsaber he was referring to, Hux gave his response.

"If you mean the broken one lying near your hand, then no. No she did not."