"Fear is a chain." Said a soft voice.
The Emperor turned, his robes flying outward and he stumbled to the medcot. He gripped her hand, "You should-" His eyes searched her face, desperate for evidence of her health.
She gripped his hand back, "You said there were no chains in your empire."
He stiffened, "There aren't."
Her dark eyes glittered like the expanse of space, "If you kill a man for making a mistake, you forge the first one."
"What would you have me do then?" He withdrew his hand, "I cannot let a failure like this pass unpunished."
Her eyes fell shut, weary already, "You said he was a good officer. Give him a challenge."
"Have you been awake all this time?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. But her face has softened into sleep.
The emperor turned toward General Hux, his eyebrow raised just a little.
Hux frowned down at his datapad, "There's the matter of Nal Hutta."
"Fine. A demotion and the command on Nal Hutta. Let Roerne redeem himself. Or die trying."