The impossibly large hangar bay buzzed with excitement while my stomach churned with nerves. All three Stormtrooper battalions stationed on Supremacy filled the vast space with their unit leaders standing in the grid-like spaces between them. The battalion commanders stood on stage along with General Hux, the Supreme Leader, and myself. The unexpected presence of the supposedly fallen Captain Phasma at the all-hands meeting filled the air with energy.

"A good idea after all, Hux" Kylo mused from his seat, resting his chin on his fist. "Rare for you."

Standing at his right hand, the General tipped his head in thanks. "Don't congratulate me yet, Supreme Leader."

He scoffed. "I wouldn't dream of it."

I shifted to my other foot. I stood on his left side, gazing out across a sea of white and black. The digital overlay within my helmet showed only the time and the atmospheric conditions since I had deactivated the vital sign indicator for this event. The armor's chromium finish glinted in the harsh lighting of the hangar, and the comfortable undersuit supported every curve of my body. The boots, specifically designed to boost my height, made me feel ten feet tall.

It had only taken Hux's team one week to put the finishing touches on the armor.

Hux opened the meeting with a few inspirational words. The Troopers were distracted, and I sensed him shortening his remarks in response to their reaction. He introduced Captain Phasma to thunderous cheers and applause and stepped away from the podium. With a shaky inhale, I stepped forward to meet him halfway. We exchanged sharp salutes.

"Don't mess this up," he ground out.

I breathed out a laugh. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said in the eerily accurate voice of the late Phasma.

The cheers became an indistinct roar when I stood at the microphone. A large camera droid hovered in front of the stage, broadcasting this moment to the entire fleet. I lifted my arms, drawing even more hysteria from the crowd. My heart raced with excitement.

"My brave comrades!" I began. I glanced down to read Hux's propaganda-ridden speech from his datapad on the podium. "Thanks to the awesome power of our Supreme Leader, I have returned to your sides to continue our righteous fight!"

"Over these last months, we have experienced both loss and great success." I lowered the tone of my voice with sadness. "Many of your comrades died on Starkiller Base at the hands of the cowardly Resistance. Our former Supreme Leader was murdered by the same. We have suffered damage to our fleet as well as our ground forces."

"However," I said emphatically, "our triumphs far outweigh our losses. We crippled the Resistance fleet. We struck at the very soul of the Resistance by executing Luke Skywalker." I paused to let the crowd cheer. "The Resistance is now scattered and terrified, hiding in pathetic bases, towns, and caves across the Galaxy. By year's end, we shall hear the death rattle of the Resistance and finally march on the New Republic. We shall stomp out their corruption once and for all!"

Standing in the shower that evening, I cleared my sore throat for the hundredth time. The speech had been brief, but I had practically shouted the entire thing. Hux's ecstatic praise had been worth it.

I stood deliberating in my closet for at least twenty minutes. After training with Kylo nearly every day this week, I finally worked up the courage to request a sit-down conversation with him. It took three outfits and four gowns for me to settle on a long-sleeved gray dress. It took ten more minutes for me to walk through the door.

Just walk over, activate his door signal, and wait. Simple.

Kylo turned away from the star chart when I entered the briefing room.

Star's blazing end!

"Good evening," I said, trying to hide my nerves.

He dipped his head as I approached. "Lucia," he murmured.

I climbed the steps and joined him on the catwalk. When I realized he wasn't wearing his outer robe, my eyes briefly swept over him. He was not reedy and thin like most First Order officers. His arms were muscular and his chest was broad, reminding me of my hesitant explorations of his body. I brought my eyes up to his face, and his gaze rose as well.

"In six years, I've never seen Hux so pleased," he said, straightening his back.

I couldn't help but smile. "I didn't do it for him."

He hummed neutrally as his eyes returned to the star chart. The planets of the Unknown Regions were reflected in his brown eyes. "I received a transmission from General Sade. She has a lead on something I sent her to investigate."

"What's that?"

"An artifact," he said vaguely. "I'll soon leave to take command of the mission."

I felt my face drain of color. "You're leaving?"

He nodded.

Disappointment washed over me. Though our training sessions had been brief, they had given me exactly what I wanted. A trip to the Unknown Regions was not a quick affair. I heard his boots pivot on the floor when he turned to face me.

"Will you come?" he asked quietly.

I looked over to find a hint of uncertainty dancing in his eyes. Though he could easily have made it a command, the choice was mine to make. I nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, drawing my eyes. I looked at his shoulder, imagining my hand there as I pushed myself up to kiss him…

" Alert in sector four, " a computerized voice suddenly said. " Repeat: sector four alert. "

Both of us watched as the hologram changed back to the Western Reaches. A red box hovered over a planet I didn't recognize. I glanced at him in worry, and he waved his hand dismissively.

"That happens all the time."

My eyes traced over the fleet of tiny holographic battlecruisers. Over the course of three months, they had occupied nearly the entire region. Some squadrons were beginning to push even farther into the Mid Rim. I couldn't help but think of the bloody battles on Thyferra and Jakku.

I raised my hand and pointed. "Why are these here? This sector of the Reaches isn't even under the jurisdiction of the New Republic."

His demeanor became stern. "To remind those people who's in charge of this Galaxy."

"Through bloodshed?" I asked in a small voice. "Just having a battlecruiser in orbit is enough reminder."

His eyes remained forward. "What are you suggesting," he said flatly.

"Stop the ground offensives," I said. His eyes darted to me. "With the Resistance fleet gone, the war is more psychological than physical now. People need to feel that their lives are better under the First Order than under the New Republic."

He considered this briefly, and then he crossed his arms over his chest. "That's a reasonable assessment, Lucia." He looked halfway over his shoulder. "Would you like to join us, General?"

I searched the empty room with my eyes until the door to Hux's quarters slid open. He emerged wearing a half-buttoned uniform top, as though he had dropped everything to eavesdrop on our conversation. His expression was indignant.

"Apologies…Supreme Leader. My Lady."

I brightened at the title that had cropped up in recent days.

"If I may, I would like to stress the importance of our presence in sectors outside of the New Republic's control," Hux continued, looking up at us.

"For what purpose?" I asked, stepping closer to the railing.

"Authority," he answered simply. "If our authority is feared and respected in the Rims, the Core will have no choice but to abdicate power."

I shook my head. "I disagree. The Core Worlds don't give a damn what happens elsewhere in the Galaxy. They are blinded by selfishness."

"As a democracy, the New Republic must bow to the will of—"

"Democracy?" I had to laugh. "Democracy died a long time ago."

Anger erupted on his face. "You have no idea what—"

" Silence ," Kylo suddenly snapped. "This is a topic for the next war meeting. Not tonight ."

Hux and I continued to glare at each other for several seconds. More than anything, I wished to sit him down and educate him on the rancid political world I had been exposed to from a young age. Judging by his expression, he wished for something far less cordial.

"Excuse me," he deadpanned, bowing stiffly.

Kylo dismissed him with a perfunctory wave, and we were alone again.

When his gaze went to his own quarters, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. I put my hand on his arm to keep him there, or maybe, to invite myself along. "Kylo…"

His eyes dropped to my face, both guarding and studying. "It's late," he murmured, placing his hand on top of mine. The warmth spread through me like a drop of water in the desert. He brushed my hand off gently. "Come to me in the morning."

I nodded breathlessly. "Alright."

His eyes were all I could see until sleep claimed me late in the night.