Star Wars Post-TLJ Short Stories

The Emperor and Empress

(Takes place late 34ABY)

Deep in a mountain of the recently conquered Arkanis, Supreme Leader Emperor Armitage Hux sat on his throne listening to updates and proposals and giving his verdict on them. Over the last eight and a half months since he had risen to power he had been incredibly busy reorganizing the First Order, appointing trustworthy Admirals to run his army, and having meetings to discuss the most logical way to more effectively force every known inhabitable planet under his empire's control.

He reviewed the Hays Minor Restoration project and approved the new strategies. Hux conditioned a new and improved Star Killer base of his own design, however acknowledged that they would have to think smaller scale than Ilum as Kyber crystals were becoming more rare and there are a finite amount of suns in the galaxy. He did however approve the engineering pitch of designing smaller and more modern Death Star tech lasers to be built and integrated into all of his commanding ships, appointing General Naki Allana of the Department of Military Research to oversee it. Hux also tasked the reformed Stormtrooper Training Program to double their efforts in trying to discern former Captain Phasma's special soldiers from her other hundreds of thousands troopers she trained.

The conference continued forward, his Admirals discussed how they were having issues with conquering the Outer Rim planets in the Southeastern Region that boarder the Mid Rim. They had already taken over Dolla, Arbra, and Rugosa, and were winning the battles against Tatooine and Bespin, but were having trouble with Sullust, Christophsis, Rodia, and Ryloth. Hux was particularly impressed with Ryloth, as in the thirty-four years since their freedom they had spent it building up their defences, it almost made Hux regret wanting to conquer them. Almost.

He was just discussing how he'll be leaving on his flag ship soon to lead the front on Christophsis when one of his three most trusted assistants entered the conference.

"Asushu Namir, what message do you bring?"

Asushu Namir bowed, "The Empress requests your presence in your quarters, your majesty."

"Thank you Asushu, I will join her presently."

One of his Admirals turned to him with a questioning look. "Why sire has the Empress not attended these meetings in person in months, we were under the impression you would be ruling as equals and yet she doesn't even attend on the day we address the reconstruction of her home world?"

"The Empress is dealing with her own tasks, do not question our methods again or you will be escorted to an airlock."

"Yes Supreme Leader, my apologies."

Hux turned to his personal assistant, Chakotay Rin, and gave instructions, "Rin, record all proposals and inquiries for me and the Empress to review later."

"Will do Sire."

Hux then proceeded to follow Asushu Namir out of the conference and to his personal quarters where the door slid open in his presence. His new Spukami named Millicent, with beautiful orange fur, was waiting for him. He picked her up and continued into the quarters where his beautiful wife was waiting.

"My Rose, why have you summoned me, is everything alright?"

After they had left Crait eight and a half months earlier, his lover Rosita Thorn had confessed that her birth name was Rose Tico and although their growing empire still knew her as Rosita, in private she preferred to be referred to as her birth name. She really did live an almost double life, in public she was the ruthless Empress and assassin, but when she was alone with him she was much softer and dealing with the traumas of her past just as Hux was. Even though they were alone her more ruthless side was showing, making Hux believe something was wrong.

"You are going to front?"

"Yes my love, the boarder planets are crucial to us being able to have a threatening presence in the Mid Rim, and I need to be there when they fall, to give orders necessary to claim them as ours."

Rose looked worried, "I'd feel better if I was by your side, so that I can protect you like I did when we were young. The resistance will be there, as will the individual planets defence militaries, you could fall."

Hux gently put his hand on his wife's swollen belly, with their first child growing inside.

"I want you by my side so desperately as well my love, you are the only person I truly trust. However for right now I need you safe until our son is born. I will be alright, I promise."

"Our empire is still in its infancy, and it has lost one of its rulers before. How can I be curtain it won't happen again."

"Snoke, and Palpatine had many flaws, but one of the things they shared is they tried to control everything at once but it was to much for them to control. My strategy is different, I will focus on one task at a time and only continue once I am sure the first part is absolutely secure. Don't worry my love, I will be there for my son, I will not follow in my father's footsteps. He will be loved, and I will never hurt him like my father hurt me."

Hux put Millicent down and brought his wife into a hug and held her tight.

"I will be back before his birth, I promise. While I'm gone I'll have Rin be the figurehead but he'll actually be taking all his orders from you, do you understand?"

"I do beloved, I'll keep our Empire in order, and once our son is born we'll rule side by side again."

She pulled him down for a kiss and the two broken people felt whole in each other's arms. Separate they were a failed general and a traumatized spy, but as one they were the greatest threat the galaxy had seen in thirty years, and their Reign had only just begun.