The Sabersmith

Chapter 2: The Promotion

As I waltzed my way towards the bridge, the number of people roaming the halls became overwhelming. Not to mention, it was practically a maze to find my way here; I had to take two lifts and wander a variety of halls before I knew exactly what direction I was going.

I'd only been up to the bridge twice in my career within the last seven years, as my job never required me up here. The last time I came here was a couple years ago when General Hux promoted me to my current position of Sergeant, assigning me leader of a team. And the only other time before that was when captain Phasma brought me to General Hux for assignment after they'd found me on Pandem Nai.

I was broken from my thoughts, and my direction, as Avery came speedily walking towards me.

"Marina, we should talk," he said, as he matched stride with me. "I just want—"

"Captain Derstar," I interrupted, "you will not address me as that. My title is Sergeant Weltraum."

He sighed, still keeping pace with me, even though I began walking faster towards my destination: General Hux's office. "Marnie, I'm serious."

I didn't want to reply. I was not going to speak to him about anything that wasn't business-related. Although, there was one thing: "I request that you give my belongings that I left in your quarters to my team member Shiloh, or you can deliver them via a droid. But I don't want you near my quarters again."

I was nearly to the general's office now. The door was open.

"Marnie, I just need you to understand—"

"Captain!" I shouted and turned to him quickly, stopping dead in my tracks. He didn't stop though; his body went flying into the wall next to us, smacking his head against the durasteel.

Silence on the bridge. I looked around nervously. I knew it was me that threw him against the wall. I assumed the people around me knew that as well. I took a few deep breaths as my eyes darted to the various people looking at us. A few of them were staring, and slowly the crew members that were in the area continued walking to wherever they were headed, but a few murmurs followed.

I looked over to General Hux's office. It was still open, but now General Hux and Supreme Leader Ren were standing just outside the entryway. The general looked annoyed, as he usually was with the crew members. I couldn't see the Supreme Leader's face since it was covered with his mask, but his arms were crossed. I assumed he was annoyed as well or maybe frustrated.

Frustrated... could that have been him that I felt that was frustrated yesterday? I'd heard that he had Force powers, but I'd never been around him long enough to determine that myself. He was very difficult to read, regardless. I always just thought it was because I'd never seen his face, but maybe I wasn't able to read him because he was able to hide his emotions.

The only other people on this star destroyer that I knew for sure had Force abilities were the Knights of Ren, since they frequently had to walk through Bay Two to get to Bay Six, where their ship awaited them.

I sighed and looked down at Avery. He started picking himself up off the floor, but he didn't say anything to me. Before he stood up all the way, I walked over to General Hux and the Supreme Leader, who both gestured for me to enter the office first, and they walked in behind me.

I stood tall in front of General Hux's desk, my hands clasped behind my back. General Hux took a seat at his desk in front of me, and Supreme Leader Ren stood beside him.

I noticed his cross-guard lightsaber on his hip immediately. It was a beautiful weapon from what I could tell, but I'd never been able to see it up close. In fact, I'd never had any contact with Supreme Leader Ren before; I'd only ever seen him in passing when he would observe Bay Two with the other superior officers, but he was never there longer than ten minutes.