Demoted (Hux X Reader)

Finally, the Finalizer!

A/N We went over some serious emotional shit over the last few chapters. Time for a little breather to slow things down before we add more fuel to the fire.

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The brief was held but with a very different tone. Instead of just high ranking officers, I invited my entire team and any personell I could, including those that worked under Mehdo. It was supposed to be cheery and uplifting and all about what the future may hold for Starkiller Base and the First Order. It is our greatest achievement, weapon, and structure. We can not only strike fear into our enemies for generations, but also remind our people who's in charge. No more militias or coups or rebellions. No more violence. No more Resistance. I did go over all of that, but not before I made my own personal message clear.

"Good afternoon. I'm glad to see all of you here today. I hope you enjoyed your stay here on Starkiller Base, or not. I don't care. As most of you know, we had a Resistance attack on our shipyard the other day. The traitors are now dead. For security reasons, I won't go into further detail. I was their main target, but they were also targeting as many of you as they could possibly get."

I bit my lip whilst determining whether or not I should say what I wanted to say in full. There are ranks higher than me sitting at the table. What if I offend them? No. I don't care about that anymore. Fuck it. I slam my hands down on the table in anger.

"Let me make one thing abundantly clear! My friendliness towards my comrades is not to be used as a tool for anyone's personal gain. I don't care who you are and I dont care what you support. Do not mistake my willingness to be kind as a weakness. Because if I find out for a second that any of you are scheming to take advantage of me, I will not hesitate to shoot you. Do you understand me?"

The meeting room filled with people was dead silent. There were a few nodding heads. Whether it was General Hux walking up behind me and glaring down at everyone, or my own stern voice with a threatening undertone, I think they got the message. Although, I think they were more afraid about Hux. It seems they didn't get the memo that he was attending the meeting.

I left Starkiller Base shortly after the brief. I didn't say goodbye to Mehdo, nor did I want to. Mehdo had already left at an earlier time for a debrief on his assignment. I'm still somewhat mad at him, or mad at myself everytime I think about him. My memories with him were all good ones. We hung out. We talked. We laughed. We confided. All for what? So he could use me? That was his plan all along. It doesn't matter that he started to care at some point. Intentions matter.

I have to distance myself from other people. I don't want to make the same mistake again. It simply isnt worth it. I started to do that when I said goodbye to my team. I shook my Captain's hand and gave her a nod. That was all. I didn't want to speak to anyone else. I kept looking around at each person, wondering if they too are traitors or completely loyal to me. Who know's at this point? I carried one duffle bag stuffed with everything I have to the ship that will take me away from this cold and frozen place. I studied the pilots preparing Hux's ship for transit. What if they were traitors? How would I find out? What am I looking for?

I haven't discussed with Hux what we are going to do when we get to the Finalizer. He hasn't talked to anyone about it. I don't know how Ren is going to react. He isn't above Hux, nor is he below him. They kind of coexist like water and oil. I guess they follow their own orders from Supreme Leader as well. I know Captain Phasma will be excited to see me, regardless of who she's taking orders from. Captain Phasma serves General Hux, but Kylo Ren tends to borrow her for missions. Despite her rank, she has a lot more power than I realized. Even I find myself following her lead when it should be the other way around. Anyways, I'm not sure exactly what Ren is going to do or what he can do. He has enough power to have a say in it and that's all I know.