Demoted (Hux X Reader)

Rain Hellfire

A/N : idk about this chapter. It's a little chaotic. I'm finishing up some unanswered things, or loose ends of the characters since we are nearing the end. I've written the ending already- I just don't know how to get to it yet. I don't want to drag it out any longer than it needs to and I don't want it to be too sudden. We'll see what happens in the last few chapters. I've written in Foskett, but I just don't know what to do with her. Actually- hmm... oh well. We'll see. Anyways, let's visit some old themes.

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The stormtroopers and officers and technicians and so many other personell are rallied in the hangar by the time I got there. They start lining up by height and other organizational nonsense. Kylo and I stand around akwardly and wait for the rest to show up. I wasn't in any mood to make small talk with him, but I asked him a few questions just to make sure I can be ready for that speech. It's a pretty big audience and I'm filling in for Hux. I literally just got here yesterday. I don't want to mess it up too badly. I have some ideas with flavorful words. I got this.

Finally, we are ready. I sip my coffee.

I stand before the two traitorous stormtroopers that are on their knees, staring down at the ground. They are stripped from their armor, since they do not deserve to die a warrior's death. Two executioner troopers stand on either side and wait for my orders. Their laser axes buzz blue as the hangar remains completely silent. All incoming and outgoing traffic stop for the next few minutes until I give the word for them to resume. A large number of personell now surround me in hastily made lines. I circle the traitors, thinking about what to say based on what Kylo has told me.

Defecting Stormtroopers are unheard of thanks to General Hux's stringent training regiment. The percentage is next to zero. Yet, it isn't completely zero. But what can two uncooperative stormtroopers accomplish?

A lot. It gives other soldiers ideas. It makes other soldiers ask questions about their faith and loyalty. What happens when someone has questions? They ask. They find answers. Those answers aren't always in good faith. That is how Resistance propaganda can snag naive Imperial citizens and workers. They promise freedom that doesn't actually exist. It never did. At least the First Order is honest about our intentions. The Resistance is not. This is a very important and very delicate task I was given. I need these people to understand that the First Order does not take kindly to sharing enemy ideology. It doesn't matter if it's for educational purposes or not. This is how division begins. It is imperative that our ship, our military, our people, remain as one unified mind. We cannot afford any kind of divergence.

"Did you want to execute them instead?" I ask Kylo.

He shakes his head. "No. I think you should. You need it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You should set an example to your subordinates. You aren't exactly a threatening person."

"I'm threatening. I threatened you."

He scoffs at me. "And you think I can take that seriously with your face?"

I touch my cheeks. "What's wrong with my face?"

"Nothing. You're just not scary."

"My approachability has nothing to do with my fear tactics."

"It has everything to do with that."

"Ugh." I push my coffee into his chest and he takes it. He stares down at the cup and simply tosses it on the floor and lets it spill. I sneer at him. "Why?"

"Get a stormtrooper to do that shit."

"You're getting me another one."

"No. I'm not."