Tenebrific//Frigorific (A Kylo Ren Short Story)

Chapter 1: Light//Dark

"I was made to rule the darkness." –Rae Hachton

***

General Hux does not know when to shut up. Kylo stopped listening after he heard the phrase, we need a plan. For whatever reason, Kylo hasn't been able to stop thinking about it. It's been only six months, but he wants to undo it, he wants it to be but a memory. It's haunted his dreams; now, it's haunting him even while awake. It's not guilt he feels, it's longing. If only he had an excuse to bring—

"Kylo!" Hux shouts, shoving him unkindly to get his attention. "Will you please listen to what I'm saying for once? This is extremely important!"

           It must be, Kylo thinks, if he called me by my first name.

"Sorry, it's just that whenever you talk, it fades into this monotonous buzzing that is so easy to block out." Kylo takes a deep breath while Hux scoffs and faces him, ready to give him the attention he wants so that he'll go away. "Talk."

Hux frowns deeper. Kylo thinks he looks tired; there are shadows of bags under his eyes; his hair is still tidy but appears too pristine; he walks slower. This situation he's trying to tell Kylo about must be taking a toll on the pristine First Order General Hux.

"The Resistance. They're planning something big against us."

"Aren't they always?"

"Don't interrupt me," Hux snaps, pinching the bridge of his nose before continuing. "This is big, like I said. We got some insight on it, and I have reason to believe that our army will not be enough. We need more, we need something else, something they don't know we have."

Kylo suddenly becomes more interested. "A secret weapon?"

"That would do. If but we had one."

Kylo turns away from Hux, deep in thought, telling Hux to stay silent while he thinks. This is an opportunity. But should he take it? Is it that big of a risk to the First Order?

"Why not just recruit more troops?" Kylo asks.

"We don't have time," Hux answers. "Our sources say we have seventy-two hours before the attack."

"What exactly is this attack going to look like?"

Hux sighs. "Most likely like the previous attacks with a lot more of everything. And there's rumor that they have created a weapon that could potentially destroy us."

"But it's just a rumor..."

"I think it's true." Hux sighs. "Even if it's not, it'd give me comfort to know that we'd be ready regardless."

"Have you told Snoke?"

"He's giving me full control over the situation."

Kylo nods, more to himself than Hux. It's time. Kylo takes off his helmet, setting it aside roughly and turning to face Hux. He drops his voice to a murmur.

"I have something that could help," Kylo starts. Hux leans in to listen. "It's a long story, and you would have to swear, swear on your mother's grave that you will not tell anyone. Not Snoke, nobody. I'm trusting you with this. Can I?"

"What is it you have?"

"This secret weapon you speak of."

Hux looks around to make sure they're alone. "Show me."

"Do I have your word?"

Hux nods, but Kylo needs more assurance.

"Say it."

"You have my word. This will be between us."

Kylo watches his eyes and sees worry and wonder. Nodding, he places his helmet back on and leads Hux out of the room.

***

Kylo leads Hux to his personal room, one he seldom spends time in.

"Not even Snoke knows about this?" Hux asks again.

Kylo shakes his head. "Close the door."

Hux does so, locking it. "How does he not?"

Once his helmet is off again, Kylo answers. "There are things Snoke would not benefit from knowing. And keep in mind, if you speak of this to anyone, even a measly Stormtrooper, I will have your head on my wall as a souvenir."

Hux understands. "Just show me."

Kylo moves to the white paneled wall to the right. He places his hand on it, moving it around until something beneath it glows and clicks. A door materializes, splitting open to allow the duo inside. Kylo waves Hux after him. The door shuts silently behind them.

Lights blink to life, and Hux sees another white-washed room with paneled walls that appears empty.

"If this is a joke—"

Kylo moves across the room and slides a notch up, revealing a control panel with three buttons. He presses the blue one, and Hux waits in his spot. After a moment, a slot in the floor uncovers a chamber with stairs leading down. Kylo descends; Hux follows.

"This is quite the hiding place. I'm impressed at your clandestine methods." Once the lights flicker on, Hux gasps, but he's not sure at what.

Kylo stands in front of the coffin-like structure with his hands behind his back and a small grin on his face. The structure is black and large enough to fit a human, which is what Hux is afraid of.

"What is this?" Hux whispers, feeling his heart rate increase the longer he stares.

"To you, it is a weapon," Kylo responds. He approaches the container, then turns back to Hux, who has remained glued in his spot. "Come on. Don't you want to see?"

"This had better be worth my time."

"It will be." Kylo's voice raises a threatening amount, then lowers. "Come look."

Hux strides over to Kylo, although whether he's ready to see what's inside is still up for debate. He holds his breath once Kylo unlocks it, entering a five digit code. Steam wafts out of the narrow cracks, and the lid opens slowly, agonizingly slowly, to reveal the weapon inside. What Hux sees confuses and terrifies him.

"What is it?"

"To you, it is a weapon," Kylo repeats. Hux thinks Kylo's gaze is one close to admiration.

"What is it to you?"

Kylo's gaze doesn't waver. "Something more."

Hux takes in the sight again. There's water, illuminated red by the lighting in the room, giving it the faux appearance of blood. He's never seen anything like it, and hopes he doesn't have to ever again.

"Where did you find it?" Hux asks, slightly afraid of the answer.

"I didn't," Kylo replies. For a moment or two, he's silent, and his eyes haven't moved since the coffin opened. "I created her."