•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•

EPISODE XXXVIII - HUX

"You know nothing about me," seethes Hux.

Rey crosses her arms. It's been two weeks since her escape attempt, and in that time, no one—not even Snoke—has attempted to speak with her. Until today. Until General Hux, whom she can never forget murdering Captain Phasma.

"I know you're a murderer."

"Executioner," Hux corrects her.

"There's no difference."

"Yes, there is. I was following orders."

"It doesn't excuse you. You still killed her."

Hux splutters. "Why are you so difficult?"

"Why are you even talking to me?" Rey spits back. "I have to listen to your voice enough!"

Hux straightens, hands folded behind his back. "Snoke said to stop the videos."

"Thank goodness," Rey snaps, even though she fears this means Snoke's giving up. Which is what she wants. Although, if Ben doesn't come soon... she'll lose her child.

No. Even if Snoke takes you, Rey promises. I'll come back for you. I'll actually come back for you.

"I want you to stop treating me with such disrespect!" Hux shouts.

"If you want my respect, you'd have to earn it. Which you haven't." Rey hesitates before adding: "Yet."

Hux rolls his eyes. "I should expect nothing less from a whore of Ren's."

"A what?" Rey glares at him.

"Ren isn't capable of caring about anyone besides himself," Hux informs her. "No matter what he's said. He's also quite skilled at manipulation. I believe you've seen some of that yourself."

Rey closes her eyes. "You're wrong. He's changed."

Hux snorts. "People don't change."

"Don't they?" Rey raises her eyebrows. "Does the number FN-2187 sound familiar? He goes by Finn now."

Hux slaps her. Rey tumbles to the ground, clutching her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Hux mutters, looking down at his boots.

And Rey responds the only way she can: she pushes into his mind. Hux gasps, trying desperately to resist her—but he can't, he doesn't have the Force, he's no match.

Dozens of images flash through Rey's mind. A small boy, hair red and unkempt, mud splashed over his clothes and rubbed on his cheeks, running through pristine gardens overflowing with gold and magenta and crimson flowers. The boy bursts through an elaborately carved archway, skittering across tiles and into a shadowed room. And a man, the same height as Hux now and with the same fiery hair, but with a broader build, looks down at the boy and the filth in disgust. Without a word, his fist flies out and knocks the boy to the floor. Clean it up!

And the boy's clutched in the arms of a woman with mousy brown hair and dull eyes. She plants kiss after kiss on his cheeks. "You deserve so much better. You'll make him proud, someday."

Voices swirl around Rey, one Hux's, but squeaking and breaking in places: I'll be somebody someday, you watch! And another voice, laughing as cruelly as Snoke had, but it's not Snoke, no—it's the man, Rey knows without seeing him.

She feels it all, too: the insatiable desire for more, more power, the undercurrents of confidence in himself, in his stormtrooper program, in his brainwashing, the wild and desperate desire to please warring with his desire to rule.

And the fear, too, quiet but pernicious: you will never be all you could be. FN-2187. The Starkiller. The girl.

Hux is screaming now, and the sound jerks Rey out of his mind. She stares, unashamed.

Flustered, Hux staggers back, wiping at his face, his already perfect hair and immaculate uniform. "You—you—bitch!"

"You're the one who hit me!"

Hux flaps his hands, turning on his heel to leave, turning back to her, to leave again, and back again.

"Don't ever do that again." It's supposed to be a command. It comes out a plea.

Rey lifts her chin and doesn't answer.

Hux storms out.