The Return of Ben

Chapter Thirteen: Blown Up?

HUX

Hux removed his helmet and set it on the sink counter. The washroom smelled of soap and cleaner, a welcomed change from the sterile smell of his mask. He would become more accustomed to it over the years, but for now, it was a relief to finally remove it. 

He never imagined how quickly things would escalate. It was now to the point where he was so well known with his mask, that he would never be able to remove it in public anymore, so as not to reveal his true identity. No one had made the connection that the 'Red Advocate,' as they called him now, was actually 'General Armitage Hux.' It was better this way though. In his old position with the First Order, he hadn't been liked by many. Or any. Now he was being revered.

Hux squinted at his image in the mirror. The overhead lights felt too bright. He stretched his heck and moved his head around, glad to be free of the weight of his helmet. It regulated his sight, smell, oxygen and sound perfectly, but he still preferred having open contact with his surroundings. It made him feel more in control, more aware.

He ran his hands through his hair and looked at his reflection in the mirror. Was his skin becoming more white? He leaned in closer to look. His skin didn't pick up sunlight that well, the way Poe the Pilot's did. The Pilot's skin looked sun coloured and rugged, like he was a jungle moon explorer. 

And yet, even for his lack of tanning capabilities, Hux's skin looked quite pale, more pale than usual, almost translucent. Would his veins begin to show through the skin if he kept his face covered all the time for years on end?

The sound of the Comm Unit notification cut through the droning hum of the ship's engine. Hux sighed and reached over to the Comm pad on the wall. The Captain's quarters had a Comm unit in every room for convenience. Hux was placed in the Captain's quarters. He hadn't even asked to be. The Captain of this vessel gave up his own space for Hux and readily took the guest quarters instead. Hux was just a passenger on this ship, but apparently a highly regarded one.

"Yes?" he said into the Comm, a bit sharply. It wasn't sleeping hours but he'd been hoping to get some time alone during this trip, before they arrived at their next destination.

There was a pause on the other side, then, "please inform the Red Advocate that he is needed in the Command Center."

"This is-" Hux stopped. His voice didn't sound the same without the helmet. "I'll let him know," he said.

He picked up his helmet and took one last look at his pale complexion. "You won't even know what hit you, Pryde," he said, then set his helmet back on his head.

-------------

"They've destroyed Ajan Kloss," Admiral Piett, one of Kylo Ren's previous Emperial Officers, informed Hux as he strode into the Command Center. He'd left the Galactic Empire, of his own accord, after over fifty years of allegiance with them.

"Who has destroyed what exactly?" Hux asked.

"The Final Order," the Admiral said. "Pryde has destroyed the moon Ajan Kloss."

"Destroyed an entire moon?" Hux was skeptical. All the battle cruisers with star destroying capabilities were destroyed in the last great battle with the Final Order. How could Pryde have destroyed a moon in one shot? Hux knew enough about the Final Order's current resources to know that they didn't have the capability to just destroy a moon.

"Take us there," he said now.

"But sir," the tactical officer said. "The moon is gone. It was the Resistance Base and-"

"The Resistance Base?"

"Yes, sir."

Hux's stomach tightened. "Were they destroyed too?"

"Who? The Resistance?"

"Yes." Suddenly the image of Poe Dameron's smile, when he'd said "I knew it was you," returned to Hux's thoughts. It was engraved in his mind. Could the Pilot have died so needlessly?

He slammed his fist on the Command Center table, getting the attention of those who were gathered around it. They were a vagabond group of deserters and activists, and a gang of space pirates. They looked up now, more intrigued than startled by Hux's reaction. It was something impulsive that Kylo Ren would have done, Hux realized; slamming his fist down at hearing unwanted news. He was usually more reserved than that. Perhaps it was the helmet. It made him more uninhibited.

If Pryde had managed to Kill Poe the Pilot then Hux would not only kill the hateful man, with his own bare hands, but also every living relative of his, many times removed.

"Brave men, destroyed by Emperial scum," one of the space pirates spat.

The others gave a hearty response to this, with grunts and shouts. Hux straightened and regained his composure. They all thought he was feeling righteous anger about the Resistance Base being destroyed, but it was actually a blind rage at the thought of Pryde possibly having killed the Pilot.

"Set the coordinates to Ajan Kloss," Hux said. "Full power. I want to see where this moon... is."

FINN

Finn woke with a start.

"Destroyed!" he said, his words still slurring with sleep. He reached for the light switch in the dark. "Rose! Hurry."

Rose was sleeping in a small cot a few feet ahead of his. She covered her eyes and groaned in displeasure at the light. "What are you doing?" she croaked.

"The cabin! Rey's place." Finn tried to remain calm but his pounding heart was making it hard to breathe. "It's going to be destroyed. We have to warn her."

"You just had a nightmare." Rose covered her eyes with her arm. "Go back to sleep, we have another hour or so before getting up."

Finn didn't have time for this. He'd clearly seen the vision of Rey's small place being blown up by some unseen source. He had random dreams like anyone else, but when they were from his Force Sensitivities, he knew. And this dream wasn't just a regular dream. It was a warning.

The freight ship's sleeping quarters smelled like unwashed garments and dust. Finn hurried over to the row of washing basins opposite the beds and splashed some water on his face, then ran his fingers through his hair. His nerves seemed to know before he did that it was time to tell Rey the truth. That he was Force Sensitive. It was the only way she would believe him that they were in real danger. It would be difficult to transport the sleeping boy, but they had to get out of  that cabin. Now.