Believer ◊ Star Wars [2]

chapter four; plenty of problems

As of late, Armitage Hux had not been having the greatest time.

The failure of Starkiller base - and the glaring fact that it didn't exist anymore - was probably the biggest contributing factor. His whole life's work had fallen in a matter of minutes after the oscillator was destroyed by the Resistance's merry band of miscreants who'd somehow freed a key prisoner and managed to blow up the one exploitable weakness of the planet killer.

Snoke had taken a real liking to remind him daily of that failure in the most humiliating of ways. Dragging the general on the floor via the Force in front of a dozen officers just happened to be the newest method.

Failure. That was all the Supreme Leader was thinking this legacy child of the Empire had amounted to. With disgust written all over his grey, raisin-parched features, Snoke had taken pleasure in berating him and readily reminding Armitage that he was following into the pattern of his father before him. Brendol Hux's authority was not enough to save the Imperial Fleet when it came time to snuff out the Rebel Alliance. It seemed his son wasn't either.

Until today. Armitage stood smugly in the middle of the Supremacy's throne room after he explained the entirety of the plan he'd set in motion. Snoke's chuckle reverberated off of the high ceiling, "Tied on a string indeed, General Hux. Well done."

For the kind of day he was having, the positive feedback was welcomed, "Of course-"

"The Resistance will soon be in our grasp." Echoes bounced throughout the chamber, not allowing him to finish, "It'll be a swift end to your....pervasive problem."

The general tried not to bristle at the comment while his hands tightened behind his back. Ah yes, the problem of Marana.

His sister, the former commander that should've died two years ago. The same one Armitage had brought into the First Order in a last-ditch effort to improve their aerial strategies thanks to the Resistance's recent acquiring of New Republic officers at the time. Marana hadn't given her life much meaning, but her brother had easily sized up the potential the woman had actively tried to waste since she was a teenager. And with enough pressure put on his irksome younger sibling, she delivered results.

Until she was terminated. Supposedly dead.

Hux couldn't let his mind dwell on the sudden memory of his very much alive sister practically walking out of his nightmares before another visitor entered the room. He turned to see what he considered to be the physical manifestation of a walking headache, Kylo Ren, stalk out of the turbo lift. Understanding the briefing was over, Armitage once again faced his superior, "Thank you, Supreme Leader."

He spun back on his heel to start down the glossy walkway. The two men momentarily passed each other and the general couldn't resist sending Ren a smug grin. It was rare that Snoke was satisfied with both of their endeavors at once and it seemed today was Hux's turn to be the functional member of the Order.