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*I am calm* Hux thinks to himself *I am perfectly calm*
His datapad still flashes it& #39;s report that not only is Ren returning to the Finalizer early, but he will have all of his Knights with him. He lifts his caf to his lips, intending to take a sip, but soon finding himself
His datapad still flashes it& #39;s report that not only is Ren returning to the Finalizer early, but he will have all of his Knights with him. He lifts his caf to his lips, intending to take a sip, but soon finding himself
gulping the lot down, wishing that it had a much, much higher percentage of alcohol.
He sets the empty cup down and tries to ignore the allure of his drinks cabinet, dismissing the warning to start reviewing the Finalizer& #39;s repair budget. If one Ren can cost so many credits,
He sets the empty cup down and tries to ignore the allure of his drinks cabinet, dismissing the warning to start reviewing the Finalizer& #39;s repair budget. If one Ren can cost so many credits,
seven of them can only be exponentially worse.
He closes his eyes and massages his temples. How his weapons project is ever going to be developed when so many funds keep getting syphoned away by Ren& #39;s tantrums he& #39;ll never know.
A new alert on his datapad has him opening his
He closes his eyes and massages his temples. How his weapons project is ever going to be developed when so many funds keep getting syphoned away by Ren& #39;s tantrums he& #39;ll never know.
A new alert on his datapad has him opening his
eyes, dropping his hands from his temples and clutching the pad in interest. It seems someone has put together a report, detailing the occasions that all of the Order of Ren were previously gathered on the ship against the cost of repairs. And it seems that when Ren is not alone,
costs go *down*.
Hux sits back, head spinning. Is it possible? The Knights actually keep their master in line? It& #39;s possible also that they just provide Kylo with another target for his ire... he checks the report again and no, the medbay demand and supplies have also been
Hux sits back, head spinning. Is it possible? The Knights actually keep their master in line? It& #39;s possible also that they just provide Kylo with another target for his ire... he checks the report again and no, the medbay demand and supplies have also been
taken into account. Even the crews own demand for anti-anxiety stims goes down during those times.
Hux falls back in his chair. He can feel a grin forming on his face, unfamiliar and he tries to wipe it away, but it returns. He feels giddy. Maybe even... hopeful?
Hux falls back in his chair. He can feel a grin forming on his face, unfamiliar and he tries to wipe it away, but it returns. He feels giddy. Maybe even... hopeful?
He darts forward again, picking up the pad and calling up an entirely different list of resources. He has to make them stay. If he can get them to remain on board for longer, he might even be able to progress on his projects.
He licks his lips as he reviews crew quarters.
He licks his lips as he reviews crew quarters.
A couple of quick selections and there!
The ambassador suites that are inexplicably adjacent to Ren& #39;s quarters have been assigned to his Knights. Maybe being so close together will keep them away from the rest of the ship.
The ambassador suites that are inexplicably adjacent to Ren& #39;s quarters have been assigned to his Knights. Maybe being so close together will keep them away from the rest of the ship.
The next couple of weeks passed in blissful peace, or at least as much peace as a burgeoning military force could expect from a rebellion that claimed to be acting independently from the galactic senate, but such troubles were to be expected.
Hux continued at his work, and
Hux continued at his work, and
almost forgot completely about the presence of Ren and his Knights.
Until the first invitation arrived.
Until the first invitation arrived.
Kuruk Ren had sent Hux a personnel file, detailing the rifles he was proficient in, as well as a couple of personal details, even going so far as to include a picture of his helmetless self. He was handsome, Hux though, and accepted the joint session at the shooting range.
Kuruk was already waiting when Hux arrived, standing at parade rest beside a table laid out with his guns, watching Hux as he entered.
Hux laid down his own gun bag, laying out his custom rifles, though it made a much smaller selection that Kuruk& #39;s own.
Hux laid down his own gun bag, laying out his custom rifles, though it made a much smaller selection that Kuruk& #39;s own.
"Very good," Kuruk said, his voice warm and heavy. "Shall we begin?"
To start they each selected one of their own weapons and stepped up to the line. There was no small talk, nothing unnecessary, just two competent marksmen taking time to practice together.
To start they each selected one of their own weapons and stepped up to the line. There was no small talk, nothing unnecessary, just two competent marksmen taking time to practice together.
In this way they took each other& #39;s measure, and when a little less than half their allotted time had passed, Kuruk stepped back and waited for Hux. When Hux caught his eye, he gestured to his more exotic collection of rifles.
"Perhaps you& #39;d care to try something a little
"Perhaps you& #39;d care to try something a little
different?"
Hux nodded his thanks, and reviewed Kuruk& #39;s collection. Some of the weapons he recognised, others he knew as guns only from guessing their shape. He made a selection of a black and sleek shape, a little heavier than he was used to, but one that fit comfortably
Hux nodded his thanks, and reviewed Kuruk& #39;s collection. Some of the weapons he recognised, others he knew as guns only from guessing their shape. He made a selection of a black and sleek shape, a little heavier than he was used to, but one that fit comfortably
against his shoulder.
Kuruk& #39;s smile deepened, his voice warmer as he said "an excellent choice."
He stood behind Hux as Hux took his mark and attempted to fire. His first shot was off the mark; it would still prove a fatal blow against an opponent but it wasn& #39;t a clean shot.
Kuruk& #39;s smile deepened, his voice warmer as he said "an excellent choice."
He stood behind Hux as Hux took his mark and attempted to fire. His first shot was off the mark; it would still prove a fatal blow against an opponent but it wasn& #39;t a clean shot.
"May I?" Kuruk askes, and Hux nodded, expecting to hand the weapon over to him.
Instead Kuruk moved behind him, stretching a little to rest his chin on Hux& #39;s shoulder as his arms came around Hux& #39;s body, hands resting on Hux& #39;s hands to adjust his hold.
Instead Kuruk moved behind him, stretching a little to rest his chin on Hux& #39;s shoulder as his arms came around Hux& #39;s body, hands resting on Hux& #39;s hands to adjust his hold.
"Now," he said against Hux& #39;s ear, and Hux felt a shiver travel down his spine. "Like so."
Kuruk& #39;s adjustments were minor, without condescension, and as he taught Hux the correct way to move with his weapon, his body came to press itself fully against Hux& #39;s back. Or perhaps Hux
Kuruk& #39;s adjustments were minor, without condescension, and as he taught Hux the correct way to move with his weapon, his body came to press itself fully against Hux& #39;s back. Or perhaps Hux
moved back against him. He wasn& #39;t sure. But he was sure that when he felt the satisfaction of hitting his target precisely three times, it was the most natural thing in the world to turn his head and capture Kuruk& #39;s lips with his own.
When the shooting range booked elapsed, Kuruk bowed deeply to Hux and exited, giving the dishevelled general time to right his appearance and pull himself together before gathering together his weapons bag to leave.
Hux exhaled heavily. Well. That was... quite something.
Hux exhaled heavily. Well. That was... quite something.
The next invitation arrived from Ap& #39;lek, in the form of an ancient strategy game that he proposed to set up in one of the officers recreation rooms. Hux accepted, intrigued, though any holonet searches he could find gave him no indication of the game& #39;s rules or strategy.
Hux arrived to find the room deserted, only Ap& #39;lek& #39;s outline against the starscape beyond the room& #39;s windows was visible. Ap& #39;lek turned slightly as Hux approached, making no attempt to hush the click of his boots as he approached.
Ap& #39;lek stared up at him as Hux looked down, at
Ap& #39;lek stared up at him as Hux looked down, at
both the Knight and the delicate looking game board beside him. The board was composed of several layers, multiple styles of pieces, all balanced delicately on a single stem like a delicate tree.
During his inspection, Ap& #39;lek watching him with half a smile, his striking
During his inspection, Ap& #39;lek watching him with half a smile, his striking
features giving nothing away.
"Are you ready to play?" he asked.
"I believe I am," Hux replied.
"Do you know the rules?"
"I have a strategy," Hux replied, to which Ap& #39;lek huffed in amusement.
"Well then, to the novice goes the first move," Ap& #39;lek said, gesturing to the
"Are you ready to play?" he asked.
"I believe I am," Hux replied.
"Do you know the rules?"
"I have a strategy," Hux replied, to which Ap& #39;lek huffed in amusement.
"Well then, to the novice goes the first move," Ap& #39;lek said, gesturing to the
board."
"Excellent," Hux replied.
He took a step back and spun on his back foot, striking the board dead on, shattering it& #39;s surfaces and scattering the pieces to the floor.
He watched the falling game until the room became silent, then turned to look at Ap& #39;lek.
"Excellent," Hux replied.
He took a step back and spun on his back foot, striking the board dead on, shattering it& #39;s surfaces and scattering the pieces to the floor.
He watched the falling game until the room became silent, then turned to look at Ap& #39;lek.
He looked shocked for a moment before throwing his head back and howling with laughter.
"Well played little general, well played!" he crowed, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "How did you know?"
"When the enemy controls everything," Hux replied, "the only option left is to
"Well played little general, well played!" he crowed, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "How did you know?"
"When the enemy controls everything," Hux replied, "the only option left is to
do the unexpected."
Ap& #39;lek nodded in agreement, still chuckling.
"Will you claim your prize then?"
Hux thought for a moment, then nodded.
Ap& #39;lek stood so suddenly that Hux& #39;s sleeve dagger moved to his hand before he had thought of it, and he wondered briefly if he would be
Ap& #39;lek nodded in agreement, still chuckling.
"Will you claim your prize then?"
Hux thought for a moment, then nodded.
Ap& #39;lek stood so suddenly that Hux& #39;s sleeve dagger moved to his hand before he had thought of it, and he wondered briefly if he would be
fast enough to use it against a Knight of Ren.
Ap& #39;lek held his gaze from just below Hux& #39;s height, and held it as he sank to his knees and nuzzled at the front of Hux& #39;s jodhpurs. Hux moved his hand, dagger still in plan, to Ap& #39;lek& #39;s short hair.
Ap& #39;lek grinned, perhaps knowing
Ap& #39;lek held his gaze from just below Hux& #39;s height, and held it as he sank to his knees and nuzzled at the front of Hux& #39;s jodhpurs. Hux moved his hand, dagger still in plan, to Ap& #39;lek& #39;s short hair.
Ap& #39;lek grinned, perhaps knowing
it was there.
Hux grinned in return.
"You may continue."
Hux grinned in return.
"You may continue."
