Chapter Text
The Knights of Ren have always been a silent presence. If requested, they accompanied their Master aboard the ship, where Snoke requested their service. And the simple fact that they could observe but not be observed now gave them an advantage.
The Knights spoke to no one. Not out loud. They were able to communicate with the Master through the Force. And that was enough. But now all the Knights sensed something bad was happening. Snoke was gone. And their Master became Supreme Leader. So the Knights stood by, unused, watching their Master sink deeper into madness every day. The Master refused further help in finding the girl strong in the Force, instead leaving his Knights on the ship and disappearing. The Knights spent long hours in meditation. There had to be something that would help their Master. The Master needed to strengthen his connection to the Dark Side. But the conflict within him was very strong. And so, after another of many meditations, the Knights made a decision. For the first time in their service to their Master, they would need outside help.
And in their minds, there was only one person who could do that.
Hux was well acquainted with the concept of pain. It was an integral part of his past and, it seemed, now his future.
The general sighed and pressed an ice pack to his side. Bacta was a useful thing, but it couldn’t work miracles. So he resorted to the outdated method of ice packs and rest.
For the first time in all his years of service to the First Order, Hux questioned the purpose of it all. After the horrific incident on Crait, where their new Supreme Leader was shown in the worst light, Hux saw clearly where it would all lead. Kylo Ren was too influenced by the Light Side or whatever other mystical nonsense both Ren and Snoke liked to talk about. Hux didn’t care about the Force. Now there were more important things. The resistance was on the run, thanks to Ren. As it turned out, much to the general’s disgust, Ren was literally obsessed with a Jakku scavenger. Whoever she was, Ren kept babbling about the need to convince her to join him on the Dark Side. Hux couldn’t imagine why Ren couldn’t see that this behavior was going to get them all killed. The entire First Order stood on the edge of the precipice, and Ren didn’t care.
Hux sighed and tossed the ice pack on the table. He had to get dressed, get himself in order, and get to the bridge. Even with all the chaos, the general had to set an example for his soldiers.
Before he could get up from the couch, there was a firm knock on his quarters door. The general barely had time to sit up when the door opened and the Knights of Ren began to enter his quarters.
Hux quickly stood up and pulled his robe close to his body. How did they know the code to open the door? Had Ren heard his treacherous thoughts and sent his knights to bring the traitor to him for punishment?
„What are you doing here?!“
The Knights were silent for an eerily long moment. Hux would never admit it out loud to anyone, but the presence of so many masked strangers in his quarters made him nervous. He’d seen and experienced what Ren had proven himself. What could the Knights of Ren have done as a group? And why were they even here?!
Then one of the Knights stepped forward and made what looked like a bow.
„The Knights of Ren need your help, General Hux. The Force demands you.“
The General has seen a lot of strange things in his life. And the truth was, most of them revolved around Kylo Ren. But this, this was a whole new level that Hux had no idea what to think.
„You want to do what exactly? Betray Ren?“
„No!“ blurted out the Knight, who seemed to be the only one speaking. „The Master needs help! His mind is clouded!“
Hux fully agreed, though he would have used slightly different words. Like crazy.
„And how am I supposed to help him? He won’t listen to me. He won’t listen to anyone. All he cares about is that… scavenger…“
Disgusting, really. How low could someone as powerful as Kylo Ren sink.
The Knights of Ren began to turn on each other. Hux suspected they were probably using the Force to communicate.
„Master needs rest. Get away from the influence of the Light Side. Strengthen the bond.“
„And how can I help? Should I kidnap your Master and lock him in his room?!“
„We thought…“
And then the Knight paused. And Hux began to feel very uncomfortable.
„The General has a good idea. Let’s move Master to a safe place where we can help him.“
Hux blinked in shock.
„You want to kidnap him? He’ll kill us all! He’s insane!"
At that, Knight rose from his chair at Hux’s desk and strode over to Hux.
„Watch your words, General! It is our Master you speak so inappropriately of! It is our duty to help him!“
Hux moved to the other side of the sofa, as far away from Knight as possible. For a moment there was a stifling silence in the room, but then Knight sat back down and Hux let out a sigh of relief. He would have to watch what he said in the future. Even though the Knights seemed cooperative, they were still serving Ren.
„Well… Even if this plan succeeds, you’re forgetting one thing. Ren is the Supreme Leader. The people will notice that he is missing. They will look for him. And when they find him, they’ll execute us for treason.“
The knights began to turn on each other again. Hux tried to look unconcerned, but inside he was panicking. Despising Ren was one thing. But to participate in treason and kidnapping? Public execution for betraying the Supreme Leader was not something Hux wanted to experience.
„I will replace the Master in his role. No one will know anything through the mask.“
Hux raised his eyebrows in question.
„And his lightsaber?“
„I’ll borrow it. It will be an honor to do great deeds in his name with my Master’s lightsaber.“
„But you’d have to be Supreme Leader! To lead the First Order! It’s a lot of duties, meetings…“
„Of course you will help me with this role, General. We’ve been watching you. You’re a good leader. I’ll do as you say. We will lead the Order to victory and save our Master. The Force will guide us.“
The other Knights nodded. Hux just watched in horror as the Knight stood up and everyone simply left. Didn’t they wait for his opinion? This was a terrible plan! No one would believe them, someone would expose the whole thing and it would be over!
Hux sighed deeply and looked at the time. He was already late. He’d better get to the bridge and wait and see how the situation developed. Doing something unprepared could be disastrous.