CHAPTER 14
REPEATING HISTORY

SLIPPING back on the helmet that gave him the only identity he knew, Kylo Ren made his way from his chambers in the early morning to meet with Supreme Leader Snoke. He had left a light imprint of a kiss on Raena's head before he left, who had stayed in his room to keep him company after a dreaded argument had ensued the night prior. He felt the yearning to not leave her as he noticed the way she was tangled in the dark sheets, and the urge to cancel the visit with his leader made him want to punch himself in the face. There was no way he could lie to Snoke any longer about what had been going on with him, or maybe he knew already.

He unlocked the several doors before him, walking up to the hologram that was tapping his wrinkled fingers together. "Good morning, Supreme Leader," the commander greeted.

"Has it been a good morning to you?"

Kylo became perplexed at his question, noticing it was too general. "Yes," he answered after a moment of hesitation.

"I've been ... thinking lately." The supreme leader hummed, and Kylo felt his insides twist. "Your progression within your training has improved, but I can't help but feel that you've been ... what is the word? – distracted."

Commander Ren tried to hide the shakiness of his hands by interlocking them behind his back. "How so?"

"I can't quite pinpoint it," the leader shrugged. "But ever since a few days before you were injured on that mission to Ahch-To, there was something strange going on with you. I can feel it within you; you're different."

"I can assure you, Supreme Leader, that I am the same." Kylo nodded to his mentor in front of him. "I admit that my injury made me a bit faint after the accident, but I am fine now and willing to continue my training."

The hologram flickered as Snoke put his hand out to stop Kylo, who was beginning to walk forward and remove his helmet. "I will ask you one last time, Ren: what is going on?" His beady black eyes burned into the commander's, and Kylo found himself looking down from the sight. "You're growing nervous; that's unlike you, Commander. You don't have the right to be nervous –"

"I'M FINE!"

The supreme leader leaned back in his chair, nodding at his apprentice. "Very well, then."

•••

Raena had woken up by a snore that morning, realizing that the bed she was in was too comfortable to be her own. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her mind coming back to the reality that she had stayed overnight in the commander's chambers. Yesterday's clothes still hung on her body, leaving her stiff as she stood up and checked outside of the room, making sure no one saw her leaving.

She had been having the same nightmare for a straight month, each time being shocked by the end of it, even though she knew how it would end in her death. Raena didn't particularly believe in fate, but she felt as if the dream was trying to tell her something. Although, she continued to tell herself the same thought: It was just a dream.

She managed to survive the rest of the day without seeing him and running into his arms that always welcomed her in private. She knew he was busy training with Supreme Leader Snoke, and she was busy with her own. In fact, she was currently trying to process the reason why Pacey had to try to pick fights with almost all of his fellow cadets.

She was watching the way Hux had been approving Pacey's new attack technique when Gerardo slid over to the spot beside her. "Good morning, Officer Nhagy," he beamed.

Raena had given up on correcting Gerardo, realizing that they were bonded by a possible friendship and he should be able to call her whatever he pleased. "Define a 'good morning' to me," she replied in a tired tone.

"Well, I think it's –"

"I was kidding, Gerardo."

He chuckled quietly at both the sight of Pacey's training tactic and his officer's joke. After taking in Pacey's seemingly glorious glow, Gerardo sighed and turned to his superior. "May I speak freely?"

She exhaled heavily, nodding at his question.

"You seem tired again. You haven't been like this in weeks."

With a shrug, she answered, "I've had a long night."

Before she could smack his face away, she noticed Gerardo leaning into her side and taking a whiff of her scent. "You smell different too."

"Don't do that again," she ordered, a disgusted expression etched on her features. "And I'm perfectly fine, Gerardo. Worry about your training, not me."

He nodded as General Hux clapped his hands in front of the cadets and Raena. "Good job, Pacey. That'll be all for today." He gestured to the doors as Gerardo sent Raena a wave, just before Hux had announced, "Officer Nhagy, stay behind and follow me to my office."

Her eyes locked with Hux's, seeing the sternness underneath his cool demeanor. She nodded, immediately following his fast pace down a corridor and taking a left. He held the door to his office open for her and she sent him a smile, walking into the dark space. Standing in front of his desk, she flinched at the loud sound of the door closing behind her.

"What did you want to speak about, General?" She asked once he came around to stand by his desk.

Hux shook his head. "Don't play dumb, Nhagy."

She looked around the blackness of the room, confusion racking her brain. "Excuse me?"

"Why are you acting so strange?" He spat before breathing heavily through his nostrils. "Never mind, I already know why."

Her eyes grew wide as she fumed. "What the fuck are you talking about, Hux? Spit it out!"

"I'll make it simpler for you," he continued. "What is going on with you –" he paused, taking a deep breath "– and Commander Ren?"

She came to a hush, staring at the general with ridiculed eyes. She racked her brain for an excuse, but found nothing, except for an overwhelming curiosity of how Hux had managed to find out.

"I –" She stuttered, her fingers lacing themselves together behind her back. "I don't understand –"

"STOP LYING TO ME!" The general smacked his hand on the desk, leaning across it so his spit flew onto the assassin's face. "I can practically smell him off of you."

Raena stayed silent. She refused to look into the general's orbs as she rubbed the residue of his spit off her cheek.

Hux let out a deep breath to calm his anger. "I'm not an idiot, Nhagy. There is not one secret on this ship that can be kept from me."

"Why do you even care?" She blurted, anger laced in her tone.

"I worry for you. You don't know the consequences of what you're doing." Hux's eyes grew serious, and Raena could clearly sense the worry he gave. "I've known the commander for years; you've been with us for two. He's not a well man and I fear for your safety. We can't lose you to him."

She rolled her eyes. "Hux, you known damn well I can take care of myself."

"That doesn't halt my worry," he replied quickly. "Not many have tried to get close to Ren, but I have a premonition that those who do only end in death. Snoke has taught him to be this way. You are too valuable to the First Order, and I refuse to let you die in the hands of him.

"You know the story of Anakin Skywalker, yes? Of his relationship with Queen Padmé and it's eventual downfall? I fear that is a path your treading at the moment, Officer Nhagy, and I refuse to let you fall. I will not let history repeat itself."

Raena crossed her arms over her chest, letting a sigh escape her lips.

The general shook his head. "I didn't ask to meet with you to yell at you. It was just a thought."

"Thank you for your concern, General," she replied in monotone, "but I must leave."

Before he could let out another word, the assassin rushed out of his office. Hux rubbed his hands together, wishing with all his life that his intuition wouldn't come true.