CHAPTER FIVE
supreme power !

HIS DEFORMED FACE wrinkled in such an unnatural way, that Kylo Ren could do nothing else but sit in a pool filled with the purest form of uneasiness he'd ever had the pleasure of knowing.

It in no way resembled his father, who he remembered had wrinkles so severe that they’d crumpled the muscles under his skin as they folded, particularly around his lips and in the vacant space between his eyebrows and receding hairline. The crevices in his skin never seemed to fully recover — even when the old man was slack or disinterested in whatever it was he was watching — but they did seem to become a terminal sign of disappointment when he scowled at his son. It was a permanent side effect of Kylo’ birth. Sometimes, the end of these wrinkles became so deep that the skin lifted to create an entirely new silhouette around his features; in those moments, it was hard to see any resemblance between Han Solo and his son at all, who undoubtedly compelled the older man to distort his face from the likeness they once held. If he was around, Kylo was certain the two  would look more like a distant uncle with his nephew due to the weathering on his features.

His father's face shouldn't have overtaken his mind so very successfully.

The boy's eyes fluttered behind his mask as he realised how quickly he'd delved into a land he was advised to forget. But it was just so easy to see the difference between his new master and his old one; even more so than the differences between the new teachings of the Sith and his family. His master's wrinkles seemed to drag skin away from certain parts of his already off centred face. Like his large forehead — that naturally made it look like he was leaning to the left when he sat back in the large stone throne — was a testament to age itself for how competently it destroyed his complexion.

"Supreme Leader, there's been some minor setbacks with the plans for Starkiller Base, but I assure you we will be ready for construction within the coming weeks." General Hux's voice shook slightly beside the Sith-in-training, but he paid no mind to it.

His report was dribble that wettened the dark stone floor the two stood on. They were the only two in the room, who patiently resided besides a section of stone which became a jagged stage from which the Supreme Leader delivered his teachings. There was a shine to the obsidian from the hologram which mirrored the same shine from Ren’s helmet, which’d been freshly polished for the occasion. Instead of listening to the General’s report, the boy readied his throat for the interruption he'd been considering since his boots first echoed through the halls of the First Order that morning.

"Master." His helmet forced static between each syllable of his interruption, but the same baritone line ran through. It was heavy enough to weigh down the end of Hux's next sentence, until it trailed off in disdain.

"What is it Ren?"

His master had fingers as dried and wrinkled as his head; like an old man had gone for a swim and stayed in a little too long. When Supreme Leader Snoke glanced towards his apprentice for the first time that day, a wave of uncertainty filled his mind like a toxin barely released into his withered bloodstream.

"I sense a change within you. Was I wrong to believe your betrayal to the light?"

Kylo swallowed, thankful that his mask covered his eyes that would so easily juxtapose the subtlety of his disagreement. He looked towards his master's feet; it had been embarrassingly easy for the force to call for a version of himself that was slain, and discarded alongside the younglings which were now piled in a mountain of wasted potential. He could still hear his mother call his real name between the slashes of his sabre through inhuman flesh, and feel the corruption in his heart as he did so. He was sure General Hux imagined shame coating his boyish features beneath the metal, but his eyes reflected something else. The red-hot energy that illuminated the whites of his brown iris become intoxicating every time he considered turning back. The anger; oh the anger he felt when he saw the blue light that’d been so ready to snatch his head as he slept — it was enough to fill up his chest as he ripped out the part of his heart that felt anything at all except hatred. He was ready for the Sith. He was something much greater than the victim of his former master.

He wanted more than control. Kylo Ren wanted ultimate power, despite his current distraction.

"No, Supreme Leader." His voice was void, but the lungs which pushed it out were drowning. "The Force- it called to me in a dream."

This caught his master’s attention.

"As I was saying-"

"-Silence General."

Snoke was quick to slam his cluster of bone and skin into his chair, effectively shutting the red-headed General up. The man was thin compared to Ren; his light eyebrows and pale skin were the perfect surface to reflect the blue hologram light and the subtle red hue in the room's torches, while his face remained exposed alongside his robot of a superior. It was like Hux was made to reflect the Dark Side, and literally pale in comparison to the Sith. General Hux’s snarl didn't create a single wrinkle like it had with Ren's father and the Supreme Leader. Instead, the man (who was no older than Kylo) seemed to suit his grimace as he sent a glare hotter than a blaster's shot towards his rival.

“What did you see Ren?”

"I was in a temple, following these three figures to watch a woman give birth. It was the child that it wanted me to see; something about the baby drew me there." Kylo explained as evenly as he could, despite his obvious palpitations as he recalled his visions.

"Does any of this aid your training?" Snoke chased the boy. He looked visible irritated with the interruption once he’d heard it’s product.

"I don't know Supreme Leader. I need more time."

The General could hardly hide the scoff that came from deep inside his mind, especially when it cut the silence that seemed to fester in the wake of Ren's admission. When it came flowing out the apprentice could barely shuffle his boot towards the tall man before Snoke glared to keep him in place; Hux got away without even a sigh as the silence continued.

The Supreme Leader stared his newest asset down, right as Kylo felt a force much greater than his own begin to root through the deepest parts of his mind. He tried so desperately to think of anything but the people that stained his skin and the genetics he would forever be plagued with carrying.

"Forget about it Ren. Your mind is filthy with all these. . . distractions."

The Supreme leader snarled as the hologram began to flicker in and out.

➳➳

The General had never had the courage to slam his gloved hand into the wall in anger, nor had he ever felt he was able to replace the head of the Knights of Ren in the mind of the Supreme Leader. It was his greatest flaw; the only thing that stood between his measly job as General and the seat directly beside their ultimate superior was the very person that he couldn't face, entirely due to circumstances out of his control. He never dared step out of line, but as he left the meeting with Snoke, he came the closest he ever had to complete annulation of his character.

Armitage Hux hated the force with every part of him, for not choosing him.

He didn't understand the long line of force wielders that had been snuffed out by Anakin Skywalker all those years ago, or how precious the blood that flowed through his rivals’ veins was in the history of not only the Sith and Jedi order, but in the very stability of the galaxy's creation. He didn't feel the energy that passed between each figure or living being that had ever been or could come to be- the General didn't get any of it. He knew that put him at a disadvantage, and the man was astute enough as a commander to realise that this particular disadvantage couldn't be overcome by skill or spilled blood. No- he had to be smarter than that. While he wasn't as aware of the tether between worlds, the General was aware that his Supreme Leader would know the second Ren's heart stopped beating in his chest.

A shame really, he thought. While Ren's talents seemed to aid his rise to complete supremacy among the young officials, Hux's meticulous control and strategy only seemed to help remind himself how very far behind he was. It showed him how little he could do to overcome the man that walked beside him. There was always one thing in his corner however, as Hux knew his value to the First Order made him irreplaceable in the Supreme Leaders ranks.

Ren hadn't won just yet.

"The engineers aren't motivated Commander Ren." Armitage commented.

His eyebrows were drawn in disgust as he thought about the boy beside him, and the scowl he wore didn't break. It would only be a matter of time before one of them was chosen, and he knew better than anyone that he was genetically behind.

"That has nothing to do with me." His reply was infuriatingly monotoned.

That was another advantage, Hux noted as he stared at the shiny black helmet instead of the large doe-like eyes he knew was hiding behind them. Kylo’s face wasn't a secret in the inner circle of the First Order, but that wasn't the point. It was a symbol of restraint between him and the other Generals, who were cursed to accessorise with their own emotions.

"It's got everything to do with you. Once upon a time, the knowledge that a Sith was on the same ship as them would triple efficiency." The General tried again, desperately searching for a way under his skin. He didn't have a mask to cover up the irritation that grew on him like a rash.

"Are you questioning my ability General?"

"I've heard the stories of Lord Vader and what-"

While Hux didn't have the courage to slam his hand down in temper, Snoke’s apprentice was more than happy to take him by his collared black shirt and throw him into their base's walls. As he did, the air was knocked out of Hux's lungs pathetically fast with a gasp that was muffled by the feeling of power against his throat. He could breathe — just — as Ren’s power pushed against his windpipe like a boulder; it was the sound of Armitage’s struggle which was caught.

"Are you suggesting I copy Lord Vader? Perhaps I should start with the eradication of insubordinates who question my methods, General Hux?" Ren's voice still seemed to resemble a viper, only he had fangs of metal instead of bone.

Hux couldn't speak, not while he felt like he was choaking on thin air. Despite Hux’ struggle, Kylo’s anger didn't waver. It was the strongest part of the boy brought up with Solo as his last name, and it left him in hot sparks despite the controlled expertise of the power in his blood. When Kylo let the man beside him go, he could finally let out the groan every part of him was trying to compress.

"No Commander." Armitage sputtered out, barely able to stand.

General Hux hated the force, but he hated what Kylo Ren could do with it more. Most of all however, he hated that it meant he always got bullied into submission.

oOo