Chapter Text
“General Hux, Sir?” Lieutenant Mitaka called towards the figure staring pensively out of the main bridge windows. “There's a private message for you on the holochannels, Sir. It's urgent.”
Snoke. It had been over a year since the Supreme Leader last communicated verbally with Carolus Hux. Every message after he had been ordered to retrieve Kylo Ren from the ruins of Starkiller Base had been received in writing and, more often that not, they had been copied into other officers as well. He still commanded the flagship of the fleet but Hux no longer held the coveted position of direct confidant to Snoke. It had been a comfort that no one else had apparently taken his place, but the huge being may have simply been too tied up in completing Ren's training to choose another officer. This message was no doubt to inform Hux of the completion of that training and the General's own imminent death. Would the Supreme Leader deliver his message and then end his life where he stood, or would he have to wait for Ren's return, and look directly into his former lover's eyes as he waited for him to deliver the blow?
“Eh, General?” Mitaka repeated, “the holochannels, Sir?”
Hux shook himself and walked the length of the bridge, unable to shake the feeling of marching towards his own execution.
“Route it to the holochamber, I'll be there shortly.” Hux said, “Dex, you have the conn.”
He tried not to notice the glances his command staff shared as the doors to the bridge slid closed behind him. No doubt they were all wondering whether he would be returning at all.
-----
Snoke was waiting as he entered the holochamber. The massive room was not as grand as the cave he'd had constructed for the Supreme Leader on Starkiller Base. But it was still one of the largest non-hanger spaces on board and completely unique to the Finalizer. No other ship had a need for such a chamber, as Snoke spoke directly to no one but Hux. No doubt the officer who replaced him would take this ship as well.
“Kylo Ren has completed his training,” the giant began, before Hux had even come to a stop before him.
“That is excellent news, Supreme Leader,” Hux replied, “the First Order will no doubt benefit from his return to the battlefield.”
“And how do you feel about his return, Carolus?” Snoke is smiling, it's a horrifying sight.
Hux swallowed, “Sir?”
“Do you know, Hux, the influence you have had on my apprentice?”
He knows. Hux had always suspected that Snoke knew exactly what he and Ren had been doing in private, but to hear that tone of amused accusation still made his stomach sink into his boots.
“How so, Sir?” Hux wouldn't admit to anything. Even sitting in the trap he wouldn't incriminate himself unless he was forced to do so.
“It seems he wishes to impress you, General.” Snoke sounds almost as if he wants to laugh, “It would seem that he was overcome with guilt after the unnecessary loss of Starkiller Base. NOT because he failed ME and the cause of the First Order. But because he failed YOU. Kylo Ren has thrown himself into the study of tactics and mass warfare with far more enthusiasm than he ever gave to those subjects under my influence alone.”
Carolus knows he's shaking. He had hoped to be braver in the face of his doom, but his body betrayed him.
“Are you aware that romantic and sexual relations are strictly forbidden for Sith and Jedi alike?” Snoke asks raising his eyebrows, or at least the ridges where his eyebrows should have be.
“Really, Sir?” Hux asked, facetiously, nothing left to lose.
“Rather fortunate for you then- that the Sith are extinct and the Jedi reduced to a coward and a novice.” Snoke is smiling again, clearly enjoying the confusion written across Hux' face. “I have long been of the opinion that the Sith Rule of Two and the universal edict against proliferation are not in the best interest of the Force. When you have clearly superior livestock you do not end their lineage. They must be cultivated and encouraged for the good of herd.”
behind his back Hux is sinking his nails into palms of his hands- he must be dreaming. This cannot possibly be real. Why, in Vader's name, is Snoke talking about livestock, apparently in connection with him and Ren?
“It has come to my attention that you are a rather popular figure on the core planets of the First Order, General Hux,” Snoke continues, in an seeming non sequitur, “quite the 'poster boy' for our regime and our growing empire. I understand that a great many young people wish to emulate your rise to power.”
“Sir.” Hux replies, unable to form anything more coherent. He's trying to look around the room without moving. Is this one of Phasma's wildly inappropriate jokes? Is he on camera right now? Has he, in fact, suffered some kind of brain injury?
Snoke is still talking. “It would be a shame to lose such an influential asset for the sake of maintaining appearances. I believe it is time to bring the particular talents of Kylo Ren to the masses, to show our loyal subjects the true reaches of our power. Sadly, whilst Ren has made great leaps in his control of the Force as well as his practical and theoretic understand of the Art of War, he still lacks... any kind of... social ability.”
Yes. That's it. Hux has lost his mind completely. There is no way that Snoke is genuinely discussing his awkward boyfriend's horrible people skills.
“How beneficial that you, General, have charisma and sophistication to spare.” Snoke says flatly, “what better way to bring my masterpiece into the open than at your side?”
“Sir?!” Hux feels like a corrupted recording, endlessly repeating the same phrase, but how else can he respond to this seemingly deranged conversation.
“You will bind yourself to Kylo Ren, General,” Snoke replies, “for the sake of the glory of the First Order.” He gestures toward a pedestal standing to Hux' left.
There's a small metal rectangle sitting alone on it's surface. Hux recognises it immediately. It's a traditional Imperial style 'Leave to Espouse' token. He hasn't seen such a token in years, other than the one his mother has always worn proudly around her neck. Such things have generally been issued electronically, in the decades since the fall of the Empire. Some of the older families have replica tokens made to exchange with their vows but to receive such a thing from high command these days- it is unheard of. Hux doubts that Emperor Palpatine ever issued one directly to one of his officers, even to Tarkin.
It takes Hux three attempts to pick the titanium slip up from the pedestal- his hands won't obey his commands. This cannot be real. He turns it over in trembling fingers.
There are their names – Carolus Brendol Hux & Kylo Ben Solo Ren. There is a blank space for an avowal date, beside a deadline set six months in the future. There are the codes permitting the blending of the finances and households. The token states that their lineage will now be known as Hux-Ren. Another code allowing him to keep his autonomous military career, beside one that declares that he will have no formal authority over the Knights of Ren. The token ends with “Progeny – Unlimited.”
Hux closes his eyes against a rapidly developing migraine. This cannot be real.
“Sir, I don't mean to question your decision,” Hux begins.
“Good.” Snoke cuts him off but, on the off chance that any of this is actually, Hux cannot risk a failure to point out the physical impossiblity of what is apparently being asked of them.
“Sir, Ren and I are not compatible for breeding purposes, not naturally at least.” Hux cannot believe these words are leaving his mouth, “There would have to be medical... assistance, surrogates, and.. it isn't as if either of us will have the time to dedicate to offspring. We are at war, Sir.”
“I am aware of that, General,” Snoke replies sourly, “whatever means necessary to continue the bloodlines of our two finest assets.” Despite the absurdity of the situation, Hux can't help but preen a little. “Besides, your mother has made it quite clear that she is perfectly content to raise any grandchildren you might provide.”
“You spoke to my mother?!” Hux asks, horrified. This day could not possibly get any worse.
“She contacted me herself. A very determined woman, is Neavben Hux.” Snoke nods slightly. “She is a credit to your father.”
Oh, how he wishes that Snoke had called him here with the intention of simply killing him.
“Kylo Ren has not be appraised of my intentions for the two of you,” Snoke continued, “This is to be his... reward... for completing his training.”
Hux doesn't know how to respond to that, so he doesn't.
“You are dismissed, General.” Snoke says, settling back into his chair.
The General is almost at the door when that inhuman voice rings out once more. “Oh, General?” This is it. This is the moment when Snoke reveals that the last fifteen baffling minutes have been nothing but a horrible joke. Hux tenses, awaiting the blow that will end his life. “Congratulations.”
His entire life is a joke. Carolus leaves the holochamber without responding- a gross insubordination- but he has to put some distance between himself and the smirking giant on the throne. He can almost hear laughter inside his mind.
Striding away from the holochamber, he contacts the bridge and informs Dex that he will be completing the rest of his watch in his private offices. He is only to be disturbed in the event of an emergency.
Once the door is closed and locked behind him, Hux indulges himself in a very Kylo-like fit of destruction. Why is this happening now? He hasn't seen the man he loves in over a year. Ren has been subjected to advanced training techniques that the General has no hope of ever fully comprehending. He may not bare any resemblance to the Kylo that first slipped shyly into Hux' bed and heart. Not anymore. He could be an emotionless automaton or a figure of terrifying control, like his beloved Vader. And now, Hux was expected to turn them both into the power couple of the First Order.
It was ridiculous. Bizarre. Impossible.
By the time his watch ended, Carolus had returned his office to its usual pristine condition. He returned to his quarters and drank himself into an uneasy sleep. Perhaps once he wakes the universe will be back in it's rightful order.
-----
When he peels his eyes open, eight hours later, a spectacular hangover is splitting his skull in two. He reaches for his water glass and his fingers brush over a thin titanium token. So that really did happen?
The water glass smashes though the screen of his personal terminal as the General's other hand drags a pillow over his face. It doesn't entirely muffle his screams of rage at the farce that has become his existence.