Kylo Ren (terriblewrong) wrote in thegalaxy, @ 2016-07-12 09:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | !locale: the finalizer, captain phasma, general hux, kylo ren |
someone's got to talk about accountability
Who: General Hux, Kylo Ren & Captain Phasma.
What: Phasma has some objections to make to Kylo Ren following the attack on the Finalizer. Hux bears witness.
When: A week after this thread.
Where: The Finalizer.
Rating: Rated E for Everyone.
Kylo could not count surprise among the emotions he'd felt upon hearing that Hux had refused further treatment and discharged himself from the medical bay after only a short week following the assault on the Finalizer. The dark jedi knew the general could be stubborn to a fault, and in the end, it was more of a comfort that his comrade saw himself fit enough to resume his duties. Having dealt with his own loose ends, he moved through the ship to lay his own eyes on the man.
Clad in his typical dark robes, Kylo watched the man poring over a datapad as he tapped commands into a console in the still fractured command room, checking the stats and timeline of various repairs to the massive vessel. Hands neatly folded behind his back, Kylo approached the redhead on silent feet, stopping just to his right.
"Considering the beating you took, I had thought you'd be unconscious for longer."
"Did you." Hux did not look up from the screen in his hands. His thumb slid across the smooth surface, summoning another construction crew to yet another badly damaged part of the ship. "You aren't the first to underestimate me. I doubt you'll be the last."
A few more taps on the screen and Hux's work, for now, was done. He slipped the datapad into a pocket, straightening up to better address his visitor. "Something you need, Kylo Ren?"
"Simply ensuring that you are of sound mind to be conducting your duties, rather than needing to be forcefully escorted back to the medical bay before you accidentally turn a repair into further damage," he replied, unmoving from his spot. The remark was likely the closest thing he could say or do to show some level of care toward another living being.
A wry smile twisted Hux's lips. "Your concern is appreciated," Hux said. "But unnecessary." He stepped closer to the Master of the Knights of Ren, his low tone inching dangerously close to teasing. "Even on my worst days I've not damaged half what you have on this ship. I think I'll manage just fine."
The door slid open with an audible hiss, but everyone had pause to be grateful there was a door. Phasma walked in, stiff and unapproachable as always, but it remained startling to see her in the ship’s common areas without her armor. It had been damaged enough in the TIE fighter blast that it remained in repair. Had they been dispatched to the front, she would have worn the standard issue stormtrooper armor in its stead, but for now, she came to the deck dressed in her black command uniform.
So exposed, her expression was calm, nearly unreadable, but her eyes snapped with barely contained anger. Like Hux, she had only just been released from the medical bay, and likewise against orders. She had nearly lost an arm to the explosion, and had been unconscious for well over two days, but as soon as she had been able to secure a datapad and review the security footage, she had demanded to be let out.
Now, the taller woman made a direct line for the two men conversing quietly. “General Hux,” she greeted him, her voice coming through clenched teeth although she inclined her head respectfully. Kylo was not afforded even that much; her ire was sharp and clear. “Kylo Ren,” she added, leaving off the Master appellation pointedly.
If the missing title bothered him, it was unnoticeable in the straight line of Kylo's black form.
"Captain," he replied, his voice its usual monotone. "I see you emerged from the carnage mostly unscathed."
"And I am grateful for it," Hux said. The tension between the two was palpable, and Hux had no desire to see it come to a head. "I'll need both your support if I'm going to get the Finalizer and its crew back in order." He looked pointedly from one to the other. "We must present a united front against our mutual enemies. Don't you agree?"
“Unscathed?” Phasma slowly looked down at her black uniform, carefully and pointedly, her gaze going over it as if she was drawing eyes to a lesson she was teaching. Her ice blue eyes traveled back up to them, blinking almost innocently. “Of course. Quite so. It wasn't as if a catastrophic explosion of a TIE fighter, ignited by a deranged and out of control Knight of Ren, damaged my favored armor to a degree that it must be reforged in areas.” Her tone was calm, but sharp as a knife. “And here I thought I had given explicit demonstration as to what could happen when a traitor slipped free of our grasp. My failure lost us Starkiller. Now, it seems we are due, nay, destined, to lose the Finalizer.”
"And yet we have not," Kylo responded in a cool tone. "I would say the loss of a favored set of armor is far less grave than that of the First Order's flag ship. It is unfortunate I was unable to assist in preventing the loss of Starkiller Base as well, but I'm sure you're aware that we had a full contingent of officers responsible for assisting myself and the general in that endeavor.
"I certainly hope that next time you run into a traitor from your own ranks, you won't be so prideful as to put your own life before that of the Order."
On this point, Hux had little to say in her defense. As much as he admired her pride -- and found its reflection in himself, as well -- it did them no favors in the assessment of their current state. He frowned at both of them, disappointed in how the conversation had gone thus far, and unsure how to turn it to something useful.
"If both of you are quite finished," he said, "we should turn our attention to what repairs yet remain, and how we proceed from here. Captain, have you determined if Issan Ren had any help from within our ranks?"
If Kylo’s barb struck home, it did not show on Phasma’s face, for no heat colored her expression, despite the fact that her eyes still radiated anger. “My life, and my goals, have always been aligned with those of the First Order. I have trained those within its ranks….not those without. But it seems they come here anyway.” When she turned her gaze to Hux, the anger disappeared, but it was not conciliatory. Now, her eyes were merely cold and emotionless. “Not at this time. However, my investigation should be complete, General, before my reassignment.” She did not add that she had only just left the medical bay and had not had time to pursue the issue for more than a few hours; she could get a lot accomplished in a few hours, after all.
"Then by all means," Hux said. He gestured to the door at their back. "Go and complete your investigation. If you have further complaints, you may bring them to me, privately, after you have composed yourself."
There was the smallest sigh, kept behind Phasma’s lips, as she bowed her head in acknowledgement of the order. “General,” she said, perfunctorily, accepting the dismissal, although there was no repentance in her expression for her words to Kylo. She likewise did not acknowledge him as she turned to head to the doors and back to her assignment.
Kylo was more than agreeable to her departure, turning his attention back to their previous discussion.
"In the ensuing assault on the bridge tower, one of the deflector shield generators was damaged. The last report I received was that it had been since corrected, but testing is still warranted. Along with that, it would be prudent to ensure the targeting array does not require calibrations, but I defer to your expertise, general."
"I agree," Hux said. "Everything must be tested as thoroughly as we can manage, given our losses. Now would be the ideal time for a secondary attack. We must be prepared." He looked to Kylo, and did not allow his fear to show in his eyes. "Your assistance is appreciated, as is that of your knights. I mean what I say: We must work together. I will ensure Captain Phasma understands this."
"I would hope so, general. Her emotional state does not befit her status." With that, Kylo pressed on to other matters that he felt required his attention. "I suggest we begin with..."