[Despite the cursing coming from Brendol Hux, Armitage still stares dispassionately at the tank, not moving or reacting to anything his father is saying. Neither officer takes notice of Kylo either, both of them still involved in this impossible moment and only focused on each other.
But it's not long before one last scream tears through the room, as Brendol's body suddenly dissolves in the tank, leaving only a few organs floating in the bacta.]
[Ren's eyelid twitches barely in something like a flinch before he turns his gaze over to Armitage; he'd rather not leave such an image in his mind longer than necessary. It's not as though he's unused to bloodshed, but that is something else.]
You truly detested him.
[Obvious, yes, but such a cold response to that brutal death draws the words out of him.]
[Hux turns slightly to look at Kylo from the corner of his eye, but he still mostly faces the tank despite the fact there's not much of his father left in it.]
And what of it? I seem to remember that you killed Han Solo not too long ago.
[There's none of the venomous cold that Armitage apparently felt towards his father in Kylo's expression or his answer. He states it plainly, although there's a softness in his eyes that speak to his real feelings.]
I didn't hate Han Solo.
[Another gust of cold wind buffets them, picking up Kylo's cloak and hair as he turns to the side, like he doesn't know if he'd rather confront the remains of the ill-fated Hux or the red-lit scene behind them. Out of his peripheral, he can see the bridge extending out.]
[It's obvious that Kylo's relationship with his father was far different than his own. But despite all that, they both killed them-- in fact, Kylo was far more direct with it than he was. He's not quite sure what that really means, perhaps nothing, since both Brendol Hux and Han Solo are both dead. Isn't that all that matters?
He looks at the the bridge that's suddenly formed, but Hux doesn't make any movement towards it. He just stays by the bloodied bacta tank as he stares at Kylo with a cold expression.]
[His eyes flick away at the question, uncertainty stilling his tongue as he struggles for an answer. Distant footsteps echo on the metal, but Kylo attempts to ignore them.]
I don't—
[The figure on the bridge—the grizzled smuggler and Rebel hero—calls sharply out towards his son, heedless of the conversation between the two younger men.]
BEN!
[Kylo sucks in a sharp breath, lips twitching and a tremor shaking his whole body. He has to steel himself for a moment before turning to the distant man on the bridge, his expression much less impassive than it had been that day on Starkiller, and he gives no reply, no haughty Han Solo to deflect from the name his parents gave him.]
[It's definitely Han Solo, one of the many rebel heroes that the First Order wanted to take out. They have accomplished that mission, or more like Kylo Ren was solely responsible, but it doesn't matter all that much to Hux as long as he's dead.]
Can you kill him again?
[Hux looks back at the few remains of Brendol, knowing that he'd be more than happy to kill him over and over.]
[It's a shaky response, one that's undoubtedly caused him a great deal of conflict, but he's certain of the answer. Although his voice is quiet at first, it grows into something more forceful.]
I'm not like you. I'm done with this.
[But the dream will allow him no such thing, and even as he turns back around, things fade and warp until Han is only a few feet away. He offers words of comfort that Ren should have taken, should have trusted for once in his damned life.]
[Kylo is weak. Hux always has known that, but seeing his reaction and hesitation only reinforces his thoughts. He can't be the Supreme Leader, he doesn't deserve the title. One day, Hux is going to change all that. He won't let emotions get in the way of his ambitions.
The mono-molecular that he always keeps on his person suddenly feels heavier, like it's begging to be used.]
...Kylo can never return home. He belongs with the First Order.
[...Why did he say that? If he wants to stab Kylo, staying quiet would've been better.]
[In his waking hours, he'd agree that there's no going back without any hesitation or conflict. In the dream, it's awful to admit.]
It's too late.
[This time, it's bitter and resigned instead of pained and regretful. But there's still something to it that says he wishes he could.
But like Han Solo himself, the dream figment doesn't back down. He steps forward with a determined look on his face, even as Kylo still refuses to look at him. There's a challenge in his eyes and the twist of his mouth as he instead looks to Hux, daring him to stop the old smuggler.]
[Instead of stabbing Kylo in the back, Hux moves to stand in front of him, trying to block the scoundrel from getting to his only son. By now, the tank with Brendol Hux is completely gone, just leaving this walkway and a dead man trying to appeal to Kylo's origins.]
It's too late, Solo. Kylo made his choice and belongs on this side... and more importantly, be belongs to me.
[There's a faint look of surprise as Kylo follows Hux's movements, and the situation only serves to make him feel more torn. He ends up looking at Han after all, turning as the general steps between them.]
Snoke was using you, [the older man says over Hux's shoulder, his words changing from mere echo to something new, not just an extension of a memory.] But you already know that by now.
[Ren's lips press together, and he's unable to decide what to look at—his father, his partner, or the abyss that finalized one of his worst decisions. In the end, he forces his eyes shut, jaw clenching, unable to accept the next words to come from the specter.]
[Hux doesn't turn to look at Kylo, his focus entirely on the 'ghost' in front of him. Sure, he's alive now, but it's just an illusion-- a dream and Hux is not going to lose to some apparition.]
Would you be proud knowing that Kylo is now the Supreme Leader and is basically responsible for Luke Skywalker's death?
[It feels almost pointless talking to Solo like this, but it's not like Hux is above this. Far from it.]
[The old man puts his hands on his hips, an unimpressed twist to his mouth as he stares the general down.]
You weren't there, buddy, not where it mattered.
[Ren remains silent watching the exchange, having no real response to any of it. After all, Han's words are coming from him—from what he knows and what he thinks his father might say.]
Luke did what he had to do to make up for his mistakes. Ben didn't kill him.
[It's so aggravating to deal with Solo, even as a ghost!! He hates him, not just for being Rebel scum, but for still caring for his son despite everything that's happened.]
Skywalker didn't force Kylo to join the First Order, he made that choice himself.
[Perhaps it's best if he just shoots him. He's already killed his father, why not take the opportunity to murder Kylo's too?]
[Hux's a little surprised when Kylo eventually speaks up, turning slightly to look at this partner for a second. But a smug sort of expression appears on the general's face as he turns back to look at Han.]
You have it straight from your son. He's not coming back, there's no point in this. [You've lost, Han Solo!!]
[The old man puts his hands on his hips, leveling a look at both Hux and his son.]
I know that's what you think. But my son is more than that.
[Kylo can't look at him, so he simply turns back the way they came, unwilling to face the phantom of his grief after having suffered through it so much already.]
I have nothing else to say. [He's already said enough in all his dreams, words that will never reach their recipient. Expectantly, he calls for the general to follow him.] Armitage.
[While Hux has the opportunity to gloat in the face of a ghost, he actually manages to show some restraint and merely turns away when Kylo calls out to him. Of course, he can't stop the self-satisfied smirk from crossing his face as he does so, but no words leave the general as he begins following the knight.
For once, he'll follow his orders without question.]
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lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
:>
But it's not long before one last scream tears through the room, as Brendol's body suddenly dissolves in the tank, leaving only a few organs floating in the bacta.]
...I thought he'd never stop talking.
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You truly detested him.
[Obvious, yes, but such a cold response to that brutal death draws the words out of him.]
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And what of it? I seem to remember that you killed Han Solo not too long ago.
[Patricide, always a good topic to bond over.]
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I didn't hate Han Solo.
[Another gust of cold wind buffets them, picking up Kylo's cloak and hair as he turns to the side, like he doesn't know if he'd rather confront the remains of the ill-fated Hux or the red-lit scene behind them. Out of his peripheral, he can see the bridge extending out.]
I was made to believe he was an obstacle.
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He looks at the the bridge that's suddenly formed, but Hux doesn't make any movement towards it. He just stays by the bloodied bacta tank as he stares at Kylo with a cold expression.]
And was he?
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I don't—
[The figure on the bridge—the grizzled smuggler and Rebel hero—calls sharply out towards his son, heedless of the conversation between the two younger men.]
BEN!
[Kylo sucks in a sharp breath, lips twitching and a tremor shaking his whole body. He has to steel himself for a moment before turning to the distant man on the bridge, his expression much less impassive than it had been that day on Starkiller, and he gives no reply, no haughty Han Solo to deflect from the name his parents gave him.]
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Can you kill him again?
[Hux looks back at the few remains of Brendol, knowing that he'd be more than happy to kill him over and over.]
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[It's a shaky response, one that's undoubtedly caused him a great deal of conflict, but he's certain of the answer. Although his voice is quiet at first, it grows into something more forceful.]
I'm not like you. I'm done with this.
[But the dream will allow him no such thing, and even as he turns back around, things fade and warp until Han is only a few feet away. He offers words of comfort that Ren should have taken, should have trusted for once in his damned life.]
Come home. We miss you.
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The mono-molecular that he always keeps on his person suddenly feels heavier, like it's begging to be used.]
...Kylo can never return home. He belongs with the First Order.
[...Why did he say that? If he wants to stab Kylo, staying quiet would've been better.]
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It's too late.
[This time, it's bitter and resigned instead of pained and regretful. But there's still something to it that says he wishes he could.
But like Han Solo himself, the dream figment doesn't back down. He steps forward with a determined look on his face, even as Kylo still refuses to look at him. There's a challenge in his eyes and the twist of his mouth as he instead looks to Hux, daring him to stop the old smuggler.]
No it's not.
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It's too late, Solo. Kylo made his choice and belongs on this side... and more importantly, be belongs to me.
[Just going to throw that out there.]
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Snoke was using you, [the older man says over Hux's shoulder, his words changing from mere echo to something new, not just an extension of a memory.] But you already know that by now.
[Ren's lips press together, and he's unable to decide what to look at—his father, his partner, or the abyss that finalized one of his worst decisions. In the end, he forces his eyes shut, jaw clenching, unable to accept the next words to come from the specter.]
I would have been proud of you for stopping him.
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Would you be proud knowing that Kylo is now the Supreme Leader and is basically responsible for Luke Skywalker's death?
[It feels almost pointless talking to Solo like this, but it's not like Hux is above this. Far from it.]
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You weren't there, buddy, not where it mattered.
[Ren remains silent watching the exchange, having no real response to any of it. After all, Han's words are coming from him—from what he knows and what he thinks his father might say.]
Luke did what he had to do to make up for his mistakes. Ben didn't kill him.
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[It's so aggravating to deal with Solo, even as a ghost!! He hates him, not just for being Rebel scum, but for still caring for his son despite everything that's happened.]
Skywalker didn't force Kylo to join the First Order, he made that choice himself.
[Perhaps it's best if he just shoots him. He's already killed his father, why not take the opportunity to murder Kylo's too?]
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Yeah, he's made some bad choices. A lot of 'em. But that doesn't mean he can't make the right ones from here on out.
[As much as Kylo is dubious, it's something his family would say. He looks away.]
Besides that, we all know Snoke was pullin' all the strings. Now that that creep's gone, Ben's got a better chance of that.
[Kylo's had enough of the pointless optimism, even as it tugs at his guilt over... everything.] I wouldn't count on it.
[He's already given up on the idea of ever being better. He'd just be disappointing everyone to try, including himself.]
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You have it straight from your son. He's not coming back, there's no point in this. [You've lost, Han Solo!!]
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I know that's what you think. But my son is more than that.
[Kylo can't look at him, so he simply turns back the way they came, unwilling to face the phantom of his grief after having suffered through it so much already.]
I have nothing else to say. [He's already said enough in all his dreams, words that will never reach their recipient. Expectantly, he calls for the general to follow him.] Armitage.
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For once, he'll follow his orders without question.]