Chapter Text
Lieutenant Mitaka watched the Dreadnought land in the main bay of StarKiller base.
The Master of the Knights of Ren's Upsilon -class shuttle had departed days ago, ferrying General Hux and Lord Ren to the Supreme Leader.
The General had called Mitaka during the landing approach, asking for him to come in person and board the shuttle as soon as possible. Mitaka was fiercely loyal to his General and something in Hux’s tone of voice filled him with dread. Hux had also asked for Meran, but the young Force-user had been deep in the bowels of the planet, her skills at terraforming a tremendous help in the construction process.
Walking towards the bay, Mitaka had pondered the facts. Meran and himself were the only ones who were officially informed of the true nature of General Hux and Lord Ren’s relationship. So when Mitaka walked up the ramp it was with the unsettling feeling of impending doom low in his guts.
Mitaka was welcomed in the cockpit by a growl so deep that he felt it in his skull more than he heard it. With a detached sensation, as if already dead, Mitaka impacted the durasteel floor. He found himself staring at the gleaming teeth of the beast that had jumped on him.
“REN!” The beast's jaws snapped closed, spittle flying from the snarling muzzle to splash hotly against Mikata's face. His eyes clamped shut from the terror which shortened his breath to ragged gasps, a counterpoint to the frantic beating of his heart. Huge paws continued to pin the Lieutenant in place as he felt the black monstrosity turn it's head towards the General.
“Let him go. Please.” Hux's voice was so strained Mitaka forgot his fear of the menace he faced and began to worry again for his General.
The beast stared at Mitaka with his golden eyes once more before getting off him.
Pulling himself upright, Mitaka realised it was a wolf. A black wolf, so tall that it’s shoulders reached Mitaka’s hip, with a thick and shiny coat.
Mitaka turned towards Hux, mouth already opening to ask for explanation.
He closed it in shock.
The General looked wrecked, his cheekbones so sharp that it seemed his skin had been pulled tighter over the bone structure, his eyes red-rimmed, his posture defeated.
Lord Ren was nowhere to be seen.
“Meran could not come on such short notice, Sir, but the message has been passed to her.” Mitaka was unsure what to ask or to do next as he took in the sight Hux presented. The General had slouched back in his seat and the wolf paced menacingly around the cockpit.
“How can I help you, sir?” Mitaka's tone made clear he hoped the General would accept his help.
“Can you please clear a path from here to my quarters? I don’t want people to…” Hux quickly turned his face away to hide that he was tearing up.
Mitaka gave the order through his commlink.
“We should have the clearance in a few minutes, Sir, is there something else I can do in the meantime?” He did his best to ignore the beast lurking in the low-lit cockpit
“Thanks, Dopheld, I’ll explain the situation to you later. I’m sorry I can’t be the General you are used to now, but I know I can trust you and we are going to need your help, and Meran’s.” Mitaka's knew that his open features showed his obvious puzzlement while his subtle shifting from foot to foot exposed his anxiety. Hearing that his General trusted him straightened Mitaka's shoulders and improved his posture even in light of the terrible personal problem Hux faced.
“You can, Sir, anything.”
Hux requested Mitaka to join him in his quarters at sunset.
When he entered, the room was set ablaze by the red glow of the setting sun. Hux sat hunched over at his desk, writing. He was down to his undershirt, and a glass of Cognac was resting at his elbow. It was obvious he had cried more, and looked worse for wear. The black wolf slouched next to him, light glinted from amber eyes and his ears swiveled toward Mitaka proving he still guarded his General.
Hux finished his correspondence, closed the letters and stood up. Mitaka noticed with surprise that his feet were bare.
“Here are two letters. One is for Ren, give it to him as soon as you see him. The other is for you and Meran, explaining this situation. I don’t have enough time to do it and I doubt Ren will be able to once he…” Hux’s gaze trailed to the black wolf who watched them with eyes carrying the weight of the universe “You will also need to give him these.” He indicated the bundle of black clothes he brought back from the shuttle.
Mitaka’s training as well as his feelings for the man in front of him helped him to acquiesce without further question.
Hux seemed relieved, and managed one of his tight lipped smiles. He went to the scenic window and watched the sun about to disappear behind the mountains. With a deep sigh, he knelt on the floor and the black wolf came to sit before him. Hux grabbed the thick coat at the neck and pressed his forehead against the wolf’s.
The sun went down in a last blazing ray and when Mitaka’s sight cleared, where moments before Hux had knelt now sat a small ginger cat, fastidiously cleaning one paw. In front of him, a naked raven-haired man wrung his hands in anguish, howling his despair to the rising night.
