In the far, uncharted reaches of the Unknown Regions, hidden away from both Republic and First Order patrols, there existed a tranquil blue pond, a veritable paradise for any overworked galactic commander or angst-ridden Sith. It was here that General Armitage Hux and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, having temporarily set aside the weight of their dark duties, sought a moment of relaxation away from the tedium and tension of the Finalizer. Forgoing their stark uniforms for a more natural attire--none at all--they were two pale specters against the lush green landscape. Ren's physique, swathed usually in menacing robes, was a canvas of sculpted muscle and the occasional scar from training sessions gone awry. Encased within that dark costume, no one would have guessed that beneath it was the solid build of a warrior, all sharp angles and sinew. Next to the brooding Kylo, Hux stood rigid as his usual uptight demeanor, his own body surprisingly fit for someone who spent more time behind a strategic holomap than in hand-to-hand combat. Unencumbered by the stiff First Order regalia, Hux's pale skin seemed nearly luminescent under the twin suns. They eyed the pond before them with identical expressions of slight mistrust before shrugging in unison and descending into the cool, clear water. As they immersed themselves, there was a serene quiet, broken only by the gentle lapping of the waves against the grassy shore. Kylo floated on his back, his face betraying a rare moment of peace as he allowed the water to support his weight. Hux, with less of an instinct for relaxation, sat rigidly upright, letting the water reach only up to his chest. As the minutes passed, the tranquillity of the setting began to work its magic, and the Supreme Leader's expression softened while Hux's frown lightened. This was, until an insidious pressure began building within them both--an unfortunate side effect of space rations and constant stress. Finally, giving into the call of nature, Kylo Ren let out a silent but potent bubble of gas, his previously placid expression morphing into a slight grimace followed by immediate relief. The ripple from the disturbance tickled the water's surface. Hux, ever competitive, refused to be outdone in any aspect. He tensed his angular features and expelled his own bout of flatulence, visibly relaxing with a smug satisfaction as his bubble broke the surface of the pond. The surrounding fish, once darting about in ignorant bliss, now floated up. Victims of the sudden, noxious cloud that had been silently released into their aquatic home, they bobbed motionless at the surface. Ren, with a rare smirk, noted, "The force is strong and evidently too much for mere fish." Hux, not to be outdone by Ren's quip, retorted sarcastically, "How remarkable, Ren. Your prowess in the art of flatulence is as formidable as your saber skills." With a shared, devious grin, they collected the expired fish, wading back to the shore with their bounty. As they lit a fire and skewered their catch, the unlikely pair found camaraderie in their odd respite from the war. "Perhaps," Hux mused as he gingerly turned a stick over the flames, "this could be an unconventional technique for ridding the galaxy of our adversaries." Kylo, flipping his own fish with ease, replied, "Indeed. Who needs a Death Star when you have the Death Snare..." He gestured to his stomach with a self-important flourish. Hours passed, their mood lightened by the absurdity of their actions and the simple pleasure of cooking in the open air. They pitched barbs back and forth, silently acknowledging that this was the best they had felt in a long while--unfettered by the heavy cloaks of darkness they wore, not just in fabric, but in their roles in a galaxy fraught with conflict. As they ate their well-earned meal, they shared a rare moment of laughter, thinking of their officers' faces were they to ever stumble upon the truth of their leaders' "strategic retreat." The irony was not lost on them that, for once, they had found an unorthodox unity, not in starship corridors or plotting destruction, but beside a tranquil pond, in the serenity of nature, and the unexpected brotherhood of floating fish.