A/N: This is a continuation of my earlier fic Tempest. The story wasn't over. There was more to be said. Here we go kids. Time for a wild ride.
The thin sallow man glared around at the garish wealth he was surrounded by. General Hux had a face on him as though someone was waving dung under his nose. Poe Dameron stood with his back to the wall of the round room. Poe stared around at the four First Order representatives with their Stormtrooper guards against the opposite side of the circle. Poe clutched the heavy jug of water to his semi-exposed chest. His dark curls concealed his eyes, along with the dark beard that was coming along so well on his cheeks. The leader of the Hut clan sat on the opposite side of the table from the representatives. He had his slaves and guards and lackeys. Poe was posing as a slave for this meeting, spying, garnering information for the General. The new Hut that was in power Jennu was in favour of assisting the Resistance forces. She had agreed to organise a meeting with the First Order who had been desperately trying to reach an agreement with the Hut. They desired the trading contacts that the Hut clan had access to. But Jennu was against the First Order. General Organa being the forgiving woman she was, had greeted the Hut as allies with open arms. And now Poe was being harassed and felt up. In the name of freedom.
"Boy! Some water." snapped one of Jennu's associates. The large worm like creature could not speak the common tongue, and so had many interpreters to speak on her behalf. Poe shuffled forwards, his head bowed. He felt Jennu's tail curling up his leg and groping him slightly. He hadn't signed on for that. He adeptly poured the water into a large bowl that Jennu would drink from. The General didn't even look at Poe. His disguise was perfect, it would seem.
"Well tell your mistress that her terms are unacceptable. I cannot sign anyone over for her personal pleasure, or any First Order weapons." The General's voice was high and cold, and he spoke as though he was trying very hard not vomit. He was so displeased with his surroundings. But the information he was getting from the man was priceless. The interpreter conveyed the message to Jennu, who took the legs out from under Poe and made him collapse down upon her scaly body. He could understand why someone would want to vomit being around this woman. He lay there complacently in his very limited clothing, Jennu, toying the collar around his neck as she considered what to say. Jennu spoke in a booming voice in a slow language that Poe did not understand. He lazed on the slug-like body of his enslaver and gazed around Poe identified a number of the First Order men that had accompanied Hux. This meeting had been the culmination of months of preparation. The General had persuaded the Hut to make contact. Then Poe had been put in place as a slave to Jennu, and quickly became her favourite. There were First Order spies everywhere. Poe would have to go into the bedchambers of Jennu every night. Fortunately, the charade would end there. Now here he was, the best pilot of the resistance, getting information about the different bases of operation, about where they were already getting supplies from. About the hierarchy of the Order. Who was in charge where. Who had been corrupted. Hux was spilling all the details. Poe could scarcely contain himself. He would have excellent information to give to the General. He could do with all the brownie points he could lay his hands to. He would have to tell her eventually.
"Jennu the Hut reminds the General Hux that we can get credits from anywhere. We want something truly valuable. Something unique. We are wealthy beyond your wildest imaginings. We must be tempted with a rare prize." Hux stood suddenly. His Stormtroopers bristled, and Poe felt the tension rise in the room. Things suddenly got very, very serious. Jennu's own guards placed their hands over their blasters. Jennu threw Poe aside. He clambered to his feet and fled to wall, cowering like the slave he was meant to be. What was going to happen here?
"We have been at this for hours now and made no progress. I am not known for my patience. This negotiation is at an end. Kill them all." Hux pulled on a hat and strode from the stuffy meeting room as the Stormtroopers opened fire. Poe dove for the board table, and with the help of some of Jennu's entourage, they managed to throw the table over on its side. The belly of the table had blasters strapped to it. Poe grabbed up one of them and took cover. Waiting for an opportune moment to stick his head out and fire back at the Stormtroopers. This was going to be a tight battle. Jennu had stood very little chance, and had been obliterated. Poe snatched an explosive from the hand of a slightly terrified looking young man. He pulled out the pin with one hand, double checked which hand held what, then threw the explosive.
"Grenade!" Poe shouted, to make sure the guys on his side of the table too adequate cover and were prepared. The explosion pushed the table back a little. Some of the Stormtroopers had had time to react, but they had lost some of their number. Poe stuck his head up, fired off a few rounds, then ducked back down. He took a couple of breaths, stuck his head back up and fired off more rounds, and managed to get the last couple of Stormtroopers. Silence returned as suddenly as it had disappeared. Poe still ducked under cover, as though waiting for the dust to settle. He took a breath and stuck his head up again, peering around to see if anyone remained to be eliminated. He looked down at the sluggish corpse of Jennu the Hut. What a waste. But she had sacrificed herself to the freedom of the galaxy.
Poe stood fully and picked his way out of the room. He needed to get to his ship which was tucked away near the childhood home of Luke Skywalker. Poe did not look forward to making his way there. In the gruelling heat of Tattooine the trip would be hell. He took every corner slowly, anticipating an enemy at every turn. He couldn't wait to be off of this assignment. He had left Dara behind at base. He remembered their feverish kisses, the sad look in her eyes when he was leaving. Her hands in his, urging him to be careful, to come back to her. He relished the thought of returning to her. Months he had spent in her company, receiving every ounce of love she had to give. Soon he would return to that. His Dara Varana. His love. The desert sun beat down on him. The First Order representatives had left already. The transit vehicle for the Stormtroopers remained behind. Poe took the very useful opportunity to steal an enemy ship. He was Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the resistance. He could fly anything.