I walk through the meal room used by the Stormtroopers assigned to supply Snoke with extra military protection if the need arise. They are eating their breakfast, and in the most casual state they are allowed. This is the only time they can show their faces outside of sleeping or reconditioning.
I often help with the reconditioning when I am in the base.
Being able to reach into their minds makes it very easy for me to remind them how dangerous their life would become if they slipped up. Huxley would prefer that he or Phasma do this kind of work, but Snoke believes that we can have more control on the weak-minded.
They see me when I walk in. It is easy to pick out of the crowd of faces those whom I have reconditioned. I hate that it is like that, but at the same time I feel the power grow in me when I see their fear.
I grab a piece of stale bread and continue on my way to the small ship, Grantzen, Snoke gave me. It is neither New Order nor Republic, just some small speeder from a random planet. This keeps any stranger out there in my travels from knowing that I have any kind of association whatsoever. When I leave this base, I might as well be a normal bounty hunter.
I have all kinds of ties, extremely positive, to different clans and clubs and federations that are criminal in nature. It helps Snoke have an underground understanding of the business happening in this quadrant. Then Huxley can make diplomatic deals or the Knight of Ren will take out any useless groups.
I start preparing Grantzen for the journey.
"About to leave, Jax?" a mechanical voice says behind me.
I turn to see E-Ako Ren. He is basically a scout or spy for Snoke, so we do similar work. He has a permanent mask due to an injury to his vocal chords which caused serious damage.
I nod as I lift up a pack of supplies to carry onboard. E-Ako follows me into the ship.
"I have been assigned to scout of the rebel base in charge of the destruction of Starkiller. Why is it that you and I are always left to clean up Kylo and Hux's messes?" he asks.
I look at the blue-glowing eyes of his helmet trying to remember what he once looked like.
"I am not sure E-Ako, but I do know that Kylo is about to complete his training. Become a real Sith Lord," I say slipping the pack of supplies into a shelf built in the wall.
E-Ako makes some kind of grunt behind his mask. "Of course. Where are you headed?"
"A very far quadrant. Some kind of super ancient Jedi temple that Luke might have hidden in at some point. Supreme Leader wants to see if I can find any sort of evidence of where Luke is hiding," I lie knowing that Snoke would want me to.
E-Ako nods. My eyes slip to his incredibly customized lightsaber attached to his hip.
Snoke taught us all the importance of truly making our own sabers. Everyone's is very unique. He has two half disc-blades that perfectly curve around his fists. He basically punches his way in a fight, but is surprisingly good at it.
I am a dual-wielder. My crystals were recycled from old Jedi and Sith sabers I found at old locations. One is purple with an ice-blue core, from a Jedi, and the other is a white saber with a black core, from a Sith.
Having two shorter sabers allows me to sneak up behind my targets and kill them very easily.
"That's it?" he asks, not accusingly. More concerned that Snoke gave me such a small assignment.
I nod.
"Take me to D'Qar on your way?" he asks.
I nod again.
We set to finishing up loading the ship.
Then we take off. E-Ako enters the coordinates for the area right outside of D'Qar.
I go into light speed.
"Are we going to be fired on?" I ask.
"I have no idea."
We leave light speed. The planet in front of us is mostly green land.
I do not see any large structures any where within view. They must be underground, or completely on the other side.
I reach over to my separate search index and look for a possible criminal safe port on this planet.
My eyes scan the screen.
E-Ako curses next to me, "shit."
I look up to see a group of three x-wings approaching us. None are firing yet, which is a good sign.
"Hide the sabers," E-Ako says starting to stand up.
"Sit down, they can see us," I growl.
My radio signal syncs to theirs entering the chatter with them.
"Grantzen please respond."
I turn on my radio and make sure I speak a language native to this region.
"This is Grantzen. Looking for a place to refuel. Are there any ports safe for mercenaries on D'Qar?"
"Follows us to a refueling port used for traders. Then we will escort you off the planet after you refuel."
"Thank you, will follow," I reply.
We follow them to the port. It isn't far in.
"Just sneak away while I refuel," I say. "I'll figure out the rest."
E-Ako nods.
I land the ship. Luckily, we both had already changed our clothing to look like mercenaries or traders.
I walk off first. I am greeted by an attendant who clearly wears a Republic crest.
"Fuel?" she ask.
I nod hiding all matters of disgust. I bring on my second identity.
"Yeah, and please don't scratch the fuel port like the last dumbass did," I say being good and gruff.
The lady rolls her eyes, obviously used to the blunt and unkind mercenaries.
"Got any water stations?" E-Ako asks another attendant.
They motion in the general direction of the station.
E-Ako turns to me and nods slowly. I know that that means he is going to head out now and escape. I need to be on guard now. No mistakes.
Everything continues to run smoothly. I pull out some trading coins and look up around the open-air fort.
A lot of transports and trading ships are busily packing up supplies and people.
Then. I feel it.
My eyes land on someone I was not quite ready to see.
And unfortunately, she sees me too.
Mom.
