Chapter 4: Moving On And Moving Up
Hux had just graduated first in his class at the officer academy, and he had just been offered a prestigious position on the star ship Absolution. He had a plan that had been in the works for a while, but today was the day he was going to put it into action.
He knocked on the door of the Hux home, and it was quickly answered by Aria, who exclaimed, "Hux! You're home!" She then threw her arms around his torso.
Hux was taken aback by Aria's height, she was significantly taller now than the last time he had seen her. "Look how tall you are!" He said, returning his sisters embrace.
"Well not as tall as you!" She said, looking up at him. He was quite tall, at 6'2 he was 4 inches taller than his father, and about two feet taller than his seven year old sister.
Hux laughed with her and ruffled her hair, "Is father home?"
"Yeah, he's in his study." Aria said.
"Alright, I'm going to go talk to him for a minute, and then I want to hear all about what I missed while I was gone." He said.
"Okay Hux." She replied cheerfully before hoping off, presumably back to whatever she was doing before.
Hux walked to his fathers study and knocked on the door, he heard footsteps and then his father said, "Girl! Didn't I tell you to-" He opened the door and stopped his angry rant when he saw it was Hux.
"Ah! Armitage, I was not expecting you until tomorrow." Brendol said, he was clearly irked by his sons sudden appearance.
"Father, I will not waste your time with formalities, I am here to ask for something." Hux said quickly.
"And what might that be?" Brendol asked with his usual condescending tone.
"I have been offered an officer position aboard the star ship Absolution and I would like to request that Aria come with me as my ward." Hux said presciently.
Brendol did not immediately react to this information, but instead contemplated it before saying, "Granted. When do you leave?"
Hux was slightly confused as he was not expecting his father to allow it, but he was happy. "In two days."
"Good." Brendol said, "Prepare your sister to leave, I am leaving planet for a meeting tomorrow." He said as he left the office.
Hux was pleased, he was getting custody of his sister like he had wanted, but he was slightly irked at how easy it was. It was almost as if Brendol was itching to get rid of them, which wouldn't be at all surprising to Hux, as it was clear the man held nothing but contempt for his children.
Hux went upstairs to Aria's room where he thought he saw her run off to earlier, he saw he was correct as he stood in the door frame and saw her reading.
"Ari?" He said, getting her attention.
"Hux!" She said excitedly and hopped off her bed.
"Ari, I have some news." He said.
Aria's face fell, "You're not leaving again are you?" She asked him.
"I am." Hux said, and her face fell, "But this time you're coming with me."
Aria smiled wider than he had ever seen, "Really?!"
Hux nodded, her smile was infectious.
Hux and Aria moved onto the battle-cruiser Absolution, and they lived there happily for five years...
"Hux, come on, take a break for once!" Aria called to her brother, who was looking over the bridge reports for the day.
"Aria, I'm busy." Hux responded.
"Okay... so I guess I'll just go to Coruscant alone..." Aria said, and Hux perked up at this.
"Absolutely not." He responded immeiately.
"Then come with me!" She said, and his face remained unconvinced, "Come on, don't you have tomorrow off anyways?"
Hux did have the next day off, but he was going to use it to catch up on reports, but he was being swayed by his persuasive sister, so eventually he relented. "Fine, we'll go, but not for too long alright?"
Hux was wary of traveling to the nearby planet, mostly because the First Order was starting to gain attention as it grew, an he was uncertain whether or not he would be recognized on the bustling planet.
"Yes!" Aria cried happily.
So that was how Hux found himself being dragged behind Aria, who was going on about the historical significance of nearly every street. Hux would have paid attention, on any other day he would have, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something felt wrong.
Aria, who was in front of him suddenly stopped walking and frowned, "Ari, what's-" Hux was cut off when suddenly something exploded beside them.
Hux instinctively dove for Aria, but she was looking somewhere specific, and as Hux turned to see what she was looking at, he saw that she had spotted the shooter on top of one of the buildings. The masked man had his blaster pointed right at them, and Hux's eyes widened as he pulled the trigger, he shut his eyes and braced himself, but nothing ever came.
After a few moments he opened his eyes and saw that Aria was standing beside him, her whole body was shaking, and she arm was reaching out, towards the man, and in it's path, a blaster bolt was stopped midair.
Hux looked around at the shocked crowd, and he gently touched his sisters shoulder, "Ari, we need to go right now."
Aria nodded numbly, and once they were out of the path of the blaster bolt, she let it go. Hux took her hand and they ran back to the shuttle, back to the safety of the Absolution, although now Hux was afraid. Afraid that a power darker than himself would come for her, that Snoke would come for her.
