As per general Hux's orders, a contingent of storm troopers would be in the control room in less than five minutes. Shortly after knocking Mako out for the second time in the day, Lori had been busy at work staging the room.
The way it looked now, Mako was laying unconscious with Orin's blaster in his hand. Their uniforms were back in one piece, and that was no hint that either had been bound and gagged. While she was putting their cloths back in order, Lori had found the final copy of the report tucked into Orin's pants pocket. Grinning at the discovery, Lori dropped her blaster besides Orin's cold hand.
When the troopers came running in, the scene that greeted them would be wildly different than whatever Mako had to tell them. As far as a trooper or FOSB agent would be concerned, it looked like the two traitors had gotten into a fight. They would assume the traitors pulled blasters on each other, and then fired at the same time.
Not bothering to stop and admire the scene, Lori left the room.
She was safely in the tubrolyft and away from the scene when the troopers arrived. The walk to Hux's suite was long, but it was made quick by her hurried steps. On a normal day she knew to walk with a clam about her, but adrenaline urged her on.
Even as she neared Hux's quarters, a few people wondered the halls. None of them stopped or questioned her. Most didn't mind her at all, and those that did assumed that Hux had made some urgent request of his aid.
When Lori did reach the suite, she didn't waste time on a knock.
General Hux sat at the bar. Lori watched tension drop from is shoulders the instant she stepped inside.
"I was getting worried." He spoke first.
"About little old me? I can't imagine why." She crossed the room to take a seat at the other stool.
He smirked, "I know it might be difficult to imagine, but requesting a squad of stormtroopers after reporting shots fired doesn't conjure happy thoughts."
Lori leaned against the counter while she spoke, "Well, I couldn't go letting you get too comfortable, now could I? Anyhow, they'll find one dead and one alive."
The general wasn't surprised that it had come to that. He wasn't about to say anything about the dead resistance agent, Lori wouldn't have done it unless it were absolutely necessary. More than anything, he was worried that a close quarters shooting might have brought up old memories.
"Nothing upset you?" he wasn't sure how to show concern.
Lori heard the significance in Hux's question. She would be lying if she said she'd been completely unfazed. Having someone that knew to offer a hand when she needed one, but to not force pity on her, was all she needed to get over it and more than she ever expected to have.
"A bit, but I'm fine now."
Hux took her words at face value and went back to business.
"I'll arrange to have them transferred to the Finalizer then. I was planning on giving Vaylor's cell to captain Cray, but I'm sure we could find a place for our new arrival."
The weight of a new face in the prison wards didn't weigh on Lori's conscious. Happy to continue on with the good news, she reached into one of the pockets of her tunic. The data disk that held the final copy of the report landed on the bar with a small clatter.
"You really have outdone yourself," Hux didn't have to stall in giving Lori a genuine complement.
She had earned it, the general wasn't sure he could say the same about anyone else. He wasn't sure that he could have trusted anyone to be as loyal either.
"I do alright," Lori looked at Hux with a gentle smile, "What about you? I couldn't hear anything else from the meeting room, other than Cardinal pitching a fit."
Hux didn't let mention of the captain sour his mood, "He's not happy, and I don't think this is the last time we'll have to worry about him, but his name is ruined with high command. I doubt they'll believe anything he says now."
"Sounds like it's mission accomplished then."
"For now." Hux leaned against the table as well, glancing at the data disk as he went, "Rebels are a problem as old as time."
Lori left the chip in its place, "I suppose that means I ought to stick around."
The general snapped the disk in half, this time managing not to cut his thumb.
"If you would be so kind."
She could still tell that the man wasn't very good at giving a kind word, but she would be happy to stay by his side long enough for him to learn.
"Kind is a stretch, but I'll see what I can do," Looking for something that would give them an excuse to relax a little, her gaze settled on the liquor cabinet at the far end of the room, "How about a drink to celebrate? You know, since we actually finished the job this time around."
They're shuttle back to the Finalizer would be leaving in two hours. Hux didn't plan on sticking around for long, and he didn't care for the dark liquors that made up the contents of the cabinet.
Like most things, however, he was sure that Lori could make it work.
"Put something together, I need to arrange the prisoner transport," he said, picking up a data pad as he went.
Bottles clinked together and ice rattled as it fell into glasses. Both would have been happy to stay in that quite moment.
Unfortunately, they're problems would never truly be over.
.***.***.***.***.
The ride to the Finalizer was short. The two hours in hyperspace was spent in silence. Hux didn't want to leave a paper trail behind his taking Mako with him, so he hadn't commandeered a full prisoner transport.
Instead, he was left to look the resistance agent in the eye.
Hux, Lori, Mako, and Phasma had all piled into the same Upsilon shuttle. Mako sat in cuffs next to Phasma. She kept her blaster trained on him. Both knew there was no real way for the man to escape. He had nowhere to run besides, but Hux had requested that the man be kept in the cross hairs.
Lori and Hux acted like any general and aid would. Lori didn't know what exactly Phasma knew, nor did she really understand how deep Phasma's and Hux's relationship went. All the bounty hunter did know was that Hux hadn't told the armor clad captain about their relationship, so she wouldn't either.
The uneasy silence stayed in the shuttle until it landed on the Finalizer. When the loading bay dropped down, everyone went their separate ways. Phasma took Mako to the interrogation wards, Lori made for her suite, and Hux left for his shift on the bridge.
The general couldn't have known that Kylo Ren was pacing back and forth along the bridge, waiting on him. Ren never did like spending time staring out the viewport of a star destroyer, it was far too dull for a man who fancied himself a warrior. The dark side user sensed general Hux walking down the hall long before he ever saw the man. On a normal day Ren would have been content to leave the bridge in search of something more interesting, but today he had the feeling that Hux was in something resembling a good mood.
Ren stopped in his tracks to look at the door. The bridge crew knew about the mans uncanny ability to tell when company was approaching. More often than not an abrupt stop meant that nothing good was about to happen.
Going out of their way to mind their own business, the rest of the crew didn't look up when the red haired general stepped onto the bridge.
Hux glanced at Ren. There was protocol for greeting a fellow commander on the bridge, but neither Hux nor Ren did it for each other. For the general it was an intentional snub, for Ren it was simply a case of not bothering to remember the rule.
The force user hadn't only been pacing for want of something to do on the bridge. An order had come in from supreme leader Snoke. Both commanders of the Finalizer were to report in for a meeting in twenty minutes. Ren hadn't been told that Hux was off ship, and when he heard the news he had thrown a fit, breaking a conference table in the process.
Even more vexing was the fact that no one could find the general. Now that he had suddenly appeared without an explanation, Ren was set on ruining the general's good mood.
"We have a meeting with the Supreme Leader." Ren didn't wait for Hux to make himself comfortable on the bridge.
.***.***.***.***.
Lori had only made it a few turns away from the hanger bay when a familiar face caught her in the hall.
"Captain Gallus, come with me. It's important." Wilt stepped out of a side hall.
No one else was in the hallway. Lori knew that there was no way Wilt could know what she was just getting back from, but her first though was that he knew about her double agent status.
Pushing down the quick bead of paranoia, Lori fell in step beside the pilot.
"What is it Wilt?"
He walked towards an empty office, "privacy first."
Lori started wondering if leaving her blaster back on the Absolution had been a good idea. Still with no hint that she was in danger besides a feeling in her gut, Lori followed Wilt into the other room.
The door whooshed shut behind her. Only a second after she did, Wilt began nervously talking.
"We need to get out here. They got Cray, our cover's blown."
Lori had been expecting a very different conversations, but she could make do with this one. Disguising relief as surprise and then worry wasn't difficult.
"What? How? Hank would die before he told them anything."
"Well, apparently they got to him. The FOSB was all over the logistics office this morning. You weren't in your office, so I thought they scooped you up too."
Lori didn't mention where else she could have been, "No, I haven't had any run ins with the FOSB. Maybe they only got Mina's name out of Hank."
"Maybe, but I don't trust Mina not to start talking."
A plan quickly came together in Lori's mind.
"You're right… do you know how to fly an upsilon?"
Wilt liked the way Lori was talking, "I can fly anything they got in the hangar."
"Good," she thought back to the paperwork that had been her cover job for the past month, "we're supposed to be getting a new shipment of shuttles tomorrow. They arrive at 0600, a quality assurance test is set for 1000. No one will be watching them in that window"
She let him come to the obvious conclusion.
"Ok, ok. I see what you're saying. I'll tell the others, when's go time?"
Realizing she had the leeway to set the time for the resistances planned flight from the Finalizer, Lori talked on.
"0800. Make sure everyeone's there. Once the rest of the office figures out what's going on, we won't be able to wait on any stragglers."
"Understood."
The pilot was about to step back into the hall, a grim edge to his features. Lori realized she still needed to keep true to the persona Wilt believed her to have.
"And keep a low profile," she offered him advice, "we already lost good people, I don't think I could bare to lose anyone else."
Wilt nodded at her words, "Likewise, Captain Gallus. I'll see you tomorrow."
She let him leave the room without further comment. She would wait for him to get some distance from the room before she left, though she wasn't too concerned being seen with the pilot. Mina would probably brake and name her conspirators before long, but Lori was sure that she could talk her way out of any trouble the FOSB might put her in.
In the moment alone, she turned to the desk in the room. It had a computer set into like all the others in the ship. Powering it on, she drafted a message to the general.
"0800, Office of shuttle maintenance. Everyone will be there."
Satisfied that he would take the message as she meant it, Lori logged out of the terminal and shut the computer back down. Tomorrow was still half a day away, and Lori didn't doubt that she would have damage control to do when it came to whatever rumors Vanya and Quin had thought up.
.***.***.***.***.
The room was as dim as it ever was, lit only by the ghostly blue light of Snokes hologram. Hux and Ren stepped into the room without a word to each other. They had shared a short exchange on the bridge, and neither were in the mood to continue it now.
"Kylo Ren. General Hux." The supreme leader's voice echoed off the walls.
Hux distantly worried that the supreme leader might have heard about the recent mishap on the Absolution. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kylo Ren's helmet tilt to the side. The general didn't let his thoughts dwell on his doubts for long, keenly aware of the knight's ability to search people's minds.
"Supreme leader Snoke." Hux gave a slight bow at the waste, as careful as ever to appear as the perfectly obedient servant of the First Order that he always was.
"You summoned us, Supreme Leader." Ren didn't bow. Hux didn't bother trying to hide a flash of annoyance towards the man.
Even from light years away, Snoke could feel the resentment that stood between the two commanders. It amused him endlessly. As much as Snoke enjoyed watching the two men squirm, he did call them with important matters in mind.
"Indeed I did, Kylo Ren. There has been a disturbance in the Force, and it has shown to me a threat that cannot be disregarded."
The Force. Hux knew better than to dismiss the supreme leaders orders, especially to is face. As it was, the general only just managed to keep his mind on thoughts other than how little a supposed vision should be trusted.
Hux almost rolled his eyes at how much of Ren's attention had been caught by the simple mention of some otherworldly vision.
"Certainly, Supreme Leader. Tell me this threat. I will remove it."
Despite knowing that it wasn't physically possible, Hux could have sworn that the walls shook with Snokes laughter. An old and tired thing that was little more than a wheeze, Hux had a sinking feeling the second he hear it. It was never a good sign when the supreme leader found a smile upon his lips.
"So you will, Knight of Ren. So you will. Your uncle lives. Strike him down, and fulfill your grandfather's legacy."
"Skywalker?" Ren said the name with a hiss that was nearly lost beneath the static of his helmet.
"Yes, the last Jedi sits in exile. It is you who will bring him into the galaxy, and strike him down."
For as dead set on this vision that Snoke was, Hux saw an obvious flaw. Luke Skywalker had removed himself. Gone into exile under his own power. The general couldn't' imagine any case where bringing the old man back would have any benefit. Even if killing a defunct old man was worth the First Orders time, Hux was of the mind that they could do that without bringing Luke back to the galaxy proper.
"Supreme Lead are you sure that's wi-"
"Silence!"
A tightness gripped the general's throat. For a short second that could have lasted forever, the air stopped in his lungs. For as hard as he struggled for a breath, nothing came. No one was near, but he felt a phantom hand wrapped around his neck. When his own rose to meet it, he found nothing there.
Nothing but some force unseen. Some terrible magic that could easily be the death of him.
Dark rings fogged the edge of Armitage's vision, and he tried to choke out words that only came as strangled yelps. A second before the lost breaths brought him to his knees, the general suddenly caught a lung full of fresh air.
The supreme leaders order was final. Hux said nothing more before bowing slightly and taking an unsteady step back.
.***.***.***.***.
General Hux stepped into his suite at 1800. Today had been one of the longer ones in recent memory. Not intending to get any work done, he picked up his data pad. It blinked with a waiting message.
It had no sender, though Hux knew exactly who it was from.
Without too much worry, he opened it. He was planning on making a social call anyways.
The message was purely business: "0800, Office of shuttle maintenance. Everyone will be there."
Taking a seat at the bar, he typed out a reply.
"Noted. Come to my suite."
He still didn't like the idea of leaving written record of the details of their plans. Besides, the general thought, they could talk about it in person. He also hoped that they could talk about other things.
Hux settled in for a wait and tried not to pay too much mind to his earlier conversation with Snoke and Ren, though the memory of that tightness around his neck wouldn't soon be forgotten. He didn't see the point in searching for Luke Skywalker. The man had exiled himself and Hux saw no strategic value in pulling him back into the thick of things.
For a short while, the general considered stepping into his office and at least trying to get some work done. Deciding that he would just distract himself with either his own thoughts or other time wasters on the holonet, the general drafted a message to the FOSB. He didn't trust them to do any real investigative work, but een they could plan a simple ambush.
Not a moment after he hit send Lori stepped in, unhurried as ever.
She spoke first, "never a moments rest around here, is there?"
As dour as his mood was, Hux felt it slowly giving way to a little bit of relief. Even when they were talking about work, Lori always managed to make the conversation worth his time.
"Afraid not. You've certainly been busy."
He wasn't going to ask how she had learned about the rebels plans to flee the Finalizer so quickly. Not because she wouldn't tell him, after all that had happened he knew that she would share her secrets if pressed enough. No, he didn't ask because he enjoyed the little bit of mystery that clung to Lori, and because he wanted reasons to keep her around.
"Just doing my job Glad to see that the Finalizer's still in once piece" She leaned against the bar.
"After a day alone with Ren, that is a miracle, isn't it?" Hux set his data pad on the counter and stood from his seat, "but never mind him. I've drafted an order to the FOSB, they'll be laying in ambush for the rebels come tomorrow morning at 0800 sharp."
"Thanks for the heads up, I'll play along."
The general was about to open the refrigerator, but stopped.
"You can't be about to walk into an ambush."
It was Lori's turn to take a seat on one of the stools, "I was planning on walking out of it too, you know. We both know you ordered the FOSB to take the rebels alive, all I have to do is not get shot in the opening stages and then you can come spring me from the brig afterwards."
He had given an order to capture rather than kill, anyone other than the bounty hunter would have assumed the opposite.
When Hux didn't immediately reply, Lori talked on.
"After that… well, I don't know."
After that, Hux knew, there wouldn't be any more rebels to ferret out. Not on the Finalizer, at least. There wouldn't be a reason to keep Lori around.
He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about the search for Skywalker. He didn't want to think about cleaning up Kylo Ren's messes. He didn't want to think about nearly being strangled from across the galaxy. He didn't want to think that Lori's time in the First Order may be coming to an end.
Hux had never been the one to ignore pressing matters. He'd always faced his problems head on, stubbornly picking away at them until they eventually stopped being a problem.
But now. Now he was the one trying to change the subject.
"Never mind that," he looked directly at Lori, the refrigerator and dinner completely forgotten, "I haven't gotten my turn to ask a question."
Lori had been watching him look for anything else to talk about besides work coming to an end. She also didn't like to think about it, and she had something she wanted to try besides. During their trip to the Absolution, she had almost promised that there would be a time where they didn't have to go their separate ways just at the moment was heating up.
This particular night was one she intended to draw out.
A small smile came to her lips, "Well? You do you got to ask?"
"Would you like something to drink?" Hux took his turn.
Though he wasn't thinking of their earlier conversation he, did want a reason for Lori to stick around.
Lori considered it, but she had other plans. A little bit of liquid courage might help her along, but she still thought getting the general liquored up would be cheating.
"Not tonight," she thought of how she would bring the conversation where she wanted it, "Do you know that time it is?"
Hux wondered where Lori was going with her question. More than once she had started off with something seemingly innocent, only to pry some information out of him. The game was certainly part of the appeal.
"2000." He gave a simple answer just to see what she could do with it.
Lori gave slight tilt of the head while she looked at the general, "That sure is awful late."
They both knew it wasn't.
"Is it now?" Hux called her on her assessment.
"Well, it's been a long day. Looks like tomorrow'll last forever too." The bounty hunter made no attempt to hide her looking around the suite.
Hux saw her gaze linger on the door to his bedroom.
The general was a stranger to company, but he wasn't blind. Making an effort not to be too obvious he talked on.
"Perhaps, but I wouldn't mind if tonight lasted a little longer."
With that, Lori knew that he was onboard with exactly what she had in mind.
"I suppose we could stay up late. Got any thoughts on what to do?"
Hux looked Lori up and down, he certainly had ideas, but he was still going to be difficult, "I think it was my turn to ask a question."
"mmmm… no. You just asked me if I was sure about it being late," She spoke with that provocative glint in her eye.
"So I did," he leaned back against the bar, watching Lori for any other teasing gestures.
"As I was saying, what're we doing with all this time?"
He wasn't going to just say it outright, "I have a few ideas."
Lori heard the meaning in his words.
Helping him along she gave a simple suggestion, "whatever they are, how about we move to a different room? It's awful cold in here."
The general didn't call Lori on her second question, "Now that you mention it, perhaps the bedroom would be warmer."
Taking Hux's last words as the invitation that they were, Lori stood from her seat.
"Well then, after you."
Hux felt a genuine smile creeping over his features. Standing from his barstool he took a purposely slow step towards the stairs. He hadn't ever thought he would get this far, and he still wasn't sure how to act.
Lori fell in behind the general. She wasn't sure he had noticed, but his cheeks had gone red with a slight blush. She never thought she would get this far, but now that she had she let herself enjoy the moment.
A short moment later, they came to the bedroom door.
It was a simple room. A full sized bed that sat in a corner, sheets tucked tightly around it. A wardrobe stood against one wall, filled with identical charcoal gray uniforms. Just as tightly kept as the man who lived in it, Lori didn't have quick comment for her surroundings.
She did, however have a plan.
Shutting the door and turning to face the bounty hunter, Hux saw that glint in Lori's eyes and the little grin sitting on her lips. Both drove him just as wild as they ever had.
"Hmm. Looks like the bedrooms just as cold as the living room." She spoke to no one in particular.
The general could feel is own pulse. Not letting his nerves get the best of him now, he reached his arms around Lori. She stepped into his grasp.
"I think we can fix that." He said, head tilted down to look fully at Lori.
Her little grin grew into a warm smile.
The warm smile turned into a hot kiss, turned into something more.
.***.***.***.***.
AN: Fridays chapter will be the last one, hope to see ya'll there. Also, I'm a coward when it comes to smut, so we're just going to leave that as a fade to black (I also don't want to bump the rating to M for the sake of 1 scene). If there is some interest in an explicit scene, I'll try writing something up (no promises) but I'll be posting it as its own separate fic with an M rating.
