No one ever promised it would be easy
Come on why don't we go on the journey
Leave the doubt and worry
Horizon far as I see
- The Journey by Paul Brandt
"No."
"No?"
"Did I stutter Aurelia? I said no. N-O. No." Hux's face had taken on a red tint, whether embarrassment or anger was yet to be determined. "I have no interest in being examined by space wizards, whether Jedi, Sith, or something else."
Aurelia folded her arms and gave him a stern look.
"I'm not giving you a choice, lad."
"Lad? That's demeaning. I was a General of the First Order and I'm owed at least a modicum of respect." Hux growled. He shifted on the couch so he could glare at Aurelia.
"You're right and I apologize, Alasdair," allowed Aurelia. "That still doesn't change the fact that you need to be seen by the Comhairle Liath."
"Grey, Black, White - I don't care what color those jokers wear. I'm not wasting my time."
Aurelia and Hux were so wrapped up in their argument that they had quite forgotten Rey and Kylo on the other side of the lounge.
"Kylo," muttered Rey, "Did she just call him Alasdair?"
"Yeah," he replied. "I thought his name was Armitage. That's what he used when we were co-commanders."
"Should we say something?" asked Rey.
"Nah, this is entertaining."
"Kylo, you're awful!"
"You just figured that out?" replied Kylo with a grin. "Just wait a bit. I'm really interested in who's going to win this argument."
"It will be Aurelia," declared Rey.
"Why do you say that?" asked Kylo.
"Just watch," said Rey.
Across the lounge, Aurelia and Hux are getting heated.
"You don't understand, Alasdair. You are older than normal to have an awakening in the Force," stated Aurelia.
"A what? What does that even mean?" retorted Hux.
"What that means is that you are a Force-sensitive who is just developing an awareness of their powers."
"I doubt that." huffed Hux. "I'm as Force-sensitive as a rock. Ask Kylo. He frequently derided me as a Force null when we were co-commanders."
"I'm not part of this," called Kylo from the other couch.
"Tha thu làidir willed-duine, Alasdair Mac na Ceàrdaich." (You are a strong-willed man, Alasdair Sinclair.) Aurelia snapped.
"Ainmeil air a shon, an Dotair Galen." (Famous for it, Doctor Galen.) he replied smugly. "Chan eil mi a 'dol a dh'àite sam bith." (I'm not going anywhere.)
"Leig dhomh eas-aontachadh, Alasdair." (Let me disagree, Alasdair) she smiled as she touched his arm and stunned him with a generous jolt of the Force. Hux dropped like a stone, unconscious. Aurelia checked his vitals, humming contentedly.
"Told you," Rey whispered to Kylo.
Aurelia looked over and asked "Kylo, do you have a spare bunk I can stash him on?"
"Sure." Kylo sauntered over, lifted Hux, and slung him over a shoulder.
As they walked toward one of the passenger cabins Kylo looked at Aurelia, "You know he's going to be angry when he wakes up."
"The Force Stun I administered should last until we get to the Charterhouse on Comraich. she said dismissively.
"I'm sure it will," responded Kylo. "I just want you to understand that an angry Hux is a dangerous Hux." He went ahead of her into the passenger cabin and laid Hux on the bed. "I'm going to check him for weapons and remove what I can find." Kylo gave her a serious look. "You don't want to let him wake up until he's secure at the Charterhouse."
"Surely three Force users can keep General Hux under control." she smiled.
"Maybe. Probably. But Armitage Hux is the most dangerous man I have ever met." replied Kylo. "Best not to underestimate him."
Aurelia left Kylo to de-weaponizing Hux (a blaster on his belt, a monomolecular bladed knife on his right forearm, a Tehk'la blade in a thigh holster, a mini blaster holdout in his boot, and a garrote hidden in his belt buckle) and returned to the lounge where Rey is waiting impatiently for someone to tell her what the hell is going on.
"Rey," said Aurelia, "I need to make a few comm calls before we leave here. May I use your system?"
"Of course," replied Rey. "But first I want you to tell me what the hell is going on. What is going on with Hux, what was that language you two were speaking, and where exactly we are going. I'm also curious why you were calling him Alasdair but that may just be snoopy on my part."
Aurelia looked at the patiently waiting young woman and thinks that things have gotten deep and are getting deeper. She sighed and said, "Let me answer the easy ones first."
She sat down on the couch next to Rey. "General Hux's childhood name is Alasdair. He has given me permission to use that name. His formal, legal name is Armitage, and that is the one you should use when and if he allows you the familiarity."
She continued, "The language I was speaking with him is Comraich. General Hux was fluid in the language when he was a child. We will be leaving for my home planet, Comraich, soon after I make my comm calls."
She took a breath and let it out in a long sigh. "Now for the big question - what is going on with General Hux." She gives Rey a searching look. "Are you familiar with the concept of an awakening in the Force?"
Rey smiled with comprehension. "Yes, I am. I had an awakening in the Force when I was nineteen. Is that what has happened to Hux?"
"Yes," asserted Aurelia. "An awakening in the Force can be rather disorientating for an older person, less so for a preadolescent or a younger adolescent. When possible it is best for a trained Force-sensitive to assist a newly awakened Force user to understand and integrate their new abilities."
"Like a Jedi master and a padawan," interjected Rey.
"Yes, or a Grey Master and an apprentice." agreed Aurelia. "General Hux is a bit old for an awakening. I want to take him to the Grey Order's Charterhouse so the Comhairle Liath can evaluate him and determine the best course of action."
"What is the Comhairle Liath?" asked Rey, "and did I say the name correctly?"
"Yes you did." smiled Aurelia. "The Comhairle Liath is the Council of Elders of the Grey Order." She stretched her back and looked at Rey. "Anything else you would like to ask?"
Rey shook her head. "Not now, but if I have any other questions will you answer them?"
"Yes, if I can."
"Let's go up to the cockpit and get your comm calls set up."
As they moved toward the cockpit they heard the clatter of boots on the entry ramp. A moment later a still terribly hungover Phasma, followed by an equally hungover Kateria, appeared at the top of the ramp.
"Where's Armi?" she growled, squinting her eyes as she looked around the lounge. "He's not on our ship. Is he with you all?"
"He's asleep in one of the passenger cabins," answered Aurelia.
"That's good. There were bounty hunters in the bar asking questions."
"You didn't lead them here did you?" asked Rey sharply.
"We don't think so," interjected Kateria. "But they may be pissed when they wake up."
"What did you do Kat?" asked Kylo, who had come out into the lounge when he heard the commotion.
"Nothing!" protested Kateria. "Well, not much. I may have hit a few. Hard. but they deserved it! One of those bastards pinched my butt!"
"And I hit the others," added Phasma, "Because you can't let butt pinchers get away with being rude." She turned to Kateria and they fist-bumped. "Sisterhood!" they exclaimed together.
"Damn," grumbled Kylo. "We need to get the Ghost in the air." He looked at Phasma. "Are you in any shape to fly your ship? Hux is out for the count."
"I'm hungover, not blind drunk." She looked back at Kateria. "Red can co-pilot for me, right Red?"
Kateria nodded, winced, rubbed her forehead, and said "Sure. But if the doctor lady could give me a hangover cure I'd do better."
"Give me a minute." Aurelia went back to her cabin and dug out a couple of capsules from her medical bag. She had packed all sorts of useful things in her bag.
Back in the lounge, she handed Kateria and Phasma each a capsule and instructed them to take them with lots of water.
"Got ya doc," affirmed Kateria. "Come on Blondie. Let's blow this one bantha town."
Author's note: I'm trying to stick to a schedule of posting weekly but these chapters are taking a little more thought.
So does anyone have an opinion on what the Grey Counsel will do with Hux?