When Stars Collide
Chapter 34: Daunting Decisions
The rain pours down, relentless and unforgiving like Hux himself.
He looks out the window of whatever transport his child's brain has concocted for him. Though it is not a perfect picture.
The edges of his mind are frayed, fuzzy, and unreliable.
Because he knows this didn't happen to him, not like it's happening now. He can see her—his mother—while he looks out the viewport of the Imperial Transport. She stands on the ground, looking up at him, not angry. Instead, there is a depth of sadness he cannot even comprehend. She does not wave; she merely looks.
Watching him as he leaves her life forever.
His mother.
The lump in his throat tightens, and he cannot swallow. His eyes flooded with unshed tears. He left her.
He left her to her death.
He may have been a child, but she was his responsibility. He should've stayed. He should've died with her.
It should have been him.
They don't sleep long. The Falcon shifts suddenly, and Rey slides away from Hux, no longer his headrest; he startles awake. Jolted from dreams he can't remember, though something in his chest aches.
Have they arrived at their safety point already?
He yawns and stretches, enjoying the feel of his limbs burning slightly from their previous exertions. Rey gives him a tired smile before she stands and cracks her knuckles loudly.
"I suppose we can sleep later," she says, half through a yawn. "We need to contact Vaylen. Are you—are you going to let him know about Lira?"
Hux blinks, surprised. He hadn't forgotten, but how exactly was he supposed to explain that to Vaylen? It wouldn't go over well. He knew that. Vaylen was not the forgiving sort, and Hux wasn't exactly in a position to demand his support.
"I will, but—I need to be careful." He says thoughtfully. "With our luck, the First Order already knows what happened on Batuu, and Ren will have sent an armada after us."
After Rey anyway. Such is Ren's—motivation? Hux is loathed to call it such, but he cannot deny that Ren has his sights set on Rey.
She seems to sense his reluctance to discuss Ren, but they must speak about him sometime. He's not certain he even wants to know what transpired on Batuu. It might be too painful. But, it might as well be now. Better to go into battle having hashed it all out than to engage with Vaylen while there are things left unsaid. Vaylen has a knack for discerning things like this and driving a wedge between would-be allies.
Rey shakes her head and looks away, "he asked me to join him again. He said—he said he'd spare you if I went with him."
This isn't exactly a surprise. It doesn't alarm Hux, but it feels oddly significant. He knows how Ren feels about Rey. He knows that she cares for Ren or Ben Solo, but he isn't prepared to know what Ren may have said about him or promised Rey.
"Did he?"
She nods, still not looking at him, "I thought maybe —he'd captured you. That he was going to torture you or something."
"I see," he replies meekly. Thankful that FN and the Wookiee are piloting the ship and not in the room with them. He couldn't bear to hear FN tell Rey that this catch-22 was ridiculous, and she shouldn't want either of them.
"But then you were spotted in Oga's, and I knew he didn't have you—that he was bluffing," she says, finally turning to face him. "If—if something like that ever happens, if he captures you or me. I want us to promise each other something."
"What?" He asks hesitantly.
She reaches for his hands and grips each one tightly.
"Promise me that if he takes me, you won't come after me. Promise me that you'll proceed with the Resistance," she says softly.
He knows that she can take care of herself that she can handle Ren by herself, but this seems to have more to it than that. It's as if she doesn't think that Hux can handle things on his own. That she doesn't trust that he'll be able to deal with Ren.
"Rey—," he warns.
"Promise me," she cuts him off. "Please."
"Rey," he says with a sigh. "I can't promise you that. I'll come for you. I'll always come for you. If you expect me to sit around with the Resistance while you're captured, then you don't know me very well. I'd expect you to come for me."
"That's different," she replies instantly.
"Different how?"
"Well, because—," she gives him an expectant look. "Because I have the Force and—I can fight Ren—you—."
"I see," he says tersely. "You think that because you have the Force and I don't, that I would be no match for Ren. That I couldn't fight him."
Her lashes dip as she looks away from him; it's hurtful to actually say and painful for him to hear. But he knows it to be true. He wouldn't stand a chance in a confrontation with Ren. Not while Ren has access to the Force, at least. If he could bring him down to his terms, he might be able to take him. Maybe, if he didn't fight honorably. But when has he ever fought honorably?
"I just—I don't want you to get hurt," Rey says finally. "I know you're capable. I know you're smart. I know you are an excellent strategist. I'm just afraid that he would have the advantage over you in a fight. I'm the only one who stands a chance against him."
Hux purses his lips and frowns. She wasn't wrong, but he feels slightly emasculated having her make him feel like she is the hero and he the helpless damsel. But then he smiles. Their relationship has never been conventional anyway.
"I don't want you to face him alone," he says finally, "I know you can handle him. But you know you don't have to face him by yourself. You have me too."
Rey gives him a sad smile, "It's not that. I know you're with me. I'm just—I'm afraid he'll use you against me in a fight."
"If he really—if he loves you—if he cares about you like I do," Hux feels his throat go tight and dry, "then he wouldn't do that to you."
She shakes her head, "the dark side convinces us to do things, makes us think they're the right things, makes us think we're doing good."
"Hey, you two," FN's voice booms over the speaker. "We've received a transmission from your First Order friend—get over here."
Rey turns to head toward the cockpit, but Hux pulls her back, "Darling, please know—whatever happens—I want to fight with you. I know he might try to use that against us, but we're stronger together whatever he might think."
She gives his hand a squeeze but doesn't reply and instead leads them to the cockpit.
Inside the Millennium Falcon's cockpit, the Wookiee and FN sit in the pilot and co-pilot's seats. They turn as Rey and Hux enter, and FN gives Hux a suspicious glare.
"That First Order Grand Admiral friend of yours—"
"Vaylen Sarkos," Hux interjects.
"Oh, you'll say his name," FN retorts with an eye roll.
"I wasn't—" Hux begins, but Rey cuts him off with a look that tells him it's best to just listen.
"What did he say? Time is precious here."
"He wants us to meet him on Centares– more information to follow. It's mid rim, so it'll take a day or so to get there by the normal routes," FN looks back at the monitor screen before his co-pilot's seat. "But we have to be careful. We probably can't go through the normal hyperspace routes. I'm betting the First Order has people watching the routes to big tourist centers like Centares."
Hux nods approvingly, "it's true, the First Order has placed sentinel droids near all the mid rim hyperspace routes to determine who's using them. It might be a good idea to either utilize a cloaking beacon or take a less-traveled route."
"Obviously," FN says with annoyance; he lets out a huff and presses a key on the monitor, and then leans back in his seat.
Rey moans, "Well, what do you think, Chewie?"
The Wookiee growls, leaning back in his chair and putting both massive paws behind his equally large head.
FN laughs, "Well, if we have the capability to calculate a route that fast, then let's do it. I want to get this over with and be back in my bunk with Rose before the end of the week."
Rey gives Chewie a reproachful look, "does that program even still work? I've tried to use the Nav computer like that before and never quite been successful."
Chewie growls again; shaking his head, he begins pressing toggles and switches on the Falcon's dashboard. Hux watches nervously. Is it possible that this ridiculous, outdated, and falling apart piece of junk could outwit even the First Order's sentinel droids? Whatever it may be able to do, Hux still doesn't like the odds.
Leaning over the shoulders of the chairs, Rey grips onto them tightly and then reaches out and flips another switch on the dash.
"That should do it," she says, straightening and looking back at Hux. "Now we just have to let the nav computer do her work."
"Her?" Hux asks, confused.
"She's testy," Rey says with a laugh, "I've never quite gotten her to work for me. I think that program, in particular, requires certain —permissions?"
"Like a passcode?"
"Maybe," Rey shrugs, "though even Chewie can't quite get her to work, and he was there when this system was downloaded."
The Wookiee whines, letting out a low growl.
"I know," Rey says with a sigh. "Han was the only one who was able to make her do what he wanted. Unkar couldn't even—which is why the Falcon sat so long on Jakku."
Hux clears his throat and looks around uncomfortably. Han Solo —the father of Kylo Ren. He and Ren had that in common then—killing their fathers. Odd. And yet. Not surprising.
FN gives him a look that says he knows what Hux is thinking, or at least he can read the facial expression well enough. FN was there after all.
Chewie growls again, and shrugging, he leans forward and presses in a combination of buttons while Rey gives him a resigned nod.
"You're right," she says with a frown, "the least we can do is try."
The ship lights up brighter than usual, and Hux gazes up in wonder as something seems to spring to life inside the cockpit. Almost as if some magnificent force has taken over the vessel.
Rey stands up straighter and looks around, obviously excited. She takes a deep breath in and grips Hux's shoulder tightly; he straightens without thinking, and FN eyes Rey's hand before looking back at the dashboard.
"Somethings happening," she whispers. "I've never seen it do that before."
Suddenly, the white lines of hyperspace shoot by, and Rey lets out the breath she's been holding.
"We did it!" She exclaims, turning and wrapping her arms around Chewie. "Han's computer, she listened to us!"
FN whoops in agreement, one of his hands clasping Rey's tightly and squeezing. Rey smiles down at FN and the Wookiee, shaking her head in disbelief.
"She's always been a difficult one, but maybe she realizes you're in charge now?" FN says with a grin.
Chewie growls in agreement, and Rey beams.
It was a moment in which Hux suddenly felt extremely out of place, as if his present company was sharing an inside joke to which he'd not been a part. His stomach knotted uncomfortably, but he didn't speak. He felt no urge to draw attention to himself but knew he ought to say something.
"Well done," he says in the most congratulatory manner he can muster.
It seems like the time in hyperspace flies by like no time at all, when in reality, nearly a day passes. Hux assists Rey in replacing some non-essential systems aboard the Falcon. He avoids any conversation with Chewie, not that he could converse; his Shyriiwook is terribly rusty. But he mainly avoids FN. He can't bear to speak with him again, especially since he assumes that the former stormtrooper would only have negative comments for him.
But he can't avoid conversation forever, especially not in such tight quarters. He runs into FN after coming out of the fresher in the evening.
FN leans against the hall like he's been waiting for some time. Rey and Chewie are cleaning up the ship and preparing for their landing on Centares in a few hours.
"Hey," FN says as soon as they make eye contact.
"Hello," Hux replies hesitantly. This isn't a social call. FN has avoided him as well. So this must be about something.
"I think we need to talk."
"Do we?"
"We're going to be landing in a bit, and I think we need to have a discussion."
"About?"
"About Rey. What else about?" FN says, annoyed. He purses his lips and looks at Hux expectantly.
Hux folds his arms across his chest and leans against the opposite wall.
"What about her?" He asks tersely.
"I don't like this whole plan, you and her meeting up with your friend. How do I know you aren't just pulling her into a trap? This could all be some big plot to capture her for Kylo Ren."
A flare of anger shoots through Hux as he cocks his head to the side and listens. As if he would ever hand Rey over to Ren.
"How do I know that you're not just—working undercover? That you didn't plan this whole thing. Rey is lonely and heartbroken, and how do I know you're not just manipulating her and taking advantage of that?"
"How dare you," Hux spits, taking a step towards FN now so he can tower over him. "If you think I could fake this level of —of care I have for her. If you think you're the only one who's ever made mistakes and learned from them. The pure ridiculousness of your thinking. To accuse me of plotting to kidnap Rey? You clearly don't see what she means to me."
FN eyes him, still unconvinced.
"I've heard your stories. I know you think you care about her. But what happens if you're offered that power you've always craved? What happens when you have to decide between having her and having the power to do anything you want? You can't tell me you're always going to make the choices that are best for Rey. You're still the same self-serving, conniving, and power-hungry weasel you've always been."
Hux grimaces, suddenly tired. He knows he still looks like that, especially to those who he used to oversee. He could be a cruel taskmaster, and FN-2187 was not spared Hux's harsh punishments. But he would like to think that he has changed.
Nothing, no power, has compared to how he feels with Rey, the way he cares about her. Nothing has ever come close to the feeling of warmth that surges through him whenever he thinks about her.
His jaw clenches as he points a finger in FN's face.
"You don't have a monopoly on caring for Rey. And you don't know what I've already given up for her. I've already told you, I'm here to help. I don't know if this is because of jealousy or —."
FN looks taken aback, "jealousy?" He lets out a disbelieving laugh. "I love Rey. She's my best friend. I thought, for a moment, in the beginning, that we could be something more, but I'm not delusional. On top of that, I have Rose. I can be with Rose and still worry about my friend, asshole."
Hux stiffens, such insubordination. No wonder FN turned his back on the First Order, Hux thinks, and then immediately regrets it. Hux himself has come to terms with realizing that the directives set down by the First Order did not benefit all of the Galaxy.
"Doubt whatever you want about me," Hux replies finally. "But never doubt that I would do anything for Rey."
"Would you die for her?" FN asks suddenly.
"I would; I've almost nearly died for her a few times already," Hux says quietly.
FN presses his lips together in a firm line and nods.
"I'm still keeping an eye on you. If I get even a hint that you're playing both sides, I will kill you. Even if I know how much it will hurt Rey."
Hux inadvertently licks his teeth and frowns, "I suppose you and Ren have that in common then." And he turns his back and walks away, his throat tight and fists clenched at his sides as he tries to calm himself. In the past, he would've punished an out-of-line soldier for their behavior, perhaps even severely.
But that isn't him now; he's trying to control this anger and resentment, but more importantly, this fear that wells up from surprising places.
If he were faced with that opportunity, that promise of power, would he choose the right thing?
Centares is a bustling metropolis, a planet much like Coruscant in that it is mainly made up of cities. Controlled by the Hutts for centuries, it has a long history of less than reputable business. It is a perfect place to meet, considering it is far enough out of the First Order's control that it is unlikely they will run into any spies. Even the First Order is wary of the Hutt's and rightfully so. The Hutt's, unlike the Resistance, will do whatever it takes to win.
Over the ages, Centares became part of the Corporate Sector of planets and has become wealthier and more refined. Though still controlled by the Hutt's, it has evolved into an epicenter of high-end commerce. It boasts over a thousand different nightclubs and luxury department stores.
Vaylen has planned for them to meet at the Ga'rot'olo nightclub, which poses a slight problem. This particular club is high profile, requiring not only a substantial entry fee but also a patron dress code. Hux could wear his First Order uniform, but it looks —less than regulation now on top of not entirely fitting the club's strict dress code.
On top of that, Hux would prefer to be up to par with the rest of the clientele. But he supposes he might make do with the uniform if he must.
On the other hand, Rey has nothing, and Leia had her clothing moved from the Falcon nearly a decade ago, so they're without even a small amount of options for Rey.
Finn, Rey, and Hux stand in the cockpit, watching as Chewie finds a suitable landing pad for their vessel.
"I could, well, I could try to make this into a dress of some kind," Rey offers hopefully. She can sew, and she might be able to make her clothing into something appropriate, though she doubts it will look well enough to gain them entry to the club.
Hux shakes his head, "I don't think you know how exclusive this club is—I don't think I could get in with what I have now."
FN shrugs, "So we buy some new clothes—what's the big deal?"
"For this club," Hux says, giving FN a glare, "you'll need expensive attire. It's quite private, making it one of the best places for us to meet without the possibility of running into a First Order spy. If we get in there, we need to be dressed the part and look like we fit in. We need to look well-bred. Do you have the funds —or the taste to find clothing that would send that message?"
"I—have taste," FN mutters bitterly.
"Well, I suppose the Resistance doesn't have the funds to support a mission of this kind," Rey says tiredly. "What're we going to do?"
There is a moment of silence as each considers their options. FN speaks first, "We could pool our credits and see if we have enough?"
Hux shakes his head wearily, "And how many credits do you have?"
FN blinks at him, affronted, "enough."
"For what?" Hux says, his eyes narrowed, "a poncho?"
Rey barks a laugh, and the Wookiee roars. Even FN manages a slight smirk. The little orange and white Bebe unit beeps in appreciation.
But Hux waits, hoping there is some other way.
"If only Leia was here, if only—"Rey trails off, shaking her head. "But she's not, and her wardrobe and the Resistance funds would've been exactly what we need right now."
"Can't we comm her and just ask for the credits?" FN suggests reluctantly. No one wants to comm the General, not when they have an extra passenger and will have to explain this little side mission.
The Falcon settles against the landing platform, releasing the gear with a loud hiss.**
"We can't," Rey says despairingly. "I —I will comm her at some point to explain about Hux, but, right now, I don't think it's a good idea. We need to be able to tell her that we have Vaylen's forces behind us before I tell her I'm bringing home a First Order General."
Hux winces; he doesn't like this game, doesn't like being thought of this way. But he supposes there is no other option. He has plenty of intel for the Resistance, but in order to be thought of as more than just a prisoner, he needs to have an advantage. And Vaylen will give him that advantage.
Provided everything goes as planned.
"I can help," Hux says finally.
"You?" FN says, disbelieving. "How?"
"I have.. an off-planet account," Hux says with a defeated lament. This was not information he'd planned on revealing. Maybe to Rey, perhaps if they were alone together on a tourist planet and he wanted to woo her in the manner, he thought appropriate. Revealing his life savings to his —girlfriend— AND her ragtag group of friends was decidedly not in his best interest. Yet here he was.
When no one spoke, he continues, "I've been saving for nearly three decades, my—my mother started the account for me when I was born, some small inheritance from her father, and well, I've put credits into it for years. I—I think I might be able to manage purchasing us some appropriate attire."
His companions stare at him, baffled.
"Just how much is in this 'off planet account,' huh?" FN asks.
"Enough," Hux replies with a smirk.
**Star Wars trivia – did you know that the Falcon had 3 landing gear in "A New Hope" and in "Empire" they had 5, there was an entire debate about the amount of landing gear to use for the "Solo" movie, so they started with 5 and then had two of the landing gear break off during the Kessel run. This is such niche knowledge lol. I hope you enjoy.
Notes:
Wellllll, is Hux going to buy his girl some new fancy clothing? And we know that people can't change in a few weeks time, would Hux choose power over the woman he loves? Hmmm... maybe if he were spurned a bit... What will they find when they finally get to enjoy the sights and smells of Centares and what is Vaylen going to bring to the table?
Are you ready for MOFO VAYLEN SARKOS? I feel like I've been hyping this dude up for ten years and you're finally going to meet him. He's my child okay, he's never done anything wrong in his life. I have drawn fan art of which I kind of like so if you check out my tumblr or art insta you can see him. :D
I'd love to hear your comments! They feed me and keep me focused.