As they walked down the hall to the parlor Hux held back and grabbed Phasma by the elbow,
"Armi, you know how I feel about being grabbed," she chastised him. "I could have hurt you."
"Don't call me that," he responded. It was almost an automatic reaction. "How fast can you get our stuff packed up and ready to leave?"
"If we have to pack I can be ready in an hour. If we abandon everything and scoot it will take about 10 minutes - 5 minutes to kiss Red goodbye and 5 more minutes to hotwire a ground speeder."
"Excellent."
"Do you know something Armitage?"
"Just a feeling," he said with a grimace. "Something is coming and I don't want to be caught flatfooted."
"I'll get on the packing right away," responded Phasma.
"You're not leaving me behind, are you?" protested Kateria.
Phasma hesitated. She looked over at Hux. She looked back at Kateria. "If Armitage says it's ok would you come along?"
They both looked at Hux. He shuddered. Puppy eyes on Phasma were just too disturbing.
"Fine. Just don't look like that at me anymore."
Kateria squeed excitedly. "I need to let Kylo know I'm going with Blondie." She bounded down the hallway and caught up with Kylo and Rey.
Hux rubbed his ear. That hurt. "You do that," he grumbled. Intimate relationships could certainly complicate things. He was happy he didn't have one. He turned back to Phasma.
"After you are packed get back to our ship and hold tight. I have a feeling we will need to leave in a hurry." Phasma nodded. She had learned to trust his instincts.
"Try to get a ride into town," he continued. "Tell them that you two are going on a girls' night out."
Phasma gave him a Look. "Armitage," she said slowly, "Do Kateria and I look like the sort of people who would have a girls' night out?"
"Think of a legitimate excuse, then."
"Fine, what about you, Armitage?"
"I'm not sure," he replied pensively. "I need some answers from Dr, Galen and that Grey Guildmaster about this so-called 'threshold sickness.' I have a feeling that I may be detained. If I'm not at the ship by sundown get a departure clearance and leave. I'll meet you at location 56."
"Are you sure?" asked Phasma. "Location 56 is a worse dump than Location 42."
"Just wait for me there." he snapped.
"I still don't like leaving you behind," she retorted.
"I've got my arsenal. I'll be fine."
*TaBa*
"Tell me again why your husband is coming along with us, Dameron."
"He's our guard, Inspector Falkus."
Falkus glowered at Poe from the co-pilot seat. Poe ignored his expression as he inserted them into hyperspace with his normal sang-froid.
"I requested two guards. Where is the second guard?"
"Cost-cutting initiative sir. Finn is a former Stormtrooper who was on the leadership track before he defected. He's also slightly Force-sensitive, which helps in combat situations. Personnel decided we didn't need another guard."
"Of course they did," grouched Falkus. He looked over at Finn who was sitting in the jump seat behind Poe. "If you're Force-sensitive where's your lightsaber?"
"Slightly Force-sensitive," corrected Finn. "It enhances my reaction time and spatial perceptions in battle situations. I don't need a lightsaber when I'm an expert in standard melee and ranged weapons."
"And you're a former Stormtrooper?" asked Falkus
"Yes sir."
"Do you know anything about General Hux?"
"A little. He was the commander of the Finalizer, the Star Destroyer I served on before I defected from the First Order."
Falkus chewed on that bit of intel. "What can you tell me about the general?"
"General Hux was a very effective officer and scary beyond reason," said Finn promptly. "He designed the Stormtrooper training program I went through. It was brutally tough but the General said we weren't cannon fodder and the First Order needed us to come back alive from away missions."
"How was he 'scary beyond reason'?" asked the Inspector.
"The General was really cold. We Stormtroopers sometimes wondered if he were made of ice," answered Finn. "He had no qualms about ordering overwhelming attacks against planets that opposed the First Order. And many communities that harbored Resistance members were destroyed to the last person." Finn's eyes became bleak as he recalled the massacre he witnessed of a village on Jakku.
The Inspector considered his next question carefully. "Was General Hux considered a desk jockey? Did people think he was unable to defend himself?"
Finn laughed. "As I said before - scary beyond reason. I once saw him pin Kylo Ren to a wall and yell at him for destroying expensive equipment. And if half the rumors were true there are a whole lot of bodies no one will ever find."
Inspector Falkus sighed, "We can only hope that the Comraich authorities have him in custody before we arrive."
"We'll know soon," Poe chimed in cheerfully. "Our ETA is approximately 12 hours."
*TaBa*
"Master Ren, Master Skywalker, General Hux. Thank you for your prompt arrival. Please, have a seat." Master Mac Dhomhnuill gestured expansively toward a couch and some comfortable chairs where he and Aurelia were sitting. "Will Kateria Ren and Captain Phasma be joining us?"
"They left on an errand," replied Hux. "And I am no longer a General. Just 'Hux' is fine."
"Hux then," agreed the Master.
Kylo leaned forward from his seat next to Rey on the couch. "I understand Dr. Galen explained our situation?"
"Indeed she did, Master Ren," acknowledged the Meimeal. "I would like to discuss it with you in more detail before I offer my opinion and suggestions."
"But first - " the Master turned to Aurelia. "Master Galen, would you be so kind as to take your apprentice in hand and explain his current situation?"
Hux, Kylo, and Rey looked around the parlor. Nope, no one else was in the room.
"Are you referring to me?" asked Hux, incredulous.
Aurelia stood and extended her hand to Hux. "Armitage, if you would come with me I will answer your questions while the Master speaks to Kylo and Rey."
Hux looked at the older grey-haired woman. "I'm not convinced I can trust you," he stated bluntly.
"What do I need to do to prove my intentions are honorable?" Aurelia countered.
"Show me the person who helped me through Threshold Sickness."
Aurelia sighed and looked at Kylo and Rey. "I'm sorry. I was assisting Inspector Falkus in his inquiries. I never intended to maintain this appearance so long."
She bowed her head and focused on the Force. Her appearance blurred slightly, then settled to a young woman with sable hair. Her face was smooth, free of wrinkles, with peaches and cream complexion. Her eyes were the same, warm hazel, with shrewdness, intelligence, and that special something that only a Force-sensitive would recognize as a fellow traveler.
"Aurelia lass," said Master Mac Dhomhnuill gently, "Take Hux to the study. Explain the situation and answer his questions. You'll have the opportunity to talk to Master Ren and Master Skywalker later."
"Yes, Master," replied Aurelia submissively. She looked at Hux. "Please come with me, Armitage."
As Aurelia and Hux left the parlor she heard Rey say "I thought her Force signature felt a bit odd."
*TaBa*
"Look like we have a welcoming committee Inspector," commented Poe as he set down at the Dùn Èideann Aerodrome
"Does one person count as a committee?" asked Finn.
Falkus resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. "Just lower the ramp, Poe."
As they walked down the ramp a large man with a florid complexion, startling red hair, and bright blue eyes walked rapidly to meet them.
"Inspector Falkus, welcome to Comraich," he exclaimed, hand extended. "I'm Agent Mìcheal MacBheatha, Interior Security and Defense Bureau. I would be pleased to assist you in this extradition matter."
Falkus shook MacBheatha's hand. "I understand your office has confirmed that Armitage Hux was seen on Comraich. I have a UNR warrant for his arrest and a copy of the UNR extradition request. When may I take custody of Hux?"
"Weeel, that would be a wee tad of a problem," confessed MacBheatha.
The Inspector narrowed his eyes. "What sort of problem Agent MacBheatha?"
"He - he isn't on hand, so to speak."
"Are you telling me I traveled from the Core to the backside of the Outer Rim for a suspect that you don't have in custody?
"Now don't be angry Inspector," protested MacBheatha.
"Angry? You haven't seen angry yet," growled Falkus.
"We are confident that he is still on the planet and we have a good idea where he is." gulped MacBheatha.
"And where is that?" The Inspector was getting impatient.
"Sruighlea, sir. A light freighter registered to Brienne Phasma landed at the Aerodome there 2 days ago. Recent reports indicate that she is a regular associate of Hux. We also have several reliable reports that place him on a transport vehicle belonging to the Òrdugh liath."
Falkus translated in his head. "The Grey Order?"
"Yes sir. They are reputed to be Force-users."
"Interesting. Can you arrange transportation to Sruighlea?"
"Of course," replied MacBheatha. "I can get you there by sundown."
*TaBa*
Master Mac Dhomhnuill refilled his pipe as he watched as Aurelia and Hux left the parlor. He packed it and tamped the tabac down before summoning a flame to light it. He puffed the spicy blend slowly, watching Kylo and Rey speculatively.
"Masters, I believe you have a story to tell," he observed.
Kylo and Rey looked at each other.
[[How much should we tell him, Kylo?]]
{{All of it, Rey}}
[[Are you sure?]]
{{Yes. I believe they can help us.}}
[[Where do you want to start? When I pulled you back from Between the Worlds?]]
{{I think we need to start with our fight against Palpatine.}}
Rey nodded and took a breath. "It's a long story, Master Mac Dhomhnuill, and some of it may sound unbelievable, if not impossible."
The Meimeal took his pipe out of his mouth and smiled. "I make it a policy to believe at least 6 impossible things before breakfast, lass."
"I'm going to start at the Battle of Exegol." began Rey.
A sudden, gentle knocking on the open parlor door interrupted her. A tall, slender man with sea-green eyes and long dark auburn hair held back in a silver clip was standing in the doorway. He was dressed in grey, similarly to Master Mac Dhomhnuill.
"Yes, Seneschal?
"Pardon my intrusion, Master, but I have an urgent message for you,"
"Please excuse me a moment, Masters," said Master Mac Dhomhnuill as he stood and walked to the door. He stepped out into the hall with the Seneschal. After a few minutes, they heard him say "Thank you Dòmhnall. Please advise Master Galen. She should be in the study with her apprentice."
Rey and Kylo watched the Meimeal as he returned to his chair and settled in with his pipe.
He relit it and regarded them. Apparently making a decision, he put the pipe back down on its holder.
"Since you two are traveling with him I should let you know that a United New Republic official is on planet with an arrest warrant and extradition orders for one Armitage Hux, also known as the Starkiller." He smiled slightly. "No mention was made of Kylo Ren."
"Does Hux know?" asked Kylo.
"Seneschal MacSheumais will advise Master Galen, who, if I am not mistaken, will not release her apprentice until she is sure he won't kill himself in his new status as a Force user."
He picked up his pipe. "Now Master Skywalker, I believe you have a story to tell me."
Author's Notes: I've been thinking about what to do with this complicated storyline. My main characters are going to be heading in different directions very soon, and I don't want to confuse readers by flipping between groups constantly from chapter to chapter. The tentative plan is to wrap up this main narrative in a few more chapters and make it part of a series of stories in the same AU. There will be a companion work that follows Hux and Aurelia as the main characters and another companion work that follows Kylo and Rey as the main characters. Yes, they will interact in each other's stories occasionally.
I'm not sure how to link stories in the same AU on FanFiction but if it can be done I'll figure it out.
And if it doesn't work the way I envision it I'll just go hide under the bed for a while.
If you have an opinion about this idea, please let me know. Or if you want to comment on the story. Like most writers I love feedback.