It was another early morning at The Bungalow. Aurelia sat on the back porch, drinking coffee, watching the sun rise, and mulling over the situation. It was getting a bit chilly to sit out there but she didn't want to wake Hux yet. They had been there for nearly a week, and Aurelia was of two minds on the progress of his training.

On the one hand, Hux was highly intelligent and very capable of learning the basics of interacting and directing the Force. On the other hand, he was disdainful of the Force and Force users and reluctant to put the effort into learning what she was determined to teach.

And then there was that Force bond that had been created while she was helping him through Threshold Sickness. She had been positive that it would gradually weaken and disperse over time. Instead, it not only still existed, but it was also getting stronger. She could even see it in the Force - a gold and silver braid tying the two of them together. She hadn't told him about it yet because she was pretty sure he would go spare over that revelation. The last thing she needed at the moment was an angry, distraught Force novice.

And speaking of which, she thought as she heard the door open, here is the man in question.

"Good morning, Alasdair," she greeted him as he stepped out on the porch with his own cup of coffee. "Did you sleep well?"

"Not really," he grimaced wryly. "You were right when you said the couch would be uncomfortable." He walked over to the other deck chair and sat down.

"Maybe we could swap," she offered. "I'll take the couch tonight. I need you rested if our training is to be effective."

Hux deliberately ignored the offer. He took a long sip of his coffee, and then set the mug on the table. "About the Force training," he ventured, a serious look on his face. "I owe you an apology."

He looked out toward the tree line. "Brendol hated anything he didn't understand, and he didn't understand the Force. He instilled a strong dislike in me for 'witchery' as he called it. My interactions with Snoke and Ren in the First Order made me hate it even more. They both abused their powers and I was a target since I reported directly to Snoke and had Ren as a co-commander."

"He looked back at her. "I still don't like the Force, nor do I want it but I realize that I need to control my connection to it rather than the Force control me."

"Thank you, Alasdair" replied Aurelia softly.

**TaBa**

Inspector Falkus descended the stairs from his floor and wandered into the dining room. He had to admit, Agent MacBheatha had been correct about the Travelers Rest. The bed in his room was extremely comfortable (at least when he isn't awakened at 3 am by a blithering idiot) and the food service was excellent. He hadn't realized how much he had missed the experience of a full Comraichie breakfast until now. One of the only things he misses about the planet.

The Damerons were already at their table when he walked in, demolishing plates of square Lorne sausage, link sausages, fried egg, streaky bacon, baked beans, black pudding, tattie scones, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and toast. Finn had added a generous helping of haggis to his plate.

"Good morning Inspector," Poe greeted him cheerfully as he sat down. "What's on the docket for today, sir?"

"Breakfast," answered the Inspector as he turned to the server to place his order. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table and turned back to Poe.

"Couple of things to look at today. I want you and Finn to drive up to a town called Both Chèi. It's an hour or so from here. Word is the Grey Order has a meditation building nearby." He paused to drink some coffee before it cooled down.

"I have a hunch that if Armitage Hux is still on planet he's hiding out in one of the Order's holdings. Go and snoop around, ask a few questions."

"Why would the Grey Order be harboring Hux Inspector?" asked Finn.

"No idea, Finn," replied Falkus. "Maybe the Force told them to. I've only known a couple of Force users who were anything close to normal. Which brings me to Kylo Ren."

He paused while the server placed his breakfast in front of him, thanked her, and poured himself some more coffee.

"What about Kylo Ren?" asked Poe.

"The High Court has issued an arrest warrant for him. It and an extradition request from the First Speaker should arrive in a couple of days."

"No disrespect intended," said Poe slowly, "but how are we suppose to arrest Kylo Ren? Finn and I just got married and I would like to live a bit longer."

"Funny Poe," growled the Inspector. "They're sending several vials of a new Force suppressing drug along with the paperwork. It's called Neurostrin."

"Isn't that the stuff that made Rey so sick?" asked Finn carefully.

"Probably. Dr. Galen would have a better handle on that since she treated Rey."

"Again, with all due respect sir," ventured Poe. "but this is a really bad idea."

"I know that!" grated Falkus. "My hands are tied though. When the arrest warrant and the drug gets here we have to attempt to make an arrest." He pushed his plate away and stood up, appetite gone.

"I'm supposed to meet with Agent MacBheatha after breakfast. While you two are over in Both Chèi we'll be at the Grey Order Charterhouse to see if I can winkle out more information on Hux's location."

"Can we finish breakfast first?" asked Finn as he reached for more haggis.

**TaBa**

Aurelia and Hux were just finishing their morning meditation session when her comm beeped. She looked at the sender information and frowned.

"Alasdair, I need t take this call. Why don't you work on your mental barrier and I'll test you when I'm done."

"Mind if I take a short break first?" he asked.

"Of course, go ahead," she replied as she got up from the floor cushion. "I'll be out on the deck."

She stepped through the door, settled herself on a deck chair, and keyed the receiver on the comm.

"Hello, Peter."

"Aurelia."

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this comm?"

"I understand you're gallivanting around the galaxy with Ren and Skywalker."

"I don't know if I would call it 'gallivanting' Peter. I'm merely following the will of the Force."

"You're not turning into one of those airy-fairy space wizards on me, are you Lia?"

"If we weren't old friends that would be offensive, Peter."

"Sorry, no offense meant."

"What did you need, Peter?"

"Can't I check on the welfare of an old friend, Lia?"

"I'm fine, Peter. I've taken a sabbatical from my Coruscant practice. I won't be back for quite some time."

"Does this sabbatical have anything to do with Armitage Hux?"

"Why are you asking me about a dead war criminal, Peter?"

"He's more alive than dead. And he was spotted on Comraich recently."

There is a pause in the conversation.

"I'm not sure what that has to do with me, Peter."

There is another pause in the conversation.

"Are you sure you're ok, Aurelia?"

"Peter, I'm perfectly fine. You didn't need to comm me."

"Maybe not. If you need anything just let me know, okay?"

"I will. Thank you, Peter."

Inspector Falkus closed the call and turned to Agent MacBheatha.

"I need a tap on Doctor Aurelia Galen's comm account."

"Doctor Galen, Inspector? May I ask for what reason?"

"I'm playing a hunch, Agent MacBheatha."

**TaBa**

Hux was taking a break in the kitchen area, sipping on a mug of tea (honest to Maker Tarine tea! Someone did their research.) When his comm unit beeped. He looked down at the sender information and keyed the receiver.

"Go ahead Phasma."

"Armitage! Where. Are. You!"

"Calm down Phas."

"Don't 'calm down Phas' me Armitage Hux! We've been waiting for you at this dump for a week. Where are you and why aren't you here?"

"There's been a lot going on, Phasma. Force-related things."

"What does that have to do with you, Armi? You're a Force null."

"Not as null as I thought, it turns out."

"What are you saying, Armi? That you're a Force-sensitive?"

"The Force moves in mysterious ways, it wonders to behold. Yes. Imagine my surprise and chagrin."

"Are you going to meet us here?"

"No. Dr. Galen is teaching me basic Force control. I'd give the whole thing a miss, to be honest, but she convinced me that I would rather control my Force connection than let it control me."

"What do you want us to do?"

"Is that Knight of Ren still with you?"

"Kateria? Yes, she is. And she says that's 'former Knight of Ren' thank you very much."

"Whatever. I want the two of you to head over to Nar Shaddaa. Do some gambling, hit the cantinas, bet on the pod races. See what sort of information you can pick up, particularly about the Renewed First Order. If your knight is feeling frisky maybe she would like to drive in a few pod races. We're going to need to replenish our credit accounts."

"Okay, Armi. How long should we stay on Nar Shaddaa?"

"I'm not sure. I'll comm you when I have a better idea. And Phasma?"

"Yes?"

"Stop calling me 'Armie.' Hux out."

Author's note: Aurelia and Hux agree to a truce. Inspector Falkus briefs Poe and Finn. Finn really likes haggis. Falkus comms Aurelia and has a hunch that she knows more about Hux's whereabouts than she is letting on. Phasma comms Hux and yells at him.

I tried to get this out earlier but my characters kept waving at me and changing the direction of the narration. And we have another bar visit in the very near future.