[Hux]


The woman helping Hux asked, "Do all generals in the First Order know how to do ship repair?"

"It's an uncommon trait," Hux grumbled and looked away after dropping the floor panel into place. He didn't want to talk about it. He got to his feet and brushed his gloves against one another.

"Some have said it was a disqualifying one," Ren said in a low voice, but everyone was being quiet, probably contemplating the situation and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even though Ren was on the opposite side of the main compartment, it carried. Since his previous rumblings to the woman with him had not, this had to be intentional – the appearance of quiet, but not really.

Hux didn't bother with being quiet. "Since you're going to bring it up, 'some' have found themselves doing police duty at Krevens Harborworks. Perhaps they might learn not to speak out of turn while they're there!" Ren had his arm around the woman dressed as a colonel, his cloak around her shoulders protectively. Hux's brows drew together as his eyes darted between them at this unexpected intimacy.

If Ren noticed the way Hux was looking at them, he didn't show it. "Your father didn't end up doing police duty."

Hux's voice turned icy. "You tread on dangerous ground, Ren."

"I always do," Ren said. The woman took a step to the side, parting from him.

Hux noticed a lightsaber hanging from her belt. He decided whatever was between the two of them wasn't new; no one else was questioning it. Speaking of which: "Do you have a question or are you wasting my time?"

"Just an observation: You are not what your father intended you to be."

"He's dead. What he intended is irrelevant." He looked around, but there was nowhere to go. The ship was abominably cramped. He gave orders to Ren, partly to see if he'd follow them and mostly to shut him up about this bizarre desire to discuss their murdered fathers in front of an audience. "Go see if the sensor array is working. If the air is breathable, then we won't have to be packed in here so tightly." Wonder of wonders, Ren shrugged and did as he was told.

The Wookiee warbled something that Hux decided was agreement even though he knew nothing of the language. Hux followed Ren to the forward compartment, bypassing the discussion of the others about the room Finn had gone into to get the repair kit, and was now returning the kit to. Leave it to these savages to be amazed by the sight of a compact refresher and a pair of narrow bunks.