My lover's got humour
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshipped her sooner
If the heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
((Writing has been taking a back seat to all the good weather here in Ireland but apparently the rain is coming back so I should be more regular with chapters! Chapter five of Precious Cargo is next!))
((Guest: Absolutely! I would love to answer some questions about Irish culture! Inbox me here and I'll tell you everything you want to know!))
"I'll attend to it." The General resigned himself but first, he must reassure Lucilla. "Darling." Those unique blue eyes heightened as her master's regimented footsteps re-approached her bed. Her hand was taken and a lasting kiss was pressed to his stunning companion's forehead. "I'm so sorry, little dove, but a pilot has been taken from Jakku and needs to be interviewed." A mild term if the General ever used one. "Someone will escort you back to our quarters when the tests are complete and I want you to rest when you get there. I'll be with you as soon as I can."
Lucilla's lips were claimed ever so briefly and a short (if disappointed) nod accepted what he told her. She gave his hand one last squeeze then watched him go, hesitant to continue with the tests without him supportively at her side. The medics exchanged glances but said nothing. The General was known (on and off Finalizer) for being staunch, cold and almost wooden when it came to emotions. And yet; he worried, he held her hand and kissed her, encouraged her. On those occasions, his strict demeanour slipped; much to the surprise of the medical staff.
The Lieutenant had described her as the General's 'companion'. They had known what that meant: She was a bed warmer, a pleasure object. So when the med team were requested to meet with the General and his pet, they assumed it was a termination the General would be set upon. After all, why would he want a child interfering with a sterile relationship that a master and his slave often had? Nothing could have prepared the team for when they were literally requested to do the opposite. And with loyalty to the First Order and therefore their General, the doctors and nurses of Finalizer went about finding a solution.
The last time General Hux and Kylo Ren had spoken (if one could call it that) was the honorary bloodbath that had occurred in Training Room B in Lucilla's name. They had fought for her ownership (not that the gentle female knew that); Hux had fought to keep her while Ren fought to take her. Fortunately for her, her original master had won to continue to dote on and spoil her; to keep her and later (hopefully) breed her. Why wouldn't he? She was perfect in every way. At least her General's intentions were purer than Kylo Ren's who only saw fit to use her for his own completion.
Hux hadn't forgotten it and the mere thought of working closely with him now turned his stomach with rage and disgust. With Lieutenant Mitaka at his side, Hux strode with his usual confidence but with an irritated edge of having to deal with Ren again. The pair made their way in silence to the detention level; Mitaka knew where the prisoner was being kept but Hux would have known regardless. After all, he was the one who had drawn up the prisoner protocol. Not that Kylo Ren adhered to protocol of any description.
They say that to be ignorant of time can be both a blessing and a curse, torture and bliss. It very much depends on the situation. In the detention level of Finalizer, it was agony. The lack of clocks, the stony silence (save for the clattering of Stormtrooper armour at semi-regular intervals), the bleak metallic of the cells and the windowless walls all combined to ensure that a prisoner was as oppressed as possible before interrogation. Rather than face the cell again, they might opt to be cooperative.
A red light outside the sliding door to the detention level flashed to green upon recognizing the cylinders in Mitaka's uniform. Those cylinders dictated his access to restricted zones on Finalizer; a privilege not afforded to every officer. General Hux needed no such recognition, the doors opened automatically to admit the head of the flagship. They walked for some time down the illuminated centre platform lined with (mostly empty) cells; Ren must have gained access from the other side and this suspicion was confirmed when the black robed figure and several Stormtroopers came into view waiting by the bottom cells.
"This had best be important, Ren!" Hux barked as they neared the Commander and automatically, Mitaka tensed. The Lieutenant's fear of Kylo Ren was not unwarranted. He trusted his general completely and now admired him even more for his fearless approach of the Knight. "You seem to have a gift for interrupting my time with Lucilla!" Of course, the companion was only mentioned to get in under Ren's skin; not that the General would be able to see if he was successful or not with the great and powerful Kylo Ren hiding behind his mask.
If there was a tell-tale sign, it was the clenching of Ren's fist with a faint squeak of his leather gloves with the intensity that he forced his hands closed. That may have also been a reaction to the General's challenge of the legitimacy of his haul. Ren's hand twitched towards his saber but stopped himself; he would prove he was better than Hux marked him to be. Especially since being beaten to a bloody pulp over the fragile female that the Knight still thought incessantly about.
"Protocol dictates you speak to him first." Even the modulator couldn't keep out the bitterness the taller male didn't bother to bite back. Hux cast him an impatient, pained glance as if disappointed by his willingness to comply with the specified code of prisoner internment and processing. It may have also just been Ren's presence that disdained him.
"And what is it I am supposed to be finding out?" The redhead retaliated haughtily, his greatcoat was loose one his shoulders and catching the draft his disciplined march stirred and settled once he'd come to a complete stop. "The map?"
"The old man gave it to him." Ren insisted through gritted teeth and that too was audible through the helmet. "However, a search of his person proved fruitless."
"What makes you think he had it?"
"He did not have time to protect his mind, I could see that much. As to where it went, I wish to discover that answer. If you can't provide that information, I will use more intense methods-"
"The Force."
"I will storm his mind. If he's willing to relinquish the information to you, I won't need to exert it and he might prove to be more than we initially thought. He could be a key to finding their base, undercover operatives and the like."
"And why would he hand over information like that? He was on Jakku for a reason! He is obviously a trusted agent, Organa isn't going to send someone she can't trust! Especially if the cargo is of the importance that you claim it is!"
"By questioning its importance, you question the Supreme Leader's judgement."
"Don't be so petty, Ren! I'm amazed you were even able to follow the guidelines for prisoner transport and containment since you seem to disregard everything else around here!" Hux finished his rant with an ill-tempered snort and swatted over his shoulder for two Stormtroopers to follow him into the cell. Light was purposely but fixably scarce in the standard ten foot by ten foot cell but in the corner, Hux could make out the form sitting against the wall.
"Light: Full." The General barked at nothing but it had an impact on something. The light flickered onto full as commanded and Hux's nostrils flared but it was the only reaction he would allow himself as his eyes struggled to adjust. He wasn't the only one. He could see the other form fully now and he too struggled with the sudden light but his reactions were not as restrained as the redhead. Immediately, Hux started to process him. Male. Approximately thirty to thirty three years of age, dark hair, olive skin and of medium height. This man, the pilot, held his cuffed hands up in an attempt to block the sudden burst of light from assaulting him further.
The General took stock of his condition; his wounds were not life threatening nor were they concerning for the moment though the pilot would probably disagree. Hux ignored the panting and occasional groan as the injured male tried to shift his position and speed up his eyes' acclimatization to the light in the cell. He was not in distress, merely physical discomfort. It wouldn't be long before Hux grew tired and impatient and so he drew himself up to his full height and moved further into the cell; slowly so his greatcoat caught as little draft as possible.
"I hear you're a Resistance pilot." Hux was smooth but dangerous as if daring the pilot to test him. It seemed the other man's eyes had adjusted when he lowered his hands and heightened his brown gaze to the redhead before him.
"The best!" The younger(?) man chirped confidently back without an ounce of fear. Maybe it would be better to let Ren deal with him. He's vain and passionate; he would reveal nothing without a fight or a nudge in the right direction. They had nothing to threaten him with since the location of the base was still a mystery and if his life was in danger, he seemed like the type to gladly lay it down out of loyalty.
"You were in possession of a map, a charter of great interest to the First Order." The General didn't betray his disdain for this map and the efforts being spent to retrieve it. After all, he was a military man, the Jedi were Kylo Ren's concern. If Luke Skywalker even existed. But if the Supreme Leader commanded it…. "Where is it?" Naturally, Hux expected to be met with resistance and defiance but he hadn't accounted for the blasé attitude of the pilot.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about." The dark haired male replied casually and without qualm as he leaned forward to see the redhead better. Yes, he'd heard of the young General, advanced far beyond his years. "Haven't seen a map." Technically that was true. Poe had taken in good faith that the map was indeed what Lor San Takka had given him on the data stick though he hadn't actually seen it himself. Hux took in the split lip, the cut under the eye and the ineffective wound on the pilot's left temple as the arrogance spewed.
"I think you're lying." Hux relayed coolly as the pilot leaned back slowly against the wall but keeping his eyes on his captor; he hadn't expected to be believed. "I would suggest, for your own sake, that you cooperate. I am far more understanding than my colleague and I can guarantee his patience is not as thick as mine."
"I'll take my chances." The darker skinned of the two answered certainly but probably unwisely. He was over-confident and Ren could be unpredictable. It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for the Knight to kill the pilot when he was finished. Again, the General nodded to the Stormtroopers who took it as their cue to step past their superiour and seize the pilot. But not before one raised their blaster and knocked the butt of it into his face to render the pilot unconscious and add to his injuries.
"Interrogation room four." Hux told them carelessly and stepped aside before following them out of the cell with each of the pilot's arms held and his legs dragging behind. The redhead kept behind them all the way out into the corridor where Kylo Ren was waiting. The black-encased figure fell into step beside the General and even though the walk to the interrogation rooms was short, it would be tense.
"You take her away for four days and when you return, she goes to the med bay. What did you do to her?" Hux almost didn't believe his ears. He kept his stride behind the escorted prisoner but bristled indignantly at Ren's interference.
"What did I do to her?!" The General hissed while the taller male remained unperturbed by the nerve he'd touched. "How dare you?! I did nothing to her; if anyone damaged her, it was you! Lucilla is and never was your concern, Ren! I don't believe this! You counted the days we were away?! And how did you know she was in the med bay?!"
"I tune into her on occasion." The Knight's nonchalance burrowed deep under the General's skin. What else did Ren know?! Did he know when they were intimate?! Did he know of their plans to have children?! Ren knowing more than he needed to fuelled the fire of hatred and indignation that flared within Hux's chest, specifically where his Lucilla was involved. "Found her in the med bay earlier on today but I couldn't see why."
Hux didn't have time to reply. They had arrived at the interrogation room and Kylo Ren swept into the new cell after the Stormtroopers and the unconscious pilot. The General waited. He could scarcely hear what was going on behind the door but no doubt Ren was working his way through the pilot's brain. Whether or not the Resistance fighter would be able to function after the 'interrogation' would be another question. Thankfully, Hux had never been on the receiving end of such a probing. It wasn't long before the cell door lifted with a whoosh and Kylo Ren left the room with a bleeding and once more comatosed pilot in his wake.
"It's in a droid. A BB unit." The information was tossed thoughtlessly as if shifting the responsibility but the General took it as an opportunity. If he found the droid, it would certainly work in his favour with the Supreme Leader while Ren would be seen as lax. Anything he could do to have his unorthodox family accepted, he would do and Snoke's support would be exceptionally useful to have.
"Well then. If it's on Jakku, we'll soon have it." Hux conceded with a small smirk but it faltered a little when he realized the undertaking. However, if he knew what was about to happen, he would have been far more worried.
"I leave that to you."
Two hours had passed since he left Lucilla in the med bay and with the pilot in recovery and returned to his cell, he was eager to see her. When the General entered their quarters, the living area was empty. She had dutifully obeyed him when he found her asleep. He edged himself a small patch on the bed beside her and watched the peace in her face with utter adoration; it was almost a crime to wake her. But he needed to know. A bare hand stretched to the back of his companion's head and started to stroke her hair ever so gently until those remarkable eyes slowly flickered open.
"You're back." The beautiful breath was like something otherworldly, like a ploy to lure a man to his death but as a promise of something sweet. Lucilla's lips were claimed while the sleep still drained from her system.
"I needed to see you." He told her quietly and the little edge in his tone only proved it to her. Her face was cradled and her cheek was stroked; he was almost afraid to ask about the remainder of the tests. But this was part of his promise. "What of the tests? What about results? When will we know?" Lucilla sat up in the bed, the white silk caressing her barely darker skin should have been a clue if he was paying attention to such a thing. He watched her with borderline fear but her darling smile was a reassurance.
"I'm compatible." The answer he'd craved. His relief and awe was taken in and that immovable smile glowed like it never had before. "Everything is perfect. I still have my ovaries and everything else I need. They're starting a search for a donor and after that, the procedure can be done right away." His lips found her's again and the gesture was returned with the deepest affection and devotion but Hux would never admit the way his heart beat wildly in his chest; both with joy and a touch of apprehension. Lucilla lifted her lips from her General's but only just.
"There will be a settling period of a year after the procedure is complete." Lucilla observed her lover from beneath lowered lashes, almost shy. "After that, we are free to try but I will need to see a medic every week."
"Whatever it takes." He murmured reverently; speaking for the first time since she broke the wonderful news. He found himself almost hoarse with elation as he carefully placed his forehead to her's like she had suddenly become more delicate than she already was. "I'll speak with the medical staff; see if there are any alterations that should be made to your diet." Hux took a breath, his eyes closed in gratitude; to who or what, he didn't know. "Little dove, promise me you'll be patient. The resting period is there for a reason; for that year, we'll use contraception. We don't want something to happen prematurely that might end in heartbreak. We adhere to everything the medics say."
"You're a father already." His dark haired darling observed soothingly, his cue to open his eyes and search for her's; he found them without too much effort. "We'll do as they say, I promise. Our children are more important." Lucilla lay back down in bed and the mere incline of her head was enough for him to disregard his duties for a moment and lay down beside her. As per usual in bed, the female was gathered up and held but now, it was as if she was already pregnant.
"Sleep, my darling." He uttered into her hair, caressing her arm with the bare tips of his fingers though taking care not to tickle her. "Mother needs her rest." He lay there for an hour with her until his com crackled into life.
"Yes?"
"Sir, there's been a security breach."