Save Me

A General Hux/OC One-shot

By: Anna Becker

Chapter One

When she had first seen him she hadn't recognized who he was. If she had she would have reconsidered even approaching him, possibly. Truth be told she couldn't turn her back on anyone no matter who they were. She was soft like that and in the past people had taken advantage of that, has used her and in the end it was her who was left hurt and alone, so alone. Still she couldn't turn away someone, anyone who seemed to be in trouble.

She worked and lived on a small unnamed moon orbiting one of the bigger planets in the outer rim. This was a half way point to many in need of transport one way or another. She owned and operated a small transport bay that was attached to a larger facility. The larger facility would rent out or sell bays for those who wanted to be in the business. Mostly it dealt with freighters or larger supply ships. She herself mostly dealt with passengers. During the last war with the First Order her business mostly consisted of transporting diplomats or officers from one

place to the other. Her clients consisted of both first order and resistance. Mind you never at the same time. She wasn't stupid for sure but she choose instead to be neutral. As long as she was left alone to live in peace and could make a decent living she was fine. That's not to say that others had tried to sway her to their side in occasion.

The members of the resistance always seemed to try the hardest and you could see them coming a mile away. They were desperate, willing to tell her what they thought she wanted to hear. She would sympathize; of course she would but in the end a promise would be made that would not be followed through. It has happened to her on more than once. There was a particular instance that nearly was her undoing. She has vowed never to let that happen again.

The First Order however played a different game. The money game. They offered the most and asked for silence in return. She had very few clients from them but when she did it was always very lucrative. This was their way of buying her vote. She did have one reoccurring client however, a general. She never got his name just knew him as "the general" he always approached under the cover of darkness, never spoke more than a few words and offered her double pay each time. She never questioned it and just did what was asked. She was one not to draw attention so she figured it worked for the both of them. In truth he was her biggest and most reoccurring client. Still trust was not something she had much of even though he had stepped in once to help her, a surprise on both ends. He didn't seem the type to watch out for anyone other than himself. Still he had and she hadn't forgotten it.

It had been a rather trying day. A client had approached her about a long term contract. The pay would be good and business had been slow. It would be a quick to and fro three trips maximum. The man was rumored to be a high end smuggler who had a thing for the ladies. But there was something about him that made her skin crawl. She knew it was a bad idea, but she was short on funds, she needed to eat after all. She had just turned to her table that acted as a desk to get the contract she had made up, another lesson she had learned from the past, when the man had come up behind her. He pressed himself against her and reached in front of her to take the contract from her.

"Sir, you need to kindly removed yourself from my space." She had said through gritted teeth. Instead he moved a hand to grip her hip. This causes her to stiffen up.

"Now come on honey, we got no need for that." She wasn't sure rather be meant the contract or her demand of him not touching her. Either way it was a no go.

"I am not going to ask you again to please remove yourself from my space." It was true that she had dealt with men like him before and she was more than capable of handling herself but something told her this one had more in mind than just being flirtatious. He turned her around quickly with a scowl on his face and a dangerous look in his eye. His hand tightened on her hip and the other gripping her arm. He was dangerously close to her face.

"Listen girl, I am paying for your services so I expect to get my money's worth. Now play nice."

"I don't play. You hired me to transport, nothing more. You will get nothing more. Now remove your hand before..."

"Before you what slut?" She was trying to reach behind her to find a weapon, any weapon but suddenly found that she didn't have too.

"Before I use this blaster to vent a hole in your sorry excuse for a brain." Both looked up in shock. They had been trapped in their battle of wills that neither had noticed a third person being added to their party. The general stood behind them, blaster in hand aimed at the smugglers head. Not in his uniform like normal but no less intimidating. Her captor on the other hand just tightened his grip pulling her closer which in turn pissed her off even more. She pushed at him but he was too strong.

"Mind your own business and get lost."

"I am minding my business. She's my business. I have a running contract with Miss DuPray so kindly remove your hands from my pilot or I will shoot you." He took a minute to look from the General and then back to her. She just raised her eyebrow as if to say "your choice". He thought about it for a quick moment until the General readied the blaster once more firing a shot at his feet. He shoved her away into the table causing her to slam her side into it. He ran as fast as he could when he discovered how serious the situation was. Silence followed as she tried to get her bearings straightened out. She focused on cleaning her desk, straightening the papers and such. Her hands were shaking after the encounter. She wasn't ready to face her savior. He spoke first and from what she could tell he hadn't moved much. Perhaps to give her the space, or perhaps for other reasons she wasn't sure but she took the time to gather her courage. She was just about there when he spoke.

"He hurt you." It was more of a statement than a question and he was suddenly much closer than she had thought. She still couldn't meet his eyes as she fussed with the things in front of her. She shook her head.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks for the assist though." She was feeling more embarrassed than anything at this point. She usually has no problems fending off the unwanted advances but then she was also usually choosier of the clients she took on. She finally felt ready to face him and turned to see he was watching her intently more specifically her side where she had been thrown against the table. "Where did you need to go General?" She asked more as a diffuser for the mounting tension than anything.

"He did hurt you." He had reached up as if to touch her blossoming bruise but seemed to think better of it and quickly pulled his hand away tucking it behind his back where his other one now rested. His military stance, that was the General she was used to seeing.

"I've had worse. Now did you need passage?" She really wanted to get past this and he seemed to catch on to this. He straightened his stance even more and finally their eyes meant. She was struck like always at how blue his were almost an ice blue. Usually they held a cold calculated look. This time there was something else there she just wasn't sure what. He squared his shoulders as if to push himself back into rank and file.

"Yes." Was his short clipped answer.

" Okay, when do you need to leave? I can be ready in a few if you need to leave right away." In truth the quicker they left the quicker she would be away from any chance of a retaliation which she knew was a very real possibility.

"You're in a hurry to leave." Once again it was more of a statement than a question. "You're afraid he will be back."

"I just want to run my business, I don't want men like him hanging around my place and scaring away my more reputable clients. So yes the sooner I leave the better." He looked at her for a moment weighing his words carefully.

"But he will still be back."

"Yes and by then I'm hoping to be able to upgrade to a better security system." He nodded his head seemingly in deep thought.

"We leave in two hours."

True to his word he was sitting in her transport two hours later. She had taken the time to clean up, patch up her bruised hip and ribs and had secured her facility as best she could. Not the best and upgrades were badly needed so this was a very needed job. She knew how particular the General was so she had made sure her already spotless transport was still good to go. She had just finished the resupply of medical goods when he walked up the ramp. He greeted her with a nod as he took his normal seat which was always right behind the copilots seat. She figured so it was easier for him to keep an eye on things. He was certainly one used to being in control.

"Okay General where too?" This how they usually conducted their business. He would wait for her to be seated, ramp raised before he gave her the coordinates which was what they did now. She never asked why or any other questions she just flew people from one point to the next then she got paid. The only difference between the General and anyone else was the payment. He always paid after usually with more than she had asked. Everyone else paid before they boarded. She had been burned one too many times otherwise. They were half way through their trip when he finally broke the silence once again. She had felt him watching her intently for close to an hour now.

"Why?" It was a simple yet complicated question.

"Why what?" She asked although she had a feeling as to what he was really asking.

"Why would you take on a job from the likes of him!" And there it was.

"I don't usually." She responded with a shrug.

"I know so why?" She sighed not really wanting to give an answer but knew he would hound until she did.

"I needed the funds. Business has been slow and frankly I need to eat so it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up no matter how I felt about it. One does what one must in order to survive General." It was the last words spoken until they nearly reached their destination. He then did something unexpected, he moved up into the copilots seat and turned to look at her. She glanced over at him waiting to see what was on his mind. He took her tablet that she used for payments that rested by her side and she assumed started to input the payment, early yes but she figured there was something else on his mind. Her questions would soon be answered. He set the pad aside as he finished and turned his attention back to her.

"I've added a bit extra to your usual payment due to the fact that I need you to stay until I am done here. A day or two at the most." Okay, she thought to herself. Not unusual but not common either. "I've also arranged for an upgrade to your security system." Wait! What?

"I'm sorry? What?" This was new and very unexpected. Also she wondered what the catch was. Nothing in her world came for free and she would hate to owe anyone even her favorite client. A very slight smile graced his usual stoic features as he caught on to her surprise. He liked catching her off guard.

"You're a smart girl Karis and I know you're not hard of hearing. I can't have my favorite pilot being unprotected. And before you ask, no there are no strings attached, yes you will accept this and that smuggler will no longer bother you." He said all of this while she sat there stunned into silence. She wasn't sure where to begin. Rather it was the substantial offer or that he actually knew and used her first name. So she started by throwing a question back at him. A question he had used on her not so long ago.

"Why?"

"The why is not important?"

"I think in this case it is." He tilted his head ever so slightly while he leaned back in the seat gagging her response. She held her breath wondering if she had pushed too hard. There was a look in his eyes that she couldn't identify.

"Very well." He said finally as he sat forward. "Who I am and what I do brings with it issues when I need to get around unseen. You offer a service that makes this possible. You are discreet, quiet and you don't ask questions. That makes you very valuable to me. I look at this as protecting my assets." She wasn't sure how she felt about any of this. She should be angry, scared, concerned something but in reality she just didn't know. A bit weary maybe but that was all that she could identify.

"I'm not First Order and I'm sure as hell not Resistance….'

"Which is why you are the best person for this. I need to make necessary stops along the way without escorts and without sanctions. That is why I need you Karis DuPray, drifter and loyal to no one."

That had been two years ago. A lot can change in that time and it did. She still continued to pilot for the General and he had stayed true to his word. She had used the extra money he provided to upgrade and create a very prosperous and flourishing business. She was able to move to a larger bay with two more passenger ships added as well as more than just her to make runs. The General always got her however. No one else would do and besides she felt she owed him. When she had come back from that fateful trip he had not only upgraded her security system but had made sure she never went without food or supplies. Also true to his word the smuggler or his friends never showed his face again. If fact no one ever saw him again. She refused to entertain why exactly although she could make a good guess. But like always she didn't ask questions it was just better that way. Sometimes she would wonder what her life would really be like if she wasn't so oblivious. Unfortunately like all good things everything came to a bitter end.