The Shell Chapter Three
Main Theme- Something For Your M.I.N.D by Superorganism
Matt has never been planetside; he has been moved between ships, usually in one of Kylo's storage cubes. When the General told him that they would be going to Bastion, after a breakfast of rice porridge and chicken links, Matt's initial reaction was disbelief; he clearly recalled Kylo's holo-calendar that listed the days of shore leave, and today wasn't one of them.
He's so selfish. Because of this unplanned shore leave, we'll be off-course, which means Kylo won't find us at the appointed time he's supposed to. I don't know where he went, he couldn't tell me because of Snoke, but he made it very clear that he was supposed to be back today. Now, he won't be!
Matt scowls down at his datapad. His large nose flares out, while his big lips twist open to reveal his incisors. Just like Kylo's scowls.
He insists that we'll be spending the day together, but maybe something will happen to pull him away. He might get Mitaka to show me around. Kylo said that he was a clumsy bundle of nerves, but that's not what I experienced. He was condescending, but that was because he believed Kylo would never socialize me. Then, he became intriguing at the blaster range. Kylo was going to teach me how to use a blaster, but now I can surprise him. Maybe, he'll make me a special cake like he does on our life day.
He focuses on the text displayed on his datapad that Atour picked out for him.
This one is a brief history of art in the galaxy by Imperial Minister Veris Hydan. I like this one more than the essay comprised by Grand Admiral Thrawn; his writing reminded me of a mystery novel protagonist, and I hate mystery novels just like Kylo. But the noir holos are fun to watch because of the femme and homme fatales; they always dress so pretty, and the amount of blood is appropriate unlike in horror holos. Atour did say that Hydan and Thrawn were quite different in their approach to art.
Personally, he would rather spend the day reading than shopping, but it's not like the General asked for his opinion. Just like he never asks for Kylo's opinion on Starkiller Base.
His staff may believe him to be the ideal First Order officer, but in his downtime he's a weirdo. He smiles too much. He eats like a bird. He dresses–
"Ta-da! What do you think of my disguise?" The General comes out with a poodoo-eating grin, dark hair, and the strangest coat that Matt has ever seen. Most of it is a chaotic swirl of ultramarine and scarlet with white acting as a barrier between the clashing colors. When the General gives him a whimsical twirl to show off his back, Matt sees several rips in the back.
"Did someone try to assassinate you?"
"Not me as General Hux, but as Jareth the Goblin King!" The General raises his nose in the air like a caricature royal.
"A goblin? Like in fairytales?"
"Yes, a fairytale with the best puppetry in the galaxy and my favorite singer of all time! Anyways, the Merson Slavers fell on hard times after the Zygerrians' slave empire collapsed thanks to the New Republic fleetingly crusading to end slavery in the galaxy. They decided to pack up their bags and head to the Unknown Regions where slavery flourished and they could surely find some slave empire that wasn't as draconian as the Hutts. However, they needed merchandise and figured that a carrier of First Order Stormtrooper cadets wouldn't be missed."
"You set up a sting operation and posed as a prospective buyer." Matt quickly deduces.
"Correct! Captain Cardinal posed as my bodyguard. It became touch and go for a while when they figured out there was no such thing as the Goblin Kingdom, and our back-up was running late. Apparently, one of the slavers was a master of vibro-knives and decided that I would make an easy target. Unfortunately, I had cortosis-weave armor underneath my jacket, which took the brunt of her attacks. I couldn't sleep on my back for weeks!" The General smiles like the happy-go-lucky idiot that he is.
"And the cadets?"
"Safe and sound."
"And the slavers were brought to justice?"
"The ones that lived were." The General's eyes transform into a chilling shade of blue. "I can't forgive slavers."
"….I thought Bastion was a First Order world."
"It is and was also the Moff Warlords' and later Admiral Daala's capital world."
"Then, why are you disguised as Jareth the Goblin King?"
"To not draw attention."
What a pfassking dumb ass! Matt bites down on his tongue and shakes his shaggy, blonde head.
"General Hux is quite recognizable throughout the First Order territories since I'm quite hologenic with a rod shoved up my arse. But no one would ever suspect that General Hux would wear such outlandish civvies!" The General's quickly disappears as though he's trying to remember what he has forgotten.
"Oh! I'll be right back!" The General rushes back to his room and comes back with a goldenrod-colored jacket. "Bastion is a bit brisk around this time of year, so this should keep you warm."
Matt takes the jacket and puts it on. It fits and the wool lining the coat is surprisingly soft.
"This is not First Order-issued."
"No, it belonged to the Commandant." He immediately hates the softness in Hux's eyes, a seafoam green that warns of time-consuming nostalgia.
"Are we going to Bastion now?"
"Yes, let's go!" The General smiles again, and Matt feels his stomach turn in disgust.
Jareth the Goblin King would be glittering under direct sunlight, but Armitage Hux freckles. The little brown spots dot across his nose and both cheeks; he should've worn a hat to prevent this, but no hat would match his disguise. Besides, Jareth the Goblin King doesn't do hats.
"Everything that the light touches is your kingdom." Hux sweeps a hand dramatically across the landscape of clothing stores.
"I just need clothes." Matt responds logically.
"Then, pick a shop that catches your wonderful eyes." Matt hates how breathy Hux sounds in this moment. He bottles away his hate and searches for a store. He would like to put a dint in the general's salary, but all the stores that can easily serve that purpose have clothes far too beautiful for someone as awkward as him to pull off.
Kylo would wear these clothes because they were made for people like him. People with confidence, charm, and cleverness. I have none of those things.
He points at a store perfectly fitting for those of more humble origins. It displays jumpsuits, sweater-vests, and other cheaply-made clothing. He suspects this store is for the credit-strapped technicians that could never afford a tunic of shimmersilk with their meager salaries.
"After we're done shopping for clothes, we can go swing by the arts district."
"Is it located in the same shopping center?"
"Yeah, this is the largest shopping center on the planet; it's almost like a city onto itself. One could get lost for days…." He drifts off and starts pulling him toward the shop. He goes along willingly enough, but he wishes that he can cut off his own hand.
Chief Petty Officer Nastia Unamo has never had the displeasure of directly interacting with Kylo Ren. She has seen the aftermath of those poor unfortunate souls that had to interact with him. There's really no way to tell what mood Kylo is in because of his mask, but it never hurt to be professional.
"Lord Ren."
"Where is the General?" His vocoder makes him sound like a droid, but the anger in his voice belies the human underneath the metal mask.
"I-" He's on Bastion, but I don't know where exactly. She knows that telling him the truth could easily result in strangulation.
"On Bastion." Petty Officer Thanisson answers without taking his eyes off from his screen.
"Where?"
"In a shopping center."
"Which?"
"The Imperium."
Kylo storms off, and the bridge almost breathes a collective relief. Unamo fixes her gaze on the back of Thanisson's blond head.
"How do you know all of that?"
"I sliced into the shopping center's security cameras a while ago and have been watching them since."
"Why?"
"Because Captain Opan said that I have to keep an eye on Hux and alert him if anything uncouth happens." Captain Tritt Opan is also another individual that Unamo would prefer not to spend too much with. She can't recall ever seeing him speak with someone; he prefers just to stare at everyone like a rock-vulture waiting for its prey to die. Rumor has it that Hux rescued him from Intelligence just like he did with Mitaka, but she strongly doubts that any rescue was involved. And, sometimes, she wishes that he remained in Intelligence.
"You do realize that Lord Ren will kill you if you continue to be insolent with him." She focuses on reality where she has to keep her petty officers in line.
"Hey, maybe my death will finally spur the General into kicking his useless arse. Or maybe Opan will finally kill him." Thanisson jests dryly. And she can't reprimand him because everyone on the bridge is hoping for that exact scenario: the death of Kylo Ren.
Kylo Ren finds Hux and Matt in the gardens. The Imperium has an open-air section for those wanting fresh air with their meals. The Force sings through every blade of perfectly trimmed grass and through the red, purple, and blue hydrangeas. He finds them under a mighty oak with reddish leaves.
Matt wears a body glove like the troopers. The jacket he wears looks positively ancient, and Kylo swears that he can see dust motes jump up with every breath that his clone takes. By his side is Hux in a ridiculous disguise.
Those flame-colored locks are black as coals. His grays have been exchanged for reds and blues. His cold blue eyes shine green like emeralds in the dying sunlight.
Does he think this disguise would fool anyone? No real smuggler would wear those colors; it's no wonder those slavers nearly killed him. But it makes him look fun like he'd be someone to party with, someone who'd find the best cantina with decently-priced liquor. Someone who wouldn't mind rolling around in the sack for a few credits.
He sneers at such fantasies. Hux acts far too above others, more like an unfeeling god than an actual person. He doubts Hux has ever found gratification from sex.
Power is the only thing could please him. Just like with Palpatine.
Yet, Hux looks at Matt with his lively green eyes. He smiles with his thin lips. He's talking about something with Matt, something about comics and mutants. Matt just stares blankly at him.
"Matt."
Matt perks up but keeps his eyes on Hux.
"Kylo, you came back."
"Of course I did, though with no help from the General. You have glasses now."
"Yes, I'm nearsighted. Another imperfection in my design."
"The scientists are too blame for no one in my family needed glasses."
"I also had an episode."
His Master experimented on Matt to make sure that he was truly a Force-null. The experience scarred Matt and sometimes his clone acts out. He doesn't destroy anything in his episodes; he loses his clothing and stares into the void. Sometimes, he wanders.
"You were found by a trooper and put in Hux's custody."
"Yes."
"Have you learned anything about him?"
Kylo gets a smattering of Hux's colorful quarters and people, like the mousy lieutenant, who he interacted with. Books, paints, blasters, and sweater vests.
"How strange."
"He is a weirdo."
"Perhaps, a treacherous one."
"Would you like for me to spy on him?"
"A brilliant idea, my gift. You shall stay in his care."
"I understand. What are you wearing?"
Kylo hesitates to reveal. Matt has always been a little too interested in him. A part of Kylo squirms because of how inappropriate, borderline incestuous, Matt's feelings are for him. Yet, Matt gives him love, not even his Master can give him that.
He shows Matt what he's wearing. A black and gray plaid coat with a dark ascot and black gloves keep him warm. His thick, black hair is pulled back in a low ponytail, while massive shades hide his eyes. He looks like a wealthy person, a son of an arms dealer, who would shop here.
"You're like the Evil Queen."
Kylo smiles since she is his favorite character.
"He gave you a comlink? Good, you'll contact me when you're certain that the General's asleep and give your report."
"Yes. I love you."
"I love you too, Matt."
Author's Comments- Here are the links:
Here is an image of dark-haired Armitage. It's a picture of Domhnall Gleeson from the set of Peter Rabbit. I've only ever seen the trailer of the movie, but I actually like him with dark hair. Not as much as his red hair, but far more than the blonde hair he had for the Goodbye Christopher Robin movie, which I also haven't seen: a href=" . "Link/a
Hux's jacket is based on David Bowie's Union Jack jacket, but more blue and red: a href=" . ?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale"Link/a
Matt's jacket, which once belonged to Brendol, is based on this jacket: a href=" shop. "Link/a
The Thanisson and Kylo Ren stand-off scene is based on Sparks' and Debbie's scene in Sealab 2021, except Thanisson isn't a sociopath like Sparks and quits while he's ahead: a href=" watch?v=whyJCcjf6to"Link/a
This is the outfit that Kylo wears to the mall. I feel like a genderbent Evil Queen would've worn this too: a href=" . "Link/a
Until there is a novel, comic, or animated special proving otherwise, Thrawn is dead because no way he can survive in the vacuum of space, let alone in hyperspace with all the damn windows shattered! But I'm still all for Korkie Kryze being the bastard son of Duchess Satine Kryze and Obi-Wan Kenobi as he was originally intended to be until Lucas said hell no; he looks more like his mom, but he's got Obi-Wan's eyes and ears. Also, if anyone's wondering how much of RoS I'll be incorporating in future stories, it'll only be the title Allegiant General. Possibly, Palpatine speaking through the remains of Vader's helmet because there's a lot I can do with that.
Unamo has a first name, or at least that's what I found on the Wookie, but Thanisson does not. If anyone has read my first works for Star Wars,I gave Thanisson the first name of "Nat," but I actually have grown fond of him having only one name. So in this and all future works dealing with Thanisson it'll just be the one name unless the New Canon can give a kickass first name.
Still trying to figure out where this story will go.