Chapter Text
The sound of General Hux’s boots alerted everyone that he was approaching their destination. Quickly running to their positions, they stood at attention as the blast doors slid open.
“General, sir,” they spoke in unison as he walked to Lieutenant Aarkmus, overseer of the incubation unit.
“General Hux,” Lt. Aarkmus saluted.
“Lt. Aarkmus, at ease.” He nodded, causing Lt. Aarkmus to open up the files on the datapad. “I suppose everything is fine with our new batch of recruits?” General Hux began to walk along the pods taking in the various faces of his new subordinates.
“Yes, sir; we took some vitals today.”
Aarkmus began explaining as Hux continued his examination. He couldn’t help but ponder about how they received so many applicants, so many people willing to leave, not to help the cause, but because it was better than there. He couldn’t imagine it, slightly primitive compared to other planets due to its location across the universe, but mediocrely advanced to provide some of the best engineers, scientists, and doctors compared to the Muunilinst system. So many applicants, yet he picked twelve of the best and allowed their spouses on board.
His footsteps stopped at one of the pods, a young woman, possibly early to mid-twenties; dark hair was pulled off her face allowing him to observe all her features from her perfectly arched brows, supple cheeks, and archaic smile, on the canvas of warm umber skin, that could hint that only sweet dreams were alive and well in your head. Blue eyes dropped to your ID: Dr. Y/N L/N.
“General?” Aarkmus called out, snapping him out of the daze. He’d get to know you in a few weeks.
This is what it must feel like to be born. A bright light burst into view causing your eyes to blink trying to dissipate the blur. Figures hovered over you before a popping sound emitted as the cover of the pod was opened. With a firm hand, but very slowly, the still blurred figures began to maneuver your stiff body.
You had no idea what was happening, even as they poked and prodded you, swiping the film from your eyes, you felt numb. Like you had lost all feeling, emotionally you had, but that's another story. Once you were cleared, an insulated jacket was given to you. Sitting on the bench, your vision slowly came back. Eyes dropped down to the insignia on your left chest with your title slowly becoming clearer.
“Y/N?”
A deep Anglicus voice caused you to look up at a familiar face. His wrinkled, flush skin against his gray whiskers seemed to mold into confusion as his small blue eyes expressed concern.
“What are you doing here?” Dr. Thomas Hubbard asked taking a seat next to you on the bench.
You shouldn’t have been here, he thought, especially not after everything that had happened. It was too fresh; you should be back home with your family going through the motions, not running away from it.
Five last names were being called, alerting them that their presence had been requested by their new superior: General Hux. Dr. Hubbard helped you and walked with you into the conference room. Seats were already taken, except the one that was dead center between the men. Dr. Hubbard on your left, and to your right was the familiar voice of the people that made you wish you never met them: The Blaise twins.
Constantin’s eyes fell on you first with a smirk, before alerting his brother Antoine, who turned to ogle you even if you weren’t wearing anything revealing.
“Regarde qui c'est (Look who it is)?” Antoine said.
“Hello, Y/N,” Constantin nodded and Antoine repeated his brother’s words but you ignored it.
If you could go back in time and not hook up with Antoine, best to believe you would!
Constantin began to laugh as you rolled your eyes and looked anywhere else but to them. But it didn’t matter, their dark eyes were on you as they continued to speak.
“Oh la la, on dirait qu'elle est toujours en colère (looks like she’s still mad).” Constantin teased his brother.
“Toujours (still)?” Antoine questioned. “Je me suis excusé mais elle est trop têtue (I apologize but she's too stubborn).”
Y/N shifted her seat away from the twins. Not only did she have to deal with one but two Blaise’s since they both were physicists.
“Toi aussi, tu es juste jalouse qu'elle t'abatte! Tu es juste en colère, il l'a eue avant que tu puisses (You too, you're just jealous that she shot you down. You're just angry, he got to her before you could).” Constantin teased his brother, who glared back at him while you scoffed. No way would you ever chose Antoine over him. Not then, not now, not ever! They were doing this to get a rise out of you. They knew you spoke the language and they were doing this on purpose.
“Écoutez ses moqueurs, comme si sa jolie petite bouche ne ronronnait pas quand je la lécha (Listen to her scoffs, like that pretty little mouth of hers was not purring when I licked her)–”
And clearly, it worked as you turned back with daggers in your eyes ready to let all the malicious, explicit words you wanted to say to them out, but the words never did hit them with what you had anticipated due to the sound of a distorted, mechanical voice. “It would be best if you two would be careful with these taunts. Although I wouldn’t mind helping her, you have a very vivid and violent imagination.”
That last sentence was directed at you.
The Blaise’s were already staring up in horror at the man, which made Y/N not even want to look behind you. But the suspense was her favorite part of a horror film.
Slowly you turned, eyes landing on his chest but taking note of not only his dark clothing but dark presence. And it was as big as he was. Your vision finally landed on his face, well mask, that had you questioning if he was human or android. But his daunting mask with chrome lines that left you speechless turned to look at you.
“If you ever find working for the General monotonous, you can always work for me as a torturer. With your imagination, you’d be very good at it.”
He nodded, and all you could do was blink in response.
“Commander, if you may save your threats for a later date.” General Hux cleared his throat, bringing everyone’s attention to him.
But you followed the black figure as he made his way around the table towards the General. And Y/N couldn’t take her eyes off him if she tried. Plus it looked like he was staring at you, but that couldn’t be possible. His mask just made it seem like it, like one of those moving paintings.
So many questions swirled in your mind, especially about how he knew what you were thinking. He had to be an android able to probe your mind. A deep chuckle vibrated through your thoughts:
Imaginative indeed but I am no robot.
The voice was deep and masculine and wasn’t the normal inner voice that spoke to you day and night. You looked at this Commander Ren, could it be him doing this? To answer your question, he just nodded causing your mouth to drop. General Hux stilled looking at the beautiful woman in front stare in shock at his annoying comrade.
“If you can please refrain from pulling Dr. L/N’s attention from this meeting Commander.” He spat.
There was a slight pressure on your jaw that closed your mouth that made you blink yourself out of a daze. Trying to hide your embarrassment, you just put your focus on General Hux and listened carefully.
After the meeting was dismissed, Y/N made her way over to her superiors who were in a hushed conversation. The General was the first to look at her and then the Commander. It was the first time she took in their looming superiority with the addition of the six-foot and over height.
“I just wanted to say thank you, Commander Ren; General Hux.” And before the two men could even reply you were already out and caught up with the group.
Everyone’s eyes wandered as the group moved forward following the cadet who was showing them around and to their living quarters. Every hallway had looked the same, how would you ever know where you were going. Looking overhead, you watched the small lights hidden in the crevices as you walked by. It was dark, the lights weren’t overpowering but they created a nice atmosphere. You definitely preferred this than the lighting at your old job.
The cadet continued speaking until the menacing vision of Commander Ren appeared with cape bellowing.
The young cadet froze not knowing which way to avoid the dark knight as he stomped toward the group. Last-minute, the cadet thought best to practically press against the side of the walls. Unfortunately, you didn’t get this memo; with your head craned up you bumped right into something soft but sturdy. Y/N braced for a fall that never came as she looked to see the dark mask staring back at her. His mask tilted in the direction of your chest as his long fingers wrapped tightly around your arms holding you close to him.
“Doctor...L/N, I hope for your sake, you pay more attention to your work than you do in meetings and tours.”
The Commander released you and kept moving. Frozen in your spot, you couldn’t help but stare at the enigma that was your superior.
Entering your quarters, you found the little room snug. As one of the scientists on board, you were allowed quarters that were larger than low officials, but smaller than higher military officials. The living room held a kitchenette and the bedroom housed a full bed and two doors, one closet, and one refresher. It was nice of them to even put your belongings neatly in the corner of the room where you quickly made yourself busy unpacking before laziness grew in.
After you were satisfied with the placement of your items, you decided a shower before dinner would be best. The hot beads of water beat down on your stiff muscles for being in an induced coma for almost a month. Y/N was actually surprised at the lack of dirt from her body and hair.
Once she finished, Y/N brushed her curls in the clear opening of the steamed mirror. You were only asleep for a month, but after everything, you felt unrecognizable. A shell of your former self; you didn’t even know how Dr. Hubbard had realized it was you. Finishing up, you got dressed to make your way to the commissary.
With your curls back in a bun, your fingers tugged the sleeves of your ivory knit sweater as you realized just how cold it was on this base. A datapad was provided for all of you to be used for practically everything.
‘It’s your third limb, it should always be attached to you.’ General Hux had explained.
With furrowed brows, you followed the clear directions on the screen that helped you get to your destination in twelve minutes, give or take. This was noted for when you wanted to get breakfast before your shift, although you put in an order for food delivery. Another perk of being not technically being an official member of the military, but also being one of the few selected engineers, doctors, and scientists, you were allowed to dine in the Officer’s commissary.
Before entering you looked at the menu and it seemed to honor your home planet.
“I hope our chefs do an exceptional job of preparing your planet’s dishes.”
The accented voice caused you to turn to see the seemingly only redhead in this place, General Hux. Upclose, you realized how young he was possibly just a few years older than you.
“Shouldn’t be so hard, we either fry or smother it in some type of sauce.” You shrugged.
Y/N missed the curious look in his clear blue eyes as he looked over his new subordinate.
General Hux held out his gloved hand so that you could enter first. With a quiet thank you, you entered and took in the simplistic yet opulent room. From tablecloths to silverware to droids being perfect waiters, you expected a little bit more long tables and elbow to elbow like on your home planet. But clearly, money is no option here.
“The droids take your orders once you sit.” General Hux explained; stepping up behind you his eyes drifted across the room. “It seems like there is a low vacancy, you can have a seat at my personal table.”
He had moved beside you blue eyes peering deeply into yours. In your emotionally detached state, you were oblivious to the General's forward words.
“No thanks, I think I'll just take it back to my room.”
Y/N rejected causing him to blink profusely as you left his side. Although everyone’s head was down and appeared to be immersed in their own personal conversations, they had clearly seen General Hux flirt and fail. You didn’t know, but by the beginning of the new cycle, everyone would know about the girl who dismissed General Hux.