Work Text:
An Uneasy Alliance
“I mean,” Finn stopped mid-sentence to contemplate their new assignment from the newly restored government, the New Republic. The Galactic War had ended and although they were officially living in a peaceful era, said peace was fragile at best.
“What are the chances of this happening, huh?” Finn asked as he and Rose headed to a restricted area of the holding cell housing a handful of high ranking political prisoners.
Finn didn’t know why Rose was in such a foul mood but he could warrant a guess.
It wasn’t like he was looking forward to meet their cooperator either.
This General … no wait … Finn caught himself … former General … this former General almost had him killed during their last meeting on the First Order’s Finalizer.
Just thinking about it brought up so many unpleasant memories so he could relate to Rose’s gloomy disposition.
“Finn,” Rose started, “be honest with me, will you?” She saw Finn nodded his head in agreement and pressed on, “do you think I’ve offended someone? … one of our superior officers?” Rose tilted her head to one side and resumed her walking.
Finn shook his head not quite sure where their conversation was heading.
“I bet you anything, Finn … that Commander Dameron is punishing me!” Rose said through clenched teeth. Her irritation was overflowing. “Do we really need him? I mean, let’s be real, the New Republic will be fine. Just let him rot in prison. Serves him right!!!”
“I know why you’re upset, Rose. The General was dead serious when he ordered our execution,” Finn placed one hand on Rose’s shoulder hoping to placate her growing exasperation. “But do you remember what you said to me that day. We have to save what we love, not fight what we hate. There might be some good in him still. Remember, he was the spy. We need him. The New Republic needs him."
“I think I spoke too soon,” Rose grumbled. “Perhaps we should make ONE exception.”
“Light and darkness … we have to co-exist,” Finn reasoned.
After submitting their credentials to the standing guards, Commander Rose and General Finn made their way to the holding cell on the far end of the long corridor. The two standing guards entered a series of codes on the display screen and with a loud clanking sound, the cell opened up.
Looking inside, Rose saw a tall thin man with the same distinctive red hair standing in the middle of the cell. The haughtiness was unmistakable.
Despite donning a prisoner’s hideous garb, the former General somehow managed to project an image of superiority as if he was the one with the upper hand running their meeting.
The former General glanced down to survey Rose’s uniform and a sneer formed on his thin lips.
“Commander?” Hux raised his brows and made a subtle movement in moving his head from side to side, “I didn’t think that the New Republic would have such low standard. It seems they will just let anyone in these days. There’s no accounting for taste, if you ask me, but I supposed it’s none of my business.”
Rose clenched her fists tight and fought the urge to kick the prisoner sneering down at her. Instead, she ignored the taunt and calmly approached the former General.
“Prisoner 3501, the New Republic has requested your full cooperation in exchange the government will consider commuting your life sentence. The government deems your military knowledge to be of value and thus is ready to make this deal. If you accept, you will be release from your holding cell, effective immediately. Do you have any questions?”
Rose thought she did an excellent job at delivering the terms and conditions.
Hux’s sneer morphed into a twisted smile. He knew such as day would come. The new fragile government needed all the help they could get their hands on and sooner or later they would send someone to find him.
He had been waiting patiently.
But Hux thought at the very least they would send someone worthy of his rank.
Not these two.
Especially … not these two.
It was ironic since he personally ordered their execution not too long ago.
But then again, during his time as General Hux of the First Order, he had ordered countless executions.
Millions perhaps.
Still … this was not part of his plan.
“I’ll consider the offer,” Hux replied with a sense of ennui. He needed time to think and it wasn’t like the government will simply withdraw their offer. “Come back tomorrow”
Hux turned his back on his two visitors and was about to walk back to the sole bench inside his cell when he felt pain radiating from his upper thigh and promptly fell forward.
“Rose!” Finn exclaimed, “What did you just do!”
“He needed a little motivation,” Rose replied as she brought the electro-shock prod up for a quick examination. “And his attitude needed a major adjustment.”
Finn scrambled to check on the former General just to make sure that his work partner didn’t kill a ward of the state while on duty. “That was a bit excessive, wasn’t it? We need him to cooperate and why do you have the shock prod with you?”
“Oh Relax!” Rose said almost in an exasperated tone. “The hateful man will live. It’s just a little shock, Finn! He just needed a little encouragement.” Rose made a stabbing motion with the shock prod.
“What are you talking about? What kind of encouragement is this?”
“The kind that our General deserves,” Rose spat out the word. “I’m encouraging our friend here to not toy with us. You know he was doing exactly that.”
“Oh boy,” Finn shook his head. From a certain point of view, Rose was not wrong. He just didn’t agree with her method. “Just tell me before you go and do something like that. I almost had a heart attack.”
“I can’t make promises but I’ll try.” Rose replied as she used one of her foot to check on the motionless prisoner on the floor before her.
The hateful man should regain consciousness momentarily and as soon as Prisoner 3501 accepted the government’s terms they would head to Tatooine for their first assignment together as a team.
Despite their defeated status with former members captured, some managed to elude arrest and were now scattered throughout the galaxy. As such, the First Order weapon systems were flooding the black market and the government had order Rose and Finn to investigate the matter.
Their team will now include the infamous former General.
“How many times can that thing release a shock wave?” Finn asked.
“I don’t know,” Rose replied in earnest, “but I suppose we shall find out soon.”