T:)

Hi there, thanks for checking out my page :)

Below I've included a list of my fanfiction, at the moment they are unfinished but updated regularly. All of my works will be completed, but I will likely jump between them. This page is not intended for hate, discrimination or negativity of any kind. All of these works are my own, I hope you enjoy being here :)

!!THESE WORKS ARE NOT INTENTED FOR MINORS!!

Please check the tags before starting any of my works!! You can find the full list of warnings at the top of every page.

MASTERLIST

MICHAEL CORLEONE - THE GODFATHER TRILOGY

The Ties That Bind: Tumblr / AO3

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OTTO OCTAVIUS - SPIDERMAN 2 (2004)

Mine: Tumblr / AO3

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KYLO REN - THE STAR WARS SEQUEL TRILOGY

Succumb: Tumblr / AO3

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GENERAL HUX - THE STAR WARS SEQUEL TRILOGY

Will That be All?: Tumblr / AO3

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TONY MONTANA - SCARFACE (1983)

Sheep in Wolf's Clothing: Tumblr / AO3

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Efa swallowed hard.

She was waiting just outside the interrogation chamber. She’d only just managed to catch the notification on her datapad before she left. She had, in fact, been in the middle of a girl’s brunch with Mina.

It wasn’t strange to be summoned so last minute, but she had been expecting space from any generic assignments. She was, after all, supposed to be focused on the General’s speech.

The General

Her mind flashed briefly back to a call she’d had with Haro that morning. She sighed.

“Har, can I speak to you?…Its uh something I did”

“Yeah Ef, of course.” He had said reasuringly.

“My friend here, she…was seeing this guy. And he was horrible, proper horrible, Har…And so I reported it. But now…I’m not sure. She could still get hurt, and I don’t even know what will happen, she might never forgive me.”

“You did the right thing,” Haro had said gently but without hesitation. “You saved her from a horrible situation, Ef. Don’t go thinking otherwise.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Efa had murmured. “It’s just… she doesn’t even know it was me that reported it. I’m sure he’ll be transferred…maybe even demoted.”

“I’m sure she’ll come to understand, and that you’ll tell her eventually.” He had said, “dang though, demoted? You must know some people there huh.”

“Well, I had to tell someone,” she had added. “And it felt like General Hu-”

She had paused.

“What? Hux? That’s who you said, right? General Hux” Haro had repeated, his tone flat. “You told General Hux? About this…this thing with your friend?!”

“This isn’t a big thing. He just sort of helped me out. It was a staff-issue-thing, anyway.”

“And he cared enough about your worries for your friend to step in? I’m sorry Ef, its a shitty situation for your friend to be in, no doubt about it, but…General Hux? why exactly would he care about this?”

“I don’t know. But-”

“Ef,” Haro’s tone had changed completely. It had carried a faint tinge of disgust. “How close are you to him?”

“Har…”

“How close?!”

She had held the silence, not willing to fill it.

“I thought you were just translating there.”

“I am.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, Har.”

“You do realise what he’s done? What he had the First Order build? It wasn’t a threat Efa, they used it.”

“I know,”

“No, I don’t think you do. Five systems, Efa. Billions of lives. All gone. Wiped out in minutes. Not targeted military strikes. Not battles. Just erased. And you know who gave the order for it?”

She had remained silent.

“Armitage Hux,” he had answered for her.

She swayed slightly in the corridor.

She leaned forward onto the door, steadying herslf

But, in an instant, it swept open, revealing the General, the Commander and two stormtroopers.

The troopers were struggling with something on the floor, and Hux was leaned over them, his face contorted into a snarl. It was only the Commander who remained eerily still.

Efa leapt back in horror.

She watched as the Commander’s mask turned towards her.

She stiffened, willing every bone in her body to let her run, to let her get away, but she remained planted in place.

Efa had now caught the General’s attention, who nodded an order at the troopers before standing back to his full height. Now that she could see him properly, she stifled a gasp.

He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping away the bloodsplatter across his cheek. He inspected it before repocketing it, glancing up at Efa as he did so.

“Ah Efa, you received my message.” He turned back to the commotion behind him, “I do believe we are done here, are we not?”

“Indeed,” crept the modified voice from behind the mask. Efa kept her gaze lowered as the Commander began to step forward towards the door, passing by Efa like a barely-contained storm.

“Tell me Efa,” Hux said, heading to the door himself, but stopping just before he passed the threshold, right infront of her. “Where is your friend?”

The General was barely a hairs length away from her. She kept her eyes lowered as he spoke, but she knew he was taking her in. The redness forming on her cheeks threatened to challenge the bloodstains on his.

“My friend, sir?”, she swallowed, thinking carefully. The only sound in the room was the faint shuffling of the troopers behind them.

“You held a meeting in section D of the guest lounge yesterday afternoon, without prior approval. Did you think this would go unnoticed?” His brow was raised slightly in interest.

Efa forced herself to look the General in the eye. “No, General. I ensured to apply shortly beforehand for meeting approval, perhaps this was not received?”

“It was received.” His expression was unreadable.

…what exactly is the problem then? How have I fucked up this time?

“I see, sir.” She said carefully, “I apologize, I believed it was acceptable to hold the meeting. I…apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

It wasn’t like she had thought the General stay in the dark about the meeting. He was, after all, in charge around here. But she couldn’t tell him what Lira had shown her. She wasn’t even sure what was so wrong about the meeting in the first place. She couldn’t just ask him that outright though.

She dropped her eyes, looking again at the troopers who had moved to the far corner of the Chamber, only a trail of smeared blood remained where they had stood. Efa looked away quickly, not wishing to panic herself further.

Perhaps it was a mistake coming here.

She straightened slightly, waiting for him to say something.

Hux studied her face for a moment before speaking, “If…this person is someone close to you…someone you are embarrassed to speak about, then do be assured, I am only inquiring professionally.”

Uh

Efa cocked her head absentmindedly, but corrected herself immediately.

Hux stepped back, and moved to the side. “Leave us, immediately.”

Efa released a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.

She kept her gaze low as the stormtroopers passed, until the sound of hurried boots began to fade away down the corridor.

Hux closed the door behind them, returning to his position opposite Efa.

It was difficult to focus on the General for a number of reasons, last night, of course, was the most prominent distraction. But Lira’s description of the video was at the forefront of her mind at every mention of his name. And also now that the General had assumed Lira was what? Her lover?

She looked to the side, trying to focus.

Through her thoughts, Haro’s call came back to the front of her mind.

…Five systems, Efa. Billions of lives. All gone…

She gritted her teeth.

The General was no angel, she knew that. The whole galaxy knew it, but surely all of this pain, and of this cruelty was not his work alone.

And the way he spoke of the Order…

Maybe he was just misguided?

She blinked, looking up.

Hux had started pacing, himself looking deep in thought.

A few moments passed before Efa broke the silence. “Sir, the meeting yesterday was with a fellow translator. She…she is replacing me…for the Admiral, sir. I gave her some advice on how best to fill the role.”

Hux nodded, coming to a stop. “And the name?”

“Lira Parlo.”

“You say it was just to explain a translation job…and yet, she did not report to anyone…” He stopped, his hand brushing her shoulder, finding its way up to her chin and cheek. “Why is it that a humble translator, for the Admiral no less, would be sneaking around my ship?”

Efa shivered at the sudden contact. She stood as still as possible, averting her gaze.

“I was unaware of this sir, t-that she hadn’t reported herself…I apologize. I-I take responsibility, of course, sir.”

“You are lucky to have my favour,” he murmured after a long moment, his gaze resting on her lips as his thumb grazed them gently. “Send her information to the central registration service to update the system by the end of the day, this will not happen again.”

Efa’s heartrate soared, she could barely believe her ears. “I-Thank you sir. Thank you, I am very grateful, sir.”

“You are.” He murmured, tilting his head as he studied her. Suddenly, his hand dropped and he stepped back. The air between them shifted suddenly, and Efa stood back too.

“Do not repeat your mistake, Efa. Not in any form,” he continued, “Next time, I will ensure you are dealt with.”

He revealed his bloodsplattered gloves, and Efa’s hand rushed to her face, tracing the smeared blood on her lips.

Hux took a handkerchief, cleaning his gloves until the cloth weighed heavy with red. He looked at her once more.

“Is that understood, Efa?”

She swallowed, but nodded quickly. His narrowed eyes rested on her for a moment longer before he turned away.

As the door closed behind him, Efa allowed her composure to fall, her face distorting in horror.

How could Lira forget about registering? Stars, the General will certainly-

“Efa Vas.”

Efa jumped, cursing as she did so.

She turned slowly in the direction of the voice, but all she was met with was a dark corner. She looked back towards the door, making sure the General was truly gone. Satisfied she was almost completely alone, she swallowed, turning back and squinting against the dim light as she tried to make out the source of the voice.

It had come from a figure…yes, it was a person.

She stepped back cautiously, her mind yelling at her to leave the room at once.

“What? What do you want?” she managed after a moment, hoping her voice wouldn’t carry too far and draw the General right back.

A shuffling noise came from the corner and suddenly a man’s face appeared from the dark. He lifted up his arms, showing her that he was restrained and chained to the floor. Frowning, Efa thought for a moment. She couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy as she moved closer to the man, crouching down a small distance away.

“I’m sorry. I can’t help you, you shouldn’t speak to me” she whispered, trying not to look directly at his injuries.

“Efa from Lothal. You know me, I was assigned to you - LF4537.”

Efa’s eyes widened.

The trooper?

Her gaze trailed along a stream of dried blood across his arm. Fresh streaks of red glistened across his forehead and hair, likely the work of the General.

Before she could put together a question, he began to speak, “You need to listen to me. I won’t get another chance. You need to pass this on to Admiral Endhar,” He continued. His voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.

Her pulse quickened. “I don’t-”

“Please, just listen,” LF4537 cut in sharply. “The General is buying time. You need to contact the resistance,” his breathing quickened as he spoke. “Warn the Admiral, warn anyone you can. The weapon will be used again.”

Beyond the door, the corridor hummed faintly, and Efa turned, but the sound of faint footsteps disappeared as quickly as they’d started. Her pulse thundered in her ears, and she leaned a hand against the wall to steady herself.

“He’s planned it all, everything is in place,” LF4537 whispered, wheezing out the words. “There isn’t much time left before Hux will be completely out of reach from the resistance. And then, there will be no hope left. Please, you must pass on the message.”

Efa sucked in a shaky breath. “Do you- did you work for the Admiral? For the resistance? All this time?”

“Yes,” LF4537 frowned, dropping his gaze to the floor. “…I know of you and your relationship to the General too.”

Efa stumbled back, her heart racing. “What?” She could barely breathe, the man on the floor becoming a blur before her. “What did you just say?”

““I know this is hard to hear, but it is the truth.” LF4537 scrambled.

She swallowed, refusing to meet his eye. Her legs began to pull her away to the door, and she jumped at the sound of it opening.

“I’m sorry, I really must go.” she managed, retreating quickly.

She gasped in a breath of air, forgetting to breathe properly as she hurried away. It felt like the walls would fall in on her and crush her if she didn’t make it away in time.

She panted as she began to jog. She didn’t care if anyone spotted her now, she just had to get away from that room.

“Dang they work you hard,” Mina chimed as the door to Efa’s quarters slid open. Efa stepped in shakily, her chest rising and falling in quick succession.

Mina frowned, watching her. “Is…everything ok?”

“Oh, uh yes, you know how it is,” Efa lied, forcing a smile. “They had me work with the Commander…its uh not very relaxing work.”

She took a seat at her desk, hoping to push what had just happened to the far corners of her mind. She forced her breathing to slow back down. Everything she’d just been told was racing through her mind, but something about this all felt very wrong.

“Sorry, Min. Its all part of the Ceremony planning, they’re getting all intense about it.”

Mina raised a brow in question, but her suspicion seemed to ease off.

“You know, I’ve never been to Lothal,” she smiled “Can’t I come with you?”

“Hey.” Efa winced, pulling out a small sheet of paper, “the location is confidential, Min! You know I can’t be talking about the details with you, I could get disciplined.”

Mina sighed, flopping down on the couch next to Efa’s desk. “Well, its a good thing it’s just you and me here.” She took a sip of wine from her glass, tilting her head and smiling in thought. “I’d love to wear something fancy to a ceremony like that.”

She paused for a moment, glaring over at Efa judgingly, “Are you really gonna be working all evening? I thought we were hanging out here.”

“Just a few more minutes,” Efa promised, sending Mina an apologetic smile as she quickly scribbled something down.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll just drink this alone, watching you. Not weird at all.” She sighed, but then her face lit up suddenly, “wait, is this the event you invited your family to?”

Efa nodded, “yeah. Well, just my brother. I’m not sure Haro will make it though. It’d be nice to see him, plus I can’t recall ever actually seeing him at a formal event.” She frowned in thought. “Yeah, I’ve never seen him wear anything other than those old Ghor robes out in public. A reason to dress up will be a nice change.”

“Oh!” Mina sat up quickly, excitement flooding through her. “Ef, you’ve gotta tell me, is Everett going? Oh how good he’d look in a suit!”

Efa cringed, but she hoped Mina hadn’t noticed just how on edge she was. It felt odd hearing Walder’s first name, and even more so for it to be spoken with such excitement. She pulled over the wine bottle and filled up her empty glass. She took a long sip before turning in her chair to face Mina properly, “Minaa, I’m serious. I really can’t talk about this.”

“Ok, ok.” Mina murmured, swirling the liquid round her glass. “You’re going soon though, right?”

“Yeah, tomorrow,” she replied, glancing at her wallclock. “I should be back by Tuesday, but there’s no set schedule for departure that I’m aware of. Hopefully I’ll have some time to myself too. I’d really like to visit the old gallery.”

“Oh its so exciting! Stars, what will you wear?” Mina’s eyes gleamed, “and for the big ceremony? Oh I bet it will be so glamourous.”

“Uh, well I’m not actually sure. They deliver the uniforms right before, I believe. But, I guess I should start packing for-”

Mina stood up suddenly and Efa almost dropped her drink in surprise.

“You haven’t packed yet?!”

Efa blinked, “well, no-”

Before she could finish, Mina was already at her closet. Placing her glass on a nearby dresser with a clink, she pulled open the doors. “You know, you’re lucky I’m here. I might just be the best packer in the galaxy.” Mina gleamed, feverishly throwing clothes behind her as she sorted through them. “You said you’re back Tuesday, right?”

---

“And how exactly did you manage to keep this with you, all this time? It is from your childhood, correct?”

Between his gloved fingers, Hux gently cradled a small piece of brilliant-white stone. To most, it was barely something of any interest of all, perhaps the most attention it drew was for its strikingly-bright appearance.

“Yes, sir,” Efa smiled, admiring it as he held it up to better inspect it. “I kept it from one of the many times I visited the beach with my grandparents, there were always pieces of rock scattered about near where the cliffs met the sand.”

After they had spoken some more at the staff party, Efa had mentioned her treasured rock from her homeworld. Eagar to see it for himself, Hux had asked if she would mind showing it to him.

It didn’t take much convincing for her to lead him to her quarters, were she kept it neatly displayed on her desk.

He hummed, turning the stone around carefully. “You lived near the coast?” he asked, turning his attention back to her.

Efa nodded, watching the way the white stone glinted against the dark leather of his gloves. “Not exactly, but the coast was only a short ride away from home.”

Hux hummed thoughtfully again, still inspecting the stone. “It’s a rather striking piece.”

“Yes, it is,” she said softly, and caught herself looking at him a little too long.

He looked up just then…slowly, and their eyes met. The silence that followed was not the same as before. It was…heavier.

Not burdened by memory this time, but by intensity.

Hux stepped closer, not enough to be inappropriate, but close enough that she could see the precise stitching of his uniform collar, the faint sheen of his hair under the dim light.

“I understand why you kept it,” he said, voice lower, less performative than before. “When everything else is dismantled…sometimes even a stone can feel like stability.”

Efa’s throat tightened slightly, and she nodded. “Yes, truly.”

His eyes dropped for the briefest moment to her hand, still resting loosely at her side, before rising again to meet hers.

“You still carry it with you,” he said. Not a question. An observation. “Even now, so far from home.”

Efa’s voice came softer. “I like the weight of it, and the reminder of my life there before I left.”

“Not many in the Order speak that way,” he said, taking another step closer. “Most treat the past like a threat. Like something that might unravel them.”

She swallowed. The air between them was suddenly warmer than it had been, though the room remained the same. Hux stood within reach now, the line between personal and professional space blurring.

“And you, sir?” she asked, her voice careful, but her confidence daring. “Do you see your past as a threat?”

“No,” he said, his gaze holding hers. “I see it as a foundation.”

He turned the stone once more in his hand, then, almost reverently, he offered it back to her.

She took it slowly, and for a moment, her fingers brushed his.

This time, she didn’t look away.

Hux’s eyes lingered on her face longer than necessary, his gaze not cold or clinical now, but instead, searching. Like he was evaluating something far more complex than a report or a briefing. Something closer to curiosity.

Or desire, suppressed behind discipline.

“I admit,” he said, “I hadn’t expected your quarters to feel this…personal.”

“You imagined I lived in a storage crate?”

He allowed the corner of his mouth to lift. It wasn’t quite a smile, but something warmer than anything she’d seen from him before.

“No,” he said. “But I did not expect a collection of memorabilia, you have, of course, not been here so long. Therefore you have travelled with this when you first arrived with the Admiral.” He admitted, glancing along her desk at the array of items ranging from small photographs to tiny broken charms and pendants.

“I would have thought my room was searched while I was under investigation.” she said, following his gaze along her belongings. But then she stopped.

Her comms.

Not the First Order issued one.

Her heart-rate kicked up once again. It was sat among her charms, thankfully not looking too out of place. It was possible he wouldn’t notice…

“Hmm, not by me.”

Their eyes met again, closer now, and Efa felt her focus on her comms fall away.

Everything around them seemed to narrow, sound and light drawing in like a tide pulling back before the wave. She could feel her pulse in her throat, in her fingertips, in the soft silence between their bodies.

In an instant, Hux pulled her forward, pressing his body against her as his lips crashed against hers.

His hands slid around her, one finding its place in her hair and the other around her waist as their kiss deepened.

Falling into one another’s embrace, Efa felt the General work his hands under her shirt and against her breasts, cupping and squeezing them as his lips pressed more hungrily against hers. She let out a soft moan against his kiss as the cold leather began to tease her nipples.

He smirked against her lips as he continued, before turning her around, pushing her firmly against the desk.

Her hands fell forward, steadying herself as he began to unbuckle his belt behind her. Efa’s breathing grew heavier in anticipation as she listened to the sound of it clattering to the ground. Without hesitation, his fingers hooked into the sides of her pants, pulling them down slowly. A heat began to spread across her cheeks as she felt a breeze against her bare ass. One her pants were around her ankles, the General pushed her feet apart, spreading her legs as he saw fit.

She gulped quietly in surprise at the suddenness of his movements.

At the sound, he stopped, “is this OK, Efa? Do you wish for me to continue?”

“Y-yes.” she managed, silently pleading for his touch, his body mere inches away from her own.

He hummed, but didn’t return to her, instead one gloved hand shot around her neck, pulling her up so that her back was against him.

“Yes?” He whispered, his grip tightening slightly as he spoke. “Yes, what? You are forgetting your place ever so quickly.”

Efa swallowed thickly, closing her eyes as she felt herself giving into her needs.

“Yes, please, sir-Yes, General.” she managed, her voice weak in his grip.

“Very good, Efa.” He smirked, releasing her throat and pushing her back down against the desk. Her face lay flat against the cold wood, his hand resting on her head, holding her in place.

As he positioned himself behind her, his other hand traced her hip, sending small shocks of desire through her. She sucked in a shaky breath as she felt his now free length push against her ass, her pulse finding its way to her lower lips.

“If only you knew how long I’ve been thinking of having you like this,” he said, his voice low. “Every time I’d see you, you would play on my mind for hours…the way your uniform presses against your body,” his hand dragged lazily as he spoke, eventually finding its way to her pussy, tracing lightly along her lips.

Her breathing quickened at his words, and she could feel her wetness forming, her mind driving itself crazy.

Eventually, his touch circled closer, and she gasped as a leather clad finger slipped inside of her.

He hummed deeply, pulling out and taking his finger to his lips.

“The way you serve me with such passion, even now…” he murmured, sucking the juices from his finger.

She began to tremble, her body more in control of her mind as he continued to tease her.

His hand returned to her lips, and he slid two fingers in slowly. She gasped, trying to compose herself as he began to slide them in and out. The sound of her wetness against leather filled the air as she struggled to contain her moans.

Hux hummed, adding another digit as her wetness continued to form. Her eyes widened as he began to move more quickly, his other hand forming a tight fist in her hair.

All too soon, he pulled away, his hand sliding out of her easily. She moaned softly at the change in sensation, her pussy achingly empty.

“Oh Efa,” he whispered, his voice lower than before, “how willing you are to take me. Is this truly what you want?” his cock brushed against her opening and she swallowed, her body now beyond her control.

“Yes, sir. Yes.” she whispered, her voice laced with a desperation she never knew she had.

But, at her words, his touch left her. She opened her eyes, fearing he was unsatisfied with her pleas. “Please, General. This is what I want.”

She tried to turn her head to face him, but his hand remained on her head, keeping her firmly in place.

He leaned over her, his breath warm against her neck as he brushed her hair to the side. “Well then, allow me to oblige you.” he said slowly, his cock pushing against her entrance and into her agonisingly slowly.

She let out a half-moan half-wail as he pushed fully inside of her, Hux releasing his own low grunt as he began to buck against her.

She gripped the desk as he slowly picked up the pace, each thrust sending bursts of pleasure through her.

Leaning back to his original position, Efa moaned as he found a new angle, somehow pushing himself even further inside of her.

Her hair fell into her face as he continued his rhythm. His hand moved away from atop her head and down to her waist, holding her in place as he pushed deeper.

His other hand moved forward, reaching around and towards her face. Two gloved fingers slipped their way past her parted lips and into her mouth. She blushed at the faint taste of her own wetness, her mind a blur of pleasure as he continued.

“Mmm you’re taking me so well.” he praised ruggedly, gripping her waist even tighter, “stay like this, yes. Good girl,” he grunted.

Without warning, his hand fell from her mouth and down to her waist. But, instead of holding her like the other, it continued downwards, stopping at the top of her entrance.

“I do hope you remember this kindness, Efa. This is something you have earned.” he whispered, his fingers tracing her clit with a feather-light touch.

She clenched around him at the sudden sensation, a coil in her tightening as he began to apply pressure. He grunted softly, beginning to trace circled around her.

Barely able to take it all, Efa let out a moan, her cheeks turning a bright red as she did so.

A soft chuckle from behind her caused her to blush even further, but she barely heard it through the deafening pleasure.

Her wetness now dripping down her leg, Efa closed her eyes, trying to ground herself somewhat as the General continued his rhythym, both inside her pussy and at her clit.

But ever so quickly it became all too much.

The coil inside her began to tighten further and further, until she felt herself overcome. Her walls pressed tightly against his length as she came, crying out at the pleasure coursing through her.

It was like nothing she had experienced before.

Her legs shook and her grip on the desk tightened as he led her through her orgasm, his quickening touch at her clit lengthening the sensation.

At the same time, he felt himself nearing the edge, and he pulled his cock away quickly. As she began to come down from her own release, Hux finished over her ass, one hand gripping her cheeks tightly as he pumped his cock with the other.

Collapsing under him, Efa let out a long breath, her heart still racing.

The General staggered back, his own heavy breathing filling the space around them.

After a few moments, Efa lifted her head, pushing herself up onto shaky legs. Slowly, her mind was returning to normal, and she blinked away the last few hazy spots of her orgasm.

“Stop, don’t move.” Hux stated, his voice stern.

Her stomach dropped, unsure if she had offended him in some way. She turned, but her vision became blurry. She leaned back against the desk, her energy not having fully returned to her yet.

Hux reached forward, supporting her with one hand as he stood next to her. She frowned at the sudden soft sensation below her. She glanced behind her slightly, and she saw he was patting her with one of her towels.

Blinking in confusion, she was gently guided towards her bed, where she was placed down. The General looked down at her as he set her down, his now ruffled hair bouncing against his forehead as he adjusted her.

“Thank you…sir” she managed, her mind still catching up to her. Stars, she was exhausted.

With a jolt, she shot up.

She was about to contemplate if all of that had been a dream, but her answer was given to her as she met the eyes of the General, who was sat at her desk facing her.

Looking up from his datapad, he titled his head slightly, somewhat surprised at her sudden movements.

“Efa, can I bring you something?” he asked simply. Her cheeks began to burn as her memory of the night before started to return to her. Quickly, she lowered her gaze.

“Uh, no sir. Thank you.” she managed, her hand rising to her head at the headache now beginning to take form.

“I expected you to be asleep longer,” he said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips as he registered her blush, “but you seemed…restless.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I-” her face dropped as her mind began to flick back to the party. He noticed a slight sadness in her eyes, but said nothing.

She looked in his direction, but didn’t meet his eye. Pulling her arms around herself in a make-shift hug, she sighed.

“I am…worried about a friend, that’s all. Someone I work with.” she began.

He sat up a bit straighter, raising a brow, “are you reporting a serious matter, Efa? If there is a sincere threat to someone affiliated with the Order then you must inform me immediately.”

She waved her hand dismissively, but not rudely. “No, nothing like that. Its a friend who is…getting too close to another co-worker. Someone who is, well, rather unpleasant.”

He furrowed his brow, “are you…reporting this?”

“No, I- more like getting it off my chest. I apologise, sir. Is that inappropriate?”

He relaxed a little, tilting his head, “Not even slightly, if this is bothering you then please do continue.”

She smiled a bit, a small sense of happiness bubbling away at her as she breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, General. Its all been a bit much,” she said. “I want to help her, my friend. The man she is seeing is…violent and manipulative. He’s lashed out before and I know it wasn’t the first or last time. She’s so kind-hearted and she doesn’t see the danger she is in when the Lieutenant is-”

She stopped herself, but she knew it was too late.

Hux sat forward, his gaze quickly changing from thoughtful to stern.

“The name?” he asked, his tone now serious.

She sucked in a breath. There was no going back now.

“…Walder,” she said finally, watching his face carefully.

His frown deepened, “you mention he is violent. That he has lashed out. Is that in any way linked to the interaction between the two of you shortly before you were released from interrogation?”

Efa’s face fell.

Of course, how could she have expected the General to believe her over his own colleague. She’d attacked him, the Lieutenant had said. She was the violent one…and now the General believed it too.

Hux watched her carefully, noting her sunken expression and trembling hands. He stood, approaching the bed before sitting beside her. She froze, unsure what to make of his sudden closeness.

But Hux lowered his gaze, taking her hands gently in his. “Efa, tell me,” he said, more softly this time. “Did the Lieutenant exaggerate? Did he lie? You will not be reprimanded for the truth.”

She breathed out a quiet sob, before regaining herself. She hadn’t expected the General to listen, to comfort her like this. Maybe…maybe talking about it would give her the strength to speak to Mina. If she could tell the General, then she could tell her.

Quietly, she spoke, “he-he collected me from the cell. He had the stormtroopers take me to the interrogation room.” She managed, “it-I I don’t know why. But he started to act differently than he had right away. He sent the troopers out and then he hit me…he hit me with his blaster,” she paused, wiping away a tear. “I couldn’t move, I was strapped to the chair. Then-then he said that he would report me, he would say I had attacked him. And then he-he said if I could show him remorse then he wouldn’t report me…He crouched close to me, he-he touched my hair. And then you came through the door.”

She didn’t meet his eye, instead she simply stared down at her hands within his, the warmth of his touch a quiet comfort.

“Thank you, Efa. I am glad you shared this with me,” he said. His tone was different now, but she couldn’t interpret what he was thinking. Looking up, she saw that his eyes were distant, but he composed himself before she could truly read his expression.

Letting go of her hands gently, he stood.

“You should try and get some more rest. I apologise, but I have a meeting with Commander Ren. Regrettably I must attend.”

“Of course.” she said, the warmth of their exchange continuing to swirl inside her, “thank you, General. Thank you so much.”

A slight smile tugged his lips, but his eyes remained somewhat haunted. As he began to move towards the door, she began to tuck herself back into bed.

The morning came quickly, mainly because she had barely slept by the time her alarm woke her at 7.00.

She sighed, grabbing her datapad and scrolling through the messages she’d been putting off since yesterday.

Most were just as mundane as she was expecting. A new edition of the First Order magazine, the announcement of altered opening times for the canteen on weekends…

But there was one that caught her by surprise.

She had mail.

Stars, she didn’t realise they allowed that here.

Leaping to her feet, she pulled on her unform and picked her datapad back up as she headed through the door.

Her package was just down the hall, poking out of a small postbox with her name scribbled across it.

She stopped, pulling it out for a better look. As she did, a tiny note fell out and onto the floor. She picked it up, deciding to inspect them back at her quarters.

Placing them on her desk, she started with the parcel.

It was very thin, a strange shape with pointy edges. Curiously, she opened it, and as soon as she saw what it was her eyes began to water with joy.

It was a large sheet of paper, folded many times at many different angles to form the clumsy shape of a starship. She wasn’t too sure what one it was supposed to be, but she smiled at a child’s scribbled writing clearly labelling her as the stick figure piloting the ship.

Flipping it over, she saw the writing:

To Efa,

Have fun on your ship, we miss you!

From,

Pariya and Mil

Smiling wider than she had in far too long, she stroked the edges of the paper gently, hoping the kids were doing ok. Haro might see the good in keeping them away from Lothal, but she knew it was hard on them being away from their dad.

Thinking forward to the ceremony, she made a mental note to bring it up again with Haro. Maybe she could convince him to have them visit? A few weeks or so would make all the difference, she knew they missed him dearly.

Setting it down carefully, she turned her attention to the note.

Perhaps it was from Aunt Mala, Efa was eager for an update on how the kids were doing.

Unfolding it she frowned.

It hadn’t been sent to her post box, it had been left there.

In thick, cursive, in a dialect she hadn’t read in years were the words:

Efa, I have sent my translator to speak with you. She will wait for you in the guest lounge. This is not an officially arranged meeting.

A. E.

Despite taking a few minutes to piece together the note’s meaning, she recognised the handwriting immediately. And the initials confirmed it.

Hoping she wasn’t too late, she gathered her things quickly and ran through the door.

Grabbing a quick snack from the canteen on her way, Efa began to speedwalk in the direction of the guest lounge.

She was surprised to hear from the Admiral, as she as certain there were more pressing matters to deal with elsewhere. But the upcoming speech would certainly be of grave importance, and she was more than happy to speak with his new translator in preparation for it. That must be what this was about.

As she crossed the threshold into the brightly-lit room, she smiled as she met the eyes of Lira.

She didn’t know her too well, in fact she hadn’t initially arrived here with her. She recognised her from the holograms she’d had when she’d called the Admiral. Lira was always there just in case, but so far she hadn’t needed to step in during their calls.

After Efa was given the more long-term contract with the Order, the Admiral had returned to Lothal. Although Efa would be handing the General’s speech, and Lira the Admiral’s, Efa had been asked to meet with Lira at the Admiral’s request.

Clutching her datapad filled with translation notes in one had, and her half-eaten pastry in the other, Efa moved towards her.

Lira lifted up her gaze at the sound of sudden footsteps. She smiled back and stood, gesturing to the seat opposite her at a small table.

With a relaxed glance about, Efa breathed a sigh of relief.

The two of them had the space to themselves.

Looking back at Lira, she noticed that she too was scanning the room, albeit a lot more clumsily.

Infact, as she draw her attention more closely to the twi’lek opposite her, she saw that she was shaking. Her eyes darted about more rapidly, and her face was held in a strained, awkward smile, as though she was trying very had to compose herself.

Efa felt a surge of concern engulf her, and she leaned forward slightly, her worry showing.

“Lira, hey, is everything ok?”

Lira’s eyes shot to hers, and her smile dropped slightly.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so…” she started, gesturing to herself, “I really need to speak to you. Its…a private matter.”

Efa’s eyes softened, suddenly even more worried for the girl, but simultaneously focused on trying to comfort her in some way.

Her mind darted to Lothal, to the Admiral.

Stars…had something happened?

“Ok, no problem. Its just us here, but if you would prefer, I could book us a conference room? Please don’t worry,” she said, her hand reaching out to Lira’s arm as a show of comfort. But she pulled away before Efa’s hand could make contact.

“I’m sorry, I’m not good with physical contact.” Lira sniffled, “thank you but…I think its better if I just blurt it out.”

Efa nodded in response, not wanting to upset Lira further.

Drawing in a deep breath, Lira sat up a bit, placing her hands together in her lap.

“I found something,” she said through sniffles. “On the Admiral’s datapad. There was a video, I didn’t mean to-” she paused, looking down. “I shouldn’t have, I was trying to access the document for the ceremony. But, anyway, it was there…and I opened it,” she took in another shaky breath.

“I don’t understand it-I-I told the Admiral right away. They were kind enough to offer me forgiveness, but, they insisted I tell you about it. They…they were planning to anyway.” Lira paused, shooting a quick glance around the room once more, “there were two people. One man, one stormtrooper. But, uh, the stormtrooper looked different than the normal ones…more shiny. I’m sorry, that’s the best way I can describe it. They spoke together about…about a murder.” she whispered the last word, trying very hard to keep her voice steady, it was clear she was terrified.

Efa was focused on her words, trying to decipher what Lira was describing to her.

“It uh-” she continued. “It wasn’t easy to hear them, but the man spoke about promotions and ranks. I-I have one sentence here,” she retrieved a crumpled up sheet of paper from her jacket pocket, opening it up with trembling hands. “Ren will use Pryde to elevate his power, as a means to diminish my own…we must take away this stepping stone for Ren. We must remove Pryde. Can I intrust you to take care of this, as before?” she read, before looking up at Efa. “The Admiral said the names were important…that you’d need them to understand,” she explained, quickly repocketing the note.

Efa sat back slowly as Lira spoke. She knew the answer before she asked the question, but she needed to be sure, “thank you, Lira. If its not too much trouble, and if you remember of course, what did the man in the video look like?”

Lira nodded, “yes, I remember. He wore black. Not just clothes, he had a black hat too, and red hair.”

Swallowing quickly, Efa nodded.

“Ok, thank you again Lira. I-” she glanced around the room quickly. They were still alone. “Tell the Admiral thanks for me, would you? I do hope they are well.” she smiled, hoping to send some warmth Lira’s way.

Lira smiled back nervously, before standing quickly. “Yes, Ok. No problem.” She took out her hand as if to shake Efa’s and Efa stood too, taking it politely. “I guess I’ll see you in a few days for that uh preparation rehersal.” Lira said, releasing her hand and beginning to back away.

Efa frowned slightly, but nodded, “Oh, yes. I must not have gotten the information on that yet, but yes. Hopefully I’ll see you there.”

Lira nodded, turning away quickly and heading away down the corridor.

Efa listened to the hurried footsteps for a moment longer before collapsing back into her seat.

She pressed her hand to her mouth, holding back the rise of nausea. She had walked into her quarters with him. She had admired him.

More than admired him.

She’d let herself be close to him. Like there was something beneath his coldness, something vulnerable. Something human.

And he had killed someone…his own colleague.

Was this political ambition? A desperate attempt to maintain power in a shifting structure?

Or had it always been this cold underneath?

But, regardless of his reasons, she was now holding the weight of that knowledge.

And she was his translator. His voice in the days to come.

She had spent weeks preparing his speech. Shaping it. Perfecting tone and cadence and breath. She knew it by heart. And that meant her voice would carry that legacy forward.

---

“Haro, move it closer so I can see” Efa sighed, “yeah, you’re standing in the way of it now.”

“This is new tech, Ef, give me a sec.” he said, angling the device awkwardly, “Ok, can you see it now?”

Efa squinted, trying to make out the kid’s drawing weaving in and out of frame, “Haro. Stay still. You’re moving too much.”

A sigh came through the comms as he adjusted himself again.

“Perfect, stop! Yep, I can see it now.” Efa smiled, looking more closely at the scribbled outline of a Loth-wolf. “Stars! Mil is getting so good at that, did he do it at Kindergarten?”

Haro chuckled, coming back into frame, “yeah he’s talented that one. But no, Aunt Mala sent it over.”

Efa took a breath, thinking of the best way to voice her concern, “they’re still off planet?” She watched the screen carefully, trying to catch his reaction.

“Yeah, they’ll be back soon. Aunt Mala is taking them through their education in the meantime though, if that’s what you’re asking.” He said, avoiding eye contact as he replaced the picture on the wall.

“You know what I’m asking Har, moving around so much isn’t good for them,” she swallowed, “they need to be around you.”

He turned back to the camera, a more serious look on his face, “I appreciate your concern, Ef, I really do. But don’t butt in on how I’m raising my kids. You know this is temporary.” He shook his head, “look, let’s move on from this. Tell me about what you’ve been up to.”

As always, he avoided addressing the real issue. But Efa knew pushing him too much would just close him off. She was lucky enough being able to speak with him as much as she was.

Nodding, she put on a smile, “actually, there’s something…I got really lucky with an upcoming assignment.” she paused, making sure not to say too much. “I’m going to be on Lothal in about two weeks!”

“Wow Ef! You’ll have some time off to see us right?” Haro smiled, pulling out his holographic calendar.

“Even better, there’s an event going on and I wanted to invite you!” she gleamed, “I don’t know the full details, but you’d be coming as my guest.”

Haro frowned, putting down the calendar. “Like, a First Order event?” he asked, his voice lowering slightly.

Efa nodded, “yes…I-” she stopped, thinking for a moment, “look, I don’t really know much about it, but…you’re coming right?”

“Yes, yes of course.” Haro said quickly, looking lost in thought for a moment. “Ef, I’m sorry, I gotta go. But send me some info when you know more…I can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment at his sudden departure. “I’ll call you soon.”

Dropping the comms to her lap, she sighed.

It felt like an eternity since she’d been with him and the kids. She didn’t like how far away she was, and each day passing by felt like the distance would go on forever.

Lieutenant Walder rolled his eyes, typing down a summary of Efa’s call.

He didn’t see why he had to be the one filling the shoes of a stormtrooper, but here he was.

He scrolled through his notes, mumbling to himself.

She had spent the past few days practicing the General’s speech in two of the languages. Soon, she’d have mastered it in all three.

He scoffed. Sure it was impressive, but that was her job, wasn’t it? What good would she be if she was just as stupid as the other brats on the ship?

He flicked back to the previous page.

His notes from Commander Ren were highlighted. Too brief.

“What am I supposed to do about it?” he muttered, but as he reread the bullet points, his eyes sharpened in curiosity.

Misplaced devotion, pathetic, weak-willed girl.

“Misplaced devotion” he mumbled, circling it and adding a note.

Clarification needed. Devotion to enemies of the First Order?

Thinking back to her call, a smirk swept across his face.

A shuffling noise through the microphone drew the Lieutenant’s attention back to her.

Efa had stood, brushing the crumbs of her snack off of her pyjamas. She reached for the datapad on her desk, opening up the details of the staff party.

Stars, she hadn’t realised how long she’d be on call for.

She hurried over to her closet, pulling open the doors. Looking back at the message, she sighed. No matter how much she willed it to be anything else, the dress code remained the same: First Order Colors or Uniform.

She grumbled to herself as she browsed her clothes. There wasn’t really much of a choice, she only had three outfits aside from her uniform.

She wasn’t opposed to black clothes, in fact it was all she wore back home. But, since being here, it had gotten old very quickly, and a tiny splash of color felt like a luxury.

She frowned, taking a second look at the dress at the back of the closet.

Red.

Well, it was a First Order color, wasn’t it?

She pulled it out, twisting and turning it against herself as she glanced in the mirror.

Stars, she doubted it even fit her…

She looked at the time. She had 15 minutes.

Cursing, she threw off her pyjamas and pulled on the dress, careful not to yank it too hard and risk tearing it.

She looked in the mirror. Ok...it kind of worked.

“Its fine” she said to herself, dashing about to make sure she fit in everything she wanted to before the party began.

Slipping on her shoes as she headed to the door, she jumped at the sound of a light knock.

She pressed the button, and the door slid open.

“Efa! Wow you’re looking gorgeous!” Mina gasped, admiring her as she stepped into the corridor. She was sporting a light, white sundress with sparkling heels.

“So are you!” Efa smiled, hugging her, “are you excited?” she asked as Mina linked their arms, turning towards the west wing where the party was to be held.

“Excited for some drinks” Mina giggled, “I really hope its the same bartender as last time. He always overpoured.”

Efa chuckled, trying to keep pace with her, “oh I’m looking forward to it…but I’m a bit nervous.” she admitted.

“Hey, this is your time to unwind. If you’re worried about embarrassing yourself infront of your superiors then don’t worry. Been there, done that. They really don't care…not at these kinds of events.” Mina laughed, nudging her.

It wasn’t long before Efa began to hear the distant sound of commotion and music echoing down the corridor. She felt a wave of nausea fall over her, but she pushed it away.

As they approached, the event room opened up, revealing polished floors shimmering under soft gold lighting and walls draped in First Order banners. The space was filled with the low hum of conversation. All around, Staff in pressed uniforms mingled near tables and drink stations, celebrating the recent round of promotions with carefully measured cheer.

“Well, come on,” Mina said, tugging her gently toward a quieter row of booths along the far wall. “We’ll sit where it’s dark and nobody tries to make us do small talk.”

They slid into a booth tucked away into the corner, but not quite out of sight. As Efa sat, she glanced around, taking in the space and feeling thankful for the privacy provided by a nearby decorative pillar. From here, they could see most of the commotion, but were sheltered enough to talk freely.

Mina leaned in close. “Okay, don’t laugh, but I was going to show you the guy I've been talking to. He was here a minute ago…” Her eyes scanned the room.

Efa giggled, “oh I’m intrigued! What does he look like?” she asked, raising a brow.

Mina smiled back giddily, “He’s tall. Uniform fits very well.”

”If you say this and then point out Captain Canady-”

“Shut up, you haven’t seen him yet.” she giggled. But then Mina’s voice trailed off as she caught sight of someone across the room. Efa followed her gaze automatically.

The cocktail waiter.

“Is it him?” Efa teased, and Mina shushed her quickly as the man approached, offering them a tray of delicately balanced glasses of alcohol.

As she took one of the drinks to her lips, Efa gazed out into the different groups of people, letting the buzz of conversation blur into soft background static.

Her assignment on Lothal was at the front of her mind, despite how much she tried to relax. Even though she knew it was unlikely the General would even notice her presence, she wanted to remain as professional as possible, just in case he happened to pass her by.

But, each and every time she took a moment to glance around, he was absent.

Eventually, Efa leaned back into the booth, the buzz in her chest matching the low thrum of music overhead. She watched the room blur slightly, her gaze trailing lazily across moderately familiar faces.

“I’m going to head up for another drink,” Mina said, pushing her empty glass aside.

Efa nodded “I’ll come along too.” finishing the rest of her drink in one big gulp.

Just as she was about to stand, Efa stopped.

Stood by a high table and engaged in quiet conversation with a group of officers, was General Hux. His black uniform sat perfectly upon him as he leaned forward, balancing his weight on his elbows. She looked a little more closely, his collar was just a bit looser than she was used to seeing.

“Psst, Efa.” Mina leaned across the booth with a devilish grin, her voice dropping into a whisper. “Who exactly are you gawking at over there?”

Efa cringed, her face flushing bright red. “I uh, I was just looking for a drinks menu or-”

“It was Hux right?! General Armitage Hux?!” Mina wiggled her brows, barely containing her glee.

Efa groaned, glancing around at nearby tables just in case they were in earshot, “Shhh, no! Mina, stop.”

Mina giggled, nudging her under the table. “Is it the gloves? The authority? I didn’t know you were so-”

“I thought you wanted another drink, why don’t we-”

Mina burst into another fit of laughter, squealing in between her giggles ”Oh my stars yes! We could head right up to him and-”

Efa sat up straighter, trying her best to sound as reasonable as possible, “Mina….why would I have a thing for him? He’s a commanding officer-”

But Mina’s eyes shot behind Efa, her face lighting up even more.

“Ooooh!” she squealed, clapping her hands together in front of her mouth. “That’s him!”

Efa blinked. “What? Who?”

Mina was already halfway to her feet. “My guy. The one I told you about!”

Then her voice dropped an octave into mock mystery.

“Lieutenant Walder.”

All excitement and joy from the night faded away in an instant.

Efa’s breath snagged, her fingers tightening around her glass.

It couldn’t be him. Of all the people on the ship…

Her eye twitched, but she was careful to keep her expression neutral as Mina continued to beam with joy in front of her.

How could someone as kind and warm as Mina be drawn to someone like Walder? Who, even now, made her skin crawl at the mere mention of his name.

But, Mina was glowing, completely unaware of the conflict that gripped Efa.

“I’ve been seeing him for almost a full week now. We’re not public yet, but-ugh, he’s so charming.” Mina exhaled dreamily, her eyes gazing off behind Efa.

Efa’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She still couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

Mina turned to her, flushed with excitement. “Can you believe it?”

Efa blinked once, pulling her features into a fragile approximation of a smile. “I...no. Its crazy.”

Mina grinned. “Isn’t it? Wait, he just saw me!”

Before Efa could protest, Mina stood on her toes and waved across the room, beckoning him over with both hands.

Efa’s stomach dropped as she sat back and watched as he began to head over.

The Lieutenant crossed the floor with the same smug confidence he wore like cologne. His uniform was crisp, his hair perfectly in place. That practiced smile was already forming on his lips, the one he used when pretending to be civil.

“Evening, ladies,” he said smoothly, stopping beside their booth. His eyes found Efa’s and lingered a second too long. “Ah, Efa. What a surprise.”

Efa gripped the edge of her seat to ground herself, offering a practiced polite expression in response. “Lieutenant.”

Mina beamed up at him, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm. Efa watched in agony at the display, but, Mina simply smiled. “I was just telling Efa about us.”

Walder tilted his head, smiling down at her with mock bashfulness. “Were you now?”

Mina laughed, clearly giddy. “You two know each other already, right?”

Efa forced a thin smile. “We’ve worked together. Once or twice.”

Walder’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, she’s being modest. We’ve had some enlightening exchanges, haven’t we?”

Efa said nothing. Just nodded, her blood boiling.

“Well,” Mina said brightly, “I’m sorry, Ef. I’m feeling a bit tired, do you mind if I head back?” She turned to Efa, eyes sparkling. “Talk tomorrow?”

Efa nodded, her voice caught in her throat. “Yeah, no problem.” She barely made out the two of them as they began to turn, their arms interlocked.

“Night, Efa!” Mina chirped, leading Walder away.

Efa watched them go, her gaze locked on their backs as they moved toward the exit. Mina leaning into him, laughing softly at something he said.

She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until they disappeared from sight.

The noise of the room swelled again, conversation, clinking glasses and laughter…but it all felt distant.

She turned her gaze down to her empty drink, letting her fingers rest on the rim of the glass.

An icy dread crept into her chest.

What happens if Mina does something he doesn’t like?

Efa didn’t even register that she had slid away from the booth and had arrived at the bar, taking a seat on a stool. As if on auto-pilot, she ordered another drink in a half-mumble.

She couldn’t stop picturing Mina’s smile….Walder’s smirk.

When the drink was poured, she downed it almost right away, nodding at the bartender for another.

As she waited, she rested her head in her hands, her mind racing in useless spirals.

What if he hurts her? Would Mina even believe she tried to intervene? Would Efa really be able to break her heart before Walder had a chance to?

The thoughts pressed in, swallowing her whole. She closed her eyes, trying to take her mind off of the bitter taste in her throat. She wanted to believe Mina would see through him.

“Efa, you mind if I join you?”

She turned quickly, startled out of her thoughts.

General Hux stood just beside the bar, a fresh glass in hand, watching her with a curious lift of one brow. His uniform still sat immaculately upon him, though she swore his collar looked even more loosened than it had been.

Efa sat straighter, caught somewhere between reflexive defensiveness and disbelief.

“Of course, sir. Please.” She said almost automatically, gesturing to the stool beside her.

Hux tilted his head slightly, as if registering something about her.

But, the General said nothing as he took a seat beside her, placing his glass down on the bar before him.

An hour or so ago she would have been both horrified and anxious, but, as she glanced between him and her freshly poured drink, the encounter seemed almost indifferent to her.

It was difficult to pry her mind off of Mina…and the drinks she’d had made it easier to be in the General’s presence. It wasn’t often she got to be so close to him, not since-

Blinking herself into focus, she realised she should probably try and reciprocate the General’s politeness. He had approached her after all.

She thought for a moment, before speaking.

“How has your evening been, sir? I would have expected you to steer clear of me,” she said, her thoughts not actually having impacted her words. She cringed internally, believing she’d said a bit too much.

Not looking at him as he turned to respond, she prayed he’d completely disregard the second part of what she’d said.

“Why would that be the case?” he asked, seemingly unfazed by the staggering casualness of their conversation.

Efa hesitated, accepting that she would have to provide him with an answer. “I assumed, after everything…that you might still see me as a liability.”

Hux sipped from his glass, the light reflecting off his eyes as he took her in. “You were interrogated. That doesn’t make you guilty.”

She flinched slightly at the word. Interrogated sounded so…unforgiving.

“You were cleared,” Hux said simply. “You needn’t waste time dwelling on it, it will only serve as a distraction from your current purpose.”

His voice held its usual sharpness, but it lacked the bite she remembered from before. His tone wasn’t warm, exactly…but not quite cold, either.

She took a slow breath, meeting his gaze. “Then, I just wanted to apologise, truly, I-”

“There’s no need for that.” He cut her off gently, but firmly. “Your reports have demonstrated your commitment to the First Order, and your current work has helped us achieve success that has far outweighed the mistakes of your past.”

Efa blinked again, surprised by the rare softness in his tone and the unexpected praise.

“Come,” He said after a moment, standing from the bar. He turned around, picking up his drink in one hand and running the other along his slick backed hair.

She stood too, following as he led her toward a quieter section where tables and chairs were scattered more lazily about than where she’d sat with Mina. They were still within the party’s perimeter, but tucked behind a low divider where the music was more distant and the light a little lower.

Hux adjusted the cuff of his sleeve as he sat. Even in this quieter corner, he carried the same exacting posture. His back straight and expression composed. The only difference was his voice…it had dipped ever so slightly, like a finely tuned instrument eased into a lower register.

“Expecting me to avoid you…” he said, continuing the thread. “…is a curious thing to assume.”

Efa traced the rim of her glass with her fingertip, not having yet sipped her drink. “I suppose it was presumptuous. I just…I’m quite sure where I stand, sir. I have made things more difficult-”

“You haven’t,” Hux said with a touch more firmness. “The Resistance interference has been handled. And Ren has…accepted your innocence as truth.”

Efa frowned. “He…accepted it?”

Hux gave the barest tilt of his head. “He lost interest. That happens when you have nothing more to hide. It’s as close to forgiveness as one receives from Ren.”

She smiled at that without realising, the buzz of the alcohol weakening her composure. Hux’s eyes glinted as he caught her smile, but he didn’t say anything. “You don’t talk about him like most do here,” she said, daring to press him.

“I find sycophancy unproductive.” He took a sip from his glass, eyes scanning the space behind her briefly before returning to her. “And primitive.”

That made her laugh, quietly, “I see.” She felt herself becoming lighter as she took a sip of her drink.

They fell into a natural silence, but Efa didn’t feel any pressure to escape it.

“I’m not used to this,” she said eventually, her eyes not quite meeting his. “Talking. Like this.”

“I’m not either,” he replied simply.

Efa looked at him, studying his expression for any trace of irony. But there was none.

“And yet,” she dared further, “you’re pretty good at it.”

She kept her gaze on him as she brought her drink to her lips. He looked faintly amused at her statement. “I was raised to perform well. In conversation, argument, ceremony….Silence, however, is more natural to me.” he concluded, his gaze dropping down to her lips for a moment.

“You don’t strike me as the silent type.” She said, setting her drink down as a faint blush settled across her cheeks

“I speak when necessary. And only when prepared to be heard.” He paused, his expression slightly playful. “You should try it. It would serve you well.”

Efa smirked softly into her drink. “That sounds like something you’d tell a child.”

Hux looked at her a moment longer, before nodding. His eyes lost in quiet contemplation. “Indeed.”

Another pause. The air between them changed slightly, no less formal, but now somewhat personal.

He sighed, sitting up straighter. “The Empire…” he began without warning, “was flawed. Structurally and ideologically. But…it was order. Control in its purest form.”

Efa looked up at him, surprised by the shift in tone and topic.

She didn’t know much about the Empire, only stories that were difficult to sit through. Both for their complexity and brutality.

“My father served the Empire with conviction,” he continued, his words carefully chosen. “We were stationed on Arkanis until the dissolution. After that, it was chaos.”

He set his glass down gently.

Efa swallowed, unsure what to say.

“I have often wondered what it would have been like if we had stayed…I didn’t choose the First Order, you see,” he added, “It would be more appropriate to say that I inherited it. Or rather, I was shaped by the circumstances that made it necessary.”

She nodded slowly. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”

“No. You can’t.” There was no bite in his voice. Just simple agreement. “But, you are an essential part of what makes the Order more than what the Empire was. Even now, the task you have makes you a part of something bigger. Translating my speech isn't merely about communication. It’s about framing legacy.”

Suddenly the pieces were falling into place.

Words and phrases from his speech swirled in her head, colliding with the initial impression she’d had and rewriting their meaning entirely.

She understood now, perhaps not everything, but much more than she had initially.

He smiled off into the distance, before turning his gaze back to her, his voice now laced with fiery devotion. “Do you understand that?”

Efa met his gaze, serious now. “Yes, sir. I do.”

Although she was still not quite fully composed, his words very much sobered her up to her situation.

He was seeing himself as a cure for a sickness that was never there.

He believed in the necessity of fear. In compliance. In the crushing of rebellion and dissent. Not out of cruelty, but because he thought it was right. Because he saw the chaos of freedom as a disease the galaxy had already suffered enough from.

And she would be the one giving voice to that belief.

She had known, she’d read the speech, taken her time to go through each and every possible meaning and delivery. This was her assignment after all.

But sitting across from him now, hearing the passion woven into his words…

The absolute certainty…

It struck her differently.

She’d met men like him before. Ones with their own passionate ideas of how to create a ‘perfect’ system through control and oppression.

But, Hux was different. He had power.

She wasn’t just translating orders. She was helping to deliver doctrine.

His vision of order. His idea of peace. She was giving language to power. Adorning a clenched fist in a bouquet of clarity and poise.

How many would hear her voice and believe it? How many would obey because she made it sound beautiful?

---

Lieutenant Walder tapped a pen against his desk irritably.

Across from him, Efa was stood, refusing to take a chair. The quarterly review had come sooner than expected, and the Lieutenant still hadn’t received the documents concerning the girl’s activities from LF4537. The trooper should at least be present for this if they were incompetent enough to forget about sending him the information.

But to be missing entirely….

The Lieutenant stood up in frustration, turning his back to the girl.

He didn’t have time for this.

He pressed his comms and waited. It rang out once…twice…but no answer. He pulled it out of his ear and onto the floor, cursing as it shattered at his feet.

A light buzzing from the desk between them caught his attention, and he turned quickly, pressing the message.

New Message

From: Captain Phasma

Regarding: RE ST ID LF4537

Lieutenant Walder, LF4537 has been reassigned. A replacement will contact you shortly. The inconvenience of this absence is regrettable, but unavoidable.

General Hux has instructed that you are to undertake the meeting with Translator Efa Vas as discussed.

“Fine” the lieutenant muttered. He sighed, sitting down in his chair and pulling himself closer to the desk. He looked up at her with distaste as she stood, shuffling her weight from one foot to the other.

Her patience surprised her. The strangeness of this manchild was much more amusing than she’d expected. It was hard to remain professional and not just laugh in his face. If these meetings really had to keep happening with this guy, then she might actually enjoy the entertainment of these outbursts.

He cleared his throat, looking her up and down, “well, Efa. Just you and me today. Let’s make this quick, shall we?”

“Yes, sir.” She said simply, deciding in advance that the less she said to the man the better. It was easier to zone out the more he talked anyhow.

“First question, nice and simple; have you been attending all designated shifts?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And how many breaks have you been taking? How long have you been taking them for, where, and with who?”

Efa thought for a moment, “Two per shift, one for lunch and one for dinner. Both breaks do not exceed 40 minutes….I usually go to the canteen or lunchroom depending on where I have been assigned. I also take my breaks alone or with co-workers, again depending on where I am working at the time.”

The lieutenant rolled his eyes, “yes, great. Names?” he said bluntly, tapping down the information on his datapad as she spoke.

“Uh…Officer Mina usually…and sometimes Crix and Porro from translation.”

“Huh,” he said, looking lost in thought for a moment. “Alright…have you met with Commander Ren yet?”

Efa frowned, “um yes…but accidently, in the corridor by the-”

He sighed dramatically, “I don’t care where. Just tell me about the scan.”

“The scan, sir?”

He blinked quickly, staring up at her. “The cognitive scan. The scan of your brain. The scan done by the Commander. With the force. Of your brain.”

“The force…Uh, oh yes he- yes he did a scan.” Efa said quickly, struggling to maintain her calmness. She didn’t realise the force worked in such a way, had he read her thoughts? Seen her memories?

She swallowed, her hands becoming clammy.

No wonder he’d known about Pryde…

She saw a glimmer of irritation from the Lieutenant as she paused, so she spoke quickly, gathering her thoughts, “I apologise, sir. I don’t know anything about the scan, I just felt pain…” she managed, trying not to think back on the experience too much, “he didn’t talk to me about the scan at all, he just left right afterwards.”

“Mmm he has a knack for that.” The lieutenant muttered, typing some more. “Final question now, well done you!” he said, mockingly. “Any discussions or activities concerning the resistance?”

“No, sir.”

“Wonderful,” He sighed, his eyes lingering on her longer than was comfortable. His head tilted as he stared at her. “Do you have your comlink on you?”

Efa frowned, “uh, yes sir.”

“Contact General Hux for me, would you?” the Lieutenant asked, leaning back in his chair with a flicker of amusement on his face. “It is of grave importance, make sure to tell him that.”

For a moment, Efa was frozen in place. It felt like he was toying with her…or perhaps setting her up for something. Her breath caught in her throat as she quickly thought on the last few minutes…maybe, the Commander had told the Lieutenant about the scan…but-

“Efa, yoo-hoo,” the Lieutenant said, waving his hand about, “are you refusing a direct order? Do you really want to go down that road?”

“No, sir. I apologise,” she scrambled, pulling out her comms quickly, “what is it you wish me to say, lieutenant?”

“Just say...” he smirked, taking a pen from his desk and fiddling with it as he spoke, “that Lieutenant Walder has a matter of grave urgency to discuss. Stress those words exactly. Then inform him that it concerns a possible breach in translator protocol by one of the recently cleared operatives.”

Her fingers twitched by her side, carefully fighting the urge to scowl.

He smiled, eyes glittering with a twisted shine one might reserve for watching something beautiful break. “You can add that the operative in question insisted on contacting him directly, believing it would clear the matter up.”

She gritted her teeth, barely believing what she was being asked of.

“Whenever you’re ready,” he said, as if granting her mercy, “unless you are defying a direct order?”

“No sir, I’ll contact him now,” she said blankly. She turned away slightly to shield her expression, raising the commlink to her ear.

“Yes?” came the sound of the General’s voice.

“General Hux, this is Translator Vas requesting immediate contact on behalf of Lieutenant Walder. He reports-” She hesitated. Her throat caught, “…a matter of grave urgency requiring your attention. It…concerns a possible breach in translator protocol. By…” Her voice faltered again, and she hated how easy it was. “by one of the recently cleared operatives.”

There was silence for a moment, before the General responded, “why is it that he has you informing me of this? Is he incapable of such a simple task?”

Efa swallowed, her heart thudding in her chest, threatening to escape. “The operative in question, sir…insisted on contacting you directly. She…believed it would clear the matter up.” She cringed visibly at her words, wishing the situation to end.

There was silence for a moment, before the General responded, “is the Lieutenant in question in the room with you?”

Efa swallowed, pressing the comms closer to her ear. The Lieutenant had only heard her side of the conversation so far, “Yes, sir-”

“Put him on.” came the stern voice of the General.

Efa paused for a moment, before reluctantly passing over the comms to the Lieutenant. He shot her daggers as he picked it up, pressing it to his ear.

Still standing, Efa simply listened to the Lieutenant’s responses to the General. She kept her eyes ahead, fixed on the shelf behind him.

“Hello? General Hux, sir. Yes this is Walder...a breach? No sir, I was unaware of anything of the sort” the Lieutenant smiled, looking at her directly, “well, sir, the Translator just burst in. I do apologise for the inconvenience, this is rather unorthodox.”

Efa grit her teeth tighter, still refusing to meet the Lieutenant’s eyes.

“I see, sir. Yes, I will arrange it accordingly.” His hand pressing the comms closer to his ear. After a few moments, he pulled it away, holding it out to hand it back to her.

But, as she reached out to take it, he dropped it onto the floor in front of her.

“My bad,” he said, mockingly.

Taking in a deep breath, she reached down, picking up her comms and pocketing it without sparing him a glance.

By the time she’d straightened up, he was stood, running his gaze over her, “I do hope you enjoy the next few weeks, Efa.” He smiled, making his way to the door. She didn’t look at him directly as he moved, but she made sure to watch him from the corner of her eye.

“Oh, before I forget,” he said, stopping a bit too closely next to her. She didn’t turn to face him. “Take another look at your schedule this week,” he murmured, his voice silk over ice. “I took the liberty of tweaking it…assigned you to some tasks more in line with your recent…performance.” He grinned, slipping through the door before she had a chance to respond.

As it closed behind him, Efa muttered out a curse, shaking her head at the audacity of the man.

Had he just completely ruined her chances of redemption?

She took a deep breath, trying to loosen her nerves after the uncomfortable interaction. It was unlikely he had made any major changes to her shifts…at most she’d have more unwanted time assigned to Commander Ren.

Cursing more, she slowly made her way out of the door, trying to push the last hour into the far corners of her mind. It was clear she had made an enemy…but exactly why the Lieutenant was trying to get at her so much was beyond her.

Lost in thought, she jumped unexpectedly as she collided directly into someone. She stepped back quickly, apologising.

“Efa!” Mina gleamed, “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you at all for the rest of the week, it must be my lucky day!”

Efa smiled back, her worries leaving her for a moment, “Mina, I’m so sorry I didn’t even see you!” She said, “Where are you headed?”

“Oh I just went on break, care to join me?”

“I’d love to, but-” Efa started, pulling out her datapad, “I just gotta check if I’m assigned anywhere right now.” Praying the Lieutenant hadn’t made good on his promise of assigning her to ungodly amount of time with the Commander, she pulled up her shifts, expecting the worst.

She frowned.

Her schedule was completely clear.

“What’s it looking like?” Mina nudged her, “got time for a snack at the canteen?”

“I-uh, yeah. I guess I do.” Efa said, refreshing the screen over and over.

Was this a mistake?

Glancing to the corner of the screen, she saw it was midday. “Looks like there’s something wrong with my shifts, they’re not showing up.” She said, refusing to think the worst, “but, I guess I can take a break right now. But remind me to double check this in half an hour?”

“Weird,” Mina said, taking a glance at the screen over Efa’s shoulder, “normally they’re on top of the schedule…but sure, we can look at it properly once I’ve had something sweet!” She looked up at Efa, “know what you want today?”

Efa hummed in thought, “I’m not sure,” she admitted, turning off the datapad. It wasn’t often she could allow herself to relax and enjoy being on the ship, but being with Mina was like a ray of sun in the middle of a storm.

“I think I’ll decide when I see the specials” Efa replied, smiling back at Mina.

Together, they turned, beginning to walk in the direction of the canteen. Thankfully for Mina, who’d spent the best part of her morning shift thinking about her lunch, the canteen was less a minute away.

“Stars, its crowded today,” Mina commented, glancing around as they joined the lunch line. “I must say, its a lot less intense getting lunch without that trooper hanging around.”

Efa frowned, “what do you mean? There’s a bunch of them over there.” She said, pointing to a collection of four stormtroopers towards the corner of the room.

“No no no, I mean the one always following you. I though it was sorta like a probation thing, like they were making sure you were completing all your tasks or something…he didn’t even let you have lunch in peace. He’d always stand right over there.” Mina said, pointing to the door they’d entered through.

“What?” Efa tried to think back on the last time she’d been here. She tried to remember a trooper being there, but her head was still a mess from the information thrown during her meetings. “For real, Mina? I seriously don’t remember a trooper following me around.”

Mina looked dumbfounded, “there’s no way, he was like always there.” She insisted, “He literally would come to the bridge right before you, watch you the whole time and then follow you out. You really didn’t notice this guy?”

The queue began to move, and Mina and Efa shuffled forward. But Efa’s heart was beginning to race, ”you’re not messing with me right? Seriously, Mina, what trooper?”

Mina’s face crumpled slightly, “…maybe he was stalking you…jeez you really don’t have much luck here huh.” Efa grimaced, and Mina noticed. She turned to face her, her eyes determined, “look, we’ll report it. Don’t worry about this Efa, I’ll take care of it. All the troopers have to scan into the bridge, I’ll request his ID and send it off as soon as I get back to my desk.”

Efa nodded, trying to distract herself by scanning the food. “Ok, thanks Mina.”

“Don’t worry, look, lets just focus on grabbing some fuel.” She turned to gaze over at the seating. “Dang, I hope we find a spot, its crazy in here today.”

Efa agreed, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what Mina had said. Through her clouded mind, she managed to grab a try, order her food and follow Mina to a vacant spot in the canteen.

“Count the stars are we lucky,” Mina exclaimed, setting her tray down, “a table all to ourselves!”

Efa chuckled, sitting opposite her, “its all about the small victories.”

Mina smiled, “you bet!”

As they tucked in, Mina looked up, a playful smile spreading across her face. “So…you’ve been here for a little while now…is there anyone you’re excited to see at the party?” she asked innocently. The party…Efa had almost completely forgotten…she sighed dramatically as she processed Mina’s question.

“Are we talking about this again?” she asked, raising a brow. “I should be the one interrogating you!”

“I’ve told you plenty” Mina smiled, taking a sip of her drink, “come on…just tell me who you’ve met here so far. I’ll keep bugging you otherwise.”

“…Fine.” Efa sighed, giving in. She took a moment to think, trying to play back the events from her arrival. “Honestly, I’ve only properly met General Hux, You, the translation gang,…oh! Captain Phasma, a couple of Lieutenants, and…I’m not sure I want to count Commander Ren…but yeah, apart from that, I’ve spoken with troopers, and, of course, Admiral Endhar, but that’s all really.”

“Who’s Admiral Endhar?” Mina asked, taking a spoonful of a questionable soup.

“They’re my original employer. I arrived with them here, honestly its all been a whirlwind since then.” Efa chuckled, taking a bite of her food. “I should really be back on Lothal right now, but the General offered me a contract, so here I am.” She said.

Mina’s eyes glinted with curiosity, “wait wait wait…let’s back track,” she said, taking another spoonful of soup as she thought, “you have been having a lot of Commander Ren issues recently…”

Efa’s face contorted, “Mina. Stop.” she lowered her voice to a careful whisper, “he can read minds y’know. He could be listening.”

The clattering of a spoon filled the crowded room, drawing attention to their table.

“Oh my stars.” Mina said, her hands on her mouth, trying to control her laughter. “Why are you whispering like its a secret?” She was trying hard to form comprehensible sentences through fits of laughter, “he can’t hear you right now Efa…he has to like…actively be trying to read your mind. Like, he needs to be nearby…”

“Wait, you knew?” Efa asked quickly, scanning the room just incase.

“You didn’t?! Its one of the first things they tell you when you start. Even in the interview I had to sign so much stuff just because of the risks of working with the Commander.”

Efa’s jaw was on the ground, “uh, I didn’t get any of that during my interview.” She frowned, “I-uh is there anything else I should know about?”

“Anything else? Well, what do you know about who you work for?” Mina giggled.

“Honestly, Mina, not much at all,” Efa shrugged, “I…try to stay out of politics, the most I learn is through the messages that come through, but-” she stopped as she saw Mina’s eyes widening.

“You don’t know anything at all?” She asked, sitting up straighter, “Oh boy, where do I even start?” Mina said, before a mischievous smile crept across her face.

Before she could continue, a sharp beeping came from Efa’s comms.

She pulled it to her ear with a shaky hand.

“Efa, this is General Hux. Do you read?”

Efa blinked, sitting straighter without meaning to at the sound of the General’s clipped voice.

“Yes, sir. I read you.” She said quickly, shooting a glance at Mina as she responded. Mina shot back an intrigued look as Efa continued to listen.

“Listen carefully. In the coming weeks, I will be delivering a speech. Understand that this…your position here…has all been leading to this moment.”

Efa dropped her gaze down to the table in concentration, her pulse quickening. She glanced at Mina, who, between sips of soup, watched her quietly.

“I had intended to assign you as translator for the broadcast,” he continued, “a role not given lightly. It is to be a joint address with Admiral Endhar and it will take place on Lothal.”

At the mention of both the Admiral and Lothal, Efa’s stomach flipped. But she said nothing.

“Given your linguistic capability and prior experience, I have decided that you are capable of taking on the role of primary translator. You will interpret my speech in real time into the principal languages of the Lothal sector.”

Efa swallowed hard.

“This is not a mechanical task. You are not merely relaying words. You are transmitting intent, tone and authority. You will speak as me, not beside me.”

She frowned, trying to process what she was being told.

This one task...that was why she'd been given the job here? All of her time here, everything, from the very start...

A ping from her datapad caught her attention, and the General continued. “I’ve transmitted the draft. Study it. Internalize it. Emphasis points and tonal shifts are marked. The red text is non-negotiable. Those phrases must land with precision, is this clear to you?”

“Yes, sir.” she answered quickly, but thoughtfully. “Thank you for this honour. I’ll devote the necessary time to ensure the translations will be to the highest possible standard.”

“Indeed you will,” he replied, and she felt herself blush slightly at the dip in his tone. “I’ve amended your rota for speech preparation. You will carry out all tasks within your quarters or in designated office spaces. I will expect an update on your progress by 20.00 each evening. You may not take weekends off.”

Efa nodded to herself, processing the weight of the task.

“This does however come with benefits.” Hux continued. “Given your personal connection to Lothal, you are permitted to invite two guests to the post-ceremony reception.”

Efa’s breath caught. She glanced back up at Mina, who had long since finished her soup. She was sat forward with her head in her hands, continuing to study Efa during her call.

“Notify me by week’s end if you intend to do so. All guests must be vetted, unless they are already employed by the First Order or an approved entity.”

“Understood, sir.” she responded, trying not to sound too eager. “Thank you for this opportunity, General. I-really appreciate it.”

At the mention of the General, Mina’s eyes widened, her intrigue growing by the second.

“All relevant ceremony details are in the briefing packet.” He explained. “There will be a follow-up meeting as we near the date. The speech contents are highly confidential. You are not to discuss or distribute them under any circumstances.”

He paused for a moment, allowing her to take in the gravity of the task.

“Do you have questions?”

“Yes, sir.” She said, wording her question carefully in front of Mina. “Am I to keep the role itself confidential, or only the content to be translated?”

Mina shifted her weight in her seat, barely able to contain her curiosity.

“You may reference your involvement to staff here, particularly the translation department.” At his words, Efa smiled, nodding over at Mina, whose eyes were almost as wide as her smile.

“This may aid your preparation,” he continued. “However, no information is to be shared with any non-affiliated individuals.”

A soft beep marked another transmission…likely the protocol list.

“You may inform your guests of the ceremony’s date and location, but that is all. Refer to the message just sent for disclosure guidelines.”

“Understood, sir.”

“I am trusting you with this, Efa. But do not imagine I’ve forgotten why you are being monitored.”

She froze at the sudden shift, her heart beating louder than the commotion of the lunchroom around her.

“There will be no third chances. Anything less than complete success is unacceptable.” He said sternly.

Efa bowed her head slightly, embarrassment creeping through her. “Absolutely, sir. I expect nothing less,” she managed softly.

There was a short silence. She heard the faintest exhale through the comm.

“Then I suggest you begin. You are dismissed.”

The line clicked out.

Efa breathed a sigh of relief as she lowered the comms.

Although she had been ecstatic to hear the news of her deployment to Lothal, she was much more on edge. This was a big thing to be trusted with…she couldn’t afford to make even a single mistake.

Mina’s frantic questions pilled ecstatically atop one another, but Efa couldn’t quite focus.

Her mind flicked to Haro.

How she longed to see her brother again…and this assignment would mean she could see him sooner than she'd expected...but what would he think of all this? Being a translator here is one thing, but to be responsible for the delivery of a speech by such a high ranking official? He would absolutely not approve, and she knew it.

He might not even come.

It wasn’t like she could refuse the General, but she couldn’t keep this from Haro, either.

Not when it was going to be on Lothal.

---

Efa grunted in pain as she adjusted her cap. The injury from that bastard lieutenant was still bothering her. She wasn’t bleeding anymore, but trying to figure out a hairstyle that was both professional and didn’t cause her a constant spark of pain was a challenge.

Eventually, she was satisfied. She scooped up her datapad as she headed to the door, making sure to double check her appearance one last time before slipping out.

If she was to amend her reputation, she had to make sure she both looked and played the part. Thankfully, her new shift patterns were similar to the last, she just had to work longer on Saturdays and factor in any lost time for these random meetings she was supposed to have.

After the call home a few nights ago, she was feeling a lot better. It felt good to speak to Haro and get everything off her chest, she had to make sure she called the kids soon too.

Slowly, she began to make her way in the direction of the bridge. So long as she kept her encounters with senior officers to a minimum, then it should be another normal shift. Efa had made sure that there was enough time for her to arrive and set up properly. She felt a bit bad for leaving the cleaning up to Mina and the others yesterday, so today she though she’d stop by the canteen and bring along some muffins as a thank you.

But, a sudden beeping caught her attention. She looked down, pressing the screen of her datapad so that it flashed to life.

New Message

From: General Hux

Regarding: Urgent Translation Task

Report to my quarters. You are needed.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Stars, was this how her day was about to begin? She cursed under her breath, it wasn’t like she could just ignore his message…could she? She sighed, reluctantly turning in the direction of his quarters. Another beep pulled her attention back down to the screen.

New Message

From: General Hux

Regarding: RE Urgent Translation Task

Report immediately. Delay will not be tolerated.

Cursing loader, she began a slight jog. Troopers and officers watched in amusement as she passed them by, but she too stressed to bother worrying about prying eyes.

Each corridor seemed longer than the last, but, only a bit out of breath, she finally arrived. She knocked on the door with the little energy she had remaining, and it open instantly.

“Efa, I’m glad you could finally join me.” Came the voice from within.

As she stepped inside, the General came into view.

He was dressed prim and proper as per usual, his hands crossed against his chest. He looked as though he’d been standing and waiting for some time. Given that the first message from him had come through less than five minutes ago, she decided to ignore the clear exaggeration of her ‘late’ arrival.

Mustering as much strength as she could, she put on a calm composure. “Yes, of course sir. What is it I can help with?”

He began to walk towards her, and as he approached she held her breath. His intimidation was tenfold given what she’d been accused of and she felt even more on edge now that she was determined not to mess up again.

He extended an arm, holding out his datapad. Efa skimmed the text displayed on the screen quickly.

Something in Huttese…

“May I, sir?” She asked, gesturing towards the datapad.

“Certainly,” he said, passing it over. His leather clad hands brushed against hers ever so subtly. Her eyes refused to meet his and she swallowed, pushing away anything that would compromise her professionalism.

He stepped back, turning to face his window to the stars. “I was told to expect a message this morning.” He turned to face her, his eyes cold. “I presume I can trust you in maintaining secrecy as before?”

“Yes, absolutely sir,” she said, meeting his eyes out of politeness, “it is an honour to be considered for such a task.”

He watched her carefully for a moment, but his face remained unreadable. “You understand you are being monitored. I will know if you betray my trust,” his eyes hardened as he looked her over.

“Yes, sir.” She swallowed, unsure whether she should say anything more or wait for instruction.

He stepped forward towards her once again, and she immediately tensed back up.

“Well?” He said, stopping about a meter away, “read it.”

“Yes, General.” Efa said quickly, enlarging the text so that she could see the words more clearly.

“General Armitage Hux, this is a message of condolence. The body of the late Enric Pryde has been discovered on Tatooine. There is no official cause of death as of writing. There have been no arrests, but an investigation is to commence this afternoon.”

The General revealed no emotion as she read through the message. Once she had finished, she looked up at him, waiting for further instruction.

“Yes? Who is the sender?” His eyes had remained on her, and he spoke impatiently.

She took a breath, “there is no stated ID for the sender, sir. It seems to be an anonymous message.” She expected some anger or for him to snatch the datapad away to look for himself. But instead, he simply nodded, turning back to face the stars.

“Thank you, Efa. You are dismissed.”

She blinked in confusion.

She was certainly grateful to be dismissed so quickly, but…she had expected something more. She placed the datapad down on the desk and exited the room, confusion continuing to plague her.

As she made her way back to the bridge, she realised what she had translated.

Of course the General had reacted in such a way. He was clearly grieving at the loss of his colleague.

She didn’t know anything about this Pryde guy, apart from that brief message Mina had shown her. That had been a bunch of gibberish anyhow. But…he was clearly a colleague. And General Hux had seemed quiet…distant at the news of his death.

Something inside her softened.

It felt lighter somehow to see such a high ranking officer of a terrible regime processing emotions like this. It remined her that, beneath the brutality of the Order, there was still some humanity left.

She was lost in thought as she rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a pillar as she turned.

But it wasn’t a pillar.

Suddenly, her thoughts began to swirl into a painfully tight strand. They wrapped around one another, pulling as if they would tear. She fell to her knees in agony, clutching her head as she dropped to the floor. She screamed out in pain, feeling as though her head was about to explode.

“So weak”

Through her sobs, she tried to focus on the voice, but the pain was too much.

“Stop fighting, girl and it will be easier for you. You are inducing your own agony.”

She tried to steady her beathing, her vision beginning to return as she tried to bear the pain.

Commander Ren was standing above her, his mask in place. It was like death itself had sprung upon her…

Perhaps that would’ve been better.

A sharp twist through her skull pulled her back into her misery, and she cried out as the Commander dug deeper.

“Your devotion to the General is amusing…” he muttered, but suddenly the pain dissolved.

She fell back, gasping for air.

“Pryde.” muttered the Commander, he reached down, pulling her up by her throat. She had no time to prepare herself as she came face to face with the mask once again, her legs dangling aimlessly below her. “Tell me…Hux has just received this message?”

She simply coughed in response, his grip too tight to allow her to form any words. He dropped her harshly, and she slammed into the ground at his feet.

“You wish me to repeat myself, girl?” he sneered, and she crept back quickly, her eyes wide.

“No sir. Uh, I-The General has just been given this message, yes.” She wheezed, her throat on fire.

The Commander said nothing, simply storming past her in the direction of the General’s quarters. His boots vibrating the ground beneath her.

She sat quietly on the floor for a while after he had left. As always, the Commander had made his presence known…but what was that? How had he known about Pryde?

Stars…she’d just sworn confidentiality to the General and now she’d just as quickly given away sensitive information.

She leaned her head back against the wall in defeat, perhaps next time she should ask the Commander to just put her out of her misery. She had certainly already guaranteed herself a first class trip to execution as it was.

Grumbling and cursing, she slowly rose to her feet.

She pulled out her datapad, glancing at the time. Somehow, she wouldn’t actually be that late today.

Her feet led her towards the bridge, one foot stumbling after the other.

Upon seeing the outline of the workdesk, she almost felt like turning on her heel and heading right back to her quarters. It was barely 09.00 and it had already been one hell of a day.

“Efa, good morning!” Officer Mina smiled, rushing over. “How’d you sleep?”

“Oh, uh fine yeah.” She managed, holding her hands together more tightly to stop herself shaking. She tried to think of anything but the ordeal with the Commander. “Just a busy morning, how about you?”

Mina’s face twisted into suspicion and concern, she looked around quickly, before leading Efa towards a corner of the bridge, away from the others. “What’s happened?”

Efa sighed, swallowing hard. “Its…I just ran into Commander Ren on the way here…he shook me up a bit.”

“Stars,” She said quietly, her eyes widening, “I’ve seen how he treats people…did he hurt you?”

“No…no it’s all ok,” Efa lied, forcing a small smile, “I just wasn’t really expecting to run into him.”

Mina paused, thinking for a moment, “Was he mad about last week?”

Efa shrugged, “I don’t know, he didn’t say…just sort of came at me out of nowhere.” She sighed, “I’d rather just forget it about it to be honest, but thanks for checking in on me, Mina.”

“Of course, please…if there’s ever anything bothering you, don’t even hesitate to find me. This shit goes on way too much here as it is, and it really isn’t easy to deal with alone.”

“Yeah…,” Efa said, trying to push the whole thing to the back of her mind. “But, anyway, how was your morning? You seemed to be in a good mood when I came in.” she said, a smile spreading across her face. “Considering the most exciting thing that happened yesterday was translating trade agreements…whats been going on?” She asked playfully, raising her brow for dramatic effect.

Mina giggled, “You have to promise to keep this between us, ok?” She smiled, her cheeks glowing rosy.

“Of course! Now tell me” Efa nudged, and Mina giggled more.

“Ok ok, there’s this guy…he sorta made a move this morning.” She gleamed, “I’ve liked him for a while but…y’know you never know where you’ll end up here. But he’s just been officially assigned to the ship.”

“Oh yeah? Wait is it…” Efa turned, eyeing the others working a few meters away, “is it Lieutenant Mitaka?” she asked, pointing towards one of the officers.

“Stars no!” Mina wheezed, struggling to form her sentences properly through her giggles. “Stop pointing at random people! I’ll show you him at the party ok? He’ll definitely be there.” She said happily, her smile reaching from ear to ear.

“Party?” Efa asked, her giggles dying down. “There’s parties here?”

“Yes, its the bi-anual get together. I swear its just for the higher ups to show off their promotions to us common-folk, but…its an open bar!” she said, nudging Efa. “Its mandatory attendance, unless you’re on leave, but they’d have added it to your schedule. Its a pretty big deal since we’ve got a bunch of superior officers here.”

Efa nodded, smiling back, “OK, ok…I guess I’ll have to go…I need to figure out who this mystery man is.”

Mina exploded back into a fit of giggles as she pulled Efa back to the workdesk. “Ok we actually need to start work now…but I’m also a little curious.” She said playfully, “have you got your eye on anyone, Efa? You must’ve met plenty of people since you’ve been here.”

Efa grimaced, reflecting on the past week. “Yeah…I don’t know. I haven’t really been here that long yet.” She admitted.

Mina just smiled knowingly, “There’s someone…for sure.”

---

A knock at the door caught the General’s attention.

“Yes?”

“General Hux, the translator is here.”

He put down the datapad he’d been using and ran his hands over the front of his uniform, smoothing out any creases. “Well what use is she outside? Send her in.” He said flatly, rising from behind his desk.

The door to his office slid open, and Efa walked in. She stopped before his desk, her hands crossed neatly infront of her. He took a moment to survey her, it almost felt out of place seeing her back in a work environment compared to the cell. Not many had succeeded in making such a transition.

Her striking change of appearance surprised him. She’d been a dishevelled mess of a prisoner less than an hour ago. But now…well, she was difficult to tell apart from the other workers on the ship as she sported the First Order uniform. She looked…pristine.

He was almost impressed, but it didn’t let it show.

Without saying a word, he reached forward, pressing a button. A large, holographic contract flickering to life between them.

"As you well know, Efa, you have been cleared of any allegations of misconduct. But the fact that the question had to be asked..." His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to an icy whisper. "...this will not be easily forgiven."

She simply nodded, avoiding eye contact as he continued. "This new agreement is not punitive, it is corrective. It reflects the First Order’s trust in you. Which, as you surely understand, is a fragile commodity."

He began to read from the document with deliberate clarity. "Article Fourteen: Worker agrees to attend monitoring sessions to discuss all activities, both on and off-duty. Article Fifteen: Worker consents to random cognitive scans for signs of treasonous ideology. Article Seventeen: Worker will not question the motives or actions of the First Order or discuss the rebellion in any form."

He swiped the hologram to the side, so that nothing remained between them. Efa jumped slightly at the suddenness, her eyes flying up to his.

“You understand what this means? What is being asked of you? Allegiance is not proven with words, it is earned through obedience, consistency, and painstaking discipline." He said, his stare fixed on hers. He tapped the console, the contract distorting into a glowing blue line awaiting her imprint.

Slowly, she nodded, watching as he pulled the hologram back between them. “Yes, sir. I plan to serve the Order to the best of my abilities. I am grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate my loyalty.”

She reached forward, and the General watched as she filled in the document. Once she pulled away, it vanished in a quick jolt of blue.

“Welldone.” He said, simply, turning to retrieve the datapad to his left. “Before you are dismissed, do you have any questions?”

She shuffled her weight from one foot to another, taking a moment to reflect on it all. “Yes, sir. Regarding Article Fifteen. What is meant by a ‘cognitive scan’?”

The General smirked slightly, “for that, you must report to Commander Ren. Although it is likely he will locate you before you are informed of when a ‘scan’ is to occur.”

He placed the datapad back down, his gaze returning to hers. “Speaking of, he has requested your presence at the bridge.” Efa’s face dropped at his words, but she regained her composure as quickly as it fell. She still didn’t have access to her comms and her datapad was still confiscated. But before she could ask about them, the General gestured to the door.

“I wouldn’t keep him waiting.” He said, bluntly.

Without wasting anytime, Efa nodded. She thanked the General for his time as she left, before trying to pull herself together as she made her way to the bridge. With everything that had been going on, she’d barely had time to properly reflect on that night with the General. She’d half expected him to order her execution due to how close she’d gotten to him, especially as a suspected rebel spy. Being kept on as the primary translator was not an avenue she’d expected him to consider at all, but perhaps her fate hadn’t been his decision? She didn’t know, and it didn’t make sense.

Her whirlwind of thoughts was interrupted as she realised she’d just entered the bridge. It seemed much quieter than usual.

She swallowed quickly, a fresh wave of panic falling over her as she scanned for Commander Ren.

But he was no where to be seen.

She frowned, hurrying over to her usual post to the right of the bridge. A slight sense of comfort overtook her worry as she saw Mina standing near the long workdesk, her hands tapping lightly against her datapad.

“Officer Mina!” Efa said as she approached her.

Mina turned quickly, a smile spreading across her face, “Efa? Wow where have you been? Its been hell down here!” They gave one another a brief hug, and Efa glanced over towards the others. But, what had been seven of her co-workers was now four.

She frowned, turning to Mina, “um, where is everybody?”

Mina rolled her eyes, “Ugh, Commander Ren has taken them for some special mission. He was actually here inquiring about you for a while, but he seemed to get impatient.” She sighed, “Its been a bit of a nightmare, we have so much to go through and we barely had enough hands on deck as it was.” She continued, her light-heartedness pouring through her smile, “but now you’re here! It couldn’t be better timing!”

But Efa wasn’t so sure about that. She knew Commander Ren wasn’t really the forgiving type, and she really had kept him waiting…

Stars, had she just completely screwed up her redemption, just as she’d been handed it? Officer Mina frowned, clearly noticing her sudden change of expression.

“I’m sorry Mina, I’m here to help, but…I’m not sure what to do, if the Commander was waiting for me…”

“Just be glad he’s not here, he seems distracted at the moment, he probably won’t even remember your absence today.” She said, dropping her voice to a whisper, “I heard he was leaving for a week anyhow, he’s bound to have found something far more important in the galaxy to get pissy over.”

Efa chuckled, “you’re right, oh man those poor guys though…dealing with the Commander for a whole week?”

Mina laughed, shaking her head, “better them than us. Don’t worry, this isn’t their first rodeo. Come on, let me show you this Huttese transmission, you’re not gonna believe what they’re claiming General Pryde is up to.”

Efa slipped back into work almost as if she’d never left. It wasn’t that it was easy, but it was more that her mental state was at a point that she just fell into autopilot without even realising. Within a couple of hours, she’d managed to help clear through a weeks worth of work, with the help of Mina and the others of course.

It had barely felt like a minute had passed by the time she realised it was early morning. She turned to Mina, who was sitting opposite her. She seemed hyper-focused on the screen, but Efa could see the tiredness in her eyes.

“Mina, psst.” She said, nudging her gently. Mina looked up, squinting slightly as her eyes adjusted from the bright glare of the screen to the dreary darkness of the bridge. “I think its time to call it, if we keep going we won’t have the energy for tomorrow.”

Mina nodded, glancing at the other four at the end of the table. They were just as worn out as she was. “You’re right. Damn we’ve been on such a roll today, I haven’t actually felt good about work in a hot second.” She chuckled, her energy much lower than it had been earlier. “You head off, I’ll close everything down with the gang. I’ve really appreciated your help today, I don’t think we’d have gotten even a quarter of the way through without you.”

Efa smiled, her own tiredness tugging at her eyelids. “Are you sure? I’m happy to stay a bit.”

But Mina shook her head, “No, I don’t know where you’ve been this past week, but I really doubt it was anything like a vacation. You get some rest.”

“Thanks, Mina. I appreciate it.” Efa stood, her legs feeling much stiffer than she’d expected them to.

“See you tomorrow!” Mina said as Efa began to head back to her quarters.

She let out a sigh of relief as she exited the bridge. It was good to work with Mina, but as soon as she’d mentioned her ‘vacation’ it was difficult not to crumble under her panic. Each second she’d been in that cell had been spent thinking about Rassk. Today, she’d been free of it, focusing completely on work. But now it was all flooding back. She bit back a sob as she paused in the corridor, leaning against a wall for support. It was ok, it had just been a long day. She just needed to get back to her quarters and rest.

A new wave of worry crashed over her.

Did she even still have her own quarters? Stars, she didn’t even have her new schedule…and today…she was assigned to the Commander, but she hadn’t even been able to do that.

She pulled in a breath, trying to steady herself.

She’d go to her quarters. There was always a trooper on guard in the hallway there, if she had issues, she could speak with them.

Nodding to herself, she stood back up and began to make her way down the hall.

As expected, the trooper was there, and she nodded politely to them as she passed. On reaching her door, she entered the code and to her relief it slid open with ease.

She rushed over to her bed and collapsed into it face first. Stars, how she’d missed the feeling of comfort.

She rolled over, her face lighting up as she realised she was finally able to do what she’d been missing the most.

Heading over quickly to her desk, she picked up a small device. She fumbled about with the buttons for a bit before finally pulling up a call screen. The familiar ringing sound rang out as she sat in anticipation.

Her brother picked up immediately, his eyes squinting at her as his face was illuminated in the darkness.

“Ef, you haven’t called in days and this is the time you decide to finally get in touch?” He said, yawning for extra effect.

“Haro, you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to speak to you.” She dropped her voice down to a whisper, “stars, its been…interesting.”

Haro sat up, his concern showing prominently. “What exactly has happened? You seem off, Ef.”

She hesitated. She’d planned to just get it all out, but now she realised that her whole ordeal was definitely too much to drop on him. He didn’t deserve to worry about her, and she was alright now anyway. She pondered for a moment. She wouldn’t lie, but she’d just summarise.

“Ah just some weird interactions here and there. Everyone seems to just want to do things their own way without much care for anyone else. My shifts have been crazy too, I worked 72 hours the week before last.”

Haro raised a brow, “is that the reason for the radio silence? All the hard work? Come on, you’re never convincing when you’re trying to hide something. What is it?” He moved to a different room, and switched on a light. It looked like the kitchen, and Efa felt a pang of homesickness as she registered the disorderly children’s drawings lining the wall. Haro looked behind him, noticing her staring, “the kids are with Aunt Mala, its certainly much quieter here without them,” he chuckled.

She smiled, pushing down her wave of sadness. She hadn’t let herself process just how much she was missing them. Maybe she could figure out some time-off soon…

“Hey, Ef what’s going on? Seriously, you seem pretty bothered.”

She swallowed, careful to lower her voice as she spoke, “Haro. It’s complicated…but its all ok now. I- they thought I was affiliated with another worker who was helping the resistance. But they’ve dropped all the allegations, they even promoted me.”

Haro’s face became very stern as he took in what she was saying. “What did they do, Ef?”

“Nothing. They just questioned me and then decided there was nothing to go on-”

“You are speaking with me on the comms I gave you right?” He interrupted, and she nodded quickly.

“Yes, of course. I-” she stopped, the contract coming to her head in a flash. “But, they- part of my new contract is extra monitoring-.” Stars how could she have been so stupid, she muted the call quickly, signalling to Haro that she needed a moment.

She clicked open the back of her comms, revealing a small detection device. She extended it carefully and began to sweep her room. Within about ten minutes, she’d checked the whole space. She returned to the call to a rather disgruntled looking Haro.

“All clear.” She said, waving the detection device, “sorry, I-”

“You have to be more careful Efa, how-” he stopped himself mid-scold. “Look, just, please take extra precautions.” he sighed, “you are certain there are no listening devices?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, you….mentioned a worker was caught as a spy” he said slowly, as if bracing for her reaction. “was it a tradoshian by any chance?”

Efa’s eyes widened in shock. “You…you, what did you do? Rassk-”

“Yes.” He sighed, “Efa, look, it was necessary. I don’t want you to worry about any of this, but what exactly did they do to you? Are you sure they trust you again?”

“Why did you think it was a good idea to interfere in any part of my job? Do you know how much of a risk that was? How close it could’ve gotten to us all being killed??!” She hissed, careful to keep her voice no louder than a whisper.

“It doesn’t matter now. I’m sorry it put you in danger, really I am. Are you sure you’re ok now?” He said.

She held her head in her hands, struggling to process everything. “Yes, yes I’m fine. They really need a translator around, I think that’s probably why I got off lightly. The most they’re doing right now is scheduling me for meeting to monitor my progress and all that.” She looked at him sternly as she continued, “Haro, you have to stop. Its not good for the kids and now your involvement is having ripple effects into my life. Take a break, the rebellion can wait.” She softened her tone slightly, “At least until the kids are older.”

He sighed, “you know I can’t do that.”

Hearing the quiet sound of voices coming through her door from where he was stationed in the corridor, LF4537 pressed his comms, speaking quietly. “Sir, the translator has returned to her quarters and is engaging in conversation as we speak, likely to a relative or friend via comms. Her uniform and datapad were returned to her room earlier this evening. Spyware has been successfully equipped and should be functional by tomorrow morning.”

“Very good. I have provided you access to the bridge’s monitoring system as per the General’s request. Please review it and send over any reports on her activities by Friday. We believe she remained there for the duration of the evening, see to it that any interactions are logged.”

--

Efa’s hand hovered over a tray of gruel that had just been shoved into her cell. The food, if she could even call it that, made her stomach turn. Even though she was trying, it was very hard to accept that she was a prisoner now. That meant that her family would likely be investigated…and if they found the communication devices…

Stars, she couldn’t do anything about it right now.

She pulled the tray sluggishly away from the hatch and towards her. She wasn’t sure how much longer this would go on, it couldn’t have been more than two days since she’d been sent here.

When she’d been taken back to interrogation, Commander Ren was gone. The stormtrooper had just pulled her into a nearby cell and locked her in, where she’d been since. Initially, she’d thanked the stars for the Commander’s absence, but now it just felt like she was waiting for his return.

Each agonizing second brought her more and more anxiety. Hopefully, somehow, her fate had been decided without any need for his cruelty. But she knew it was unlikely.

She picked up the spoon, stirring the sludge around mindlessly.

Each pair of footsteps set her on edge. She was expecting some kind of continued interrogation soon enough, and the General had mentioned the Commander. Was she now under his observation?

She swallowed, her hunger gnawing at her, but disappearing as soon as a waft of the sludge passed her by.

She could yell out…have a stormtrooper take her to the General and try to explain that whatever had happened with Rassk had nothing to do with her. If she made it convincing…really convincing, she might have a chance of regaining his trust.

But the Commander…

An image of Rassk’s mutilated face flashed in her mind, and she felt herself begin to fall back into panic.

No, she would stay silent. She was likely to be met with silence anyhow, even if she did try to get the troopers’ attention. She certainly wouldn’t be the first to try to get their attention.

She sighed, deciding against any action.

Her thoughts were tiring, and, even though she didn't have much space in the cell to exercise, which she hadn’t used anyway, she was utterly exhausted. She pushed away the tray and crept into the cot, pulling her knees to her chest.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out before there was a harsh thrashing sound from the door.

Startled, she leaped to her feet, certain she was either about to face the Commander or be taken right to him. The door swept open, and standing before her was the face of a stormtrooper. Accepting her fate, Efa watched in silence, waiting for the inevitable.

But, instead of pulling her away, the trooper stood to the side, revealing the Admiral.

Efa was surprised, but a wave of relief washed over her. Surely, if they were allowing her to speak with the Admiral, then perhaps she was no longer seen with such high suspicion.

The Admiral entered the small space, standing close to the far end of the cell, near the bars. The troopers left quickly, muttering a five minute warning to them before departing.

The Admiral’s face was stern, as it always was, but as they were left alone, Efa noticed a slight change in their demeanor. They seemed relieved.

“I am glad you’re here, Admiral,” Efa began, adjusting the scratchy First Order-issued prison wear as she spoke. “I wasn’t sure we would have a chance to speak again.”

“You needn’t fret, Child.” The Admiral said quietly, their eyes glancing to the door. They were using a thick dialect Efa had only used once or twice, she struggled to adjust as they continued. “Although I doubt they can understand us, we should speak carefully.” Their eyes returned to her. “I anticipate that they will visit you soon. Whatever they tell you, appear convinced. But do not become victim to their deceptions.”

Efa nodded slowly, it was clear to her what was likely to happen.

“….they are going to kill me, aren’t they?”

The Admiral simply shook their head, dismissing her inquiry. “Simply listen.” They said, “Rassk...he…” The Admiral muttered, their eyes much sterner than before. Despite a strong facade, Efa sensed the emotion in their words. ”…his fate was the sole work of these murderers. I am certain they will use his death as a tool to manipulate you and possibly others. Do not let them succeed.” They spat, almost whispering.

Efa swallowed, her mind much more of a mess than before. Was this...a test?

But as she was about to respond, the door flew open and the troopers returned.

“Time’s up.” They announced, gesturing towards the door.

The Admiral shot a final look of warning at Efa before they disappeared through the doorway.

Sitting down shakily, she struggled to piece together exactly what she’d just been told.

She didn’t understand…none of this made any sense to her, and she was struggling to figure out the intentions of her captors. Perhaps even the Admiral was more a part of the Order than she realized, and this was just a trick. The General had, after all, stated that Rassk’s fate was the result of the Admiral’s claims.

Efa leaned back on the cot, trying to gather her thoughts. Perhaps this was the Admiral’s way of lessening their guilt, perhaps it was a true attempt at helping her…

She closed her eyes, willing the world away from her.

She had no way of telling how much time had passed since the Admiral had visited. She hadn’t bothered to get up for her meal trays- the only real markers of the day.

Her sleep was beginning to engulf her.

When she was awake, there was no reason to get up. It felt peaceful in the cot. If she kept her back to the cell, then she could imagine herself back on Lothal. It was as if she was lying in her own bed, her brother only a room away. She no longer had to think constantly about being a prisoner of the Order. Or of Rassk, Hux, or the Admiral. Here, she could just block it all out. It was an effective escape, but it was beginning to dull her mind to the threats around her.

It was only when she was beginning to feel a tug of hunger that she reluctantly faced her reality. Slowly, she turned over, her gaze falling on the untouched meal tray at the far corner of the cell.

She didn’t want to get up, so she just stared. But as she did, her eyes caught sight of movement.

From under the door, she could see the faint outline of shadows dancing. It looked as though someone had approached the cell, was moving away, and then returning. She frowned, unsure whether the owner of the shadows was about to enter the cell or not. Her mind flicked back to the conversation with the Admiral, about the impending visit she was to receive.

She wasn’t ready.

She pushed herself further back into the cot, turning back to face the wall.

Perhaps if they believed she was asleep, then they would return later? It wasn’t much of a realistic expectation, but the only escape possible for her right now was mental. She shut her eyes tightly, her ears hyper-focused on the shuffling growing louder outside her door.

The sudden, agonizing sound of the door opening crashed over her.

She remained still as the sound of footsteps filled the room.

“Wake her.”

The harsh grip of a trooper startled her out of her facade. As she was pulled up, she was somewhat relieved to see the face of a lieutenant she didn’t recognise. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse, but the lieutenant’s presence provided some sense of distance between her and her reality.

“Efa Vas,” He said, looking her up and down, “you will follow me.”

With little choice and the steel grips of the troopers on either arm, she obliged. She was pulled along passed one empty cell after another until they reached the end of the hall. The lieutenant entered a code and the door slid open.

Efa’s breath caught in her throat as she realized with terror where she was.

It was an interrogation room. Not the same as the one she’d been in with Rassk, but strikingly similar. She began scanning the space wildly, terrified to be met with the presence of the Commander.

Before she could gather herself, she was pushed harshly into the chair in the centre of the room. With a click, she was secured, and the troopers turned to stand at her side.

The lieutenant stood in front of her, looking down at her with a sneer.

“I have been instructed to inform you of the results of the investigation against you.” He started, sounding almost bored, “You were found to be not guilty of collaboration with rebel intelligence, yet your affiliations remain...questionable.”

Efa’s breathing remained shallow as she listened closely.

“Therefore, you must demonstrate your allegiance to the First Order through an extended service. If you accept, then you will be closely monitored and will be required to submit weekly reports detailing your daily activities. These reports must be thorough and will be assessed monthly by a senior officer. If both your service and loyalty are deemed satisfactory, then the allegation will be expunged from your record.” The lieutenant looked at her more closely, a slight glimmer of interest in his eyes, “however, I am here to remove any further question of your loyalty.”

“An extended service?” Efa asked, her brow furrowing. She wasn’t expecting them to let her go, let alone keep her employed in a role that dealt with sensitive information. This was all a bit too lenient for the First Order. “I don’t understand, sir, is this a continuation of my existing contract?” she continued, her voice weaker than she’d realized. The lack of water made her throat scratchy as she spoke.

The lieutenant raised a brow, his face appearing astonished at her question. “Leave us.” He said coldly, and Efa felt her face grow pale as the troopers filed out, leaving her alone with the lieutenant. Perhaps she had been a bit too direct with her words.

“You may request more information after you accept, not before.” He said, slowing the words down as if she were stupid, “As a prisoner, you do not have the right to question such a lenient gesture. Besides…” a smirk tugged at his lips, “the usual outcome for prisoners with your allegations is execution.” His hand fell to his side, retrieving his blaster. He looked at her darkly, “perhaps you ought to receive the same fate as the rest.”

Efa instinctively tried to shuffle back in the chair, raising her hands up slightly against the restraints in surrender. “I apologize, sir, I did not mean to cause offense.” She said quickly, her heart racing as the lieutenant stepped towards her. “Forgive me for my arrogance, I do not wish to cause issues. I intend to accept the offer.”

“I’m not convinced.” He said, drawing closer. Before she could even think about a way to protect herself, the lieutenant raised the weapon and brought it down on her. Hard. She gasped as pain thundered through her scalp. She tried to control her breathing as she felt herself beginning to spiral. Gritting her teeth, she looked up at the man. A warm wetness was beginning to form in her hair.

“Attacking an officer is quite the charge, its lucky I was able to defend myself,” he smirked, “it would be a shame for me to report your alarming behavior, your offer would certainly be withdrawn.” He squatted down, just above eye-level with her.

She blinked through the pain in her head, staring at the lieutenant with a mixture of shock and disgust.

“Or, perhaps I can forget all about your violent outburst…Perhaps you demonstrated some remorse.” He reached forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She stared back at him in anger, her blood boiling. She knew what kind of a man this was, so she had to be careful.

But this bastard wasn’t about to get what he wanted.

The tension was shattered by the sound of footsteps. The lieutenant stood abruptly as the door swung open, the troopers returning.

Before anything could be said, General Hux strode into the room, his appearance immaculate.

“Lieutenant Walder, what is the meaning of his? Why have I been kept waiting for a prisoner I could have extracted myself?” The General shot a glance at Efa. She avoided eye contact, despite the relief she felt at no longer being alone with the lieutenant, she remained on edge at the sight of the General. It was likely he would believe the lieutenant’s word over her own, there wasn’t anything she could do to avoid having the offer snatched away from her now. She glared over at the lieutenant, who addressed the General immediately.

“I take full responsibility for any inconvenience, General. I regret to report that the prisoner demonstrated considerable aggression and had to be moved to the interrogation cell. I attempted to restrain her, however, she became violent, which caused greater delay.”

The General perked an eyebrow, “Aggression?” He turned back to look at Efa once more. She kept her eyes on the ground, refusing to play along. “Are you saying she attacked you, Lieutenant?”

“It was nothing unmanageable,” came the response, and Efa risked a glance at the General, who eyed her with suspicion. “Given the need for her skillset,” the lieutenant continued, “I don’t wish to report her behavior formally, however, I deemed it necessary to inform you, sir.”

Efa swallowed back her anger, she knew if she showed just how much this was getting to her, then it would only make the lieutenant’s story more believable. The General took a moment, clearly assessing the situation. “Pull her up,” he said finally, gesturing to the stormtroopers.

Quickly, two troopers rushed to her side, releasing her and pulling her to her feet. They held her firm, facing the General. Reluctantly, she met his gaze. “You have been presented with the offer of extended employment, have you not?” the General inquired, his stare just as harsh as his tone.

“Yes, sir.” She managed, her hands shaking slightly, “I wish to accept.”

The General’s voice lowered, becoming something close to a whisper, “You understand you would not be in a position to even consider this offer if Lieutenant Walder had decided to escalate his report. You ought to be grateful.”

Efa sighed softly, dragging her eyes over to the lieutenant, “I appreciate that you will not be reporting my misconduct, sir.” She managed, trying her best to sound convincing. The lieutenant simply smirked but said nothing in response.

The General nodded, accepting her gesture, “Very well, you will be taken to the showers to refresh. Then you will report immediately to my office for 17.00, is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.” Efa managed, her heart was beginning to pound wildly as she processed what had just happened.

Without warning, the troopers began to lead her away. The General watched her carefully, beginning to discuss something with the Lieutenant out of earshot. As they disappeared from view, she tried to pull herself together, the nerves of her situation beginning to take hold of her.

---

Efa entered the room, which looked similar to the office she was in on her first day on the ship.

She took a seat at the end of the table, facing the window. Maybe the sight of the stars would bring her some comfort.

She was surprised to see another trooper enter after her, but sitting opposite.

She shuffled nervously, not quite sure whether she should address him or not. But she didn’t have time to worry. Almost immediately after, the door hissed open again and in came General Hux.

Efa felt heat spreading across her cheeks, and she tried to shift her focus to something…anything else. She avoided eye contact as he approached the table, taking a seat beside the trooper.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw some shuffling, and noticed the trooper handing the General a notepad.

There was silence as the General inspected it, the trooper intermittently pointing at scribbles across the pages as he muttered to the General. Efa didn’t look up, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to. But the only alternative was thinking of Rassk back in the interrogation room, and she wasn’t sure if she could maintain composure with the image of him in her mind.

“Are you aware of the reason for this meeting?” the General began, shattering the silence. At the sound of his voice, Efa’s eyes rose to meet his. His face was cold and stern, a galaxy away from how he’d looked the last time she’d seen him.

Her mind was too much of a mess to focus on how pissed he was with her.

“Sir, I have failed to preform to an acceptable standard.” She said, her eyes dropping down to her hands. “I sincerely apologise for this.”

She didn’t quite feel like she was truly in the room with the General. It was as if a curtain had simply been drawn between them and Rassk and the Commander. Like they were still there, but just tidied away. Feeling a slight sting, she lifted her hand to her cheek gently. As she dropped it, she saw droplets of blood smudged across her fingers. She was still bleeding.

Her eyes lifted back to the General’s, whose gaze flicked between her own and her cheek. His face remained void of emotion, but there was a glimmer of something she couldn’t quite interpret. Was he…smirking?

Hux simply stared back at her, his eyes boring into hers. He almost felt impressed. It was truly remarkable that she had been able to withstand Ren’s rage, even when the Sith had decided to go off script. How typical of Ren.

Still, what mattered now was that she was here. She had persevered. Only about a week after her first experience with one of his tantrums and now, aside from the blood, there were practically no signs she’d been through anything. And on little sleep too…

He tilted his head, continuing to observe her. She lowered her gaze, a distant red spreading across her cheeks. Interesting. He allowed his lip to curl into a slight smile as he looked over to LF4537. The trooper retrieved some more notes, handing it to the General with haste. Hux glanced back at Efa as he began to flick back through the papers.

“Actually, you have demonstrated your skills during the interrogation with Ren. Your ability to maintain professionalism whilst under challenging circumstances is commendable.” Efa’s eyes shot up to his, and he watched her take in his words as he continued. “However, there is an issue that has presented itself…concerning your relationship with the inmate.” He leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “Before we approach such a conversation, is there anything you wish to share?” Her carefully constructed calmness faded away in an instant. She needn’t say anything for him to sense her sudden panic.

Still, she said nothing. Hux ran a hand over his head, smoothing down any loose hairs. There were, of course, none. He released a soft sigh, glancing between her and the door. “Very well. You leave me no choice.” As her now wide eyes stared back at him, he stood, looking down at LF4537.

“Restrain her.”

The trooper simply nodded in response, rushing over to the opposite side of the table. Hux watched as Efa looked about herself helplessly, before LF4537 pulled her to her feet and cuffed her.

“I regret that we must proceed in such a way, but I have limited time in dealing with such matters.” Hux sighed, turning to LF4537.

“Take her back to Ren.”

“No!” Efa said suddenly, “Sir, I will comply with you. Please! I apologise. I will comply!” She scrambled, pulling weakly against LF4537. “Please, do not allow him to take me back to that room.”

Hux studied her with mild curiosity, supressing a smile. This was working out easier than expected.

He closed the distance between them slowly, allowing her to soak in each terrifying second. He lowered himself ever so slightly as he spoke to her, his eyes wandering her now trembling form before returning to her face.

“I will be very clear with you, Efa. You have once chance. If I suspect one more lie…just one, then I will have Ren drag you away himself.”

She nodded quickly, and Hux continued, “There will be no more leniency.” His tone was harsh, but that was his intention. She was not to mistake him for a friend, right now, she might just be the enemy.

He glanced at LF4537, who pushed Efa roughly to the ground. She grunted, wobbling as she pulled herself up into a sitting position, her hands still bound behind her back.

The trooper remained behind her, and Hux pulled a chair out from the table, turning it so that he was sat facing her directly.

“Let’s take a moment to refresh your memory.” He said, almost casually.

He reached across the table and collected the papers he had been analysing moments before. Gathering them neatly in his hands, he began to recite LF4537’s notes, “The translator spoke in Dosh with the prisoner” He began, tossing the papers one by one carelessly onto the ground before Efa. “She identified him as Rassk. The prisoner showed clear recognition of the translator and vis versa.”

He stopped, leaning forward once again. Efa swallowed quickly, her eyes on the papers below her, “Yes, he- Rassk, he worked with me for the Admiral. I believe he was present during our first conversation, sir.” Her breathing seemed to return to normal, and Hux watched as she was beginning to regain herself. Perhaps she believed it was all a misunderstanding. Perhaps she even believed she was being convincing.

“You believe this or you know it to be true?” Hux probed, his tone ice.

“It is true, sir.” She said, looking at him with more courage than before. “I know him as a co-worker. We have exchanged brief conversation during our employment. This is all.”

The General nodded, his face remaining neutral.

“Efa, perhaps you can explain why the Admiral informed me that Rassk was hired only that same day.” Hux said, watching her carefully. “They stated that the tradoshian spoke with noone during their short stay with the Admiral, in fact…” He loosened his collar slightly as he spoke, noticing Efa’s eyes glancing down to his neck as he adjusted himself, “the only time the Admiral recalls interacting with the tradoshian is after they caught him transmitting a message to the Resistance.”

It was difficult to see through her seemingly well maintained composure, but reading through people’s masks was part of the job. And Hux was very good at what he did.

Her chest rose and fell much more hurriedly than a few moments before, and the whites of her eyes began to show rather prominently. Her panic had returned…tenfold. Hux himself felt a greater wave of suspicion wash over him. Perhaps she truly was more involved than he already knew. If that was the case, then last night was much more of a mistake than he’d realised.

Momentarily distracted, he made a mental note to return to the issue later. What he needed now was very close to being placed into his hands. He just had to keep the pressure building long enough for her to crack.

His eyes returned to hers, searching more closely this time.

Efa glanced back at him. She was struggling to hold herself together. If Rassk had truly been in contact with the Resistance then it was no wonder she was being questioned. There was no way they’d allow someone with such affiliations to work for the Order, even with her skills, it would be too risky. She felt her hands trembling behind her, still clasped between the cuffs. She clasped them together the best she could to try and cool her nerves.

Stars, she had to say something.

“I was not aware of this, I assure you, General, I was not involved with this. I…” She breathed heavily, struggling to form her sentences as a fresh wave of fear washed over her. It was hard not to think about Rassk, about what Ren had done to him. Stars, had they even had proof that Rassk had actually done this? Or had they simply gone off of the Admiral’s word? When would he have had time or an opportunity for it?

She blinked rapidly, willing her mind to still. She needed to give him the facts. “I-I was involved in the hiring process. That is when I spoke with Rassk. But-but even then, it was a translation, I was simply the device between the Admiral and Rassk.” She paused again, feeling beads of sweat beginning to form on her forehead. “That is what I was referring to- the conversations. There was an initial interview, then…then the brief. The Admiral informed Rassk of the visit here. I acted as the translator for these interactions.”

She looked up at the General, whose gaze remained stern. “I am telling the truth, sir. If you ask the Admiral, they will confirm this. I-.”

“The truth?” the General asked, leaning forward once again. I was difficult maintaining eye contact, but Efa tried her best. She had to be convincing.

“Yes, sir.”

Efa watched in desperation as the General pondered in the silence.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Efa.” He said finally, picking up the notebook from the table and making his way to the door. She breathed out a sigh of relief, his tone had changed back to how it had been on the day she’d arrived. Finally, this nightmare might just be over.

She looked up at him, but his expression had not changed.

“Unfortunately, it is unsatisfactory.”

Without even a moment to process it, Efa was pulled up by the trooper and pushed out of the exit, before the General.

---

Thankfully, there was no trooper waiting for her outside, so Efa made her way back to her quarters quickly.

Upon catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she came through the door, she was grateful for her lack of an escort. The usual professional air she tried to carry about her was completely gone. Her hair was in knots, her clothes creased, and she simply looked exhausted. Sighing, she threw herself face first onto the bed. It was good to finally be able to shut her eyes.

It wasn’t more than a few minutes before a violent beeping from her datapad forced her up. Muttering as many curses under the stars that she could muster, she turned on the screen to see what sadist had decided to rob her of her much needed rest.

New Message

From: Operations and Timetable Services

Regarding: SHIFT CHANGE

As per the request of Commander Ren, your schedule has been moved forward. You are to report to sector 7, room 2 at 09.30 today.

She wanted to throw the datapad across the room, but lacked both the energy and genuine will to do so. She didn’t need to enter a deeper layer of hell than she was already in.

Releasing the longest, deepest groan she could manage, she pulled herself up and towards the direction of the coffeemachine. Despite how much she desperately wanted to crawl back into bed, she forced herself to slip into fresh clothes and tidy up her appearance as her coffee brewed. Feeling a little more refreshed, she reached for the datapad, deciding to bring it with her this time. Somehow through a fog of drowsiness, she remembered a map function she could use to locate where she needed to be.

The clock read 09.15 as she passed through her door. Having thrown the coffee down her throat, and not feeling the faintest bit more awake, she set off, following the directions on the pad. Every corridor was the same as the one before.

After a short while, she entered a different part of the ship. She wasn’t sure what exactly was so different here, just that it had a distinct….coldness. Glancing down at the clock, which read 09.28, she picked up the pace. Thankfully, the room was only a few doors away.

Gathering her nerves and pushing them aside, she took a deep breath. It can’t be much worse than last time…and, besides, the whole experience will probably be numbed by her exhaustion.

Before her fist met the door, it sung open, causing her to stumble forward unexpectedly.

“Girl, come here,” crept the voice from the mask. The man was dressed the same as before, but somehow managed to be twice as intimidating.

She swallowed quickly, entering the room. She didn’t pay much attention to her new surroundings, her focus fixed on the overwhelming figure towering above her…which she was now hesitantly approaching.

But his attention was elsewhere. The door slid shut behind her as she stopped a few paces away from him.

“Sit.” He said, bluntly. Pointing to a chair in the corner of the room behind him.

“Yes, sir.” She replied, grateful to be allowed some space from the masked man. As she took her seat, she had the chance to observe her surroundings more. But he really wished she hadn’t.

The room was dark, the main source of light reflected off the Commander as he faced forward, his back to her. It was a small space, so, despite the new distance, she wasn’t very far away from him. The room couldn’t have been much larger than the en-suite in her quarters. But that wasn’t what had bothered her.

Sat in the center of the room was a trandoshan. They looked scrawny, and their head was lowered and covered with a sack. She wasn’t sure if they were awake or asleep. Her heart hammered in her chest as she registered the metallic cuffs along their arms and wrists. Taking in the scene more fully, she saw a mixture of what she assumed was sweat and bloodsplatter at their feet.

As she gawped, the mask turned to face her, and she scrambled to regain her composure.

She did not want the Commander to believe she was unfit for her task, but, in truth, she had never really dealt with interrogations before. Normally she was there for conversations. Once it escalated, her clients no longer relied on words to express their feelings or intentions.

But this was different. Not only did she have to be prepared to witness violence, but she was also in the presence of someone who wasn’t just interested in harming his enemies.

She looked up at the mask, feigning confidence.

“Our guest will not speak.” Came the low, modified voice. Efa tried not to jump at the sudden break in silence as the Commander’s voice filled the small space. “Either he refuses or he is incapable.”

His full body was turned towards her now. She maintained eye contact as best she could, without, of course, seeing his eyes. He strode forward, closing the little space between them. Her heart threatened to leap from her chest as the Commander stopped mere inches away. She couldn’t help but avert her gaze.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that the tradoshian was beginning to stir.

“You will ask him.” the Commander stated dryly. Without turning away, he raised his arm in the direction of the prisoner, and it was as if an electric current shot through them.

The tradoshian hissed and grunted as its body thrashed about, and Efa’s pulse filled her ears. Her heart pounding, she gripped the sides of the chair, trying as hard as she could to remain calm. She looked back up at the Commander, who was still facing her.

“Yes sir,” she managed, maintaining some professionalism. Quickly she cleared her throat, speaking as clearly as she could, she addressed the prisoner in Dosh.

The Commander’s hand was still raised, and the prisoner continued to pull against their restraints. She wasn’t sure if they’d even heard her over the commotion. Swallowing, she tried again, repeating herself. This time the Commander lowered his hand as she spoke, and the prisoner began to return to their original weak state.

They said nothing. But she tried again, this time speaking more softly. The prisoner’s head moved slightly, as if registering her words. The Commander had turned back towards the prisoner, watching with eerie precision. With a glance towards him, she tried again, but before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted.

“Efa...Leave,” the prisoner hissed in Dosh from beneath the sack.

Colour dropped from her face instantly.

“Rassk? Why are you here?” she said desperately in Dosh. She glanced about the room quickly, unsure what she was even looking for. As her eyes met the camera in the corner of the room, LF4537 looked back at her inquisitively.

It seemed she had registered the camera a bit quicker than expected. Still, it would appear normal in the interrogation room. It wasn’t unusual for interrogations to be monitored.

LF4537 hummed slightly, he was surprised to hear her speak Dosh, but perhaps her companions from the ship had implied it. And for her to be face to face with one of them again, but in such a predicament…well, it was certainly interesting to watch.

Pulling off his helmet, LF4537 breathed deeply, glad for the opportunity to relax a little. It wasn’t often that he was left to work alone like this, out of sight, but he was grateful for it. He placed the helmet on the table beside him and turned his attention back to the interrogation room.

He made some notes with one hand while adjusting the camera screen for a better view with the other. No one had spoken, but Commander Ren had risen and was facing Efa again.

LF4537 stiffened. Hopefully he wouldn’t take this too far. This may well become as much of a test for him as it is for her.

“I sense panic in you, what has our visitor said?” The modified voice crept through the speakers of the room, causing a shiver to run down LF4537’s spine. It couldn’t have been more than a week since his last run in with one of the Commander’s tantrums. Despite their frequency, it was difficult to get used to.

Movement on the screen caught his attention. LF4537 looked up quickly, seeing that the girl had stood.

“My apologies sir, I…am a little unadjusted to such situations.” She said, facing the Commander, seemingly unphased.

LF4537 watched curiously, she was dealing well with the Sith.

“The…prisoner did not respond to the questions.” She continued, “I can try again, sir?”

The mask tilted, “that is not what I asked, girl,” his voice slipped into something similar to a snarl. “You wish to try my patience yet again?“

LF4537 could feel the intensity through the screen, unable to peel his eyes away. He watched as the girl straightened slightly. The Commander was eerily still as she spoke.

“No Commander, I apologise. The prisoner….simply addressed me.”

The Commander stepped forward with such menace that LF4537 began to consider entering the room himself. Not that he could really do much.

“And why, exactly, did he do that?” Ren seethed. LF4537 was sure he was about to boil over.

The girl backed up quickly, bumping into the chair as she did so. “I-I believe we are acquainted…I apologise Commander, it is difficult to confirm under the sack he is wearing…but I believe this trandoshan works with me…with Admiral Endhar.”

A surprised smile swept across LF4537’s face as he hastily typed some more notes. Her honesty was…interesting.

The Commander continued to close the distance between them, and the girl only stopped retreating once her back hit the wall.

“LIAR!” he snarled, his fist pounded into the wall next to her face.

LF4537’s heart jumped. He wasn’t about to be held responsible for her death. Fumbling with his comms he watched the screen intently as he spoke, “Commander Ren, your presence is requested on the bridge.”

It was hard to gauge the Commander’s reaction. He hadn’t moved, but then, slowly, his mask turned towards the camera. Backing up, he strode towards it, his fist pointing right at LF4537.

“This better be important.” He hissed.

LF4537 grimaced, and the Commander disappeared through the doorway, his footsteps pounding against the polished floor. Quickly, LF4537 began dialing. As his call was connected, he looked back at the girl through the screen.

Efa peered up at the camera, her whole body still shaking despite the Commander’s sudden departure. She was struggling to process everything that had just happened. Her gaze dropped back to the doorway, fearing his return. Her hand rushed to her face, near her cheek. She felt a wetness, and pulled her hand away slowly.

Blood.

It didn’t feel too bad, but some pieces of the wall must’ve hit her as the Commander struck it.

She took a deep breath. She had to pull herself together, especially if she was being observed. Professionalism had to be maintained. She nodded to herself, and stood straighter.

It was a relief to see the door had been closed behind the Commander. She hoped he would be occupied for a while.

A sudden groan pulled her attention back towards the center of the room.

Rassk.

She hurried over, the sudden terror leaving her body and replacing itself with concern.

“Hey. Rassk. Are you ok?” She said, crouching as she pulled up the sack.

Despite what she had been through so far with the Commander, nothing could have prepared her for how much this was about to shake her. Her eyes widened and the sack came loose in her hand, dropping to the floor.

Rassk’s face was unrecognisable.

The burns across his face had left the right side completely barren. Across his left side, he sported a massive, ashen resistance mark across his cheek and where his eye should have been.

The marking was thick. As if done with a saber.

Efa’s hands began to tremble, and she looked away quickly. The whole room was spinning, and she struggled to make it back to the chair in time before her legs began to shake too violently. As she sat, she peered back over at Rassk.

She couldn’t tell if he was still alive or dead. She wasn’t sure what was better.

But these…markings…why?…did the Admiral know about this?

Before she could piece her thoughts together, the door was thrown open.

And the nightmare began all over again.

The dark shape of the Commander burst into the room, but he was not alone.

In his hands he held a stormtooper by their throat, and they wriggled and thrashed against him.

The Commander raised a hand, almost lazily, and the door slammed shut behind him. Efa had no time to even begin to take in what was happening.

The Commander gunted, moving further into the room and closer to her, bringing the trooper with him.

In one swift motion, the Commander reached up, yanked his mask from his face and threw it onto Rassk’s unmoving body. Efa flinched as she watched, backing right up against the wall. He was far more terrifying without the mask, now that she could see the rage pouring from his features, consuming him entirely. The mask had been a welcome barrier between her and the Commander. But now, there was nothing to hide the fury in his eyes.

“LF4537” He seethed, eyes locked on the trooper struggling beneath his grasp. “How pathetic. You truly believe you can outsmart me?”

Efa was sure she had heard the stormtrooper’s identification before, but it was hard to think clearly. She swallowed, her body still shaking as she watched the men before her. Maybe…perhaps if the Commander was focused on the trooper…then she could try to move slowly towards the door?

As she began to weigh her options, the Commander’s eyes flicked to her...and she froze.

It was like a bullet through her skull.

In an instant, the trooper was thrown across the room, landing beside her with a sickening thud.

Efa’s heart was in her throat as the Commander began to approach her. But she couldn’t move.

“Commander Ren.”

The man stopped, his dark locks bouncing as he turned towards the door. Efa’s eyes were locked on the Commander, but, somehow, she managed to glance quickly to the figure in the doorway.

It was a stormtrooper, but…different. Despite her despair, she couldn’t help but admire the sheen of the chrome armour, it was much more interesting than the average stormtrooper.

“I do hope I’m not interrupting.” The trooper said, her mask observing the scene before her. “However, I require the translator urgently.” The mask turned to face Efa. “Am I correct in assuming you are Miss Vas?”

“Yes, ma’am” she said, sitting up straighter and trying to appear as professional as possible, despite her obvious circumstances. She was avoiding as much eye contact with Commander Ren and Rassk’s limp body as possible, but she wasn’t sure if she was yet saved.

She tried to focus on the new figure, pulling her mind away from the scene around her. Based on the markings of the trooper, she assumed she held the authority of a Captain.

“I see, you must come with me. Immediately.”

Efa stood quickly, sensing the urgency that had followed the Captain into the room. Hesitantly, she headed towards the door, passing the Commander as she did so. She held her breath as she crossed the threshold, not sure if she would be condemned to remain within the Commander’s grasp.

But, thankfully, the door hissed shut behind her and she released a sigh of relief. Without a moment to think, the stormtrooper turned, and Efa followed quickly as she was lead down the corridor and away from the room. The two remained silent as they walked, their boots echoing through the hollow walkways.

Stars, what was happening?

Efa was still trying to understand everything. Rassk was her main concern. There was no clear reason as to why he was there…and why the Commander had acted the way he had.

Despite it all, she also hoped she hadn’t just gotten herself fired. She felt selfish even considering it over what she’d just seen Rassk go through, but she never stopped thinking about her family. She really hoped they wouldn’t have to starve just because she fucked up…again.

As they entered yet another corridor, the Captain stopped near a door.

“Take a seat inside and wait, the General will be with you shortly,” she said, pressing a button and watching the door open with a hiss.

Efa’s heart lurched. She was certain now that she was to be fired…and not just by anyone. Seeing the General so soon after last night was already something she was far from ready for, but that, coupled with what she’d just seen…and the fact that the General was likely to be the one firing her…

She sucked in a breath of air.

---

She probably shouldn’t have had that bottle of wine before bed.

Groaning more than before, Efa gathered all the strength she could to push herself out of bed and towards her closet. She couldn’t help but fear the worst, but it wasn’t like the General had been very descriptive of her task.

What the fuck was she supposed to do now?

She got herself dressed and looking as job-ready as she possibly could for 4am. No doubt the escort was already outside, but she took one look at herself in the mirror before she left. She made a mental note to remain professional, no matter how good-looking the General may be.

Pressing the button to open the hatch, she saw a trooper waiting ready for her. She smiled politely, and began following as he led the way.

It was surprising how close the General’s quarters were to her own, and even more surprising that he deemed an escort necessary. She barely had any time to properly register her unease as the trooper knocked against the General's door, announcing their arrival.

The doors opened, and the trooper gestured for her to step inside, but they didn’t follow. Instead, they remained in the hallway and disappeared as the doors slid shut behind her. It was much colder here.

Turning towards the room, Efa could make out the faint outline of the General at a desk near the corner of the room. The space was, unsurprisingly, much bigger than her own, with almost all the furniture being about three times the standard size. The room was dimly lit, but the desk the General was sat at illuminated his features as he began to address her, his face not leaving the screen he was working on.

“Efa, your presence is appreciated at this hour. Please.” He pulled out a chair next to his, and she nodded, heading over towards him. As she sat down, she could see the General was still in formal dress, only the outer layers of his uniform missing. The distance between them was rather short, and she tied not to seem on edge. His attention on the screen made her feel slightly more at ease, as it seemed to genuinely be a translation matter he required her for.

But in his quarters? At 4am? It was unusual, no doubt about it.

“Good Evening General, how can I assist you?” She said politely, her eyes averted from both the screen and the man as she awaited instruction.

“Yes, I have a rather delicate matter I require your help with.” He started, turning to face her. She made eye contact respectfully as he spoke, but the strangeness of the situation made it hard to stop her mind from straying.

“You see, I have a message that is rather important and, to put it plainly, secretive. You cannot discuss this with anyone outside of this room, is that absolutely clear?”

Efa swallowed, averting her gaze for a moment as she processed the gravity of this information. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she refused...not that she would. She assumed he had requested her because she was the only one with the necessary skillset onboard.

“Of course, sir. I understand, and I will maintain absolute secrecy.”

“Very good.” His cold gaze was intimidating, but she didn't let it phase her.

After a moment, she shifted her attention to the screen, “This message is in code. I need it ready for immediate delivery.” He said, beginning to stand. “Take my seat, it will be easier.”

She rose and shifted into his desk chair, warmth still radiating from where he had been. It was oddly comforting and rather distracting. But she pulled her focus back to the task at hand. The screen displayed a cryptic message in Basic. She read through it curiously.

“What language do you require this in, General?”

“Aqualish, Huttese and Ithorese.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Efa tried to keep her composure as she registered the potential danger she was now in.

This message was definitely intended for Lothal…and it had to be connected to the Admiral. If that was the case, why the secrecy? As she began to translate the message, she felt the General’s hands on the back of her chair.

Color began to drain from her face as she realised she could roughly piece together some of the meaning. She had some experience in decryption as part of her education, but it was not anything she had excelled in. She was grateful the General remained behind her and wasn’t able to see the panicked look she was now obviously wearing.

Leader.

Trust in...enemy.

Betrayal.

Destruction.

Refusal...no mercy.

Each word became worse than the last, and she began to feel her heart pounding in her chest.

“How long do you expect this will take?” He mused, peering over her shoulder. She swallowed.

“About two hours General, I apologise for the duration, however I wish to ensure accuracy.”

He shook his head, moving away from the chair and towards the side of the desk, “Nonsense, take your time. My only requirement is that it must be completed before 9am.”

She breathed a silent sigh of relief. His distance brought her some much needed comfort as she continued the task.

She couldn’t make out the full meaning though, but she knew it wasn’t good. Not at all. “Thank you, sir. I will certainly have it ready before then.”

He hummed a response, moving towards the kitchen. She glanced at him as she worked, her mind remaining cautious. A few moments passed and he approached her again, this time with a glass in his hand.

“I suppose this is a good opportunity for me to congratulate you.” He said, placing the glass on the desk next to her. He leaned over her slightly, pushing her heartrate skyhigh. He smirked slightly as he began to pour an amber liquid from an expensive-looking bottle. “You’ve made it to your first week. I do hope it hasn’t been too…strenuous.”

Eyeing the liquid carefully, Efa smiled politely in response. “That’s very generous of you General, thank you. And no-not at all. I’ve been enjoying my time here.”

He watched her for a moment before returning to the couch next to the desk, pouring himself his own glass.

“Whisky from the moons of Arkanis.” He said, swirling it in the light. He took a sip, before turning to face her, his head cocked slightly. “We never did continue our conversation about your past.”

Efa’s blood ran cold. She carefully drew her gaze from the screen over to him, his icey blue eyes boring into her own. “I do hope I’m not distracting you.”

“No, of course not General,” she said quickly. Thankfully, she was rather capable of multitasking, especially with languages she was so used to using. She was grateful for this talent when dealing with such an uneasy situation. “What is it you wish to know?” She asked, politely.

He smiled slightly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Well, I am curious about your origin. What brought you to Lothal?” He took a sip as he waited for her response.

She frowned in thought, “In all honesty, it was the weather. Arkanis was nice, but I got tired of the rain.”

It was not a whole lie.

She took a sip, wincing slightly at the strength of the alcohol as it passed her lips. She mentally scolded herself for unintentionally predrinking earlier on. The warmth of the whisky filled her belly, but she was careful not to drink too much too fast. She needed to do work after all. “Have you been, General?"

“To Lothal? No." He said simply, watching her thoughtfully. "But, if you mean Arkanis, then...not for a while now, but yes. It too is my homeworld.”

She looked up from the screen to meet his gaze. She hadn’t expected such a revelation, and it brought her more questions than answers.

Is that perhaps why he had employed her? Or trusted her with this task? On top of her profession, of course.

“But lets move on from that,” he said, pausing for a while.

She took another sip and dared another glance at the General. He had spread himself out more on the couch, one arm resting on the back of the seat as he faced towards her. His brow raised slightly, and she realised that she had been staring at him. And he had noticed. She looked away quickly, trying to kept her composure.

“It surprises me to have found you in the company of the Admiral. May I ask how that came to be?” he continued, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. He swirled the liquid around his glass as he spoke.

Her eyes now fixed to the screen, Efa sought about formulating her response. “Well, I was previously working freelance to expand my skills. The Admiral had been visiting my client of the time, and offered me a job, much like how you did, General. That was a year ago, and now I am his personal translator.” She said, as convincingly as possible.

“Why did you accept his offer? Why the change of direction?”

“I needed an income, freelance didn’t always guarantee that.” It was, again, not a total lie. If the General suspected anything, he didn’t show it.

Instead, he stood and headed back towards the desk. Sucking in a breath, Efa braced herself as he took a seat next to her. He placed his glass on the table next to hers and leaned forward towards the screen.

“I see you are onto Ithorese already, impressive work,” he said as he examined the text. His closeness was once again a little to much for her. The alcohol was mixing with her drowsiness. It also didn’t help that the General was rather attractive, of course, and she was struggling to sit still with he warmth of his body so close to her own.

“I must warn you, Efa.” He began, his face turning to hers and pulling her back to sobriety. “You have been assigned a rather difficult task for the coming week. You are to accompany Commander Ren as his primary translator. He does not anticipate a need for you, but you must remain in his presence nonetheless, in the case he requires your expertise.” He took a rather long sip as she felt her heart begin to race. She was not ready to be in the presence of the Commander again, let alone be his primary translator.

The General sighed, continuing, “I need you to be aware that this will be particularly challenging, as he will be undertaking interrogations. This will be a gruelling task to witness. I cannot ensure you will be reassigned, but I can recommend you remain at your current post, if that is what you prefer.” He watched her carefully as she took in his words.

Why the First Order now wished to punish her so severely, she did not know. But the General was extending his hand. His offer of help seemed genuine, but she couldn’t rule out the possibility of a test. Still, between risking her life at the hands of the Commander or parting with her reputation, she would gladly sacrifice the latter.

“I appreciate your warning, General. If possible, I would greatly appreciate remaining on the bridge. However, I am prepared to assist the Commander should he insist.”

The General nodded in response, his eyes tracing her lips.

Feeling a spark deep inside of her, Efa quickly turned back to the screen.

“I apologise again for the delay, sir. I will be finished with the Ithorese within the hour.” She murmured, and the General hummed in response.

“Do not apologise. The value of your work outweighs its duration.” He said, sitting back and bringing the glass to his lips.

She couldn’t help but sneak another glance as the man finished his glass. Her eyes followed the grip of his gloved hand down his forearm towards his shoulders. His uniform, somehow still mostly pristine in the early hours, had been loosened slightly, revealing the top of his chest.

She was pulled back to the present as he set the glass down beside himself with a clink, but there was no time to react.

His arm shot around her waist, pulling both her and her chair towards him. His other hand found her hair, as her arms found their place behind his shoulders.

The General’s lips were on hers without a moment to spare, but it not a simple kind of kiss. Theirs was hungry and raw, with a hint of whisky and wine.

Efa had never felt herself quite so out of control before. She was completely and utterly a slave to her desires. Her hands reached down to his trousers, fumbling hastily with the buckle. Her lips never left his as she worked to free him. Once her hand pressed against him, she felt a slight gasp through the kiss.

“Is this o-kay, sir?” She managed.

He pulled back from her, his eyes dark. He said nothing, just nodded slightly, his hand forming a fist in her hair. Gently, but firmly, she felt him pushing her down to her knees, his other hand pushing the chair away behind her.

Her hand reached beneath his pants and he sucked in a breath as she pulled him free. She bent down to get into a better position, her lips and tongue dancing at the tip of his cock. His grip in her hair tightened as she pushed herself down to take him in fully. Working with her hands, she began building up a pace. The General began to buck to her rhythm, pushing himself deeper.

She released an involuntary moan, and his other hand clasped the other side of her head, his wild eyes watching her every move. He began building a rougher pace and she had to hold onto his hips to keep steady as he pulled her against his strides, taking him in deeper. It was hard not to choke on his size, but the alcohol certainly dimmed her gag reflex.

Between heavy panting, she felt him tense. His grip grew tighter as she felt him release. A mumbled grunt left his lips as she took him in, not allowing a drop to go to waste.

Slowly, the General pulled away. For a moment Efa simply watched him, her eyes transfixed. But then, she leaned backwards, using her hands to support herself. He rose, pulling back his trousers into their proper position.

She watched lazily as he made his way back to the kitchen and retrieved the whisky bottle. His hair was ruffled after the commotion, and fell messily across his temple, brushing his eyebrows. Propping herself up and back onto the chair, she took a minute to catch her breath and process what had just happened.

The General returned, pouring her another glass before refilling his own. Efa nodded her thanks, unwilling to be the first to break the silence. She glanced at the time at the corner of the screen.

Stars. It was 8.30am.

She pulled the chair closer to the screen as the General collapsed into the chair beside her. She didn’t know how she managed it, but, in the next fifteen minutes she typed the fasted she ever had before in her life. She had no idea how she managed to complete the full translation before the clock struck 8.45, but she had.

Valiantly, she glanced over at the General, hoping to be met with a face of gratitude, or, at the very least, relief. Instead the General was asleep, and she took a moment to herself. He was exceptionally handsome when he was at peace, his features had stood out to her from the very moment she’d seen him. She’d never have allowed herself to admit it though.

Stars, what had she just done?

She leaned back in her chair, her mind spinning. This had all gone too far, she was still new here. And now, she had no idea where she stood. Rubbing her eyes she sighed defeatedly. At this point she had finished her task here, she should just wake the General, inform him of her work and leave.

Pulling in a deep breath, she turned back to the man beside her.

“General. Sir.” She tried, placing a hand on his shoulder to give a gentle shove. “Sir?”

The General jumped slightly, turning to her quickly with wide eyes.

“I apologise sir. I do hope I haven’t bothered you.” She murmured softly, careful not to startle the man more than she already had. “Um, the translation is complete. It is ready for delivery. I apologise again for the delay.”

The General regained his composure quickly, almost making her doubt she had spooked him.

“Oh yes, the translation….Thank you. .” He said plainly, rubbing a hand against his head. “I appreciate your presence tonight. You may return to your quarters, I will not keep you any longer.”

“Yes sir,” she said, rising to her feet. Before she could turn away, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. It wasn’t painful, but his grip was firm and the leather was cold against her skin.

“I am sincere in my gratitude, Efa. But do not forgot, you must maintain absolute secrecy. Is that understood?” His blue eyes watched hers intently with a sudden alertness that put her on edge. She nodded quickly.

“Yes General, of course. I understand.”

---

“Miss, do you require medical assistance?”

Efa frowned. She wasn’t in pain, somehow, but she certainly wasn’t ok. “Uh, no thank you. I just- Is there a bathroom nearby I could use?”

Pulling herself up, she felt the hands of nearby troopers attempt to help her to her feet. She shakily managed to find her footing, still leaning on one of them for support.

One of the troopers pointed to a door a few feet away towards the entrance of the bridge. Whispering a faint “Thanks” she broke off from them and began making her way over. Thankfully she didn’t have much difficulty walking now that her head had stopped spinning, but it still felt like an eternity before she managed to pull the door shut behind her.

LF4537 sighed as he watched her disappear. It certainly wasn’t the first time the Supreme Commander would throw a tantrum today, but he truthfully hadn’t expected so much death already. It was barely 9am. He turned back to the guards lying on the floor, and mentioned to his fellow trooper about ordering a clean up team. As they began making the call, LF4537 went about finding a way to update the General on the translator’s first task. He held the datapad in his hand as he pressed open the communication feature.

Draft Message

To: General Armitage Hux.

Regarding: Translator Efa Vas

General Hux, the translator performed her initial task well. Supreme Commander Ren’s messages were communicated with ease. There were no issues regarding interpretation, however…

For a moment felt a bit lost for words and he turned back towards the bathroom door. He hoped she wasn’t too rattled, but at least the Commander had gone easy on her.

…the Commander expressed some frustration. This seems to have been a challenge for her. It may be best to proceed with more distanced tasks.

I await further instruction.

Hux smoothed a hand over his head, careful not to damage his pristinely gelled-back hair. As he read over the message, he sat back in his desk chair. It was no surprise to see Ren making this difficult, but at least he had the decency not to kill off the poor girl on her first day. A knock at the door caught his attention.

“Enter.”

“General,” an officer pushed open the door, he didn’t recognise her, but it didn’t really matter to him. He looked over at her curiously.

“Your meeting” she stated, “the Admiral has requested it is delayed”.

Hux sighed. It was unsurprising that the Admiral was trying to milk their stay here as much as possible. Buying time just meant more freebies…and more taunting.

He raised his brow, “What is the reason for this?”

The officer shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “The exact wording was: we wish to look over our findings once more, to be sure.” Hux’s face twitched, but the officer continued. “I apologise sir, I do not understand their exact meaning, so it is difficult for me to convey.”

Hux leaned his head forward into his hands, lost in thought.

Slowly, a slight smirk spread across his face. “I see. Please inform the Admiral that, if they require more time, then I must regrettably reduce the offer by half. However, if they are willing to begin our discussions today, then I am prepared to triple the price.”

“Yes General, I will deliver your message right away.” The officer replied, stepping quickly out of the room. Hux watched as the door slowly closed behind her.

It wasn’t long before he drew his attention back to the datapad. After skimming the message once more, he began to form his response.

Draft Message

To: ST ID LF4537

Regarding: RE Translator Efa Vas

LF4537, your update is appreciated.

She is still alive, I regard this as a success. She will remain on the bridge for the foreseeable future. Continue to monitor her progress.

The message lit up the datapad in LF4537’s hand as he watched Efa emerging from the bathroom. He was positioned in a way that made it seem he was observing the cleaning crew, who had mostly completed their task. She hadn’t been in there for a while, just about the normal amount that new recruits need to de-stress after experiencing the Commander’s temper.

Efa wasn’t too sure where she needed to go. Her hands had finally stopped shaking, and she could see the room was beginning to recover too. It was as if nothing had happened. As she was making her way out, she suddenly found herself facing a women. She smiled politely at Efa and offered her hand, which was accepted.

“Officer Mina, please to meet you.”

Efa shook her hand, thankful to finally find someone who may just know what she was here to do. “Efa Vas, nice to meet you Officer.” The officer nodded, gesturing for her to follow.

“I am glad I spotted you, after such…instances it can be hard to track everyone down.” She chuckled, “you handled the situation far better than most, I hope it was not too much of a scare so early in the day.”

Cringing at the realisation that the whole bridge must’ve been watching everything unfold, Efa tried her best not to return to her feelings of panic. “Yeah aha, its certainly a way to wake me up.”

Officer Mina simply chuckled. They were standing in front of one of the bigger desks along the right side of the bridge. Along it sat about 7 others, all quickly typing away at the screens before them.

“This is where you will be most needed each day. We receive communications here before they are sent to the necessary recipient. Often, we will have messages that need to be put into Basic, which is your job.” She switched on the screen closest to them, and pointed to the message system’s functions. “Between each of us, we have about 20 languages we are able to interpret. You, of course, have far more. Therefore you will kind of be an overseer of sorts. When messages require extra attention for complex phrasing, editing or, if we are simply unfamiliar with the language, that’s where you’ll come in.” She stepped back a bit, allowing Efa some space to look at the screen more closely.

“I see, I think I have worked with this messaging system before.”

“I don’t doubt it. I must admit, I am relieved you are finally here. Given your experience, operations here will run much more smoothly.”

Efa frowned slightly, but masked it quickly. “Oh, may I ask, how is it you know of my work? Were you expecting me?” She tried to keep her meaning light, but alarm bells ringing in her head made it difficult to focus.

“Yes, of course. We were briefed on your resume last week to prepare for your arrival. Actually, let me introduce you to the team here.” The Officer smiled. As they each took some time to introduce themselves, Efa began to fall back into the comfort of her work. It was the one thing she could rely on to remain consistent. Her new team mates all seemed genuine and skilled in their own ways, Officer Mina included, but the introduction had thrown her a bit. But right now, she forced herself to get lost in the world of translation. It was easy, it was her passion after all.

The next few days were the same as the last, minus the Supreme Commander, thankfully.

Efa was in a routine. Sure, in the evenings her mind returned to her family, but on her second day she had received a message from the Admiral that her latest paycheck had been deposited in her account. That meant her brother had access to enough credit to get them through the next month or so. It was a weight off her shoulders. Not all of it, but now things felt at least a bit lighter. Maybe this internship will work out well after all.

As she settled into bed on the final day of her first week, she gazed out at the stars. She had never had the luxury of a floor to ceiling window, much less a fully stocked studio living space all to herself. Hell, she didn’t even have to clean here. She had everything she needed. If it wasn’t for how dreadful the Order was, she might’ve allowed herself to enjoy being here. The job was simple. The messages were mostly the same; something about trade deals, alliances, intel on the resistance. Nothing had been a real issue so far…apart from the incident with the Supreme Commander on the first day, of course.

And then there was the overtime. It wasn’t so bad, but it had become jarringly clear to her that she had the widest skill set among the translators on board. And that meant being woken some nights to deal with messages deemed too vital to wait until morning. Turning away from the stars she stretched out comfortably, hoping tonight wouldn’t be one of those nights.

It was, however, one of those nights.

Just as her eyelids had shut, the familiar dinging began from her datapad. She groaned as dramatically as she could, as if that would put off the caller from disturbing her peace. But the sound continued. She stretched out an arm without bothering to lift her head from the pillow. Slowly, she brought the pad to her ear.

“Yes?”

“Efa, this is General Hux. You are needed.”

This guy…the three other times she’d been woken this week turned out to be for the General. As she’d been back at the bridge with Officer Mina, she’d mentioned the General’s preference for late night work. “Its more productive at night, dealing with fewer morons.” Mina had said, with a rather convincing impression of the General. He hadn’t been there in person, thankfully. She doubted neither her nor Mina would still be employed had the General heard them.

But now, after a whole week of this, she expected perhaps a bit of peace. She stopped herself groaning at the thought of getting back up just for this. The temptation to just end the call and fall back to sleep was very strong. But she pulled herself together.

“Yes General, no problem. Where should I report to? Shall I contact Officer Mina to assist in this task?”

“No need, come to my quarters. I have sent a trooper to escort you.”

Efa’s eyes shot open and she sat up, her heart in her hands. His quarters? Was that even allowed?

“Oh, ok. No problem. I will be there shortly.”

---

As the doors closed behind her, Efa pressed her back against them and slid down onto the polished marble floor. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She felt a mixture of emptiness and despair. When the General had delivered the news, when he had uttered her name, and shown her the contract, she had erupted into panic. She hadn’t shown it of course, she had been trained to remain calm and collected, but inside she had been a storm. She was certain it only contained formal employment information, but she couldn’t help but fear the worst. She had just managed to secure a position with the Admiral back on Lothal. It wasn’t a dream, the Admiral wasn’t kind or patient, but working there meant she could see her brother and help with her nieces. After the death of his wife the family had fallen apart, there was barely an income when she was alive but her brother couldn’t work. The salary from the Admiral hadn’t been generous, but it had been enough for them to survive. But now, being here with the order…she wasn’t sure if she could send them the credits they needed, or even contact them? But worst of all, the family had been working with the resistance before her sister in laws death. Before she was killed by the First Order for collaborating.

She shouldn’t have come here, she knew she could very easily fall into danger. But she was foolish. She hadn’t anticipated that the Admiral would be meeting with such a high ranking official of the Order, or that they’d be coming to one of the main ships to do so. Not that the Admiral shared much anyway.

Sighing, she pulled herself to her feet, trying to draw her attention to her new surroundings. At least she could relax for a moment and bask in some privacy. She would get through a day at a time.

Slowly exploring her newfound space, she marvelled at the king-sized bed that engulfed the room. Everything was pristine, from the marble en-suite bathroom to the fully-loaded kitchenette, complete with a small desk and couch at the end of the bed. Upon opening the closet, she was surprised to be met with her baggage from their shuttle.

So, this really was all premeditated. She cursed the Admiral under her breath. Some communication…even a smidge…would’ve been nice.

After hanging up some of her clothes and arranging her toiletries in their new places, she collapsed gratefully onto the bed. Despite it all, the comfort of the First Order didn’t disappoint.

A ding echoing through her room startled her from her sleep. She hadn’t even realised she’d been out, and, slightly panicked, she grappled around for her alarm. 3am. Ok, so she hadn’t slept through her first day at least. Sighing heavily at the slight nausea, she pushed herself up. The lights had been left on, and she wandered about aimlessly until she remembered what she was doing. Ah yes, the ding. Spinning on her heel in the direction of the datapad, she tapped the screen to activate it.

New Message

From: General Hux.

Regarding: First Day

Induction cancelled. Presence required tomorrow on the bridge, 08.00.

She frowned. Geez working late? Stars, why send this now? She grumbled to herself as she searched for the volume button for notifications. She wasn’t about to be woken every night of this damn internship just because the General wants to overwork. That was his business, but right now, she was off the clock.

Feeling a sense of tiredness wash back over her, she brought herself to the sink. Finding a glass, she poured herself some water, before dimming the lights. She headed back to her bed and set the glass down, changing into her pyjamas. She picked up a book she’d packed as she slipped into bed, this time taking the time to tuck herself in properly. The weight of the sheets were just right, and she was asleep again in no time.

At 7am Efa rolled over into slight consciousness. She awoke the same time every morning, at today was no different than the last. Glancing at her alarm, she mentally calculated how much time she had to prepare for the day.

Step one - get up.

She groaned, willing for a moment more in the warm bliss of her cocoon. The daily battle, but she would win. Willing herself up, she pushed herself to her feet, and made her way to the bathroom. She normally needed forty minutes to get ready, but today she managed it all in twenty. With some time, she decided to sort out her room code, and order some breakfast. Her mind wandered slightly back to the Admiral and the team, she wondered if they too were preparing for the day. Possibly entering into another meeting soon. They would probably have Sha replace her, he was excellent at basic, so he seemed a natural choice. Drawing her attention back to the screen, she tried to remember what she was doing.

And then she saw it.

Bottom right.

The time.

8.30am.

Stars. She hadn’t set her alarm to Imperial Time. Which meant…she was an hour late. On her first day….

She dropped the pad and sprinted to the door. Surely they had to have some leniency for her very first task? Perhaps it was simply another meeting with the General?

The bridge.

Stars, she didn’t know the way.

Trying very hard not to fall into a complete panic, Efa looked around for a trooper. Thankfully, a group had just began turning the corner, and she approached them hurriedly, asking for their help. Two broke off from the group and just as hurriedly marched her towards her destination. Still a little panicked, she tried to prepare herself and keep her composure before they arrived. Thankfully, they were there in a short amount of time.

The guards at the entrance to the bridge asked for her identification, and her heart sank when they refused to listen to her. Frustration and worry began to bubble up as she tried to explain her position, her words falling over one another as she spoke about having not yet received formal identification. The guards simply told her to return when she could prove her access, but something broke through in the seemingly hopeless situation.

The door panels slammed open, and the guards were pulled violently into the bridge with the force of a jedi. But this was no jedi.

Efa had barely any time to comprehend what had happened before she too was whisked into the room herself. She wasn’t pulled as harshly, but the force didn’t hesitate to pull her body roughly as it dragged her forward on her heels.

As she moved, she saw the bridge open up around her, but her attention was on the dark figure towering before her. The limp bodies of the guards lay at his feet, and the lights of the controls gleamed off of the figure’s mask.

“So, this is why my translator was late.” The modified voice sent a shiver down her spine as she was placed before him. “Such fools, but you are here. You are lucky, my patience was wearing thin.”

Trying to disguise her terror, she kept herself still and stood tall before who she presumed was the sith. She knew far more about him than she wanted to, but experiencing him in person was much more harrowing than listening through war stories.

“I am at your service, Commander. I apologise sincerely for the delay. It will not happen again.” She managed, as professionally as possible.

“It certainly won’t,” he stated, dryly. “We are preparing for contact with an allied ship. We are establishing contact as we speak. When we receive their signal, you must interpret their message into basic and communicate back. I will be providing the responses.”

“Yes, sir.” She forced herself to look into where she presumed his eye were, as was as was custom in addressing those in positions of power. However she was met only with the dark abyss of his mask in response. She’d had to deal with plenty of dangerous criminals before. Hell, on a planet like Lothal, everyone needs a translator. But this was nothing like she was used to. She was staring at pure evil. Usually the worst of the worst paid the best. It was certainly the case here too.

A sudden beeping filled the space, and a worker announced that they had received the signal from the ally. Without warning, a blue hologram appeared at the front of the bridge, stretching out before them. The face belonged to a human, but they spoke a language she was surprised to hear. It was very old, almost never used for common communication.

“Girl, speak.” Kylo Ren’s voice boomed her back into the room. Her intrigue had almost succeeded in transporting her away from her current predicament. Forcing herself into translator mode, she asked the face to repeat itself.

“Commander Ren, we demand an immediate update on the location of General Snoke. We urgently require contact.” She managed, it was a difficult language to translate, and her ability to concentrate was made worse by the Commander’s intimidating presence. She stood ready for a response, but instead the Supreme Leader remained silent. She glanced back at the face, which repeated its question. “Commander Ren, we require a response.” She said, careful to omit the slightly harsher choice of words.

She could hear the sound of heavy breathing coming from the figure before her, and she stepped back quickly as he ignited his saber. Other workers in the room had also drawn their attention to the commotion, and had retreated themselves.

“Tell them that General Snoke is no longer present. Tell them that, in his absence, I have assumed the role of Supreme Commander. If they seek him, they must search elsewhere.” He seethed.

A thousand questions flooded her mind as she nodded hurriedly, before translating his message.

The hologram let out a bellowing laugh that Efa felt vibrate through the floors of the ship. Listening to the response, she swallowed, piecing together a way to communicate it that wouldn’t have her head torn from her body.

“They…claim that you are not being truthful. They demand that you tell them his location, they…also do not recognise your assumed positi-” A metal grip wrapped around her throat, stopping her mid-word. He had lunged at her, holding her up to his mask. His saber blazed behind him as he tilted his head to face her. She struggled, her gasps growing desperate. There was nothing else to do but desperately stare at her own reflection looking back at her with wide, pleading eyes.

Suddenly the mask turned slightly, towards a nearby worker on a control panel. “Fire.” He spat, his modified voice full of boiling rage threatening to spill.

For a moment Efa lost all hope, believing she was about to be executed, she glanced once more at herself. But she wasn’t looking back. Instead, a blinding white light blared across the mask, engulfing the bridge. The silent explosion of the allied ship would have almost been peaceful if not for the fact the Commander had just killed the man she was speaking with moments before. The sheer terror she was feeling was like nothing she had every experienced before, held in the fist of a murderer.

---

“General”

Hux’s lips formed into a sharp, slim line. Pulled from his thoughts as he gazed out at the stars, he turned slowly, leather gloves clasped tightly behind his back.

“Pardon the interruption sir, we have an arrival in bay 7.” Stormtrooper LF4537 extended a datapad out towards him.

The glare of the lights caught his sight as he looked the trooper over, before taking the datapad with a nod.

“Ah yes, see to it that they are brought to the arrival lounge. I won’t be long.”

“Yes sir!” came the modified voice through the helmet. The general watched as the trooper turned, his boots squeaking on the polished floors as he marched away.

With a sigh, he turned back to the hanger window. Drawing his attention to his reflection, he adjusted his hair and collar before staring further out into the vastness of space.

It was not long before the trooper reached his destination and he began hastily approaching the newly parked ship. It wasn’t much bigger than a command shuttle, but seemed to house a much larger crew. Evidence of this became clear as LF4537 watched as a small crowd finished disembarking. As he approached, he saw what seemed to be the leader of the group, with a few minions hovering around them. Joining the other stormtroopers, he turned to them, passing on the General’s order of their trajectory towards the arrival lounge.

Before they could respond, LF4537 turned to the group to explain the situation. He wasn’t quite sure of the species among the new arrivals, but there were a handful of humans and twi’leks. The rest he had never seen before.

“Welcome.” He announced, and the eyes of those before him turned in curiosity. “We will guide you to the lounge where you will receive a formal greeting by our lead General. Please follow us.” The eyes simply stared back before turning one by one to a human towards the back of the herd. She was whispering into the ear of the supposed leader, who nodded and spoke in a language he didn’t recognise.

“Many thanks” came the answer from the girl. “We will follow.” The eyes returned to him.

He gestured towards the other troopers, who were watching with just as much curiosity at the scene. Seeing that they were now needed, they snapped into action and began assisting the newcomers in the direction of the lounge. LF4537 followed behind as the group was led forward.

Tapping his toes slightly in frustration, the general waited impatiently in the arrival lounge. He hadn’t wasted time in preparing for his guests, but their delay was beginning to become tiresome. Two troopers entered his field of vision, and soon the rest of the group followed. *Finally*.

“Dear guests” Hux stated, watching them approach and stand before him as he delivered his speech. “I hope you have had a pleasant journey, we are delighted to welcome you to our dreadnought,” he smiled warmly, but his eyes remained bitterly cold. “Please make yourselves comfortable here. All necessities are provided for your stay.”

LF4537 watched as the leader of the group joined the General before the crowd, bringing along three minions as they did. One, the human from before, began speaking to the group, and he mused that she was translating the General’s message. As the crowd dispersed, mulling about he plates of food and offerings of drink, the leader turned to Hux. Another minion revealed a machine resembling a datapad, and placed it in the hands of the leader, who, in turn, passed it on to the general. LF4537 noticed the General’s slight change in demeanour. Intrigued, he watched as the General gestured towards a room at the back of the lounge, and the leader followed, the minions following behind hastily.

As the door behind them closed the General attempted to relieve some of his stress by turning to the drinks stand. “Can I offer you something, Admiral?”. The leader took a seat, shaking their head in response. One of the minions, a species similar to an ewok, took a seat to the left of the admiral. The other two, a human and a trandoshan, remained standing behind them. The General nodded, pouring himself a short whisky. He turned, pulling out a seat at the other side of the table, opposite his guests. “I’m greatful that you came to me with this,” Hux began, placing the datapad on the table between them. “But I must inquire, where did you locate it?”

The human spoke to the admiral, who smiled, and muttered back to her. She straightened, looking back to the general. “It was given to the Admiral personally. However, the finder reported discovering the pad in a brothel.” Hux scoffed slightly, taking a sip.

“This was on your planet?” He asked, studying the admiral before him, who held his gaze just as coldly.

“Yes, General,” came the reply.

Hux nodded, “tell me, what is your price?”

The human bent down to her leader and spoke quietly. Admiral smiled as they gave her the response, their eyes never leaving Hux’s.

After a short while, the girl stood back up and addressed Hux. “We are asking for 1,500,000 credits and an agreement between the First Order and our planet regarding the trade of vessels and dark energy conductors.”

The General took another, longer sip before nodding back at the group before him. “Very well. I can transfer you the credits by the end of the day, however an agreement will take time. We can arrange for this to be discussed within the following days, but I cannot guarantee this.”

The Admiral cocked their head slightly as the girl spoke the General’s words. They muttered softly, and the ewok lurched forward and snapped the datapad away from Hux, who raised his brows in surprise.

“We will wait then,” the girl said, watching Hux. “The Admiral is tired and requires rest. We thank you for your hospitality and hope to continue this discussion later on.”

“A moment.” Hux muttered as those seated began to rise. “You, translator, are you the sole one here or is there another?”

The girl looked back in surprise at being addressed, but spoke calmly. “No, General, but I am directly appointed to the Admiral.”

The Admiral stared at the girl and she turned to them, repeating the conversation.

“If it is convenient for the Admiral, I can have them seen to their room. But I wish to request to speak with you.”

She spoke quietly with her leader, who nodded in response, dismissing the girl with a wave of their fin.

“They agree.” She said, watching the General with both confusion and intrigue as the door shut behind them.

“Please, take a seat.” Hux gestured, as the translator obliged cautiously. “I apologise for this rather rash way of initiating an interview, however I wish to offer you a position.”

Surprise broke across the girl’s face, but she was quick to respond. “I am very honoured General, however I have a current contract with the Admiral which cannot be amended. I must decline.”

“Am I correct in assuming you’re from Arkanis?”

A little hesitant, the girl nodded in response. “Yes, General. That’s correct.”

“You have interpreted my offer incorrectly. This would be a temporary position, more of an internship. It is a part of the deal I wish to discuss with the Admiral to widen your language abilities. The role would be for a month, and we will offer you more than five times your current salary and a catered living space.”

Her eyes widened slightly in shock, but still, she remained unsure. “This is a very generous offer, General, but I recommend discussing this with the Admiral. I am not sure-”.

“Actually, they have already agreed.” He turned to his right, and pulled out a file. “This is your new contract. Temporary. With the First Order. The Admiral has already signed off for you here.” He gestured to the bottom of the page, and the girl struggled to process it all as she skimmed the information presented to her.

“I understand this is a rather unexpected change, however I expect you to be in service from tomorrow morning. There will be someone assigned to you on your first day for guidance, after that, you will be expected to work independently. If there are any issues you may raise them with me personally. Do you understand?”

Still trying to understand the situation she was now in, the girl simply smiled back politely, trying to mask her worry. “Yes, General.”

“Excellent,” he said, rising and moving over to her side of the table. Before she could react, he extended a hand, helping her to her feet. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Efa.”

A bit unsure how to respond, she simply nodded, avoiding his gaze as she took it. She got up slowly, trying to ignore the rose hint spreading across her features. He gestured to the doorway, pushing her chair in behind her.

As the door opened, LF4537 stepped back slowly, trying not to draw attention to himself as he watched the General turn right to him.

“Ah, LF4537, please see to it that the new translator is shown to her quarters.”

“Yes, General.” He replied, beginning to turn in the direction instructed. As he exited the lounge and began down one of the spacious corridors, he could hear the quiet footsteps of the girl trailing behind him. He could sense her unease, and she was right to have it, but he kept quiet and continued to lead her forwards. The stars gleamed down on them through the wide windows as they continued, he hoped they brought her some comfort.

Turning down the final stretch of corridor brought them to a line of sleek black doorways, each about four metres wide with small control pads next to them. “This one is yours.” He stated simply as they stopped infront of the second door to the left. The pin isn’t set, so simply enter and follow the instructions on your datapad to secure your quarters. All the information you need about how to navigate the ship’s services is also provided there. To call for assistance, press the red button on the desk. If you require the General, you must ask for him specifically. Do you have any questions?”