neverjoinyou | lastvoyages IC Inbox

Yes. Who is this?

[oh kriff.

oh kriff he was not expecting a reply that quickly.

well. now that he's got this ball rolling]

My name is General Hux.

[a slight pause]

I work with your nephew.

[Work with, actively despise and plot to murder on a regular basis. To-may-to, to-mah-to.]

[Unseen, Luke's eyebrows rise. There are so many possible replies.

I'm sorry.

When you say 'work'...?

Then there's nothing I can do to help you...

He finally settles on something more becoming his position, both as Jedi and as a warden.]

General Hux. I see. I imagine you have quite the history.

[That's putting it mildly.

Hux, too, takes a beat to answer]

Our paths seem fated to intermix.

[Suddenly he forgets just why the hell he wanted to talk to Skywalker at all. To see if it was really him? Clearly it is.

But now what?]

I understand he trained with you. Or will train, in your future.

[Luke has the same question--he is not against speaking to the man, and would have sought him out sooner had he realized someone from his world was here, even someone from the First Order. But what does Hux want from him?

Aside from, perhaps, the unspoken obvious all people dressed in black seem to want from him.]

Then you understand almost as much as I do. But yes--it's after my time, but Kylo Ren was a pupil of Luke Skywalker's.

[It almost pains him to say it--his failure is wrapped up in that truth, but hidden from him still.]

When I'm from, he hasn't been born, yet. So I'm afraid I don't have a lot of answers for you, if that's what you're looking for. I'm happy to try, however.

[Well. Hell. Hux decides, privately, that he is never going to contact another person again without having a plan in mind. Because he suddenly has the bizarre opportunity to talk to someone from the past, and has no kriffing idea what to ask or tell him. Especially when that someone is logically considered an enemy.

This is the person who blew up the Death Star. How strange to be talking to him as though he were more person than legend.

If he had the opportunity to talk to Luke Skywalker while he was a young man...]

I know you don't...are not that person who knows him.

I'm at a disadvantage. I don't know anything about the Force, or the ways he uses it to control others.

[Wait. Hang on. Now he's inching around like he's trying to infringe on family loyalty, ask Skywalker to help him get away from his own nephew, when he should be.....

Hux has no idea what he should be doing]

Why are you happy to try?

[You have to have some idea of who he is. Right?]

[Luke does have some small notion, now, that, Hux wants info on his nephew. And he wonders if it is possible to help this man while remaining loyal to Ben Solo. He has to try, anyway.]

Because it's my duty--one I took on willingly when I agreed to come here. To do what I could to aid those who were here for any reason. And, I guess on top of that, because you're from my world. I guess we're on different sides, but that's not important to me. I--

[He pauses, feeling a little distant from this conversation, conducted as it is. And, perhaps, consumed by some curiosity.]

Can I get you a drink?

[Hux almost leaps at the word yes when Luke mentions a drink, because hell if he's getting through this without alcohol. But then, his better judgement kicks in;]

If you mean at the bar, I'm not so sure it's wise to have this conversation in public.

[And what a bizarre conversation it already is. How is it not important to Luke that they're on opposite sides?]

True. But you may not feel comfortable alone with me. That being said, I'm happy to meet wherever you'd like. And I might have a bottle of something put away for such occasions.

I'm not afraid.

[He's not, really. Fumbling around for something to say, yes. But there's a problem in front of Hux and Luke may hold some answers to it. So that's what he chooses to focus on.

Besides. He's been alone and uncomfortable since forever.]

Which room is your cabin?

Level 1, room 12. I'll be here.

[He hadn't meant to imply he thought Hux afraid, but since he hasn't seemed to take offense anyway, it doesn't matter. He wouldn't really blame someone for not wanting to walk into Luke Skywalker's apartment.

Should he be afraid for himself? Perhaps, but that's never been his problem. When Hux arrives, the door will open as like any unlocked door in their world, and he'll find himself in what would have been an austere hermitage if it were not for the remains of mechanical projects, a few books and datapads, and the large bed on the raised "bedroom" platform. It's not that Luke is messy, and his possessions are few, but the place is definitely lived-in.

Luke is standing next to the sofa, a bottle of Corellian brandy on the table. He nods to Hux.]

Come in. Thank you for coming over.

[In his head, Hux is just. Counting the number of days he's been here, and how often his world's been turned upside down. Dying was only the beginning of the horrible surprises in store, and finding Luke Skywalker, alive and younger than him, was only the latest.

He enters the room, frowning back at Luke like he's someone both wholly recognizable and...not at all.

Maybe if he just...starts from the beginning. Pretends that this Luke and the older one - the one he never would meet - are entirely different people, he can get through this conversation without seeming like an idiot.

The thought occurs that if Ren found them here, together, he'd go into conniptions. And that delights Hux enough that he manages to loosen up a little and walk fully into the room, closing the door behind him.

He has no weapons. Fully clothed in black, tall but not as tall as Ren or Darth Vader, thin underneath clothes meant to hide the thinness. Hux does his best to hold himself in a presentable way, but it feels almost as if he's intruded on a scene in the past.

Training kicks in, when Luke speaks;]

Thank you for the invitation.

[There's a crease of worry in Hux's expression that refuses to dissappate. He glances around the room, unsure where his attention or focus should be, before finally resting it back to Luke]

You're not...who I expected to see here.

[Hux is uncomfortable, which is not surprising but is interesting. Granted, he's walking into the cabin of one who, in his world, probably has some sort of fearsome reputation. Then again, like most, he's taller than Luke and he wouldn't be the first to underestimate Luke on account of his size or youth. The fact he's dressed like a civilian probably doesn't up the intimidation factor, either.

Then again, the acceptance of the invitation is a good sign, and the manners are not exactly what Luke expected. So after blinking a moment, he offers a chagrined sort of smile and gestures to the sofa and chair.]

I'm guessing most of us experience that, coming here. At least once. I've lost count of the surprises I've had. But please--sit. It's not every day you meet someone from your future.

[He pours two drinks, and waits to see which seat Hux takes. He will take the other.]

[Luke is open and welcome and small, tan from the desert sun where Hux is pale, but Hux was small once, too; size was never a factor in how dangerous a person could be, and he's been on the receiving end of too many of Ren's Force attacks not to treat his uncle with the caution and care he deserves. He's never met Luke, but he has seen and spoken with Luke's sister on rare occasion; Leia has that same, strange, sereneness about her.

He takes the far seat on the sofa, the only place he can see worth sitting on that isn't the bed]

Your future, my past.

[Seriously - he and Ren were born around the same year, so if Ren wasn't born yet in Luke's time, then neither was Hux]

Is this Tatooine?

[He gives a nod at their surrounding area]

[Luke nods his acceptance of the small correction, and takes the lone chair, and his drink. He glances around at their surroundings, and nods again.]

More or less. It's probably what the Admiral thinks my version of a Jedi Master's rooms are--it's a bit like a combination of where I grew up, and Obi-Wan Kenobi's home. It's a little funny--for nineteen years all I could think about was getting off that rock. I guess it doesn't much matter what we find comforting, as long as we do.

[He tilts his head, quietly watching Hux a moment.]

I should tell you up front--I don't know what your relationship to my nephew is, and I'm unwilling to talk about anything he doesn't want known. He's a... very private person, and I've betrayed enough of his trust as it is. That said? [He waves his free hand.] Given that the limit of my knowledge is shortly past the Battle of Endor, I'm an open book.

[Hux doesn't smile, and instead finds himself staring back at Luke, trying to equate this young man with the many different roles he'll play in the future. At the Academy, Skywalker was described as a mystic with ideals - someone from an ancient religion with powers to rival that of any Star Destroyer. Hux feels an odd mixture of humbleness, repulsion, and curiosity]

I'd tell you, except I don't know what my relationship to your nephew is.

[And it's odd to be thinking of Ren as anyone's nephew. Odd to think of him as a little boy, once, with a family who cared for him. Hux suddenly realizes he doesn't know a thing about Ben Solo]

To tell you the truth, I think he would consider this meeting by itself a breach of trust.

[Luke sighs.]

Yes. Well. My being here, my existence, my speaking to virtually anyone is a breach of trust. Sometimes we must act as we think is best, without for the long term. And in the long term, I think our mutual understanding--whatever form that takes--is more important.

[This is bad. Hux feels...extremely unprepared to be having the conversation he in fact started. Damned if he'll back out of it now, but he tries to keep his nervousness to a dull roar and instead do what he's best at; focusing on the task at hand and getting it done]

There's very little we're going to agree on.

[He knows that. Luke knows that. And Luke probably knows that he knows that]

There's one thing I can think of that we both would want.

[Hux is probably right--Luke can hardly credit the First Order's existence, let alone the idea that anyone might choose to be part of anything like it. And yet, there's such an innate need to believe in the possibility of goodness that in his naive way, Luke thinks that everyone must be given the chance to prove him wrong.

Despite that apparent naivete, Luke is aware that he may not like the answer to his next question.]

And what is that?

[Hux seems to hesitate, considering his words, but plunges ahead with it anyway. What's he got to lose?]

Kylo Ren, out of the First Order.

[Really, at this rate, he's not even sure if Ren is a worse enemy when he's pretending to be on his side instead of openly part of any resistance movement]

[Luke absorbs that for a moment. There were only two possible explanations he could think of for that: either Kylo Ren was bad for the First Order, or he was bad for Hux's place in it.

And as much as he wanted to see his nephew turn things around, he was sure that wasn't the motivation of the man in front of him.]

Even if I had any power over that, you're suggesting I assist an organization that intends to bring an end to everything I've fought for.

[It clearly isn't, but at least Hux is aware that this is a Big Ask, and though he looks pale and sour (and his hands are still holding his cup), he attempts to...explain himself]

I'm suggesting you do something that's beneficial to the both of us, and to him. Do you really want your nephew at the head of that organization?

The First Order does not want someone with his temper leading them. He's as much a hindrance as a help.

[The repair bills on his starship alone could attest to that]

By all rights, I should be the one in command. He usurped me. And if I ever make it back, I intend to kill him and reclaim that title.

But he has a family who wants him back. Ren and I will be enemies no matter whose side he's on.

You've seen how explosive he can be. You really want him in charge of an army?

[Luke's unease grows as he listens, and it's only partly because Hux is talking about killing nephew. It's mostly because this is the sort of thing he's always known about the Empire--First Order, whatever--but rarely actually been exposed to. The kind of ruthless coldness with which life is regarded, the hateful, hierarchical dismissiveness of everything Luke values.

He rises to pace to one side of the small room, and Sinjir--the grey cat--appears from the bedroom to hop onto the side table and shove himself under Luke's hand. He moves his fingers absently, watching the cat as he speaks.]

I don't expect you to know this, but it's hardly the kind of argument that's going to win my confidence. [He looks over at Hux, not angry, but a little sad, a little resigned.] I care about my nephew. And I care about the rights and lives of all the beings caught in your crossfire. But I can't do anything about your armies, or your squabbles. I'm not sure what power you think I have.

[Annoyance flickers over Hux's face, especially when he looks like he's being pitied. He sets his cup down without drinking from it and gets to his feet - he ought to have known this was going to be a pointless endeavor, but curiosity brought him here]

Then I'll see myself out.

[He gives a quick, quizzical look at Sinjir, and his expression briefly slips in its hostility, before it's back again and he turns to leave]

Wait.

[Luke turns, facing Hux squarely, one hand slightly raised in supplication.]

I realize our two sides aren't really known for... negotiation. But we're not home. There's no First Order or New Republic here. I really do want to understand what it is you want. It might not mean I can help, and I might not be willing. But I want to listen.

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