Chapter Text
The humming of the First Order transport was unsettling, to say the least. You had always been used to the sounds of ships, considering you grew up in a bustling capital city, but nothing sounded so foreboding and final . Just a few hours ago, you had been on the streets of Hanna City, walking to the market near your apartment building for some groceries. There were rumors of a First Order ship that had landed in the city’s port, but you paid them no mind. Typically they only came for governmental intervention or trade, and there was no talk of potential invasion just yet. Then, however, you were suddenly being taken to the Senate to prepare for a new job as an engineer on the massive battleship called the Finalizer. Now, here you were, sitting in a cold shuttle and hurtling through space with hardly any information given to you about your current situation. You tried to remember everything that you had ever heard about the First Order, wondering if you were even prepared to live on the massive military ship.
The troopers and personnel around you were all wearing pristine uniforms, all similar to each other in their colors and styles. You, however, were still wearing that same pair of khakis and the sky blue button-up sweater that you had been wearing when you left your house that morning. You stuck out like a rancor in a room full of wookies, and you knew that everyone’s eyes were darting towards you at irregular intervals, glimpsing disapprovingly at the passenger that they had retrieved.
You stared out the window that you were sitting by, looking out into the vast array of stars that you could see. You had already jumped into and out of lightspeed, so you were close to your destination. That also meant that you were an unbelievably long distance from your home planet of Chandrila, and the engineering studio that you loved so dearly. You were forced to leave all your projects behind, not to mention your favorite drafting tools and tech. You weren’t sure if you would ever look out your office window again, which gave you a perfect view of downtown Hanna City. The view was always so breathtaking when the sun began to go down. Now, you would have to live without normal sunlight, and the air you would breathe would be nothing more than oxygen that had been imported from some far-off planet.
Your conscience told you to look for a silver lining, and eventually you realized that at least you would be continuing your passion for design. Most people who were taken from their home planets weren’t so lucky when it came to their positions. You, however, had been promoted instantly to Director of Engineering, a job that you had yet to figure out how you acquired. Surely there were others who were lined up for the spot? You shook those thoughts from your mind for now and simply waited as the ship began to slow.
“Approaching Resurgent -class Star Destroyer: Finalizer,” said a mechanical voice from the intercom. You peered into the inky blackness of the void, and if you craned your neck you could see the beginnings of the humongous vessel. A few crew members began to carry out landing procedures, all silent and practically unblinking. You, however, were covered head to toe in goosebumps. Aside from the chilly temperature aboard the transport, you were filled to the bursting point with nervousness. A thousand thoughts raced through your head at once, and your gut twisted in a fit of sudden terror. You tried your best to ignore your fears regarding your new job and whether or not you would die out here, never having set foot on natural ground before your doom.
“Director.” A stormtrooper’s voice caused you to startle, and you whipped around to face him entirely. You were thankful that you could not see his face, because you weren’t sure what kind of reaction he would have to your skittish nature when literally everyone else was acting like they were merely taking the bus.
“I have been instructed to escort you to the proper exit area. You are supposed to leave the transport first, so please follow me,” he continued, turning and waiting for you to stand. Trying not to look too anxious, you got to your feet and steeled your expression. The soldier lead you down the aisle until you ended up in a separate room. A small warning under a line told you to remain behind it, so you stopped just short of it and remained still as you felt the ship begin to dip in altitude. The shuttle landed with a thunk , and there wasn’t even a tremor as you touched down.
The door folded down soon after, and you had to remind yourself to wait until the top edge had hit the floor before you could step out into the hangar. The trooper stayed by your side as you exited, but you almost forgot he was there when you saw who awaited you. A stormtrooper with an entirely chromium set of armor and a dark cloak over their left side was standing there, blaster at their hip. It was clear that they were waiting for you.
“Director,” they greeted you in that same dry tone as the previous soldier. Her voice was a little less garbled by the helmet than the others, and in a strange way that put you at ease. “I am Captain Phasma of the FN Corps, and I have been tasked with accommodating you with the Finalizer. First, you will be shown to your quarters. Follow me.” Without another word, she spun around and began to move away from you, not bothering to check if you were actually obeying her.
She’s a captain, after all , you told yourself as you scurried to catch up. She probably expects me to do whatever she says. Not that I wouldn’t , but still.
Either Phasma’s legs were really long, or you were severely out of shape because it took you a solid twenty seconds before you could catch up to her. When you managed to get to her side, you had to double your normal pace to stay with her. Your escort was extremely intimidating, due to the fact that she was a hulking silver warrior who could kill you in an instant should the notion strike her. Luckily, she simply led you through the winding corridors without so much as a glance in your direction.
You tried to memorize the way you had come, just to get a feel for the ship’s interior. However, the hallways proved to form a gigantic labyrinth that might take you weeks to even begin to remember. You could only hope that there was a map somewhere that you could use.
Within minutes, Phasma stopped when she came to a sliding door. Once it opened for the two of you, you were awestruck by the massive array of living quarters. Everything was arranged in a circular formation, where the outer walls were filled with rooms. The empty middle housed several moving platforms that would carry passengers to specific levels. The captain led you towards one of those elevators, and once you were on you stared down into the column that seemed to span the entire height of the ship. The lowest levels held the smallest quarters, assumedly for positions such as stormtroopers and janitorial staff. The higher you went, the larger the space between the doors. You expected to stay fairly low in the column since you were not affiliated with the military ranks of the First Order, but then you were shockingly delivered fairly high up in the space. You were only two levels below the top tier, most likely reserved for the generals.
The platform started moving sideways, and you faced the direction you were headed. Once the metal gate opened, Phasma stepped off the elevator and directly forward to the chamber labeled 98-K. You followed suit, itching to see where you would be spending your off time from now on. The captain handed you a green card which had all of your personal information on it. At the bottom there was a portion that you could only suppose would unlock your door.
“I will return in 30 minutes so that you can be fitted for your uniform,” Phasma informed you. “I assume you can get comfortable on your own?” You stumbled to find words, realizing that she was finally asking you a question.
“Yes ma’am,” you finally managed to push out. With a click of her heel, the chromium-plated woman was already going back the way she came.
You took a deep breath and turned around, facing the foreboding grey walls. The only decoration — if you could call it that — on any of the walls in the giant cylindrical apartment complex were the numbers and letters outside each of the rooms. It seemed more like a jail cell exterior than a home. Nonetheless, you inserted your ID into the chip reader, and the door slid open. Your brows flew up when you saw your accommodations.
The living quarters you had been given were actually quite nice. You really began to ponder over what exactly being the Director of Engineering meant in terms of class. Your bed was situated along the back wall, and you could not resist the urge to run your hand along the dark grey sheets. They were soft to the touch, and your pillows were plush as well. The bed was large enough to fit two people, but it was nowhere near as large as your desk, which sat near the far left wall. It was gigantic, and fitted with all the latest engineering and drafting tech, complete with holographic design boards and pens that could write with light, suspending them in thin air until the machine was turned off. You let out a low whistle, thoroughly impressed. Along the other side of the room — a little closer to the front entrance — was a bookshelf filled with First Order-approved publications, a small collection of fictional novels (much to your surprise), and even some engineering textbooks. There was an armchair next to it, along with a light to read by. The back wall to the right of your bed sported a closet, and the open door revealed that you owned no clothing other than what you were currently wearing.
There wasn’t much that you could do while you waited for Phasma to return, so you sat down and leafed through a book on weaponry designs. Your grandfather had taught you all about the war business, and when you went off to university, designing blasters and ships had been your major. You eventually took another major in architectural engineering, and that became your true passion. Now, you had a gut feeling that you would have to throw out your favored aspect of design because of your new position. It would most likely be battlecruisers and lasers from now on.
Before you could think too much about it, however, there was a knock at your door. You immediately sprang up and opened it to reveal the captain who had brought you there, accompanied by a young man you had never seen before. You made a mental note that literally everyone on this ship was unfamiliar to you, and because of that, you would have to start from scratch on friends.
“I will be waiting outside,” Phasma said to the stranger. He nodded and turned back to you. His golden brown skin looked flawless, and his deep sienna locks were perfectly tousled. This man looked like he had never seen a battlefield in his life. Either that, or he put so much work into his appearance that he could easily hide that fact.
“My name’s Hiram,” he finally spoke, outstretching his hand. You took hold of him and shook firmly, keeping eye contact as he smiled at you. “I’m the outfitter for the soldiers and staff of the New Order. Seeing as you’re our first female Director of Engineering, I need to take your measurements. Lucky you! You get a brand new uniform that’s never been worn by any other member of the First Order.” He was rather chipper, which set your mind at ease. Thank goodness that not everyone on this ship was all business.
Hiram quickly brought out his measuring tape and got down to work. He maneuvered your limbs as if you were a doll in his hands, and before you knew it he had gotten all the information you needed.
“This’ll be fun,” he mused, jotting down a few notes. “Alright, let’s get back out to Captain Buzzkill, shall we?” You chuckled with him as you exited your quarters, hoping that you would be able to see this guy again sometime. He was right up your alley in terms of friendliness and humor, much unlike literally everyone else on the Finalizer.
“She’s all yours, Captain,” the clothing designer grinned. “I’ll be back tonight with your uniform and some sleeping clothes. And hey, the staff and commanders eat at a different time than the soldiers, so I’ll see you for dinner. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds great!” you replied. You had no time to finish the conversation, yet again. Phasma was already calling the lift, so you dipped your head in farewell and joined her at the edge of the platform. You wanted to ask where you were going, but you knew that she would get you there no matter what, so it didn’t really matter. She brought you to the locker rooms which housed the bathrooms and showers, the cafeteria, the training grounds — though you would not have much use for them — where soldiers were practicing hand-to-hand combat, and finally, you were taken to the entrance to the bridge.
“Here you will find your chief overseer, General Hux,” Phasma went on. She had been acting like an audio tour at a museum while you traveled, and you were relieved that she was actually talking to you for once (truly she was talking at you, but it was still a step in the right direction). “As soon as I introduce you to him, I am allowed to return to my duties. Do you think you can make it back to your quarters on your own?”
“Yes,” you said immediately, although you didn’t mean it in the slightest. You could barely get to the end of the hall without confusing yourself. A little resilient part of you tried to tell you that you could just ask for directions, but nobody on the Finalizer — other than maybe Hiram — seemed the direction-giving type.
“Good,” the captain nodded. She turned to the device on the side of the doorway and opened the sliding entrance. The sudden sounds of a heated argument reached your ears.
Two men, one who fit the typical general appearance and one armored to the teeth with a helmet befitting a warlord, were circling each other in the center of the bridge, shouting in each others' faces in a manner that seemed almost animal-like. You knew them immediately as General Hux and Kylo Ren, and your blood ran a little colder when you recognized such famous figures of the First Order. From the bits and pieces you could pick up amongst the squabbles, they were fighting over what course of action should be taken next against the rebels, now that they had blown up Starkiller Base. You vaguely remembered seeing that in a Chandrilan newspaper a few weeks ago, but you were fuzzy on the specifics of the ordeal.
“We have been bickering for two weeks now!” the redheaded man spat at his opponent. “The Supreme Leader has no more patience! We must decide what we’re going to do!”
“That’s what I’m doing! ” said the mechanically garbled voice of the cloaked figure. “We should take action now! Strike while the iron is hot!”
“Not when our main weapon has been destroyed!”
“Then we divide our forces and I take my troops to destroy the Resistance! You can stay here and try to play it safe, but nowhere is safe as long as Skywalker and that girl are still out there!”
“Well, Skywalker would not be an issue if you had been capable of taking down one measly girl! ” the general snapped. Suddenly, Kylo Ren reeled back in anger, snarling like an angry wampa. You gasped in fear when he suddenly whipped out a bright crimson lightsaber, although your escort seemed unphased by the scene before you. The red blade crackled with energy, and just before the Knight of Ren could swing it at something, Hux took a huge step back and spat, “Not in the bridge, you idiot! Take your temper tantrum somewhere else! ”
Ren roared like a beast and tore into a nearby panel before outstretching his arm. A technician on the side of the massive room suddenly rocketed out of her seat. The Force-user whipped his arm to the left, and the poor woman went flying with a cry for help. Then, the angered man whirled around and stormed out, dragging the tip of his saber through the metal floor below him. Phasma tugged you under her arm for a moment and out of harm’s way as he passed. You could hear him huffing like a bantha as he passed, and as he rampaged down the hall you could hear more people screaming and metal panels splitting.
The captain let you go, and you took a good look around the room. Workers were slowly crawling out of their hiding places and back to their seats, continuing on shakily but with purpose.
“General Hux,” Phasma suddenly piped up. The man flinched and turned his whole body to face you two. “The new Director of Engineering is here.” Hux’s gaze flickered over the both of you for just a beat longer than was necessary, then he straightened up and put on a mask of professionalism. Despite his best efforts to look unbothered by the previous argument, you could still see the furious twitching of his brow.
“So she is,” he nearly muttered. “I trust that you have been shown around the ship?”
“Yessir-”
“Then I’ll debrief you,” Hux continued as if you had never spoken. “Tomorrow morning at eight o’clock sharp, you are to be in the A-Wing Conference room to discuss your new tasks and meet with your new council. After that, you are to return to your chambers and get accustomed to your workspace. I’m sure you’ve seen it.”
“I have, sir-”
“Captain, you and our new Director are free to go.” The general spun around and walked to the front of the room, not looking back at you as he began to work again. You quickly realized that he had not met your eye, not even once, throughout your little exchange. It irked you, but you reminded yourself that he was a military man, not a Chandrilan trade boss. He did not need to schmooze with other executives, he was already ruling over them due to his place in the First Order. Still, it would be nice if he had actually let you speak.
Phasma nodded and stepped back outside, then you did the same. Noticing that there was a massive amount of damage to the hall on your left, you decided to follow the captain until you vaguely remembered that you were supposed to turn to get back to your room. With a somewhat confident outlook, you began your journey through the endless halls of the Finalizer.
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It took three stormtroopers’ guidance before you made it to the cafeteria. Many of the higher-ranked personnel were already eating dinner, so you decided to get in line to receive your own rations. No matter the ranking, everybody received the same meal of Ash-rabbit soup. Anybody else from Hanna City would have griped about this, but after stumbling through the ship for about a half-hour with no real sense of direction you couldn’t care less.
“‘Ey, Miss Director!” called a familiar voice. You turned your head towards Hiram, making sure that he was looking at you and not some other director. He was beckoning you over to join his table. You obliged, happy that you didn’t have to sit alone on your first day like a high schooler. The few people around Hiram parted so that you could sit to his right.
“So, this is the new Director of Engineering?” said a gruff-voiced woman. Her heather grey hair was shaved on one side and long on the other, and you thought that had to be against some sort of dress code around here. She put her elbow up on the tabletop and leaned against her palm, smirking at you. “I’m Andromeda, but most people call me Andy.”
“She’s my personal assistant,” Hiram beamed beside you.
“It’s nice to meet you,” you smiled at her. The others all gave you their names and positions too, many of them were squadron leaders who had just finished a day of training new troops.
“Say, Director, what academy didja come from?” Andy inquired as she lifted a spoonful of soup to her mouth. “Arkanis? Myomar?” You squirmed a little in your seat, reluctant to admit that you weren’t trained for the military at all.
“None, actually,” you replied, trying not to mumble. “I was brought here straight from Hanna City on Chandrila.” You waited for looks of confusion or disinterest, but those around you looked shocked, on the contrary.
“You’re pullin’ my leg!” Andy chuckled. “You mean to tell me that they just took you off planet to work on one of the biggest battleships in the galaxy without proper training? You must be a pretty damn good engineer!” You nodded, smiling a little at the amused glimmer in her eye.
“Look at her, Andy,” Hiram laughed. “You think that a woman from an academy would be wearing blue and khakis? I don’t think so. What I don’t get is why they would bring you onboard when we’ve got plenty of staff already.”
“I think I might know,” said a nearby commander. This man with a scratchy baritone voice had introduced himself as Baron, and he radiated all sorts of manly energy from that scar that ran down his temple. “You said you’re from Chandrila?”
“That’s right,” you nodded. Baron leaned over the table, trying to get a better look at you.
“Well that makes sense then,” he said with resolve. “Chandrila’s been in hot water recently. Lotsa rebels come from that planet, apparently. There have also been rumors that their government sympathizes with the New Republic effort. We’ve been investigating them a lot nowadays, making sure they’re not supplying the enemy and all that jazz. I think this is a move to make sure they’re still loyal. They had to give up a civilian to work for us, and a respected member of society too. What exactly did you work on back home?” You made a quick list in your head, trying not to brag about your accomplishments.
“I designed the Polis District in the capital, and that became a big trade hub. I built Mon Mothma’s personal ship, and a family home on Arbooine. And I did all that renovation work on Landing Platform OB-99 a few years back,” you told him. “Those are my bigger projects. I also do the basic stuff like designing weapons, but that’s not my best work.”
“Oh, speaking of best work!” Hiram suddenly interjected. He pulled out a portable screen and started flipping through file names until he found what he was looking for. A hologram jumped to life, displaying a uniform that you assumed was yours. “I think I’ve outdone myself. Obviously, I had to use the basic design from the old Director’s uniform, but I added some great flame-resistant boots, and a pair of gloves that’ll go with them perfectly, and even a toolbelt that can hold everything you’ll need when you’re designing on the go. I’ll drop it by your room as soon as I’m finished eating.” He was grinning from ear to ear as he looked over his project, and you admired that spark of passion that he held.
“You really love your job, don’t you?” you grinned.
“I’m one of the only people who actually get to create something on this ship. Who wouldn’t love it?” the designer smiled wide. “Maybe the same outfit or armor set over and over gets a little repetitive, but when I get to redesign old uniforms or make new ones I’m happier than a rancor in a village full of humans.” He set the screen on the table, leaving the hologram to continue slowly rotating.
“Hey guys, look who just showed up,” Andy whispered, pointing with her eyes towards the cafeteria’s entrance. General Hux was marching in, and the people in line to receive their dinner parted ways for him as he approached. “I heard General Ginger pissed off Lord Goth today. Now there’s wreckage from the bridge all the way down to the training room.” You winced, remembering the sight of that wrathful saber and how it cut through everything in its path with ease. Baron tutted the young woman and drank from his glass. You had no idea what he was drinking, but by the way he furrowed his brow when he sipped it, you didn’t want to know.
“One of these days that mouth of yours is gonna get you killed,” the older man scolded with a sad smile. “Hux does look pretty mad, though. Wonder what happened this time.” You stared at the general for a while, ready to turn away if he caught sight of you doing so. The kitchen staff was already holding out his food when he reached the window, and they had something else for him as well. It was a brown paper bag with nothing on it to describe what was inside. You turned to Hiram and quirked a brow, still training your eyes on Hux.
“What’s in the bag?” you asked him in a whisper, although you were certain that he couldn’t hear your lone voice above everyone else in the cafeteria.
“Nobody knows,” he shrugged. “Picks it up every day, though. Once at breakfast and once at dinner. Some people say he’s got a bearsloth chained up in his room, and that’s the food that he takes to it every day.” The people around you laughed quietly at that, but you were only paying a little bit of attention to them.
Your gaze was still locked on the man who had practically ignored you earlier as you tried to figure out what he could possibly need extra food for. Perhaps he really did have a bearsloth or something like that. Maybe he was in charge of taking food to prisoners. No matter the reason, you were still focused on it for some odd reason. Suddenly, a captain walked up to him and began conversing with him. Hux placed the bag on a nearby table and he pulled a small screen from his pocket. The general scowled when he saw some sort of notification and shooed the captain out of the way. He quickened his pace and nearly jogged out of the cafeteria, still holding his uneaten — and most likely cold — soup. You noticed that he had forgotten that bag, and out of instinct, you stood, much to your newfound acquaintances’ surprise.
“Sorry, I’ll um… I’ll see you later Hiram,” you said over your shoulder as you started to leave. “I’ll see you guys at breakfast, right?” The group nodded and called their agreement, and you smiled back, thankful that you already had at least a few friends who weren’t completely boring military leaders. Nobody had even bothered to look at the bag, it seemed, because as soon as Hux left everyone resumed his or her place in line. You picked up the discarded sack and went after your superior.
Of course, it couldn’t be easy. You had waited just a tad too long, and he had already disappeared. Not knowing what else to do, you tried to make your way back to your quarters. By now you had a relative idea of where you were, but that didn’t stop you from making at least three wrong turns.
For a moment, you stopped to get your bearings at an intersection of hallways. You looked to your right and saw the beginnings of the locker rooms, so you knew that you were finally headed in the right direction. Someone accidentally bumped you, and after exchanging quick apologies you righted yourself again, including the bag which you were still holding. Curiosity got the best of you, and you peeked inside. There was a distilled water bottle and what looked to be a can of tuna.
What in the world could he need that for? you asked yourself as you continued walking. Eventually, you made your way into the chamber of living quarters, and you approached a man who had a rank insignia with 'Dillon' in Aurebesh on it. You hoped that he was of high enough rank that he knew Hux’s room number.
“Excuse me,” you said as you drew near. His eyes drifted over your casual attire just once before he answered.
“May I help you?” he asked in a confused manner.
“I’m looking for General Hux’s quarters. He left this behind in the cafeteria.” You held up the paper bag, and he looked at it with suspicion.
“Who are you?” he inquired, now staring you down.
“I’m the new Director of Engineering,” you informed him. “I don’t know where anything is on this ship. Heck, I don’t even have my uniform yet.” You addressed your unnatural outfit by tugging on your sweater’s collar, indicating that even though you weren’t dressed for the part, you still carried a title of a director. The man slowly turned around and pointed up to the very top level.
“He’s on floor 100 of the living quarters. You know which one’s his because Kylo Ren tore a hole through it last week,” he murmured before carrying on his way. You grinned sheepishly, uttering a quick, “thank you” before moving towards the elevator. You typed in the correct location and waited as you ascended, taking in just how large the top level’s rooms were. Once you were able to step out onto your desired floor, you immediately noticed which room you were looking for. The bottom part of the door was scorched, with a sizeable gap near the center.
“General Hux?” you called out. He would have heard you easily, but he apparently wasn’t there at the time. Unsure of what to do next, you looked around for a solution. Perhaps someone else could take it and give it to him, or maybe you should just hold onto it until morning, or maybe you should just wait until he came back.
A sudden sharp caterwaul interrupted your thoughts, and you jumped away from the entrance.
My god, he does have a bearsloth in there! you fretted. Thinking quickly, you set the bag down in front of the door and bolted towards the moving platform again.