Summer POV
I laid once again in my room, bored and waiting for Poe to return. After encountering Rey, I just fled back to my quarters and locked the door, not wanting to stir up any more trouble. Until I'm more accepted, I'm going to have to adjust to living in here more.
But it's not permanent. That's what I kept telling myself. I'm here on a mission and I have to send the information back to the First Order...somehow. I have no way of communication; the comlink Trace gave me probably doesn't even reach beyond the base.
I picked up Kylo's piece of cloth and held it tight in my hands, savoring the small security blanket. It was as soft as silk; probably part of his cape. It still had a light scent...
And it vibrates?
I raised a brow and opened up the folded cloth, gasping at a small comlink and earpiece was revealed. No way...
I put the earpiece in and heard a muffled voice as it tried to connect. "Hello?"
"This is transport 21-87," a man said in a heavy accent. "What's your contact number to drop off my shipment?"
I blinked. This isn't the First Order, just some channel I picked up on. The numbers remind me of Finn's stormtrooper serial though, and the holding cell Leia was in from A New Hope.
I didn't want to get involved but maybe I could at least help the guy out.
"I don't personally have a contact number. At least I don't think I do. You may be calling the wrong person."
"Nope. I have the right number. That's what my boss gave me and he's never wrong."
I rolled my eyes, glad this wasn't a visual conversation. "Are you trying to drop off to the Resistance?"
"I don't know who I'm dropping for. All I know is I need their number."
"If you don't know who your shipment belongs to, how do you know it's for us?"
"Coordinates check out. Who's your superior? I want their number."
"I...I don't know it."
He sighed, subtly voicing his frustration. "Then tell me Miss, what do you know?"
This guy is rude. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Look, I have no idea who you are-"
"I'm transport 21-87."
I continued as if I wasn't just rudely cut off. "I don't have a contact number and I have no idea what you want or who you are. That said, I'm hanging up now."
"Wait! My boss will kill me if I can't deliver the shipment!"
I hesitated, my finger looming over the button to end the call. I sighed as the kind-hearted side of me was being touched. I don't want to be the reason this guys dies. "Okay, okay. I'll...try to help."
I could picture his smile. "Thank you Miss!"
"Let's start over. What contact number specifically do you want? I need a name."
"Yours."
I was taken aback by that. "Are you flirting now?"
"Oh no Miss. Only my boss would be allowed to flirt with a fair lady such as yourself."
I softly groaned. "You don't know a thing about me."
"I don't?"
"Doubt it."
"I know a lot of people. Maybe I know you?"
"Again, doubt it." Last time I checked, I wasn't friends with a crazy man. Or maybe this guy is an alien, who knows. "Continuing, what would you want from this contact person?"
"I want to know...their number."
I raised a brow over his hesitation. "Besides their number?"
"Why can't I get my answers?"
"Why are you suddenly putting emphasis on your words?"
"I'm talking normally Miss. I just need to know."
Now I was frustrated. "Know what?"
"The answers...to my questions."
"And your questions are?"
"What is the number to contact you?"
I groaned. "Sir, if I have to go around in circles one more time with you-"
"Listen carefully," he said, speaking slower. "I need a contact number...so I know where to deliver the shipment...and I'd like the answers...to my questions. Understand?"
"Sir-"
"My desire is as clear as the sky Miss. My boss needs to get this done. Perhaps you don't understand? Shall I repeat?"
I chewed my lip, debating on pressing the "end call" button again.
"Miss, my boss is waiting. He's very impatient and has a violent temper."
My eyes fell onto the comlink. "Can you say that again?"
He repeated his sentence, his description of his boss clicking. I wonder...
"What is your boss's name?" I asked with more interest.
"Nerolyk," he said, articulating the word carefully. "That is my boss's name. Write it down if you have to."
Thinking he may be onto something, or I'm just way too bored and looking for something fun to do, I found an old book- a book! Can you believe paper exists up here? - and ripped out a couple pages.
Scrambling through the Aurabesh alphabet, I ripped out the letters of Nerolyk from words and laid them out in front of me. I lined them up, studying them. "Tell me more about your boss."
He suddenly sounded irritated again. "If you keep holding me up much longer, I'll have him call you directly! You don't want to hear from him! He will turn your entire world upside down and backwards!"
Backwards?
I rearranged the letters again and gasped. Nerolyk spells...
Kylo Ren.
This isn't some freak of nature. It's a spy Kylo hired to contact me. My heart started racing and my stomach grew butterflies at the thought of my lover. He's so smart, going through this complicated process to check on me and the status of my mission. I wish he was here, I want to kiss those plump lips.
The spy was talking this way for a reason. This call is probably getting monitored.
I tried to collect myself so I could concentrate on what to say. I'd have to be careful on my words.
"I'm sorry for holding...your boss up," I said, playing along. "The line that you're talking to me on is the only one I have, in case your boss should desire to contact me directly."
"If all this keeps up, I will have him call! You won't like that!"
Will I? A smirk tugged at my lips.
"My apologies, I'll try to be more cooperative for the sake of you and your superior."
"Thank you Miss, that's all I've been asking for."
I felt a bit embarrassed for not catching on sooner. "Okay, so you want to know where to drop his shipment?"
"Yes, Miss."
I thought carefully before I spoke. "I can't give you exact coordinates. It's a long way down here from space, you know? So many places you could land, especially with the mountain range and the lake nearby.."
"I see." I could hear him writing it down. "I'll be careful when I come."
"Any idea when that may be?"
"It all depends when my boss says, Miss."
I nodded to myself. "Need anything else?"
"Um...just if I should be alerted of anything else before I come to drop off my shipment."
I chewed my lip. "Well, the planet I live on is great. Everything is just as I imagined it would be. Everyone is friendly. I'd love to meet you though. Let me know when you're coming maybe? I'll assist you with the transport."
"I'll notify my boss Miss. Thank you for your assistance!"
I turned off my comlink and took a breath, trying to process everything. Kylo is coming here? Or maybe someone else?
I almost called the number back, but decided against it. The spy was contacting me to make sure I'm alive and alright. Now since that's been confirmed, I wonder what will be happening next...
Kylo POV
I thanked the spy for the information, returning to Hux, who was on the far side of his room studying a holographic map of Xuscilia. "You were right. She's fitting right in."
"See? Listening to me isn't so bad after all."
I held back what I really wanted to say. "Summer may be doing well but she could have vital information we need. Have you been able to contact that slicer yet?"
"I'm still trying," Hux sighed, his gaze finally leaving the map. "I suppose he's a busy man."
"Hopefully your resource isn't being used against us."
"Doubtful. No one could pay him a higher rate than us."
I couldn't argue there. Although what can be promised and what can be delivered is an entirely different story.
"You're positive he can create a secure channel for us to converse with Summer normally without these fancy phrases?" I asked Hux again.
He tried to hide his annoyance. "He's done this many times before. The man is professional."
"But he's also scum, and would sell us out in a heartbeat probably."
"Money is the solution to any problem."
"Until the money runs out."
"Don't worry. We have enough donations and support to last us another thirty years," Hux snickered. "Maybe by then the entire galaxy will finally be under our control. If it wasn't for Crait-"
"Do not mention that incident to me," I snapped, knowing I was to blame for not destroying the Resistance right there when we had the chance. "Or else I shall bring up Starkiller Base."
His glare was hard enough to counter a blaster bolt but he nodded. "Fair enough."
I circled around the holographic map of the planet, studying it as if it would suddenly change and give me all the answers I needed. "So we assume Summer is about here, in between the mountain range and a freshwater lake?"
"According to the spy, those were the coordinates she gave us, yes. That is where the Resistance headquarters are located then, although we have no idea if this is only one of many bases set up around the planet."
"That's why we need to talk to her directly." I cursed under my breath. "We need that slicer."
"Patience Ren. He will call us," Hux said, subtly reprimanding me. "Allow me to make the deal with him."
I raised a brow. "Why?"
"First of all, I know him from the academy. Second, you're far too anxious for his service so he will purposely raise the price, knowing he will get it."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Do it. Just get me that secure channel."
He nodded, proud to have won. "Of course. I always get what I want."
His smirk was hiding more than I wanted to know but I just ignored it. "I'm leaving you responsible, which means if it fails, you will be held accountable."
Hux's expression only wavered slightly. "I understand. I can handle it."
He better. His rank is going to depend on it.
Hux POV
An officer entered my quarters, offering a polite nod as greeting. "General Hux. Someone is here to speak with you."
"Who?"
"The slicer you requested, sir."
"Send him in."
The woman nodded and left abruptly. My silver protocol droid came to assist me but I waved it away. "I can handle our guest."
Minutes later, a man strode in through my door. He wore a dark tunic with his arms and tattoos exposed, shades, and carried his datapad in hand, as usual. His backpack was rigged with all different kinds of devices to enable him to be one of the best slicers this end of the galaxy. So no, he isn't cheap, but he's worth every credit.
Falynn Gineza. A former computer hardware technician that went to the First Order academy, like me. Call us friends but it was nothing of the sort. He dropped out before graduating, his rogue attitude unable to be controlled by the system. I haven't seen him in person since. Although memories flooded back now.
"Ah, Armitage Hux," Falynn smirked, removing his shades and tossing them onto my seafoam green couch. "Haven't changed a bit."
"That's General Armitage Hux," I corrected, a sneer on my lips.
"Yes, you've moved up in the ranks?"
Obviously. "Falynn, I've been holding this rank for years. You know this. We've talked before-" I sighed, shaking my head. "Nevermind. So about the job-"
"Nothing I can't handle." He plopped himself down on my couch, not even bothering to keep his boots off.
"I swear, you are worse now than at the academy." I pushed his legs down on the floor, pointing. "That's where they belong."
"Sure thing Armie."
My face flushed with color. "Don't call me-"
"So are you going to be a polite host and offer your guest a drink?" He smirked, although sitting up as I requested.
I sighed and poured him a glass of wine. "There. Now can we discuss business? This isn't a friendly meeting."
He eyed the glass and sipped the wine lightly. "I'd say so. This is the cheapest wine I've ever tasted."
"Falynn-"
"I'm sure a First Order general could at least afford something better than the common Corellian stuff."
I rubbed my head, trying to keep my composure. I'm going to be hitting the wine hard later if the aggravation continues. Only I'll get the good stuff.
"Falynn, time is an essence. Let's get down to business, shall we?"
"Fine, fine." He set his glass down and leaned back against the sofa. "Talk to me."
"We have sent a spy to the Resistance base, which we have confirmed is on Xuscilia beneath the Vayrillian Asteroid Belt. I need you to create a safe and secure channel for us to talk properly with the spy without being monitored."
He hummed, thinking. "The Resistance have good slicers."
"But they're not as good as you."
He smirked and nodded. "True. So basically the rebel scum use the oldest trick in the books to secretly listen to private channels and gather information without the enemies knowing. Smugglers invented it; they just copied."
"Can you make us a channel that's untraceable?" I asked.
"I can do anything," he replied, staring at me in a way that made me uncomfortable. "The question is what I get for it."
"You will get paid handsomely. You know that."
"Handsomely, eh?"
"Yes."
"As in...credits? Because credits are good. Although I'm open to suggestions..."
Falynn looked me over, the way I remember he used to when we shared a dorm at the academy. I feel even more awkward now, all these years later.
"Credits is all we have right now, and I believe that will be suffice," I said, eyeing him in a way to drop the subject.
He thankfully caught on. He wasn't happy about it though. "Half a million."
"Quarter of a million."
"Pfft. You're far too low, Armie."
My face heated up again. "Will you stop-"
"I won't go any lower. If you won't accept, I'll just be going..." He gathered his things and stood, seeming not to care either way when I know he did.
I grabbed his arm, holding him back. "The First Order needs your help. I can't pay you half, but I'll meet you in the middle at a third. That's the highest I can go. I only have a certain amount of credits that Supreme Leader Kylo Ren has allowed me to use." I sighed, pleading with my eyes. "Work with me here. Please."
Falynn stared back and I thought he was going to deny, but instead he nodded. "Fine. I'll do a third. But only for you Armie. Consider it a...friend's discount."
A friend's discount. I guess I can live with that.
"I don't care what you want to call it. How fast can this be done?"
"Well, for an additional fee-"
I glared. "Falynn-"
He smirked. "Come on Armie. When was the last time you've splurged?"
I rolled my eyes. "Just get the channel created and contact me when it's done. I need it done in a week's time for no extra charge. Is that clear, Falynn?"
He shook his head and sighed, but with a smile on his face. "Ah, you haven't changed a bit. Just as cute as I remember you to be."
My face flushed again with embarrassment. "Now listen here-"
"Am I interrupting something?"
Both of us looked over to see Kylo standing with his arms crossed and a brow raised. I didn't even hear him come in. Falynn distracted me too much. Damn him.
I stepped forward and cleared my throat. "Supreme Leader, this is Falynn Gineza. He is the slicer we hired."
Ren's brown eyes flicked to the man standing beside me. "Slicer or boyfriend?"
I rubbed my head, mostly to cover my colored face. "When will this day end..."
Falynn gave a polite nod of greeting to Kylo. "I was just leaving. Armie and I already bartered the deal. Do you want to know the details?"
Then I saw that look on Kylo's face. It was something I didn't see often, but I knew what would be coming for me later.
"Wait...his nickname is Armie?" Ren was struggling to stay serious and emotionless, but he was holding back a laugh.
Which meant I was never going to hear the end of this. A whole night of mocking is coming for me.
"Okay, I'm sure you're busy," I spoke up, not letting to two go further. "Goodbye Falynn. Contact me when you're done." I took Falynn and pushed him out my door before he could say a word then I locked it so he wouldn't come back in.
I let a breath I was holding and turned around to see Ren with that same expression.
"Shut up," I sneered, pushing past him to my bedroom.
"Oh, but I haven't even started yet..." He smirked, following me.
This is going to be a long night...
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Chapter 21 complete!
I hope any of you didn't mind how Falynn and Hux interacted. I thought it would add a small bit of humor, also give Hux a more complex past. I like to never fully know everything about a character. It makes you more interested in them, at least it does for me. Even though he's not my character and I'm sure that what I'm writing is completely false. This won't change how him and Summer are though, he will still be the same.
Let me know what you thought of the chapter! I love hearing from my readers!
Pics of chapter: A beautiful First Order collage from The Last Jedi! Top photo is art of Poe in his flight uniform!