Hunted

Chapter 2: Welcome to Starkiller

The door to your vessel hissed open and the ramp lowered. Immediately, a small brigade of Stormtroopers boarded your ship. You stood up and watched them march directly towards the pathetic crime boss and stun him into silence. Two Troopers grabbed him underneath his arms on either side and drug him down the ramp, feet dragging the ground behind him.

"Welcome to Starkiller Base, miss...?"

"Just miss is fine." A man was standing in the entrance of your ship. He was important. Red hair, pointed, sharp features and icy blue eyes.

"Well... miss... I am General Armitage Hux. Thank you for delivering the prisoner. Your bonus for bringing him in alive has been included in the credit transfer. If you check your Comlink, you will see it is all there." He stood with his hands behind his back and his nose turned up. It was clear he thought highly of himself but you still sensed some nervousness or unease.

You chuckled softly as you walked towards him, "Thank you, General. Is there any other reason you have graced me with your presence? Anything else I can do for you before I get going?"

He shifted just slightly on his feet, displaying an apprehension at his next words. He never broke his gaze and was fixed upon you.

"You have been requested to consider a retainer offer with the First Order. A short-term contract of 1 year where you will be sent on high profile reconnaissance missions. If you would please follow me, I am happy to discuss further details with you in one of our conference rooms."

You stared at him, brows furrowed in confusion. "General, I appreciate the offer, but I prefer to work alone and work only jobs of my own choosing. No offense, but working for the First Order sounds like the exact opposite of how I prefer to live and do business."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Please, follow me. You can say no once you hear out the generous offer."

You signed in defeat and followed Hux down the ramp of your ship. He led you down many long hallways that made up the impressive base. It's sheer size was nothing to be scoffed at; it was a marvel those that lived and worked here didn't get lost on a regular basis. After what felt like hours, Hux stopped in front of a set of large, black double doors. He fingered an entry pad with the code and the doors hissed open, revealing a grand conference room clad in black iron and glass, giving view to the icy landscape of the planet. A large black table was set in the middle of the room, with important men and women sat around it. The most important, though, seemed to be the masked, towering figure standing at the head of the table.

"Please, miss, take a seat." Hux motioned to a chair next to him, at the opposite end of the table of the masked figure.

"Thank you, General." You smiled at General Hux as he pulled your chair out for you. At least he was being a gentleman. "How can I be of assistance to the First Order?"

General Hux cleared his throat. "You have consistently been an appreciated...partner... to the Order. In fact, you have been our most consistent acquirer for as long as we have been hiring outside services."

"It's okay, General, you can say bounty hunter. There is no need to dance around it. We all know what I do and I take pride in my work."

"Yes, well, we would like to offer you a one-year contract within our ranks. You would be given quarters here at Starkiller Base, have access to any weaponry of your choosing, state-of-the-art training facilities, and we will provide your with a new ship. In exchange, you will live among us and be called for missions whenever necessary. You will work no other jobs and your movements will be accounted for at all times while you are in our service. You will also have the protection of our name and forces." Hux was satisfied with his proposal, a proud grin curled on his pasty-white face.