Lillibet - A Star Wars story

Training

The next day, when she got out of her room, she was surprised to see that there were no Stormtroopers outside, guarding her. Without giving it a lot of thought though, she walked to the room she trained, alone. There, there was also missing a Stormtrooper - the one that talked to her about this world. But she just shrugged it off. They were probably gathered somewhere for some sort of meeting. She went inside and started training.

A couple of hours passed, and she was now covered in sweat from head to toe. But she just wanted to keep going. The only part she was bored of, was just the basic work out. When she got to the swordfighting part though, she didn't care if she went on for hours. But the trooper she was training with insisted they stop. After all, she had a lot more to do during the day.

The moment she actually stopped to catch her breath, she realized how tired she was. Her legs just couldn't keep her weight any more, and she collapsed on the floor. The trooper only gave her a glance, and then left. He was used to seeing that every other day, anyway.

A few minutes passed, but she still didn't want to get up. Until she heard someone entering. She raised her head to see who it was, and immediately recognized the General's black outfit. She was on her feet in no time.

"Two visiting days in a row? I must be in trouble," Lillibet chuckled.

"No," was all Hux said. Lillibet waited for him to say more, but he didn't. For some reason, that disappointed her a little. She wanted to hear him talk more. She was always making the conversation herself.

"So... Whatever happened to the boy outside, guarding me?" she asked. "Is he in trouble then?"

"Trouble? Well, not really."

"Oh, no... what'd you do to him?" she smiled. But then her face got pale and serious again. "Oh my God, you didn't kill him, did you?"

"What? No! I'd never! Is that what you think of me?" Hux said all at once, and then immediately shut his mouth, as if trying to stop himself. But these words were already out. He cleared his throat. "I just transferred him. You don't need guards anymore, anyway."

Lillibet just nodded, trying to understand his reaction without him realising. Did he care about what she thought of him that much?  "So, what brings you here then?"

Hux started walking closer, stopped right in front of her and took a quick look at her sweat-covered clothes and hair. She didn't mind. Usually, having him examine her like that made her feel a little weird. Probably because he is so much taller than her, that looking down to her was almost impossible without it seeming downgrading. But in that moment she felt strong. She felt fierce. And she was proud to be seen like that.

"Did you know every trooper had direct orders not to talk to you about the past of our Galaxy? Yet you somehow convinced this 'boy' from out here to tell you everything."

"Honestly, it wasn't that difficult. All I had to do was ask."

"Yes. Because you used the Force!" he smirked.

"What?" She did not expect that.

"It's an old mind trick. You use the force to tell someone to do something."

"No no no... I didn't do that. I don't even know how to do that." She shook her head passionately.

"Tell me, did you ask, or did you command?" Lillibet tried to react, but he put one finger up, stopping her. "Try to remember. The first time you asked: did you actually ask, or just told him to tell you?"

She blinked a couple of times. "Well... I think I asked him, but he refused to tell me, and the I insisted, and..." She shook her head. "I don't remember exactly."

"Alright. But after that, every time you would talk to him, how did you talk to him?"

She pressed her lips together. She knew what she was going to say would be what he wanted to hear. But she wasn't exactly sure if she wanted to admit it.

"I'd say something like 'You will tell me about... Kylo', for example," she finally said, not being able to look Hux straight into his green eyes, and lie.

He looked very satisfied with the answer. "And did he then, repeat what you had said?"

Her eyes flushed opened. "Yes!" How did he know that?

"Classic mind trick..." he mumbled as if answering her thought. "You see, you used the Force without even knowing it. That right there is proof of how strong you are with it."

Lillibet just gave him a small smile, and then looked down. He looked very pleased to realise his idea was paying off. She just wasn't sure if it was true. Had she really used 'the force'? Was that even possible? She doubted.

"I told Kylo about it," he continued, making her look up once again. "He said he will meet you today, see what you are capable of." 

He took a few steps back and looked at her again. It's not like she could read his mind, but it felt so. And although his body language was exactly the same as always, stern and authoritative, there was something in his eyes that changed. Something that showed admiration and pride. Maybe he was just enjoying being right about her, and succeeding in his project. On the other hand, maybe he could see what she was feeling: the power and the prowess. And he liked it.

He turned around and walked towards the exit. Before he left, he looked at her over his shoulder. "Do you really know my name?" he asked.

It took Lillibet a couple of seconds to remember he was referring to their conversation from the previous day. "Yes..." she answered.

"Then how come you haven't called me by it yet?"

"I don't want to die," Lillibet laughed. Not sure weather it was her laughter -which is in fact a contagious one- or what she said, but a short, muffled laughter escaped his lips too. The very first one she ever saw. He quickly pulled a straight face again.

"Good."

And he left.