All the Stars in the Galaxy

10

Wind and sand danced in front of the inn. Music and drunken laughter inside. Phasma and Armitage Hux had landed on Jakku again, in one of the raging sandstorms. Trying to reach the inn without getting blind because of the rough sand, Hux held his hand around his eyes.
    "Wow, this is some storm," Phasma said loud so Hux could hear her. "At least we're not tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere, right? You know, it's not too late, we could just go get him..."
    Hux didn't react.
    "It's just, every time I close my eyes, I picture Maurice stranded out there. And when I open them, he's..."
    They entered the inn and saw Maurice surrounded by book holder Jeax and Danry the potter.
"Maurice!" Phasma said excitedly. She realised she shouldn't be happy and tamped down her smile, the smile no one saw because of the helmet.
Maurice and Hux locked eyes. Hux quickly assessed the situation and found out that he didn't like what was going on.
"Hux, did you try to kill Maurice?" asked the tavern keeper. Shit, Hux thought. He didn't know how, but Maurice got here faster than him. And that gave the old man an advantage. He needed to talk himself out of it.
Just when some people thought Hux might run or fight or deny, he smiled warmly.
"Oh, Maurice! Thank heavens. I've spent the last five days trying to find you!" Hux said loud and clear, making sure everyone could hear him acting.
Suddenly, the villagers shifted their gaze to Maurice.
"No! You tried to kill me! You left me on that god forgotten planet to get eaten by the wolves or freeze to death!" Maurice exploded. His anger bounced in the Force, one specific person felt his raging emotions and Hux' emotions, trying to figure out to get out of this situation. But this Force-sensitive person held quiet, knowing people wouldn't listen to him.
"Maurice," Hux said, tiredly, "it's one thing to rave about your delusions. It's another to accuse me of attempted murder."
Hux' argument landed. The gentle Maurice felt the room slipping away from him. He couldn't say that. Why would he? Maurice didn't understand this horrible person that wanted to marry his daughter.
"Maurice, do you think you have any proof of what you're saying?" asked Danry. Yes. Yes he had.
"Ask Luke! He rescued me!" Maurice said loud and pointed at the old, cloaked man by the hearth. But before the Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker could speak —
"Skywalker? You'd hang your accusation on the testimony of a filthy homeless with only one arm of flesh and blood?" Hux said in disgust. "No offence, Luke," Hux said as he turned to him.
Luke only raised an eyebrow — but said nothing.
"Lady Phasma! She was there! She saw it all!" Maurice tried and he hoped the woman would stand next to him. He knew that she only stayed by Hux' side because he protected her — sort of.
"Me?" she asked, like she didn't know it.
"You're right," said Hux. "Don't take my word from it." He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"Phasma, my dearest companion, did I, your oldest friend and most loyal compatriot, try to kill the father of the only woman I'd ever loved?"
All eyes turned to Phasma, who felt really hot and who was clearly torn.
"It's a complicated question on a number of accounts, but... no. No, he did not," Phasma said. The crowd reacted. Maurice was crestfallen. Hux had won. Maurice lunged at Armitage Hux — who caught his flying fist, easily blocking him.
Maurice felt his heart pounding in his chest. Hux was a liar, traitor and a selfish son of a bitch and Maurice almost couldn't held his anger.
"Maurice, it pains me to say this, but you've become a danger to yourself and others. No wonder Rey ran away," Hux said and deep down he was enjoying this.
"You need help, sir. A place to heal your troubled mind."
Hux signalled to Tom, Dick and Stanley — and Maurice turned to see them block the exit. Hux placed his large hand on Maurice shoulder — and squeezed. Maurice winched.
This doesn't happen, Maurice thought. But he was lying to himself and he knew that. They were going to lock him up. And Rey... Rey would never see him again if she would ever escape from that horrible man.
"Everything's going to be fine," Hux said with a cruelly gentle voice.