Chain Reaction

Chapter 23 - Revelation

Hux

The large tent they had used as a command center for the Resistance had now become a research center. Piles upon piles of paper were scattered across the room, the droids C3PO and R2D2 were arranging them and trying to keep the room from getting messier. Hux had been provided with a data pad by a resistance commander and managed to hack the system to sync it with all the data he was allowed to access from the First Order, since he was a general, that meant he could access every data available. He was currently relaying information every now and then to Leia, who was seated on a chair and writing everything down on a notebook. Poe Dameron was seated on the floor by the entrance of the tent with BB8 rolling back and forth behind him. The droid was hitting his back, trying to gain his attention, and failing.

Everyone else busied themselves with searching through papers and documents they had of Cailin's planet, desperately trying to find something that would link to her past, and figure out something to try and reach her. Hux had provided everything he could find from the files in the data pad, scanning and rescanning the data he had collected as General of the First Order.  At the corner of the room, Finn and Rey were speaking in hushed voices. They had helped before, until Finn had an argument with Hux, regarding his betrayal to the First Order, which led to Rey now trying to calm down the ex-stormtrooper.

They had started their search for her identity and her past by knowing which planet she came from, which Hux provided. When they looked it up however, they couldn't find her first name registered anywhere, and none of them knew her last name. They had been looking from the logs of the shops and everything else from the planet, but none had a record of the girl, it almost seemed as though someone had been trying hard to hide her, and they succeeded.

"I suppose I should thank you."

Hux stopped his pacing and looked to where Leia was sitting.

"Pardon?"

"If you hadn't jumped ship from the First Order..."

Leia trailed away for a moment, as though imagining the possible events that could have occurred.

"We wouldn't be here anymore. So, thank you, sir."

Leia gave him a small smile.

"I highly doubt you and your lot wouldn't be here anymore though. Even if I hadn't come for you." Hux added, and Leia raised an eyebrow.

Hux walked towards the table and sat on its surface, across Leia.

"Your people can be quite persistent." He scoffed.

"It takes one to know one." Leia said, tapping the tip of her pen on Hux's nose.

Hux shrugged and resumed his scanning. After a few minutes however, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration and placed the data pad on the table beside him. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"We're getting nowhere. It's been hours and all we've found is where she's from." He complained, standing up.

"For all we know, she'd have sent out a search party for us already and it won't be long before they find us here."

Hux sat on the floor in frustration and placed his hands on his temples.

"Didn't you say she was orphaned?"

Poe's voice suddenly sounded in the tent. He was now on his feet and standing in the middle of room, directing the question at Hux.

"Yes" Hux answered.

"Was it because of your invasion?"

"I would hardly call it an inva--"

"How did her dad die? Hell, how did she meet you guys?"