Blood means nothing

Dismissal

I felt well rested for once when I awoke from my second attempt of sleep. No nightmares but also no dreams. As much as I hated them, the nightmares or dreams kept me company throughout my slumber. Without them, I felt alone. Even if my family were mere visages of the past, they were still there when I closed my eyes.

As I walked down the hall, I noticed the hundreds of staff and troopers making their way to their post. All those eyes and yet nobody dared to gaze in my direction. They were all too frightened.
Then I remembered Y/N, how she had unabashedly looked me in the eyes the night before. I couldn't remember how long it had been since someone did that to me. My chest ached. I wanted more of that. I had made my way to the bridge but before I could enter, the hatch door wizzed open and out came General Hux pulling her by the arm down the hall.

Having remembered our conversation the night before, I had a feeling this was regarding her employment. What I could not understand was the clear angst Hux had toward this woman. He never handled staff like that, he could not be bothered, and if he was going to fire someone he would simply say "you are dismissed." If the former staff member refused, only then would Hux call upon troopers to drag them out the door.

"Are you quite finished, officer?" Hux scoffed.

"Hell no! I'm not quite finished" she shot back. Her face contorted in anger, her lips pinched into a fine line, and nostrils flaring as she spoke. Y/N quickly gathered her breath, "I have no idea why you hate me so much! I work hard everyday. I streamlined the communication process to where it's running at 30% more speed". She paused, dropping her gaze to her feet, "With all due respect, I work my ass off, sir."

I could not believe she was talking to a General like that. Curious, I wondered if she'd talk to me as Kylo Ren in such a way. I admired her courage but I knew she was doing more harm than good.

Hux cleared his throat, his perfect posture never wavering, and with his hands firmly clenched behind his back. A slight chuckle of superiority leaving his throat, "I do not need to explain myself to you." He continued, "You are suspended indefinitely. Now, run along." Y/N gazed down the hall like she was looking for someone but I could see the hot tenacity behind her gaze melt away into defeat.

I had enough of watching this and made my way over to the pair of them.

"May I ask why you are firing an able bodied officer, General?"

Hux jumped slightly at my intrusion but quickly stiffened his jelly like spine back into stone.
"I've told you why, Commander."

I did not buy his reasoning that she might be contacting the Resistance. In a room full of other communication officers and nobody had proof that she was, seemed unlikely. I took a deep breath to speak but as I did I could smell Y/N's perfume. Sweet and slightly minty. She was so close. I ignored the smell and said, "Instead of suspending them from any occupation aboard the ship, why not give them another job."

As he thought on this idea, I glanced at Y/N hoping to see that same warmth from last night but her head tilted down under my gaze. No longer feeling as strong in the presence of her Commander. Knowing that hurt me slightly, I liked her tenacity and I was the one hindering it.

Having tossed the idea in his head for a minute, Hux had reached a decision, "fine," he said biting the inside of his cheek, "she may serve the First Order in another way, however, she is stripped of her title and will now work under sanitation." I could see Hux's lips curl up at the corners, trying to stifle an evil grin. When he walked away, I turned on my heel and began walking back down the hall until I heard Y/N's voice.

"Wow thanks a lot," she whispered out into the air. The sarcasm so potent it felt like it was eating right through my armor. I turned my head back toward her direction but she had already started walking away. As she grew smaller in the distance so did my pride.